Thebama

Chris November 9th, 2009

Tea Party Preaches Intolerance and Hatred

Today, November 9, 2009, the Tea Party Express rolled into Birmingham, Alabama. I and my son felt that as Americans – and having it  been said that Americans have become lazy and spend their time sitting on our couches rather than standing up for what we believe I – we traveled to Kelly Ingram Park (the site of many civil rights rallies) to voice our opinion on the health care issue.

As my son and I arrived, my son with his sign that read HEALTH CARE NOW! and I with my sign that read YES, WE MUST HAVE A PUBLIC OPTION, we were immediately met with the Tea Party’s insults and out-and-out lies. I and my son were told that we were “Fat”… that we were “Nigger Lover’s”… that we do not have jobs or work… that we were unwilling to pay for health care… that we did not support our troops, etc. One very obnoxious woman even turned to me and said [and I quote] “I hope you die!” We were not shouting over the crowd, we were not attempting to debate the presenters; we merely stood there holding signs to show that the Tea Party was not representative of everyone in Birmingham.

Clearly, the Tea Party is out to incite others to their views and to preach intolerance and hatred. This was a crowd whose leaders stood on the stage this day and spoke of intolerance for gays and African Americans and who called President Obama a [quote] “Wuss and a sissy because he has not immediately sent more troops into Afghanistan or murdered Hasan (the man who shot our soldiers at Fort Hood in Texas) – even suggesting that Obama had “allowed it to happen.”

What was absent from the Tea Parties rally was any REAL conversation regarding health care. ALL they spoke of was getting a black man out of the White House. In fact, their battle cry was TAKE BACK AMERICA! In all of my years on this earth, I have never heard so much racism preached; or heard so much hatred for others who do not live what they consider to be a “Conservative Christian Lifestyle.” Well, this is not my idea of being a Christian. I doubt that Jesus would preach against blacks… condemn gays… or carry a banner promoting guns. No, this is NOT my idea of being a good Christian. The God I know wants us to have tolerance for each other and to love one another – period!

As I stood in this crowd of Tea Partiers, I heard nothing about an actual answer to the health care issue. And no, I am not an African American; but I was appalled at the racism that was presented on this day, as I stood in Kelly Ingram Park in Birmingham, Alabama. People like this make me ashamed to be a white woman in this country. At one point, a woman actually turned to us and stated “You better leave here, before we sic the dogs on you.” How much more a racist statement could anyone make?

I thought that I lived in a country where the election of our first African American President, Obama, meant that we were finally making some headway on becoming one people – one American people – clearly I was mistaken. Granted, I voted for President Obama because I do believe that he is the first man (black or not) who has tried to make a real difference in America. Obama IS listening to we Americans and doing his best to give all Americans affordable health care… not rushing into war, without a clear exit plan… not preaching hatred for others with a different skin color or a different view from his own. I stand with our President and with affordable health care for every American!

The tea party crowd will tell you that these were the actions of a select few, and not representative of their movement. I believe otherwise, as the hatred was too wide spread; and the leaders on stage were urging them to raise their “cleaver” banners calling Obama everything from Hitler to Stalin – and of course, not an American citizen.

I urge all reasonable Americans to not trust their words, or mine. Go to one of these events and see it for yourself. Listen to them sing songs comparing our beloved country to the U.S.S.R. See them cheer at posters calling for someone to “Pull the plug” on Nancy Pelosi to save Grandma from the death panels. I support free speach and always will: but this kind of ignorance should not go unanswered

They are not debating the issues; they are not proposing solutions to our problems. They are enraging the so-called “base” through hatred and lie-based fear.

For once I agree with Glen Beck… If this is the future of our country: I fear for it too!

