16 Blocks Magazine - Issue #2 - November 2007

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profile: soldier 05 moped v. scooter 08 inside “hokies thank the world� 12 interview with ian mackaye 15 a r t s

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16 Blocks’ Contibutors and Staff reflect on April 16th and give their own thanks.

Ashley On April 16th I saw, for the second time in my life, how a scattered group of people can become a community during a tragedy. I wasn’t caught in the events of that day, but I am a Hokie. Virginia Tech is my school, and Blacksburg is my town.

To my husband, my sisters, my parents, and my larger human family, all I can say is thank you for understanding that. To my Hokie family, thank you for showing me that when one person rips our world apart, we stand together.

Garrett I spent this past summer driving around the country, and was amazed at the outpouring of concern and support wherever I went. When people found out I was from Blacksburg, their first reaction was to offer their condolences. It was a form of therapy to be able to talk about where I was that day and the friend that I had lost. It was also comforting to know that people thousands of miles removed from the events last April could be so supportive.

Love and thanks to you all.

Devin First and foremost I would like to thank my Mom, Dad, sister, Blueberry and everyone who was kind enough to put a flower or teddy bear near the Pylons at War Memorial Chapel. I would also like to thank all my cool friends at the Pub who still make fun of me for that stupid quote I made in the Roanoke Times.

They’re the best drinking buddies I will ever know. Most important of all, I am forever grateful to everyone who has given me a hug during that third week of April.

Dominique Thanks to Josh, Maggie, Shannon, Abby, Amy, and Vanessa. My parents. My professors. The people all over the world, that helped us in our time of need. It is difficult still for me to form words about what happened, and probably always will be. But I appreciate everything, and will never forget the people we lost. “What could we have done to deserve the violence like this?”

– Against Me! Chuck I would like to thank the three girls who helped me carry the American flag during the candlight vigil. It was the saddest and proudest moment of my life. I was destroyed, but I knew, at that very minute, that I was doing the right thing by holding that enormous flag by its corners. These girls were part of that, and I’ll never forget them. Thank you.

John Fortunately, I was not in the area during the events of 4/16, but seeing it from a third party perspective really helped me to see how brightly the spirit of unity can shine. I would like to thank every person, noticed and unnoticed, who showed their support. Just from seeing how much of a huge response there was from that unfortunate event really helped to transform it into something inspirational and comforting.

Bryce Bryce Chalkley thanks his family and friends for their strength and concern, and the amazing Blacksburg community that stood together during the hardest time that any of us have had to face.

“It was the saddest and proudest moment of my life. I was destroyed, but I knew, at that very minute, that I was doing the right thing” 02 16 Blocks

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Brandiff I thank my family for showing love, my friends Ian, April, and Devin for showing resistance when the call for blind solidarity was deafening, my friend Josh for going to the candle light vigil with me, the parts of the media that actually found the good story (at least some of the time).

Flash I saw a candlelit vigil in Seoul South Korea, the Miami Hurricanes dawn VT garb and lead a Hokie chant. I saw Niagara Falls lit up in orange and maroon and nearly wept at Lansing’s “Today We Are All Hokies” cartoon. I witnessed end zone bound Hokies race across memorial ribbons painted on the fields of our adversaries. I listened to my Dad sing a song he wrote on behalf of that rueful day. I watched the world pause and tend to our bedside as we lay soul stricken. That’s where I’d like my thanks to go.

Christina I’ve lived in Blacksburg my entire life and have never seen the town come together like it did after April 16th. Thank you everyone for being so supportive.

Dave You never realize how many people know and care about you until they all try to get in touch with you in the same day to make sure you’re alright. Thank you to my friends and family, and thank you to the community for showing amazing resilience and character when we all needed it most.

Danny I finally began to feel better when it disappeared from the headlines.

Not only was I upset over the shooting, I was disgusted as I watched the media milk it. I was so angry when they aired Cho’s videotape. It’s too bad. It’s everything he would have wanted. Glorification and fame. www.dpity.com

On Saturday, November 17 at approximately 11:09 AM Eastern Standard Time, the IKONOS satellite focused its powerful eye upon the Virginia Tech campus. This was done in an effort to capture the lettering of the agriculture fields, as well as thousands of Hokies who had gathered to form the letters Thank-You on the drillfield.

Seven months ago the message was a different one as we became a breaking news story on the international stage.

The scene was broadcasted live via the dishes on the backs of the hordes of media trucks that had congregated to document our time of crisis.

While the initial questions of why it happened and how it could have been avoided subsided into a more sober time of pain and healing, another story arose. “We will prevail” was the rallying call, and messages of sorrow and solidarity came from near and far.

It was what happened in those seven redeeming months that inspired Virginia Tech’s Peter Sforza to give something back in the best way he knew how.

He made it so that this time when we were viewed from the great eye in the sky the image broadcast around the world be our image.

I would like to thank Pete for his the cooperation, help, and friendship that came with putting together our second issue’s cover story.

Thanks to the team of writers and artists (look to the left) who brought this issue to fruition.

And thanks to the advertisers who also make 16 Blocks possible. Support their businesses and mention to them that you heard it from us. So enjoy some surf-andturf and a good funk band next you go out to Awful Arthur’s. Buy paints and brushes at Mish-Mish and then submit your piece to the magazine. Buy that long overdue bracelet for your loved one at Capone’s, and save gas money by buying a scooter at Go-Race. Need cell-phone service, visit the wireless zone downtown and ask for Tice. Abby’s contends that they have the best roast beef in town, you should take them up on their claim.

Hart Fowler Publisher

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16 BLOCKS MAGAZINE: Blacksburg Arts and Culture November 2007 Issue #2

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Flash Clark interviews Sergeant Stephen Daniel Hypes of the US Army Reserve to learn a little about what it’s like to live in a combat zone, and what life stateside is like afterwards.

Contact us for subscription rates, general questions, corrections, if you’re interested in submitting short stories for our Logos Section, questions for Dear Dominique, ideas for Ethos, letters to the Editor, or if you just want to say hey.

16blocksmagazine@gmail.com www.myspace.com/ 16blocksmagazine COPYRIGHT: No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher.

05 Blacksburg’s own moped gang discuss their salvage ways while a recent rash of scooters sightings caused guest writer Asha Mills to question the sudden love affair.

COVER Photo Illustration by Christina O’Connor

08 The story behind the Hokies Thank the World Project. A satellite, a plane, a helicopter, an alfalfa field, a couple thousand Hokies, and Peter Sforza and his team orchestrated a special message for this Thanksgiving.

12 Ian MacKaye of Fugazi and Minor Threat is playing at the local YMCA this month with The Evens. Columnist Brandiff Caron talked with him about his new band, playing small gigs, and what D.C. Punk really means.

15 04 Ethos: Philosophy & Ethics 06 Dear Dominique Funeral 06 Know Your Rights: Towing 07 Artist Spotlight: Tonito Santos

16 Blocks is for the dishwashers, the clerks, the baristas, the cooks, the drivers, the staff, the waitresses, the bouncers, the managers, the bartenders, the cashiers, the landscapers, and the out-of-work loungers.

16 Blocks is in the scene.

10 Bouncer Tales 11 Restaurant Review: Southern Oven 14 Tribute Song Recorded: “When Tragedy Strikes” 16 Logos: Poetry & Literature 18 Fashion 22 Idle Minds 23 Calendar

16 Blocks is for the undecided undergraduates, the four and outers, the lingering graduate students, the serious researchers, the thesis and dissertation writers, the young professors and TAs, the community college commuters. 16 blocks is young Blacksburg . 16 Blocks is for the locals, the weekend visitors, the transplants, the young professionals, those waiting for a gig and the “been-here-too-longers.”

From Heather Drive to the top of Harding. From Ellet Road to Mount Tabor.

16 Blocks is you.

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concepts. responsibilities. analysis.

On Categorizing

I’M IN A

post-hardcore indie punk alternative blues dance American rock band. What the hell does this mean?

Does it mean anything? It’s become unfashionable to use such scene-laden terms to describe music. Most bands, despite how obviously punk they might be, opt for the generic ‘rock’ tab on the genre options of their MySpace page.

Even better are the growing amounts of bands that purposefully choose the random genres such as ‘2 step’, ‘French pop’, and ‘Americana’ to describe their garage thrash band. I can almost hear their stonerish and musically snobby tone, “My band transcends musical boundaries, man.”

There seems to be an implicit idea here that categorizing your band through the use of the kinds of terms I used to describe my own band is a bad thing. Is such snobbery really necessary? Are musical categories really useless labels?

