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lonelywretchjervistetch · 3 months ago

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The State Birds Initiative: Georgia (#4)

Welcome to the fourth official poll of the State Birds Initiative! Before the poll, though, one thing real quick. My suggestion is that you read the post below before voting in the poll below. That's especially important if you're lacking any context about the birds being presented as the new (or old) State Bird of the Peach State, Georgia. This is to be fully informed as to why these are being presented, and to make your choices appropriately. Lastly, some of these birds, you will notice, may go against some of the rules listed in the introduction post. All is explained after the jump where the explanations are, I promise you that. But with that...OK! Here's the poll!

With that...time to put Georgia on our minds!

Georgia! State of peaches, Coca-Cola, pecans, and civil rights! Home of Ray Charles, Jimmy Carter, Jackie Robinson, and the great Martin Luther King, Jr.! Location of the only whale shark in captivity in the country, the historic Forsyth Park of Savannah, the majestic Stone Mountain, and the first Chick-fil-A! And for our purposes here in the State Bird Initiative, it's also the first state we're looking at with a tropical climate! Well, a humid subtropical climate, actually, but it counts! If you've ever been to Georgia (which I haven't as of yet, but I'm working on that), you probably know that Georgia is a bit sweaty and temperate most of the year, with long humid summers and high water levels.

In terms of the ecology of the state, we're looking at swamps, cedar-dominated, as well as having a decent proportion of pine trees. Actually, to be specific, we're looking at forests of Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris), an large endangered pine tree species endemic to the southeastern United States. Now, to be clear, this species isn't specific to Georgia, and it's actually the state tree of Alabama. However, now that we've hit the southern USA, we have to address it, as the tree is a symbol of the region. The actual state tree of Georgia is another iconic tree to the southeastern USA, the Southern Live Oak (Quercus virginiana), another big tree evolved to be resistant to forest fires, saltwater, and hurricane-force winds common in the area. Famously, the Southern Live Oak trees of St. Simons Island, Georgia was harvested for the density of their wood, which made them particularly strong against cannonballs. Said wood was used to construct the famous U.S.S. Constitution, AKA "Old Ironsides", which was said to have cannonballs actually bounce off of it throughout the War of 1812. Said ship is still in Boston Harbor to this day, making the 227-year old ship the oldest still floating naval warship in the world! And that's all thanks to the natural environment of Georgia.

What about Georgia's culture? Historically, of course, Georgia is complicated as hell. A former seat of the Civil War and the Confederacy, the state has seen heavy reconstruction in the last century and a half, eventually becoming associated with many civil rights heroes, and currently having a few prominent bastions of the Democratic Party, such as Atlanta. On a contemporary level, the state is famous for its music, its accents, and its food! The state has at least four foods as state symbols - peaches, peanuts, grits, and the Vidalia onion, and has other iconic food and drink like sweet tea, cornbread, peach cobbler, and fried catfish.

As for its people, they're a highly religious bunch on average, known for their hospitality and, according to some accounts online, "polite sarcasm". Y'know, "bless your heart" and all that. Conservative historically with an increasing population of Black Democrats in metropolitan centers, it's a growing state in terms of diversity, and changing rapidly. So...a culturally diverse bird that lives in oak trees? Yeah, that's a target we're gonna hit for sure. I mean, the oak or pine tree part is pretty easy, but the other thing? Well..a songbird would make some sense. I mean, the state is famous for its musicians, ranging from OutKast to Gladys Knight to 2 Chainz to Luke Bryan, and more. So, something that sings is a solid choice. There are a couple of other qualities we can go for, but that's enough for now, I think.

With that, let's move onto the choices. Got some interesting ones this time, but I have...a hunch about this one. We'll see how this goes, but I have a feeling it's gonna go the way of New Jersey's poll, which has been...decisive. But OK, with that...birds after the jump!!!

Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum)

Not gonna lie - this one could be hard to beat, surprisingly. Which is too bad for a number of reasons, but the Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) isn't really a horrible choice for Georgia's State Bird. It breeds in the state, even though it's found all over the eastern and central USA. It's an iconic bird in sight and sound, which is pretty important for a state that's produced a lot of human singers. I even mentioned up above that a songbird wouldn't be a bad choice, and what better songbird than one who can memorize, mimic, and remix multiple sounds for its own use? Plus, it was chosen by school kids, meaning it was elected by the public. Of course, to be fair, it was also chosen by governor at the time, Eugene Talmadge, a famous white supremacist who enforced segregation in Georgia schools and universities, openly supported Adolf Hitler, and was a genuinely extremely racist PIECE OF SHIT...but I digress? Although, it is extremely ironic that Talmadge ratified the Brown Thrasher as the State Bird of Georgia, so there's that.

OK, Talmadge doesn't really have anything to do with this, I just needed to get some anti-racist anger out for a second there, sorry; dude was a bastard in a lot of ways. But in terms of the Brown Thrasher, it's honestly not a bad choice for Georgia. Thing is...I'm not entirely sure I can say it's the best choice, or even a really good choice, frankly. It's...a choice. It does eat peaches, though, so maybe throw that into the pros pile for the species. Oh, and one more thing: it's defeated an attempt to depose it before. The frankly kinda ridiculous attempt to change the State Bird of Georgia to the Cornish Chicken in 2010 was not received well for the chicken. Georgians liked their Thrasher too much! Also, one of the arguments against the Brown Thrasher that the Flip the Bird movement put forth was that it "has no contribution to the state of Georgia economy". Of all the stupid goddamn arguments...

