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Famous art is right at home in Alabama
Edward Hopper (American, 1882–1967), New York Office, 1962, oil on canvas, Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Montgomery, Alabama, The Blount Collection
By Marilyn Jones
Alabama may not be synonymous with fine art, but our museums are home to some truly world-class collections and pieces. You can appreciate their beauty or perhaps their emotional power; some offer glimpses into our history, telling us about our culture and where we came from. Whatever the purpose, you can make new discoveries with a short drive to one of Alabama's fine art museums.
Birmingham Museum of Art
Richard B. Coe, American 1904–1978, Down Town Birmingham, about 1935, etching on paper. Photo courtesy Birmingham Museum of Art
The museum has an impressive collection of more than 27,000 objects representing cultures from around the world including Asian, European, American, African, Pre-Columbian and Native American art. The museum also houses the largest collection of Wedgwood ceramics in North America, and its holdings of Asian art are the most extensive in the Southeast.
Katelyn Crawford, The William Cary Hulsey Curator of American Art, says one of her favorite exhibits in the American galleries is Magic City Realism: Richard Coe's Birmingham, an exhibition featuring detailed etchings of Birmingham during The Great Depression.
"In celebrating industrial Birmingham, Coe joined fellow Alabama artists in creating a body of American scene images of the South," says Crawford.
Admission is free; artsbma.org, (205) 254-2565.
Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art, Auburn University
"Grey Fox," 1843, Hand-colored lithograph, The Louise Hauss and David Brent Miller Audubon Collection. Photo courtesy Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art, Auburn University
"We value all artwork in our collection, not because of their individual monetary value, but the value in what the piece can teach us about the time and culture in which it was made," says Museum Director Marilyn Laufer.
"Our Advancing American Art collection … (was) acquired by the university in 1948. Looking at those pieces, we get a real sense of the issues and ideas that concerned Americans during that World War II period," says Laufer. "It is amazing to see how many of those concerns are still prevalent today."
The university often hosts special exhibitions. Audubon's Last Wilderness Journey: The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America is currently on view with a comparison exhibition on the seldom reproduced four-footed mammals.
"We've exhibited Rubens and Rembrandt, prints by Edvard Munch and sculptures by August Rodin. In our own collection, we have works by such renowned artists as Georgia O'Keeffe, Rufino Tamayo and Jacob Lawrence," says Laufer, reminding everyone that each "visit to the museum will provide a new discovery."
Admission is free; jcsm.auburn.edu.
Mobile Museum of Fine Art
"Like most art museums, we view our collection less in terms of monetary value and more in terms of its place in the history of
With a collection of nearly 11,000 objects, guests can spend hours enjoying the many galleries of the Mobile Museum of Art. Photo courtesy Mobile Museum of Art
art," says Museum Director Deborah Velders. "We are most proud of our community's support … the vast majority of our collection of nearly 11,000 objects were gifts from this community, as is the financial support for the majority of our exhibitions and programs.
"We own artworks and crafts by many of the 'canonical' names in the history of art, such as Pierre-August Renoir, Thomas Moran, Louis Comfort Tiffany glass, Frederick Remington, Salvator Rosa, Robert Rauschenberg and many others," Velders says.
"While our collection is not comprehensive nor represents fully 'the history of art,' it includes significant works that help students and adults alike learn more of our world's cultures through its art," says Velders.
Admission is charged; mobilemuseumofart.com
Huntsville Museum of Art
Buccellati: A Silver Menagerie features a four-foot tall flamingo and a reclining giraffe.
Photo courtesy Huntsville Museum of Art
According to Samantha Nielsen, director of communications, the museum is extremely proud of its exhibit Buccellati: A Silver Menagerie.
The silver creations were designed and fabricated in Milan, Italy, by the luxury jewelry firm of Buccellati. Betty Grisham of Huntsville donated the works of art to the museum.
"We have the world's largest (Buccellati) public collection," Nielsen says. The artists combined Renaissance period techniques, luxury materials and the extensive use of texture engraving to create objects of great beauty.
Buccellati clientele included the Vatican as well as the Royal Houses of Italy, Spain, Belgium, England and Egypt. Highlights of the museum's collection include a four-foot tall flamingo, a reclining giraffe and a marine centerpiece consisting of Mediterranean Sea creatures arranged around a natural amethyst geode. "The latest addition is a family of deer commissioned by the museum to honor Betty Grisham."
One of the museum's most famous pieces is Luigi Lucioni's Ethel Waters. "The official unveiling of the painting was held at the museum on Feb. 1 during the opening celebration of African American History Month," Nielsen says. "This historical painting was thought to be lost and hadn't been seen by the public since 1942."
Admission is charged; hsvmuseum.org.
Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts
The museum collections "feature primarily American art, and particularly that of the Southeast and Alabama," says Senior
John Singer Sargent (American, 1856–1925), Mrs. Louis E. Raphael, ca. 1906, oil on canvas, Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Montgomery, Alabama, The Blount Collection
Curator Margaret Lynne Ausfeld. It has grown to represent 200 years of our country's history.
"One of the earliest works … in the American paintings collection was made by an anonymous artist around the 1870s right here in Alabama and most likely in Montgomery," she says. It depicts Montgomery in "an earlier frontier era, most likely during the very early 19th century when Alabama was a territory or during early statehood."
The museum also features William Merritt Chase and Frank Duveneck. "Chase's Woman in a Chinese Robe is an excellent example of this artist's skill as a portraitist and still-life painter," Ausfeld says. Other outstanding works include Georgia O'Keeffe's Hills Before Taos and John Singer Sargent's Mrs. Louis Raphael.
Other notable pieces include Mary Cassatt's Francois in Green, Sewing and an example of 19th century marble sculpture by Edmonia Lewis, Hiawatha's Marriage.
"The museum's best-known painting is by the American 20th century painter Edward Hopper, New York Office," but Ausfeld stresses there are many collections in the museum as well as programs designed to educate the public about art and this museum's collection.
Admission is free; mmfa.org.
2017. Park and Building photos. Jonathan Long photography.
Avoiding the 'grandparent scam'
By Richard Bauman
I answered the phone one morning and heard someone who sounded like our grandson, Edward, say, "Hi grandpa, it's your favorite grandson." And that's how the "grandparent scam" usually starts.
That jovial greeting is usually followed by a tale of woe. In this instance, Edward was supposedly in New York for a buddy's bachelor party. He had wrecked a rental car and been arrested for DUI.
Then comes the plea for money. He needed $8,000 to pay his fine and to fix the car. "Please help me out, grandpa," that's followed by another plea: "Please don't tell my parents. I'll explain it to them when I get home."
My response to the fake Edward: "You're a fraud," and I hung up on him.
I knew that Ed wasn't at a bachelor party in New York. He lives in California, and is a 14-year old high school freshman.
What should you do if you get a phone call supposedly from one of your grandchildren claiming to be in another state, or even a foreign country, and desperately needs several thousand dollars to get out of a jam?
First, be careful. Our natural inclination is to jump in and help but that could be the worst thing to do. Instead of reacting quickly:
⊃ Take a deep breath or two, relax and be noncommittal
⊃ Ask for a phone number where you can later reach him/her
⊃ Contact the supposed grandchild's parents, siblings and others who would know if he or she is away from home as claimed.
⊃ If you know your grandchild's cell phone, call him/her and leave a voicemail if need be, or text asking him/her to call you.
⊃ Be wary if the caller doesn't sound like your grandchild; ask about it. Scammers usually will say it's a bad connection or he/she has a cold or make some other vague explanation for their odd sounding voice.
Typically, grandparents are asked to wire the money to some out of state or out of the country location. Sometimes grandparents are told to buy several thousand dollars in prepaid debit cards and then phone the "grandchild" with the scratch-off numbers on the back of the cards. They can then use those numbers to get the money.
According to the National Council on Aging, the grandparent scam is successful because it is so simple, and devious, and it uses one of older adults' most reliable assets – their hearts.
Older people are often easy targets for such cons, according to the AARP, because:
⊃ They're more likely to be home during the day
⊃ They expect people to be honest
⊃ They are less likely to act when defrauded.
Further, the National Council on Aging estimated that senior citizens are robbed of about $3 billion annually via various financial scams.
Scamming grandparents can be lucrative for well-practiced criminals. Especially since the odds of being caught and prosecuted are slim.
One incarcerated scammer told journalist Carter Evans: "You can make $10,000 … in a day if you do it properly. Once you get them emotionally involved, then they'll do anything for you, basically."
"The effect (of the scam) on the victims is so great. It's not simply the loss of the money. They feel stupid, they feel gullible, and they have nightmares about it and anxiety and depression," says former Assistant U.S. Attorney Ellyn Lindsey, who successfully prosecuted the scammer that Carter Evans interviewed.
There are also email versions of this swindle. You receive an email supposedly from a friend who is in a foreign country, and has been robbed and needs money to pay for a new passport, his/her hotel and airfare home. I received such an email from my friend Connie, who said she was stuck in London. I knew it was a scam since Connie had died six months before the email arrived.
Recently, my wife received an email plea for help from a nun she knows who was ostensibly stranded in the Philippines. She called the nun's cell phone and learned she was not stranded in the Philippines or anywhere else. She told Donna she had received numerous calls from people concerned about her well-being.
If a supposed grandchild, relative or friend either calls or emails and claims to be in dire need of money, after having had some devastating experience in either another state or a foreign country, fight the urge to react quickly to the request. Take the time to verify his or her story. It might truly be someone in need of help, but the call or email is more likely just an attempt to separate you from your money.
Lastly, when you receive a call from a number you don't recognize, let your voicemail answer the call. Scammers don't usually leave messages.
Sweet surprise: Union Springs cook bakes up an unplanned success
FPH Bakery is located in a renovated downtown building that housed Holmes Café for 55 years.
Story and photos by Jennifer Kornegay
Some say anything tastes better served on fine china and scooped up with a silver fork or spoon. At FPH Bakery in downtown Union Springs, you'll find both fancy flatware and elegant plates in use, but the cakes, pies, soups, sandwiches and salads served here don't need the aesthetic boost.
Judging by the packed dining room and a bakery counter that almost empties every day, owner and baker Amber Anderson could probably send out her kitchen creations on paper towels, and folks would still rave.
Anderson opened French Pressed Home (FPH) Bakery in February 2017, and its quick rise to success came as a sweet surprise, especially since owning a bakery and café was never really in her plans. Always interested in cooking, she taught herself to bake and a few years ago, made a few cakes at a friend's request. The friend liked them and spread the word.
Soon, Anderson was taking orders for her cakes weekly and then moved into wedding cakes. Demand for her desserts ballooned into more than she could handle, and with twin boys also in need of her time, she was close to calling it quits. "I realized I had to expand or fold," she says. "So I grew and opened the bakery."
Chocolate-drizzled Napoleans are ready for customers.
She's been thrilled by the support of her community, a hometown she and her family adopted only a few years ago. "The people here have been so great," she says. "I knew they would be. I fell in love with this area and its people the first time I came."
Born, raised and living in San Diego, Calif., until 2013, Anderson and her family made their way South after the recession in 2008 decimated her husband's contracting business and left them looking for a fresh start. "I didn't know where we wanted to go, but I knew it was time to leave California," she says. "I never really thought about the South, but I was looking at houses all over online, and the affordability of properties down here piqued my interest."
At the time, Anderson was running a vintage goods business and blogging about it (her blog's name was French Pressed Home) while dreaming of running a bed and breakfast, and a historic house in Union Springs caught her eye. "I came down to look at the house, and I liked it, but I also liked the town," she says.