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Mike October 16th, 2008

Rascal Flatts Lends A Hand In Birmingham

Rascal Flatts came to Birmingham Wednesday, October 15th to help build an amazing new playground in an area that had been just an empty field. Rascal Flatts were selected For Home Depot’s Humanitarian award. As the winners they chose Birmingham as the location for a brand new playground provided by Kaboom! which was constructed at the Princeton Alternative Elementary School. Other volunteers included representatives from ACM, The Home Depot and Kaboom! as well as many members of the local community. Thanks guys! See below and click on the links on the left hand side to see all the pics and video from this great community project!

Story courtesy of 102.5 The Bull who offers full coverage and photos on their website:

http://www.1025thebull.com/pages/rascal.html

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Lori September 22nd, 2008

Carto-Craft Maps
By Lori – TheBama.com Staff Writer

A map store might not sound that exciting, and I guess it’s really not, but Carto-Craft Maps, Inc. in Bluff Park is a cool little store with lots of cool maps that some will consider art.

Most of what Carto-Craft sells at the store they mak. They utilize Global Positioning Technology to ensure accuracy and quality. The store is filled with laminated wall maps, folded maps, atlases and more. Their maps can also be found at some large chain bookstores, such as Books-a-Million.

You can find a map for just about anything – the Birmingham metro area, the State of Alabama, Shelby County, Huntsville, world maps, the Appalachian Trail, or a waterproof map of Lay Lake for fisherman and boaters. My favorite map from Carto-Craft is one they didn’t actually make, but it shows world cities at night with a dark blue background and land represented in turquoise. The cities are dots of white that almost glow against the darker colors.

There’s nothing fancy or upscale about Carto-Craft. The small building sits at the end of the Shades Mountain Plaza parking lot. Inside, there are shelves with the merchandise on them and lots of maps hanging on the walls and in display cases that you can search through. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, they might have it in the back. If what you want isn’t laminated, they can do that too. The laminated maps are sturdy enough that they can be hung on the wall without the need for a frame.

Carto-Craft is only open during the week, so don’t try to go on a Saturday, which I did multiple times before understanding that it’s never open on Saturday. When I finally had the opportunity to go on a weekday, I found numerous maps I wanted and came out with two.

The store can be a little tricky to find, so you might want to MapQuest it or call for directions.
Carto-Craft Maps, Inc.
738 Shades Mountain Plaza
Birmingham, AL 35226
205-822-2103

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Chris August 13th, 2008

Vulcan: Birmingham’s City Symbol
By: Christie Bohrofoush, Senior Staff Writer

In ancient times, people worshiped many gods. Vulcan was the Roman god of the Forge. A forge is a shop with a furnace where metal is heated and hammered out into useful items. In Greek mythology,Vulcan’s name is Nephaestus. His father was Jupitor, the supreme ruler of the universe, and his mother, Juno. Unlike all the other gods and goddesses, who were perfectly beautiful, Vulcan was ugly and lame. He was thrown from Mount Olympus, the home of the gods. After falling for an entire day, he landed on the island of Lemnos in the Aegean Sea and worked as a blacksmith, using a volcano as his forge. The one-eyed Cyclopses were his helpers. He made weapons and armor for all the gods, but was kindly and peaceful himself. He married the glamorous Venus, goddess of Love and Beauty.

What does an ancient god have to do with a modern city? Birmingham was founded in 1871. The area where the city grew is very special because it contains coal, iron ore, and limestone, the raw materials for making iron and steel. Birmingham’s founders knew this would be a good place to build an industrial city. By 1900, Birmingham was called the “Magic City” because it grew so quickly. The city’s leaders wanted to advertise Birmingham and the state of Alabama to the world by entering an exhibit in the Saint Louis World’s Fair. James A. MacKnight, the manager of the Alabama State Fair, decided a statue of Vulcan would best highlight the area’s growing industrial abilities. Mr. MacKnight searched for a sculptor, and finally found Giuseppe Moretti, and Italian immigrant who had come to New York City in 1888 and was becoming well known for creating large and beautiful statues.

