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Archive for the ‘National’ Category

National

Birmingham native and activist Angela Davis in the early 1970s.

Angela Davis: “Trayvon Martin not the first”

Birmingham, Ala., native and famed African-American teacher and political activist Angela Davis told students at Florida A&M University on Thursday, March 29, to look beyond their rage over last month’s fatal shooting in Sanford, Fla., of unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin. According to Doug Blackburn of the Tallahassee Democrat, Davis said, “I think in many ways we are implicated in the perpetration of racist violence because we participate in the effort to sensationalize it. We know Trayvon Martin is not the first young black man to lose his life that way,” Davis said. “We have many names.”

Birmingham Media National

See that big cluster on the right there? That represents folks in Birmingham tweeting about the Kony 2012 video — some even tweeted days before the video was published online. Graph by Gilad Lotan/SocialFlow.

Was Birmingham responsible for the social media success of #Kony2012?

According to one social media analyst, Birmingham was uniquely responsible for the viral success of the #Kony2012 social media movement, and was a trendsetter online. If you think you might know why, please let us know.

Birmingham Media National

Trayvon Martin was unarmed when he was killed, but he was carrying Skittles and iced tea. Skittles, like hooded sweatshirts, have become a symbol of Martin's killing.

Birmingham City Council dons hoodies in honor of Trayvon Martin

The four male members of the City Council wore hooded sweatshirts, or hoodies, on the dais. The hoodie has become a symbol of the shooting among Martin’s sympathizers thanks in part to comments made last week by FOX News host Geraldo Rivera.

National

ssa-1

Are children conceived in vitro after the death of the father eligible for Social Security death benefits?

When Robert Capato found out he had cancer, he deposited sperm at a fertility clinic. After his death, Robert’s wife Karen used his sperm to conceive, per the couple’s plan. Karen Capato had twins. While Robert and Karen’s first child received survivor benefits, the Social Security Administration denied benefits to the twins.

Birmingham National State

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich addresses the crowd at the Alabama Theatre. Photos by Steven Atha.

Republicans aim attacks at Obama in Alabama presidential candidate forum

Attacks on other Republican candidates were mostly exceptions Monday night at the Alabama Republican Party’s presidential candidate forum.

Local National

The Doonesbury the Birmingham News doesn't want to see.

Day two of the Doonesbury storyline The Birmingham News doesn’t want you to see

The Birmingham News thinks its readers are too timid to be exposed to a comic about transvaginal ultrasounds and abortion, but if you have the fortitude to, say, sit through five or six minutes of The Daily Show, click here.

Local National

presidentialcandidatecollage

CSPAN Video from Gingrich and Santorum appearance at the Alabama Theatre

In case you missed it and are dying to see Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich at the Alabama Theatre, this will take one hour, 23 minutes of your life.

National State

Hardball

Hardball analysis of PPP poll: Alabama slightly less ignorant, racist than Mississippi

Not only do most Republicans in Alabama and Mississippi believe President Barack Obama is a Muslim (not that there’s anything wrong with that), but more believe in evolution (26 percent) than believe the president is a Christian (14 percent). Regardless of the polls, at least three GOP presidential hopefuls still want to win this state.

Birmingham National

Doonsebury_Monday

Birmingham News nixes controversial Doonesbury comic about transvaginal ultrasounds

Editors at the Birmingham News have decided a controversial storyline of comic strips set to run this week nationwide would be too offensive for the paper’s readership and have replaced this week’s strips with re-runs provided by the syndicate.

National

In case you missed it, Mitt Romney is not really a politician.

“I’m not a pol,” says Romney in Birmingham

Romney criticizes Obama for making “almost all mistakes”