She didn't get that first house and realized it wasn't the right time for her to pursue a B&B, but she and her husband were still smitten with Union Springs, so they stayed (and bought a new house in the old town). The move shocks some.
"People ask me all the time about how different it must be here compared to San Diego, but it's really not," she says. "The San Diego I grew up in in the 1970s had this real neighborhood feel and culture, kinda like a small town. That's not how it is today, but that's how it was for a lot of my time there." Union Springs' leisurely pace and genuine people reminded her of that childhood and instantly pulled her in.
Now, she's bringing others to the town. Lunchtime at FPH stays busy; locals come in for a box lunch (a sandwich, chips and choice of dessert) or maybe a bowl of chili or chicken and rice soup with a cup of coffee. Early afternoon sees a steady stream of people sating a sugar fix, getting a sweet snack or an entire cake or pie to go.
FPH's chicken salad is made with pecans, grapes, celery, poppy seeds and steak seasoning.
Others drive over from Montgomery, Auburn and Troy. Many come for a bite of her claim to fame: salted caramel cake, her riff on a Southern staple that eschews the traditional cooked icing for rich buttercream with her homemade "secret recipe" caramel (with a hint of salt) stirred in. "The usual caramel icing down here is actually hard to get right," she says. "I decided not to even try and compete with everybody's Nana."
And while Anderson's baked goods – buttery croissants, fudgy brownies, fancifully festooned cupcakes, cookies, pies and more – take the front seat, driving a lot of the bakery's traffic, a savory dish is not far behind in popularity. Whether it's between two pieces of bread or mounded on the aforementioned pretty plates with pickles and crackers on the side, FPH's chicken salad is giving the pastries and other confections a run for their money. Combining both fine, soft shreds and meatier chunks of roasted chicken, sliced red grapes, chopped pecans, pureed celery, a dash of steak seasoning and poppy seeds with a just enough silky mayo to hold things together, it's creamy, crunchy, tart, peppery and salty all at once.
Housed in an old building on the edge of downtown that Anderson's husband Bruce carefully renovated, FPH has a convivial atmosphere that's a draw too. She used her blog's name for the bakery, and it fits. "I love all things French, baking is associated with France, and I do want this place to feel like a home, to be comfortable," she says.
Friendly staff, Anderson included, roll out the welcome, and exposed brick lit by glittering chandeliers provides some old-world flair. The china and silver are charming but not pretentious: All mismatched, they're from the collection Anderson amassed in her previous business. Delights like cakes topped with bright berries and delicate napoleons glistening with drizzled chocolate perch on pedestals of varying heights on a worn wooden counter, "icing" on the spot's appeal and hospitality.
The vibe is all Anderson, but she's also embracing the property's past. "It was a restaurant called Holmes Cafe, run by two brothers, for 55 years, and there were a lot of happy eating memories made here," Anderson says. She's hoping to continue the legacy.
She's also hoping her presence downtown helps other businesses and encourages new ones to locate in the city's center too. "I love this place and want to do all I can to promote this community and be a part of the positive change already happening," she says. "It's exciting to see new business open in this area."
She's equally excited by her first year's accomplishments and looking forward to a prosperous 2018, but putting satisfied smiles on her customer's faces is the sweet reward that turns her lips up. "This is hard work, but it's really fun too, and for me, it's not about making a ton of money," she says. "It's about making people leave here happier than they were when they came in."
While you're there
The town of Union Springs is a popular day trip for groups. If you visit, be sure to check out the Josephine Art Center, 126 Prairie St. N., where you can visit the local historical museum, view Alabama artwork, create your own work of art, host a private party, book an historic tour of Bullock County, or even check out a ghost tour! More at artatjosephine.com, email promiseland@ustconline.net or (334)703-0098.
Spring planting time: Picking the perfect plants
If, like me, you're looking forward to home-grown summer vegetables, herbs and flowers, it's time to get planting.
Those of you who thought ahead and started seeds inside or in a cold frame or greenhouse already have a great source of plant material ready to go in the ground. But don't forget to harden them off first. "Hardening off" is a process that gradually transitions young, tender plants from their sheltered indoor life to the more extreme world of the great outdoors.
Start the process by putting seedlings outside during the day in a shaded, protected area for a couple of hours, then bring them back inside. Gradually lengthen the amount of time they spend outside and the amount of sun exposure they receive on each consecutive day and, in about a week, they should be ready to go out into the world. (The length of time for hardening off varies depending on weather conditions and plant type, so check seed packages for recommendations.)
If you haven't thought ahead, though, transplants (ready-to-plant seedlings) are abundantly available at retail outlets throughout the state, and they make growing all kinds of annual plants pretty darn easy, especially if you follow these tips.
• Pick smaller plants. Avoid extra-large plants and look for smaller, more compact plants that are about as wide as they are tall. Beware of plants that are overcrowded. If there are several plants in a single pot or seedling cell, it may seem like you're getting more plants for your money, but they may be less healthy or stunted.
• Pick quality plants. Buy only healthy plants that exhibit good color in their leaves and stems and show no signs of yellowing, wilting or damage. Make sure their growing media is moist and the transplants are not root-bound. Try to avoid buying vegetable, fruit or herb plants that are already flowering, and look for flowering plants that have buds, not blossoms, so you'll ensure a longer blooming period.
• Plant quickly. Try to avoid buying transplants more than two days before planting. If you have to wait longer than that to get them in the ground, store them in a warm, sunny, but protected spot and keep them well watered.
• Plant properly. Gently remove transplants from their containers so you don't damage their tops or roots, and plant them deep enough so the soil can support them as their root systems develop. Water them well immediately after planting, and water them frequently for several days after planting. Hold off on applying fertilizer, which can burn tender leaves and stimulate excessive foliage growth. Mulch around the plants to keep moisture near their roots and suppress weeds.
When buying transplants, quality is important, and one way to ensure good quality plants is to buy "local." Look for plants that were produced in Alabama or the Southeast — that means they didn't have far to travel to get to your garden, so they should be less stressed. If the source of the plant is not listed on the label, ask the store's staff or manager where they came from.
In addition to transplants, many annual seeds can now be sown directly into the garden. If you collected seed from last year's plants or know a gardener who is willing to share ones they collected, that's ideal. But if you need to buy seed, go for quality. A great source of fresh seed — and seed that is tried-and-true in your area — is a store that sells bulk, loose seed (farmer cooperatives and feed-and-seed stores, for example).
If you can't find the seed or plants you're looking for at a local store, catalogues provide exceptional choices, especially for less common selections such as non-GMO, organic, heirloom or newly released varieties and cultivars. Just make sure you're ordering from a reputable company by checking consumer reviews and reviewing their guarantee and return policies.
Oh, and if in your excitement you overbuy seeds or transplants, don't toss them out. Donate them to a community or school garden and share the wealth. That way you and others can look forward to all kinds of gardening rewards in the months to come.
Birders take flight and travel the globe
By Gayle Gresham
Looking for your travel to take flight this year? Become a birder and enjoy all kinds of new places to visit while adding bird species to your list and enjoying time spent wherever this activity takes you.
Birdwatching is rising in popularity in the United States and throughout the world. Anyone can do it, whether you live in the city, the suburbs or the country. You can set up your own feeders in your own backyard and keep a list of the species that visit you. Or, if you love to travel and you enjoy birdwatching, you can visit wilderness refuges, travel to bird festivals, and take guided tours of bird habitats anywhere in the world.
Backyard birdwatching
It's great to start bird watching by simply looking out your window and seeing the birds that congregate in your yard or on your patio. Is that a bluebird? What type of bluebird? An eastern, western, or mountain bluebird? You can go old school by checking a field guide like Peterson's or Sibley's or you can look up bluebirds on http://allaboutbirds.org (Cornell Lab of Ornithology). Check the range map and see which is common in your region. Look at the markings and distinctive features. Many birds show enough variation to make an ID with ease. The All About Birds website also contains recordings of each bird's song so identification can also be made by the birdsong.
White egrec near San Fransisco Bay. Photo by Alfred Leung on Unsplash.
Going high-tech with your identification tools can make it easier to take them along when you travel. Download the Merlin Bird ID app (Cornell Lab of Ornithology) to your cell phone. The app asks five questions to help identify a bird. It then pulls up bird photos matching the description that have been seen in your region. Or, take a photo of the bird, upload it to Merlin and it will identify the bird for you.
Those who catch birdwatching fever often keep a list of the birds they have seen or heard. A life list consists of all of the bird species seen in your lifetime while a yearly list tics off every bird species seen in a year. A list can be kept in a simple notebook, in a special birding notebook, or it can be a simple notation of date and place beside the picture in a guide book. Computer list options include Birder's Diary software, which also allows photos, or use the eBird mobile app for cell phones, which uses GPS coordinates for bird species sightings.
As you become familiar with the birds in your backyard, you will be able to recognize when a bird not common to your area appears. When you see a rare bird, you can report it through eBird or the American Birding Society so other birders can visit your backyard and add it to their lists.
A killdeer, which often performs a "broken wing" routine to draw a predator away
Photo by Ken Christison.
If birdwatching has captured your attention and your curiosity has grown beyond the birds showing up in your backyard, then what? It's time for some birding excursions.
First, call someone you know who is a birdwatcher. Don't know anyone? Start asking around. You might be surprised by which of your friends are birders. Ask at your library about birdwatching clubs or search the internet for local and state birding clubs and chapters of the Audubon Society for programs, events and field trips. You can go out on your own, but it's helpful to have someone teach you how to locate and identify the birds. Grab your binoculars, camera and cell phone and head to the wilderness or city park.
One way to learn from an experienced watcher is to join the Audubon Society's annual Christmas Bird Count, which allows beginner birders to take part. Participants count every bird seen or heard in a 15-mile diameter designated circle over a 24-hour period of time between Dec. 14 and Jan. 5. The count acts as an annual census of birds across the world.
Travel birding
Your interest in birds has been piqued and now you'd like to see species of birds that are not local to your area. It's time to travel! You can either travel to see birds in a certain locale or go on vacation and see what interesting birds are in your planned location. Once again, the internet can help you identify places to see birds. There are more than 562 National Wildlife Refuges and 38 wetland management districts in the United States. Visit the www.fws.gov/refuges website for locations and information. There are also 10,234 state parks and 58 national parks, giving you plenty of opportunity to travel and find birds.
At least 38 states have American Birding Association Birding Trails. A designated Birding Trail system links wildlife refuges, state parks and national parks in a state, along with noted habitats found along the route. The trails may be hiking trails or highways to drive. Information on state birding trails can be found on the internet.
Red-tailed hawk watches a squirrel
Photo by David Morris on Unsplash
The World Birding Center in the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas features nine locations with more than 500 species of birds at the convergence of two major migration flyways. Bird festivals are another great way to see specific birds and take part in workshops and tours. Many festivals coincide with migration to see the greatest number of species in a set place.
Competitive birding
