Whats up with Birmingham? Ive heard great things about the city, but also some conflicting reports. With an income in the 40-45K range for a few years, could a family survive here? Ive heard a certain elevation in the cost of living is present.

That's Loogs territory. I visited once when I was like 6.

**I'm not sure what the acceptable income range is, but I can ask a few friends who do/have lived there. I am going to doubt that you care about living in the "fashionable" sections of the town (Vestavia Hills, Mountain Brook) and would just like something where the wife and kids wouldn't be to burdened with safety concerns.

Birmingham is a pretty cool town, actually. Many people say its like ATL was in like 1968 or so...there are myriad reasons for that (See Msrs. Connor, Bull and Wallace, George) but all in all a pretty friendly and easy town with all the modern amenities most folks are used to.

It would not shick me to find myself living there in the not too distant future.

**Answering this question does not mean I admit or acqiuese to being called a bitch, bitch.

Yeah, its pre-boom ATL, from what I hear; the only problem is the undercurrent of Country Club Culture (Loogs friends)

Buuut, I'm pretty sure its a good city to get in on the ground floor in; not sure about the hospitals (you're an MD in training, right?) but they have a pretty good airport (Southwest, bitches), pretty good highways in and out, and as long as you dont buy near Legion Field (or rather DIE near Legion Field), you should be OK.

But I will clown you if you move to Alabama, because GA clowns Alabama, Alabama clowns Mississippi, etc.

Most people who go to LSU end up in either Houston, D.C. or Birmingham. They seem to like it. I've never spent much time there.

If I had to live in AL, I'd prefer to live in B-ham.

I've only been to Birmingham a few times, but thought it was very nice. You're an MD? I have a brother in law who is a neurologist and practiced in B'ham for quite a while. He now practices in Augusta, GA.

However, consider that I currently live in Oklahoma, which , by U.S. Constitution, is the only state that Mississippi is allowed to clown (I think its like, Article XVII, or something)

Doesn't Mississippi make a pitiful, unsuccessful attempt at clowning Louisiana, following the "look west, make fun" principle?

Miss. can clown Arkansas and/or Louisiana, but it becomes a tossup at some point.

My only line on OK (with apologies to you and Aerodynamics) would be, "Oklahoma? Were you forced to march there against your will? Do you live on a reservation? Or are you on Bob Stoops's recruiting staff and have to go to places like South Central LA with shoeboxes full of new Canadian money?

They try. But thankfully we are 49th in everything, and they are 50th.

I tell people that Mississippi should change it's motto to "Mississippi, Where it's ALWAYS 1840!!"