Interpretation of C.S. Lewis termed fascinating-but-wrong — Pg. 17
December 2011
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2 banks’ stance on coal triggers ire of protesters
Massive use of windmills urged as safer alternative
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From Staff Reports Occupy Asheville’s Rally for Clean Energ drew 50 to 70 participants on a sunny and mild mid-afternoon Nov. 1 in Pritchard Park in downtown Asheville. The nearly 75-minute event began with a rally, during which several speakers addressed and fired-up the crowd, followed by a march to Royal Bank of Canada (RBC Bank) at 8 O’Henry Avenue, and concluded with a march to Bank of America, across from Pritchard Park at 68 Patton Ave. The contingent picketed at each bank. The two banks were singled out because they allegedly are key financiers of the fossil fuel industry, such as coal, and of building more oil pipelines. The protesters contended that the banks’ funding of coalburning is exacerbating global warming. At least five people were arrested for trespassing on BofA’s property. The Daily Planet was able to immediately identify four of the five arrested, including Amber Lee Williams, Steve Norris, Caleb Shaw and Thomas Beckett. During the rally, Cecil Bothwell, a member of Asheville City Council and a 11th District congressional hopeful, told the crowd, “We’ve got to change our habits.” Bothwell peppered his talk with references to an address the previous night in Asheville by environmental activist Bill McKibben. (See story below). Earth’s population faces “climate change that our crops won’t be able to handle ... We’re going to see many of our cities in seacoast areas going underwater.”
As for what people can do, Bothwell said, “Well, one thing that we’re not doing in this state is allowing windmills on ridgetops ... More than that, we need to get windmills off-shore. We’ve got really good wind off the coast of North Carolina” for wind-energy generation. What’s more, he said, “We need more solar” energy production. He credited the
Asheville Independent Restaurant Association for pursuing an initiative to emphasize solar-energy generation. Bothwell added that such efforts show that “we’re ahead of the curve here in Asheville.” Ultimately, he said, “The whole thing is ... We need to walk and ride bicycles more — a lot more” to reduce global warming. Noting that he was the only councilman
to vote against the construction of a parking garage on Biltmore Avenue, Bothwell said such facilities just attract more motor vehicles, when fewer are desired in the city. “Walk, when you can. Bicycle, when you can. Carpool, when you can. A lot of the answers are really simple ... Consume less,” Bothwell said in closing. See PROTESTERS, Page 9
By JOHN NORTH Renowned environmental activist and author Bill McKibben outlined the looming dangers of starvation and social unrest — as a result of climate change — and ripped the fossil-fuel industry for poisoning the atmosphere during a Nov. 30 address in UNC Asheville’s Lipinsky Auditorium. McKibben, who spoke for an hour to a standing-room-only crowd of more than 600 people, was introduced as the author of about a dozen books, most notably “The End of Nature.” He grew up in Massachusetts, served as editor of his college newspaper, The Harvard Crimson, and later wrote for The New Yorker magazine. When he walked onto the stage, he was greeted with a standing ovation at the event hosted by the Moving Planet Coalition. “It is, as always, an enormous please to be here in Asheville,” he said. “This is a good, important and powerful place.” He then offered an apology in advance because “you won’t get that great of a
speech” because McKibben said he was “worn out” from his travel schedule. Besides, he added with a wide grin, “I’m a writer, not a speaker.” However, based on the audience response, including several occasions of major applause and a standing ovation when he finished, the crowd was delighted with his address. Later, McKibben fielded questions from those present. Recognizing that many of those present already know lots about global warming, he said, “I know I’m not needed at all and y’all know exactly what to do.” (He is the founder of 350.org, a grassroots climate advocacy group claiming to have coordinated 15,000 rallies in 189 countries since 2009.) He noted that in his 2010 book, “Eaarth: Making a Life on a Tough New Planet,” he deliberately changed the spelling of “Earth” to signify that human beings have changed the planet in so many ways that it no longer resembles the planet most people thought they knew.
Regarding global warming, he said, “It’s the scale of the problem that dictates the response ... The story of the last 20 years is, it’s tracking much faster than we projected ... Now, we’re into something else — and the only question is how far it’ll go. “So far, we’ve raised the temperature of the earth by about a degree,” but he said another degree rise is imminent if people continue to burn coal, oil and gas. He added that many scientists predict a 4- to 6-degree increase by the end of the century, based on current trends of fossil fuel usage. McKibben also reviewed a number of other related concerns, including significantly more wattage in the atmosphere, seawater that is 30 percent more acidic than it was 30 years ago and 40 percent less ice in the Arctic than several decades ago. He added that 19 nations set all-time temperature records last year. One manifestation of the problem, McKibben said, is “the way water is moving around the planet ... Warm holds more wa-
ter than cold.” He also said the atmosphere has suffered a precipitious drop in vapor in the last 30 years. “It got over 100 degrees in Moscow in August” for several consecutive days. Never in recorded history had the temperature reached such Bill McKibben a high level in Russia’s capital city, McKibben said. The Russian heat wave, and accompanying concern about crop failure, prompted grain prices to soar worldwide — “and they’ve stayed up” ever since. See ACTIVIST, Page 20
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The Dec. 1 protest rally and march ended in front of Bank of America along Patton Avenue in downtown Asheville,
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where at least five people were arrested for trespassing on the bank’s property.
Activist accuses oil firms of occupying earth’s atmosphere
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Agenda 21 would result in ‘soft tyranny’ worldwide, critic claims Land of the Sky Regional Council accused of usurping local elected bodies’ autonomy
Second in a series of two stories. • By JOHN NORTH When Neal Thomas has approached local governments in North Carolina regarding his concerns about Agenda 2l, he said they “will absolutely not engage in discussion with me about sustainability.” He added, “They’ll say you have a tinfoil hat on. That you’re crazy. That you’re a nut. That you’re a conspiracy theorist.” However, Thomas said he has been undeterred in his efforts to put the spotlight of truth about Agenda 21, which he claims is eroding Americans’ constitutionally guaranteed freedoms. Repeatedly, he contended that locally elected, constitutional government is being superceded — through the guidance of outside forces — by regional governance from people who never were elected. Thomas’ remarks were made during an address on “Agenda 21 — Sustainable Development” in a speech to the Asheville Tea Party at Ryan’s restaurant on Brevard Road in Asheville on Oct. 26. About 35 people attended the program. Thomas, who was born and raised in Mecklenburg County, was a delegate for the Lincoln County GOP and is a member of the Shelby 9/12 Tea Party. He is the editor of The Gaspee Gazette web site. During his address, Thomas singled out Senate Bill 897, Section, 13.5, which he termed North Carolina’s own version of Agenda 21. He warned of the dangers posed by the bill, titled “North Carolina Sustainable Communities Task Force — creation; purpose; duties,” as well all other state legislation pertaining to “sustainable development” and “livability.” Under the bill, “walkable” communities would be required, public funds would be targeted only to the communities that participate in “sustainability” and it would be part of a larger plan to divide the 50 states into 11 statistical areas, he said. “Just think” about the ramifications to any community that chose to withdraw
Neal Thomas from one of the regional planning organizations, Thomas said. Specifically, he suggested that any nonparticipating community would be severely penalized with funding cuts, thereby ensuring that no locality ever drops out. As an example of outside intrusion, he said that during recent major wildfires in Texas, local firefighters were battling the blaze and began to get control of it, but “FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) took over that fire and let it burn. They wanted to ‘rewild’ that land.” In turning his attention to the Land of the Sky Regional Council, Thomas asked, “Joe
McKinney — who is he?” (McKinney has served as executve director of the LOSRC since 2003.) Continuing, Thomas said of McKinney, “Anybody know him? He’s not your friend. Did anybody vote for him? Like I said (earlier), these people are taking power from city councils and boards of commissioners” across the state and nation and foisting Agenda 21 with its sustainability goals on them. An unidentified man interjected, “Are there any states” that are not afflicted with Agenda 21? “Florida,” Thomas replied. Later he added that the sustainability movement in North Carolina is permanently entrenched. “It’s all over” for residents of the Tar Heel state, he said. A woman at the meeting added, “It’s like a cancer.” Thomas, who did not disagree, said another issue is “sustainability in corporate America.” For example, he cited Walmart, which Thomas called “the biggest company ever,” and its employee training video that mentions “a brave new world” ahead and, he claimed, endorses sustainability. A man expressed concern about “the direction of ‘smart growth’” for the Environmental Protection Agency, such as pitting individual rights against the collective good, freedom againstgovernment control or individual benefits against communal benefits. The man added that “the overwhelming consensus is that manmade CO2 is causing global warming. It doesn’t matter what the data says.”
Thomas asserted that county commissions in WNC “should be sovereign — am I right? Instead, each one is a member of the Land of the Sky Regional Council. And the people who run them aren’t even elected at all. And they make decisions that affect the whole region.” To the somber crowd, Thomas quipped, “This is the end (of his presentation), thank goodness, right? I’m about to throw up.” During a question-and-answer session that followed, a woman asked Thomas if he had any proposed solutions for the Agenda 21 threat that he had outlined. “It’s going to be (a) painful” process, Thomas replied. “The Land of the Sky Regional Council — that’s where I’d start,” urging people to get their local elected bodies to drop their affiliations with it. He also recommended opposing ICLEA, an international association of local governments for sustainable development. He said the aforementioned organizations “sign over your sovereignty for you.” As for any hopes of changing the federal government, “you can forget it,” Thomas said. “It’s lost.” Thomas then took a swipe at former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney, a Republican presidential front-runner. “Do you really think Romney is your friend? He wrote the health care law for his state,” which was used to craft Obamacare. Former state legislator R.L. Clark told Thomas, “What you’re talking about began with the Appalachian Regional Commission, and then it spread.” See AGENDA 21, Page 5
MREs for earthquakes? Water filters?
Dec. 21, 2012, 11:11 a.m. — End of the Mayan Calendar!
Agenda 21
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Asheville Police Department Chief Bill Hogan issued statement on property room investigation;
Daryl Fisher
Rep. Ron Paul
Rep. Michele Bachmann
Continued from Page 4 When someone asked if Buncombe County had signed “some kind of formal agreement” with the LOSRC, Clark said that it had. As for the issue of what the regional governance organizations have created, Thomas said, “It’s the question we need to assess ... They’re creating a government within a government.” In an interview after the meeting, Thomas told the Daily Planet, “The bottom line is, we’ve got to get our commissioners, legislators in Raleigh and people in Washington, D.C. to say ‘no’” on the issues and concerns he raised in his talk. So what are Thomas’ plans if conditions transform as he predicted in his talk? “There’s no place to run, once the United States falls,” Thomas answered. He added that, from his personal perspective, he harbors hope because of his belief in God. “The Bible describes a time that’s like this.” Further, he said, “Agenda 21 is the ideal model for what the socialists would like to see,” resulting in a world “that is structured and run by an elite group of people.” Thomas said “there are many types of tyrannies,” noting that “there are soft tyrannies,” such as that espoused in Agenda 21. Citing Jesus, Mahatma Gandhi, C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien as among his key influences, Thomas said he advocates “peaceful resistance to the end.” Regarding the current GOP presidential race, “(Texas Rep.) Ron Paul is one of the guys who gets (all of) this.” Thomas added, “I like U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann (from Minn.), but I don’t think she’s electable.”