Now, I’m all for authenticity and striving toward some ideal of originality. And to the extent that the use of prefabricated music categories such as ‘punk’ and ‘post-hardcore’ lead to disingenuous attempts at imitation, I agree that the use of them is bad. I wonder, though, if the refusal to use any contemporary category at all isn’t throwing the baby out with the bath water. It seems to me that it is perfectly within the realm of possibility to utilize the currency of established music genres to describe a general idea of what you sound like while avoiding the pitfalls of inauthenticity.

culture and economic growth Devin Stone

I suspect that at the heart of people’s world. In the 1950s a group of philosodiscomfort with genre labels lies a linphers now called ‘positivists’ asked that gering philosophical problem regarding any category used to describe the world how categories are supposed to link up have a one-to-one correlation with a to the thing they are attempting to catmetaphysical reality, but these dinoegorize. Much of the discomfort with saurs were killed off a long time ago. categories is created by the apparent disconnect between words like ‘postAny coffee-shop intellectista will tell hardcore’ and the you that Ludwig variety of actual Wittgenstein sounds that are replaced these to said to fall under overly demandbe in a post-hardcore indie such a category. ing criteria for The addition of reference with too great a varithe much more ety of sounds can manageable noblues dance American rock lead to a more or tion of ‘family band I am not claiming that less vacuous defiresemblance’.

We need not ask nition of a genre.

ANY OF THESE GENRES of each member So, people may be of a category embody some essential tempted to simply that it share quality that not label themsome essential selves as falling quality with evunder any kind of ery other mempre-established ber. We need genre since the genre (or category) only ask that it ‘re- sembles’ in some doesn’t refer to what it is supposed to fashion other members of the catego(notice the gross and shameless hijackry. This goes for chairs, quarks, and, of ing and co-opting of the term ‘emo’ in course, music. the late 90s). In essence, people are expecting categories to have well-defined In this way it is possible to reevaluate referents that are instantly called into what it is to categorize something in mind when the genre is mentioned. the first place. If categorizing no longer needs to be analyzed in the exacting But, is this asking too much of musical terms of precise correspondence with categories? I think so. Hell, we don’t some essential quality, then many of the even ask that the categories we use initial reasons people have for feeling to describe the natural world (via sciuncomfortable with music genres disence) have exacting correspondence to appear. some ontologically primary (a.k.a. “Real”)

When I claim to be in a post-hardcore indie punk alternative blues dance American rock band I am not claiming that any of these genres embody some essential quality that defines my music. I am instead claiming that my music (which I like to think is somewhat original and authentic) shares a resemblance with other kinds of music that fall under these categories. This can be an incredibly useful thing in many circumstances. At the very least people will know for sure that I am not in a Christian folk-jazz trio.

A COMMON A bumper sticker present all over town reads “Buy local. Eat local. Be local.”

attempt to influence how the customer views the store’s identity. To take advantage of such advertising campaigns, there is a push for standardization to make every store in the franchise the same. Part of Wal-Mart’s success as discussed in Sam Walton’s autobiography stems from the philosophy of “stamping out stores cookie style.” Hence the experience of shopping at one Wal-Mart is exactly the same as shopping at a different Wal-Mart miles away.

“WHEN I CLAIM

PUNK

ALTERNATIVE

DEFINES MY

MUSIC.”

It’s a very simple message with a deeper meaning because much of what makes Blacksburg so special stems from the role local businesses play in the town. The experience of shopping is influenced by an array of decisions that are determined by the owner of a business. The aesthetic setup of the shop, the policies of how the employees must interact with customers, the selection of products available for sale, and the overall culture of the store are all largely determined by the owner.

When the business is locally owned, these decisions are made by a resident of the

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community, by someone who is part of the local culture. They are important decisions that are usually tailored to the unique characteristics of the town. When a store is part of a franchise, this no longer becomes possible as most of these decisions have already been set by corporate headquarters.

This makes the experience of shopping at a franchise different from shopping locally.

Every corporation (from Starbucks to WalMart to McDonalds) spends vast sums of money towards the purpose of branding to determine the emotional and psychological responses people feel when they hear that company’s name.

The goal of branding in many ways is an

So, when The Even’s Wiki describes them as a ‘punk duo’, and they’re MySpace describes them as ‘Indie’, is this really what they are? Well, not if you want to hold on to the antiquated expectation of categories to describe some sort of essential element of a particular band’s sound. Of course the Evens aren’t essentially ‘punk’ or ‘indie’ in this old-fashioned sense.

But, if you want to join the rest of us in the post-structuralist, post-modern world, you can notice that the best a category can ever do is to provide a rough sketch of a particular band’s sound and, instead of damning the use of categories for this, you can accept the limitations of categories and reflexively use them knowing that to categorize music is not to condemn it to some predefined essential quality that has already been explored.

Yours in discourse, Brandiff Caron

This creates two pertinent questions a small town must consider when they open their doors to a Wal-Mart. If local businesses are an important element that characterizes the unique nature of a town, then what will be the effect of Wal-Mart on these local businesses? The second ques-

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ANOTHER VETERANS Day passes; flags are folded again and tucked respectfully away into storage, awaiting the next occasion to be unfurled. The hearts that days before were consumed with thoughts of those thousands of miles away fighting this awful war turn back again to the affairs of everyday life. The people continue steadily on, enjoying lives ultimately afforded of them by the sacrifices, trials and tribulations of a select few who chose to leave all that was safe and sound for a world of uncertainty and danger. I recently sat down with one such person, Sergeant Stephen Daniel Hypes of the US Army Reserve to learn a little about what it must be like to live in a combat zone.

[16B’s] So I hear it’s not just a job, that it’s an adventure- would you care to comment.

[Hypes] Yeah it’s definitely an adventure.

I’ve seen a lot of the world while serving.

I’ve been to Germany, the Netherlands, Holland, Iraq, Kuwait, and trained in or passed through Fort Benning Georgia, Redstone Arsenal in Alabama, and Bluegrass Army Depot in Kentucky, among other places.

[16B’s] What is your favorite place and why?

[Hypes] Definitely Germany for the obvious reason.

[16B’s] Ah, women?

[Hypes] Beer.

[16B’s] [ Of course what was I thinking?]

Seriously though, I play a lot of James

Photo by Christina O’Connor

Sergeant Stephen Daniel Hypes of the US Army Reserve is happy to be back stateside. He discussed with Flash Clark what it’s like to be shot at, Blackwater, and Saddam’s buried fighter jets still awaiting his triumphant return.

Bond Golden Eye on the N64 and getting shot at pisses me off. Tell me just how bad does it suck to have that happen in real life?

[Hypes] Well, it’s never fun - especially when you don’t know where the gunfire is coming from, which is oftentimes the case. The real danger is with the IED’s and the growing use of EFPs (Explosively Formed Projectile). You can make an EFP out of a Coke can or pipe and it’s powerful enough to pierce armored vehicles.

[16B’s] You essentially defend people’s right to say things like, “Bush stinks!” and “Dick Sucks!” and you also defend people’s right to protest the war- any hard feelings there?

[Hypes] Not always.

If people are protesting President Bush or policy I can have respect for that but it’s when people protest the soldiers or what they are doing over there - they have no idea what it’s like over there, like those protesters who show up to military funerals - I can’t respect that.

[16B’s] I heard you were a private contractor. Is that true?

[Hypes] Yeah, I was deployed in the invasion of Iraq with the Army Reserve from February ‘03 to March 04, then I worked for the private contractor Tetra Tech in an UXO, or Unexploded Ordinance removal unit for a year. Most of what we did was dig up and detonate ammo cach-

es and munitions hidden and buried by Saddam. He was crazy, he even buried fighter jets thinking that he would come back and recover them. For the larger ordinances we would dig a big pit, neatly stack the unexploded ordinances and line them with C4 explosive, then use a bulldozer to fill the pit back in with dirt, and then blow it up. For smaller stuff like ammunition rounds we would dig a hole and bank it with dirt and just burn the rounds.

I have some video of us doing this once.

But on this occasion, it just so happened that the pit we were using had a larger unexploded ordinance in it from a previous disposal.

We were watching the pit smoke from a few hundred yards away and listening to the rounds firing off which, sounded like popcorn popping. Then all a sudden there was this huge explosion from the shell or what ever it was in the pit and a plume of smoke and fire mushroomed into the sky. Then the bullets that were in the pit burning and discharging, having been blown up into the air, started firing everywhere. Bullets were raining down on us from out of the sky. On the video you can hear them hitting all around us.

[16B’s] There is a lot of heat right now over the security contractors there.

What is your take on their image and their role in Iraq?

