freeThinkBham

Hello, all. I would just like to take this time to suggest that you consider adding something to this blog. FreeThinkBham isn’t just about my opinions; it’s about revealing the oft-hidden desire for progressive social and political change in Birmingham to other residents who might not be in the know.

That’s the beauty of blogs: an individual’s specialty or wealth of knowledge can become something of public record. If someone knows a lot about a certain topic, that knowledge should be compiled, condensed, and put into the “blogosphere” so others can benefit by easily learning something about Birmingham that may have taken the writer years to discover… or even a lifetime. This is what being a “community” is all about. You should take what you know, share it, and learn from others.

Birmingham, especially, needs to hear from the few forward-thinking young minds that exist in this town. Where else are we going to learn about the more liberal topics in this city that matter to us? Certainly not from the Birmingham News. That was my vision for FreeThinkBham: to become an easy spot for someone to find out what’s happening in the under-belly of an otherwise very conservative part of the country. But I need help. I work full time and can’t update the site as much as I’d like. And mostly, I just don’t know everything that’s going on in this town! That’s where you come in. Are you starting a responsible business? Do you know about an upcoming function or event for social change? Are you just mad about some of the business-as-usual in Birmingham? Let me know about it! I can post something from an email or I can set you up with a guest account, and you can just start updating all you want!

I’ll give you a list of topics that FreeThinkBham is big on. If any of these strike you as a topic in your field of expertise or even just experience, please consider contributing to this blog. Topics: politics, living green, social empowerment (women’s health, LGBT, racism, economics), gardening, spirituality, health, art, education, drug law reform, DIY, vegetarianism/veganism, pets, biking, food, and probably much more that I’m forgetting.

I really hope you’ll take this into consideration, people. Birmingham needs to hear from you! We have to let this town know that there are people here who don’t fit the usual mold, and blogging is one of the most effective ways to do that!

admin General anarchist, Birmingham, communist, democrat, liberal, progressive, socialist

Yes, I know… nobody likes that word… “hipster.” But I’m trying to create a guide for people like me and it’s a word that I would find myself wanting to Google if I was new to a town or about to move there. That is why I’m creating this guide. I want people new to the Birmingham area or having to move here (god bless you) to have an easy way of finding out where to hang, drink, meet people, whatever. And let’s face it: “hipster” culture–or whatever name you want to give our slightly alternative lifestyle–isn’t something that’s just on the forefront of Birmingham; you have to dig a little to find it, and trust me: you don’t want to waste your time doing that. I’m hoping that this guide will make it a little easier for people like me to integrate into the Birmingham area. Let’s get started…

Read more…

admin Living alcohol, apartments, bars, Birmingham, booze, Bottletree Cafe, food, groceries, hair stylist, hipster, music, shopping, tattoos, vegan, vegetarian

These are, indeed, demoralizing times. The richest are getting richer. Everyone we know is getting laid off. Homelessness is skyrocketing; putting decent people out onto freezing streets. Nothing is happening with the wars, the poor, the education system, the food system, the political system. There’s absolutely no way progressives around the country can be feeling energized right now. Here in Birmingham, progressives have had even more shame to deal with as our local leaders steal from us and collude with big business and banks and do absolutely nothing to better our city.

What we need is a shot of encouragement. Even the smallest of achievements or victories could breathe new spirit into us and the movement for social change. We just need something to get us kick-started again like the months before the last Presidential election.

This small accomplishment for the progressives of Birmingham is to get Patrick Cooper elected as mayor.

The runoff election is only a few days away on Tuesday, January 19th. We need to be doing everything we can to get this man elected if we want to feel the empowerment of taking a step in the right direction. I encourage you to get in touch with your progressive friends and neighbors. Figure out what you can do to accomplish this goal. Print out a flyer to hang in your building or pass out in your neighborhood about why Cooper should be elected. Arrange a carpool to the polls. Text/Email all of your Birmingham friends a message about the January 19th election and tell them to forward it on. Even the slightest amount of effort could be rewarded handsomely if we manage to get such a forward-thinking, level-headed man into the Birmingham mayor’s office.

I know it’s hard to think about helping out an entire city when you are currently feeling so depressed and ineffective on a personal level. But the only way to fight this feeling is to give yourself some purpose and focus your energy on achieving even a small victory, if not for Birmingham, at least just for yourself. Electing Patrick Cooper as mayor is the way to regain some progressive momentum in a town that is dying both physically and spiritually. Will you answer this call, Birmingham? I hope you do!

admin Politics Birmingham, mayoral election, Patrick Cooper, Run-off election

ATTENTION DOWNTOWNERS

We have a rare opportunity to move the City of Birmingham in a new direction by voting PATRICK COOPER as Mayor on Tuesday, January 19, 2010.

Only 200 downtown residents voted in December!

We DRASTICALLY need to increase this number if we want POSITIVE and PROGRESSIVE CHANGE

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

VOTE and MAKE SURE YOUR FRIENDS VOTE on

TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2010

If you are not registered to vote, we can assist you! Contact Leigh at 585-7990 and we can deliver the voter registration form to you in person or by email and pick it up for processing. Or you can register in person at the Jefferson County Courthouse, 716 R Arrington Jr. Blvd N, Ste A-410.

To vote in this election you MUST REGISTER by January 8th, 2010.