You've learned to identify birds, enjoy the challenge and you're ready to dive further into birding, perhaps on a competitive level. There are various events for all ages sponsored by bird organizations. Join The Big Sit! hosted by Bird Watcher's Digest — 24 hours of sitting in a 17-foot diameter circle with a team counting every birds species seen.
"Big Day" events or birdathons are sponsored by bird associations and often raise pledges for their societies and conservation by counting how many species of birds can be seen in 24 hours. They can be done individually or in teams. The Global Big Day is sponsored by eBird and on May 13, 2017, almost 20,000 birders from 150 countries turned in 50,000 checklists with 6,564 species of birds spotted in one day. That is more than 60 percent of all of the species of birds in the world.
Stretching that day to a year, The Big Year is the ultimate challenge in birding. It is a competition to see who can see the most birds in one year in a specific geographical area.
A little curiosity and a greater awareness of birds can take you in many directions. Travel, see the country, see the world, and see the birds as you go! Maybe a Big Year is in your future.
Gayle Gresham writes from her electric-co-op powered home in Elbert, Colorado. She now has Merlin Bird ID on her phone and is ready to go watch some birds.
Alabama's trails offer an abundance of bird-watching locations
Alabama has an abundance of bird species – 430 at last count – to watch, from the Tennessee border to the Gulf Coast.
The Alabama Birding Trails is a system of eight trails highlighting the best public locations available to watch birds year-round. According to its website, alabamabirdingtrails.com, our state provides a critical habitat for hundreds of bird species, from the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker to the now flourishing bald eagle.
As interest in wildlife observation grows, more people want to explore our amazing biodiversity, which makes Alabama second only to Florida in the Eastern U.S. in total number of species of plants and animals.
The eight Alabama Birding Trails unify existing and potential birding sites into a series of cohesive trails and loops that are collectively marketed as part of a statewide system. Many of the sites along the various trails are already being used by thousands of birders and other visitors annually.
The Alabama Birding Trails program recently announced the addition of 10 new birding trail sites, bringing the total number of locations to 280 in 65 counties. Two of the new sites are on Forever Wild properties: the Wehle Forever Wild Tract near Midway, and the Yates Lake Forever Wild Tract near Tallassee.
Brown-headed nuthatch in Alabama. Photo by Mark Langston.
The eight other sites are: Heflin's Cahulga Creek Park; Coosa County's Flagg Mountain, near Weogufka; the Lee County Public Fishing Lake, near Opelika; the Louise Kreher Forest Ecology Preserve and Nature Center, in Auburn; Minooka Park, in Jemison; the Moss Rock Preserve, in Hoover; Shades Creek Greenway, in Homewood; and the Smith Mountain Fire Tower, near Dadeville.
Alabama's Birding Trails offer the public a chain of eight geographic regions: North Alabama, West Alabama, Appalachian Highlands, Piedmont Plateau, Black Belt Nature and Heritage, Pineywoods, Wiregrass, and Alabama Coastal Birding Trail. Specific information on each region is available at the alabamabirdingtrails.com website.
This project is a collaborative effort by the Alabama Tourism Department, University of Alabama Center for Economic Development, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Birmingham Audubon Society, chambers of commerce across the state, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the National Forest Service and others.
Singer, actor, dancer … doing it all
Alabama's Jordan Fisher came to national TV prominence in November when he won the 25th season of "Dancing With the Stars" with his professional dancing partner, Lindsay Arnold. But some fans may not realize that Fisher has been acting, dancing and singing more than half his life.
Born and raised in Birmingham, Fisher caught the performing bug early. His fifth-grade crush asked him to join the drama club with her, and he started acting, singing and dancing that first day. That summer, he joined the Red Mountain Theatre Company, one of the South's premier fine arts education centers. He went from his first school play to community theater to regional theater to joining a professional theater company in a short amount of time.
He wants to do it all – music, theater, as well as acting. He released an EP of pop-soul-R&B music in August 2016, and was featured on the soundtrack of the Disney hit "Moana." He's set to release a full album of R&B music this year.
He's had recurring roles on multiple TV series, including "The Secret Life of the American Teenager," and of course the big win on DWTS.
He made his Broadway debut in the megahit "Hamilton," playing the roles of John Laurens/Phillip Hamilton.
And he turns 24 in April.
– Allison Law
You were born and raised in Alabama. Talk about your upbringing here.
It's kind of incredible, when I say that I'm from Alabama. I don't really have much of an accent, and people are like, for real? …
I can't think of a better place to spend the majority of my childhood. Standards and morals and all of these things, growing up in the South, that's something in my opinion that's priceless. Very proud to be an Alabamian and very proud to have spent a majority of my childhood there. (As a teenager, he traveled back and forth between Alabama and Los Angeles for four years before moving to LA permanently.)
How quickly time passes. Growing up such a fan of sports and people and a love for my family and all of these things, I feel like the root of all of that started with my environment growing up, and that's Birmingham, and I couldn't be more proud of the growth of that city.
You acted in the Broadway smash "Hamilton" (from November 2016 through March 2017). Talk about that.
I love it, I miss it to death. It's kind of hard, when you want to do everything, which is what I do. I wear all the hats, and do TV and film and Broadway, and I'm a recording artist and a writer and a producer and an author, it's hard to just be able to do one thing for a long period of time. You kind of have to alternate all these things. Eventually, the end goal is that I can pick and choose whatever I want, whenever I want, and right now it's a matter of having to continue to strike while the iron is hot, which keeps me super busy. It keeps me constantly honing and learning and building my craft and my world as an artist. That will eventually get me back to Broadway, the same way it will always take me back to TV and film and music and touring. But Broadway, I love it just a little bit more than everything else.
I have to ask about "Dancing With the Stars." How was that experience?
Unbelievable. I learned a lot about myself, and Lindsay, she cracked the whip in all the right ways. It resulted in an amazing friendship. Really more of a family. That's my favorite memory, taking away from all of this, is the family I got to build on that show, with Lindsay, with the other pros on the show. … We really put in a lot of time and energy and effort, and I'm just very grateful that America saw that and put in the votes.
Do you get back to Alabama very often?
I get back more frequently now. Ellie Woods is the love of my life. We actually grew up together at the Red Mountain Theatre Company. She is in school for clinical dietetics at the University of Alabama. We see each other every three weeks. That's the bottom line, period, the end. Whether I go to Birmingham quietly and spend time with her in Tuscaloosa, or she comes to LA or meets me in whatever city I'm in, we see each other every three weeks. When you make the choice and you make the commitment, you make it work, period. We make it work.
Aim for quality when managing a renovation contractor
By Pat Keegan and Brad Thiessen
Q: We followed your advice last month and hired a contractor we think will give us an energy efficient renovation. How do we manage the job to make sure the project turns out right?
A: Last month, I offered tips on how to hire a good contractor, but it's smart to realize that after the hiring is complete, contractors need to be managed.
First, you should decide who will be the main contact with your contractor. Clear communication is critical because a renovation that includes energy efficiency improvements comes with extra challenges. A single point of contact will help avoid confusion, conflicts and cost overruns.
Before the work starts, have a discussion with your contractor about quality. You want the contractor to know you'll be carefully overseeing the work and that there may be others involved in this oversight, such as building inspectors, your electric cooperative or an independent energy auditor. You can discuss the standards of a professional, high-quality job. And you can agree on the points at which the contractor will pause so you or someone you designate can review the work. At a minimum, an inspection should take place before you make an interim payment.
Here are a few examples of interim review points:
The building envelope should be properly sealed before insulation is installed because air leaks increase energy use and reduce comfort.
Replacement windows should be properly flashed and sealed before siding and trim are installed, which prevents moisture problems and air leaks.
Some insulation measures can be inspected before they are sealed up behind walls or ceilings.
Almost all efficiency measures require some kind of final inspection. For example, infrared thermometers can show voids in blown insulation, and fiberglass batts can be visually inspected to ensure there are no air gaps and the batts are not compressed.
HVAC measures require special attention. Nearly half of all HVAC systems are not installed correctly, which often causes uneven temperature distribution throughout the home, along with higher energy bills. ENERGYSTAR® has a special program to ensure quality HVAC installation. Forced air systems typically have poorly balanced supply and return air delivery that can often be improved. Air flow can be measured at each register, and a duct blaster test can identify and quantify duct leakage.
When you review the work, it may be helpful to take photos or to bring in an energy auditor. Be sure to have these inspections outlined in the contract and discussed beforehand so the contractor is comfortable.
It will be tempting to add "just one more thing" along the way, and the contractor may agree a change is simple and possible within the timeframes. Contractors and customers often miscommunicate about change orders and end up disagreeing about a additional costs when the project is completed. Before you make any changes, be sure to get a written cost quote. If it's significant, you can then weigh the cost against the benefit of the change.
It's a good idea to maintain good records as the project progresses. These records could be helpful for building inspectors or to qualify for rebates or tax credits.
HVAC technicians or energy auditors can use diagnostic equipment to measure air leakage and air flow.
When the renovation is complete, it may be tempting to sign the check, shake hands and breathe a sigh of relief that it's all over. Depending on the size and complexity of the project, it may be worth the extra step of having a final audit by a licensed energy auditor.
My neighbors were saved from a home renovation disaster when an energy audit discovered the energy efficiency contractor had failed to produce the promised efficiencies. The contractor had to perform thousands of dollars' worth of improvements to fulfill the contract before my neighbors made the final payment.
Once you confirm that the work is 100 percent complete, you can write a check for the final payment, then sit back and enjoy your revitalized, more energy-efficient home!ν
This column was co-written by Pat Keegan and Brad Thiessen of Collaborative Efficiency. For more information on managing a home renovation contractor, please visit: www.collaborativeefficiency.com/energytips.
Bears on the move
As bear and human populations increase, so do contacts
By John N. Felsher
As weather improves, more Alabamians venture outdoors to enjoy hiking, picnicking, turkey hunting, fishing and other activities, but they are not alone! Another very large, toothy Alabama resident could watch their every move.
"Historically, black bears lived throughout the entire state," says Thomas Harms, the top large carnivore biologist for the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. "The population in Alabama is expanding."
Harms estimates that 400 or so black bears live in the state. Probably about 300 bears live in Baldwin, Mobile, Washington and Monroe counties. Another 50 to 100 live in the Little River Canyon area of northeastern Alabama. Others may wander through just about any county at times.
Most Alabama male bears weigh about 300 to 350 pounds and females about 100 pounds less. Compare that to grizzlies, which could exceed 1,500 pounds and stand more than nine feet tall. While not as big as their giant cousins, black bears still pose a serious danger to anyone who crosses their paths.
Incredibly powerful predators with big claws and teeth, black bears can kill people and cause extensive property damage if they wish. Fortunately, attacks rarely happen. Actually quite shy, the official Alabama state mammal characteristically tries to avoid people. A bear could live near a residential area and no one will see it.
"The last thing a bear wants to see is a human," Harms says. "We haven't had any bear attacks in Alabama in modern times. Like most animals, bears have a natural fear of people. It's surprising how well such a large animal can remain hidden. People can go in the woods every day and not see a bear, but the bear probably sees the person every time. They know when a person is in the woods and they want to get away as quickly as they can."