[Hypes] Blackwater contractors have gotten a lot of bad publicity lately. I have a lot of friends who work for Blackwater and they are not mercenaries. They are usually veterans and swat team members: they are professionals doing a job.

Armchair quarterbacking is easy when you’re not there. People don’t have any idea just how clever and shrewd this enemy is. The United states military is heavily dependent on private contractors. Without us, certain operations would shut down.

[16B’s] I suppose if it wasn’t you digging up explosives, it would be US military personnel doing the same dangerous job?

[Hypes] Exactly.

[16B’s] Years ago I asked my Dad, a Vietnam vet if he knew what he was fighting for back then. He said he thought he did but now he doesn’t really know.

Do you see a similar potential for this mindset for our troops serving now and if this war is just for oil why are we paying so much for gas?

[Hypes] I do think there might be the potential for that but I also think that at one point Saddam actually did have some weapons and capabilities that were

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november 2007

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Getting towed? Don’t go down without a fight.

by Flash Clark

IT’S A CALM, cool otherwise unsuspecting autumn day. A ghostly breeze stir rusted leaves - rolling and tumbling, subtly applauding. It’s a day just like any other. But then the clouds gather and darken the sun, the air assumes the gravity of doom, and suddenly, they are there. Circling like vultures, traveling like wolves, devouring as if sharks - they dive in stealthily from the shadows from the depths stealing, thieving like sanctioned criminals, then are gone.

They are loathed and resented. The people shun their kind. They make their fortunes on the misery of the masses. They are, the Hellhounds of the towing industry.

Anyone who has ever had their vehicle surreptitiously removed from and ransomed by a towing company knows just how shysty these people are. From overcharging victims for storing a car to pocketing cash paid without a receipt these guys will take

you for everything you have. To be fair, certainly there are a people in the industry who are virtuous, and though their ranks are comparable to the number of truthful politicians, living pandas and 40-year old virgins, they mustn‘t go unnoted.

It is however that other segment that warrants this public message of fair warning of knowing your towing rights. The Town of Blacksburg has specific codes regarding the practice of towing as well does the state of Virginia. The following information is gathered directly from the official Blacksburg website.

According to Section 12-418, if you find your vehicle being hawked for removal and intercept the tow driver at any point before the vehicle has left the lot on which it was parked, or “trespassing”, the owner or custodian of the vehicle may pay a drop fee not to exceed 20 dollars. This is regardless of

whether or not the vehicle has been hitched and fully loaded or if it is being prepared for towage. Unfortunately if a tow-joe (to rip a phrase from The Simpsons) has unreeled or lowered any equipment in order to remove your vehicle, or a hydraulic lift is lowered to scoop it up, you have to pay the drop fee.

The tower must be able to provide a legible receipt of this interaction, (funny how the

town code includes the distinction, “legible”) and to make matters more complicated the shady dude can’t ask for a drop fee, which means you have to know better yourself. If he does ask for a drop fee he cannot tow the vehicle until he has provided the owner with a copy of the rights and responsibilities statement stipulated in Chapter 12, Section 418 of the Blacksburg Town Code, as well as a receipt that includes the tower’s

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Dear Dom, As a woman in science, I’m a grad student here at Tech, I feel really blessed to have all the opportunities I have had to lead me to the place I am. Still, there have been so many women before me that pioneered the way.

I am truly grateful but, I have a hard time working with older women! It may be a great generalization but I find that most women in mentor positions act like they still have to prove to the world that they are as good as men, while I’ve grown up in an environment of general gender equality. Time and time again I feel tense, like I have to prove my worth, working under or even having discussions with these women stuck in a “power suit” mentality. What can I do to change my mindset? To ease this tension?

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This is a really difficult topic, and something I have been thinking a lot about late ly. I’m in a class this semester – Woman and Science – and we’ve discussed a lot of the things that tend to setback women in scientific careers. It may be a generalization that women in leadership positions have something to prove – but they often feel that they do.

Women are still subject to discrimination within such fields, because they are still disadvantaged within them. While you and I have grown up with memories of equality, these women do remember when it was worse for our gender, and most likely have memories of what difficulties it took to get to the positions they are in now.

Women in math and science careers are

under intense scrutiny, even though it might not be obvious upon first glance.

Often they can be socially isolated within their departments, causing discomfort and awkwardness. This happens especially with ‘tokenism’ – when a woman or a person of color is hired to meet criteria or quotas. This is not the person’s fault, but can still negatively affect the way their peers treat them.

There are also stereotypes made about women in these careers, questioning their value as “real women” because they have chosen to excel in a career as opposed to (or at the same time as) having a family. While women have become more accepted in academia and business, I feel that there is still the baseline assumption that women are best suited for work in the

home. These reasons definitely cause women to be self-conscious about their worth in their career, and could cause the mentalities you have dealt with.

That’s what I can mention to help you change your mindset – just to consider what some of these women have gone through, and try to understand the position they are put in. As for easing tension, that is more difficult. If there is someone you are having a serious problem with, I would suggest trying to mention it to her, and say that you think you understand what she might be dealing with. She just might appreciate your forwardness and honesty. Good luck in your studies!

If YOU have a question for Dominique, email us and we might publish it.

16blocksmagazine@gmail.com

Tonito Santos

PAINT STROKES,

rubber stamps, bottles of glue, and the porn channel on full volume. Head spun and blurry digital clocks f*ck my motivation. I want to have things simple instead of always looking for clues that will fit conveniently into the small of my pocket. Noticing the only thing I do right is a mistake; just the ability to catch it and make it grow might turn this pile of dead trees into something righteous. It’s easy to fall back when you know the result, taking steps forward feels tied down, but must cut the ropes. Worry about the masses cuz they have to buy the sh*t, and I can’t tailor my own suit with these small mirrors. I wonder when I’ll step up to the box, eat the microphone, and let the world hear what my insides are really feeling. TONITO

Space Goddess 48in. x 42in. mixed media

Spoken For 36in. x 36in. acrylic

november 2007

07

by Garrett Bobb

Pedals.

Handlebars.

50CCs of salvaged love.

THEY BUZZ AROUND town, vintage European two-cycle machines, carrying their riders on their way to class, to work, to visit friends, or just out on a cruise with no particular place to go. A strange cross-breed of bicycle and motorcycle, the moped is a quick and easy—not to mention cheap-- way to get around the 16 Blocks. And to a small and tightly knit group of moped maniacs, it’s also a tradition.

The Gang Out of the silence of a cold fall afternoon there came a faint hum steadily growing into the distinct whine of approaching mopeds. A small group of riders appeared, and swarmed down the driveway and onto the lawn. Riders Pete Chudzik, Greg Glenn, Tom Quigley, Hudson Evans, Tim Butrill, and Matt Sisson have just returned to their unofficial headquarters on Airport Road.

They represent the second generation of the Blacksburg moped gang. The founding members were the older brothers of friends of the current crew. The original gang had a website and a basement full of mopeds on Willard Drive. Their glory days came and went, with the mopeds themselves gathering dust and rust in the older crew’s basement. Greg Glenn and a few of the current generation became intrigued by the dormant machines and began fiddling with them. The first completed mopeds, including Solex and Cassidy

Photos by Christina O’Connor

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- which they have also written a song about - were shared amongst this new group of friends, and a passion for building and rebuilding had begun.

The Shop The gangset up shop in a small garage packed full of Italian and Eastern European machines, all decades old and in various states of disrepair. Running or not, they were all brimming with character, remnants of a dying breed of transportation, pushed to the wayside by cleaner and more modern ways of getting around. Every available space was occupied by mopeds, parts, tools, oil, cleaner, and helmets.

With their interest growing, the current gang began buying up more old mopeds.

“My sister and I drove to Michigan and back in 36 hours [to pick up some old models],” Glenn said..

Pete added, “I had like 12 mopeds in [my] parents’ garage that first summer.”

Each moped’s initial states of distress contributed to an attachment, with each rider putting some of themselves into the gradual creation of a road-worthy vehicle, cannibalizing parts and applying knowledge of bicycles and some ingenuity to make it work.

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With a classy step-through frame and at a sexy 80mpg, scooters are an attractive alternative in these $3 a gallon days.

WHEN ERIC Tignor talks about his scooter, he has that familiar faraway look in his eye of a man in love. As he raves about his ‘05 Honda Metropolitan he smiles so brightly that he might outshine her sunny coat of yellow paint.