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McHenry vows to give high level of services, fight to cut regulations
is the highest percentage (of entitlement From Staff Reports spending) coming out of federal spending.” Providing good constituent services and He added, “People aren’t working and, fighting to eliminate federal regulations if they’re not working, they’re using are on the top of his priority list, U.S. Rep. government resources ... Let’s not raise Patrick McHenry, R-Cherryville, said Nov. taxes ... We need certainty in the tax code 10 at Magnolia’s restaurant in downtown and simplicity in the tax code.” The CIBO Asheville. audience applauded his stance. About 100 people attended the one-hour “The solution we need is to be more program, sponsored by the the Council of competitive in the world,” McHenry asIndependent Business Owners. serted. In addition to fixing the tax code, McHenry, who has held office for seven he advocated improving the American years, represents the 10th congressional educational system to give district, which includes workers the skills and thei entirety of seven advantages to compete counties, including Avery, globally. Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, “The biggest problem in Cleveland, Lincoln and our economy, right now, Mitchell, as well as parts is not inequality of wages, of Gaston, Iredell and but inequality of skills.” Of Rutherford counties. those who are unemployed, As a result of redistricthe said 16 percent are not ing by the Republicancollege-educated, while 6 dominated state legislature percent are. earlier this year, his district In closing, McHenry will include much of said, “I respect Asheville Asheville and part of Bunand I respect Buncombe combe County — about County. It is the economic 130,000 residents — in heart of Western North time for the 2012 election. Carolina. In some of my In speaking of the area Rep. Patrick McHenry visits, I know it’s got a he represents, McHenry unique cultural identity.” said, “It’s a sprawling district.” The crowd gave him sustained applause. As for adding parts of Asheville and During a question-and-answer session Buncombe, he noted, “There are lots of that followed, Max Swicegood of Asheville discussions on what Gaston County and asked, “Do you know the unemployment Buncombe County have in common.” As rate in your district?” the crowd of business leaders laughed, “The unemployment rate is 12 percent, if McHenry quipped, “One thing — we’re you balance it out over the seven counties,” both in the 10th District.” he replied What’s more, he said, “My job ... Mike Butner, who said he lives and revolves around constituent services.” works in the 10th District and represents Therefore, his “day-to-day approach is the local association of realtors, asked if not a Democrat or Republican, right-wing anyone in congress has done anything to or left-wing ... It’s just providing simple repeal the Dodd-Frank Act? (but important) services. You call, you get McHenry said the major issue for those a response. You write a letter, you get a in the real estate business is repealing response. You have an issue with a federal Dodd-Frank, along with “fixing Fannie agency, you’ve got somebody there to Mae and Freddie Mac,” since they are 90 advocate on your behalf.” percent of the real estate market — includIn the meantime, McHenry said both he ing Farmers Home Administration. and Rep. Heath Shuler, D-Waynesville, “We need to get the money flowing, so “will continue to serve ... our respective we can make a difference in real estate,” he districts,” with nothing changing through noted. 2013. Andrea Robel of Independents’ BusiMcHenry pointed out that he serves on ness Consultants said that “there’s a critical the Oversight of Government Performance need to get high-speed Internet to the rural Committee and the Financial Services areas” of WNC. Committee, noting that he will continue to “It’s one of many flaws” in the system fight to cut governmental regulations. that need to be addressed, McHenry said. Regarding the economic hard times in However, “I don’t see any additional monthe United States, he noted, “Uncertainty eys coming in during the next six months, (regarding future government policies beyond what’s already been allocated ... I affecting businesses) is making matters share your concern.” worse. The average business owner knows In an apparent reference to the Asheville that.” Citizen-Times, a man asked McHenry, In a jab at President Barack Obama, he “Tell us a little bit about yourself. The said the administration has put in place newspaper here, or what we call the newsmore than 4,000 regulations this year, paper here, is not likely to be supportive of costing businesses hundreds of millions of you,” as a conservative. dollars to comply with them. Grinning, McHenry said, “From all the “So this matter of regulation is making editorials (criticizing him), it looks like matters worse,. We have a real challenge to they’re excited to have me.” The crowd actually get capital” to businesses, so that laughed. they can grow and add employees. “About myself, this is my fourth term He called the Dodd-Frank Act, which in Congress. I was first elected in 2004. was passed about 18 months ago, “very I grew up in Gastonia and live now in a significant ... It actually has a very restricsmall town called Cherryville.” In a refertive effect on regional banks, and smaller ence to his short stature, McHenry quipped, community banks.” The aforementioned “They say politics takes a lot out of you. I act has “hurt their ability to lend.” started out eight feet tall ... When you serve In a reference to former president George in the majority, it’s like being right every W. Bush, McHenry said, “The last presiday. I also got married last year, so that balances that (being right) out.” The crowd dent was a big spender. This one’s even again laughed heartily. spending more” money. “Historically, this
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8 —December 2011 - Asheville Daily Planet The Heart of Downtown Asheville...
Marc Hunt
Chris Pelly
Jan Davis
Hunt, Pelly win easily; Davis triumphs in nailbiter for 3rd seat on Asheville’s council
Davis is a two-term councilman and former vice mayor. The Asheville CitizenTimes had endorsed the three eventual winners in an editorial. However, Hunt, Pelly and Gray ran on a progres-
From Staff Reports Liberal newcomers Marc Hunt and Chris Pelly finished first and second to easily win seats on Asheville City Council, while incumbent Jan Davis barely edged challenger Lael Gray for the last of three seats up for election Nov. 8 by less than 0.1 percent — or 35 votes. Hunt collected 8,760 votes, followed by Pelly, 8,202 votes, and Davis, 7,701 votes. Gray, who netted 7,666 votes, narrowly lost. She was granted her request for a recount, but still did not have enough votes to top Davis. Gray said she owed it to herself and to the people who supported her to seek the recount. The Buncombe County Board of Elections sifted through more than 200 provisional ballots, with the result slightly cutting into Davis’ earlier and unofficial margin of 40 votes. The recount showed Davis lost one vote and Grayson lost two votes. Finishing fifth was the lone Republican in the race, Mark Cates, with 5,263 votes, followed by Saul Chase, 1,762 votes. Hunt is a former chairman of the city Greenway Commission, Pelly is neighborhood activist and president of the Haw Creek Community Association, while Jan Davis owns a tire store downtown.
sive ticket together. Gray, a Montford community activist, is employed by the Asheville Jewish Community Center as the program and marketing director. Cates is an engineer and an entrepreneur who lives in North Asheville. His platform focused on job creation. Chase served as a member of Boone Town Council for eight years, when he lived in Boone, his previous home. Chase emphasized infrastructure improvements in his platform, especially repairing and building sidewalks.
From Staff Reports The controversial Buncombe County sales-tax referendum passed narrowly 16,874 to 16,371 on Nov. 8, according to the official results. The 25 cents per $100 value sales tax boost was sought to finance infrastructure improvements at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College. Fewer than 20 percent of the county’s registered voters turned out, as opponentss accused the referendum’s proponents of slipping the tax through in a rare off-year election when most Buncombe residents, who tend to vote fiscally conservatively, are not used to going to the polls. The Asheville precinct results rolled in with city residents supporting the tax increase by a 10- to 12-percent margin. Earlier in 2011, the Buncombe Board of Commissioners unanimously approved placing the referendum on the ballot and backed a resolution promising to use the sales-tax funds exclusively for capital improvements at A-B Tech. The $6 million to $7 million a year the tax is expected to generate is badly needed to serve a growing enrollment by funding the construction of new buildings and infrastructure improvements of some old buildings, referendum proponents claimed.
Meanwhile, Robert Malt, who served as executive director of the Sales Tax Opposition Partnership, which waged a grassroots campaign to defeat the sales tax, termed the pro-salestax committee’s fundraising as “unethical.” Robert Malt He also called reporters for the Asheville Citizen-Times as “propagandists.” (Malt is a former chairman of the Buncombe County Republican Party.) He said STOP put up a good fight, raising slightly more than $2,000, while the pro-tax supporters rasied more than $140,000. Malt’s group now is considering a petition drive to force an appeal referendum next year. The petition would need at least 16,000 signatures. In addition, Buncombe Forward, another group that Malt launched, is working on defeating the current commissioners in next year’s election.
Lael Gray
Referendum to increase sales tax wins narrowly, but foes plotting a reversal
10 - December 2011 - Asheville Daily Planet
Photo courtesy of Audrey Goforth
Asheville Daily Planet — December 2011 - 9
Leave postal facility in city, public pleads during hearing From Staff Reports Giving new meaning to the phrase “going postal,” a rowdy audience of about 250 people — a number of whom were postal employees — turned out for a highly emotional public hearing on the proposed closing of the Area Mail Processing facility in Asheville on Nov. 21 in A-B Tech’s Ferguson Auditorium. Under a plan being considered by the United States Postal Service, Asheville AMP operations would be consolidated into a facility 63 miles away in Greenville, S.C., in a move that would eliminate about 20 jobs and relocate 180 employees. It also would slow down the area’s mail delivery. When a poll was conducted during the hearing, asking who in the crowd thought moving the mail facility to Greenville was a good idea, no hands were raised. Postal officials at the hearing said the consolidation would save the USPS much money each year. However, the audience was less than impressed and questioned the figures and logic of the postal officials. The postal officials noted that the USPS is in the process of studying the possible closure of more than half of its mail processing plants – 252 out of 487 in the nation – in an effort to radically realign its network, a move that would also “realign” its delivery standards. As officials stated, mail that today takes a day to deliver would — once realigned — take two to three days to deliver. Mail that today takes two days to deliver, would take three to four days to deliver, and so on. A postal official asked the crowd to be polite so that the hearing could proceed quickly, as they had to be out of the auditorium in 90 minutes. As the crowd booed that announcement, one man yelled, “Who made that plan?” and another asserted, “Thank you, Obama!”
Prostesters
Continued from Page 1 The second speaker, Ken Brame of the Sierra Club said he would be focusing his brief talk on the need for much more wind energy in North Carolina. Brame said North Carolina should be the East Coast’s leader in the wind energy movement because the Tar Heel state juts further east into the Atlantic Ocean than any other, giving it an advantage to harness ocean’s winds. “We could economically build a lot of windmills offshore, where no one could see them to complain” about, he said. With wind, “We could very easily have 20 percent of North Carolina’s energy generation in 10 years, if we move now. The first state (on the East Coast) that does this will get the (spinoff) jobs. All those construction jobs will go where wind farms are started” first. Besides construction jobs, Brame said windmill-makers and related suppliers and services would be likely to locate wherever that industry first develops on the coast. “North Carolina needs to set up a bidding process, where companies would competitively bid for the work ... Duke Energy could be required (by the state) to purchase the energy from the windmills ... We’ve got to stop global warming.” Brame finished by urging the crowd to “join me in contacting our legislators” to urge them to pass Senate Bill 747 now. (SB 747 is also known as the Offshore Wind Jobs and Economic Development Act. The third and final speaker, Steve Norris, a professor of peace studies and environmental justice at nearby Warren Wilson
In addition to introducing the postal officials present, local dignitaries were recognized, including Cecil Bothwell, a member of Asheville City Council and a congressional hopeful; David Gantt, chairman of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners; Drew Reisinger, Buncombe register of the deeds; Holly Jones, a county commissioner; Boyce T. Dietz, a staff member representing U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler, D-Waynesville, and Terry Bellamy, Asheville’s mayor. Also, postal union officials were recognized. When postal employees at the meeting were asked to stand up during the meeting, about one-third of the audience arose. After a brief presentation by postal officials, who explained the reasoning behind the proposed merger, a 55-minute hearing was held. The “radical network realignment” with the USPS. In Asheville, the mail processing machines are being run eight to 10 hours per day, while they orginally were intended to be used 20 hours
daily. What’s more, postal officials noted that USPS has suffered a reduction in mail volume, particularly first-class mail volume. From 2006, when USPS had its highest volume, the mail volume has slumped by 20 percent in 2010. “So did our economy!” a man in the crowd shouted. Officials added that by 2020, they are expecting first-class volume to drop by 60 percent. With all mail for the Asheville area first shipped to Greenville for processing, as will be the case in other consolidations, the USPS said it will seek a two- to three-day (delivery) standard, rather than overnight, drawing boos from the crowd. Undeterred, a postal official said that, at present, many Asheville delivery trucks are half-full, which is a big problem, as transportation is USPS’ biggest expense after payroll. Asheville resident Beverly Switzer said during the hearing that she was trying to understand how sending mail from
Asheville to South Carolina would make things more efficient since it would take longer for one of her letters to make it across town. Switzer said she could not understand it because the USPS’ concept of efficient is quite different from that of the general public. Another speaker at the hearing, Jonathan Dudley, said that closing mail facilities — such as Asheville’s — would accelerate the demise of the USPS, not prevent it. Dudley added, “You guys are pursuing a plan that’s going to shoot yourself in the foot.” Jake Reess, a retired postal worker, said that it would be better for the USPS to concentrate on building up its business rather than driving customers away with longer delivery times. Postal officials in Washington have said that if proposed closings, like the one in Asheville, receive enough opposition, they will not close them. Meanwhile, NALC President Fred Rolando announced in late November that 800,000 signatures have been collected so far in an effort to convince Congress to retain six day’s of mail delivery. The goal is 1 million by the end of the year. In urging postal workers to attend the hearing, the postal union stated, “Nationwide, the facilities that have come off the closure list after these community meetings have been in areas where there has been overwhelming public input and support [for keeping them open]. If there is ever a time for Western North Carolina community and Labor to come together to stop an action that will be detrimental to all of our citizens, it is now.” The union officials also noted, “Cuts of any kind (big or small) are cutbacks in service! Are the citizens of Western North Carolina willing to give up service, or are they willing to stand up and fight to retain it? That is the question that will be answered within the next few weeks! “
College, said both RBC Bank and BofA are major investors in the fossil fuel industry, with RBC also serving as the chief financier of the Keystone pipeline project. President Barack Obama recently put the plan on hold for a review, after a major protest rally was held around the White House. Norris said that, “if we put $25 billion in wind power, we can power all of the homes in North Carolina,” with enough energy left to also power a number of homes in surrounding states. “Right now, North Carolina spends $2.35 billion per year to go out of state to pay for coal to generally pollute” the environment and propel global warming. “That’s why we’re marching to RBC and Bank of Amerca — to ask them to change their policies and invest in clean energy. It’ll be profitable for them” and bring about a cleaner environment for everyone. As the protesters lined up, Amber Lee Williams, who led the march, said they would proceed first to RBC, the more distant of the two banks from Pritchard Park, and then finish up at BofA. During the march to RBC Bank, the chants included the following: • “RBC funds tar-sand oil get those banksters off our soil!” • “What do we want? Clean Energy! When do we want it? Now!” Upon arrival at RBC, a skit was performed between a man dressed as a rich — and evil — banker, and a woman clad as Santa Claus. Eventually, Santa asked the banker if he would be willing to do the right thing and shift the bank’s support from fossil fuels to clean energy.