Giuseppe Moretti had only six months to complete the project. He first made a two-foot clay model. Next, he made a full-size clay model using a large abandoned church in New Jersey as his studio. The clay was applied over a wooden form because Vulcan was so big the wooden form and the clay model were actually in two pieces… the top and bottom half of Vulcan. Moretti than used this full-sized model to create plaster molds, which were shipped back to Birmingham. Birmingham Steel and Iron Company used the molds to cast the statue in iron. The casting was done one piece (21 pieces) at a time. As the statue’s pieces were cast, they were sent to Saint Louis to be assembled. The statue of Vulcan, with his dark, burnished, metallic finish, was dedicated on June 7, 1904, in the Palace of Mines and Metallurgy at the World’s Fair. Mr. Moretti sculpted Vulcan standing with his anvil at his right side. In his left hand, he held his hammer. He held his right hand high in the air, admiring a spear he had just finished making in his forge. The statue proved to be a very popular exhibit and won the Grand Prize, as well as medals for the sculptor and foundry.

In 1905, when the World’s Fair ended, Vulcan was taken apart and brought by train back to Birmingham. His pieces lay atop Red Mountain while city leaders tried to decide where to put him. Some wanted him in Capitol Park, now called Linn Park, in downtown Birmingham. Others thought he should stand atop Red Mountain. After a year and a half, he finally wound up at the Alabama State Fairgrounds. Although it was to be a temporary home, Vulcan stayed there for almost thirty years. Moretti was not there to help, and Vulcan was not put together correctly. He could not hold his hammer because his left hand was turned the wrong way. His left arm had to be supported by a timber. His right hand was put on backwards, so he could not hold his spear. Merchants began to use him for advertising, and over the years he held various objects, such as a giant ice cream cone, a pickle sign, and a Coke bottle. Later he wore a giant pair of Liberty overalls. In the 1930s, he was repainted in flesh tones. Also, people only saw him for a few weeks the fair was open each year.

People began to discuss bringing back Vulcan’s dignity and moving him to a park to be created especially for him atop Red Mountain. It took years for the new park to be built, partly because of the hard economic times during the years of the Great Depression. During the Depression, the United States government formed the Works Progress Administration (also known as the WPA,) this agency provided unemployed people with jobs, such as constructing trails and buildings in public parks. The WPA agreed to help get the land ready for the new park and to construct a museum as well a beautiful stone pedestal for the statue. In May 1939, Vulcan, now painted with aluminum paint, was finally in his new home in Vulcan Park, atop Red Mountain. The hollow statue was filled with concrete to help anchor it in place.

In 1946, some safety-minded citizens decided Vulcan should remind everyone to drive carefully. Instead of his newly forged spear, he now held a cone-shaped, lighted beacon. This signal glowed green on days when no one was killed in an auto accident; and red on days when there was a fatality. In the late 1960s, people began to feel Vulcan and his park should further be “modernized” for Birmingham’s one hundredth birthday in 1971. This idea led to the addition of a huge marble-clad enclosure and observation deck, which covered up the original stone pedestal. These additions made it difficult for visitors to see Vulcan from below and hid the beautiful stone. During this time, the statue was also painted the color of iron ore. Over the years, the concrete poured inside of Vulcan in the 1930s as an anchor began to cause problems. It also expanded and contracted at a different rate from the cast iron. Since Vulcan did not have a top to his head, rain poured into the statue. These factors caused the statue to develop cracks. In 1999, Vulcan had to be removed from his pedestal for repair.

The Vulcan Park Foundation was formed in 1999 to raise money to restore Vulcan to his original glory. [NOTE: In some cases, the fine people of Birmingham purchased bricks at a minimal cost with their name or their families name imbedded in the stone, to be placed at the foot of Vulcan Park as a part of raising money for Vulcan‘s repair.] The pieces of Vulcan were sent to Robinson Iron and Steel that repaired (and in some cases recast) the statue… using original drawings from the artist Moretti. Vulcan is now painted gray, thought to be his original color.