“What do I need a car for in Blacksburg?”, he says with a look that dares me to say anything against his girl, and shrugs. He ditched his car a year and half ago, and settled down with a new woman- she’s reliable, drama-free, as “green” as he is, and she allows him the freedom to ride with the wind in his face. In spite of the elements, she is still waiting for him, outside, each morning. She needs so little in return for all she gives him, a measly 2.50 a week for gas, and an oil change every few months. Any repairs, he lovingly performs with his own hands.. He mentions that Americans seem to be in love with their cars, but he’s married to his scooter, ‘til death (the scooter’s, that is) do they part.

Liza Rodimsev is still in those first few blissful months of her relationship. Don’t mistake this for puppy love, though, she and her scooter have already weathered some tough times. The speedometer and gas gauge are broken, and she has trouble starting it in the cold, but such trivial things cannot shake her love. A loyal woman, she rides it even in the rain, and defends her “generic” scooter against those who would put it down. She, like Juliet, thinks, what’s in a name? She doesn’t even remember the name of the Chinese company her scooter came from, but it’s a rose in her eyes, classic red, with a custom decal she made herself.

by Ashley Mills

Scooters owners know their captivating companions burn less than cars, and cleaner than mopeds. They can park anywhere a bike can, and get as much as 110 miles to the gallon. They’re not very practical for long trips, but with gas prices rising, making a long trip in a car doesn’t seem very practical, either. And cars come with hefty financial and legal responsibilities. The law barely mentions scooters, at least in Virginia. Here they restrict the engine size to 50 cubic centimeters, and the speed to 30mph, or the scooter becomes, by law, a motorcycle. Still, the law can’t touch this love.

Scooter riders are a growing group, and Americans may begin divorcing their high maintenance cars for something sleeker, and easier.

Eric Tignor sees it happening already, “ I was on the front of this craze, you can see how many are around now, but it used to be just me and this one other dude. We would pass each other coming down Patrick Henry. Now they’re all over.” And he’s glad. As more settle down into long term relationships with their scooters, it begs the question, what do YOU need a car for?

november 2007

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by Flash Clark

Veteran doorman Bunny discards a touchyfeely patron that fellow bouncer Johnny Law disarmed by using only his neck.

WHEN I WENT looking for professional bouncer stories, I knew there was only one person I had to talk with to hear a good one. I tracked my old friend Bunny down over the telephone because he’s a busy man.

Besides working full-time as a manager and bouncer at Sharkey’s Wing and Rib Joint, Bunny serves on the Blacksburg rescue squad and is working toward becoming a paramedic. In a twist of irony this means if you are a drinker you have equal chances of either getting your ass kicked by him or your life saved by him, depending on your luck.

This is from the annals of personal experience he has gathered from working for ten years as a bouncer.

“This story takes place about five and a half years ago, I guess. It was right after Johnny Law [my roommate and coworker for almost a decade] had gotten back from US Marine Corps Infantry School training. He had bulked up a little bit while he was there and was still in good shape when he started back to

10 16 Blocks

work at the bar with me. On this particular night we were working together and Johnny was busy making his rounds. As he was passing by some pool tables, this guy with long hair and a sweater reached out and grabbed his ass.

his neck. He backed the guy into a corner using only his neck. “I grabbed the guy by the sweater and pulled him down a few steps, then he spun around in his sweater and started shouting, talking smack to Johnny, trying to climb back up to him.

“Johnny turned around and was about to do something when a group of black guys playing pool “Johnny nearby, saw what happened and said, ‘Aww, you shouldn’t turned around have done that. White boy and started didn’t like that!’

shouting profanities at him...”

“Johnny must have figured that their response had gotten the message across without him having to do anything else.

But, a little while later Johnny passed this guy again and the guy grabbed his ass. This time Johnny turned around and started shouting profanities at him when the guy suddenly grabbed him with both hands by the neck. Instead of prying his hands away, Johnny just walked straight into the dude backing him up some stairs with both hands still around

“I bounced him off the wall a little to get him the rest of the way down the steps, then started shoving him out of the place. I had been checking him like a football player does when he pass blocks, slowing shoving him toward the entrance.

“About the time we got to the door he said something that pissed me off so bad that I can’t even remember what it was. I shoved the guy out off the front door of the old Sharkey’s so hard he got airborne and landed outside on the sidewalk.

“What I didn’t know was that one of Blacksburg’s finest was on bike patrol just up the street and had heard the dis-

turbance and was riding up to investigate.

“In the meantime, the guy I threw out had stood up and was lunging at me at the precise moment that the bike cop (who shall remain nameless) rode up.

While the long haired guy was in midair, the cop launched himself off of his bike and tackled the guy to the ground and arrested him. While he was laying there his girlfriend showed up and pleaded, ‘Please, you can’t take him to jail, he is leaving town forever tomorrow,’ to which the officer replied, ‘No, he’s not, because he’s going to jail.’”

So let’s recap some important points in this little tale. Don’t grab bouncers’ asses, ever. No, really, it’s a bad idea. Don’t piss off a bouncer especially when his best friend is the bigger bouncer at the same bar. Cops can fly, and a neck can be a defensive weapon, and even sexually confused longhaired violent hippie types manage to find a girlfriend yet I remain single.

by Anna Wallingford

Country eats arrive in the 16 Blocks, the Southern Oven is like the Homeplace but without the drive (and with booze).

THOSE OF US

who have lived in Blacksburg for some time can date ourselves by speaking of our personal remembrances of certain buildings. Remember when Cabo was Bailey’s? Remember when Bailey’s was South Main Café? Before Sharkey’s moved next door it was a booty-shaker called Woody’s, before that, a booty-shaker called Preston’s. Now what was once Greeks, the Warehouse, Rock-itz, Impax, and the Nerv is the Southern Oven.

The roast beef was a favorite at our table, but I found the thin slices soaking in a ju and red bell pepper to be a little too salty. The fried chicken was spot on, lightly dredged and moist inside. The coleslaw was a great surprise; I would imagine apple cider vinegar was added to this recipe in order cut the creaminess of the mayonnaise. It was served intimately with a moist vinegar/ tomato pulled pork.

That was our party of five’s conversation upon arrival through those familiar double doors, as I’m sure it will be for many first-time diners. We then sat down to enjoy multiple servings of what would turn out to be the most comfortable of comfort foods served in the 16 Blocks.

Caution, The Southern Oven is not for the vegetarian! There are a couple catfish dishes, if you are so daring, but few options for the meat-free individual.

Their cream of mushroom soup is not only a do-it-yourselfer in the seasoning department, but came with the added surprise of big chunks of chicken. Also, as expected, the green beans were laced with a visible amount of ham.

Ordering is a communal affair here, one where the table chooses main courses and sides for all to share. We went down the most traditional route: roast beef, fried chicken, pulled pork, mashed potatoes, green beans, hush puppies, and macaroni and cheese. With soup, salad, cornbread, and dessert included at $13.95 per person, this is a deal. Also, don’t be shy about asking for additional helpings (included as well) for fear of being wasteful, you can take your leftovers home with you.

I was pleasantly surprised! I’ll admit to you, dear readers, I am a damn Yankee and I do hold distain for the fatty, starchy, too sweet traditions of country foods. So you can imagine my delight in sharing something so traditionally southern, but amazingly lively.

The desert, a peach cobbler topped with ice-cream was buttery and not too sweet. It was a perfect end to a long meal and good enough to make up for not having a drop of chocolate.

The wine list offered several nice, affordable choices. You’ll taste too many different things to worry about a pairing so just pick something you know you’ll like to drink on its own. Also prepare yourself for the chance of an awkward wine service when you order a bottle.

The wait staff is overtly eager to make

your stay a good one, but may show a bit of stage fright with a foreign object such as a cork screw.

Hooray! Sophisticated comfort right in the heart of the 16 blocks! Go and take a meal at Southern Oven and regale your loved ones with tales of evenings with the Kind at the Warehouse. Enjoy an epic meal, content in the fact that you don’t have to drive thirty minutes back from the Home Place with sleepy-eyes.

Most would say that you can’t go wrong with mac and cheese but I would disagree, as iridescent orange cheddar really turns my stomach.

I would also pass on the fried okra, which was possibly an afterthought put on the menu out of obligation.

F r o m 12:00 until 6:00 on Thanksgiving Day the Southern Oven will be serving free meals to those in need. Make reservations by calling 961-3004.

november 2007

11

The story behind the

by Hart Fowler Photos by Christina O’Connor

PROJECT

From concept to design to action, Peter Sforza was the man behind the scenes orchestrating Virginia Tech’s message of gratitude, making this Thanksgiving one of positive reflection.

IKNONOS Satellite

IT TOOK SEVEN

months for geographer and satellite artist Peter Sforza to realize what he had to offer in return for what he felt he had received during the difficult times following the tragedy.

