Asheville Daily Planet: February

Brewery to locate in Mills River with 95 full-time jobs — Pg. 5 LLE I V HE AS ASHEVILLEʼS GREATEST NEWSPAPER

February 2012

Vol. 8, No. 3

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OA protesters to high court: Corporations are not people

Protest leader Amber Williams revs up the marchers.

By JOHN NORTH Occupy Asheville held a Move to Amend rally in downtown Asheville’s Pritchard Park on Jan. 20 to encourage people to sign a petition calling for a constitutional amendment to strip corporations of “personhood” protections.

The rally also provided an opportunity to protest the Jan. 21, 2010 Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United vs. Federal Elections Commission. In the ruling, corporations are persons “entitled by the U.S. Constitution to spend unlimited money on elections and run our government,” OA noted.

“Armed with the ‘rights’ granted by Citizen’s United, corporations wield an ever-increasing control over jobs, natural assets, politicians, even judges and the law,” an OA announcement said.

In a theatrical twist mocking America’s highest court, several costumed pickets wore Supreme Court justice robes. One person was clad in Statue of Liberty attire.

Following several speeches in the park, the contingent of more than 150 protesters marched west on Patton Avenue to the Federal Building, chanting, “Corporations are not people/ money is not speech.” Onlookers were urged to “abolish corporate personhood.”

Daily Planet Staff Photos

Occupy Asheville marchers head toward the Federal Building along Patton Avenue in downtown Asheville. turn” corporations, Bothwell said. In Opening the speeches earlier at the past, “corporations had to ‘re-up’ the park, City Councilman Cecil every seven years. That’s because Bothwell, who is running for the seat we give them immunity from certain now held by Rep. Heath Shuler, Dresponsibilities ... There are good Waynesville, said, “In the late 1870s, uses for corporations, and they do a Supreme Court clerk made notes in have value. But we used to keep our the margin of a book,” stating that a thumbs on them.” corporation has personhood.

He added, “I urge you to tell anyone “It was never voted on ... From that time on ... it was used more and more” running for office, ‘I will not vote for you if you accept corporate money.’ in the legal community.

“We fought a revolution to overSee PROTESTERS, Page 16

Activist urges audience to ‘fix racism’ via courage, humor From Staff Reports Change starts with people, relationships and courage, author-artist-speaker damali ayo said during her keynote speech in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Week on Jan. 19 in UNC Asheville’s Lipinsky Auditorium.

Ayo used her humorous stories and award-winning art in an effort to provide the audience with practical tools for building better communities.

In its promotions, UNCA stated that ayo uses a creative, pragmatic and satirical approach to make hard conversations about racial justice more accessible.

Ayo addressed “Are You Ready to Fix Racism? (or Are You Still Pretending It Doesn’t Exist?)” during her twohour talk. She grew up in Washington, D.C. and now lives in Los Angeles with her adopted blind dog, Stevie.

Lipinsky’s 650 seats were filled, resulting in standingroom-only, as many members of the surrounding community as well as UNCA students showed up to hear ayo.

One of ayo’s best-known works is the web-art-performance rent-a-negro.com. Her book “How to Rent a Negro” was acclaimed as “one of the most trenchant and amusing commentaries on contemporary race relations,” a UNCA promotional brochure stated. Her radio story, “Living Flag: Panhandling for Reparations,” won a Silver Reel Award from the National Federation of Community Broadcasters.

“Hi, Asheville!,” ayo said enthusiastically, as the crowd cheered her. “I’m sure some of us our nervous,” while others are thinking, “I hope this chick is good.”

As the crowd’s laughter died down, ayo asked, “OK, so who wants to talk about racism?” (Many hands were raised. )“Who doesn’t?” (One man raised his hand.)

Smiling, ayo mused that that is “one brave soul, who speaks for the rest of us.” Many in the crowd laughed.

She noted, “I’m an artist and I mess with people ... I’m so lucky I get paid to mess with people.”

Ayo spoke of attending the same school as President Barack Obama’s daughters — Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C. “At four years old, I brought black dolls with me” to keep her company, during an era when she was among the few black students at the school.

Next, she showed — on a big screen — a picture of King and Malcolm X together, noting, “I love this picture.”