Northern Bobwhite (Colnius virginianus)

Well, if we're talking about the incumbent State Bird, we should bring up the incumbent State Game Bird as well! Yeah, this'll be a regular thing going forward. Any ornithological state symbols are up for bid and re-election, although this is a slightly different process. If a State Game Bird is elected as State Bird, it will ascend to that post, and a new State Game Bird will be proposed, possibly with a new poll. However, if it is not the chosen State Bird, it'll remain as the State Game Bird. So, really, the Northern Bobwhite gets to stay where it is...for now. This may change as we get overlapping game birds across the USA. And we will, believe me. With that said, let's talk about the Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus).

A member of the New World quails (Odontophoridae) the bobwhite is named after its iconic whistling call, and not a random dude named Robert White. The Northern Bobwhite isn't the only species of bobwhite quail by any means, but it's the only major native representative in the USA. It's a grassland and open forest-loving quail whose range extends from Texas to Massachusetts...kind of. Here's the problem with the bobwhite: its population is rapidly decreasing. In the past 60 years or so, the population's decreased by at least 85% in its native range, which is...A LOT. It's partially for that reason that the species is on my priorities for my Life List, because I've never seen them, and they're rapidly vanishing.

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That, alongside the normal ecological concerns and links, and its relatively new status as a threatened species due to land use and forest fires, makes it a good candidate for recognition on its own. But is it a good bird for Georgia? Well, only 4% of its breeding population is found in the state year-round, making the state a poor reservoir for the species. There's also a point that the bobwhite is, surprisingly, an invasive species in some countries, specifically New Zealand and Italy. They're also a common bird in captivity, even though any aviary should have them be the only ground-dwelling bird, since they can be aggressive to competitors. That said, they're not a completely doomed species.

More importantly, though, the fact that Georgia doesn't have a lot of these guys immediately makes them a less-than-ideal candidate for State Bird. State Game Bird, though? That might actually be worse. Remember, this is an endangered species, meaning it may not be a bird we should glorify as a food source. In fact, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources has conservation measures in place to protect bobwhite and their habitat, also seeking to restore it and add new potential habitats for the species. And they aren't eliminating hunting of the species, but are strictly managing and monitoring populations. And there is merit to managed hunting, for the record, but that's a separate conversation to be had. So, not a horrible choice to remain as Game Bird. But who knows? Maybe I'll make a separate poll to ask this question after all. If that's something that interests you, let me know! For now, let's move on.

Bachman's Sparrow (Peuacea aestivalis)

On to the eBird suggestion! And this one is...ooooooooh...yikes. OK, yeah, you may remember my issue with the Saltmarsh Sparrow (Ammospiza caudacutus) as a potential State Bird for New Jersey, mostly revolving around the idea that it wouldn't be easily recognizable by the public, unaffiliated with sparrows and their subtle or major differences. This? This is worse. Once again, don't get me wrong, Bachman's Sparrow (Peuacea aestivalis) would be a dream for me as a birder, as a southern exclusive species and a lifer for me personally. But for the average layman? This is a bird difficult to identify for birders! Not sure the average non-bird person has a chance, to be honest.

But just to be completely comprehensive, why the Bachman's Sparrow? Well, the eBird article quotes the species as having a large breeding population in Georgia. However, to be completely fair, the species mostly breeds in Florida, not Georgia (48% vs. 30%, by recent calculations). That said, the number of Bachman's Sparrows breeding in Georgia isn't a number to sneeze at. As for its ecology, it specializes in pine forests, including those composed of longleaf and loblolly pine, which have Georgia as a major habitat. Oh, and on a historical note (not that this matters too much), John Bachman was an opponent of segregation and racist eugenics beliefs, so a lot better than other historical figures with birds named after them. Granted, that bar is buried seven feet beneath the Earth, but still, it's cleared in this case. So, not the worst set of reasons for Bachman's Sparrow to make the cut.

Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)

Whoa whoa whoa, hold on, hold on. Two more sparrows? What is this, karma? Well, yeah, maybe. Of course, these two are chosen based on their names, as both specimens used in the descriptions for the species were collected in Georgia. But does this truly matter in this case? Neither the Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis), nor the Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana), breed in Georgia, although both are still found in the state. If I had to argue one over the other personally, it'd be the Swamp Sparrow, both to represent a dominant habitat in the state, and because they're possibly more recognizable...even though they're pretty close to the Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) to the untrained eye, I suppose.

Brown-headed Nuthatch (Silla pusilla)

See, here's the real question about the eBird choices. Why choose the Bachman's Sparrow, when the adorably charismatic Brown-headed Nuthatch (Silla pusilla) was right there? The largest breeding population of this bird's global range is in Georgia, with a full 26% of the species depending on Georgia for its propagation. Yeah. This is definitely a Georgia breeder, but since the Bachman's Sparrow is a bit more endangered, has different living conditions, and is a bit more dependent on its Georgia population than the nuthatch here, that's likely why it was given the crown.

And yet...AND YET...in my opinion, this is the better state-dependent representative for Georgia. Sure, less of its breeding population is found in Georgia, but one-quarter of its global population isn't exactly something to sneeze at. And, importantly, this is where the majority of its population is housed, making Georgia more important for the Brown-headed Nuthatch than it is for the Bachman's Sparrow. But is it a better representative outside of that point? Well, it's recognizable, it's not terribly difficult to find, and it's certainly charismatic. I mean, look at that thing, it's cute as hell! Not that the sparrows aren't cute in their way, but the nuthatch? I wanna squeeze that thing, and apparently, they actually sound like rubber duckies. And no, charisma doesn't always mater, and it can be damaging for noncharismatic species conservation. But it can help.