Some hikers carry whistles or horns with them to frighten off any bears they might see. Others carry pepper spray as a last resort. Anyone who does spot a bear in the forests should just leave it alone and go somewhere else.
"A bear is not out to eat a human," Harms says. "If you stumble upon a bear in the woods, let it know you are there so it can get away. Give the bear space. Back away from it. Don't turn and run away from it because that could trigger a predatory instinct in the bear."
However, as the bear and human populations continue to grow, the two species might bump into each other more frequently, particularly in places like Mobile County with large human and bear populations. Most bear-human encounters typically involve food. An omnivore, a bear will eat practically anything.
Wildlife researchers weigh a black bear they captured in Washington County and check its health before releasing it. About 400 to 500 black bears live in Alabama, mostly in the southwestern and northeastern parts of the state. Photo by Karin Harms
Don't give bears any reason to come around a house. Never intentionally feed a bear or put out food to attract one. In bear country, put refuse in bear-proof trashcans. At night, bring in pets and pet food. Never leave any food or food residue where a bear can find it. A bear could smell an old sandwich wrapper and tear anything apart looking for food.
"Bears can be dangerous, but they don't have to be," Harms says. "If bears begin to associate humans with food, that causes problems. Some people put out corn feeders, whether to hunt deer or just draw animals to the property. Bears find that corn. Bears are also looking for fruit or mast-producing trees."
Young male bears probably cause the most problems. When young bears reach a certain age, their mother pushes them away as she prepares to breed again. On their own for the first time, these strong youngsters wander long distances looking for food, a mate and territory to call home, one not already occupied by larger bears.
"Young male bears start moving about in May," Harms says. "They are young and dumb. Up until that time, momma has been telling them what to do. They don't show any fear of humans and sometimes walk through the middle of big towns. That's when we get a lot of calls about people seeing bears."
When a female black bear reaches about two years old, she starts to breed. In Alabama, bears normally breed in July or August. About every two to three years, a female will deliver one to four cubs in January or February. She will likely live about 10 to 20 years and might produce 10 to 15 offspring in her lifetime.
In the spring, hikers, hunters or other outdoor enthusiasts might spot a mother with one or more cubs or possibly just a cub by itself. Never attempt to catch or approach a bear cub. Cubs may look like cute and cuddly fuzzballs, but they are not pets and probably not alone or lost. Momma is likely not far away. Get away from the cub and stay out of that area.
If you see a bear in Alabama, please report it to the ALDCNR at game.dcnr.alabama.gov/BlackBear or call the nearest ALDCNR office.
For more information, call Harms in Spanish Fort at 251-626-5153.
John N. Felsher lives in Semmes, Ala. Contact him through Facebook.
Knead some dough?
It's Alive! Thanks to its short list of fairly accessible ingredients, bread, in its many forms, is the world's most-eaten food. Most leavened bread gets its rise from yeast, and the way this little organism works is pretty interesting. Yeast is alive, and each individual yeast cell must eat to continue living. Yeasts' favorite food is sugar, and when they're added to bread dough, the yeasts feast on the sugars, breaking them down and emitting carbon dioxide and alcohol. As a gas, the carbon dioxide forms bubbles, which grow and expand, "plumping up" the dough. This process intensifies in the heat of the oven, as does the evaporation of the alcohol.
By Jennifer Kornegay / Food Photography by Brooke Echols
A warm-from-the-oven slice of freshly baked homemade bread is worth its weight in gold and definitely worth the effort required to make and bake it.
Bread has long been associated with money. The person bringing home the majority of a family or household's income is the breadwinner. We often say someone doing well financially is "raking in the dough." The link has its origins in the important role bread has played in the welfare of cultures around the world since man first started farming. As one of the oldest "prepared foods," daily bread was essential for life, and thus, it attained high value. In places like ancient Egypt and middle-ages France, bread was used as credit and currency.
Today, most of us no longer live by bread alone, and as some of us try to watch our waistlines, bread — with its high calorie and carb count — has been given a lesser place of prominence in many modern diets. But this just puts it on a pedestal again, giving it a new kind of value as something some deem a splurge or a luxury.
Our access to all kinds of bread makes it even more special. We can easily get our hands on bread types from all over the globe: flat but pillowy Indian naan; a skinny, crusty French baguette; or a round of chewy Italian ciabatta. If you prefer to go all-American, you've still got lots of options: a soft loaf of tangy sourdough, a slice studded with raisins and swirled with cinnamon, a beer-boosted bread or just a plain piece of basic white.
And if you want to stay true to our region, cornbread is certainly the South's favorite bread. Or is it the biscuit? (It's definitely risen beyond the realm of bread but is still bread nonetheless.) That's a debate with no wrong answer.
Wherever your bread cravings take your taste buds, set aside some time to try out a few of this month's reader submitted recipes.
Cook of the Month: Robin O'Sullivan, Wiregrass EC
Robin O'Sullivan loves fresh, local strawberries, and when they're in season each spring, she's always looking for ways to incorporate them into her cooking. She'd made chocolate-banana bread for years, and then one day, decided to branch out and try chocolate-strawberry bread instead. "It was really just an experiment," she said. "I love the flavor combo of chocolate and strawberry, so I figured it would work." It did. It's become a regular in her baking rotation, and while it is technically bread, she admits it's flirting with being a dessert. "It's sweet and a bit rich, but like a banana bread, you can still eat it for breakfast," she said.
Chocolate-Strawberry Bread
1 pound whole strawberries
1 1/4 cups vegetable oil
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottoms of two 9×5-inch or 8×4-inch loaf pans. Lightly flour. Slightly mash strawberries; set aside. In a large bowl, mix sugar and oil. Stir in eggs until well blended. Stir in strawberries until well mixed. Stir in remaining ingredients, except chocolate chips, just until moistened. Stir in chocolate chips. Pour into pans. Bake 1 hour or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Remove from pans to wire rack. Cool completely before slicing.
Garlic Rosemary Bread
2 cups lukewarm water (105 degrees Fahrenheit)
1 package active dry yeast (21/4 teaspoons)
1/2 tablespoon kosher salt
4 1/3 cups all-purpose flour, divided
2 tablespoons fresh rosemary leaves
In a large mixing bowl, combine water and yeast. Add 1 cup of flour and salt; stir with a wooden spoon until combined. Stir in rosemary leaves and minced garlic. Add remaining flour, one cup at a time, stirring until thoroughly combined. Cover with plastic wrap and set in a warm spot to rise for 1 hour. Add one tablespoon of olive oil in an 8 or 10-inch cast iron skillet; using a napkin or your fingers, coat bottom and sides of skillet with the olive oil. Flour your hands; remove plastic wrap and using your hands, transfer dough to prepared skillet and shape into a disk. Cover with a kitchen towel and let stand for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Drizzle remaining olive oil over the top and sprinkle with sea salt. Score the top of the loaf with some shallow knife cuts. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until top is nicely browned. Remove from oven and turn the bread out onto a wire cooling rack. Leave to cool for a few minutes and serve. (If you do not have an iron skillet, you can use a stoneware baking dish).
NOTE: Remove bread from pan as soon as it comes out of the oven because bread left in the pan will become moist and soggy.
Mary Rich
North Alabama EC
Mayonnaise Biscuits
1 cup self-rising flour
Combine all ingredients and spoon into greased muffin tins. Bake at 425 degrees until golden brown, about 20-25 minutes. Yield: 6 biscuits. Easily doubled or tripled for more biscuits.
Sherry Phillips
Central Alabama EC
No Corn Jalapeno "Cornbread"
1/2-3/4 cup milk
1/2 cup pickled (not hot) jalapenos dried on a paper towel
3/4 cup grated cheddar or Fontina cheese
Place an 8-inch cast iron skillet into the oven and preheat to 400 degrees. Combine flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda in a bowl. Add in egg and milk; mix lightly until smooth and fluid. (Add more milk if necessary so that batter is loose enough to spread evenly into bottom of skillet). Remove hot skillet from the oven and add 1 tablespoon oil. Spread oil over bottom. Place back in oven and heat for 5 minutes.
Remove skillet again and pour in half the batter. Spread into a layer over the bottom. Place the dry jalapenos over the batter and then add the cheese over the top. Pour the rest of the batter over the jalapenos and cheese. Spread with spoon to cover evenly. Bake 20 to 25 minutes until top is golden. Serves 2 to 4. Delicious, Paleo and gluten free.
Gay Cotton
Baldwin EMC
Spoon Bread Muffins (Rolls)
1 ½ sticks margarine, melted
4 cups self-rising flour
1 package yeast
2 cups warm water
Dissolve yeast in warm water. Stir in flour, beaten egg, sugar and melted margarine. Stir until mixed well. Can use immediately or will keep well in a covered bowl that is refrigerated for one week. To bake: spoon mix into greased muffin tins and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
LaCretia Bevel
Easy Popovers
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Grease a 6-cup popover pan. Pour milk into mixing bowl, add flour and salt and use a hand mixer to blend well, making sure not to over-mix the batter. Add eggs one at a time, beating each until completely blended. Pour batter evenly into popover cups, filling will be about 3/4 full. Bake at 425 degrees for 20 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees and continue baking 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Serve immediately.
Shari Lowery
Pioneer EC
Easy Beer Bread
1 bottle of beer
1/4 cup optional ingredients: shredded cheese, olives, jalapenos and 1 teaspoon (or more if you like) Italian seasoning blend
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x5x3-inch bread loaf pan. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt until combined. Slowly pour the beer and honey into the flour mixture, add optional ingredients if you desire and stir until combined. Pour half of the melted butter into the bottom of the loaf pan and spread it around evenly. Then add the batter to the pan in an even layer and brush the rest of the butter around evenly on top of the batter. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, until the top of the bread is golden brown and a toothpick or knife inserted in the middle comes out clean.
Coming up in May… Junior Cooks!
It's time to spice up our recipe selection and you could be a winner! We are looking for fresh, creative recipes from readers just like you. In addition to our monthly Cook of the Month prize, beginning in January, all cooks who submit a recipe will automatically be entered into a drawing to win a gift basket full of Alabama Living merchandise. Take a look at our upcoming themes and send in your favorite recipes today!
June: Heirloom Recipes | April 8
July: Frozen Treats | May. 8
August: Corn | June 8
Social Security: Connect with Social Security via automated services
Every day thousands use it to do business with Social Security. We strive to offer the kind of services that meet people's needs. And sometimes you want fast and direct answers over the phone. We have that option.
You can call us toll free at 1-800-772-1213. Our automated services are available 24 hours a day and include some of the most popular services that people need. With automated services, you can request a benefit verification (proof of income) letter, replace a lost SSA-1099 (tax summary needed for taxes), request a replacement Medicare card, ask for form SSA-1020 to apply for help with Medicare prescription drug costs, or request an SS-5 application for a Social Security card.
When our automated services ask such things as, "How can I help you?" Just say, "Get a proof of income letter" or "Replace Medicare card." Next, you will be asked for some personal information to identify yourself, then we will respond to your request. We will mail you the document or form you requested. It takes less time to use automated services than to reach a representative by phone on a busy day.
Sometimes, you just need Social Security information such as, "What date will my check arrive?" or "What is the SSI program?" Automated services feature messages about these popular topics. If payment delivery date is the type of info you need, when asked "How can I help you?" just reply "Payment delivery date." You will hear a recorded message stating the current month and the future month's payment dates. Other topics include direct deposit, SSI messages, the cost-of-living adjustment, Medicare prescription drug program, tax information, representative payee, and fraud. Dial, and listen — what a simple way to stay informed.
To connect with us through our automated services, visit socialsecurity.gov/agency/contact/phone.html.