As for King, ayo said, “Our country has agreed he was a good black dude. I’m here to tell you there was more than one ... More than two ....”

Continuing, she asserted, “I love this picture. Look how happy they are. That’s why they shot them.” ayo laughed, as did the crowd. “They didn’t want these two happy together.”

She then cited a quote attributed to Mahatma Gandhi, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

To that end, ayo said, “I’m asking you today to find your own way to be a shining example.”

King “liked to dramatize issues,” she noted, adding that she will follow his example in her UNCA address.

Therefore, ayo said, “My disclaimer: I’m going to be using

‘white’ a lot. Don’t be scared. There will be times in this program where you will feel uncomfortable. We’re also going to laugh together as a community ... Last thing, I’ve been trying to clean up my language ... but I still let it slip” on occasion.

“Here’s my theory.

I believe our country is on a third-grade leve of race reladamali ayo in a file photo. tions,” ayo asserted.

With a grin, she added, “A friend pointed out to me that white people name their black dogs after black people — Aretha, Koby ... It’s wrong.”

Blacks as well as whites in the crowd roared with laughter, after which ayo added, “I know a lot of people who are afraid to say the word ‘black.’ What is the default description?”

See RACISM, Page 16

2 窶認ebruary 2012 - Asheville Daily Planet

Asheville Daily Planet — February 2012 — 3

4 - February 2012 - Asheville Daily Planet

Moffitt touts his challenge of status quo in Raleigh From Staff Reports Rep. Tim Moffitt, R-Arden, emphasized his role in challenging the status quo during his North Carolina legislative update to the Council of Independent Business Owners early Jan. 6 in the food court area at Biltmore Square Mall in west Asheville.

He also told the crowd of about 50 people that he has no interest in privatizing the city’s water system, contrary to rumors.

Later, however, Moffitt said the odds are 50-50 that control of its water system will be taken away from Asheville, with the authority to deliver water and set rates going to another agency.

In a reference to an earlier discussion of what was billed as a dark-skies ordinance, Moffitt quipped, “This entire dark skies inititiative is problematic because how can we find our way?” The crowd laughed at his joke.

On a more serious note, Moffitt said, “We (the state legislature) currently aren’t in session, so this update won’t be as long” as it would be otherwise.

Moffitt said he and others are “trying to accommodate” New Belgium Brewing and Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., “if they locate in the area.” New Belgium is interested in locating in Buncombe, while Sierra Nevada has been looking at Henderson County.

(See story on Page 4 on Sierra Nevada’s Jan. 25 announcement that it will locate its $70 million East Coast Brewery in Mills River in Henderson.)

Moffitt noted that he serves on 11 interim committees and “I’m chairing four of them.”

“Our state owns a tremendous amount of property,” he said. “It’s surprising to me what we own ... We own a fishing pier ...

I don’t think the government should be in direct competition with private industry.”

Speaking of himself in the third person, Moffitt asserted, “Having practiced law without a license for about a year — one of the things about Tim Moffitt — I’m not hesitant to challenge the status quo.”

He said he often asks, “Why are things being done the way they’re being done? If they say it’s for your protection or safety — pay attention ... If it’s for economic development— be aware. If you hear that, then pause.”

Published monthly by Star Fleet Communications Inc. JOHN NORTH Publisher Phone: (828) 252-6565 • Fax: (828) 252-6567 Mailing address: P.O. Box 8490, Asheville, N.C. 28814-8490 Website: www.ashevilledailyplanet.com E-mail the following departments:

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He added, “As the lone (legislative) conservative in Buncombe County, I certainly feel that ... I’m the envy of Raleigh ... They’ve never had an editorial cartoon done of them. For me, it’s seven, if you include (the website) Scrutiny Hooligans.”

As for upcoming Rep. Tim Moffitt plans, Moffitt said, “I’m chairing the CTS Committee, which is “looking at the way we handle hazardous waste sites in general.”

Moffitt also said he will be “conducting a study of the history of our (Ashevilleowned) water system.” He said there is much debate over the issue, and “it depends on who you talk to, really,” on where people stand on it.

During a question-and-answer session after his talk, a CIBO member asked Moffitt, “Under the current economic conditions, is it a good idea to raise the gas tax?”

“We in the House actually capped the gas tax. The Senate has not taken it up.”

