“Green Building Focus” Expo in July + Ed Begley, Jr. comes to town

This just in from Catalyst, the “hip to be civic” crowd:

The Green Building Focus Expo is July 28, 29 and 30 at the BJCC starting at 7:30 each morning. It is a forum that has been done in South Africa and worldwide and seeks to create Birmingham as a “green hub” for sustainable building products and services. Speakers such as Ed Begley, Jr., Charles Kibert, Karan Grover, Dominic Sims and many other thought leaders and experts will provide information on the increasing movement for green building. By attending the event you will have the opportunity to take the “Learning to LEED” class and have the opportunity to become LEED certified. With the many resources surrounding Birmingham’s 100 mile radius, we are an ideal location for this event as well as being the forefront for the future green building movement.

Catalyst will be supporting this event by promoting and providing volunteers. Volunteers will gain full access to the event and speakers. We are looking for 10-25 people who would either like to work in registration, ushers, on-site recycling program or event information.

Check out the website greenbuildingfocus.com for a schedule of events and for more information on this event contact Todd Sims at tsims@greenbuildingfocus.com or Melisa McGregor at mmcgregor@greenbuildingfocus.com. Contact Gail Harper Yeilding if you would like to volunteer, ghyeilding@yahoo.com.

Ed Begley, Jr. will speak on the opening day, July 28th:

“I am honored to have the opportunity to speak to design and construction professionals from across the Southeast. These professionals have the opportunity to affect real change through sustainable building practices, and their interest in doing so is critical to the future of our nation,” said Begley.

Good news for Alabama… a silver shovel for our effort

Jimmy DeButts at the Birmingham Business Journal just announced that the State of Alabama is one of 11 states to earn a “Silver Shovel” award for its economic development capabilities.

The award was given after [Area Development] magazine reviewed data from each state’s top 10 job creation and investment projects in 2008. Only those projects that “broke ground,” began an expansion or started hiring were considered.

Our neighbor to the north, Tennessee, got the “Gold Shovel” award.  According to the magazine, “Silver Shovel Awards go the ‘runner-up’ states, which were ranked according to three population categories (greater than 10 million, 5–10 million, and less than 5 million).“ Alabama is in the under 5 million category.  Georgia also received a Silver Shovel, but in the 5-10 million category.

Wishing Michael Warren well on his move to LA

I just knew this day was coming. My favorite local musical artist, Michael Warren, has made his decision.  I introduced my teenage daughter to him a couple of years ago and it’s a father-daughter tradition to see him perform here in Birmingham at WorkPlay (our favorite), City Stages, etc.  Much to our dismay, he is moving to Los Angeles.

I’ve followed his Facebook posts where he’s expressed his sentiments about needing to be in a better place to pursue his musical ambitions.  He’s been recording his new album in LA over the past few months and keeping his fans updated. Many posts are poetic in their own right, but this one tipped it all off:

• … when I look outta of this window I see more than a dirt road I see a hwy that leads to all my dreams. I’m climbing out of this window

Only the best! All of us in Alabama will be watching for great things… and eagerly await the next Michael Warren release!!

In the meantime, check him out for one last local concert.  He will put on an 18+ show this Saturday evening (10pm) at Zydeco.

BTW, you can also hear him in Hollister clothing stores nationwide.  His “Love Has Found a Way” is now being played over their in-store music systems.

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Watch my video of Michael Warren singing at WorkPlay via YouTube (over 5,000 other people have!)
Also, watch Michael sing AMAZING with Ryan Kinder

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Res ipsa loquitur, Mayor Langford

There’s a saying that Birmingham’s former Mayor, Bernard Kincaid, used to say…

Res ipsa loquitur

So, Kyle Whitmire, of the Birmingham Weekly decided to check the facts for themselves.  He reports in the current issue that Birmingham’s current Mayor, Larry Langford, actually lives in Fairfield, Alabama instead of within the City of Birmingham.  He was interviewed this morning on the radio about it… you can listen to the full recording at your leisure and hear his comments made on the Mat Murphy show.

As the translated phrase goes… the facts speak for themselves.  While Kyle’s video reporting does not completely debunk the concept that Larry lives in Birmingham, it sure does cast light on the potential that he doesn’t.  Kyle does propose the ONE AND ONLY way anyone can be sure of where Langford considers home:

When Langford was arrested on public corruption charges last year, he had to give one and only one address to the federal probation office. At his initial appearance, the federal magistrate told Langford in very clear terms that if he were found living at any other address he would be in violation of his release and could go straight to jail. That probation record is not a public document, but let’s assume Langford wrote on it one of two addresses. If he wrote that he lived in Birmingham, then by living in Fairfield, he is violating his probation. If he wrote that he lived in Fairfield, then he is not a Birmingham resident and is not legally mayor.

Honestly, I fear that this remains such a non-issue with the citizens and other leaders of Birmingham, that Kyle will be treated the same as the anti-Obama crowd that claim that he’s not a “natural born citizen”

Picture: “HOPE” decays in downtown Birmingham

A friend of mine came over for the IndyCars test session and wore a version of this poster on his shirt, but with Reagan and RIGHT.  He said it is not well received in Atlanta but he got lots of positive comments about it while here in Birmingham.  He didn’t head downtown, where I predict he wouldn’t have been as well received.  BUT, when I was heading to the Alabama Theatre to see my daughters perform in a dance competition I came across this poster somewhat defaced on 19th street just north of the McWane Science Center… so it makes me wonder:

Is HOPE decaying??

… as the unintentional blur in the photo seems to indicate, the picture isn’t clear right now.