Can you believe how fast this Alabama Bloggers thingy is takin’ off? Geez, I was stunned by the number of entries this week and more than a little proud that The Bull is once again hosting here at the Home Pasture. Welcome back, y’all!
Alabama.
She is a State that means many things to people, not just here but Nationwide. Both good things and just as many bad. The history of Alabama is rich and thick like a really good gumbo loaded with filet’. (That’s powdered Sassafras leaves used for thickening.) Oh, not everything is stuff to necessarily be proud of, like slavery for instance. I’ll guarantee you, though that even that topic is still a hot-button issue as Alabama ponders the meaning and results of apologizing for inequities of centuries ago here in this day and time.
Alabama has seen the discovery of Dauphin Island, a dark and bloody ground-turned-tourist haven once called ‘Massacre Island’ due to the number of human bones found there by the first settlers. Mobile, Alabama is the one true home of Mardi Gras in this nation, as folks here in my adopted home town will tell you in a real big hurry! This State was the home of the worst massacre of American citizens prior to Sept. 11th, 2001 with the Creek Indian attack on Fort Mims on August 30, 1813 and the brutal death of 250 to 400 settlers and militiamen. The Battle of Mobile Bay. Those of us old enough can recall other Alabama historical highlights. The Civil Rights Movement, Alabama’s contributions to the Space Race, the Tuskegee Airmen, and many more besides. If you’re a fan of television, in particularly the Discovery Channel’s ‘Deadliest Catch‘, then you might be interested to know that one of the starring fishing vessels, the 128 foot F/V Cornelia Marie, (Capt. Phil Harris), was build down here in Bayou La Batre’. Small world, ain’t it? (…and as a broke-down Navy puke I have to add “May God watch over all that go down to the Sea in ships” – especially those on the Bering Sea!)
I know what you’re thinking! 
‘When will Bull shut up and move on to the Carnival?’ Well, I do tend to get long winded, but I like to tell stories and history is a passion of mine. Moreover, I’ve come to love Alabama nearly as much as the Blue Ridge Mountains of my childhood home. Forgive me if you will. The Bull has found it easier to ask forgiveness than permission over the near half-century I’ve roamed this good Earth.
Besides, a lot of this weeks Carnival is – in one way or another – about our home. Alabama!
Like I said, Alabama has her share of both good and bad. Our first contributor, (a newbie to our Carnival no less!), Leigh, of Key West or Bust, writes a short piece titled simply ‘Alabama’ where she fills us in on her thoughts on what she considers the good, the bad, and the ugly of this state. Leigh’s last line is this:
It’s not a bad place, but I really need a change.
The Bull wishes you well on your quest, Leigh! I’ve been in those shoes, and traveled far. Saw sights that left me awe-struck, too – but always there has been the call of home.
c.a.marks: Our fearless leader from Alabama Improper offers up not one, but two post for our perusal this week. Her first is titled ‘Demo Days’ and concerns one topic that The Bull is completely unequipped to speak about – Golf. Particularly golf clubs. Lady Cobra golf clubs. Now if we were talking about black powder, muzzleloading, long guns to fire golf balls I’d be right there with you! 
Well, those of you that follow that game should check it out as there are links to three or so Lady Cobra demo days. I can’t make heads or tails of it all…
Fortunately, c.a.marks comes back with something I can understand in ‘House Of Brews – Review’. Despite being a U.S. Navy veteran, I have never once let coffee pass my lips in this lifetime. (Oh, don’t worry – my sister, Taffney, makes up for any three people!) Blues, on the other hand is something I not only understand, but adore! The combination should be plenty interesting to most of our population. Sounds to me from her write-up that ‘Fearless Leader’ has pinned down a new hide-out in the House of Brews. Heck, if the music is as good as it is advertised The Bull may have to make the looong drive to Huntsville some weekend. Go read of her adventures there and of good great sounds and much coffee product. (Well, c.a.? A new ‘Improper Headquarters’?) If y’all are in the area of Huntsville go visit this joint and report back to me on the music.
You can ignore reporting on the coffee.
Along comes Scott himself from Scott Allan’s World. While his first entry this week has nothing in particular about the State of Alabama proper, it does concern one of the South’s most serious subjects: The 5 Second Rule.
If I’ve got to explain it then you are in desperate need of clicking over to Scott’s site and reading ‘5 second rule increased to 30 seconds’. You are also – very obviously – not from around here.
Funny the things we find important down here.
Scott also sends us a post one one of the topics near-and-dear to The Bull’s old heart. ‘What is amnesty?’ is a well thought out, well written post that makes much good common sense. Something sorely lacking in today’s U.S. Government I’m sad to say. Now that’s not to say I’m in total agreement with Scott on this topic. I drink no political party’s (or anyone else’s) Kool-Aid, but I know common sense when I hear it. (My biggest beef with the latest proposal in discussion is that it will become just another immigration law that will not be enforced. Just like all that came before it. I don’t like them trying to ‘backdoor’ a bill through on the citizens either! A shame on our Nation for refusing to secure her borders, and a pox on self-serving politicians and their houses!) Don’t listen to my bellowing. Go read this article! You will not regret doing so and you’ll be that much better informed.
While were on the topic of amnesty and immigration, Mad_Cow of Degree of Madness weighs in with the Daily Whip Notice in the post ‘Senate to debate immigration bill Monday’.
Pointed out in this post are the glaring holes in it. For instance locating the criminals, drug-runners, and potential terrorist that have walked through our ‘non-border’ to the South. Also noted is the lack of concern at securing the border at all. Mad_Cow did good. Go read it and get steamed. Getting pissed will do you, and the Country, some good!
I figure now is as good a time as any to throw out The Bull’s bellow for this weeks Carnival. I call the post ‘No Real Thought, Just My Gut Feeling’. Here at the Bull’s Pasture we’ve had a very busy month so far. We’ve got new furniture coming in for the calves, got the eldest calf working full time for the Summer, Lil’ Bull is coming down from South Carolina to spend a couple of months with the family, we had our first alligator come into the rescue and get released back into the wild within 12 hours (What a hoot!) and snakes-a-plenty, finally seem to have got the ‘Ex’ to see the wisdom of being honest with the Courts for a change, and Lady Beth is working every hour she can to make up for a huge loss to the monthly ‘Herd Income’. Even with all of that going on I try to get some bits of news. What I’ve been reading and hearing has not set well at all. This rush to the Presidential race is not a good thing for our Nation. These are dire times and this coming election is not one where we can afford to ‘experiment’, much less risk putting the wrong person – male or female – in the White House. Nor do we need the idiot of a certain past administration trying to maintain relevance by speaking out.
ALmod of The Alabama Moderate brings us back into our State in the post titled ‘Argo Serves Its Citizens’. The good folk of Argo are being served alright, but not in the way you might think. Here is something every citizen of every State should read – just as a ‘heads-up’. This is a short & sweet post, but has legs! The Birmingham Blues links to this post with The Argo Saga Continues…
Over on Between the Links we see the first post submitted by Dan. This one is called ‘One last word about the Beer Bill’. Ok. You’ve got my attention! Generally, I’m a non-drinker. Most beer is basically offensive to me. Simply because of the slack quality. Home-brewed and micro-brewed, well, that’s a different story! Dan gives us a taste of debate from the Alabama State House, via video, on legislation that would increase the alcohol content allowed to 14.9% ABV. The “Gourmet Beer Bill”. You see, Alabama limits the alcohol content of beer to 6% – one of only four states that do so. That means that we are denied one third of the World’s beer! No other alcohol product is so restricted. You need to go see and hear this video and the complete stupidity of the legislators. Ignorant fools… 
Dan continues with ‘Sparks-hysteria’. The post concerns Jeff Vreeland of ‘Politics in Alabama’ who was quoted by Roll Call, a popular D.C. political newspaper. Vreeland discussed the possibility of Alabama Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks challenging Senator Jeff Sessions for his seat in 2008. I’m with Dan on this one. Sparks light will go out should he go against Jeff Sessions!
Dan further submits two further post to this weeks carnival in the forms of ‘Moving to Allen country’ and ‘So much for that’.
Finally, an offering from TD of the blog The Right Track. Very rarely does a post come along with such perfect timing. This post, ‘On Knowing When to Shut Up’, seems to be almost mystical in its timing. The Bull is also extremely impressed with TD’s control of dreamscape. I don’t think a wiffle bat would do it for me. I’d prefer a battle-axe, personally.
I’m not gonna give the storyline away any further. You’ll have to follow the link and read for yourself! 
Well, midnight approaches and if The Bull is not in bed by the stroke of twelve he may not turn into a pumpkin (pronounced “punkin”), but Lady Beth will surely be unhappy. Something to be avoided at all cost! 
I hope I’ve not missed any links or trackbacks and most of all I do hope that you, Dear Reader, have enjoyed our time together here on the Alabama Bloggers Carnival for 21 May 2007. I know I’ve had a great time reading the submissions and telling tales. So, until next time we meet…
Keep your nose to the wind and an eye on you backtrail!
I have the Honor to Remain Your Most Humble Serv’t,
Bull. 
Perhaps we should ALL eat more fish and converting to Shinto and Buddhism!