Persisting, the questioner noted that North Carolina’s gas tax is much higher than those in neighboring states, such as South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

“I agree that the state gas tax is way too high,” Moffitt replied. “Our state is second only to Texas” in the miles of state roads it maintains — which is a major reason for the sky-high gas tax. The legislator suggested that “the burden should be shifted to the counties for maintaining North Carolina roads,” as is the practice in neighboring states. This, he said, would enable the state to lower the gas tax.

At that point, the CIBO member praised Moffitt profusely for his efforts, stating, “We need more businessmen, and fewer attorneys, in the legislature.”

Asheville neighborhood activist Steve Rasmussen questioned Moffitt for what he termed “the propriety of taking it (the

water system) by using his committee chairmanship to advance his privatization plans.

“I understand ... you took testimony on the advantages of having municipal wter systems run by the private sector,” Rassmussen said in reference to the legislative Select Committee on Public-Private Partnerships.

“I did not,” Moffitt replied. “There’s a rogue element of what I would consider folks who have moved to Asheville who are stringing together loose dots and trying to suggest that my intent is to try to privatize the water system ... Nothing is further from the truth.

“There just seems to be an element in Asheville that’s trying to undermine the good work I’ve done,” Moffitt said, as he ended the question-and-answer session.

Earlier, Jon Creighton presented details on what CIBO had billed as “a new darksky lighting ordinance.” Creighton is Buncombe County’s assistant county manager and planning director.

Creighten said the idea for the ordinance — approved later in January — began with the county Planning Commission, which agreed on a consensus basis that light pollution needed to be addressed.

More specifically, he said several planners were facing the expiration of their terms, “so they felt they needed to get something to the (board of) commissioners” on the issue.

The ordinance applies “only to pole lighting — dawn to dusk — over 12 feet tall and sreet lights in new subdivisions.”

At the next planning commission meeting, “we’ll address commercial” lighting.

“I think the controversial part here is addressing dawn-to-dusk lighting in residential areas,” Creighton said. “The Planning Commission did not want to address that.”

Responding to a question after his presentation, Creighton told a CIBO member that property owners “have 180 days between put up and take down” on outdoor lighting under the ordinance.

Someone asked how the ordinance would

affect Buncombe’s extraterritorial jurisdiction, referring to the legal ability of a government to exercise authority beyond its normal boundaries.

“It doesn’t at all,” Creighton replied.

Another CIBO member asked, Jon Creighton “What prompted this ordinance? Were you getting a lot of complaints” about lighting at night?

“It has become an issue — more from the gas station canopies,” Creighton answered. “They glare at night.”

The CIBO member reiterated, “But it wasn’t from citizen complaints?”

“That’s right,” Creighton replied.

“So,” the CIBO member said, “it’s more to have something to do ... It’s going to cost businesses money.”

As the crowd chuckled, Creighton shot back, “I wouldn’t call it ‘something to do.’

If we’re going to address dawn-to-dusk lighting,” then the ordinance will handle that problem.

“What’s going to be required?” another CIBO member queried.

“It’s the same thing as ... like a road standard. Just like if you’re going to build a road,” Creighton said. In such a case, the developer has to submit plans for other aspects of a project to the county in advance.

Now, the outdoor lighting aspect will be part of the submission.

A CIBO member asked, “Isn’t this just buying the new fixtures with the light cutoff on them?”

“Yes,” Creighton replied.

A female CIBO member asked if there were “energy savings for businesses assocated with the new type of lighting?”

“Obviously, there is a savings associated with that,” Creighton asserted.

See CHALLENGE, Page 15

Asheville Daily Planet — February 2012 - 5

Sierra Nevada taps Mills River for eastern brewery expansion From Staff Reports MILLS RIVER — Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. announced during a Jan. 25 news conference here that it has chosen Henderson County as the site of its second East Coast brewery and an on-site restaurant.

Featured at the event were Gov. Bev Perdue and other state and local officials, as well as Sierra Nevada executives.

The project was made possible in part by a $1.025 million grant from the One North Carolina Fund, the governor noted.

“We are proud that Sierra Nevada, with its tradition of innovation, stewardship and quality, chose to tap all the great things North Carolina had to offer,” Gov. Perdue said in a press release.

