Blogs from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States, North America

For the past decade or so, one phrase has become standard for teams on the rise that want to prove they're legit: We Want Bama. And the team from the University of Alabama has not only accepted their role as the dominant team in college football; they have unabashedly made it their brand. Before this season began, I knew I would need to make it over to Tuscaloosa at some point during the season. I had originally planned on visiting about a month ago, but the quality of the opponent in that game made me reconsider. The Bama-Tennessee rivalry, so much that it is, caught my attention. It is played every year, and always the third Saturday in October. And until this year, it has been the CBS game of the week—meaning it takes place at ... read more

At the request of several Singaporean (and Singapore-based) friends, I've decided to write about my adventures here in Alabammy for interested parties. I figure this is just as much a cultural experience as anywhere abroad I've lived, and deserves equal attention. So here goes... I arrived in Alabama late at night, but kindly greeted at the airport by one of the grad students in my lab. I never like arriving in a new place after dark because it always feels less welcoming than friendly sunshine, and my arrival into Tuscaloosa wasn’t really eased by the billboard I saw warning against the ill effects of crystal meth on my appearance…hmmm…they need billboards to remind people here of that? Luckily, the next days were bright and sunny, and my first two weeks in Alabama have been filled with ... read more

Riding the Void 5 First, a ride report without pictures. How could that be you might ask? Well, when you fail to copy the pictures from the camera’s memory card and then turn that card in for scoring not to be returned…..well, you have no pictures. So I’ll just have to paint the pictures for you. The Void 5 for us kicked off in Valdosta, GA. We planned an early departure so we could be there in time to rest a bit and then socialize. The concept was a quick trip to Birmingham to visit Bogart’s BMW who was having a going out of business sale with loads of discounts, and then straight to Valdosta. We made what was to be a quick stop in Tuscaloosa to fill a prescription (which took 45 minutes), rode to ... read more

Day 2 - After a relaxing breakfast we got back on the road to Vicksburg, MS. Arrived at the AmeriStar Casino RV Park early in the evening. Park is very nice and manicured. No shade, but really nice. Shuttle from the RV park to the Casino available. Weather is HOT!!!! - 97 degrees. In the evening we all went to the Casino for dinner, very good dinner buffet. Went down to the casino to play the slots for a bit - - really a blast as Diane won $100.00 and Aleta won $506.00!!!!! On June 18th we went for the buffet breakfast provided by the RV park (cost for one night was like $22.00 and two tickets for free buffet breakfast at the casino), breakfast was really good. On the road after that to Vidalia, La ... read more