“What would my directors say?” he replied, in mock fright. “You’ll get a lump of coal in your stocking” for Christmas, Santa replied, as the crowd laughed. A letter was then read, with the crowd repeating in unison every line, as is the Occupy movement’s style. “We welcome the RBC as a guest in our community and would like to invite you to finance clean energy.” The letter to RBC contended that,“if RBC instead of investing the $17 billion currently to fund fossil fuel” invested in wind energy, North Carolina could generate more than enough electricity to power all 4.3 million of its homes. After reading the letter, a protest leader said she would take it into the bank and deliver it to RBC officials. However, the bank door was locked, even though a sign on the door clearly stated that the bank is open at mid-afternoon. Undeterred, the woman said she would just leave it on the bank’s doorstep — and she taped the envelope holding the letter to the door. “OK. Thanks, RBC! Talk to you real soon!” she said. The crowd cheered, as it next turned its sights on BofA. During the march to BofA, the protesters chanted the following: • “Hey, hey, ho, ho, this dirty coal has got to go!” • “Our children get sicker, their pockets get thicker.” At BofA, a mock windmill was set up in the grass outside the bank. There, an unidentified protest leader told the crowd, “This bank, Bank of America, is the enemy of an international movement.”
He lambasted the bank for putting profits above people by investing in fossil fuel industries. He added that BofA is laying off 30,000 of its employees soon “to increase its own profit.” After a pause, he said, “Switch the balance of funding to renewable energy projects.” In response to BofA’s policies, the man noted that, in October, “650,000 fellow Americans moved their accounts out of” the bank. As Amber Lee Williams and Steve Norris stood near the mock windmill on BofA property, an Asheville police officer told them they needed to move back to the sidewalk. They refused and then were told they were under arrest. The two protesters then quickly pulled out chains with locks — and chained themselves to the windmill. Just as quickly, and with smiles, the Asheville police officers brought out a chain-cutter and soon escorted the pair to a patrol car. The other arrests soon followed, all for standing in the grassy area outside of BofA’s entrance. During the BofA protest, a contingent of APD officers and a bank security guard stood between the bank and the crowd. Several curious bank officers peered from the safety of BofA’s foyer at the crowd. Meanwhile, Jesse Martin of Charlotte stood alone, facing the bank and holding a “Stop bankrolling coal” banner. ADP officers and the bank security guard stood nearby, warily. Martin told the Daily Planet that he would stay there until “my arms give out.”
Daily Planet Staff Photo
Commissioners’Chairman David Gantt asks tfor a show of hands from the crowd to indicate opposition to consolidating Asheville’s mail processing facility into one in Greenville, S.C.
Asheville Daily Planet
— December 2011 — 9
10 - December 2011 - Asheville Daily Planet
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Calendar
Send us your calendar items
Please submit items to the Calendar of Events by noon on the third Wednesday of each month, via e-mail, at calendar@ashevilledailyplanet. com, or fax to 252-6567, or mail c/o The Daily Planet, P.O. Box 8490, Asheville, N.C. 288148490. Submissions will be accepted and printed at the discretion of the editor, space permitting. To place an ad for an event, call 252-6565.
Friday, Dec. 2
SEX WORKER SUMMIT, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Haywood Street Congretation, 297 Haywood St., Asheville. A group of Southern nonprofits will hold a Sex Worker Summit to discuss issues affecting sex workers of male, female and transgender experience and the communities in which they live. The summit will draw nonprofits, academics, law enforcement and advocates serving sex workers — people who exchange sex for money or other favors — as well as victims of sexual violence, abuse and social marginalization. The purpose is to address the issues and to look for viable solutions. The summit is hosted by N.C. Harm Reducation Coalition, Our Voice, With With a Vision and Helping Individual Prostitutes Survive. HUMANITIES LECTURE, 11:25 a.m., Lipinsky Auditorium, UNC Asheville. A lecture on “The Modern World and Music” will be presented by Melodie Galloway, assistant professor of music. Admission is free and open to the public. HUMANITIES LECTURE, 11:25 a.m., Humanities Lecture Hall, UNC Asheville. A lecture on “Global Challenges and Future Prospects” will be presented by William Spellman, professor of history and executive director of COPLAC. Admission is free and open to the public. “WINTERFEST,” 4 p.m., Arden Presbyterian Church, Arden. “Winterfest: Songs for the Season”will be presented by the Asheville Choral
Garrison Keiller (in suit at right foreground) and his “Prairie Home Companion radio show will perform at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Peace Center in Greenville, S.C. Above is a performance of Dusty and Lefty, Society. HENDERSONVILLE TREE LIGHTING, 5-7 p.m., historic courthouse, downtown Hendersonville. The annual Four Seasons’ Tree of Lights ceremony will honor loved one with luminaries displaying their names. DOWNTOWN ART WALK, 5-8 p.m., downtown Asheville. The Downtown Art Walk will be held, featuring more than two dozen galleries. FLETCHER TREE LIGHTING, 4:30 p.m., Fletcher Community Park, Fletcher. The annual Fletcher tree-lightingceremony willbeheld.Attendeesare asked to bring a nonperishable food donation. FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS, 6-9 p.m., Lake Julian, Asheville. The annual festival of Lights will offer a drive-through lightshow with thousands of lights and more than 40 light displays through Dec. 18. Admission is $5 per car, $15 per 15-passenger van and $20 per bus. CHRISTMAS SHOW, 7 p.m., Biltmore Baptist Church, 35 Clayton Rd., Arden. The annual
in a weekly skit “The Lives of the Cowboys.” Keillor plays Dusty, a cowboy poet, while Tim Russell (left foreground) plays the crusty Lefty.
“Carolina Mountain Christmas Spectacular” will be presented through Dec. 4. The show also will be presented at 3 p.m. Dec. 3-4. CHRISTMAS CONCERT, 7:30 p.m., Moore Auditorium, Mars Hill College, Mars Hill. The annual MHC Christmas Concert will feature the Mars Hill College Wind Symphony, conducted by Michael Robinson, and the College Choir and Chamber Singers, conducted by Dr. Joel Reed. The event is free and open to the public.
Saturday, Dec. 3
HOLIDAY PARADE, 10:30 a.m., Five Points to Caswell Street, Hendersonvlle. The annual Hendersonville holiday parade will be held. HOLIDAY BAZAAR, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, 36 Montford Ave., Asheville. The ninth annual Holiday Bazaar will be held on the site of the farmers market, outside the chamber of commerce office. The event allows shoppers to support local farmers and
artisans as they celebrate the holidays. CHRISTMAS ON THE FARM, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Historic Johnson Farm, 3346 Haywood Rd., Hendersonville. The annual Christmas at the Farm festival will be held at the Historic Johnson Farm. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for students and children and free for preschoolers. The all-ages event features wagon rides, a Christmas wreath walk to the farmhouse, a tour of the 1880s farmhouse and 1923 boardinghouse decored for the season, live music, bake sale, animals and additional children’s activities. Hot dogs will be for sale for lunch. “POLAR EXPRESS” EVENT, 11:45 a.m.-noon, Historic Train Depot, Hendersonville. ImmediatelyfollowingtheHendersonvilleholidayparade, a reading of the “Polar Express” story will feature a live conductor, Santa Claus and refreshments. Children may attend in pajamas. The program is for those up to age 12.
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Saturday, Dec. 3
HOLIDAY PARADE, 1 p.m., North Main Street to Dula Springs Road, Weaverville. The annual Weaverville holiday parade will be held. BLUES DANCING LESSONS, 1-5 p.m., Fred’s Speakeasy South (aka Shifters/Sports Zone), 2310 Hendersonville Rd., Arden. Evin and Noah Galang will instruct three one-hour classes in blues dancing for $25. The lessons are being sponsored by Midnight Blues of Asheville. CHRISTMAS PARADE, 4 p.m., downtown Black Mountain. The annual Black MountainSwannanoa Christmas Parade will be held, featuring Santa Claus. VANCE BIRTHPLACE CHRISTMAS TOURS, 4-7 p.m., Reems Creek Road, Weaverville. Vance Birthplace will celebrate the season with guided candlelight tours of an 1830s Christmas. CIRCLE OF LIGHTS, 5 p.m., Lake Tomahawk, Black Mountain. The Circle of Lights will begin immediately after the 4 p.m. Christmas parade, featuring luminaries lining the lake, refreshments a visit by Santa Claus, carolers from local churches and Christmas music. SQUARE DANCE, 6-8 p.m., Whitmire Activity Center, Lily Pond Road, Hendersonville. A square dance will be held. Attendees are asked to bring a toy donation. The gala is being hosted by the Southern Lights Square Dance Club. CONCERT, 7 p.m., Upper Anderson Auditorium, Montreat Conference Center, Montreat.The Christimas in Appalachia fundraising concert will be held to benefit the summer Shindig on the Green concerts in Asheville. The concert will feature The Cockman Family, AppalachiaSong and clogging and buck dancing demonstrations. For tickets, which are $20 for adults, $10 for ages 12 and younger, call Judy Miller at 685-8313.
Sunday, Dec. 4
JINGLEFEST GALA, 2-5 p.m., Roger McGuire Green, Pack Square Park, downtown Asheville. JingleFest, hosted by the Asheville Downtown Assocation, will feature carnival-style games, winter-themed competitions, caroling, hot cider and other refreshments. Several of the dance teams from the Asheville Holiday Parade will be doing encore performances as dancing reindeer. There also will be a build-a-snowman competition. Santa Claus will arrive about 3 p.m. and pose for photos. CONCERT, 3 p.m., Kittredge Theater, Warren Wilson College, Swannanoa. “A Concert of World Music and Dance,” a display of music and culture from Africa and Souheast Asia, will be held. The concert is free and open to the public. CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERT, 3 p.m. St. Matthias Church, 1 Dundee St., Asheville. Musike Antiqua ill perform a concert of early music, featuring instruments and costumes of the Renaissance period. The ensemble will present a concert of Christmas carols, old and new, from Europe and North America. CHRISTMAS CONCERT, 3 p.m., Conference Hall, Blue Ridge Community College, East Flat Rock. The Hendersonville Community Band will present its annual Christmas concert. Admission is $10 for adults and free for students. HOLIDAY CONCERT, 3-5 p.m., Bardo Arts Center, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee. The “Sounds of the Season” concert will be performed. HOLIDAY CONCERT, 4 p.m., Lipinsky Auditorium, UNC Asheville. A concert featuring holiday music will be presented by UNCA’s Percussion Ensbemble and Wind Ensemble, with a pre-show performance by the Brass Quintet. Admission is $5 at the door for the general public and free for students and children. ENGLISH COUNTRY DANCE, 4:30-7 p.m., Homewood Event and Conference Center, 19 Zillicoa St., Asheville. An English country dance will be held. A partner is not necessary. Admission is $6. CHRISTMAS CONCERT, 5 p.m., Hazelwood Baptist Church, Waynesville. The Smoky Mountain Brass Band will perform in the annual Christmas concert. Admission is free and open to the public. A free-will offering will be collected for local charities and the band.
Monday, Dec. 5
HUMANITIES LECTURE, 11:25 a.m., Lipinsky Auditorium, UNC Asheville. A lecture on “Where
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W In the spirit of the Christmas season, the Moscow Ballet will perform the “Great Russian Nutcracker” at 7:30 p.m. Have We Been? Where Are We? Where Are We Going. The Ebb and Flow of Empires” will be presented by Ann Dunn, humanities lecturer. Admission is free and open to the public. HUMANITIES LECTURE, 11:25 a.m., Humanities Lecture Hall, UNC Asheville. A lecture on “Art of the Classical World” will be presented by Alan Hantz, professor of mass communication. Admission is free and open to the public. GARRISON KEILLOR SHOW, 7:30 p.m., Peace Center, downtown Greenville, S.C. Garrison Keillor’s “A Prairie Home Companion” show will be performed in Greenville. For tickets, call (800) 888-7768. WEST COAST SWING CLASSES, 7:30 and 8 p.m., The Hangar, Clarion Hotel, Fletcher. Free beginners’ lessons for West Coast Swing will be held at 7:30, followed by intermediate lessons at 8 every Monday. The lessons are free. After the lessons, an open dance will be held. CONTRA DANCE, 8 p.m., Bryson Gym, Warren Wilson College, Swannanoa. A contra dance is held weekly, preceded by beginner’s lessons at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $6.
