Dre’s Ramblings

Let the theme changing begin…

I’m starting to look at changing the look of the blog. This is my first attempt since bringing it over from Blogger. Emire 1.0 is one of the newer themes available from the free site. I’m sure that I’ll change it again once I get the domain name. I’m talking with the guys at WordPress to make sure there are not any problems. Let me know what you think.

U – R – S – P – R – A – C – H – E,

That’s how 13-year old Katherine Close won the Scripps National Spelling Bee, becoming the first young lady to win the competition since 1999. And just what exactly does this word mean, click here to find out! I’m just happy that people cared enough to broadcast the event on national network television this year. You may want to visit their site to find out more about the event, it’s pretty interesting how things have changed. (Jersey Girl Wins National Spelling Bee, ABC News, June 2, 2006) The coverage has also sparked some comments on fellow Combloggerator sites, including Give Me the Booger. Pretty funny and insightful comments too.

Check out the newest club in town

I was over at the Alys Stephens Center yesterday afternoon, picking up some tickets for tonight’s Mavis Staples concert (the door prize I won by attending the first Movies by Moonlight in Linn Park last month), and decided to flip through the annual season brochure. Among the pages of the booklet, I found information about the ASC Social Club, the latest in a string of young professional social networks being created throughout the Magic City. This Social Club says it is creating the most dynamic arts group in Birmingham. I like another sentence in the description better, as it is truly working towards expanding the supporters of the performing arts in the region. Check out the site and the shows involved. It should be a lot of fun when September arrives.

The Falcons’ run is over in Montgomery, but it was fun

The University of Montevallo Falcons baseball team lost in their fourth round game of the NCAA Division II World Series against Cal State – Chico at Paterson Field, ending their season at 43-18. These guys had one of the better seasons in recent memory for the region in baseball. Now that the season is over, many would say that the focus shall return to the “real” programs as Division I series play begins. I’m still not sure if we gave the team enough coverage, considering how much closer they came than anyone else this year in the area to bringing home a trophy. Thankfully the support for the Falcons was tremendous during the season and in Montgomery. It also means that there’s a great base for some exciting DII action next year down the road!

And finally…

Leave it another Combloggerator to point out some of the problems with getting information out. Accentuate the Positive has a great piece on yesterday’s local coverage of Wednesday’s abduction (this morning’s post subject).

There’s a lot of things going on this weekend. Hopefully there’s something for you to do. For me, it’s a train ride to NOLA. We’ll be in touch; keep an eye on my Smugmug page for updates in the evenings.

Cheers.

After getting my hair cut, I was determined to get home and start on this entry. I was stopped as I got into my car by one of my friends heading to a performance in the city center. As I hobbled towards the car door, she yelled across the street, “What do you think about what happened yesterday?” I knew what she was talking about immediately and answered, “I think that it wouldn’t have gotten as much ink if it had been in Mountain Brook.” Imagine the smile on my face when the Birmingham News published a report this morning that said the exact same thing. (Crime danger downtown like Mtn. Brook, officer says, The Birmingham News, 6.2.2006)

There is also a perception that this was a call to arms and an outrageous event. If you visited other newspapers in large cities across the United States, the story did not get reported the same way, nor was the issue of downtown safety as stressed by those reporting it. (Alabama lawyer safe after abduction, Chicago Tribune, 6.1.2006; Nine hour ordeal ends with rescue, The Birmingham News, 6.1.2006) Safety downtown is a major issue; it’s not just limited to those living in the downtown area. As the first story suggests, I’d be surprised if something did not happen “over the mountain” or north of the city. It simply does not get the same coverage in our local media.

When you choose to live in any urban area, you have chosen to also become more aware of your surroundings. If nothing else, Wednesday’s events should remind us to pay attention to what’s happening around us. Without being nosy, people can look out for each other, helping to make an area safer. Anyone that says that it’s unsafe to be downtown, it’s unsafe to be anywhere, but I refuse to stay locked up in my house unable to live and enjoy life. As the summer heats up, there will undoubtedly be more concern as thousands of people venture into the city center for activities ranging from City Stages to Movies by Moonlight to expanded hours and activities at McWane Center. Something like what happened on Wednesday to Ms. Gregory is upsetting and inexcusable on every level. It also reminds us to be more diligent in our awareness and makes us work towards having it happen on a less frequent basis.

Let me know your thoughts,

Cheers.