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Human trafficking and Africa's 'pornography of pain': the pitfalls of CSR
LexisNexis South Africa has mined its newspaper archives to produce a deeply flawed 'human trafficking awareness index'. This draws upon sensationalised research to create yet more false information on trafficking.
Marlise Richter Joel Quirk
GongTo/Shutterstock. All Rights Reserved.
LexisNexis is an internationally renowned company that specialises in providing research and information for legal and corporate clients. It is especially popular amongst law students, who routinely use its user-friendly search engines to write assignments and briefs. While these search engines can be an invaluable source of information, they have also unfortunately been put to use to support sensationalism, myth-making, and poor 'research'.
This is because LexisNexis recently sponsored the publication of a new 'human trafficking awareness index' (HTA index), which seeks "to analyse the volume of news related to human trafficking" in Africa. This index uses information from their media database to "highlight emerging trends and patterns of awareness within and across national borders", and attempts to produce insights that will enable anti-trafficking activists "to monitor and drive the anti-trafficking agenda".
The inaugural awareness index was published in November 2013, and since then two further reports focusing on media coverage from September - December 2013 and January – December 2014 have been published. These reports follow a common logic, with media references to human trafficking being treated as a proxy for public awareness of human trafficking in South Africa as well as in Africa more broadly. The main thrust of all of these reports is not only that human trafficking is insidious and increasing, but that public awareness would assist in uncovering a multitude of cases that are assumed to go undetected. Thus, through public awareness more trafficking victims will—somehow—be saved.
The reports do not reflect critically on the power of sensationalist media coverage to distort the public's perception of the problems associated with human trafficking. This omission is all the more glaring given the now extensive body of research that suggests relevant media reports routinely suffer from dubious statistics and classifications, unrepresentative or uncorroborated anecdotes, and self-serving statements from 'experts' with a vested interest in exaggerating specific problems.
While journalists often have a great deal to say about trafficking, this emphasis can often come at the expense of other more pervasive forms of violence and exploitation. Most obvious of these is domestic violence, a devastating (but mundane) epidemic that has prompted an estimated third of all women who have been in a relationship to report that they have experienced some form of physical or sexual violence by their partner.
Sensationalised reporting on human trafficking also tends to exaggerate the reach and content of trafficking, and to present often self-serving speculation as 'fact'. This does a disservice to victims of trafficking, and can increase burdens faced by already marginalised groups such as sex workers and migrant populations, for example when trafficking raids take place.
In a recent report on Trafficking and Gender, the Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women, warns:
Exclusive focus on trafficking without a social analysis also contributes to sensationalism. It creates the false impression that trafficking is a problem that can be solved by merely taking a few legal measures and providing assistance to those identified as trafficked. Thus, the long term goal of advocating for systemic and structural changes in society gets overlooked.
It is therefore highly debatable whether the HTA index brings us closer to either a clearer understanding or an effective response.
Stylised images and dubious 'statistics'
All three HTA index reports are attractively designed, ten to 24-page documents packed with highly stylised images of white women bound with ropes and sad black children peering through rusty fences or scratching at walls. Especially troubling within the context of post-apartheid South Africa is the cover of the second report, which has an image of a mouth of a white person being smothered by a black hand. These types of visual images not only run the risk of falling subject to what historians of slavery have described as a 'pornography of pain', they also present a racially coded image of menace and physical constraint that does not adequately capture the challenges and complexities associated with migration and exploitation.
Cover of the second HTA index report. Fair Use.
This visual presentation is accompanied by the use of dubious statistics. Especially prominent here is the figure of 2958, which the most recent report calculates is 'the number of potential trafficking victims reported on by African media during the period [January – December 2014]'. This figure is in turn drawn from 1838 'unique African media articles on human trafficking, captured by the LexisNexis database during the period'. Yet the report contains no definition of trafficking, has no methodology section, and includes no indication of the original source of media articles or how they were located, or indeed how the report drew its conclusions. Furthermore, what is reported on by the popular media as 'trafficking' frequently has little resemblance to the technically complex and serious crime of human trafficking as written into law. As such, counting the number of individuals labelled 'victims' by the media does nothing but produce yet another inflated and inaccurate statistic.
These methodological difficulties do not prevent the 2013 and 2014 reports from making bold claims about 'notable trends'. The 2014 report highlighted that child trafficking is 'a pervasive problem', while the September -December 2013 report includes a section titled 'Murky Waters – Forced Labour (in the maritime industry)' despite the fact that this trend does not feature in the media reports considered. While some might consider that a red flag, the report asserts:
this type of trafficking remains under-reported in the media, although the number of victims assisted in individual cases tends to be higher than those of sexual exploitation. [...] Elsewhere in Africa, 'deep sea' child sex tourism is becoming more widespread and entrenched in Kenya, as 'clients' rent boats to sail out to sea with children of their choice.
Sex work in South Africa and Nigeria
All three reports contain a variety of anecdotes and case studies from various parts of Africa. The 2014 report noted the death of Desiree Murugan in Durban, South Africa. Murugan was a 39-year old mother of one, who worked as a sex worker in Durban. In August 2014, she was found stabbed to death and decapitated in Chatsworth. This brutal murder sent shockwaves through the sex worker community, and a memorial was held by her family and supported by sex workers and sex worker advocates. The 2014 report classified this murder as "Body Part Trafficking/Ritual Killing" and provided the following description:
Indian sex worker killed and beheaded for muti [an isiZulu term for traditional medicine]. Stabbed 195 times; brain, ear, nose, flesh and skin from face removed. Body found in Shallcross, Chatsworth. 6 arrested, including a traditional healer, 2 men, and 3 minors (a girl and two boys). Co-accused claimed they were offered R2m for the head of an Indian, Coloured or White woman with long hair by the traditional healer, who pleaded guilty and received a life sentence.
South Africa has no category of crime for 'ritual killing'. The scenario described above also does not fulfil the definitional requirements of trafficking for organ trade, as laid out by the United Nations Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking (UN.GIFT). It is not clear at all, apart from its sensationalism, why this brutal killing was not simply labelled as 'murder' in the 2014 HTA index report.
Similarly, the same report contained a section titled 'Plight of migrant women – Nigerian women take risks crossing the Mediterranean to Italy only to become sex slaves'. There is no reference to the original source, a problem found throughout the report, so one is left to wonder how many of the women labelled sex slaves actually became sex workers, something very different. One also cannot know from the report how many of these women saw sex work in Italy, which has legalised the occupation in contrast to Nigeria, as a step up from their previous conditions.
There is little ambiguity over the definition of trafficking internationally. It is clearly set out by the United Nations Palermo Protocol and includes the essential element of movement by means of coercion or deception for the purposes of exploitation. The two case studies above, and many others described in all three reports, do not seem to pass definitional muster according to the evidence that is provided.
Potential trafficking victims?
The first HTA index report warned that "The information and numbers provided in this report are only as accurate as the way in which the media reports this heinous crime", and that many references to trafficking cases explicitly include the phrase "potential trafficking victims". However, these cautionary notes were not uniformly included throughout the reports. A useful summary page with a table and bullet points—particularly valuable for busy journalists—instead proclaimed that there was a total of 5450 victims of trafficking in the period August 2011-2013 and that 2971 victims were children. This 'fact' was subsequently reproduced in a report on the SADC Gender Protocol 2014 Barometer.
This conflation of potential victims with real victims (as defined by journalists) is further encouraged by LexisNexis' public relations work. For example, the press release accompanying the 2014 report noted:
At least 2958 people were trafficked through African countries outside of South Africa over the 12 month period from January to December 2014 for unjust purposes including sexual exploitation, domestic servitude and forced recruitment as child soldiers.
A representative from LexisNexis South Africa repeated this statement in an article written for the Cape Times, a popular South African daily newspaper. This sort of repetition serves to give weight to the result and to persuade the public that a reputable law research firm confirms the extent of human trafficking.
Making responsible choices
Recently, the CEO of LexisNexis South Africa proudly noted that his company had directed all its corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds towards combating human trafficking. At a global level, LexisNexis has also chosen to support a range of anti-trafficking organisations, including the now notorius Somaly Mam Foundation in Cambodia. This Foundation closed down in October 2014, after its namesake was exposed in Newsweek for having fabricated a history of being sold into sexual slavery by her grandfather. Mam also allegedly instructed Cambodian girls to lie about their lives as sex slaves in order to bolster the credibility and stature of her foundation.
Africa does not need false or misleading claims about trafficking that gain undeserved credibility through their association with a well known corporation. These claims are especially problematic when they harness the mutilated bodies of sex workers like Desiree Murugan towards dubious ends. Africa is currently plagued by a virulent mix of gender-based violence and HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria. There is consequentially an urgent need for companies like LexisNexis to invest their substantial CSR funds towards practical efforts to prevent gender-based violence, as well as for sustained government, private sector and civil society engagement with violence at the community and policy levels. It is fundamentally irresponsible to instead choose to fund glossy reports that fail to enlighten anyone.
This article draws on a response written to the release of the HTA report in 2015, entitled Marlise Richter "Evidence-based, truthful reporting needed on human rights violations" Cape Times 16 April 2015.
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Published in: Beyond Trafficking and Slavery
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American arrogance and the movement to end 'female genital mutilation'
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BeyondSlavery