On a very personal note, I myself feel that I played a small part in helping to restore Vulcan. For a short time, Vulcan’s head and foot were displayed at the Birmingham Museum of Art, awaiting its turn to be restored to its original beauty. It was during this time that I, as a member of the museum’s security team, had the distinct honor of guarding Vulcan.

In 2003, all of Birmingham watched with anticipation as each piece of Vulcan was lifted onto the restored pedestal. Birmingham is glad to have Vulcan in his rightful place on top of Red Mountain. Today, the park around Vulcan is beautiful again… many of the original stonewalls from the 1930s are restored. A new Vulcan Center is on site where children and adults can learn, through exciting interactive exhibits, about the history of Vulcan, Birmingham and the region; and perhaps most important, the Birmingham of today and tomorrow.

Although not a native to Birmingham, I relocated to the south from Boston in 1995. For me, Vulcan does indeed represent everything that Birmingham was and is… the Steel and Magic City. I was pleased that Vulcan has been restored to its original beauty; after all, he did take top honors at the Worlds Fair just as he originally was. From high atop Vulcan, you can also get the most spectacular view of all of Downtown Birmingham. For this reason, it is one of my favorite places to visit; as well, as those who visit our fine city.

Official Site – Our Photos

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Chris August 7th, 2008

Birmingham Botanical Gardens
By: Christie Bohorfoush, Senior Staff Writer

Birmingham Botanical Gardens is Alabama’s largest living museum with more than 10,000 different plants in its living collections. The Gardens’ 67.5 acres contains 25+ unique gardens, 30+ works of original outdoor sculpture and miles of serene paths.

The Gardens features the largest public horticulture library in the United States, conservatories, a wildflower garden, two rose gardens, the Southern Living garden, and a Japanese garden with a traditionally crafted tea house. Education programs run year round and over 11,000 school children enjoy free science-curriculum field trips annually.

Birmingham Botanical Gardens is open daily, offering free admission to more than 350,000 yearly visitors.

The Birmingham Botanical Gardens is my favorite place to visit. Whether one is looking to escape the rat race, a quiet place to reflect, or simply need a lift to your spirits this is the place to come. The Gardens is also a favorite spot for many newly engaged couples to take their first photo together and for brides in their gowns and wedding parties. In fact, the Gardens is where I got married; and thus, they have a great deal of sentimental meaning to me as well.

The Gardens also give a photographer or the amateur camera buff a wonderful place to take what is certain to be wonderful photos to share in a keep sake book or to add to ones nature shots portfolio. Personally, I enjoy the Birmingham Botanical Gardens for so many of these reasons… it a place where I come to reflect on nature, lift my spirits, and remember a wedding day. For these reasons, I wanted to share some of my photos of what is one of Birmingham’s most beautiful spots to visits and enjoy.

Upcoming events at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens include:

Cocktails In the Gardens – September 4th, October 23rd
Antiques At The Gardens – October 3rd through the 5th
Central South Native Plant Conference – October 17th and 18th
Fall Plant Sale – October 19th

Visit our Gallery of photos from the trip.

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Mike July 30th, 2008

I love food. I’ve dined on Gordon’s Ramsay’s famous Beef Wellington and enjoyed the finest mushroom risotto money can buy…. But sometimes, I just want a good slice of meatloaf and some mashed potatoes. That’s where the Cedar Post comes in.

Inside this simple rustic building is a clan of wonderful ladies who cook up southern favorites five days a week. From a full hot breakfast complete with grits and homemade biscuits; to a southern meat and veggie plate that changes every day. Some of the top meat items: Country fried steak, Beef tips with rice, chicken and dumplings. For the healthy ones we have true southern sides like squash casserole, greens, beans and just about anything else you could desire.

A daily regular menu offers kid-friendly choices such as burgers, corn nuggets and chop steaks. One of my personal favorite guilty pleasures is their grilled cheese sandwiches, a real treat with either tomatoes or bacon added.

The Cedar Post is located on Center Point Parkway in Birmingham; and is open for Breakfast and Lunch Tuesday through Saturday.

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