“This announcement enhances a burgeoning craft beer industry in our state.

The investment, jobs and brand recognition Sierra Nevada brings will be a boon to this region and help confirm North Carolina as a destination for innovation.”

She added that North Carolina is home to more craft breweries than any Southern state – 21 brewpubs and 28 production breweries – with Western North Carolina being particularly strong.

“After carefully looking at more than 200 sites east of the Mississippi, Sierra Nevada is pleased to locate our second brewery in Henderson County,” said Ken Grossman, founder of Sierra Nevada.

“We are very grateful to the officials in Mills River, Henderson County and the State of North Carolina whose time, effort and commitment were instrumental in making this happen. We are proud to be associated with the many fine breweries that call North Carolina home.”

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said the site — on about 90 acres along the French Broad River in Mills River — will be home to the new production facility, as well as a proposed restaurant and gift shop.

The location, on Old Fanning Bridge Road near the Asheville Regional Airport, is about 12 miles south of Asheville.

“We are thrilled to have found an ideal location in western North Carolina for our second brewery,” Grossman said in a press release. “The beer culture, water quality and quality of life are excellent. We feel lucky to be a part of this community.”

The new facility will add much-needed capacity for Sierra Nevada, and will allow for the quick shipment of brewery-fresh beer to consumers in the East.

The Mills River brewery will start with a capacity around 300,000 barrels, with room to grow. The added barrelage will accommodate wider production of the myriad of seasonal beers and bottled specialties Sierra Nevada has produced in recent years. It also will expand production of the brewery’s well-known flagship beer, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, the company stated.

Sierra Nevada noted that it began the search for a new location several years ago.

The brewery said it looked at hundreds of potential sites, eventually narrowing the search down to a handful of locations.

The list of criteria was long and included quantifiable factors, such as ease of shipping and water quality, as well as quality-of -life issues for its employees.

Sierra Nevada said it has “a reputation for a laid-back brewery culture and a love of the outdoors, and the new facility will retain this same tone. The Asheville area offers Sierra Nevada Brewing the perfect confluence of community, recreation and

New Belgium Brewing expected to decide on new location soon

Pale Ale beer Gov. Bev Perdue craft beer culture.”

Sierra Nevada officials said the eastern brewery site is expected to employ about 90 workers, with additional staff in the restaurant to follow. The brewery anticipates being operational by early 2014.

Meanwhile, the governor’s office stated that “the company plans to create 95 fulltime jobs as part of the grant and invest $107.5 million during the next five years in Henderson County. In addition, the company expects to hire another 80 part-time employees and expects to create about 60 construction and mechanical jobs during its 24-month building phase. These jobs will be created in gradual phases starting in mid to late 2012 and continuing through 2013.”

Salaries will vary by job function, but the average annual wage for the new jobs will be $41,526 plus benefits. The Henderson County average annual wage is $32,240.

Founded in 1980, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. described itself in a press release as “one of America’s premier craft breweries, highly regarded for using only whole-cone hops and ingredients of the finest quality.

“Sierra Nevada has set the standard for artisan brewers worldwide as a winner of numerous awards for its extensive line of beers including the flagship Pale Ale, Torpedo, Porter, Stout, Kellerweis, four seasonal beers, Estate Ale, Harvest Ales, Ovila Abbey Ales and a host of draughtonly specialties,” the company noted.

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From Staff Reports Despite rumors that New Belgium Brewing has purchased property in the Asheville’s River Arts District, the brewery has countered that no decision on its East Coast expansion will be made until sometime in late January or early February.

Asheville City Councilman Jan Davis confirmed the New Belgium’s interest in Asheville as a possible site for a new brewery at a Sept. 22 meeting of the Council of Independent Business Owners .

During CIBO’s candidates forum, Davis said that while he welcomes the company, he is skeptical about the need for incentives. However, Davis said economic incentives for the company are a possibility.

“We have an opportunity with the New Belgium brewery,” Davis said during the forum. “We’re going to have to make a decision on that — whether to help the brewery with incentives or encourage them to be here because of the quality of life.”

On Jan. 29, The Denver Post reported that “New Belgium Brewing is eyeing Asheville, N.C., and Philadelphia as potential sites for a new brewery.”