“Part of my dealing with 4-16 was the enormous amount of support I received from people, both at home and when I traveled,” said Sforza. “I realized that I wanted to create a message that would celebrate the Hokies and send a message of thanks to the world for that support.”

Like most creations, the project that became “Hokies Thanks The World” began simply with an idea. This time, however, Sforza’s idea happened to be a very bold one. He would arrange a message on the drillfield, take a picture of it from a satellite, and broadcast the image to the world. Bold indeed.

“I tracked down the e-mail of the CEO of Geo-eye at two a.m. that night with my idea,” Sforza said, referring to the Virginia company that owns the IKONOS satellite that took the photograph. “By four a.m. he got back to me giving me the greenlight.”

It was not fate or lucky speculation that allowed Sforza to gain access to some of the world’s best, and most expensive, technology. He knew where to look because he works with satellite images on a daily basis as a member of the Geography Department’s research faculty at Virginia Tech. One of his current projects involves producing map-collections for Virginia public school students. For another he applies images of land and water to analyze for quality issues.

And this is not to mention his work as a budding satellite artist (see sidebar).

He chose the IKONOS imaging satellite because it is one of the best, and Geo-Eye because they are based in Virginia.

Geo-Eye was cooperative from the beginning due to the non-profit nature of “Hokies Thank the World”. They gave the project unrestrict-

ed license over the image so that it will be available to the public for free.

“Given that it is of high interest, [and] that we are continually looking to hire young talented people, we thought that getting our imagery out in a university environment would bring us value across the board,” said Mark Brender, Vice-President of Communications and Marketing for Geo-Eye. “Sometimes there’s a lot of value in serendipity,” he added.

With the image capture scheduled to occur November 17, five days before Thanksgiving, Sforza had his message, and an idea for how to form it in a way that would be visible from space. But it would take thousands of people to form the letters “Thank You”, and organizing a group the size of small army was no easy task, so he enlisted engineering professor Randy Dymond to direct the layout of the message.

“He was aware of the work I’ve done in the past surveying, and also the work I’ve done designing corn mazes for local farmers,” Dymond said, speaking of Sforza. “Our department was hit very hard in April, and I think that was another reason he came to me.”

To fill in Dymond’s letters with as many Hokies as possible, he brought in Meredyth Kenney, Director of Public Relations for the Student Government Association.

“The SGA is big on campus, and Pete contacted me to encourage as much student participation as he could get,” said Kenney, who also organizes VT’s relay for life cancer fundraiser. “What a great idea, tons of Hokies out there making that thank you, [it is] such a profound way to give back.”

The kickoff for the home football game vresus Miami was scheduled for 3:30 that day too, so rounding up Hokies to pose for a picture probably wouldn’t prove that difficult.

Did someone say something about serendipity?

Sforza wasn’t always a geographer and satellite artist. His background in plant pathology and biology spawned another

“It would take thousands of people to form the letters “Thank You”, and organizing a group the size of small army was no easy task” Steve Booth Helicopter Pilot

12 16 Blocks

David Lee Robinson Airplane Pilot

“He decided he was going to do it, and then did it. I can commend him for his efforts. A lot of people just talk about what they’re going to do.

He shows a lot of determination as both a scholar and a human being” Peter Sforza Hokies Thank the World Organizer

idea involving Virginia Tech’s nearby agricultural fields.

“The plan is for the engineers to line out a big VT, and we would spray to create a chemical lowering of weeds to give a temporary color differential that would hopefully be visible from space,” said Scott Hagood, professor of plant pathology and weed science who regularly works in Tech’s agricultural fields.

Hagood, who is an expert on the subject of pesticides, emphasized the fact that the spraying would be very safe and not harmful to the environment.

“Basically, I’m just drawing on the ground,” Hagood added. In a Robert Burns poem there is the famous line: “The best-laid plans of mice and men go oft awry.” Having worked with satellite imagery before, Sforza knew what could go wrong, and it would worry him until the day of the event.

Clouds.

Even the best satellites in orbit can’t obtain a good image through cloud cover, and Sforsa’s image from the IKONOS spacecraft was at the whim of weather patterns. But he was prepared.

“Pete is a good friend of mine, and he enlisted me to obtain air photography

on the day of the event,” said David Lee Robinson, a local pilot. “And I really liked the idea of being involved with capturing multiple perspectives.”

Sforza also asked former Virginia Tech faculty member and helicopter pilot Stethen Booth to aid in the low level photography of the event.

Robinson beamed about his old friend for seeing an idea through to the end.

“Big props to Pete. He decided he was going to do it, and then did it. I can commend him for his efforts. A lot of people just talk about what they’re going to do.

He shows a lot of determination as both a scholar and a human being.”

Like many initial reactions to Sforza’s project involving thousands of people, a satellite, a plane, a helicopter, and crop formations, geography colleague John McGee

was dubious at first.

“We were sitting in a conference room, and he started telling me about it, and it was one of those ‘aye carumba’ moments,” said Mcgee. “I thought, he’ll be a wizard to pull all of this off.”

McGee is now working with Sforza to broadcast “VT Thank You” to the world.

He’ll be utilizing the aerial photos in conjunction with geographic coordinates to make the image available on Google Earth.

The creation of the formation on the drillfield will be captured by a timeelaspe camera on top of Burruss Hall as well, and local film production company Horse Archer Productions will film some of the groundwork. A special track was recorded at the Virginia Tech recording studio (see page 14) to accompany a video documentary of the project.

Four days before the event, Sforza was still worried about the weather and the numerous other things that could go wrong. When asked over the phone how he thought he would feel when all was said and done,

he laughed and mentioned the fact that he hadn’t really thought about it, and how he would surely be relieved.

“I hope that people do gain a chance to do some healing, and reflection,” said Sforza, 32, who has a wife Florence and a threeyear-old daughter Meghan. “And I also hope to remember to give thanks for everything that we do have.”

Holidays are tough times for those who have suffered losses.

This Thanksgiving, Sforza has helped to remind us what we do have, and what we have received from, and can give back to, those who shared our pain and healing in this most difficult year.

The imagery will be unveiled on the jumbo-tron at the VT vs. Miami football game. Coverage will also be available on ABC-TV.

Jason Shelton Project Associate Randy Dymond Drillfield Survey Director

november 2007

13

by Bryce Chalkley Photos by David Franusich

The recording of “When Tragedy Strikes” with Curious Strange and Ed “EZ” McClain at Virginia Tech Studios.

CURIOUS STRANGE guitarist Chad Florstedt knew that fellow Cabo Fish Taco cook Ed McClain had been writing some lyrics for an April 16th-related song, so when Peter Sforza contacted Florstedt about the possibility of his band Curious Strange writing a song for the video, a collaboration only seemed natural. The band invited McClain out to their practice pad for a writing session, and the result became “When Tragedy Strikes”, an upbeat but poignant piece about Seung-Hui Cho and what may have caused him to choose the horrific path that ended his life and the lives of 32 others.

Sforza chose the Virginia Tech recording studio for the session. This 3,500 square foot space hidden away in the heart of the 16 Blocks is a gem. Many don’t know it exists, and those who do would have a hard time believing you could find this much open space up a narrow stairway above the UPS store on Main. It’s real, however, and it is spectacular. Impressive isn’t a strong enough word to describe the tall, vaulted ceilings and beautiful hardwood.

Combining this hallowed space with the very personal and poignant task of seeing 4-16 in retrospect is daunting. But it is also inspirational, and the players entered the session at ease and excited about the prospect and possibilities of performing in such a musically-charged environment.

Everyone involved wanted the song to be just right, from the guitar and drum fills to the timing of the beat. “I like that,” McClain said when the digital metronome had found the pace he wanted. “It’s got that real ‘We Are the World’ clap to it.”

The members of Curious Strange – Florstedt along with guitarist Rory Glass, bassist Nick Kalen, keyboardist Joey Ciucci, and drummer Justin Beach – joked around with each other during downtime, but the room got quiet when it was time for EZ to record his tracks. It became quickly clear why McClain was asked to be a part of the song, as his moving lyrics and interminably catchy vocal style transformed what was a jazzy, soulful instrumental into a heart-wrenching but inspirational response to the tragedy.

With their contribution to the “Hokies Thank the World” video, Curious Strange and Ed McClain transformed the energy inherent in the Virginia Tech recording studio into a powerful song (immune, thankfully, from the cheesy, exploitative feel of Alan Jackson’s 9/11 song “Where Were You”) that will be a fine companion piece to the message of thanks and hope in the video. If we’re lucky, this will not be the last collaboration between these talented artists.

Visit HokiesThankTheWorld.org for more information.

“I like that, it’s got that real ‘We Are the World’ clap to it.”