Anything else? Well, using the same logic I have with other birds, it's an important representative of its habitat. The pine forests of the Southeastern USA are, unsurprisingly, in trouble. In fact, longleaf pine forests are kind of a massive deal from a conservation standpoint, and they're in a massive amount of trouble due to development and climate change. Some figures calculate a 95% loss of these forests by 2080, which is...bad, it's real bad, obviously. That kind of potential danger to their habitat, combined with their role within it, makes the nuthatch a good option. And apparently, Birds Georgia agrees with me.

Birds Georgia, for the record, is formerly known as the Georgia chapter of the National Audubon Society. And, while they still have affiliation to the organization, they've separated themselves from the legacy of its namesake. Credit where credit's due! Anyway, why bring them up? Birds Georgia has a number of species they highlight for conservation focus, with the Brown-headed Nuthatch being a major example. Their nestbox program focuses on building more nestboxes for a declining species across the state, and it's very much worked! 450 nest boxes have been installed across the state since 2015, and hopefully that doesn't stop! So, cute potential representative! But that's not the only conservation focus from Birds Georgia.

Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica)

From 2019 to 2020, Birds Georgia named the Chimney Swift their Conservation Focus for the year, and began an initiative to have nestboxes put out for the species across the state. Multiple towers were erected throughout the state by multiple conservation initiatives working with Birds Georgia, giving the birds more habitats outside of direct human settlements to breed and thrive in. But, why the Chimney Swift? They're sort of all over the place.

If you're from the eastern USA and walked outside in the morning or late afternoon, you've probably heard random chittering high above you, especially if you're in a city or town with chimneys on their buildings. If you look up, you've probably seen silhouettes of these guys flying at high speeds in the sky, mouths open to gather flying insects in the dawn and dusk. These are common birds all over the eastern US, as well as recognizable and easy to find and hear. So, why suggest them for Georgia? Because Georgia is tied with three other states for having the largest proportion of the breeding population for the species, at 6% of the species. Not a high number, but a significant proportion nonetheless. That makes it an intriguing choice for Georgia...and a few other places. So, this is probably not the last time we see this species on the polls.

Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus)

But hey, if we're going for birds elevated by Birds Georgia, then we should probably highlight their actual mascot: the Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpe erythrocephalus). We've already talked about the importance of woodpeckers as keystone species in forested environments, and the Red-headed Woodpecker is definitely an example of that ecological role. In truth, the Pielated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus), which was up for the Pennsylvania poll, actually widens holes made by the Red-headed Woodpecker for its own nest-cavities, meaning a keystone depends on a keystone.

Now, in terms of Georgia's population, the breeding population in the state is definitely not the bulwark for the species (that trophy belongs to Kansas with 11%), but the live oak forests the state is seeking to protect definitely houses the species in significant numbers state-wide. The reason Birds Georgia uses it in their logo is because, in 2014, the species was considered high-risk and on the decline in its range. As of 2022, the species is also suffering its highest region-wide decline in Georgia, tied with a few other states on that front well. Combine these facts with an iconic appearance, and the Red-headed Woodpecker is also a decent choice for State Bird from a conservation standpoint.

OK...one more. And this one's...a stretch.

Red-Shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)

OK, it's not actually a stretch; I just wanted to say that because it's a tall image, and I thought it'd be funny. So, OK! The Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus). Now, this is yet another species you can find in various places in the eastern USA, but its second largest breeding population in the country can be found in the Peach State, which is beat out by Florida. Trust me, though, Florida is one of the big three states in the South in terms of breeding bird populations. I try to get a raptor for each state, you'll notice, but why this raptor for Georgia, outside of the breeding population thing?

Well, firstly, there's the association of the species with swamps and woodlands, both of which are prominent Georgia habitats. They've got an extremely varied diet, going for most small prey items in their ranges, even weird ones like roadkill deer, crayfish, and screech owls. And while they're most common in Georgia, they're also most certainly seen in Georgia fairly commonly, especially after their recovery from DDT. But even then...why? Why have a hawk for the state of Georgia at...OK, some of you probably figured it out, I might as well just say it now.

Yup, Georgia's basketball team is the Atlanta Hawks. And yes, OBviously I could've gone for the Atlanta Falcons, but falcons make far less sense to highlight for the state, ironically. There are only three commonly seen species in the state, and none of them have Georgia as a major highlight of their breeding ranges. So, with that in mind, the Hawks seem like the team to highlight, and the best hawk for the state of Georgia is the Red-shouldered Hawk. With that said, is this really the best choice for Georgia's state bird? I mean...that's up to Georgians (and Tumblrites) to decide in the end.

So! An odd post, this one was. Some interesting choices in the end, but is this the most solid roster? Not sure. I have my guess as to the winner for this one, and honestly...it's not a bad choice if I'm right. But with that, it's time to leave it to you - the people! And the next time we have one of these posts, we'll be heading to a region and a state near and dear to me, personally. Time for the Nutmeg State, and the first state with a frequent flyer for a state bird!

See you next time, and happy birding!

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leakywright · 10 months ago

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{ JONATHAN DAVISS, 21, CISMALE, HE/HIM } Is that MALIK ‘LEAKY’ WRIGHT? A SENIOR originally from CLEVELAND, MS, they decided to come to Ogden College to study ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES on a ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIP. They’re THE TRUSTY SIDEKICK on campus, but even they could get blamed for Greer’s disappearance.

been traveling these wide roads for so long...

