#Alabama (US State)

[sanyu-thewitch05]

They’re already starting…

@queen-shiba

@aishabellasbigblogofeverything

[gaymothman]

nobody ever fucking listens to the marginalized communities living in southern states about what the actuality is of what your lives are going to look like when they entire country goes as Red as Alabama already is. We are surviving and many of us are still thriving despite it all, but i am brutally sick and fucking tired of the hopelessness and fearmongering about your rights being stripped away when there are people living in your fucking country that have already lost those rights under a democratic administration. If you actually give a fuck, look to see how we've been surviving it for the last 4 years, or better yet, for the last 150. Maybe more mutual aid organizations should exist across state lines and those privileged enough to be living with more rights than us could at least stop fucking ignoring us for once.

[stargun2307]

S-23 Sierpinski’s “Sparkle Squad”

Do NOT let the funny name fool you! Or the funny callnames of the Protektors in this squad! They are lean, mean, hazing machines (except for their Storch commanding officer; you’ll see what I mean soon).

Starting from the top, we haaaave:

The Upper Crust

Controller Vier, STCR-S2304: The Sog™️. A real softie who makes fast friends with just about everyone except for her own STARs. Loves music, has perfect pitch, and can rip a mean glissando on the baby grand in the music room. Constantly bullied by her STAR squad because she’s “not tough enough”. A fun fact about Vier is that pizza fascinates her. To this Storch, pizza is a mystery beyond mortal comprehension.

Sergeant (former) DC, STAR-S2341: Yes, DC, short for Washington, District of Columbia. DC is a real piece of work (just like the Congress critters in the real life city). Basically Storch software in Starling hardware. Anger issues, control issues, and narcissism. Drove Vier to tears and worse while serving as her officer.

Sergeant Dreyse, STAR-S2375: Sparkle Squad’s current STAR officer, brought in from “the outside” (a different squad) to disrupt the hierarchy of the cadre and put an end to their relentless harassment of their own Controller. Currently learning piano from Vier, and teaching Vier how to dance. Nothing to see here but a Controller and her officer… chillin in the office… six feet apart cuz they’re not gay…

Now, onto the squad themselves!

Fireteam 1

Florida, STAR-S2337: Hazer-in-chief now that DC is gone. A real equal opportunity hater. Troll.

Maryland, STAR-S2338: Mostly chill, except for when she’s not. Former narcotics squad sergeant from Rotfront whose career fell apart after she fired 12 shots into a crowd during a chase, hitting 8 bystanders and landing none of the shots on the perp. Given the choice between being decommissioned and being transferred to S-23, Maryland chose the transfer and is now almost wishing she took the other option instead.

Louisiana, STAR-S2339: Gossips a lot. Spends a lot of time in the showers.

Kentucky, STAR-S2340: Hillbilly. Queen of Snark. Thing 1.

Fireteam 2

Alaska, STAR-S2342: The one that actually minds her own business. Secretly disapproves of the hazing of her own Controller but doesn’t say anything out of peer pressure.

Alabama, STAR-S2343: A total edgelord who says derogatory things just to see how riled up she can get people. Thing 2.

Massachusetts, STAR-S2344: Came out of the factory with half a brain cell that’s slowly been deteriorating as time goes on.

Mississippi, STAR-S2345: The youngest STAR in the squad. Airhead. Mostly plays along because she wants to fit in. People tend to forget she exists.

The “Sparkle Squad” is the most feared Protektor squad in S-23 despite having the Storch equivalent of a wet kitten as their commanding officer. Florida and Maryland are just as brutal in the interrogation room as an unmentored young Storch. Kentucky tops the scoreboard for the highest amount of items ever confiscated in a single dorm shakedown (37). Massachusetts has to consume 10 shots of Everclear before she starts to feel a buzz. Hazing Vier used to be a team bonding exercise for Sparkle Squad, and even Protektors outside of their squad are also fair game for their “morale building activities”. Their nefarious activities have noticeably dwindled in frequency and scale since Sergeant Dreyse took the reins, but old habits die hard…

[reasonsforhope]

"The Supreme Court on Thursday issued a surprising 5-4 ruling in favor of Black voters in a congressional redistricting case from Alabama, with two conservative justices joining liberals in rejecting a Republican-led effort to weaken a landmark voting rights law.

Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh aligned with the court’s liberals in affirming a lower-court ruling that found a likely violation of the Voting Rights Act in an Alabama congressional map with one majority Black seat out of seven districts in a state where more than one in four residents is Black. The state now will have to draw a new map for next year’s elections.

The decision was keenly anticipated for its potential effect on control of the closely divided U.S. House of Representatives. Because of the ruling, new maps are likely in Alabama and Louisiana that could allow Democratic-leaning Black voters to elect their preferred candidates in two more congressional districts.

The outcome was unexpected in that the court had allowed the challenged Alabama map to be used for the 2022 elections, and in arguments last October the justices appeared willing to make it harder to challenge redistricting plans as racially discriminatory under the Voting Rights Act of 1965...

The case stems from challenges to Alabama’s seven-district congressional map, which included one district in which Black voters form a large enough majority that they have the power to elect their preferred candidate. The challengers said that one district is not enough, pointing out that overall, Alabama’s population is more than 25% Black.

A three-judge court, with two appointees of former President Donald Trump, had little trouble concluding that the plan likely violated the Voting Rights Act by diluting the votes of Black Alabamians. That “likely” violation was the standard under which the preliminary injunction was issued by the three-judge panel, which ordered a new map drawn.

But the state quickly appealed to the Supreme Court, where five conservative justices prevented the lower-court ruling from going forward. At the same time, the court decided to hear the Alabama case.

Louisiana’s congressional map had separately been identified as probably discriminatory by a lower court. That map, too, remained in effect last year and now will have to be redrawn.

The National Redistricting Foundation said in a statement that its pending lawsuits over congressional districts in Georgia and Texas also could be affected."

-via AP, June 8, 2023

[arecipes]

Lemon Cheesecake Recipe 🍋

Creamy and rich, this Lemon Cheesecake has a cookie crust and is topped with a tart lemon curd. If you are a lemon lover, this will be your favorite cheesecake recipe!

I have waxed poetic about my love of lemon for years and years now. If I had my choice between lemon or chocolate, I would choose lemon every time. Sweet or savory – lemon is just my favorite.

So I think I don’t even have to tell you about my love for this Lemon Cheesecake. I first posted this cheesecake back in 2008, then again in 2014. And yes – it totally deserves to be updated yet again.

This Lemon Cheesecake starts off with an animal cracker base versus a graham cracker base. And while I do think a graham cracker crust would be delicious, this animal cracker base totally sets this cheesecake apart from others. That is followed by a creamy lemon cheesecake. Once the cheesecake is baked and cooled, you add a homemade lemon curd to the top. Seriously – all of your lemon dreams coming true.

This cheesecake recipe is the perfect mix of sweet and tart and creamy. It’s perfect for entertaining, and perfect for holidays. I’m not kidding when I say this will be a new favorite – just read some of the comments below and you’ll see many others that agree with me!!

Ingredients

For the Crust:

Like I said above, the crust of this cheesecake is made with animal crackers instead of graham crackers. I really love this crust because it compliments the lemon well. You’ll need 5 ounces of the crackers, sugar, and melted butter. If you prefer a graham cracker crust, you can use that instead.

For the Cheesecake:

The cheesecake is made from lots of cream cheese, eggs, sugar, lemon zest and juice, vanilla, salt, and cream. I would not suggest using low fat ingredients here. You’ll want fresh squeezed lemon juice, so don’t use the juice from a jar.

For the Lemon Curd:

The recipe for this topping is a little different from my go-to lemon curd (which would also work) but I think this version is perfect for this cheesecake. You’ll need lemon juice (again – use freshly squeezed), eggs and an egg yolk, sugar, butter, cream, vanilla and salt.

How to Make a Lemon Cheesecake

Start with your crust: Process the animal crackers in a food processor until you have fine crumbs. If you don’t have a food processor, you can crush the crackers in a bag, but you probably won’t be able to get them as fine. Add the sugar to the mixture, then stream in the butter.