Front (left to right): Rory Glass, Ed “EZ” McClain, Chad Florstedt, Nick Kalen, Michael Dunston Back: Peter Sforza, Chris Lawrence, Joey Ciucci, Pete Thiele, Justin Beach

14 16 Blocks

Photo by The Evens

Interview by Brandiff Caron

While on tour and driving somewhere between Wichita and Oklahoma City, 16 Blocks telephoned Ian MacKaye and he answered. Together with drummer Amy Farina as The Evens, he will be making a stop at the YMCA thrift store before heading back home to D.C. THIS WILL BE

the first time Blacksburg has had a show at the thrift store here in town. I’ve heard that The Evens like to play non-traditional and more personal spaces in principle.

Right. We don’t like to play bars or clubs.

We travel with our own PA and we’re a self-contained operation. We like finding rooms that are creative and interesting and I think most people are up to the challenge. We don’t like playing places that bands are already populating.

The Evens also have a thing about admission prices. You don’t like to charge more than $5 for a show. How does that work out financially for a travelling band?

Because we’re self-managed and we run our own affairs and do all of our own work, we’re not tied into the rock and roll economy. Usually we can get a room for cheap. And if just a hundred or so people show up that usually means that we’re pretty well squared away. We recognize that many people have never seen us and never heard our music. We want to make it as inviting as possible.

We’re not touring to make money. We’re touring to make shows. Without people, you can’t have shows.

I bet the name ‘Ian MacKaye’ probably doesn’t hurt with that.

No. It doesn’t hurt. On the other hand, I could put together a really traditional rock group and use that name to be playing much more commercially established venues and be charging a lot more.

I understand that I’m well known….and of course that doesn’t hurt, but I think it’s irrelevant for what The Evens are trying to do.

So you think it’s possible to be in a successful band and live outside of the music industry?

Do I think it’s possible? No. I know it’s possible.

Yeah. You’re doing it, right?

Yeah! I’ve been doing it for thirty years!

I’m not sure how you measure success….

If people’s measure of success involves owning a sports franchise, I’m a tremen-

Ian MacKaye and Amy Farina (The Evens) will be performing live at the YMCA Thriftstore Nov. 17th. Doors at 7:30pm, show at 8.

dous failure. But, if it’s a matter of making music, engaging with people in different communities, making shows with people, exploring ideas-sound ideas, lyric ideas, song ideas-and engaging in that aspect of music, and also being able to eat and survive, then, yeah, I think we’re a tremendously successful band.

Speaking of engaging with people, I read that you have recently been doing ‘speaking engagements’. What do these involve?

Generally, if I’m invited, a lot of times it’s colleges, I do straight Q & As. I’ve done hundreds of interviews over the years.

One thing, though, is that interviews are always biased. The person doing the interview always has some sort of agenda or bias. I thought why not just get together with a bunch of people and let everybody ask things. That would actually be an interview with the people.

It usually develops into a conversation.

I find it much more interesting. I don’t actively seek out these sorts of events, but it’s cool when I get an invite (I’ve had over a dozen or so so far).

Let’s talk about Amy Farina [the drummer for The Evens] for a bit. How did you meet her?

I met Amy about 17 years ago now. She had moved to Washington to go to school and she played in a band that opened for Fugazi and then she was in a band with my brother called The Warmers. I recorded The Warmers and we released

their first album on Dischord [Records].

She was basically just part of my scene in D.C. and we became really dear friends and eventually started to play music together. It was very natural.

Speaking of the D.C scene, we have a piece about musical genres and categories in this month’s issue of 16 Blocks.

What do you make of the category of ‘D.C’ punk which your earlier bands like Minor Threat, Teen Idles, and Fugazi helped to shape?

I think music from D.C. is indigenous, that’s all. I’m not sure I would go as far as to call it a genre. I mean, if you set somebody down and played them a Minor Threat song, and then you set them down and played a Fugazi song, I don’t think they would necessarily hear the connection. Especially if I wasn’t singing the Fugazi song. I think that a lot of people can draw connections retrospectively, but I don’t think there’s necessarily a connection. What I can say, however, is that because D.C. is so culturally isolated and there’s no music industry to speak of, the people that do make music there largely do so purely to make music. They’re not trying to “make it” necessarily. And I think that that has in turn created a kind of indigenous vision of music because you’re not really trying to become commercially successful, you’re just trying to make engaging and original music.

november 2007

15

speech. word. reason.

Two Poems by Tex Wood

Recipe My grandmother’s house was a healthy house, rural and functional as well.

Each building had its fragrance, one of hay and cows and chickens, another of iron and leather.

But all happened in the kitchen, room of fresh air or cooking.

She looked strange without her apron.

Photo by Christina O’Connor

My feet the size of my son’s, I clattered that room coming in but softened and slowed, contemplating the odds of an oatmeal cookie straight out of the Nineteenth Century.

My grandparents sold that place to a shyster and progress’s pace a score or more years ago.

It’s now a development and grandma’s is not a place my son can go.

Those fragrances, that recipe, didn’t survive her.

Tex Wood grew up in Virginia, Texas and the Carolinas and in his travels he has witnessed war first-hand in the United States Marine Corps where he became a decorated Vietnam veteran. He has also received degrees from both Duke University and UNC-Greensboro and is a MacDowell Colony Fellow. His poems “Recipe” having appeared in “The Above Ground Review”, and “Their Song” are taken from his hardbound collection of work, “Likable Sins”.

16 16 Blocks

Their Song (for Charlie Gunn, KIA, Khe Sahn, March, 1967.)

Feeling like a survivor I am parting air, disturbing the peace, carting a corpse of conscience... employed, safe, family and payments that nine-to-five and watch the strange.

In short, fleeing in step: a normal cadence.

Your last, ripped from vitality, which was worse, the terror or the pain?

War dead, you are my brothers.

You pulse in my veins, a share of my living, perhaps a warped appreciation, this an escape from the trivia, the flat job, incessant payments.

Cycles...woman nagging at late beers.

It’s down to that.

All that certain beauty.

That green bag, tagged and lumpy with you, where did it go?

It went to Texas , planted.

In the spring, you rose, carried by Texan breezes far as air, cuffing trees, singing down valleys.

And they say you never made it home.

Friend, make no mistake.

You’re in every breath I take.

by Griffin Covey

THAT MORNING

it took a stretch-limo to comfortably seat the 32 souls we were transporting. I had just got a call for two riders who needed to be picked up an hour earlier and already had them in the back, so I thought I’d just double them up because they were were all going to the same place. They were a torn and tattered group, and I held open the back door, tipping my hat as they filed in. I wanted to look away as they boarded, but I did not. They all smiled, obligingly, impressed by the fancy ride.

An older man with an Eastern European accent waited until everyone was in, then asked if he could ride up front with me. I said yes.

The two passengers already seated inside that I had just picked up on the other side of campus greeted the big group, sounding like old friends. The old man beside me tightened his lips together and raised them towards his nose and exhaled.

Let’s pick him up, someone said.

I think he needs a ride too, someone else added.

I think there’s room.

We can always make room.

I looked to the old man beside me, and slowed the vehicle.

We shall make room for him as well, he said.

I stopped. A young woman opened the back door and climbed out.

Hey, come on, you almost missed us, she yelled invitingly and with a sweet voice.

He stared and his glasses glistened in the sunlight and the wind rippled his clothes. Others began exiting the vehicle, beckoning him in a chorus of voices.

Now we may go, he said.

In the back I overheard quiet conversation about the weather. There was a strange flurrying snow coming from a cloudless sky that day, and the wind was whistling outside the tinted windows, swaying the trees violently.

I drove around the great lawn over which a lone walker was crossing. He wore a backpack and was in a hurry. Someone in the back noticed him, and pointed.

There he is, they said. Everyone became quiet and looked.

They gathered by the inside window, and pointed their fingers at him, but his head remained down, his gaze upon the ground in front of him.

The old man beside me squinted as he looked.

It seemed to me that the walker was with the group. A straggler that had slept late and missed his ride. But no one told me to stop so I continued driving around the circle.

When he reached the middle of the field he paused. He had raised his head to us, and turned as we circled on the road around him.

Come on with us.

This is your ride too.

You’re with us, we have plenty of room.

We’re supposed to all ride there together.

He didn’t move. He just stared, looking lost and bewildered.

He glanced at his feet like he wanted them to move. His shoulders registered the movements of his heavy breathing. He turned his gaze to the place behind him where I had picked up the group.

Their beckonings quieted.

There was silence.

The old man, who was still seated beside me waited, still breathing through his nose with his lips tightened, like men do when either their anger or their sorrow is welling up to a point of action.