NAME: malik ‘leaky’ andre wright NICKNAME: leaky, leaks, wright BIRTHDAY: october 16, 2002 ZODIAC: libra sun, sagittarius moon, virgo rising SEXUALITY: bisexual RELIGION: practicing christian (baptist) THREE POSITIVE TRAITS: generous, adaptable, playful THREE NEGATIVE TRAITS: flaky, scatterbrained, cheap THREE SKILLS: trained mechanic, jazz piano, math ENNEAGRAM: 2w1 MYERS-BRIGGS: istp EXTRACURRICULARS: varsity football team: tight-end. vp of recruitment pike, sports show host for student radio station, undergraduate student council.

AESTHETIC: gold rings, early morning runs, sunsets on the river, front porch sweet-tea, tailgating, kisses from grandma, cheers on top of tables, high fives, cheesy grins for photos, BeReal

CHARACTER INSPO: teddy flood (westworld), peeta mellark (the hunger games), matt seracen (friday night lights), pop tate (riverdale), charlie young (the west wing), sam obisanya (ted lasso), gregory (abbott elementary)

LIKES: making playlist, late night jams, fresh sunday mornings, making people laugh, warm summer sun, the changing of leaves, soft blankets, historical fiction, holidays DISLIKES: the past, winter, unsweetened tea, ripped jeans, cold weather, people talking during movies, doing the dishes

FAVORITE MOVIES/TV: ted lasso, friday night lights, new girl, atlanta, teen wolf, outer banks, nope, knives out, do the right thing, waves, if beale street could talk, abbott elementary FAVORITE BOOKS: the vanishing half, seven days in june, the hunger games, harry potter series, possessing the secret of joy, the fire next time FAVORITE ARTISTS: b.b. king, leon bridges, tank and the bangas, lizzo, zach bryan, lawrence, j. cole, abraham alexander, tierra whack

FAMILY: mother - adelaide wright (naomie harris) father - andre wright (omar sy) younger sister - haven wright (marsai martin) younger brother - amai wright (danny boyd jr)

pinterest here, playlist here

MOMMA’S WORDS REOCCUR TO ME:

growing up in cleveland mississippi meant that leaky had access to the only grammy museum outside of la. but really it meant that leaky grew up with humble beginnings, in a one story house that was full of love, laughter, and inspiration. andre and adelaide wright had been high school sweethearts, with andre giving up his dreams of being a full-time musician when they found out adelaide was pregnant, to then instead be the town mechanic. she was a nurse, he a mechanic during the days and blues musician at night, and though life was hectic. it was good.

leaky was taught all the necessities by his father, piano, bass, basic mechanic skills. he wanted his son to be well-rounded and thrive in the world. to build him up. and, like every southern town, high school football became the heart of the wright household. and early on they discovered that leaky was talented. he was good, he had promise for the future. and that he had.

so between practices, gardening, picking on his younger siblings, jamming with his father, and everything else in between, leaky looked at the future with hope, with optimism. and it seemed promising.

junior year of high school, leaky committed to alabama for football, full-ride, tight-end. play time wasn’t promised for him as a freshman, but nick saban personally mentioned his name for future championships. and to make everything better, his best friend jackson and girlfriend iona were accepted their senior year. they had plans to make tuscaloosa their home.

SURRENDER TO THE GOOD LORD: (tw death)

his freshman year was exciting, and a bit overwhelming. the golden boy of the town lost his way, getting caught up in the culture of college and partying. jackson, iona, and him were having the time of their life. and sure leaky wasn’t playing as much as he wanted, but it was enough for the time being.

and then tragedy struck, beginning of second semester of his freshman year, the three of them had been out one night, leaky felt he was on top of the world. but soon it fell into darkness, he remembered sliding into the backseat of the car, pressing a sloppy kiss to iona’s neck, and the next thing he was waking up in the hospital receiving the worst news of his life. jackson and iona were dead.

and then things continued downhill, ogden had attempted to recruit leaky as well, and reached out with a new offer. full playing time, full ride, and a fresh start. leaky couldn’t turn it down. it might be kissing his chance of the nfl behind, but he couldn’t turn down the stellar education ogden was offering him.

so after finishing his freshman year, leaky moved to portsmouth, summer training and all, began his life at ogden, this time taking a side role in his life. no longer the big fish in a small pond like his life in mississippi, he found his place easily. but he doesn’t talk about his freshman year, he doesn’t visit home, and though he seems to be a vibrant and stellar young man, he holds his cards close to his chest.

AND HE’LL WIPE YOUR SLATE CLEAN:

leaky is enjoying ogden, two years in he’s making friends, a star player, doing what he can. and yet there’s a nagging guilt, of not going home when he knows his family misses him, of not visiting iona and jackson’s families, of moving on. but he can’t face it, not yet. maybe one day he’ll be able to return home.

in fact that was the original plan, after his education, to return to cleveland and continue to build up his beloved city. like his father, leaky let’s his passions stay that way, it’s easier to keep the creativity without the pressure of it all. and instead he chose environmental science, something he hopes to be an asset for his community. leaky grew up gardening with his mother, and shares a deep love for the environment, and figures this is the best way to move forward.

GREER:

the two were casual friends. he’d see her at parties, and at school events. it’s hard not to notice the golden girl, especially with how visual leaky is on campus, always involved with an event or being seen in the advertising for the school. they got along fine, having friendships that crossed-over. he never knew her really well, but he respected her enough and enjoyed her presence. whenever she needed help or had a favor, leaky was more than ready to aid a hand. though it never seemed the two got below a surface-level friendship (to those who witnessed them anyway).