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Make or Break Media can offer a large choice of talented and experienced voice over artists for your project.
Bespoke sound design, fx and foley all created to your specification.
Custom soundtracks created to fit your project's needs.
We can carry our all aspects of audio editing including audio repair to give you a fantastic sounding product.
We produce tracks for music libraries worldwide but can also produce, mix and master your own material.
If you need bespoke soundtracks for your gym or based classes we are here to get our spandex on!


Laura has combined her love of theatre with her love of history and literature to create historic character portrayals that are sure to entertain and inform! For each of the fascinating women she impersonates, Laura has researched and written a one-woman show that can be tailored to fit the needs of your group or class.
Entities for whom Laura has performed in the past include The Daughters of the American Revolution, The Swan's Island Educational Society, and The Jane Austen Society of North America.
The women whose stories Laura has chosen to tell range from very well known figures such as Charlotte Brontë to figures like First Lady Louisa Catherine Adams, whose extraordinary adventures are often overlooked by the history books!
If there are any characters that you would like to meet that you do not see on Laura's list, let her know! She always enjoys researching and uncovering the stories of new characters from our history.


With this being a short week, we'll keep this a short post. From our glasses to yours, have a pleasant and Happy Thanksgiving.
One of many selections for our Thanksgiving table.
"What event is more awfully important to an English colony than the erection of its first brewhouse?"
Poll: What's the oldest beer you've sampled?