Tuesday, Dec. 6
HEAD START HOLIDAY PARTY, 10:30 a.m.1:30 p.m., Alumni Hall, Highsmith University Union, UNC Asheville. UNCA will host its annual Head Start Holiday Party. Donated gifts are already wrapped and individually labeled for the 108 preschoolers in Pisgah View and Barnardsville Head Start centers who are expected to attend. Entertainers from UNCA will perform. TANGO LESSON/DANCE, 6 p.m., The Boiler Room, Grove House Entertainment Complex, 11 Grove St., downtown Asheville. Tango lessons will precede a dance. WINTER WEATHER PREDICTION, 6 p.m., Ferguson Auditorium, A-B Tech, Asheville. Tom Ross, a retired National Climatic Data Center meteorologist, will give his long-range winter forecast for the region. The seminar is free. HOLIDAY PARADE, 6 p.m., downtown Waynesville. The annual Waynesville holiday parade will be held. SWING LESSON/DANCE, 6:30 p.m., Club Eleven, Grove House Entertainment Complex, 11 Grove St., downtown Asheville. A lesson will be followed by a dance, with live music. EVENING LIGHTING TOUR, 7-9 p.m., Pack’s Tavern, 20 S. Spruce St., downtown Asheville. Local lighting authority Bernie Arghiere and the Western North Carolina Alliance will lead an Evening Lighting Tour of Asheville. They will highlight examples of good and bad lighting
son that we are firm-
Dec. 19 in the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium at the Asheville Civic Center in downtown Asheville.
around the city. The focus will be on Asheville’s lighting ordinance and Buncombe County’s efforts to bring about a similar code. The tour will take about 90 minutes and will return to Pack’s Tavern at its conclusion. A suggested donation of $10 will be sought. COIN CLUB MEETING, 7:30 p.m., American Legion Post 77, 216 4th Ave. West, downtown Hendersonville.The Hendersonville Coin Club will hold elections and discuss coin trivia. Attendees are asked to bring a coin to donate to the club auction. CHRISTMAS CONCERT, 7:30 p.m., Porter Center for Performing Arts, Brevard College, Brevard. The Brevard Christmas Concert will be held. LECTURE, 7:30 p.m., Manheimer Room, Reuter Center, UNC Asheville. James Larocco will address “The Arab Spring: Is It Summer (or Winter) Yet and Why Does It Matter?” He is the director of the Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies. The program is free to members of the World Affairs Council of Western North Carolina, joint NCCR-WAC-WNC members and full-time UNCA students. Admission is $8 for all others.
Thursday, Dec. 8
TEA TIME SOCIAL, 6 p.m., Ryan’s Family Steak House, 1000 Brevard Rd., Asheville. The Asheville Tea Party will hold its weekly Tea Time Social. All interested are invited to attend. SHAG DANCE, 7-11 p.m., Shifters, 2310 Hendersonville Rd., Arden. The Mountain Shag Club will offer free shag dancing lessons with a DJ. Admission is $5.
Saturday, Dec. 10
Wednesday, Dec. 7
CONTRA DANCE, 8 p.m., Bryson Gym, Warren Wilson College, Swannanoa. A contra dance is held weekly, preceded by beginner’s lessons at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $6.
Friday, Dec. 9
CHRISTMAS SHOW, 7:30 p.m., Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee.The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra and the Pied Pipers will perform “A Christmas Gift.” The holiday show is filled with song classics from the World War II era and other holiday favorites performed in the style and tradition of the big-band era. For tickets. at $20 for adults and seniors, $15 for faculty and staff, $10 for groups of 20 or more and $5 for children and students, call 227-2479. CHRISTMAS CONCERT, 8 p.m., Jubilee!, 46 Wall St., downtown Asheville. Guitarists Ed Gerhard and Bill Mize will perform during the 18th annual Christmas concert. Tickets, which are $20, are available at Jubilee! or Malaprop’s on Haywood Street.
HOLIDAY PARADE, 10:30 a.m., along U.S. 25, Fletcher. The annual Fletcher holiday parade will be held.
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Thursday, Jan. 12
“GREAT QUOTES” PROGRAM, 7-9 p.m., Smoky Mountain Auditorium, Lake Pointe Landing, Hendersonville. The speaker will be Fred Hoffstadt and his quote (of Ayn Rand) is: “I swear — by my live and my love of it — that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine.” He will explain the quote, including its background, and will suggest how it could apply to one’s life. A donation will be requested.
The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra and the Pied Pipers will perform“A Christmas Gift”show at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 9 at the Bardo Fine and performing Arts Center at WCU in Cullowhee.
14 —December 2011 - Asheville Daily Planet
WNC brimming with untapped potential, panelists agree
First in a series of two stories By JOHN NORTH A panel discussed ways that the private sector and the state General Assembly could drive growth during the third annual AdvantageWest Economic Summit on Nov. 14 in Diana Wortham Theatre at Pack Place in downtown Asheville. More than 300 people, including an array of entrepreneurs, investors, economic developers, elected officials and others from the region’s 24 counties, attended the 80-minute summit. The panel discussion was preceded by a networking reception, featuring heavy hors d’oeuvres and wine. Panelists included state Sen. Tom Apodaca, R-Hendersonville, chairman of the N.C. Senate Rules Committee; state Sen. Martin Nesbitt, D-Asheville, the Senate minority leader; John W. Bardo, former chancellor of Western Carolina University; and Larry Blythe, vice chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. For a third consecutive year, the moderator was D.G. Martin, a newspaper columnist (whose work appears in the Daily Planet) and UNC-TV host. “It’s good to be here ... in eastern Western North Carolina,” Martin quipped, noting that some of the attendees from the far western part of the region would not let him get away with merely referring to Asheville as being in WNC. Martin asserted that “We’re looking for some help tonight” and also examining the overall economic health of the region and issues “particularly important” to WNC. The moderator noted that Bardo, who recently retired as WCU’s chancellor last summer and is now doing a year of research before rejoining the WCU faculty as a professor, has been studying the business
environment in the region. Bardo began by noting that he has been examining the mantra that “we need to create more college grads if we’re to be competitive in the market.” He added, “It doesn’t mean everybody should go out and get a (college) degree.” To that end, Bardo said he is looking at all 50 states, comparing how productive each one is, relative to the others, and other factors, such as how per-capita income impacts the jobless rate. He listed what he termed four “key elements,” including business innovation, academic innovation, structure of the population and tuition discount. On structure of the population, Bardo said the numbers indicate that college populations, where women, minorities and others predominate, tend not to do as well as those with more traditional population structures. Regarding tuition discount, he said the data shows that to the degree the students at a college receive financial aid, “they tend not to do well” compared to student populations that do not require financial aid. Bardo noted that a major asset of WNC is that it crossed by a growth hub stretching from Knightdale (east of Raleigh) to Atlanta. “Western North Carolina is right along that hub,” he said. “The potential in this area is huge — as good (in WNC) as in Charlotte or Raleigh. Further, Bardo said, “The I-26 corridor defines the eonomic center for the part of the state. He said the I-26 corridor stretches from North Asheville to SpartanburgGreenville (S.C.). Along the corridor, business is booming and unemployment is lower than in other areas, he noted. Even better, he said, “We’re not the Ha-
waiian Islands. There’s something beyond our borders” besides ocean. However, Bardo said WNC is not growing as it should because the state has been reluctant — for some inexplicable reason — to invest in the region. “It’s not a partisan question,” he said. “The General Assembly is (just) not investing in Western North Carolina.” Another panelist, Nesbitt, said, “Well, he’s opened up subjects we could talk about for the next hour.” He added that WNC lacks “certains assets,” especially when compared to the Research Triangle.” Also, “We’re never going to have a major airport.” Nesbitt quickly added that Asheville Regional Airport “is a good airport, but it’s never going to be what big corporations want.” Nonetheless, he said, “We’ve got to invest in what our people do.” For instance, in the 1980s and ‘90s, “we built on agriculture,” such as farmers markets. Now, “we’re No. 2 in the nation in Christmas trees. Thirty years ago, we didn’t have any Christmas trees” in WNC. “All of the things Dr. Bardo talked about work off of brain power. If everyone in the room got another year of education,” they would be more prosperous. In a jab at the GOP-controlled legislature, Nesbitt said, “In the last year, we took a step backward in education ... We cut the budget of community colleges by 10 percent this year ... Thank goodness we were able to get in the quarter-center sales tax” to fund infrastructure improvements at A-B Tech. He termed A-B Tech chief Hank Dunn as “one of my all-time heroes.” As for venture capital coming into WNC, Nesbitt noted, “I don’t know ... They’d just rather go to Research Triangle Park,
where they can ‘cherry-pick’” locations. Next, Apodaca said, “I think the majority of community colleges in the state are doing a real good job. Ultimately, I personally feel our community colleges are our most vital tool in our area” to build the John W. Bardo economy and jobs. He spoke of the state’s economy as a “three-legged” stool, which includes textiles, tobacco and furniture. To that end, he said that “companies that are 10 to 50, or 50 to 100 employees, are perfect for us” in WNC. “I think we’ve got to nurture our entrepreneurial spirit.” For instance, he suggested offering a $50,000 tax credit on the first portion of income for small businesses. Martin noted that in his hometown of Chapel Hill, “this cadre of intellectuals, when you ask them where they want to live, it’s in Asheville ... It’s in the mountains.” He asked the panelists to comment on the region’s appeal. “If you look at what’s going on around the United States, big businesses aren’t what’s growing — it’s small businesses,” Bardo said. “We need to build support systems for small business. Also, North Carolina can’t have just the Research Triangle doing great. It all needs to rise.”
Robinson then presented what he termed “the five facts” he learned from his work, including: • Capital punishment is extremely rare. He said only about 1 percent of convicted murderers got the death penalty. • Murder has fallen, even as the death penalty has become more rare, which is the opposite of what would be expected. • The studies consistantly show that the capital punishment process costs more than other sentences. • Eighty-eight percent of death penalty experts do not think the death penalty is a deterrent. • Innocent people are wrongly convicted of murder and are, therefore, unfairly executed under the death penalty. In summarizing the meaning of the research he studied, Robinson said, “The death penalty, as practiced, does not achieve its goals. He said the supposed positives from the death penalty — general deterrence (crime prevention through fear) and retribution (justice/closure) — are dwarfed by the negatives, including the “huge costs,” racial bias, wrongful convictions and other considerations. “So what should lawmakers do with this failed policy?” Robinson asked the crowd. “Kill it!” one young man yelled, triggering laughter from Robinson and those in attendance. Earlier, he noted that executions stopped in 2006 in North Carolina, even though the state — traditionally — has been in the top 10 in the nation in capital punishment. Fifty-two government jurisdiction in the
U.S. still have the death penalty, including 34 states, the federal government and the military, while 17 jurisdictions (16 states and the District of Columbia) do not have the death penalty. In examining statistics nationally, Robinson said, “In the Bible Belt, that’s where the death penalty is.” He then quipped, “We have to kill people.” What’s more, he noted, “States that have the most executions are also the same with the most lynchings,” historically. “Texas really stands out.” To that end, he said nine counties in Texas, led by Houston, are in the top 15 in executions in the U.S. He added, “The findings, the facts, given the rarity of the death penalty, executions are not a great deterrence ... No studies from North Carolina find evidence of deterrence. Who’s going to be afraid of a 0.2 percent chance of being executed?” While the murder rates has declined everywhere in recent years, the states that continued to have the death penalty have a higher murder rate, Robinson said. In 2000, he noted, North Carolina had one of the highest murder rates in the U.S., but, by 2000, the state had dropped to the 18th highest murder rate. “This raises the possibility that the death penalty makes the murder rate go up ... It’s called brutalization ... Maybe as we’ve gotten away from the death penalty, we’ve became less brutal.” Further, he said, “It’s illogical to think that the death penalty serves as a deterrence.” The costs of executions, including the legal process, are three to five times higher than other sentences, Robinson emphasized.
