1811: The first newspaper in Alabama, The Mobile Centinel, is published at Fort Stoddert.

• Most historical information provided by the ADAH.

My four-year vacation from the real world is now over. But the good news is that I now make much more money.

• Loretta Nall: Alabama Legislative Outtakes
• Flashpoint: Saturn V is one of the 7 Wonders of America
• Thomason Tracts: BMLL slapped!
• Left In Alabama: Butler, Orr and Preuitt Ashamed To Vote On Grocery Tax
• Doc’s Political Parlor: Last Days of the Session
• Birmingham Blues: Blog Archive » Express Yourself

Senator Figures’ state-wide smoke ban just passed House committee. If it passes the full House it goes to the Governor.

A fellow blogger, Zach of New England, just found out he has roots here in the deep south and plans on checking it out. Basically, it’s Alabama as the dark continent.

I don’t know if you know me, but if you don’t, I am from the North. Not even the wussy North (e.g., Philadelphia is not the North). I am a New England Yankee. I eat pie with every meal, vote for George McGovern, officiate at gay weddings, listen unironically to Jonathan Richman and the Standells, say “wicked” and drop my r’s (when I’m in the mood), drive on Route 128 like a psychopath, go to town meetings, reinforce the existing class structure, curse, and take salvia at Dispatch concerts.

He picks the perfect year to see Alabama in true form as 2008 is apparently the Year of Alabama Sports. (Is this our version of the Chinese zodiac?)

Lieutenant Governor Folsom’s finally talking about the interstate through west Alabama. Unfortunately, we’re reminded that it would require legislative action.

Folsom is proposing a commission appointed by the governor, lieutenant governor and speaker of the House. It would explore both public and private financing and will report to the Legislature next February.

The Democratic lieutenant governor announced his proposed commission at a news conference with 17 Democratic and Republican legislators. It will be up to the Legislature to vote to create the commission.

After listening to the Senate today, I think we’re going to need new senators if we’re going to take on a project like this.

Loretta Nall has started a new blog — Alabama Legislative Outtakes. I’ll bet that’s extremely time-consuming.

You know, I used to think being a state senator would be a lot of fun. After listening to 10 hours of it, though… maybe not. The Gourmet Beer Bill did not come up for a vote today. Maybe a week from Monday.

Several senators are still talking about the grocery tax bill. Some people are threatening to filibuster everything unless it is brought up again and passes the BIR.

I think the BIR and the filibuster needs to go. Or maybe just the Senate needs to go.

Edit: Someone reminded me that if it can’t pass the BIR, it can’t pass. Because it’s a constitutional amendment, both require a 3/5 majority. So the whole filibuster threat is pointless. They don’t have a 3/5 majority. It can’t pass.

Listening to the Alabama Senate is not healthy.

The BIR was 20 for, 11 against, 3 abstain. Yeah, that’s a failure in Alabama.

Note: I’m actually writing this yesterday (which is what I call the present… when I’m writing as if I’m in the future — which will only be read when the future becomes the present).

Anyway, it’s 10AM now (well… yeah you understand). I’m actually finishing up my embedded systems final exam. But after that, at 10:30, I’ll be glued to the Internet. The Gourmet Beer Bill should be voted on today. I’ll let you know when I know something.

All I want to say is this: Free the Hops.

Look, I voted for Ron Paul. I really like the guy, and I even supported him before he ran for President.

But this is just wack:

The goal of Paulville.org it to establish gated communities containing 100% Ron Paul supporters and or people that live by the ideals of freedom and liberty.

Thing wrong with Paulville.org number 1: Establishing something similar to a commune is not the best way to “live the Ron Paul life.”

• H/T Andrew Sullivan 

You would think Alabama would hate Communist regimes more than the rest of the country. Protectionist nationalism and all that. Well it turns out that the Alabama House Committee on Tourism and Travel recently signed off on a resolution urging President Bush to open up trade with Cuba.

An Auburn University study I read once said that a quarter of Alabama’s agricultural exports go to Cuba and one-third of all US exports to Cuba come from Alabama. Coincidence?

Bob Riley’s bill that would have raise taxes on offshore natural gas wells has died in the legislature. It was estimated that it would have raised $40 million in state revenue. It was either going to stick it to evil energy companies or make energy more expensive, depending on who you talk to.

• Loretta Nall: Rep. John Rogers Discusses Sex Toy Bill
• Flashpoint: AL House OKs bill to add sexual orientation to hate crimes law
• Flashpoint: The Flashpoint AL-05 Candidate Questionnaire
• Thomason Tracts: QUIT ALREADY
• Thomason Tracts: Let’s not!
• Left In Alabama: Grocery Tax Brings Out True Colors - GOP Represents Rich
• The World Around You: It’s Over…
• The World Around You: AL-02 Likely R?
• Birmingham Blues: Childish and Vindictive
• GordonUnleashed: Philly police: Kicking ‘em when they’re already down
• That’s not fair: Thomason Tracts
• Left In Alabama: Help a Democrat Turn a “Ruby Red District” Blue
• Left In Alabama: Artur Davis Has His Eye On the Governor’s Mansion
• Doc’s Political Parlor: Courage to be Different?
• Tim Lennox: Roadside Distractions
• Captain Plaid: Is Bama Senator Rusty Glover a conspiracy nut?
• A Bama Blog: What happened at Tuskegee?
• Croweblog: Gullible Goobers
• The Alabama Democratic Party: Food Costs Rising, Wages Stagnant, Grocery Tax Must Go
• Alabama Republican Party: AEA Admits Defeat on Double-Dipping
• Bessemer Opinions: Alabama Hate Crimes law update, and Stonewall Findings
• Legal Schnauzer: A Roadmap of Corruption in Real Time

This makes it seem like this is a gray area of the law, but… Langford’s wrong. Just plain wrong. Seriously, his argument is not legally correct at all.

• H/T Birmingham Weekly

Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford is talking about distributing money without the city council’s approval. In fact, they specifically did not approve the appropriation.

It’s kinda too bad he has lawyers around to explain these things to him. Apparently Langford thinks a vote tied at zero means a majority for what he wants.

John Giles has endorsed State Senator Harri Anne Smith in her run for Alabama’s second Congressional district.

Giles is most well known as the guy who left as head of the Christian Coalition of Alabama because they were too liberal.