THE TRUSTY SIDEKICK:

you need a wingman? leaky is your guy. he’s charming and pleasant and can talk anyone up. need a favor? leaky is there easily fulfilling it as if it’s nothing to him. the guy is a confidant, a hype-man, a volunteer, he can transform himself into whatever you need and it never seems to bother him. and despite being a gifted football player, and smart guy, and seemingly everywhere on campus, he doesn’t steal the spotlight. he’s not the one you think of when you think of ogden, he lets others take the popularity, the jealous looks, the whispers. despite always being there, you might sometimes overlook him, maybe because he’s always there. but he seems to be a good guy, always offering a kind smile and nod of his head on campus, willing to help tutor you in math, and then lets you have all the glory when you ace the test. it almost seems like leaky is making himself out to be the pedestal that everyone sits on. the support that uplifts the hero, and yet still disappears in the crowd, never seeking glory for himself.

extra:

previous tasks found here

he’s always wearing a jacket because he can’t stand the cold

he wears a gold chain that was given to him by iona, he never takes it off

junior year recap:

found a note/torn out paper seemingly about greer during the haunted house

got drunk for the first time in years at the new year's party - holds guilt for penny ending up dead

found a bloody glove when looking for firewood

g told him to find penny's file in the dean's office

broke in with link and took a picture of it - haven't told anyone else

g put nova and leaky together before the rave and gave nova hints about leaky

surprisingly didn't sustain any injuries during the fire

logan confronted him afterward about the text she received about him

stayed in town for the summer to work at a farm and garden, left a few times to visit sassa

#i once again have no clue what my muses did i should start taking notes #ogdenintro

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theblackguywhotips · 1 year ago

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2749: The Montgomery Sweet Tea Party

Rod and Karen discuss the Alabama boat brawl, white people news, man arrested after he’s shot robbing a home, the fast food bandit, man behind blue-black dress illusion charged with abusing his wife and sword ratchetness. Twitter: @rodimusprime @SayDatAgain @TBGWT Instagram: @TheBlackGuyWhoTips Email: [email protected] Blog: www.theblackguywhotips.com Teepublic Store Amazon…

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beautifulreflections · 2 years ago

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Blog Post 3: The Circus and Birthdays

I am person who believes in celebrating life. Those who know me best often hear me say, “Happy Tuesday” or “Happy Thursday.” Really every day is a happy day to me, not because of joy inducing circumstances, but simply because it’s another day to live and grow. I believe that everyday merits cause for celebrating. Really. This is how I approach life. The only issue with celebrating every day is that most people celebrate with cake. Before this sugar fast my daily celebration was midday tea and cookies. I highly suggest this if you’ve never tried it. It’s like teatime in Britain which is normally between 3:30 and 5 pm, except it’s right in your own home.

This weekend we went to visit my family in Alabama. It’s a four-and-a-half-hour drive which entails us being cramped in the car, but it is always worth it. My grandmother who is almost ninety years old lives in the back woods of Alabama with my aunts, uncles, and cousins. When we stop seeing gas stations and well-known food joints, we know we are getting close. And they, like me, believe in celebrating life. So, spur of the moment we decided to go to the circus, since we always make time for fun events. We got in the car and drove about 30 minutes out to this aluminum building where the circus was hosted.

After paying, we walked in and saw all the treats and snacks readily available for a hefty price. “Mom, I want a slushy and cotton candy,” my youngest son said. I told Him with firm and unwavering love that He could only get one sweet treat. Childhood diabetes is a real thing, and that’s not something I want in our lives as far as I can help it. Unfortunately, I made the rookie mom mistake of getting my kids the slushy before circus started, so midway through they were asking for popcorn, but I refused to spend more money. I already spent ten dollars and that was enough.

Really, being at the circus didn’t trip me up as far as my diet goes. Everything was so expensive, and I didn’t want to spend any additional money because we had planned to eat out afterwards. And after the circus, at Zaxby’s, I ate a salad with ranch dressing and drank ice water. I had some fries with dipping sauce too. But, before the circus my mom and I went to the dollar general in town and picked up some vanilla cake with chocolate icing for the birthdays we were celebrating that night. My cousin Kinsley was turning fifteen, and my uncle John was turning sixty- five. While we were at the circus mom had already baked the cake and it was ready for the surprise party for Kinsley.

I didn’t think the cake would bother me until we got home, and then I realized it might be a bigger issue than I anticipated. As I placed the pink and gold candles in the cake, I noticed that it was especially moist. The cake was an issue. Even so, we sang Happy Birthday and Kinsley blew out the candles as I longingly looked at the chocolate that dripped off the sides. My mom heated up the icing to make it tastier. I cut the cake giving a piece to my youngest son and everyone else. “This cake is perfect. It’s so moist. What did you do differently?” I asked my mom. Apparently, she whipped it longer. This makes boxed cake mix even better.

Surprisingly, I sat at the table and served my family. I talked with everyone and cut many pieces of cake, but I didn’t partake. Food is very much a community event in most cultures. When I was growing up, we used to sit around the dinner to eat and talk. We had a lot of great conversations there. Occasionally there would be sweets, but really it was about just being together and enjoying life. I now see that we don’t have to eat junk to be apart of the fun. While sweets are tempting, it is more important to be fully present with the people that are around you.

It's been twenty-five days since I’ve had a sweet treat. Since then, there have been numerous opportunities to eat and enjoy, but I really don’t crave sweets anymore. Apparently, the less sugar you eat the less you crave. Sure, I could have enjoyed a large piece of vanilla cake with chocolate icing. Yes. It would have been delicious. But because I didn’t eat the cake, I had the opportunity to serve others and to see their happy faces as they ate. I have realized that I don’t need sugar to enjoy life. I can still celebrate life while abstaining from brownies with vanilla ice cream, apple pie, strawberry cake, and chocolate chip cookies. Sweets do give you quick energy, but they also leave you wanting more a couple of hours later.