The newspaper quoted New Belgium spokesman Bryan Simpson as saying, “Asheville and Philly are leading our short list of sites.

“But we are not under contract for property anywhere,” Simpson told the Post in response to Twitter reports Jan. 25 that the brewer had chosen an Asheville location.

The Fort Collins, Colo.-based brewer had started with eight to 10 prospective East Coast sites, then narrowed the list to four earlier this year. Simpson declined to disclose the other two on the short list.

New Belgium, maker of the popular Fat Tire and Sunshine Wheat, is the nation’s third-largest craft brewer, behind Boston Beer Co. and Sierra Nevada Brewing.

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6 —February 2012 - Asheville Daily Planet

Daily Planet Staff Photos

Rally rips banks

Despite the chilly weather, about 25 people gathered in Pritchard Park on Jan. 9 for an Asheville MoveOn.org protest rally against Bank of America and Wells Fargo, which flank the downtown park. The protesters demanded that President Barack Obama stand up to what they termed “the big banks” and order a federal investigation of them. They protested Wall Street’s alleged involvement in the foreclosure crisis. Local MoveOn member said, “Millions of homes and jobs lost — and the president has yet to hold the banks accountable for the fraudulent practices that nearly torpedoed the economy.”

Candidates voice views at local tea party forum Eichenbaum wins group’s endorsement, again

From Staff Reports SKYLAND — Four Republicans and one Democrat shared their viewpoints during a more than four-hour candidates forum hosted by the Asheville Tea Party on Jan. 28 at the Skyland Fire Department.

Dr. Dan Eichenbaum, who is seeking the 11th District Republican nomination, was endorsed on Feb. 2 by the ATP,” Chairwoman Jane Bilello told the Daily Planet.

He was “the only one to go through the ATP’s requisite iCaucus process completely.”

Eichenbaum was endorsed by the ATP for the same post in the last election, but was defeated by Jeff Miller of Hendersonville in the GOP primary. Bilello added that “there are are whole bunch of other endorsements” the local tea party will be announcing soon.

About 150 voters attended, beginning with a hour-long reception at noon. The forum continued until about 5:20 p.m., when only one candidate remained, as others excused themselves toward the end to fulfill other commitments.

A strong police contingent was present — based on concerns that members of Occupy Asheville might show up and disrupt the proceedings. However, no demonstrators showed up.

As for the candidates, three Republicans, the representative of a fourth Republican, one Democrat and their entourages filled the remaining seats.

Appearing were Asheville City Councilman Cecil Bothwell, the lone Democrat; Eichenbaum, District Attorney Jeff Hunt, Mark Meadows and Vance Patterson.

Expected but missing were Republicans Kenny West and Ethan Wingfield.

All of the candidates, except for Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-Cherryville, are seeking the N.C. 11th District seat held by Rep. Heath Shuler, D-Waynesville. McHenry, who was absent and represents the 10th District, was represented by campaign staffer Laurie Moody.

Following Gov. Bev Perdue’s announcement that she will not seek re-election, Shuler reportedly was considering a run for her job However, Shuler announced Jan. 31 that he will not seek the top state post.

Several of the candidates mentioned during the forum that, since the ATP endorsed Eichenbaum in the last congressional campaign, they had concerns about whether they will be given a fair shot for

an endorsement, since Eichenbaum is running again.

Each of the candidates was asked the same series of six question, while the others were sequestered in a room where they could not hear one another’s answers.

The questions focused on job creation, deficit spending, immigration and health care reform, also known as ObamaCare.

All of the Republicans said they favored reduced federal spending and the repeal of ObamaCare and expressed similar views on the other questions.

Bothwell stressed that he entered the race “chiefly in response to corruption in government.”

Bothwell, who will face Shuler in the May 8 Democratic primary— if Shuler decides to run again — said he thinks the federal government should be involved in job creation by funding work projects.

These would be similar to the projects that built the Blue Ridge Parkway or funded the Tennessee Valley Authority during the Great Depression of the 1930s.

“We have a lot of work to do, and now is the time for it to be done,” Bothwell said.

Eichenbaum said, “I’m running because we are being run by an interchangeable gang of crooks and liars” from both major political parties. He asked for a limit of three terms for congressmen, noting that he has pledged to personally abide by his proposal.