He opened and closed the door, the noise breaking the silent stares. He walked around the vehicle and stood alone and away from the group.

He addressed the lone soul in the middle of the field by name.

You have made us your brothers and sisters upon this day.

The surrounding stone buildings echoed his powerful voice.

We wear your marks upon our bodies, and they are our marks now. Heed our calls for this is no dream. We are forever linked with you upon these very grounds.

The wind formed into words, and we were surrounded by horrific-sounding whispers as a thousand voices hissed.

You’re a coward.

A skinny sissy.

I’d like to have met you an hour ago, I’d a torn you limb from limb.

You would know pain.

Who were you to judge?

Who were you to take away?

Revenge is mine.

The lone figure staggered, holding his hands over his ears. The old man bellowed out his name again.

We are separated from the sobs and tears and hate left in your wake. We are forever bound together. We are your friends, and it is with us that you shall now ride.

The building from which the group had come blackened, as did the one at a distance from where I had picked up the other two riders.

Shadows from the buildings encroached upon the field, leering towards the center where he now sat with his knees upon the ground, his head down. He lifted his bloodied eyes towards the group.

The group sounded their pleads again as the shadows loomed darker, and the whispers raised their screeching pitch.

My riders responded.

Hurry!

Before it is too late.

You are not safe.

Come with us.

Please.

Please, before it is too late.

The old man stepped up the curb and onto the grass and looked at the group.

They followed his lead into the field, marching side by side in a line behind him.

The lost one quavered at their approach, and fumbled inside his bag for something. I backed up. I was watching from near the car and feared what he was reaching for and took cover behind the vehicle.

I never saw what he was reached for, he was blocked by the group that had encircled him. They closed tightly upon him, all of them laying their hands towards the center of the circle.

The whole field had become immersed in dark shadow now, eerily because the sun still hung in the sky above. Then a single light shone from the center, flickering like a candle, and hovering above the ground. The group raised their arms upward, and between each pair of hands there glowed another light. The light then spread across the field, invisible candles sharing the flame until the whole darkened field was filled with flickering light, like a city’s nightscape.

The lone figure emerged from the inner circle, and the lights parted at his approach as he headed for the blackened place from where the group first emerged.

He disappeared forever into the building of his intent. Lightning flashed in the windows as the thunder burst with a power that shook the ground beneath my feet and brought me to my knees.

The group was still surrounded by the thousands of flickering lights. They stood and looked around. They were quiet and held hands. The field of lights now parted again as they began their walk in the opposite direction towards the car and me.

I held the door once again as they climbed inside. They were quiet and reverent.

After the last one entered I closed the door. The old man walked around to the front and climbed in. I took one last look at all of the lights glowing in the field, and then got behind the wheel. I looked over at the old man and he pointed the way.

november 2007

17

hip. cool. smart.

by John Cordero Photos by Christina O’Connor

Homebody is a clothing store in the Blacksburg area that has been successful in its practices of supporting fairtrade, sweatshop-free, and recycled products. Owner Margaret Breslau has taken functional, fashionable clothing and brought it to a new level where it also has purpose. This new concept of conscientious shopping helps consumers realize that environmentally friendly and ethically made products are not limited to burlap sacks and hippies. Rather, this new and upcoming type of market has a broad range from novelty items such as coin purses made from Ramen wrappers to unique, stylish clothing and accessories that can suit everyone’s taste. Breslau has truly brought an activism through retail that educates and raises awareness but also breaks the misconception that conscientious shopping is not fashionable.

18 16 Blocks

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november 2007

19

know your rights: from page 06 initials, date, time, place of release and the towing company’s name.

mopeds: from page 08 The Scene Though they are inherently more polluting than other types of engines, this concern is somewhat balanced by the excellent gas mileage, often exceeding 100 miles per gallon.

“There are a lot of import restrictions on what kind of emissions they put out,” said Pete, explaining why all of these mopeds are from the 1970s and 80s. The vintage styling and unique character of each machine adds to their appeal, and they almost always manage to turn some heads and raise some appreciative questions. If you dare to confuse mopeds with the fourstroke, small wheeled scooters, however, you’re likely to catch some flack.

“We still look down upon the [scooters] a little bit,” Glenn said.

The Ride The 50 cubic centimeter engines burped to life, and we whizzed down the street for a quick cruise. Down the block and around the corner, the blustery breeze and wind of our speed was quick to chill the bones and the group decided to head back. Some riders broke away, heading out to do their own thing, proud members of what could be the last generation of mopeders here in Blacksburg . More and more people seeking inexpensive and efficient two wheeled

motor vehicles are choosing to go with the cleaner, more reliable, though more expensive and decidedly less cool scooter.

As these mopeders graduate from school and move out of town, will others rise to fill their shoes and seats, or will these mopeds be left in some basement or garage, waiting for another resurgence that may never come? With rising gas prices and a unique style, it’s doubtful moped culture will be going away anytime soon.

Check the moped gang out at: www.jmhuret.com/MopedGang Garrett Bobb has been putting his Tech Philosophy and Sociology degree to work at Gillie’s downtown since graduating in 2004. After two half-hearted attempts to leave town, he is more excited than ever about the Burg, due in large part to new happenings like the Burning Book, BREF!, and the Bike Collective. Once the proud owner of a 1978 Honda PA50II moped, it wasn’t long before he wanted to go faster.

He is now working on getting his third motorcycle street worthy.

When paying the drop fee, the owner or custodian may make the payment using any of the means commonly accepted by the company for full tow. It is recommended that the owner or custodian wait until after payment has been accepted and after the vehicle is released to flip the tow driver the bird, though 16B’s advises doing so at your own risk. In the case that you cannot afford to or simply want to be spiteful and will not pay the fee, the driver may charge the regular price for a full tow, which is not to exceed $125. However the owner or custodian has the right to retrieve any personal items from the vehicle before towage and the first 24 hours of storage is free.

Before you decide just to except the fact your car was rightfully towed, make sure that the parking area has signs posted at every entrance stating that unauthorized

Naturally the best way not to get towed is to park where you are supposed to. It sounds easier than it is and given Blacksburg’s continually diminishing parking availability it will likely get worse in the future unless city hall either begins forgiving its residents for violations or begins building subterranean parking garages. I suggest the latter as it is more likely not to mention we could employ molemen and lava people to park cars on game days. But until then, drivers beware and don’t go down without a fight: know your rights.

wal-mart: from page 04 tion then becomes: What elements of the culture of the town will be lost, and what new elements will be introduced by a WalMart Supercenter?

To answer the first question, the effect on local businesses is typically devastating. According to the business magazine “Retail Forward”, for every Wal-Mart Supercenter that opens, there will be 2 local supermarkets that will close. An even more frightening statistic discussed in the film “Store Wars” produced by PBS, is that 84% of Wal-Mart’s business comes from customers who would have shopped at a locally owned store.

Dylan Wedan: Moped Casualty

The end result is not only the end of Mom and Pop stores, but a drop in wages. As one study published in November 2005 by economists working at the Public Policy Institute of California, one average Wal-Mart reduces the amount of available jobs in the retail sector for a community, and that residents of local labor markets normally earn less after the introduction of a WalMart into their area.

Last fall, Dylan Wedan was riding his moped down Kent Street when “something happened and he lost control and veered across traffic…he hit a parked car,” said Tim. He ate hood something fierce. Five of his front teeth were knocked out and they left quite an impression in the hood of the car. Dylan suffered brain hemorrhaging, a contusion to his leg, and a torn ACL. He is still undergoing surgery to repair the damage. This fateful accident led many of the moped gang to begin wearing helmets when they ride. In a true showing of mopeder solidarity, a benefit party was organized to raise money for Dylan’s medical expenses. Over $2000 was raised through a cover charge and date auction, with the man himself being auctioned for $250.

Dylan took some time off from the moped world, but has just arranged to purchase a model in New York, and looks forward to getting back on the road.

If local businesses are cutting wages to stay competitive, then one would expect these businesses to try and cut costs in other ways as well. This may mean cutting down on the diversity of products available, or reducing the hours in which they are open. For example, a store that offers products which are directed towards specific niche markets that are more volatile in their financial feasibility may have to abandon those markets.

20 16 Blocks

vehicles will in fact be removed. If a lot is towed on a 24-hour basis the signage must clearly reflect that fact. This also means that the sign has to stand 4-7 feet above grade, have minimum dimensions of 18 inches by 24 inches and clearly state that trespassing cars will be towed. If you have any doubts or suspicions about the tow, call the cops. In the case that you do, the tow driver is not allowed to leave until an officer shows up to reconcile the dispute.