I don’t think I will become one of those overzealous “no sugar ever” people, but I do believe this has set the stage for healthier choices. As it turns out, cutting back on sugary treats isn't the end of the world. And if I decide to do this again, I will remember these moments of strength. I’m not running to Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks for a quick and sugary pick me up anymore. And while donuts are delicious, maybe I can learn to make them at home with stevia instead. I want you to know too that it is possible to cut back on sugar and still enjoy your life. I know. I didn’t it was possible either. But I also want you to know that if I can do it, you can do it too. And maybe at birthday parties, you and I can learn to look at the people around us with gratitude instead of only the cake that’s in the middle of the table.

So yes, small steps of progress are to be celebrated, but not necessarily with a piece of cake.

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galaxy-sharks-and-bottled-ships · 2 months ago

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And when we talk about the state elections we don't say US citizens voted. We say the citizens of that particular state voted. Each state has its own government. Each state has its OWN ELECTION. We just happen to unfortunately share an overall government with the other 49 states and have to vote at large for that election. Look I don't like how much of our election mess is broadcasted everywhere either. I don't even want to see it. I don't know why they think it's important for the rest of the world to watch.

US citizens tend to mush European citizens the same way they tend to mush us. We are all USA citizens yes but we are not all the same.

We also are well aware of the difference between country, state, and continent.

Now if you want to go into the details of culture I'll gladly do so because I've lived in a good deal of this awful country but admittedly mostly in the South Eastern end.

Let's start with Mardi Gras. A celebration unique to Louisiana, parts Mississippi, parts Alabama, parts of Florida, and parts of Texas. And those parts? Literally the bits touching the water or just prone to partying... Or really just close to the Bay area. But largely the bulk of the celebration doesn't leave Louisiana and Alabama. It's also under semi heated debate as to who started it. Mobile, Alabama or New Orleans, Louisiana. If you want family friendly visit any other area than New Orleans. They party HARD for Mardi Gras. They also have the MOST impressive parades though not to mention the traditional green, gold, and purple of the Mardi Gras season came from one of their parades when Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich of Russia visited in 1872.

Each color is symbolic of something. Purple stands for justice, gold stands for power, and green stands for faith.

You want to talk food? We have grits. A staple of the South East that next to no one anywhere else has heard of with the same name. You know what it is? Ground corn meal. Corn originally known as maize to the natives before settlers arrived. Grits are made differently depending on where you eat them. I always grew up eating them with butter, salt, and pepper in them. It's common in some areas to put actual peppers or even shrimp in them. Some people depending on the area will add something sweet to them instead. Good luck finding them in the North or far Western states though! No one will know what you are talking about. The closest they might guess is a type of porridge. Don't even get me started on sweet iced tea. They don't have it. It will be hot. Or it will be bitter and iced. Not both. They look at you as if you've grown a third eye in the middle of your forehead when you ask for it outside of the normal region it's served in.

Both of these are incredibly common things too in the South. Same goes for boiled peanuts.

My family has passed down a recipe for generations not knowing its original name was the three sisters soup and that it was a Native American dish likely originating from either the Choctaw tribe or the Creek tribe. Its ingredients change based on location but as it would turn out most tribes had their own version.

Religiously speaking a neat little thing I learned from my mother is how her ancestors' culture was blended with Baptist Christianity to make what is called a Southern Baptist. A nice way of saying they took the beliefs of the local tribes and twisted them to fit in with the Christian religion. My mom believed to her dying day that cardinals were the souls of loved ones coming to wish you well and that for a lot to visit your house it meant you were going to die soon but you'd have company on the way to heaven.

Each state is affected differently by its history. By which tribes were in the area. By what foods were cooked in the region. By where immigrants settled. If I recall correctly Wisconsin is mostly of Germanic descent and their food tends to reflect that supposedly. I don't know. I'm not from Germany or Wisconsin. I'm from Alabama. We eat jambalaya regularly in our house because we lived in Louisiana. Jambalaya is a dish of Creole/Cajun origin that was heavily influenced by the settlers in the area. Namely, Spanish, African, French, and Caribbean. In fact, a ton of food in Louisiana tends to be spicy because of this. Food in Texas tends to have more of a Hispanic leaning because of the border between Mexico and Texas. It can be spicy and sometimes you might find a place serving boiled cactus. Florida is... Insane. Fried alligator tastes like chicken and I dare you to find anywhere other than the "Deep South" that serves up gator at all. New Englanders tend to have things like clam chowder. Or so I've heard. I've never eaten it but I've been told by a friend that it's bland compared to Southern food.

Heck, I've got a friend in Seattle, Washington (the far North West) sending me her family's traditional Chinese moon cakes in exchange for our traditional Mardi Gras moon pies.

Each state was settled by different groups and had different tribes in the areas.

Conquistadors had Florida for the longest time.

The English had New England (the North Eastern region).

A lot of states like Oregon and Washington had a lot of Chinese settlers from things like the gold rush.

California even has a lot of Chinese culture going on. They have a literal China town in San Francisco, California. Or at least they used to but it's more tourist trap these days.

Just because not everyone knows about or talks about the Kowi Anukasha doesn't mean they aren't a cultural thing for the South Eastern region. Most people just don't know about it anymore because it was sort of blended in and stamped out when settlers took over.