Expert terms death penalty costly, counterproductive From Staff Reports The data shows that the death penalty has not worked and should be repealed, Dr. Matthew B. Robinson told an audience of about 80 people Nov. 29 in the Grotto at UNC Asheville’s Highsmith University Union. Robinson, a professor of government and justice at Appalachian State University, is the author of “Death Nation.” His UNCA address was titled “North Carolina’s Real Death Penalty: A Summary of the Data and Scientific Studies With Commentary on Capital Punishment in the U.S.” The program included his presentation and a question-and-answer session. At the end of his talk, Robinson urged those in attendance who agreed with his assessment to call and e-mail Gov. Bev Perdue to veto what he termed the state’s flaweed 2009 Racial Justice Act. Robinson began his presentation by giving examples of facts and opinions. Two opinions he cited included the following: • “People who commit murder deserve to die; by killing another human being, you sacrifice your right to life. • “The state has no right to kill a murderer; executing a murderer is the same as murder.” In turning to facts, he stated, “The House and Senate in North Carolina just voted (earlier Nov. 29) to repeal the state’s Racial Justice Act.” Robinson told his audience that he would be focusing “just on facts” during his presentation. He then noted that, “of the 24 confirmed murderers in the Bible, even there,” only 18
Matthew B. Robinson percent got the death penalty. The professor-author said questions that need answering include: • “Does the death penalty achieve its goals? • “Do the benefits of the death penalty outweigh the costs?” If the answer is “yes” on each of the aforementioned question, then it would be “considered good policy.” In his research, Robinson said he examined publicly available data on murders, arrests, convictions, death sentences, death row and executions in North Carolina history. He also said he summarized every study on capital punishment case in contemporary North Carolina, through early 2011.
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property for Americans is the dollar Asheville Daily Planet — December 2011 — 15
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Daily Planet’s Opinion
School suppers from Uncle Sam? For many years, American school districts have offered free lunches — subsidized by taxpayers — for students from poor families. The program was later expanded to include free breakfasts for the same set of students. In recent years, some school districts are adding — alarmingly — free after-school dinners for disadvantaged children. To that end, The Memphis Commercial Appeal recently reported: “As part of Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids legislation passed in 2010, the federal government is now in the supper business, budgeting $641 million over 10 years to make sure children in the nation’s ever-growing poor pockets get one more balanced meal a day.”
While nobody wants anyone to starve or go hungry, particularly youngsters, and we understand the severity of the current hard times, we wonder about parents of the aforementioned children who cannot be depended upon to provide their children with even one meal daily. Whatever happened to parental responsibility, including raising, feeding and clothing them? Given current trends, we would not be surprised, at some point, if the parents just hand their children over to Uncle Sam permanently to serve as a surrogate parent because they cannot — or won’t — provide anything to their offspring. The after-school supper program appears to be popular and, unfortunately, quite necessary.
Prime Minister Erskine Bowles? CHAPEL HILL — We are following in the footsteps of Greece and Italy. Just like them, we have lost control of our nation’s budget, and along with them, our economy is tanking. Just like them, we have a bunch of people who are hooked on government subsidies and unwilling to give up any part of them. We also have a bunch of people who have the resources to contribute much more, but who are, like the Greeks who are wealthy, unwilling to give up anything. Our country, like theirs, is headed for a train wreck. You hear this kind of talk, don’t you? Like Thelma and Louise, we seem to be headed for a cliff, more ready to ride out--and crash-than we are to grab the steering wheel or push our foot down on the brakes. Our two political parties have strong partisan and tactical commitments that preclude a cooperative and pragmatic approach to the budget emergency and the shattered economy. Both political parties have only enough power to keep the other one from taking charge. Thus, neither political group has enough power to govern. Meanwhile in Greece, where the budget emergency is greater than in our country, the warring politicians have organized a coalition government and picked a “technocrat,” one respected by everyone, to lead the government as prime minister. A similar approach in Italy resulted in the recruitment of a respected economic specialist to lead the government. The American political system is not designed to accommodate this sort of change in government leadership between elections. Our people elect the President, and there is no simple way for Congress to undo that decision. But, what if our system were more like the European parliamentary governments? What if our Congress could put in force a coalition government of “national unity” to meet the budget and economic emergencies? Who could they recruit to lead? Who has the expertise to develop a plan? And who has the skills to bring the different groups to the table and give up ground, at least temporarily, for their highest priorities, and, finally, someone who agrees that the budget and economic crisis require compromise and unity? Such skilled, non-partisan leaders are in short supply in Europe, and maybe even more
D.G. Martin so in the United States. Nevertheless, let us try to come up with some ideas and some names. First, we have to concede that the candidates ought to have some expertise in government, and even have some experience in partisan politics, but one in which he or she still has the respect of the opposition political party. So who are some candidates? First consider Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City. Although he is a Republican, he has shown an ability to bring people of different political persuasions to work on commons tasks in New York City. Or consider Warren Buffett. Maybe he is too old to take on such an assignment. But he has proven time and time again an ability to understand the importance of good financial planning and discipline for the success of businesses. He has been active in the debate of several important political questions Even though he is very wealthy, he has shown a willingness to promote some tax increases on the rich. But my candidate for “prime minister” of the United States is Erskine Bowles. Bowles has demonstrated an understanding of the importance of finding a painful solution to the budget situation in the United States. As representative of President Clinton in the discussions with Congress, he has already proved an amazing ability to bring about workable solutions to budget making challenges. His pragmatic approach to the challenges of administration and leadership of the UNC system is just one more indication that he is a someone you ask to take on the toughest assignments. You might disagree for one reason or another, but I think Prime Minister Bowles sounds pretty good. • D.G. Martin hosts UNC-TV’s North Carolina Bookwatch, which airs at 9:30 p.m. Fridays and 5 p.m. Sundays. For more information or to view prior programs visit the webpage at www.unctv.
Letters to the Editor Tax opponents thanked; result called ‘not the end’
Many thanks to the volunteers and voters who realized that the so-called “Vote for AB-Tech” campaign was nothing more than a back door way for the Buncombe County Commissioners to borrow tens of millions of dollars without voter approval. As we all now know, no guarantee exists that the sales tax money will actually go to A-B Tech. The Sales Tax Opposition Partnership was outspent 50 to 1 by the pro-tax campaign. Additionally, a significant number of irregularities used by the pro-tax campaign are apparent and bear further investigation. Among these are the use of the A-B Tech student e-mail system to send students multiple biased messages; the use of computer equipment to broadcast biased messages via screen savers in multiple locations, including classrooms; the use of a clickthrough link on the A-B Tech’s main web page, leading directly to the tax campaign website; having some instructors present a pro-tax message to students during class time; intimidating and threatening employees who did not support the tax; encouraging the student government to give $10,000 from student funds to the political referendum committee funding the pro-tax campaign; and encouraging and accepting A-B Tech Foundation funds of $75,000 that were not pledged by donors to fund this political campaign. The tax campaign used buildings, equipment, phone systems, infrastructure and
utilities at AB-Tech. The tax campaign’s finance report shows no money paid to AB-Tech for use of facilities. We repeat: The tax campaign has NOT PAID for using AB-Tech as their base of operations. All of this goes to show that Buncombe County citizens’ hard-earned tax dollars were used to facilitate the passage of the tax hike. Do the county commissioners think that we taxpayers will continue to stand for this kind of unethical, if not illegal, behavior? If you ever doubted that a bona-fide grassroots effort can make a difference, please think again. Despite being outspent 50 to 1, the pro-tax campaign’s dirty campaigning, having the political class and mainstream media against us, and it being an off-year election cycle that effectively disenfranchised thousands of unincorporated Buncombe county voters, we came within less than ¾ of 1 percent of stopping this tax hike – by approximately 500 votes difference. More and more, people are waking up to the abuses being imposed upon them by a county government that is completely out of control. We urge readers of the Daily Planet to demand transparent and accountable government, beginning with full investigations into the misconduct by the county commissioners, the A-B Tech administration, and the A-B Tech Foundation Board of Directors with respect to this sales tax referendum. BETTY JACKSON and ROBERT MALT Buncombe Forward Asheville Continued on Page 17
The Candid Conservative
Centrists are con artists
One of the great political cons is the concept of the “centrist.” Per the dictionary, a centrist is one with moderate political views. What is that exactly? Is it someone who dodges decisions on what’s right or wrong or seeks the comfort of middle ground? Is it someone who doesn’t learn the issues well enough to take a position? A centrist is all of these things and one thing more – mediocre. If you can’t take a black or white position on an issue, you don’t understand the issue. Political and moral cowards infest the moderate middle because it’s safe there, not because there’s wisdom and reason there. There’s a difference between an extremist and a realist like there’s a difference in dumb and smart. Centrists play both ends and avoid the responsibility of a principled position. Such people advance themselves, but make lousy change agents. The middle of the road is deadly. Elephant candidates expose broken system Glenn Beck has a courage button. He used it recently in sharing the growing worry our next President will be our current president. Mr. Beck raises a fear of many conservative thinkers – the Republican Party’s products are inferior. Even to a point that someone so incompetent as PBO might be elected amidst the darkest economic conditions of the past 75 years. There’s really no other way to cut this cake – the Republican Party has been so long corrupted by power interests it seems incapable of producing real leaders. Opportunists, populists, and pretenders are coming out of our Elephant factory – not principled people of character and ability. The Republican Party needs to be retooled. Until it stands for something people can count on, it will
Carl Mumpower not be able to produce leaders we can count on. Donkeys dedicated to the promise of something for nothing stand ready to fill the void. A study in leadership contrast Peggy Noonan is one sharp conservative. Recently she did a piece in the Wall Street Journal titled, “The Divider vs. the Thinker.” It was a comparison between two leadership styles – that of Barrack Obama and Senator Paul Ryan. Obama, by actions and words, is a divider. He exploits differences, encourages victim thinking and supports entitlement dedications. That approach cultivates political mascots, not social maturity and unity. He uses emotion and rhetoric to market himself. Paul Ryan, in contrast, is a thinker. He listens, reads, and ponders solutions to market a plan. Ryan calls Obama out for exploiting fear, envy, and resentment as a replacement for his discredited hope and change fantasy. In contrast, Ryan calmly runs on principles and even his liberal opponents see it and respect him for it. Obama, well he’s about winning and protecting Obama – not America. History tells us which kind of man has the skills to turn things in the right direction. • Carl Mumpower, a former member of Asheville City Council, may be contacted at drmumpower@thecandidconservative.com
Continued from Page 12
Asheville Daily Planet —December 2011 — 17
Guest column
Interpretation termed fascinating but wrong about C.S. Lewis
In the November Daily Planet, Carl Mumpower devotes a big chunk of his column to C.S. Lewis and his “Screwtape Letters.” I found this fascinating. I have no doubt that Professor Lewis would have enjoyed a meal with Mumpower. Indeed, in his last years, Lewis was certainly a libertarian. But I don’t think the conversation would have gone exactly like Mumpower might have expected. I think Lewis would first have questioned the Mumpower-led rally that protested the topless event that took place before his rally. Let’s say Mumpower answered Lewis as he did at the time, saying that city leaders should be held accountable for allowing the topless rally. I think Lewis would have smiled — a sort of “what kind of libertarian is this?” smile. You see, Lewis once wrote that certain actions (he listed them) are “evil,” but he disapproved of government’s intervention.
“My own view,” he wrote, “is that the law should be concerned with none of them except adultery because it offends the principle that men perform their covenants [that is, keep their marriage vows as they would a contract].” In his column, Mumpower quotes only one sentence from Lewis: “Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive.” Mumpower seems to apply his quote to what he calls people “in today’s screwy social slide.” But for full understanding, it might be helpful for us to look at the sentence that immediately follows that one: “It would be better to live under robber bar-
ons than under omnipotent moral busybodies.” Lewis seems to mean something different from Mumpower’s interpretation. He seems to be saying he’d rather live under out-of-control capitalists (whom he disliked) than “moral busybodies.” An interesting phrase. Lewis didn’t see the socialism of the 1930s and 1940s — “Screwtape Letters” was published in 1942 — as a remedy for robber baron capitalism. Rather he distrusted both because they took away individual liberty. Oops, C.S. Lewis did I say “liberty”? Lewis and Mumpower would have had an interesting exchange on that
society’s most liberated Christian thinkers, would have understood a recent question to city police officials. Going forward, may we assume the following behaviors, as illustrated by event pictures, are OK in downtown Asheville? 1) Stripteases, dancing, sexually expressive behavior, and other forms of performance on the city fountain.
2) Squeezing exposed breasts in a sexually suggestive manner in public view. 3) Underage topless teens actively participating in organized protests. 4) Fondling exposed female breasts in public view. 5) Sexual performance in the presence of minors. Sorry guys, but C.S. Lewis and Screwtape,
Lee Ballard
word, too. I found Mumpower’s notation about President Obama in the column a real head-scratcher: “You’ll find [Obama] always talking in bold broad terms … Big talkers are mostly posers dodging accountability. Real achievers, in contrast, almost always know how to think small. They take immediate action ....” What exactly is he criticizing the president for? For having broad vision? For not being an achiever? For not taking action? Obama is open to criticism, but not in those areas. • Lee Ballard lives in Mars Hill.
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Mumpower fires back: Liberty cannot exist without responsibility EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is Dr. Carl Mumpower’s response to Lee Ballard’s guest column. • Screwtape was a big fan of one of the strongest tools in the dark side’s arsenal — obfuscation. He would smile at insincere attempts, like this one, to put a happy face on what actually went on at Asheville’s topless rally. Subsequent denials of accountability by D.S.S. and our police administration would expand that grin. C.S. Lewis, as one of our
for different reasons, would recognize the crucial difference between a “moral busybody” and a culturist concerned with the rule of law. Lewis would also have noticed this letterwriter’s attempt to plug the fantasy that liberty can exist without responsibility. As for the rest, let’s just leave it that these are halcyon days for Screwtape.
