Today is Monday, August 16

Why is that important?

Because at 6:00 PM, at Bessemer City High School, you have the opportunity to hear the candidates for City Council districts 4, 5, 6 and 7, and for School Board district 7.

City Council District 4 - Ralph Hodge and Donna Thigpen

City Council District 5 - Ron Marshall, Albert Soles, Robert Dale White

City Council District 6 - Jesse Matthews, Edward May II, Dock Scott

City Council District 7 - Earl Cochran, Jr., LaBrenda Marshall Jones, Cleo King

School Board District 7 - Hattie Aikerson, Wanda Faye Thomas, Carolyn Hudson Wilson

We have 2 former candidates for mayor, several former candidates or members of the council and board, the son of the mayor, a few newcomers, and some incumbents running.

Even after all the promises that were made four years ago there are still a lot of problems in Bessemer. Does that means that those who are incumbents are "part of the problem?" Just a thought.


This is Bessemer. We need to make it better. Thanks, Larry, for your photos.



See you tonight!

Asking for advice

I need advice. We want to stick with Verizon, and get droids or androids or one of those types of smart phones. Which phone do you use? Pro's and con's? Answer in the comments section, please.

Last night's first of three political forums took place in Bessemer, giving (not very many) voters a chance to see and hear (some of the) candidates make their case.

Council Candidates from districts 1, 2 and 3 and School Board candidates from district 2 were invited.

I am surprised that so many candidates did not take part in the forum. I hope there is a more complete showing at the forum on Monday which will have candidates from council districts 4,5,6 and 7 plus school board candidates for district 7.

I don't have a lot to say yet and will be withholding comment until all the candidates from all the districts have spoken.


Here's a still from the new Scissor Sisters video Any Which Way.



And here's the video. "Good queer music," a commenter on this video wrote. This should get you ready for the weekend. Dance!!!

Local events

Some things going on.

In Bessemer, tonight is the first of three political candidate forums, and candidates for Council in Districts 1, 2 and 3 and School Board candidates for District 2 will take questions (be there before 5:45 to submit questions). The forum will take place at Bessemer City High School at 6:00.

In next door Lipscomb, they are about to celebrate their centennial. Lipscomb was incorporated in 1910. It was first called "Wheeling." The name Lipscomb came from a store name established by the three Lipscomb brothers on the rail line in 1890.

At 5:00 PM Friday there will be a tour of the elementary school, followed by an unveiling of a historical marker at city hall at 6:00, and a banquet at the school at 7:00 PM. Former University of Alabama football player Bobby Humphrey will speak.

On Saturday a parade will take place along 5th Street at 10:00.

Mayor Melanie Bouyer says the city if moving forward and there are proposals to add housing for veterans and a grocery store, possibly with the development of a community cooperative.

For more information call city hall at 428-6374.

I haven't posted any fun videos in a while, so here are two.

Brett Domino is the alter-ego of British musician Rob J Madin that uses unusual instruments such as a keytar and kazoos and this weird deal with an antenna to make music. Here he is with Steven Peavis performing a medley of Justin Timberlake.



And here he is performing Bad Romance. Lady Gaga, watch out.

Equality: it belongs to you and me

There are some people in Bessemer and really, everywhere, that need to see this.

My friend Pam Spaulding at Pam's House Blend has shared this video of Coretta Scott King speaking at the 1996 Atlanta Pride Festival.

Some people do not understand that equality belongs to everyone. She, and her husband, certainly did.




I certainly tried to make that point in my book, Those Others, and a review that came out yesterday recognizes that. Read it here.

Look for my upcoming article on the Prop 8 overturn in Noise Magazine. I'll let you now when it comes out.

I'm not going to post the videos and rants from those who disagree with the Judge's opinion because there are no valid arguments against it. His perceived sexuality has nothing to do with it. The misinterpretation of the Bible has nothing to do with it. The constitution and our founding documents are about equality, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Nowhere do those documents (nor the Bible) say "for straight people."

"Justice is indivisible," Mrs. King said. "The church burners and the gay bashers drink from the same poisonous well of hatred..."

I would add that some of the church leaders drink from that well of poison as well. And some talk radio hosts. And the "professional right."

For Mayor

There are five challengers hoping to unseat the current mayor of Bessemer, and of the six candidates, only one has the qualifications and the vision necessary to lead us into a new era.

Eight years ago, the people of Bessemer decided a change was in order. Our city had been declared "past the point of no return." As we look around we don't see evidence of the change we were promised. Oh we have a shiny new shopping center out Eastern Valley Road and a theater
and some nice restaurants. The same can be said for the Academy Drive area.

But our neighborhoods are crumbling, trash is piled in our alleys, and crime is as bad or worse than it was a decade ago.

The people of Bessemer do not feel good about their city, and they are not inspired to work with each other, or to support the city council, because of the lack of leadership and lack of evidence that the mayor and council are doing anything to help our city progress.