Simply put, this may mean a less diverse array of music, independent films or brands of clothing apparel being sold around town. Worse, if such stores which tailor to unique niche markets close their shops, then the only products available become the mainstream products that are sold at Wal-Mart. That’s a scary thought considering that Wal-Mart has strict censorship policies and refuses to stock anything that it deems to be contrary to its “family values”, such as music CD’s with curse words or questionable lyrics.

The most frightening effect Wal-Mart may have on a town’s culture stems from an academic study by Stephan Goetz and Hema Swaminathan from Pennsylvania University. They found that during the 1990’s, counties with more Wal-Mart stores typically experienced greater increases in family poverty rates when compared with counties that had fewer or zero Wal-Mart stores.

The two authors offered their own explanations for the surprising results. One idea they proposed asserts that when a WalMart demolishes local entrepreneurs, WalMart is indirectly destroying the pool of talented local leadership, therefore hampering the social capital of a town.

This could quite possibly be one of the most damaging effects of a Wal-Mart entering a small town. Not only is social capital viewed by many as being imperative for local economic growth, but a strong and talented pool of local leaders are one element that influences the direction in which a community moves.

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profile: from page 05 alarming but...if this war was originally for oil it certainly isn’t anymore.

[16B’s] In the G I Joe cartoon, Duke and Scarlet shoot down Cobra fighter jets all day and nobody ever dies, yet, this war has cost tens of thousands of livesdo you think President Bush anticipated this when he based his invasion strategy on a cartoon?

#lient: Friginal Fra%e.orks Hundate: [Hypes] I4-6-0J don’t think anyone anticipated Ad LiMe: col.insurgency x 3.25 in. but I also think this kind3 of

that our post invasion strategy was not planned out very well. It was a little short sighted.

wanted to be a soldier since they were a little kid, some wanted to be a fireman or a cop- didn’t you ever want to be something as a kid. I just always felt like it was something I needed to do and finally I got to the point where I decided it was time.

[16B’s] I heard that your great grandfather served in WWI and was laid to rest at the cemetery on Roanoke and Harding Street. Did his service influence you at all.

[Hypes] Yeah, my family has historically been involved in the military. My great great great grandfather was in the civil war and died in a prison camp in New York.

Are we fighting a good war or ![16B’s] #o%&osition and art.ork created by t4e #ollegiate 7i%es is &ro&erty o8 t4e just trying not to look like any little #ollegiate 7i%es. :8 you .ould like to use any[16B’s] &arts o8Do t4isyou ad< &lease contact t4e punk nation with IED’s can thwart our have anything heart Business Manager at ?61-?860. martial ability? warming that can be said of your expe[Hypes] Well, I think they’ve already proved that - I mean the US military is a conventional military and it is very good at managing conventional operations but we are fighting an unconventional enemy in an unconventional war. That’s where we are having trouble.

[16B’s] Do you think that Iraq will become even more volatile if we suddenly just pulled out and left?

[Hypes] Definitely. If left unchecked it would quickly become a haven for Al Queda.

[16B’s] I have a lot of friends who have joined the military, and even I have felt a magnetism toward enlistment- what the hell is wrong with us? Why would anyone feel compelled to join up right now?

[Hypes] Well...they’re handing huge bonuses for one thing, though my recruiter would probably hate me for saying that, but it’s kind of true. But you know, there is still a strong sense of patriotism in this country. There are still people out there willing to join because they feel a call to serve their country. Some people have

125 N. Main St., Downtown Blacksburg, 540-552-1020

rience in the war? Any Kodak moments for the critics.

[Hypes] When we were entering Iraq through Kuwait during the invasion, when we first crossed over, there were people lining the streets begging for food and waving American flags. We were expecting the worst so it was strange, but nice having that warm reception. Of coursed it cooled once we didn’t leave.

I thanked Seargent Hypes for his time and candidness, finished the cheap beer I managed with the change I had left over from doing laundy and watched as he and his girlfriend who had arrived part of the way through the interview, made googly eyes at each other. He had said earlier that if it wasn’t for her, he would be back in Iraq right now, digging up who knows what, dodging bullets while fighting an unseen enemy.

Who knows? Maybe the answer is simple. Maybe peace isn’t so far away.

Maybe love does conquer all.

Now all we have to do is get the Middle East to hook up with a cool chick.

Check out our new and expanded selection of stationery, cards and invitations for a handwritten note, or print them on your computer.

We also carry a wide range of digital papers for photography, fine art reproduction and books.

Come visit the Art gallery at Mish Mish where we display the work of a local artist every month. Opening receptions occur on the first Friday of every month from 6-8pm.

In December we will feature what could be the “future of art”, the digital paintings of three Radford University graduate art students.

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SHOP YOUR VALUES THIS SEASON AND SUPPORT FAIR TRADE ARTISANS. Homebody Open Mon-Sat 10-7, Sun 12-5 november 2007

21

Chess Problem by Chuck Roncoe This rather precarious position is a classic example of a ‘smothered’ mate. White’s position is dangerous, his queen is under attack, the king is in grave danger, he’s down a rook and two bishops, and his only surviving rook is under-developed. It’s white’s turn, and desperate times require desperate measures, giving white a forced mate in three.

Now, if it wasn’t white’s turn, can you find the forced mate in 5 for black?

Solutions over there -->

22 16 Blocks

CHESS SOLUTIONS White mates in three: 1.Nh6+ Kh8 2.Qg8+ RxQ 3.Nf7++ Black mates in five: 1. .....Bxf2+ If black takes the bishop with the knight, he dies a bit quicker...

2.NxB QxN+ 3.Kh1 Qxg2++ If he instead tries to run away...

2.Kh1 or Kf1 Bxg2+ 3.KxB Qe4+ 4.Kf1 Qh1+ 6.Ng1 Qxg1++

calendar 16 blocks by date sunday

18

monday

tuesday

19

20

9PM Awful Arthur’s Alliens - FREE

wednesday

21

9PM Awful Arthur’s

thursday

22

Thanksgiving

Electric Chameleon FREE

friday

23

saturday

24

9PM Awful Arthur’s

9PM Awful Arthur’s

Bad Casper

Groova Scape

9PM Attitudes

The Comedy Club $5 over/$7 under

november 25

26

8PM Cabo

Freestyle Poetry Open Mic

27

8PM Attitudes

The VT Rock Music Club Battle of the Bands $5 over/$7 under

28 9PM Awful Arthur’s

8PM Squires Commonwealth Ballroom

The True Levellers FREE

9PM Tots

9PM Attitudes

9PM Rivermill

Nickodemus w/ Boogieburg Sound System $5 - 21+ only

04

10PM Cabo

december 06 07

08

05 9PM Awful Arthur’s

9PM Awful Arthur’s

The Seed

9PM Awful Arthur’s

Sol Creech Band

10PM She-Sha Hookah Lounge

Pink Floydian Slip

DEC 2-8 is National Handwashing Awareness Week!

Help prevent the spread of MRSA by washing your hands!

Washing your hands is cool!

The BC Joint FREE

9PM Attitudes

Armory Art Gallery Dr. Stephen Addiss exhibition: STEPS: Ink + Brush + Tea runs through November 30

10

Emily Brass Band

Special Screening: For the Bible Tells Me so

Perspective Gallery New River Art 2007 Ninth Biennial Exhibition runs through December 7

09

The Trainwreks

7PM The Lyric Theatre

Local art shows for November and December

03

9PM Awful Arthur’s

Alliens - FREE

Good Dog - $3

Re: Fill w/ Boogieburg Sound System FREE

01

9PM Awful Arthur’s 9PM Pine Tavern

ART ON THE BLOCK 02

30

BRAND NEW Students: $18/$20 Public: $22/$25 www.tickets.vt.edu

The Comedy Club $5 over/$7 under

Mish Mish Sandra Kennedy's show runs through December 6 and she works in watercolor and pastel.

29

The Comedy Club $5 over/$7 under

8PM The Lyric Theatre

Live @ the Lyric: Mollie O’Brien Tickets: $20 gold/$17 silver

Learn more at: www.1st-in-handwashing.com www.henrythehand.com

11

12 9PM Attitudes

The Comedy Club $5 over/$7 under

13

10PM Rivermill

Re: Fill w/ Boogieburg Sound System FREE

14

9PM Awful Arthur’s TK-421

15

9PM Awful Arthur’s

The Darryl Ray Band

10PM She-Sha Hookah Lounge

Liquid Lounge w/ DJ Jason Cerna and Justin Huynh

ellet valley drive by sandra kennedy the muse by mary tartaro

october 2007 november 2007 2223

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