Letters
Continued from Page 16
Citizens urged to open eyes on media coverup
Why is the mainstream media protecting the (Obama) administration when the following have been denied or glossed over: 1. LightSquared & Solyndra failed after taxpayer money given after Bush turned down! 2. Eighty percent of D.O.E green energy loans went to Obama backers here and overseas when not sustainable! 3. Fast and Furious; (Attorney General Erik) Holder denies knowing about; caused death of border guard. 4, Support of Occupy Wall Street — cost millions to cities in police, etc., due to their actions and filth. 5. (Vice President Joe) Biden charging Secret Service rent; for his own protection! 6. Half-billion contract sole-sourced to Obama crony — where is the media when this is going on? The guffaws that are made by the president are not covered by the mainstream media, such as the 57 states; Hawaii part of Asia? He was supposedly born there and unaware Hawaii is a state? He can’t run on own record, so must demolish, destroy, anyone running against him. The far left congressmen and women refuse to acknowledge they are destroying the individualism that is what this country was founded on. Socialism hasn’t worked anywhere else, so why should it work here? Citizens open your eyes! JAN & TOM MCINTOSH Flat Rock See LETTERS, Page 18
UNCA opens its new arena featuring tilt with Tar Heels
Above, UNC Asheville’s Kimmel Arena was filled to its 3,400-seat capacity for its first men’s home basketball game — against the top-rated UNC Chapel Hill — on Nov. 13. The game was sold out weeks in advance and UNC won 91-75. At left, Bulldog senior Chris Stephenson shoots over Tar Heel 7-footer Tyler Zeller. Grammy winning pianist Bruce Hornsby performed the national anthem for the arena’s debut. His son, UNCA freshman Keith Hornsby plays for the Bulldogs. UNCA students received free tickets for the game — and 800 of them attended. Senior J.P. Primm led UNCA with 23 points. Top photo by Perry Hebard Bottom photo by Blake Madden
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Letters to the Editor 18 - December 2011 - Asheville Daily Planet
Letters
Continued from Page 17
Daily Planet praised as Asheville Illuminator
The Daily Planet might well be called the Asheville Daylight Planet, as it serves Asheville well by illuminating the significant variables for a viable community. This small paper gives real-time transparency to the often hidden agendas and operations within community operations, thus reducing the powers which take away from our community. Asheville citizens are fortunate to have access to the information and the opportunity to be heard provided by the Planet. An informed and involved populace tends to survive and thrive. The responsibility to be
informed and to act falls upon each person. Thank you, Asheville Daily Planet, for the opportunity. DON BOONE Asheville
Radio host’s departure termed highly troubling
I was saddened to hear that Matt Mittan has resigned from WWNC-AM. I was also surprised and disturbed to learn that Matt’s decision may have been spurred by pressure placed on him for airing frank viewpoints on constroversial topics, since his show “Take a Stand” is/ was exactly for that purpose. I urge the station to apologize to Matt
and, if Matt is so inclined, to reinstate “Take a Stand” immediately. I sincerely hope that no pressure was placed on the radio station by any governmental individuals or agency, as that would be a direct Matt Mittan breach of the First Amendment of our Constitution. DR. DAN EICHENBAUM Murphy
Mainstream media ripped for bashing Republicans • U.S. tax revenue: $2,170,000,000,000 • Fed budget: $3,820,000,000,000 • New debt: $ 1,650,000,000,000
• National debt: $15,271,000,000,000 • SUPER COMMITTEE tries to cut: $38,500,000,000 Let’s remove eight zeros and pretend it’s a household budget: Annual family income: $21,700 • Money the family spent: $38,200 • New debt on the credit card: $15,500 • Outstanding balance on the credit card: $152,710 • Total ATTEMPTED budget cuts: $385 How can the mainstream media possibly get away with bashing the GOP in “refusing to compromise?” The citizens must be morons to buy into this nonsense. (Note: all numbers from the GAO, a nonpartisan, federal governmental agency) STEVEN CHASE Boone, N.C. and Miami Beach, Fla. See LETTERS, Page 19
From the left
What’s in a name?
At the end of this month the Asheville Civic Center will almost certainly be renamed the U.S. Cellular Center. The other six members of Asheville City Council formalized that decision during the lame duck session, Nov. 22, and I think it worth pointing out that I have heard from only a handful of citizens who like the plan. All of us received hundreds of e-mails and a large number of phone calls from folks who were annoyed, offended, livid, puzzled, confused or completely outraged at the decision. There are very good reasons not to have accepted U.S. Cellular’s offer — ideas which I’ll discuss in a moment. But what I find nearly incomprehensible about council’s decision is the degree to which it shows the others to be hopelessly out of touch with the people of Asheville and the mood of our nation. As our economy came crashing down a few years ago, people who were angry about the bank bailouts, under presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, formed a loose coalition known as the tea party. There were — and are — other issues, but the core anger has been directed at the way money was shoveled into the coffers of Wall Street banks while houses were foreclosed upon and jobs moved overseas. Much of the anger was aimed at Washington politicians, but the source was the Great Recession. This year, a new, loose coalition emerged, calling itself the Occupy Movement. Once again, the core anger is directed at the Wall Street banks, and at the influence of mega corporations on our government. Occupy tactics are different from tea party tactics, but their anger and issues are more aligned than polarized. People are absolutely fed up with the influence of corporate power on government, and reasonably so. This is not the time to sell Asheville’s good name to a major telecom with no connection to our city. It simply isn’t what the people want. Perhaps they’d be more comfortable if there were at least a local connection, though Ingles, the biggest dog hereabouts, is not interested. But selling out to some faceless multinational is not remotely in sync with the current mood. Some argue we need the money! True enough, but this deal doesn’t amount to squat. Even if we get the maximum possible under this contract, $1.3 million over eight years, it is a pittance. City, county and TDA funds for the current remodel job amount to more than $6 million, Civic Center operational expenses amount to
Cecil Bothwell $10.5 million over that period, and the city budget will total more than $1 billion over eight years. The U.S. Cellular deal is a tiny drop in the bucket. Moreover, once the name is on the building, citizens are more likely to resist serious plans that would fund the center into the future: an increased hotel tax, a bond referendum, a sales tax increase, parking fee increases ... the kind of solutions that we need to keep the center in business. “Hey, if U.S. Cellular is paying the bills, why should I pony up more money?” But, of course, they aren’t and won’t be paying the bills. Then too, we spend a lot of money advertising Asheville around the country. How much advertising are we foregoing when TV announcers tell audiences they are watching the SoCon tournament from the U.S. Cellular Center, instead of the Asheville Civic Center? Every mention of a name is worth real money. Are we giving up more advertising value than we are getting in cash? Of course, you and I will continue to call it the Civic Center, because we always have. Just as we call the park in front of the courthouse “City/County Plaza.” But while a rose by any other name may smell as sweet, it doesn’t seem likely that you are going to tell someone you love them with a bouquet of “U.S. Cellulars.” • Cecil Bothwell is a member of the Asheville City Council and a candidate for the U.S. Congress in the 11th District of North Carolina.
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rec Asheville Daily Planet — December 2011 — 19
Letters
Continued from Page 18
City, state win distinction, but critics call it dubious
According to the GoTopless.org folks, North Carolina is one of 13 states that support topless frivolity and the only state in the South to do so. On their website, Asheville is listed as an “official topless tested city” and retains the dubious honor of being the only city in the South with that distinction. Remember, it’s not about breasts or breast feeding. The real fight, and the one the media, public officials, and other apologists work hard to disguise, is about: 1) Stripteases, dancing, sexually expressive behavior, and other forms of performance on the city fountain. 2) Participants squeezing their exposed breasts in a sexually suggestive manner in public view. 3) Underage topless teens actively participating in organized protests. 4) Males fondling exposed female breasts in public view. 5) Sexual performance in the presence of minors. Our city and police administrations, the State Attorney General’s office, and Buncombe county D.S.S. (Department of Social Services) say nothing wrong happened last August. Pictures at the event say something different. Per the official position, the above behaviors must be OK. If the GoTopless.org folks are really serious about their mission, we would encourage them to repeat these activities on a regular basis here in Asheville. They’ve been given an official pass on their liberty to further downgrade our community, culture, and state. Perhaps they can share the use of public property in front of City Hall by the Occupy Asheville folks. For additional information and event pictures, go to www.AshevilleToplessChildAbuse.com. CHAD NESBITT and CARL MUMPOWER Asheville
Above is a participant at a topless rally on Aug. 21 in downtown Asheville.
This year marks the second annual Grateful Bread and Christmas Jam Warm Clothing drive. We will be outside of the Civic Center on Dec. 10th from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. to collect coats and warm clothing for the homeless of Asheville. Last year was a huge success and we
hope to collect even more this year. Please dig deep into your closets and give to this great cause. We will be accepting coats, hats, gloves, long sleeves, scarves and anything else that can help to keep these folks warm while living outside. Thank you for your kindness and generosity. KELLY CARMODY Grateful Bread Asheville
Support sought for drive to help city’s homeless
Fun poked at Civic Center sponsorship
Immigration raid results in 12 arrests In one of the largest immigration raids in Western North Carolina history, 12 workers were arrested at a Buncombe County eatery on Nov. 29. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested the workers at about about 10 a.m. at the Shogun Buffet Hibachi Grill & Sushi restaurant at 1000 Brevard Road, according to Ada Volkmer with Defensa Co-
Occupy attorney ruled in contempt A judge ruled on Dec. 1 that local attorney Jennifer Foster, who has been affiliated with Occupy Asheville, in contempt of court when she cursed a magistrate. While she was looking for information about protester arrests on the evening of Nov. 5, Foster’s behavior “tended to impair respect for the court’s authority,” Superior Court Judge James Downs said in his ruling. He added that her behavior was “done stubbornly and with purpose.” The judge sentenced Foster to the two days she had already spent in jail after Magistrate Amanda Fisher ruled her in contempt. He also sentenced her to an additional 48 hours in jail and set the bond at $10,000 cash. Foster, who represented herself, said at the Dec. 1 hearing on her appeal that Fisher had exceeded her authority. She contended
Asheville PARC (People Advocating Real Conservancy) released several photos and cartoons in late November, mocking the plan by Asheville City Council to rename the Asheville Civic Center the U.S. Cellular Center. Above is a photo by PARC’s David Lynch that he digitally altered to rename it — in jest — the City Council Sell-Out Center.
that her cursing did not cause a distration and was done only as she was leaving the Buncombe County Magistrate’s Office. “I was basically sent to jail because I said the F-word,” Foster told the judge. “This was a gross abuse of judicial authority.” However, the judge side with Fisher, who said that after Foster asked for a list of protesters facing arrest on unserved warrants, she repeatedly shouted obscenities, despite being warned not to do so. Fisher said that when she told Foster she was being held in contempt, the defendant left the office. However, Fisher had deputies bring her back. Meanwhile, Occupy Asheville participants told the news media on Nov. 30 that the group is distancing itself from Foster — and that she no longer speaks for them.
munitaria. She said eight of the detainees were from Lain American countries and four were Asian immigrants. Those arrested ranged in age from 23 to around 40. Meanwhile, ICE officials confirmed that the agency’s agents entered the restaurant, but declined to provide details on any detentions.