text:
Brotogeris is een geslacht van vogels uit de familie Psittacidae (papegaaien van Afrika en de Nieuwe Wereld).

Soorten
Het geslacht kent de volgende soorten:
Brotogeris chiriri (Chiririparkiet)
Brotogeris chrysoptera (Oranjevleugelparkiet)
Brotogeris cyanoptera (Kobaltvleugelparkiet)
Brotogeris jugularis (Toviparkiet)
Brotogeris pyrrhoptera (Vuurvleugelparkiet)
Brotogeris sanctithomae (Tuiparkiet)
Brotogeris tirica (Tiricaparkiet)
Brotogeris versicolurus (Witvleugelparkiet)

Psittacidae

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


There are about five hundred million reasons to own a prop baseball bat.
Maybe you're really working on your swing and doing some experimental training where you always need to carry a bat but you don't want to walk around with a real bat all day. There's a perfectly legitimate reason.
It's made of foam so you can use it in some light LARPing, if that's your thing.
There's an extremely long list of ways to screw with your friends.
It looks just like a real baseball bat but it's made of foam. The description says it can withstand 80lbs of pressure (whatever that means) so you should be able to get a lot of takes with it if you're making a short film for YouTube or something.
Don't do anything too stupid, though – okay?


About CCbill new security measures?
I've got question regarding the brute force cracking of some CCBILL sites. I've noticed that recently and increasing number of these sites are not including the choice of your own username and password in their "sign-up/Join Now" section anymore. I'm thinking this is probably because CCBIll is generating it's harder to crack username and password for customers of it's clients site.
My questions are, how would it be possible to crack these sites now that they have introduced such measures? Or would i have to learn how to exploit now?
so those where you can not fill user and password on sign up are generated passes?


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Premier League 2020-21
Reports: Kevin de Bryune wants Manchester City to sign Jack Grealish
Jack Grealish has been recommended to Pep Guardiola by Kevin de Bruyne
Deepungsu Pandit
Kevin de Bruyne wants Manchester City to sign Aston Villa skipper Jack Grealish
The Englishman has been in fantastic form once again this season and could cost Manchester City a lot of money
Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bryune wants his club to sign Aston Villa's Jack Grealish, according to reports. The Belgian midfielder has seen his team struggle this season after conceding the Premier League title to Liverpool the last term.
Manchester City were expected to stamp their authority on the league this time and seize back their crown from the Reds. However, nothing has gone according to plan at the Etihad. Pep Guardiola's side are 13th in the Premier League after eight games, eight points behind league leaders Tottenham Hotspur. Although, they do have a game in hand.
Liverpool, on the other hand, are tied with Spurs on 20 points. Even though it's a tad too early for predictions, Manchester City are already trailing and their recent performances have spoken of a need for creative reinforcements. Guardiola was beaten by old foe Jose Mourinho on Saturday and the Spaniard will know that his team have some catching up to do.
The January window brings an opportunity for Manchester City to look for reinforcements and De Bruyne believes that Grealish is just what the club needs right now.
Grealish could cost Manchester City more than £100m
Grealish looks set for another stellar season ahead
The Englishman enjoyed a stellar 2019/20 season, helping Aston Villa avoid relegation on the final day. Jack Grealish finished with ten goals from 41 appearances and was heavily linked to Manchester United all through the summer. However, the Red Devils refrained from investing in the Englishman, which already looks like a mistake.
Grealish has five goals and six assists from eight games so far and United's loss could yet turn out to be Manchester City's gain. Guardiola has recently committed his immediate future to the club and could be preparing to approach the January transfer window with renewed vigor. And his midfielder maestro has apparently recommended the Aston Villa captain as the ideal target for City.
De Bruyne watched Grealish from close quarters while on international duty last week when Belgium faced England in the UEFA Nations League. The Belgian midfielder was apparently very impressed with the Englishman and has already spoken to Guardiola about Grealish. Manchester City are now preparing to move for the Aston Villa star, however, he will not come cheap.
Pep Guardiola has discussed Jack Grealish's quality with Kevin De Bruyne. The Belgian was effusive in his praise of Grealish after his country's recent 2-0 win over England, describing him as a player #ManCity must try and sign.
[The Independent] pic.twitter.com/WraWqeThQK
— City Chief (@City_Chief) November 23, 2020
Grealish signed a contract extension with Aston Villa in the summer, committing himself to the club until the summer of 2025. As such, he could cost Manchester City over £100m, even though Dean Smith's side are under no pressure to sell.
Pep Guardiola has told Manchester City to sign Jack Grealish, who would cost at least £100m, according to The Independent 🤑 pic.twitter.com/mqkNLFVxHw
— Goal (@goal) November 23, 2020
But with a deal for Lionel Messi looking increasingly unlikely, Guardiola could turn his attention to Grealish.
Premier League 2020-21 Aston Villa Football Manchester City Kevin De Bruyne Jack Grealish Pep Guardiola Manchester City Transfer News


Support > Frequently Asked Questions > Is PSOC is embedded in your module or can it be used with your module?
Is PSOC is embedded in your module or can it be used with your module?
We have no Programmable System On Chip silicon on our controller boards.


text:
Defence Bolstered
Manager Keith Hill has bolstered his defensive options ahead of the start of pre-season with the addition of Olly Lancashire.
The 24-year-old centre half passed a medical at Spotland on Friday afternoon before penning a two-year-deal which will come into effect on the 1st of July.
The defender makes the move to Rochdale following his departure from Aldershot Town and Dale boss Keith Hill is delighted he's become part of Team Rochdale.
"I'm really pleased with this addition," said Hill. "He's a protégé of Southampton's successful development and I've liked him for a long time. He's a good football player, he reads the game well and it is a really good pick up for us.
"When he was due to leave Southampton in 2010 we tried to recruit him but missed out and subsequently he's been at Walsall and Aldershot.
"He struggled with injury last season but he's over those injury concerns now and he's really looking forward to working with us. He understands that we're ambitious, he's ambitious and he's looking to get going again.
"I'm really looking forward to working with him during pre-season and making him compatible defensively with the players that we've got."


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Q: Importance of 'supported account type' when registering an app with application permission I build a web app which send mails (with Microsoft Graph) but not on behalf of users. Rather think of a 'do-not-reply email' sent to users with some info. The application should have "Mail.Send" application permission on Microsoft Graph. The mail address is do-not-reply@contoso.com and this is an application mailbox (shared mailbox).
So the basic scenario is:

*

*User John Doe fill in a form on contoso.com website and submit it

*A mail is sent to the user to confirm the submission of the form

*The mail sender is ALWAYS do-not-reply@contoso.com and the mail receiver is (in this case) john.doe@anything.com

Given my explanations, I think of registering an application on my Azure Active Directory with "application permission" (request for admin consent) Client Crediential Flow. Correct ?
Also, is there any importance when choosing the Supported account types when registering a new application with "application permission" ? From my understanding, since the administrator consent permission from the start of the implementation, this account type choice has no impact.
Please correct me if I'm wrong.