The South doesn't pay any attention at all to hockey but the North loves it.

Look the USA is a mixing pot of culture. It's a big blended batch sure but you can't forget there was already a culture here. Dozens in fact. Would have been more if it wasn't diseases like smallpox. And then more cultures got shipped over and carved out their own niche. Settlers arrived from everywhere. Some moved as large groups and started their own towns that way

There's a town in Texas so heavily influenced by Irish culture that they go absolutely WILD each St. Patrick's day. The whole town has gone crazy over their Irish heritage. They supposedly have an actual piece of the Blarney stone in the middle of the town square.

Some took on more of the culture that was already there or blended it with their own to make something new. Creole and Cajun aren't just races. They're a whole culture. They've got their own languages. Dying out sure. But it's still a language.

If you go to South Dakota you might just find yourself talking to a person from a local tribe. Guess what. They have their own language. Their own traditional foods no one else will have. Because each tribe had its own culture.

Also if you go to South Dakota please stop and see Lady Dignity. She was erected to honor the Lakota and Dakota people. Which one that note- how did you think we got the names North and South Dakota?

Did you know Amish people exist? No joke. They're common in Midwestern states but not the South East. So in certain areas you've got to make sure you don't run over a whole horse and buggy.

Which brings back another thing!

Buggy for the South. Cart for the North. This also applies to the thing you push around in the stores.

Lightning bug for the South East. Firefly for the North West.

I've tripped people up by calling my shoes sneakers or tennis shoes. It's not common to call them that here.

Certainly areas use different words and if can stump you sometimes. Sometimes it's just weird though.

Don't get me started on accents. A Louisiana accent sounds very different from an Alabama accent. Florida sounds different from Alabama despite touching the state. The North end of Alabama sounds different from the South end. ...come to think of it the food is a bit different too. I don't know how to explain the difference though.

Just because all 50 states may have mashed potatoes and gravy as an option for dinner doesn't mean we're all the same.

Not everyone can explain each different state because not everyone has traveled over 5,000 miles or over 8,046 Km in their lives. I have. Cross country trips are a pain. It's 34 hours of straight driving if you don't stop. Not counting traffic.

Now you know what's funny? If settlers hadn't come here and the tribes hadn't been wiped out we'd probably be just as diverse as the continent of Europe when it comes to languages. Sadly, England, France, and Spain very much took over and stamped that out. And after the land was sold in things like the Louisiana Purchase English very much became the dominant language with most native languages dying out. We've still got things like Cajun French though... Somewhere out in the bayous...

one thing I’ve noticed while running an online shop is that Americans never include their country when writing their address.

I don’t mean when filling in online forms, bc that’s obviously a required element. but when emailing me for address changes for orders, they never include a country in the updated address. but I always know the country is the United States of America because literally nobody else around the world would do that.

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all-things-cringe-worthy · 1 year ago

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#Nyemiah Supreme #the Alabama Sweet Tea Party #😂🤣💀☠️⚰️☠️💀🤣😂

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themelinated · 6 months ago

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We are getting very close to the anniversary of Fadesgiving, or the Montgomery Brawl. How y’all finna celebrate?

#fade in the water #montgomery boat brawl #black aqua man #white folding chair #the slamma in Alabama #justice #sweet tea party #they done tried it #black excellence #Fadesgiving

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nwbeerguide · 2 months ago

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Celebrating the season, Dunkin' Spiked releases "Dunkin’ Spiked Pumpkin Spice Iced Latte"

Press Release

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Get ready to pumpkin and spice it up! Following an explosive launch last fall, Dunkin’ Spiked announced today the expansion of its ready-to-drink line of Spiked Iced Coffees with a first-ever limited seasonal offering – a buzz-worthy twist on a quintessential fall classic and Dunkin’s highly anticipated seasonal offering: the Pumpkin Spice Iced Latte.

Available in grocery and package stores across 27 states, the Dunkin’ Spiked Pumpkin Spice Iced Latte is a rich, creamy and deliciously decadent drink with the perfect balance of sweet pumpkin, vanilla and fall spice flavors. Offering the taste consumers know and love from Dunkin’s Pumpkin Spice Latte, the spiked beverage option enhances everyone’s go-to fall beverage in a ready-to-drink format, allowing consumers to party with the taste of fall all season long; best enjoyed straight from the can or poured over ice and topped with whipped cream. (Let the mouth-watering commence!)

“As one of our most highly anticipated seasonal offerings, Pumpkin Spice Latte has become a staple amid everyone’s favorite cozy season. Recognizing this, we knew we had an opportunity to create something special with an adult twist on the beloved beverage,” said Brian Gilbert, Vice President of Retail Business Development at Dunkin’. “After receiving such an overwhelmingly positive response on our Spiked Iced Coffees after only one year in market, the Dunkin’ Spiked Pumpkin Spice Iced Latte felt like a natural addition to the line, allowing us to meet the growing demands of 21+ consumers seeking new spiked spins on their favorite Dunkin’ – and fall – flavors.”

The expansion comes on the heels of the brand’s monumental launch of its Spiked Iced Coffees and Spiked Iced Teas, which were first released in 13 states in August 2023 as a buzz-worthy spin on classic Dunkin’ beverages. Following unprecedented success in the Northeast, the brand has since more than doubled its retail footprint to 27 states to meet the appetite of 21+ consumers nationwide looking for the perfect beverage option for daytime and nighttime drinking occasions.