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20 — December 2011 - Asheville Daily Planet
Activist
Continued from Page 1 McKibben said each degree rise in average annual global temperatures results in 200 million to 300 million more starving people worldwide. At present, he noted, there is a “horrific, historic drought in the Horn of Africa ... Water vapor only stays up in the atmosphere for six or so days. We’ve loaded the dice for deluge.” In Vermont where McKibben has lived, “we set new rainfall records” — and records have been kept for 250 years there. “We broke the old records” by much greater amounts. “It was horrible to watch” the damage it caused. “It reminded me ... We really do need to work at different levels ... I believe in strong local economies.” Given the present frequency and magnitude of weather calamities, McKibben noted that “it’s still early in the cycle” and conditions are likely to get even worse in the future. “It’s the big moral dilemma. We’ve raised the temperature of the earth by one degree .... Unless we stop buying oil and gas, we may raise the temperature by 4 or 6 degrees before the end of the century.” Further, he said, “Every degree we increase global temperatures will decrease grain yields by 10 percent.” He called the looming situation “just insane,” noting predictions of massive starvation. McKibben asserted, “We just cannot let that happen, so we’ve got to figure out what to do.” To get to a solution, he said, one must “begin by acknowledging several things. Specifically, he said the scientific and engineering methods have “worked very well.” He noted China, despite many environmental negatives, has jumped ahead with green technology. For instance, he said that 25 percent of Chinese take daily showers that are heated by solar energy. McKibben said solar panels are “not very difficult technology.” While the scientific and engineering methods have been good developments worldwide, “just as badly has the political process failed,” negating progress, he said. “That’s what we’ve got to talk about ... I’m no expert on politics ... The idea that our scientists would sit down with our po-
litical leaders, and we’d make the difficult ‘It’s essentially game over for the (earth’s) transition to get us off fossil fuels,” never climate.’” happened. In the Nov. 6 protest against the Key“Maybe the best example was (former stone pipeline plan, McKibben said a vice president) Al Gore, sitting down with crowd five deep held hands as it encircled his slide show ... While Al Gore was talkthe White House, with 1,253 people evening, the fossil fuel industry was bellowing.” tually getting arrested. McKibben asserted, “We have in Wash“It was the largest civil disobedience ington a perfect 25-year bipartisan record action that had taken place in the country of accomplishing nothing ... The fossil in the last 35 years. Day after day, we were fuel industry’s total focus is on preventing in front of the White House,” protesting the change.” pipepline plan. In describing its With a laugh, McKprofits, he said the oil ibben said, “It didn’t industry “is minthurt that it was one ing mone.” Worse, of the prettiest days McKibben charged the of the year. Later, the oil industry with using president (Barack the earth’s atmosphere Obama) announced — at no charge — to that the pipeline dump its waste prodwould be delayed. He uct. said there would be a “But if oil (compaserious review.” nies) had to pay for the Pausing, he cost of this damage,” cautioned that “this The Keystone protest is credited with the profits would be might be a temporary delaying action on the pipeline. significantly less. victory.” “The power of McKibben said those guys” to delay a change from its he doubted that Obama would approve failed model to something new is amazing, the pipeline, at least before the upcoming McKibben said. “So, at some point in the presidential election, but if the Republicans last few years, some of us had to figure out win the presidency, “A President (Mitt) another way.” Romney, or, heaven forbid, a President He cited Jim Henson as “our greatest (Newt) Gingrich, might approve many scientist,” noting that Henson said there future pipelines. has been a jump to 393 parts per million of “Even if we won the battle of tar-sands, CO2, which is “way too high. That’s why it wouldn’t make that much difference in Pakistan drowns while Texas burns.” the context of climate change,” he noted. Continuing, McKibben said, “Every“The lesson is not that the tar-sands thing where, there are people worried about wasn’t important, it was important ... It public health.” To that end, he described taught us that sometimes you can stand up what he termed an immensely successful to corporations — and do it firmly.” nonviolent International Day of Climate Next, he said, there are plans for a transAction protest against global warming on Canada pipeline, and opposing it will help Oct. 24, 2009 by 350.org. The protest was environmentalist activists to see “what the observed with 51 demonstrations in 181 larger game looks like.” countries, McKibben claimed. He reiterated, “When Jim Henson said, After the protest, “we realized we needed ‘If you tap the tar sands heavily, it’s essento get more direct than that.” The proposed tially game over for the climate ... You’d Keystone XL Oil Pipeline caught his atthink that somebody would do something.” tention. “It’s horrible,” he said of the plan. The fact that little has been done, McKib“We should have been outraged into action, bon said, shows “what corporate power especially after Henson said that it would looks like.” tap the second largest pool of carbon on He asserted, “Wall Street has occupied earth, after Saudi Arabia. the atmosphere for 25 years. That’s why we McKibben noted that Saudi oil fields can’t get anything done. We fell into this were a major factor in the CO2 rising to trap of treating corporations as people.” 540 parts per million. Waxing poltical, McKibben said, “He (Henson) said if the pipeline goes in, “Corporations aren’t people and that’s
an important thing to understand and do something about.” As for corporations, he noted, “profits and growth are what they’re all about.” Further, he said, “The heart of the climate fight will be about corporate power. He said the fossil fuel industry received about $4 billion in subsidies worldwide. “We’ve been burning rocks” for many centuries and have learned the process. “We don’t need to subsidize it. “We need to amend the Constitution to put a dent in the power of corporations. Right now, we don’t have a prayer.” He said Congress was so afraid of the influence of the oil industry that it “wouldn’t even take a vote” recently to cut the subsidy. “We’ve got to change that,” he said. “Corporations are not people and don’t deserve that kind of power.” McKibben then shared what he termed as “two insights from the arrests last summer. First, that many of the most dedicated protesters were older — born during the Truman and FDR administrations. He said the other insight was that he asked the protesters to wear a necktie or dress when they faced arrest because “I wanted to make a visual (for the public) of who the radicals and who the conservatives are. Radicals are the ones who would chemically modify the composition of the atmosphere to make money.” The crowd cheered. As for chemically modifying the atmosphere to make money, McKibben charged, “That’s basically what the president of Exxon gets up out of bed to do every day. “Those people who would like to keep the atmosphere the way it was” when they were younger and “who would like the Constitution to work the way it’s supposed to — we’re the conservatives!” McKibben said, prompting more applause from the crowd. “I’m going to stop (this address) now. I wish I could guarantee that we’ll win this fight. There are scientists who say it’s gone too far” to save the atmosphere, but some still think it is possible. “I look forward to standing shoulderto-shoulder with you in the years ahead to do what needs to be done,” McKibben concluded. The crowd then arose, cheering and giving him a thundering ovation.
Faced with complex questions, ideas flow during interfaith talk
First in a series of two stories
From Staff Reports A program on “Is Religion Relevant Today?” drew a standing-room-only audience of about 100 people on Nov. 12 to the Grotto at UNC Asheville’s Highsmith University Union. The program included a panel discussion featuring about 16 representatives of different ideas — religious and secular. Following the discussion, a question-and-answer session was held. Panelists included two Witches, two Muslims, one Catholic, one Bahai, one pastor of Paradigm Church, one Zen Buddhist, one Conservative Jew; one Reform Jew, one humanist, one atheist/secular humanist, one Sikh and one Sokka Gakkai Buddhist. The goal of the interfaith dialogue was education and religious literacy, organizers said. The discussion began with the question: Is religion relevant to the individual. If so, how? If not, why? Subtopics include the following: • Does a religous view of the afterlife shape the individual? If so, how so? • Does religion give us the answers to the meaning of life?
• Does religion help people navigate the ups and downs of life? Some of the panel participants began by noting that one would need to define “religion” before discussing its ramifications. A Sikh participant said that religion is a “simple breakdown of returning to origins ... We’re all standing on the shoulders of our ancestors.” Lady Passion, a Wiccan, said, “I’d say codified beliefs and spirituality.” Another panelist said, ““There are gridmarks.” A Muslim participant said, “There must be something to connect you to your connections. A Zen Buddhist panelist added, “You define it in different ways. Certainly, Zen Buddhism doesn’t fit into that category.” A Jewish rabbi said, “I think of religion in terms of serving primal human needs ... Ultimately, it is: How do we relate to other people? Where do I place myself, relative to space and time?” A Catholic priest said, “The Bible would say there’s your body and soul.” Another panelist said, “The function of religion is absolute happiness. So I think it’s: How do we create value in our lives?”
An interfaith discussion drew a full house at UNCA recently. The Catholic priest asserted that there is an “important distinction between organized religion and one’s individual faith. Jackie Simms, head of the Ethical Society of Asheville, said, “From a humanistic standpoint ... it’s about a commitment to being in harmony with others.” She added that humanism emphasizes reason, scientific inquiry and human fulfillment. Billy Kelly, the atheist-secular humanist on the panel, told Lady Pashion, “I want to see real evidence for those kinds of things” she described. A Sikh said, “The question is: What is the perspective? What is the approach? Are we
Daily Planet Staff Photo
following a path of what someone told us, or are we following a path to an expanding self? We can get tripped up in anything if we stop paying attention” to what is happening.. A Jewish rabbi said, “I’m so glad you said that. It’s what is in my approach as to how I’m present with myself in this moment.” A Muslim asserted, “Your religion should have the answers for all people, including those who are not yet believers ... Islam carries the answers for all of these questions.” The Muslim added, “Someone will ask: ‘Where did God come from?’ If you can limit Him in your thoughts, then He’s not a God.”
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Faith Notes
Saturday, Dec. 3
AGLOW SPEECH, 10 a.m., Fletcher Fee & Seed, 3715 Hendersonville Rd., Fletcher. The AshevilleHendersonvilleAglowCommunityLighthousewillfeature aspeechbyCinthiaMilner.Afull-timegardenwriterand columnist,sheisworkingonaBiblestudyforHensley Publishing. CHRISTMAS GALA, 7 p.m., Biltmore Baptist Church,ClaytonRoad,Arden.ABroadway-styleproduction,“CarolinaMountainChristmasSpectacular,”willbe presented.Theproductionalsowillbepresentedat7 p.m. Dec. 3- and at 7 p.m. Dec. 3-4. For tickets, which are $10 for ages 3 and older, $14 for reserved seats and$20forgold-circleseating,call650-6500,orwww. ncchristmas.com.
Sunday, Dec. 4
“REJOICE GREATLY” PERFORMANCE, 11 a.m., WestAshevillePresbyterianChurch,HaywoodRoad andVirginia Avenue, Asheville. Jane Hartsfield will perform“Rejoice Greatly”from Handel’s“Messiah.” FLORAL DEMONSTRATION, 2 p.m., Unity Center, Unity Center, 2041 Old Fanning Bridge Rd., MillsRiver.BetsyWhatleywillpresentahands-onfloral demonstrationtitled"LearnElegantFloralArranging: withEaseandAffordability.”Shewilluseeasy-to-find outdoorplantsandpurchasedflowersjustintimefor particicipantstocreatetheirownfreshorsilkholiday arrangement.Attendeesareaskedtobringtheirown containerandsuppliesiftheywouldliketomakean arrangementthatday.Othersmaysimplycomeand watchWhatley create an arrangement with a 1-2-3 approach. A love offering will be accepted. ADVENT TEA & ART, 2-5 p.m., Mars Hill United Methodist Church, 201 S. Main St., Mars Hill. The Advent Tea & Art program will feature a chance to meettheChurchMiceArtistsandenjoytheirartwork. Light refreshments will be served. SHOW FOR ALL AGES, 3 p.m., Unitarian UniversalistChurch,2021KanugaRd.,Hendersonville.The program“DougElliott—Songs&StoriesforAllAges” will be presented. Suggested donations are $12 for adults, $5 for children under 12 and $20 for familes. Free childcare will be provided. CIRCLE OF MERCY GALA, 4 p.m., St. George’s Episcopal Church, 1 School Rd., Asheville. SingersongerwriterKenMedemawillbethefeaturedguest attheCircleofMercycongregation’s10thanniversary service. A potluck will follow the service. Guests are welcome. CHRISTMAS GRIEF SERVICE, 5 p.m., Abiding Savior Lutheran Church, Fairview. A Grief at Christmasservicewillbeheldinaquietandintimatesetting of worship, where participants get an opportunity to name their feelings of grief and loss during the holidays season. HANGING OF THE GREEN, 6:30 p.m., Calvary BaptistChurch,531HaywoodRd.,Asheville.AHangingoftheGreenwillbefollowedbyatastingparty.Attendeesareaskedtobringtheirfavoritefingerfoods.
Tuesday, Dec. 6
TRUTH ON TAP, 6 p.m., Mezzaluna restaurant, 226 N.MainSt.,downtownHendersonville.TheRev.Chad O’Shea of Unity in Mills River will hold a“pub chat”on matters spiritual and otherwise.
Wednesday, Dec. 7
RE-CREATION, 6-8:30 p.m., Groce United MethodistChurch,954TunnelRd.,Asheville.Theannual ReturntoBethlehemre-creationofbiblicaltimeswillbe presented 6-8:30 p.m. Dec. 8-9 and 2-8:30 p.m. Dec. 10-11. Admission is free. QUANTUM TOUCH PROGRAM, 7-9 p.m., UnityCenter,2041OldFanningBridgeRd.,MillsRiver. “Quantum Touch: The power to heal” will be presented by Pam Hurst. A love offering will be taken.
Friday, Dec. 9
SOCIAL JUSTICE FILM, 7 p.m., Unitarian UniversalistChurchofAsheville,1EdwinPlace,Asheville. Thefilm“ForksOversKnives”willbeshown.Ittellshow most,ifnotalldegenerativediseasescanbecontrolled, orevenreversed,byrejectingamenuofanimal-based andprocessedfoods.Admissionisfree,butdonations will be accepted.