I proposed a list of qualifications that the next mayor of Bessemer should possess. One candidate met these standards and agreed with all these qualifications.

The Progressive Bessemer Coalition has endorsed Ken Gulley for mayor.

Ken Gulley kicked his campaign off in March. Here are Bob Pennington, Gulley, Otis Smith and Hank Tyler at that event.

Image courtesy the Western Tribune

In a conversation with the candidate he said this about the list, "All those things can be summed up; we want good government."

The list included taking control of the budget (in a transparent way), having a vision for the city and a plan to get us there, a person who can get along with the council and share information with the city, be committed to transparency, must be squeaky clean, must be committed to addressing our crime problem, and must live in Bessemer and support Bessemer in everyday living.

The Gulley family

Supporting Bessemer is something Ken Gulley has done all his professional life. Not long after receiving his degree in business management from Alabama A & M University he began working in Bessemer city government, so he has a foundation in how government works, and how the city is organized. After he left city government, he continued to contribute to Bessemer by serving on several community boards and organizations including the Red Cross and the Bessemer Chamber of Commerce.

His vision for the city includes "sound fiscal management, structure and accountability, a state of the art school system, a clean and beautiful city, promoting more tourism and new businesses to our city."

He also says that he will "work to unify the relationship of the mayor and council, so that we can work together to attract more residents, businesses and tourism."

He has promised to treat city employees fairly, and will work to make their salaries comparable to surrounding cities.

He will find funding for youth and senior citizens recreational programs.

He will work to restore the Bessemer Home Rehabilitation Program, which assisted qualified elderly residents who needed renovations to preserve their homes.

He also will examine the status of the First Time Buyers Program. Under this program approximately 50 homes were built, giving those that did not qualify for home ownership under regular conventional methods the opportunity to enjoy the American dream.

These are just a few of real and reachable goals of the Gulley administration.

Vote for Ken Gulley on August 24.

You can find out more about Ken Gulley at Voteken2010 (click on "On the issues") or by attending the Mayoral Candidate Forum on Tuesday, August 17 at 6 pm. the event is free to the public, and all 6 candidates are expected to speak and answer questions. The forum will be at Bessemer city High School.

The City Council and School Board Forums will be on Thursday, August 12 (Districts 1, 2 and 3)and Monday, August 16 (Districts 4, 5, 6 and 7) at 6 pm. More on these later.

Boies and Olson continue to persuade

Get used to it.

I mean, I could get used to looking at pictures of people solidifying their commitment.

The right to marry the person you love has always been in our constitution, and we are now moving toward the recognition of that right.




These pictures of loving couples are courtesy of a google search.

David Boies and Ted Olson did a super job in the courtroom in tearing down Prop 8, and they convinced Judge Walker of the validity of their case.

They are now doing the same with the public, on Fox News and on CBS, on the Sunday talk shows.

Chris Wallace, Fox News, "I gotta say after your appearance today I don't understand how you ever lost a case on the Supreme Court sir."

Watch the entire interview, it's just 6:38 long.




Meanwhile, his legal buddy David Boies took on Tony Perkins on CBS and Face the Nation.



So here's the deal. We've said for years that the key to Equality is coming out, talking to our neighbors and co-workers, and that when people know us, and understand the discrimination on a personal level, their attitudes, and their degree of support, changes.

That is true.

But now this case has become a teachable moment, or a lot of teachable moments. Unless you read the ruling (which was pasted on this blog a few days ago) or followed the case as it was developing, you missed out on the personal aspects of it and how the plaintiffs were affected.

But you cannot miss the legal truths that have been revealed, and the explanation of those truths, which can be found in the 138 page ruling, or heard by listening to the successful attorneys. And every time one of these guys is on TV, more people are made aware of the constitutionality of the ruling, and minds are changed, and public opinion moves more in the direction of Equality.

Now, enjoy a few more pictures.

Quiz time

Well here's a talking points buster from today's Parade magazine, which comes in our Sunday paper.

There is a quiz regarding government spending, you can take it here.

But here are the highlights.

1. Whose administration oversaw the biggest decrease in defense spending?

Three Republicans and Jimmy Carter are the choices. The truth? Eisenhower, Nixon and the first Bush reduced defense spending more than any of the Dems from 1952 to 2008.

Democrats are not weak on defense.

3. The national debt grew fastest when: Dems controlled both houses? GOP controlled both houses? Control of Congress was mixed? Answer: National Debt as a % of GDP decreased when either party controlled congress and increased when Congress was split.

So we need to maintain Democratic control of both houses to control the debt.

6. This was a question about gross domestic product (GDP) and how today's GDP compares to 1950's GDP. Half? Same? 3X? 10X? Answer: We produced three times as much stuff per person in the US in 2008 as we did in 1950.

So all the jobs are not overseas, it seems.

Those are just a few of the questions and answers and you may be surprised at the others as well.

Now, lets go eat some Dreamland ribs.




Here's Mary Chapin Carpenter's song, Dreamland: