Weather ~ Picture of the Day ~ Alabama History ~ Meatball Mac and Cheese ~ National Lineman Appreciation Day

  

Good 31º frozen morning. 

 

 

Yesterday we were clear and sunny.....

We started at 30º and topped at 76º.

 

 

Picture of the Day...car driven upside down! 😲

 

 

Interesting about Alabama

 

 

 

Alabama (/ˌæləˈbæmə/ AL-ə-BAM-ə) is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama is the 30th largest by area and the 24th-most populous of the 50 U.S. states.

 

Alabama is nicknamed the Yellowhammer State, after the state bird. Alabama is also known as the "Heart of Dixie" and the "Cotton State". The state tree is the longleaf pine, and the state flower is the camellia. Alabama's capital is Montgomery, and its largest city by population and area is Huntsville. Its oldest city is Mobile, founded by French colonists (Alabama Creoles) in 1702 as the capital of French Louisiana. Greater Birmingham is Alabama's largest metropolitan area and its economic center.

 

Originally home to many native tribes, present-day Alabama was a Spanish territory beginning in the sixteenth century until the French acquired it in the early eighteenth century. The British won the territory in 1763 until losing it in the American Revolutionary War. Spain held Mobile as part of Spanish West Florida until 1813. In December 1819, Alabama was recognized as a state. During the antebellum period, Alabama was a major producer of cotton, and widely used African American slave labor. In 1861, the state seceded from the United States to become part of the Confederate States of America, with Montgomery acting as its first capital, and rejoined the Union in 1868. Following the American Civil War, Alabama would suffer decades of economic hardship, in part due to agriculture and a few cash crops being the main driver of the state's economy. Similar to other former slave states, Alabamian legislators employed Jim Crow laws from the late 19th century up until the 1960s. High-profile events such as the Selma to Montgomery march made the state a major focal point of the civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s.

 

During and after World War II, Alabama grew as the state's economy diversified with new industries. NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville would help Alabama's economic growth in the mid-to-late 20th century, by developing an aerospace industry. Alabama's economy in the 21st century is based on automotive, finance, tourism, manufacturing, aerospace, mineral extraction, healthcare, education, retail, and technology.

 

The state has diverse geography, with the north dominated by the mountainous Tennessee Valley and the south by Mobile Bay, a historically significant port. Politically, as part of the Deep South, Alabama is predominantly a conservative state, and is known for its Southern culture. Within Alabama, American football, particularly at the college level, plays a major part of the state's culture.

 

Etymology

The European-American naming of the Alabama River and state was derived from the Alabama people, a Muskogean-speaking tribe whose members lived just below the confluence of the Coosa and Tallapoosa rivers on the upper reaches of the river.^[17] In the Alabama language, the word for a person of Alabama lineage is Albaamo (or variously Albaama or Albàamo in different dialects; the plural form is Albaamaha). The word's spelling varies significantly among historical sources. The first usage appears in three accounts of the Hernando de Soto expedition of 1540: Garcilaso de la Vega used Alibamo, while the Knight of Elvas and Rodrigo Ranjel wrote Alibamu and Limamu, respectively, in transliterations of the term. As early as 1702, the French called the tribe the Alibamon, with French maps identifying the river as Rivière des Alibamons. Other spellings of the name have included Alibamu, Alabamo, Albama, Alebamon, Alibama, Alibamou, Alabamu, and Allibamou. The use of state names derived from Native American languages is common in the U.S.; an estimated 26 states have names of Native American origin.

 

Sources disagree on the word's meaning. Some scholars suggest the word comes from the Choctaw alba (meaning 'plants' or 'weeds') and amo (meaning 'to cut', 'to trim', or 'to gather'). The meaning may have been 'clearers of the thicket' or 'herb gatherers', referring to clearing land for cultivation or collecting medicinal plants. The state has numerous place names of Native American origin.

 

Alabama is the thirtieth-largest state in the United States with 52,419 square miles of total area: 3.2% of the area is water, making Alabama 23rd in the amount of surface water, also giving it the second-largest inland waterway system in the United States. About three-fifths of the land area is part of the Gulf Coastal Plain, a gentle plain with a general descent towards the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. The North Alabama region is mostly mountainous, with the Tennessee River cutting a large valley and creating numerous creeks, streams, rivers, mountains, and lakes.

 

Alabama is bordered by the states of Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama has coastline at the Gulf of Mexico, in the extreme southern edge of the state. The state ranges in elevation from sea level at Mobile Bay to more than 2,000 feet in the northeast, to Mount Cheaha at 2,413 ft.

 

Alabama's land consists of 22 million acres of forest or 67% of the state's total land area. Suburban Baldwin County, along the Gulf Coast, is the largest county in the state in both land area and water area.

 

^{^}

^{Birmingham was founded on June 1, 1871, by the Elyton Land Company whose investors included cotton planters, bankers and railroad entrepreneurs. It sold lots near the planned crossing of the Alabama & Chattanooga and South & North Alabama railroads, including land formerly a part of the Benjamin P. Worthington plantation. The first business at that crossroads was the trading post and country store operated by Marre & Allen. The site of the railroad crossing was notable for the nearby deposits of iron ore, coal, and limestone – the three main raw materials used in making steel.}

 

 If you want to read a whole lot more, go here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alabama

 

 

From Mr. Food

 

SERVES

4

COOK TIME

20 Min

Add a little beefiness to your macaroni and cheese with our recipe for Meatball Mac & Cheese. This easy, cheesy, homemade macaroni and cheese recipe gets easily "beefed up" thanks to a convenient ingredient we found in the freezer aisle!

 

• 1/2 pound elbow macaroni
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 cup (about 1/2 pound) diced Cheddar cheese or cubed processed cheese spread (like Velveeta)
• 1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cup frozen cocktail meatballs, thawed and cut in half

 

1. Preheat oven to 350º. In a large pot of boiling water, cook macaroni until just tender, drain and place in a large bowl.
    
2. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, heat milk and cheese together over medium heat until cheese melts; stir in mustard and salt.
    
3. Add meatballs and cheese mixture to macaroni, mix well. Place in a 2-quart casserole dish and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until heated through. Serve.

 

 

 

Historically this date

1881 – Billy the Kid escapes from the Lincoln County jail in Mesilla, New Mexico.

 

1906 – An earthquake and fire destroy much of San Francisco, California.

1923 – Yankee Stadium, "The House that Ruth Built", opens.

1983 – A suicide bomber destroys the United States embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, killing 63 people.

1997 – The Red River flood begins and soon overwhelms the city of Grand Forks, North Dakota. Fire breaks out and spreads in downtown Grand Forks, but high water levels hamper efforts to reach the fire, leading to the destruction of 11 buildings.

 

 

And births this date include....

1922 – Barbara Hale, American actress (d.2017)

 

 

1946 – Hayley Mills, English actress

 

1947 – James Woods, American actor

1956 – Eric Roberts, American actor

.... brother to Julia and with a common doper arrest record!

Possession, resisting, wife beater! Nice. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1961 – Jane Leeves, British actress

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All I know. Nuff said. Have a good Thursday. Ciao.

xo Sue Mom Bobo

National Lineman Appreciation Day on April 18th honors the men and women who work around the clock to keep the power going.  If the power is on where you are reading this article, you likely have a lineman to thank.

From the power plant, the grid crisscrossing the country both above and underground and right up to the meters on our homes, these men and women build and maintain the system that keeps our nation running.

Regardless of the source, the electricity has to be transported by employing transformers and other equipment. Due to the dangerous conditions power poses, safety is of utmost importance for both the lineman and the consumer.

When mother nature destroys what our linemen have built up, they are on call to build it back up again as quickly as possible. These men and women work tirelessly to get emergency systems back in working order and urgently return service to remaining areas.

Even when there is no crisis, they work under dangerous conditions on a daily basis. Whether they are working in trenches, near water or on high towers, the risks are extreme.

 

NATIONAL LINEMAN APPRECIATION DAY HISTORY

On April 10, 2013, U.S. Senate Resolution 95 recognized linemen across the country by setting April 18th as National Lineman Appreciation Day.

Weather ~ 417 ~ Picture of the Day ~ The State of Mississippi ~ No Fuss Lasagna ~ National Ellis Island Family History Day

  

Good 29º frozen morning. 

 

 

Yesterday the sun came and went behind the clouds. We started at 33º and topped at 70º.

 

 

417 - California Penal Code for brandishing a weapon in a rude or threatening manner... or one of our radio codes for "person with a gun"

 

 

The rest of the 417 codes:

417A - person with a knife

417B - barricaded suspect

417BH - barricaded suspect + hostage situation

417S - shots fired

 

 

 

Picture of the Day....

 

This image shows the Statue of Unity. It is the world's tallest statue - said to be almost twice the size of the Statue of Liberty. It depicts Indian statesman and independence activist Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel a highly respected leader of India.

 

 

Interesting about Mississippi.........

 

 

Mississippi (/ˌmɪsəˈsɪpi/ ^ⓘ MISS-ə-SIH-pee) is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Tennessee to the north, Alabama to the east, the Gulf of Mexico to the south, Louisiana to the southwest, and Arkansas to the northwest. Mississippi's western boundary is largely defined by the Mississippi River, or its historical course. Mississippi is the 32nd largest by area and 35th-most populous of the 50 U.S. states and has the lowest per-capita income. Jackson is both the state's capital and largest city. Greater Jackson is the state's most populous metropolitan area, with a population of 591,978 in 2020.

 

The state's history traces back to around 10,000 BC with the arrival of Paleo-Indians, evolving through periods marked by the development of agricultural societies, rise of the Mound Builders, and flourishing of the Mississippian culture. European exploration began with the Spanish in the 16th century, followed by French colonization in the 17th century. Mississippi's strategic location along the Mississippi River made it a site of significant economic and strategic importance, especially during the era of cotton plantation agriculture, which led to its wealth pre-Civil War, but entrenched slavery and racial segregation. On December 10, 1817, Mississippi became the 20th state admitted to the Union. By 1860, Mississippi was the nation's top cotton-producing state and slaves accounted for 55% of the state population. Mississippi declared its secession from the Union on January 9, 1861, and was one of the seven original Confederate States, which constituted the largest slave holding states in the nation. Following the Civil War, it was restored to the Union on February 23, 1870. Mississippi's political and social landscape was dramatically shaped by the Civil War, Reconstruction era, and civil rights movement, with the state playing a pivotal role in the struggle for civil rights. From the end of the Civil War to the 1960s, Mississippi was dominated by socially conservative and segregationist Democrats dedicated to upholding white supremacy.

 

Despite progress, Mississippi continues to grapple with challenges related to health, education, and economic development, often ranking low in national metrics for wealth, health care quality, and educational attainment. Economically, it relies on agriculture, manufacturing, and an increasing focus on tourism, highlighted by its casinos and historical sites. Mississippi produces more than half of the country's farm-raised catfish, and is a top producer of sweet potatoes, cotton and pulpwood. Others include advanced manufacturing, utilities, transportation, and health services. Mississippi is almost entirely within the east Gulf Coastal Plain, and generally consists of lowland plains and low hills. The northwest remainder of the state consists of the Mississippi Delta. Mississippi's highest point is Woodall Mountain at 807 feet above sea level adjacent to the Cumberland Plateau; the lowest is the Gulf of Mexico. Mississippi has a humid subtropical climate classification.

 

Mississippi is known for its deep religious roots, which play a central role in its residents' lives. Mississippi ranks among the highest of U.S. states in religiosity. Mississippi's governance structure is based on the traditional separation of powers, with political trends showing a strong alignment with conservative values. Mississippi boasts a rich cultural heritage, especially in music, being the birthplace of the blues and contributing significantly to the development of the music of the United States as a whole.

 

Etymology

The state's name is derived from the Mississippi River, which flows along and defines its western boundary. European-American settlers named it after the Ojibwe word ᒥᓯ-ᓰᐱ misi-ziibi (English: great river).

 

Statehood to Civil War

Mississippi became the 20th state on December 10, 1817. David Holmes was the first governor. The state was still occupied as ancestral land by several Native American tribes, including Choctaw, Natchez, Houma, Creek, and Chickasaw.

 

Plantations were developed primarily along the major rivers, where the waterfront provided access to the major transportation routes. This is also where early towns developed, linked by the steamboats that carried commercial products and crops to markets. The remainder of Native American ancestral land remained largely undeveloped but was sold through treaties until 1826, when the Choctaws and Chickasaws refused to sell more land. The combination of the Mississippi state legislature's abolition of Choctaw Tribal Government in 1829, President Andrew Jackson's Indian Removal Act and the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek of 1830, the Choctaw were effectively forced to sell their land and were transported to Oklahoma Territory. The forced migration of the Choctaw, together with other southeastern tribes removed as a result of the Act, became known as the Trail of Tears.

 

When cotton was king during the 1850s, Mississippi plantation owners—especially those of the Delta and Black Belt central regions—became wealthy due to the high fertility of the soil, the high price of cotton on the international market, and free labor gained through their holding enslaved African Americans. They used some of their profits to buy more cotton land and more slaves. The planters' dependence on hundreds of thousands of slaves for labor and the severe wealth imbalances among whites, played strong roles both in state politics and in planters' support for secession. Mississippi was a slave society, with the economy dependent on slavery. The state was thinly settled, with population concentrated in the riverfront areas and towns.

 

^Downtown Jackson the capital and largest city by population

 

^Gulfport is the second largest city 

If you want to read a whole lot more, go here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississippi

 

 

 

From Mr. Food

 

SERVES

6

COOK TIME

45 Min

With no need to pre-cook noodles, this No Fuss Lasagna is our kind of easy family dinner! We love how the creamy cheese, extra tomato sauce, and added spices melt together to create each perfectly flavorful bite. And since it's a meaty lasagna, we can serve it on its own with a small salad and be completely satisfied!

• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 (28-ounce) jar spaghetti sauce
• 1 (14.5-ounce) can Italian-style diced tomatoes
• 1 (10-ounce) package frozen spinach, thawed and well drained
• 1 (15-ounce) container ricotta cheese
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 egg, beaten
• 10 uncooked lasagna noodles
• 1 1/2 cup (6 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese, divided

 

1. Preheat oven to 375º.  Coat a 9- x 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
    
2. In a large skillet, cook ground beef over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes, or until browned. Drain off excess liquid. Add salt, pepper, spaghetti sauce, and tomatoes; stir until well blended, then set aside.
    
3. In a medium-sized bowl, combine spinach, ricotta and Parmesan cheeses, and egg; mix well. Spread 2 cups of sauce mixture over bottom of prepared baking dish.
    
4. Press 4 noodles lengthwise over sauce and 1 noodle crosswise across end of baking dish, completely covering sauce mixture. Spread ricotta mixture evenly over noodles, then sprinkle with 1 cup mozzarella cheese. Top with 1-1/2 cups of sauce mixture, then arrange remaining noodles over sauce, pressing lightly into sauce. Spread remaining sauce over top.
    
5. Bake 45 minutes, or until noodles are tender. Remove from oven and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella; cover with aluminum foil. Let sit 15 minutes, then cut and serve.

 

 

 

Historically this date........

1907 – The Ellis Island immigration center processes 11,747 people, more than on any other day.

1949 – At midnight 26 Irish counties officially leave the British Commonwealth. A 21-gun salute on O'Connell Bridge, Dublin, ushers in the Republic of Ireland.

1961 – Bay of Pigs Invasion: A group of CIA financed and trained Cuban exiles lands at the Bay of Pigs in Cuba with the aim of ousting Fidel Castro.

1964 – Ford Mustang is introduced to the North American market.

1969 – Sirhan Sirhan is convicted of assassinating Robert F. Kennedy.

 

And births this date include....

1820 – Alexander Cartwright, American inventor of Baseball (d. 1892)

Interesting his involvement....

 

1918 – William Holden, American actor (d. 1981)

 

(Born William Franklin Beedle Jr)

Mr. Holden grew up close to where I did. He graduated

from South Pasadena High School and attended Pasadena

City College (me too!) and got his start at the Pasadena

Playhouse.

1961 – Boomer Esiason, American football player and commentator

 

 

1972 – Jennifer Garner, American actress

 

 

 

All I know. Nuff said. Have a good Wednesday. Ciao.

xo Sue Mom Bobo

Each year on April 17th, National Ellis Island Family History Day encourages families to explore their ancestry and discover family who immigrated through Ellis Island.

From 1892 to 1924, Ellis Island served as the busiest inspection station for millions of immigrants to the United States. On this day in 1907, officials recorded 11,747 names passing through Ellis Island. It was the busiest day of immigration in the station’s history. During all of 1907, officials processed over one million immigrants through Ellis Island. 

During its operation, approximately 12 million immigrants passed through the halls of Ellis Island. It operated from 1892 to 1954. Before Ellis Island, immigrants entered the United States in New York City at Castle Garden. Just months before Ellis Island’s opening, the old depot was demolished and ushered in a new era of immigration. The Statue of Liberty overlooks Ellis Island and was one of the first sights the nearly 2,000 immigrants a day would see as they disembarked. 

The new facilities offered an improvement over the Castle Garden. The large, open, and airy facility presented an overwhelming obstacle to some, though. Thousands of people from many cultures and speaking different languages gathered in one place. After such a long journey, the arrival at Ellis Island must have been stressful and confusing. What an overwhelming and exciting experience for them all! For some, they entered Ellis Island as a step toward their future. Officials turned others away for a variety of reasons. 

HOW TO OBSERVE

Do you have a family member who immigrated through Ellis Island? Explore your ancestry and follow your ancestors’ footsteps. Discover the history behind your family’s name or learn about their experiences as they traveled to a new land. Many documents reveal glimpses into their lives and their reasons for immigrating. 

Through its website, ellisisland.org, you explore the histories of famous immigrants. You can also search passenger lists and follow the clues to your family’s past. While you research, take a virtual tour or learn genealogy basics. Learn about these 7 Notable Ellis Island Immigrants and as you celebrate your day, be sure to share your experience, too. 

 

NATIONAL ELLIS ISLAND FAMILY HISTORY DAY HISTORY

On April 17, 2001, National Ellis Island Family History Day commemorated the busiest inspection station in the United States by launching digital access to its records. This project placed Ellis Island documents at the descendants’ fingertips for the first time. Millions of families could finally retrace their ancestors’ footsteps in a way they had never been able to do before. Governors across the United States officially declared the observance to be celebrated on April 17th, annually.