The Dunkin’ Spiked Pumpkin Spice Iced Latte clocks in at 6% ABV and is crafted with real coffee, pumpkin spice flavor, and a non-dairy creamer that is both vegan and lactose-intolerant friendly. Available in a 4-pack of 12oz cans, this limited-time-offering will be available anywhere Dunkin’ Spiked Iced Coffees are sold and hitting shelves in early August. Consumers can use the product finder to find some at a store near them at www.dunkinspiked.com.

The original Dunkin' Spiked Iced Coffee line up has an ABV of 6% and features four delicious varieties – all riffs on classic Dunkin' flavors – Original, Caramel, Mocha and Vanilla all available in a 12oz can variety 12 pack. Dunkin’ Spiked Original Iced Coffee lovers can also find this flavor on its own in 24oz single-serve and 4-pack 12oz cans.

The Dunkin' Spiked Iced Tea line up is the brand's first excursion into the hard-tea space and features four signature flavors – Slightly Sweet, Half & Half, Strawberry Dragonfruit Refresher and Mango Pineapple Refresher – at 5% ABV and all available in a 12oz can variety 12 pack. Consumers can also find the Slightly Sweet Iced Tea flavor on its own in 6-pack 12oz and 24oz single-serve cans alongside Strawberry Dragonfruit Refresher 24oz single-serve cans.

Dunkin' Spiked Iced Teas and Spiked Iced Coffees are currently available at a variety of retailers across Alabama, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

To stay updated on the latest happenings at Dunkin’ Spiked, visit DunkinSpiked.com or subscribe to the Dunkin’ blog to receive notifications at news.dunkindonuts.com/blog.

About Dunkin’

Dunkin’, founded in 1950, is the largest coffee and donuts brand in the United States, with more than 13,700 restaurants in nearly 40 global markets. Dunkin’ is part of the Inspire Brands family of restaurants. For more information, visit DunkinDonuts.com and InspireBrands.com.

#Massachusetts #MA #Dunkin'#Boston #Press Release

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skiplo-wave · 6 months ago

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Sorry, this is gonns be a long one.

I still cannot believe in this day and age, debutantes still exist. (Alabama & Georgia area). I know this, because of my grandparents. My dad's family was part of a upper-class society "CULT" as I called it since the 1950s. These debutantes and cults was suppose to die out after WWI began in 1914. But not where I am from. My grandparents would often babysit me and my parents had no clue what was going on. My grandma would play tea party with me. But what I thought was a game and afternoon snacks, she was training me in etiquette. She always had me in pretty dresses. My grandpa taught me how to dance. It wasn't until I was 15 almost 16 that my grandma told my parents she wanted to do a old fashion quilting for my birthday. I thought it was strange, but I didn't know the whole meaning behind it. My parents didn't really get it either. But I agreed. I thought it was sweet that my grandma and her friends wanted to make me a quilt for my birthday. And it was a beautiful floral white & lavender colored quilt. The florals was irises and each block had a special meaning. I thought it was weird that the ladies there kept asking me "When are you getting married?" or "Do you have any young man in mind?" (At that age I really wasn't thinking about boys. I was thinking about pokemon hunting lmfao. I didn't get into dating until I was 21.)

After I turned 16, my grandma brought me a beautiful pink ball gown and said we are going to a ball. She didn't ask me, she said we are going. I thought cool. I was like this is gonna be interesting. So they get me ready. They actually had a professional makeup and hairstylist to help me. I get into my gown and we drive there by limo. We arrive to what I know now was a debutante ball. Where it was me and a few of my cousins like what they call a "coming out party" or "being presented to society." I had no fucking clue who these rich people was but they look like scary mobsters too me. This place was serving the teens wine. I didn't drink it, but my cousins did. I went home that night and told my parents. My parents flipped out on my grandparents about offering me alcohol. I was 16 years old. A few days later, the debutante was Saturday, by Monday morning I had 10 suitors that was asking for my hand in marriage. My grandma calls my mother and tells her that these young men are wanting to marry me. They come from rich families and would provide for me. I cannot even repeat what my mom said. My parents was so angry. They cut off contact with them. My dad's parents was trying to marry me off at 16. And two of my cousins actually did get married at 16. They pretty much was arranged.

#asks

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leakywright · 2 years ago

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{ JONATHAN DAVISS, 21, CISMALE, HE/HIM } Is that MALIK ‘LEAKY’ WRIGHT? A JUNIOR originally from CLEVELAND, MS, they decided to come to Ogden College to study ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES on a ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIP. They’re THE TRUSTY SIDEKICK on campus, but even they could get blamed for Greer’s disappearance.

been traveling these wide roads for so long...

AESTHETIC: gold rings, early morning runs, sunsets on the river, front porch sweet-tea, tailgating, kisses from grandma, cheers on top of tables, high fives, cheesy grins for photos, BeReal

CHARACTER INSPO: teddy flood (westworld), peeta mellark (the hunger games), matt seracen (friday night lights), pop tate (riverdale), charlie young (the west wing), sam obisanya (ted lasso)

FAMILY: mother - adelaide wright (naomie harris) father - andre wright (omar sy) younger sister - haven wright (marsai martin) younger brother - amai wright (danny boyd jr)

pinterest here, playlist here

MOMMA’S WORDS REOCCUR TO ME:

SURRENDER TO THE GOOD LORD: (tw death)

AND HE’LL WIPE YOUR SLATE CLEAN:

GREER:

THE TRUSTY SIDEKICK:

extra:

previous tasks found here

he’s always wearing a jacket because he can’t stand the cold

he wears a gold chain that was given to him by iona, he never takes it off

#ogdenintro #just a few touch-ups !!!#my lil bby

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