If you will be busy or out of town on Election Day, you can cast an Absentee ballot at Birmingham City Hall, 710 North 20th Street – 3rd Floor during business hours anytime before January 14, 2010.

RENTERS – PLEASE REGISTER – WE NEED YOUR VOTE

TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

admin Politics

I had the opportunity to sit down and talk with mayoral hopeful Patrick Cooper Wednesday morning over some coffee. Urban Standard provided a relaxed environment for Cooper to take a break from his hectic schedule and discuss the previous election and the upcoming runoff. In light of the low voter turnout in the Downtown area for the Dec. 8th election, I hoped to find and flesh out some new material that could energize the downtown base; encouraging the informed but–apparently–uninspired citizenry from the area to actually show up for Cooper’s runoff against William Bell.

Read more…

admin Business, Entertainment, Politics Birmingham Entertainment District, Birmingham Mayoral Runoff, Patrick Cooper, Railroad Park

Hopefully, everyone without recycling pickup is taking their cans, glass, paper, and plastics to the AEC Recycling Center Downtown. If you do, then you also know that the center only accepts #1 and #2 plastics. Well now you can start saving those #5 plastics also!

Whole Foods has a #5 plastics recycling drop-box. Just save them in a separate small container or bag and take it to Whole Foods the next time you go. It’s right inside the building if you come in the main entrance and head to the right. Happy recycling!

admin Business, Green AEC, recycling, Whole Foods

I’ve decided to compile a few places where Birminghamians(?) can do their Holiday shopping this year without sending all their money straight to irresponsible gigantic corporations. This list is for people in Birmingham who want to try to avoid the superficiality of the Galleria and Summit and get a gift with a little more soul while putting money back into the local economy.

1. Bottletree’s Holiday Craft Bazaar – this is by far the best thing you can support this Holiday season. Hand-made gifts by local artists and artisans, selling them altogether in one of the finest local establishments for music and vegetarian food. This event only happens for 2 days so dont miss it! Sat, Dec. 5th, 11-5 and Sun, Dec. 6th, 12-6.

2. Pepper Place Farmer’s Market General Store and Holiday Market – Although the general store is not usually open on Saturday, on Dec. 5th from 10am to 3pm, Pepper Place will host artists and farmers there for a special Holiday Market. You’ll be able to pick local winter veggies and all sorts of crafts. If you happen to miss the Holiday Market, the General Store is open Tues-Fri 10-4 and offers all sorts of local jarred veggies, jellies, relishes and other potential gifts made in Alabama.

3. Whole Foods Market – While Whole Foods is a big company, they support local and regional farmers and coffee roasters. On top of offering environmentally-responsible food and drink for your Holiday dinners, they also have a wide variety of items that would make great gifts. They have shirts dyed with Alabama clay, local candles and soaps and tons of items that you can be sure didn’t come from a sweat shop!

4. Nomad Supply – This is a great locally-owned shop that sells handmade clothes, hand-blown glass, jewelry, art work, soaps, oils, incense, drums, organic fair trade coffee, stickers, patches, gauged ear jewelry and other random stuff. While you’re there, you can also enjoy the free coffee, tea and wifi! Also check out Golden Temple Health Foods’ boutique in 5 Pts for a lot of similar type gifts.

5. Space One-Eleven’s DIY Holiday Gift-making Workshop – Why buy gifts when you can make them yourself? On Dec 15th, make up to 6 handmade gifts with the help of local artists for only $20. Food, wine, and fun included! RSVP for the event from the site.

I’ll add more places soon but I wanted to get this up quickly to highlight the events going on this weekend! Happy shopping! Leave comments with any more suggestions for local, responsible gift ideas!

admin Business, Green

A few months ago, a billboard was put up on I-20 about 50 miles outside of Birmingham that said “Imagine No Religion.” Well needless to say, a lot of people got upset about it. Here’s a video of some local Christians praising Lamar’s decision not to display the “offensive” billboard.

That’s right, their argument is that the Atheist’s opinion is offensive to the Southern lifestyle. Heaven forbid a minority opinion be expressed in public. The majority shouldn’t have to stand for such dissension, right? Meanwhile, it’s not even Thanksgiving yet and Lamar has a billboard up that says “Jesus is the Reason for the Season” in one of the busiest parts in Downtown. On top of starting tree worship and gift giving, did Jesus also teach Americans how to eat in the new land?

admin Business, Living atheism, Lamar, religion

Yep, we’re on Facebook now too. You should become a fan of our page.

Also, you can see the really bad default photo I made after reading a photoshop masking tutorial. ha

admin General facebook

There are two ways you can help defend women’s rights and health. First, head over to the Planned Parenthood site to sign the petition disapproving of the Stupak amendment to the House health care bill. For those unfamiliar with the Stupak amendment, it’s a “dangerous piece of legislation that would ban abortion from private and public insurance plans for millions of American women.” We need to let the Senate know that we won’t stand for this as part of the Senate’s health care bill.

The second thing you can do is show up at the health clinic on the corner of 10th Ave S. and 17th St. (across from Al’s) at 8am on Saturday morning to assist as a clinic escort or just stand up to the red tapers and other anti-choice fundies that are sure to be out there in full force. The potential clients of the clinic shouldn’t have to be harassed to exercise their civil liberties. Show up to help support and defend these women!

admin Living abortion, activism, civil rights, pro-choice