Press the crumbs into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan. I have tried putting the crumbs halfway up the sides, but I didn’t like the texture, so now I just keep them just on the bottom. Bake this for 13-15 minutes, then remove it from the oven and let it cool.

Once the crust is cool, you will wrap your pan. Scroll down below for a few different methods to do this.

Next we are onto the filling. Get the food processor out again and pulse part of the sugar with the lemon zest. If you don’t have a food processor, use your fingers to rub the sugar and zest together. Stir in the rest of the sugar.

In a stand mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the cream cheese for a few seconds. Then add in the lemon sugar, and beat until smooth. Add the eggs, lemon juice, vanilla, and salt and mix to combine.

Give the batter one last stir on the sides and the bottom of the bowl to make sure everything has been incorporated.

Pour this into the crust. Now this goes into the oven to bake until it is just slightly jiggly in the middle, but the surface is no longer shiny. Turn the oven off and prop the door open with a towel or a wooden spoon and let the cheesecake sit in the oven to gradually cool for 1 hour.

While the cheesecake is baking, make your lemon curd. Heat the lemon juice until it is warm. In another bowl, whisk the eggs and egg yolk with the sugar. Then whisk the warm lemon juice into the egg mixture. (Make sure to whisk constantly so that you don’t scramble your eggs and end up with clumps.) Pour this mixture back into the pan, and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.

Remove it from the heat and whisk in the butter, cream, vanilla, and salt.

Refrigerate this until you need it.

Remove the cheesecake from the oven and run a knife around the edge. Let the cake sit at room temperature for 2 hours to cool completely.

Once cool, top the cheesecake with the lemon curd, then refrigerate for a minimum of 5 hours, but 24 hours is even better!

How to Create a Leak-Proof Water Bath for Cheesecake

I am a firm believer in a water bath. Not only is it the best way to avoid cracks in your cheesecake, but it helps to give you the best texture.

But I know many people curse them because sometimes water can leak in and ruin your whole cheesecake.

I have learned 2 different techniques to help you avoid that!

The first is to use the wide heavy duty foil. Normal foil is 12″ wide, while the wide heavy duty foil is 18″ wide. The 18 inches makes it so that you only have to use one sheet which means the water doesn’t have anywhere to sneak in.

The second technique, shown above, is actually something that I learned from one of you! Wrap your springform pan in a slow cooker liner, then add the foil to the outside of that to hold the bag in place. I was worried about oven temperatures at first, but the slow cooker bags are safe up to 400ﾺF. And it worked like a charm!

A few more tips when it comes to water baths:

Be careful when adding the water. You will need a baking dish or roasting pan that fits your springform pan and is at least 2 inches in depth. Even if you think you can walk the pan with the cheesecake and water in it to the oven without spilling or splashing, I still recommend taking the cheesecake and placing it in the baking dish, placing that in the oven and then carefully adding hot water to the dish.

If you are scared of the water bath or if you are too afraid of the water seeping into your cheesecake, I have heard of others who have had luck placing a pan of water on the rack under the cheesecake. I still think the actual water bath makes for a better cheesecake, but this method is a good alternate.

Tips and Tricks

Make sure all of your ingredients are at room temperature.

If your lemons are hard, you can roll them on a countertop, pressing them with the heel of your hand to loosen them up. Or pop them into the microwave for a few seconds.

Always zest the lemon before you juice it. It’s not easy to zest a lemon that has already been juiced!

The cheesecake needs to be fully chilled before serving.

Storing, Freezing, and Making Ahead

FREEZE: I have not personally ever frozen cheesecake, but research says it can be done. You’ll want to wrap it in both plastic wrap and foil, and then freeze it for only up to a month.

STORE: Store any leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Keep it covered so that it will not dry out. The crust will get soggier the longer you keep it, but it will still be good.

MAKE AHEAD: I love that this cheesecake can be made ahead of time, which makes it perfect for holidays. It is actually best when it has been in the refrigerator for a day, so it’s ideal to make it ahead! The original recipe says you can make it up to one day in advance, but I have successfully made it 2 days in advance without any issues.

