NOTE: We’ll be posting the recap for #bhamchat Episode 2 later today, though the post will be saved in chronological order (meaning that it will appear as being the post before this one).

This week’s edition started with a rather quiet discussion about the decision earlier in the day by the Jefferson County Commission to not take part in the statewide sales tax holiday taking place in August.

Q1: #bhamchat looks like the sales tax holiday is the 1st topic tonight – what are your thoughts about JeffCo deciding to not take part this yr?

• bhamwiki: Perhaps they consider it a trade-off with the court-ordered occupational tax holiday. #bhamchat
• kb0989: #bhamchat…I’ve only lived in JeffCo for two years…but i keep seeing bad decisions and quick fixes rather than substantive changes

The conversation got a little more engaged when the discussion switched over to the recent radio station changes on Birmingham’s FM dial.

Q2: Radio carousel – anyone have anything else to say about the station change over at 105.5? – http://bit.ly/l9mlJ (expand) – #bhamchat

• apollorockit: @bhamterminal Do people still listen to terrestrial radio? #bhamchat
• logosmith: #bhamchat I do listen to terr. radio, but appeal of satrad, oddly, is that most radio isn’t really local anymore anyway.

@bhamwiki had a pretty interesting view of the situation as well:

• bhamwiki: Broadcasting the same programming on multiple frequencies deprives the public of more choices, no matter what you like to hear. #bhamchat
• bhamwiki: Multi-market multi-station owners like clearchannel seem to be milking cows they don’t plan to have to feed. #bhamchat

One question led to a link that probably tells us more about the current situation than anything else…

• logosmith: #bhamchat How many media companies actually control, say, top 90% of BHM radio? I’m guessing 2..
• bhamwiki: This might not be completely up to date – http://bit.ly/35aj8 (expand) #bhamchat
• logosmith: @bhamwiki #bhamchat – so – perhaps 3 or 4? That’s actually more than I thought.

Our last Q was more to get a taste of what folks are reading out there right now:

let’s try this, Q3 what’s your favorite Birmingham, AL blog, and why? #bhamchat?

• 1011TheSource: @bhamterminal I’m partial to the “No Sleep in Helena” blog (because I live there). It is a good one. #bhamchat
• pascal_caputo: @bhamterminal for obvious self-serving reasons I vote for caputoreport.com #bhamchat
• @kb0989: @bhamterminal…The WeKnowBooks blog by Homewood public library is pretty cool…they do book reviews and event promos #bhamchat
• @motrctyman: @bhamterminal My favorite AL blog is Stephen Gordon because he is so wise and dead-on with his political views #bhamchat
• DOGingham: #bhamchat prob foodimentary.com (bc I enjoy the food tips/quotes/etc being in small doses)
• DOGingham: and well, I hope that my own will be a favorite too! 🙂 http://blog.al.com/dogingham/ #bhamchat
• dnr24: Favorite local blog is bhamdining.com. Self serving second is beerlicious.net #bhamchat
• uabewing: we are in our infancy, but http://www.indieophile.com is awfully good, and local if you like independent oriented news and podcast #bhamchat

Well, we did have one more question…

One last quick poll – what do you think is the one story going on in Birmingham that no one’s talking about yet? #bhamchat

• deongordon: #bhamchat *arrives fashionably late* …I’m inclined to say few in the media are discussing LL’s increasingly erratic behavior.
• pascal_caputo: Will the lack of progress on the dome & transit lead to a call to repeal Langford’s x2 biz license fees and 1 cent sales tax? #bhamchat

Of course there’s more that went on, so we invite you to click on one of the #bhamchat links above to see all of the conversations and suggestions – and feel free to join in next week Tuesday starting at 6:30 p.m. on Twitter. For more information, check out the information here and here.

Thanks to everyone that took part or watched… we really appreciate it!