Sunday, Dec. 11
CHRISTMAS CANTATA, 11 a.m., Calvary Baptist Church,53HaywoodRd.,Asheville.Theadultchoirwill perform in a Christmas cantata. LUNCH/GALA, 1 p.m., Unity Center, 2041 Old FanningBridgeRd.,MillsRiver.Featuredwillbea"Youthof UnitySpaghettiLunch&MusicalEntertainment.”AttendeeswillhavetheopportunitytomeetotherUnity membersandenjoyamealbeforedoingtheirholiday shopping.TheYouthofUnitywillberaisingfundsfor theirSpringSpiritualRetreatandRally.Lunchtickets will range from $7 to $10. RINGERS PERFORMANCE, 4 p.m., First Christian Church, 470 Enka Lake Rd., Candler.The Brasstown Ringers will perform in a“Christmas Bells”concert.
Asheville Daily Planet — December 2011 — 21
Saturday, Dec. 31
NEW YEAR’S EVE PROGRAM, 6 p.m., Unity Center, 2041 Old Fanning Bridge Rd., Mills River. The NewYear’sEveprogramwillbeginat6withafellowship supper,includingsoupandsalad(withattendeesasked to bring side dishes, bread and dessert), followed at 7:30byaburningbowlservice,duringwhichparticipants writedownwhattheywouldliketoreleaseandplacethis wish into a burning bowl, where the fire takes it away.
Monday, Dec. 12
RINGERS PERFORMANCE, 4 p.m., First Christian Church, 470 Enka Lake Road, Candler.The Brasstown Ringers will perform in concert.
Wednesday, Dec. 14
GODSEED PROGRAM, 7-9 p.m., Unity Center, 2041 Old Fanning Bridge Rd., Mills River. DeborahMarieDiamondwillpresent"Godseed:TheJourney ofChrist.Theprogramisbilledasatwo-hourjourney writtenbyJeanHoustonandadaptedbyDiamond.In thesetwohours,wewillwalkonlythebeginningofhis life.Godseed“providesatemplatefortransformation and carries the coded matrixes of the next steps in humandevelopment,”Houstonstated.“Youbecome theDivineidentityofJesus.GodseedprovidesanexperientialjourneyintothelifeofJesusofNazarethand requirescourageandawillingnesstoparticipateina powerfuladventureofthesoulthatisatonceuniversal andintenselypersonal.”Aloveofferingwillbetaken.
Friday, Dec. 16
CHRISTMAS PROGRAM, 5-9 p.m., Loving Hearts Stables, Newfound Road, Leicester. A Christmas at theStablesprogramwillfeaturecarolers,alivenativity, gamesandhayrides.Admissionis$5foradults,$2.50 ages 6-12 and free for ages 5 and younger. CHRISTMAS PROGRAM, 7 p.m., Billy Graham TrainingCenter,1PortersCoveRoad,Asheville.Andrew Peterson’s“BeholdtheLambofGod”willbepresented. The program features Jason Gray, Jill Phillips, Andy Gullahorn,BenShiveandAndrewOsenga.Fortickets, which are $50, visit www.thecove.org.
Saturday, Dec. 17
RINGERS PERFORMANCE, 4 p.m., Good ShepherdLutheranChurch,U.S.64,Brevard.TheBlueRidge Ringers will perform in concert.
Sunday, Dec. 18
CHRISTMAS POTLUCK, 12:45 p.m., Unity Center, 2041 Old Fanning Bridge Rd., Mills River. The annual ChristmasPotluckluncheonwillbeheld.Attendeesare askedtobringfoodtoshare(six to eight servings of a main dish, salad, or dessert).
Wednesday, Dec. 21
SATSANG, 7 p.m., Unity Center, 2041 Old Fanning BridgeRd.,MillsRiver.Featuredwillbea“Satsang with Rev. Chad.”The gathering is intended for those who are feeling distressed by the“busy-ness”of the holidays,thoseneedingtoreconnectwiththeircenterand thosewithquestionsabouttheirlifepath.Attendees will be able to relax into deep peace with a guided meditation,abitofdiscourse,thenparticipateinan open discussion. A llove offering will be taken.
Saturday, Dec. 24
CANDLELIGHT SERVICE, 7:30 p.m., Unity Center, 2041OldFanningBridgeRd.,MillsRiver.TheChristmas story will be celebrated in scripture with music and candles. Childcare will be provided.
Sunday, Dec. 25
CHRISTMAS DAY CELEBRATION, 11 a.m., Unity Center, 2041 Old Fanning Bridge Rd., Mills River. Only oneservicewillbeheldasUnitycelebratesChristmas Day. Childcare will be provided.
Wednesday, Dec. 28
SOUL SERIES, 7 p.m., Unity Center, 2041 Old FanningBridgeRd.,MillsRiver.Thetopicwillbeannounced. Childcare will be provided. A love offering will
22 - December 2011 - Asheville Daily Planet
Slipping Beauty obsessed with boyfriend’s knockout ‘ex’ I’m in a great relationship of seven months. My boyfriend and I never get sick of each other. We respect each other and are there for each other, and we talk very openly, even when we’re upset. His ex-girlfriend is part of our group of friends. She is thin and very pretty. I know I’m attractive, but I’m struggling to lose these 10 pounds I put on in college. Also, she’s super-sweet, and she and my boyfriend broke up because he cheated on her. He told her right away and felt sick about it for a long time, so I’m not worried that he’d cheat on me. Friends tell me how much he loves me, and he even told me he’d feel “lost” without me. Still, I get nervous when they’re alone or talking a lot. I haven’t said anything about her being around so much, but I know other girls wouldn’t stand for it. — Jealous You’re the one who’s obsessed with getting in another woman’s pants — being able to wear his ex-girlfriend’s skinny jeans, and not just as arm-warmers. I know, if he’s going to be chummy with his ex, couldn’t she please be one of those women people charitably describe as “pretty once you get to know her”? Instead, it seems her 10-step get-gorgeous routine involves “1. Wake up,” while you probably feel you have to put in a halfhour in the bathroom some mornings just to keep from scaring the dog. And then, some evening when you’re at your glowiest (after a brief struggle to squeeze your muffin-top into steel-belted control-top pantyhose), you need only stand next to her to feel yourself rapidly devolving from arm candy to arm ballast. It would be easier if she fit the stereotype of the gorgeous girl with the tiny lump of coal heart. Unfortunately, she’s sunshine with legs (sickeningly long, slim legs, with no hint of cankles). Making matters worse, they had an indiscretion-driven breakup, not an “I’m sick of you” breakup. Whatever could be stopping him from scampering back to her? Well, it doesn’t sound like you’re exactly a barker, and although men prioritize looks in women, once you’re within the zone of what a guy finds hot/cute/sexy, other stuff comes into play: Are you kind? Does he feel needed, appreciated, understood? Do you click as a couple — naked and clothed? And okay, you aren’t on the short list to be an Abercrombie model, but is every day more fun because you’re in it? Don’t let on how jealous you feel (it sends a message that you’re not all that), and don’t try to control a man by telling him what to do (it leads to resentment, secretiveness, and rebellion). You tell a man what to do by making him happy and by being happy with him. Your relationship may eventually end, but if you accept that, you can enjoy the hell out of it while you have it. For peace of mind, start a conversation about what you appreciate about each other. Listen up and you might get your head around the notion that he’s with you because he’s “lost without you” -- and not because he lost his directions to the skinny girl’s house.
Give till it Hertz
For 10 years, this woman and I have had a hot-and-cold long-distance relationship, the temperature of which she’s always controlled. She’s 56; I’m 46. Last year, she felt ready to try for something lasting. She couldn’t afford to travel, so I paid for her flight. She stayed with me
The Advice Goddess
Amy Alkon
for two wonderful, passionate months, and then we vacationed together in February. I paid for her flight, rental car, hotel, and meals. Again, it was very passionate. Last month, we vacationed together again, funded by me. The day she arrived, she declared her sex life a thing of the past. I was stunned and found sharing the bed rather challenging, but I’ve never forced myself on any woman and I’m not about to start. My friends are now fuming. I counter that in funding everything, it was never my intention to be paying for “horizontal refreshment.” Was she wrong to agree to this trip and then change the terms of our relationship? Am I in denial in not feeling angry? — Wondering When you’ve been romantic with a woman for a decade and you’re taking her on yet another “passionate” getaway, it’s reasonable to expect she’ll be interested in doing more in bed than letting you watch as she does the crossword puzzle. (If she’s feeling kinky, you could be in for some mind-blowing sudoku.) It cost you, what, $3,000 — the price of a TV the size of a small European country — to have her personally deliver the news that she wouldn’t be having sex with you? You’d be leading your friends in fuming if you hadn’t gotten all tangled up in your self-image as a gentleman. And no, just because a man buys a woman something — dinner, for example — that doesn’t mean she owes him sex. But, let’s be honest; we all know he isn’t buying dinner out of an overwhelming desire to feed hungry females free lobster, and it isn’t brotherly benevolence that’s behind an all-expenses-paid vacation from a man who does not earn a living as a game show host. The question is, was this woman’s lack of pre-vacation disclosure a random act of jerkhood, utterly unpredictable, like a Russian satellite landing on some poor schlub’s beater Yugo? Or, more likely, was it utterly predictable based on years of your showing her you’d take whatever she dished out? Your lack of anger is telling. Anger gets triggered when you feel somebody’s shorted you on something you were entitled to — like the courtesy of a phone call (before you paid for yet another “passionate vacation”) informing you that the birds are taxidermied and the bees are dead. Chances are, you’re a too-nice guy — a guy whose “niceness” is actually suckuppy-ness, who believes his perceived loserhood will be “cured” if only he can get into a relationship. Ironically, the loserhood is caused by the willingness to do anything for love. That doesn’t get you love; it gets you doing anything and everything for it and ending up with blue balls and a big hotel bill. In the future, even if you can’t quite believe you deserve a mutual relationship, you need to risk acting as if you do, and speak up and even bail whenever one turns out not to be. Everything won’t always be 50/50, but you and a woman you take on a romantic vacation should be on the same page about the proper placement of the “Do Not Dis-
turb” sign: on the doorknob all weekend, as opposed to around her neck.
You’ve got stale
I’m a woman who’s been online dating for two years. I’ve noticed that people who’ve been on the dating site as long as I have often put up different pictures. By never changing my picture in two years, am I broadcasting that I’m a loser? I feel changing it seems more loserish, as in, “Hey, anyone want me from a different angle?” — Still Here Do you also suspect Banana Republic is going out of business every time they update their store windows? Changing your picture is a way to say “New and Improved!” — a classic advertising gambit that seems to perk up sales despite everybody knowing it probably means “Toothpaste’s largely the same, but check out the butterfly and sparklies we added to the package!” Keep in mind that research has shown that men are drawn to flirty, smiley shots of women, and common sense says to avoid cropping all your photos at the shoulders, as this leaves a little too much mystery about what shape the rest of you is in. Have fun while posing and you should seem like you’re having fun putting yourself out there — as opposed to having fears that the next man at your side will be the utility worker who discovers you sitting mummified on your couch. • (c) 2011, Amy Alkon, all rights reserved. Got a problem? Write Amy Alkon, 171 Pier Ave, #280, Santa Monica, CA 90405, or e-mail AdviceAmy@aol.
com (www.advicegoddess.com) Amy Alkon’s just-published book: “I SEE RUDE PEOPLE: One woman’s battle to beat some manners into impolite society” (McGraw-Hill, $16.95).
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6. Real Estate
14 — May 2011 - Asheville Daily
1. Announcements TWO ADJACENT BURIAL PLOTS in Lewis Memorial Park, Lot 335, Spaces 3 & 4 in EGA section of the cemetery. The FMV of one plot is $1,050. Will sell for $750 per plot. Contact (828) 434-0833. ADVERTISE — Call 252-6565 today to place your ad in the Daily Planet to reach our estimated 25,000 readers. Our circulation stretches from Mars Hill to thenorthtoFlatRocktothesouthtoBlackMountain to the east and to Enka-Candler to the west.
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Asheville Daily Planet — December 2011 — 23
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11. Rentals NORTH ASHEVILLE 2/1 TOWNHOME/APT $495.00 ALL UNITS 1 MILE FROM DOWNTOWN OFF OF MERRIMON AVENUE ON BUS LINE. 828-252-4334 BLACK MTN 2/1 APARTMENT WITH HEAT PUMP AND CENTRAL AIR. ALSO WASHER DRYER CONNECTION, IN NICE AREA. $495.00. 828-252-4334 WEST ASHEVILLE 2/1 MOBILE HOME, CLOSE TO DOWNTOWN, ON THE BUS LINE, WASHER-DRIER CONNECTION, CITY WATER, CITY SEWER, IN QUIET PARK, $595. ACCEPTING SECTION 8. 828-252-4334. RENOVATED HISTORIC HOUSE IN DOWNTOWN ABINGDON, VA. FOUR BEDROOM, TWO BATHROOM. ALL APPLIANCES INCLUDING UTILITY ROOM WITH WASHER AND DRYER. THIS IS AN OLD HOUSE BUILT IN THE 1800’S. IT IS ON THE ABINGDON HISTORIC REGISTRY. IT HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO THE 21ST CENTURY, INCLUDING
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