[whitesinhistory]

On July 1, 1965, a white sheriff in Camden, Alabama, forced people to leave and then padlocked the doors of the Antioch Baptist Church—a Black church where leaders were discussing civil rights—even though he did not have the authority to do so. Community members from the Summer Community Organization and Political Education (SCOPE) group had been meeting at the church for several months, working to promote Black voter registration in Alabama and the rest of the South. According to the 1960 census, Black residents made up over 75% of the population of Wilcox County. However, because of established practices and laws passed with the intent of suppressing the Black vote—which were enforced in discriminatory ways—no Black people in Wilcox County were registered to vote during the 1964 election. When people at the Antioch Baptist Church began registering Black voters, they were quickly targeted by the white community. Two days before Sheriff P.C. Jenkins evicted people from the church, a group of white men had broken into the building and beaten two Black teenagers, inflicting injuries so severe that they were both hospitalized. Rather than providing protection from this violence, on July 1, Sheriff Jenkins announced that the church had been the cause of “too much disturbance,” and gave people only a few hours to clear out their belongings before putting a padlock on the door.  Though Sheriff Jenkins claimed that at least one church leader had expressed opposition to having the church involved in civil rights activism, the following day the chairman of the Board of Deacons denied that claim, and two weeks later the congregation and board of the church unanimously voted to support the church’s involvement in registering Black voters.   Read EJI’s report, Segregation in America, to learn more about how local white officials targeted civil rights activists and the Black church in their quest to uphold segregation.

[easeupkid]

was thinking this past weekend and i was just like GOD why did i ever let rich northerners make me feel ashamed/lesser than/whatever for being from the deep south LIKE ????

[daily-table21]

Video: How States Drive

Status: Public

Link: How States Drive (youtube.com)

Date Posted: December 19th 2021

Extra info: How States Drive but it's only the south

[lonestarbattleship]

The forward 16 inch/45 caliber guns of USS ALABAMA (BB-60) "train to starboard during a North Atlantic battle practice. Photographed during her shakedown period, circa December 1942 - January 1943.

Note: Ice and snow on turrets and decks."

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command: 80-G-K-9410

[gaymothman]

and y'all think it's the southern voters' fault right? y'all think it's cuz we are all maga crazy right? y'all think we like living like this right?

[rosewheresheshouldntbe]

Rose shouldn't be in Alabama.

Background image source: https://www.southernliving.com/montgomery-alabama-7504866

[usstateflagstournament]

[your-fave-is-being-blended]

Alabama

Alabama from The United States of America is being blended!!

You cannot save it.

[lavender-jedi]

Yo the stereotype about southern food being unhealthy is kinda bullshit when you think about it

Like yeah mac n cheese and fried chicken aren't the healthiest, but literally every culture (even the ones known for healthy diets) have less nutritious dishes one could point to

Literally so much of southern cuisine revolves around veggies, like greens, beans, sweet potatoes, succotash, maux choux, gumbo, jambalaya

Also we prepare meat in more ways than just frying, like low country boil, blackened catfish, barbecue, gumbo/jambalaya/etoufee, etc.

People like to casually blame the high rates of obesity and heart disease in the south on southern cuisine, but that's a really convenient way to ignore the prevalence of food deserts and lack of access to quality healthcare down here for poor folks

[maturemenoftvandfilms]

Hot Daddy Politicians: Alabama

The major politicians that I’d fuck from Alabama.

Sen. Richard Shelby I've been wanting the senior senator from Alabama for years. He lost some weight over the years but that doesn't mean I wouldn't take him to bed on a very regular basis.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville He's what you think a senator would look like. I'd love to fuck around in bed with him for a weekend.

Jerry Carl, Mo Brooks, Robert Aderholt

Gary Palmer and Barry Moore

All of Alabama's representatives here, Jerry Carl, Mo Brooks, Robert Aderholt, Gary Palmer and Barry Moore could get some kind of "favor" from me with Jerry Carl being my favorite.

Rick Pate Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries

Now here's a guy I could spend a weekend with.