The return of college football

A WILD OFF-SEASON HAS DONE LITTLE TO DAMPEN ENTHUSIASM FOR THE 2011 SEASON

It was Karl Marx who coined the term “opiate of the people” back in 1843 as a slight against organized religion. But the father of socialism could have just as easily spun the term to describe college football in the modern day.

PolySigh

Tales from Twitter

SO MANY HEADLINES, SO FEW CHARACTERS

By Matt Hooper

What a week to reintroduce one’s self to Twitter. When the micro-blogging trend achieved white-hot heat back in 2008, I was there.

PolySigh

A response to Tipping Point

By Matt Hooper

We received this response to Matt Hooper’s column “Tipping Point” from Nathan Barret, who runs the Spring Street Fire House DIY music venue here in Birmingham, and felt we should share it, and Mr. Hooper’s response, with you.

PolySigh

State of the race

FEATURING JON HUNTSMAN, THE GUY WHO BELIEVES IN SCIENCE

By Matt Hooper

Hey, 440 some-odd days until the 2012 election! Excited yet? Sure you are! Michele Bachmann won the Iowa straw poll, a black guy is running for the GOP nomination and Christine O’Donnell is walking off the set of Piers Morgan Tonight. It’s a great time to be alive.

PolySigh

The tipping point

YOUR GUIDE TO THE COMING SOCIETAL APOCALYPSE

By Matt Hooper

A couple of weeks ago, while I was knee-deep in deciphering the debt ceiling debacle, I ran across a disturbing AP story out of Philadelphia.

PolySigh

Border wars

THE METRO CROSSPLEX BECOMES JUST A CROSSPLEX

By Matt Hooper

Before we get started, I need to fire off a few letters. Dear People Who Swim and Run Fast, That’s excellent that you can do what you do. I mean, wow, you’re awesome.

PolySigh

Minority rules

DEBT, DEFAULT AND THE ART OF THE ONE-SIDED COMPROMISE

By Matt Hooper

Well, OK then. So much for the grand bargain. This past weekend had to be the most uninspiring stretch of time to be an American since...well, maybe Watergate or the Clinton impeachment. No wonder we couldn’t get our form of government to take hold in Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq.

PolySigh

Been there, done that, let’s do something else

By Matt Hooper

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PolySigh

Sarah Palin’s Lipstick

THE FORMER GOVERNOR ELICITS ADVICE FROM A TRUSTED ADVISOR

By Matt Hooper

It’s a summer afternoon in Alaska, and GOP/Tea Party matriarch Sarah Palin is alone in her home, talking to her most trusted advisor and best friend. You get to eavesdrop. Lucky you. (Boilerplate, boilerplate...not real, no sue, etc., etc.)

Politics

Presidential post-time

480 DAYS OUT, HANDICAPPING THE GOP HOPEFULS

By Matt Hooper

If you’re here looking for what has recently become a predictable dose of political satire, I’m sorry. This is not your week. The little yellow light on my satirical-faux-conversation tank is burning bright. I’m tapped out for now, man.