A: Yes. You should follow Get access without a user to get the access token. It uses "application permission" with Client Credential Flow.
And "supported account types" only effects where the Azure AD app can be used. It doesn't effect on which authentication flow you use. If you just want to use it in your own Azure AD tenant, just choose the first Accounts in this organizational directory only. See details here.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Mar 15, 2019 (Heraldkeeper via COMTEX) -- ICT industry study sets out an analysis that explains the industry's market definitions, classifications, applications, commitments and global trends. Cloud Field Service Management market report presents the latest developments, product launches, research, joint ventures, fusions and key player acquisitions. It is expected that the 2019-2026 period will be a crucial time for the Cloud Field Service Management market, which may prove to be a crucial point for the ICT industry. Due to increased demand at the end-user level, the Cloud Field Service Management market is expected to see tremendous progress during the forecast period. The number of users has steadily increased, increasing the value of sales, imports, exports, revenue and CAGR. The Cloud Field Service Management market report focuses on all key players and brands as their movements in terms of sales, imports, exports and worldwide revenue are always different. The report uses the SWOT analysis and Porter's Five Forces method to study all key players and brands ' portfolios while identifying market drivers and restrictions.
Cloud Field Service Management market gives clarification about the specific investigation of the business concerning market definition, showcase division, key advancements in the market, focused examination and research approach with amazing devices and methods. Our group of enthusiastic, dynamic and talented scientists and investigators take endeavors with full promise to give a flat out statistical surveying report.
A cloud field service management is the technology that deals with cloud-based software, which is enormously adopted by different organizations for coordinating field operations. This system usually keeps a track on administrative activities, customer services, and others. It also curtails the chances of unexpected problems or delays and at the same time provides better accountability. It is widely applicable in transportation and logistics, construction, real estate, energy, utilities, healthcare, life sciences, retail, consumer goods, and others. Increasing demand of IoT may act as a major driver in the growth of cloud field service management. On the other hand lack of awareness may hamper the market.
-- Small & Medium-Sized Enterprises.
-- Middle East & Africa.


One thing that many people don't realize about animals is how similar they are to humans. Just like us, animals have complex emotions and possess high levels of intelligence. However, many people choose to not view animals as dynamic individuals but consider them non-feeling commodities instead. This is the sad reality for farm animals and can even be extended to companion animals like dogs and cats. It's this line of thinking that has lead many cruel humans to exploit dogs, specifically Pit Bulls in illegal dogfighting rings.
Unfortunately, the actions of a few cruel people has had a lasting impact on Pit Bulls as they now have the negative reputation of being "vicious" and "aggressive" dogs. The reality is these dogs, just like any other, are capable of being sweet and loving companions if they are raised by responsible guardians – just take a look at sweet Bella the three-legged Pittie who also happens to be the world's best foster-kitten-mom.
Bella's guardian, Grace Kuhn, is a dedicated kitten foster parent and has recruited Bella to help out with the daunting task of caring for a gaggle of rambunctious kittens … a task that this pup has taken on with great stride.
She's an expert in the art of snuggling.
The kittens clearly look up to their kind and poised role model, just look at Birdie the kitten's smitten gaze.
She does an incredible job at keeping the kitties clean and feeling loved.
Caring for kittens does have its fair share of perks – like endless kisses and head rubs.
At the end of the day, all animals just want to love and be loved. There's no better example of this than this happy little pack.
As Bella and her kittens prove, every animal is an individual deserving of life filled with love and care. We can all work to break harmful stereotypes about animals by sharing posts like this one and encouraging others to get to know animals as someones rather than somethings. Wouldn't the world be a much kinder place if everyone did?


2017 was the year of Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1, the outstanding Calvin Harris' album which features tons of worldwide famous producer and singer. Calvin's 2018 has started with "Nuh Ready Nuh Ready" but the real pearl is "One Kiss" with Dua Lipa dropped last Friday.
Calvin Harris delivers another summer-ready hit called "One Kiss" featuring Dua Lipa.
Fresh and happy percussion rhythms are perfectly mixed with an incredible bassline with, on top, the splendid voice of Dua Lipa. The record is an explosion of feelings, not only because it's perfectly producer, but also because it features a lot of fresh and unique sounds that together create what it will be for sure the next summer radio hit.
Calvin Harris, as always, does not disappoint expectations delivering another outstanding record. in addition to an amazing track, the cover art completes what it seems to be a real piece of art.
Currently out now via Sony Music, Calvin Harris ft. Dua Lipa, "One Kiss," is available worldwide for the stream and the download and it has already hit and overtaken the 4M plays on Spotify.


Previous message: [ubuntu-uk] Half decent Motherboard (With on-board graphics, if not Id need a card included in this), RAM and CPU for 50 quidish?
> build that multimedia PC that Ive wanted to build for ages.
> I already said Ive got a monitor.
> Ebays the obvious option, but anywhere else?
What CPU are you looking at?  AMD or Intel?
core Athlon X2's starting at about £40.
have brought out their new line of CPUs on a different socket).
pair kits, that way you know they'll work in dual channel mode).


In 1952, 40 men and women formed the Faculty of Anaesthetists at the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. They were some of the leading names of anaesthesia practice in Australia and New Zealand during the 20th Century.
Lives of the Fellows: 1952 is part of an ongoing project uncovering the stories of Faculty and College Fellows. They are presented in an online exhibition from the Geoffrey Kaye Museum of Anaesthetic History.
Research for the founding Fellows is still underway. If you have any further information you can add to the existing biographies, please contact us: museum@anzca.edu.au or complete our contribute form.


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A 31-year-old woman was taken to Griffith Base Hospital after driving into an electrical pole on February 10. At about 4.35pm on Sunday the woman was travelling north on Murrumbidgee Avenue in Hanwood when she saw something run across the road. In her attempts to avoid hitting the creature she swerved and drove off the road and crashed into an electrical pole. The force of the collision caused an attached electrical transformer to fall off from the pole. The car continued onwards and crashed into the fence of the neighbouring farm, causing damage to the fence. The driver and her female passenger were taken to Griffith Base Hospital for examination. Griffith police are investigating the crash. *** While you're with us, did you know that you can now receive updates straight to your inbox every Monday at 6am from The Area News? To make sure you're up to date with all the Griffith and MIA news you can sign up here.
https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/35rVvi4HADfRQiw66QwxLJ6/5c2388b9-a865-4140-a1cd-5a83e0d614c3.jpg/r4_0_1597_900_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg
February 11 2019 - 5:00PM
Woman taken to hospital after driving into electrical pole
A 31-year-old woman was taken to Griffith Base Hospital after driving into an electrical pole on February 10.
At about 4.35pm on Sunday the woman was travelling north on Murrumbidgee Avenue in Hanwood when she saw something run across the road.
In her attempts to avoid hitting the creature she swerved and drove off the road and crashed into an electrical pole.
The force of the collision caused an attached electrical transformer to fall off from the pole.
The car continued onwards and crashed into the fence of the neighbouring farm, causing damage to the fence.
The driver and her female passenger were taken to Griffith Base Hospital for examination.
Griffith police are investigating the crash.
While you're with us, did you know that you can now receive updates straight to your inbox every Monday at 6am from The Area News? To make sure you're up to date with all the Griffith and MIA news you can sign up here.
Discuss "Two women taken to hospital after driving into electrical pole"


Justin Phillips Sep. 11, 2018 Updated: Sep. 11, 2018 5:40 p.m.
60of83Beachcomber Cafe (Newport Beach) Guests watch the sunset from the deck of the Beachcomber Cafe in Newport Beach.Photo: Visit Newport Beach Inc.
San Francisco chef Joshua Skenes' highly-anticipated, seafood-focused restaurant Angler will make its Embarcadero debut on Sept. 25.
And dinner reservations are now live on OpenTable.
The 100-seat San Francisco Angler is a byproduct of the relationships Skenes built over the years with local fisherman while operating his world-renowned fine-dining restaurant Saison.
In turn, Angler is an ode to the Pacific coast, local sourcing and sustainability. It's a also a unique puzzle for Skenes who wants to provide guests with the freshest seafood possible.
The restaurant will function as such: Skenes and his team will get a deliveries from local fishermen each day and based on what's available — be it purple sea urchin or pink scallops, fresh seaweed or sea cucumber —they'll create Angler's daily menu. Around 80 percent of Angler's seafood will be fresh, directly from a fish tank, up until the time it's used in a dish, Skenes said.
And those fish tanks ("a couple thousand gallons worth," according to Skenes) are all specially built for the restaurant and calibrated to recreate the aquatic environments of a variety of sea life.
For Skenes, Angler represents his hope is that it could serve as an example for other restaurants searching for ways to implement sustainable seafood practices.
A Los Angeles outpost of Angler will open in the fall. And more could be in the works in other parts of the country.