Hunt said he is “the only candidate for Congress (at the forum) who’s been fully vetted” — as was required of him to serve as a D.A. He also noted that he “has been married to the same woman for 35 years.”

He added, “The reason I’m running is America is gone unless we get to a zero (budget) deficit. Then, we need to work on our national debt ... We can’t do it by raising taxes. It would kill the private sector.”

Speaking for McHenry, Moody said, “We’re thrilled to bring conservative change into Asheville.” She stressed that McHenry favors limited government and an emphasis on personal liberties.

Meadows touted his credentials as “a conservative Christian businessman.”

He said the nation “needs to cut back on spending that’s gotten us where we are” — broke. (Meadows recently was endorsed by Jeff Miller, the GOP’s nominee in the last election who failed to unseat Shuler.)

See FORUM, Page 8

Asheville Daily Planet — February 2012 - 7

After 215 years, Asheville hires its first-ever black police chief From Staff Reports After an extensive national search, the City of Asheville announced Jan. 13 that William Anderson will serve as the city’s next police chief, effective March 1.

He will be the first African-American to serve as police chief for Asheville, which was incorporated in 1797.

Anderson brings 34 years of experience in public service to the Asheville police department with more than 10 years served as a police chief.

Currently serving as chief of police in Greenville, N.C., Anderson is highly regarded in his field. He also serves as the regional director for the North Carolina Association of Chiefs of Police and was appointed to the State Emergency Response Commission in 2011 by Gov. Bev Perdue.

In addition, Anderson served 11 years in the Coast Guard Reserves and is an active community member, serving in numerous civic and professional organizations.

“William has a proven track record of leadership in the areas we heard were most important to our community, our employees and our strategic partners,” City Manager Gary Jackson said in a press release.

“He has a wealth of experience in tackling the challenges that come with being the police chief in a diverse and dynamic community. I am confident he is capable of taking the department to the next level.”

Meanwhile, Anderson said, “My family and I are thrilled to relocate to Asheville.

The Asheville Police Department is wellknown and respected throughout the state and I am excited about the opportunity to lead the department.”

Anderson is a graduate of BethuneCookman University in Daytona Beach, Fla., and a graduate of the FBI National Academy – 192nd session.

Anderson’s acceptance of the offer marks the end of an extensive recruitment process which drew 109 applicants and began with input meetings with community members, police officers and community stakeholders, the city announcement stated.

The process involved a comprehensive assessment that involved 18 assessors made up of city staff, community stakeholders and five law enforcement executives.

The assessment was a series of exercises designed to view the final candidates in a variety of roles a police executive might assume.

Finally, the process concluded with indepth interviews between the city manager and the finalists.

William Anderson Anderson will succeed former Chief Bill Hogan, who announced his retirement in May as an investigation into the APD’s evidence handling was launched.

Greenville City Manager Wayne Bowers said in a press release that Anderson was a solid leader.

Meanwhile, WLOS-TV in Asheville reported Jan. 25 that “Anderson responded to critics who say he’s soft on crime and ignores the minority community in Greenville, N.C., where he is currently chief of police. Anderson talked (of) family, career and his plans to clean up troubled APD. “He also denied he was asked to resign from GPD. Anderson said it’s simply the right time to explore new opportunities,” WLOS noted.

In a Jan. 19 editorial headlined “Here’s hoping new chief is up to challenges,” the Asheville Citizen-Times stated, “The only rough patch in Anderson’s career came in DeLand, Fla., where he resigned in 2002 after coming under criticism by one council member and a spokesman for the police union. Foes accused him of being dictatorial. Supporters said he was trying to modernize a department that was reluctant to change.”

However, the editorial concluded, “By all indications, Anderson is a strong leader with an understanding of diversity and community policing, just the sort of chief an urban police force needs. We wish him well, for his sake and for the city’s.”

Radio veteran takes over as host, ‘watchdog’ on 570-AM talk-show From Staff Reports Veteran broadcaster Pete Kaliner was named the host for the high-profile daily afternoon drive-time talk-show (3-6 p.m.) for WWNC-AM/570 in Asheville on Jan. 20.

Kaliner, 37, is promising a lively show.

He formerly was an evening host for WBT, a powerhouse AM radio station in Charlotte. He worked as a journalist and on-air personality for the station from 1999 to 2011. In 2011, he worked as a news reporter at News 14 Carolina, a Charlotte television station.

At WWNC, he replaces Matt Mittan, who left the station in October after several of his co-workers were let go by the Clear Channel-owned station, including his producer, Agnes Cheek. Mittan’s show was known as “Take A Stand.”

(Mittan returned to the airwaves of Western North Carolina on Dec. 5, when he began a “drive time” show on WHKP-AM/ 1450 in Hendersonville. The show airs from 5:05 to 6 p.m. weekdays.)

Following Mittan’s departure, that time slot has been filled by syndicated host Sean Hannity, whose program will return to its previous 6-9 p.m. slot.

“The Pete Kaliner Show” debuted on Jan. 23. He has described himself as neither a Republican nor a Democrat.

Kaliner has said in various interviews that he wants his show to include conversations with locals about current Pete Kaliner events, as well as feature lighter subjects. He also plans to include high-profile guests.

WWNC Program Director Brian Hall received about 130 applications from radio personalities across the country.

In promotions for Kaliner’s new show, WWNC billed him as Western North Carolina’s new “watchdog.”

The West Islip, N.Y., native got his radio start at Charlotte public station WFAE-FM in its membership department. Next, he worked at WRHI in Rock Hill, S.C., then moved to WBT, first as a reporter and then as on-air host. Last June, he filled in as a guest host for Mittan at WWNC.

Tell our advertisers — who enable us to bring you this newspaper — that you saw their ad in the Daily Planet!

The Buncombe County Republican Party will be conducting 2012 Countywide Precinct meetings as follows (Please note precinct meetings are open to all / any Republicans registered within the last 30 days):

Feb. 1st-29th BCGOP PRECINCT MEETINGS COUNTYWIDE

Feb. 4th — Hominy Valley Republican Team Precinct Meeting Enka Library, 1404 Sand Hill Road, Candler Time: 10 am Contact: Linda Reese, 665-4024 Feb. 4th — West Buncombe Republican Team Precinct Meeting, 124 Ridgeview Road, Alexander Time: 9 am Contact: Dorothea Alderfer, 683-2567 Feb. 7th — West Asheville Republican Team Precinct Meeting West Asheville Library, 942 Haywood Road, Asheville Time: 6:30 pm Contact: Raymond Annens, 674-1159 Feb. 11th — South Buncombe Republican Team Precinct Meeting, Skyland Fire Department, 9 Miller Road, Skyland Time 10 am Contact: Laura McCue, 777-1068 Feb. 18th — Fairview Republican Team Precinct Meeting Fairview Vol. Fire Department, Charlotte Highway, Fairview Time: 1 pm Contact: Marie Yates, 777-8426 Feb. 21st — North Asheville Republican Team Precinct Meeting North Asheville Library, 1030 Merrimon Avenue, Asheville Time: 6:30 pm Contact: Mark Cates, 225-6864 Feb. 23rd — Downtown Republican Team Precinct Meeting Magnolia’s Restaurant, Walnut Street, Asheville Time: 6:30 pm Contact: Matt Hoagland, 429-4394 Feb. 28th — North Buncombe Republican Team Precinct Meeting, Weaverville Fire Department, 3 Monticello Road, Time: 7 pm Contact: Jerry Lemonds, 645-8004 Feb. 13th-29th — Candidate Filing Period

2012 BCGOP COUNTY CONVENTION MARCH 31, A-B TECH, FERGUSON AUDITORIUM 8:30 am — County Precinct Meetings Reconvene 9:30 am — County Convention

8 —February 2012 - Asheville Daily Planet

WCQS’ board agrees to study critics’ ideas Compromise offered by foes of license renewal one in attendance — including seven members of the public and one news reporter — would be knowledgeable about its contents.

“If you feel you need to read it out loud, I wouldn’t prevent it,” Smith said evenly.

“I wouldn’t stop you.” However, he asked Flaxman to consider not doing that, so that the board could proceed with its meeting and not get sidetracked. “If you’d give us a chance to look at it” at length, “we’d get back with you” by the next directors meeting, the chairman noted in soothing tones.

After a pause, Flaxman relented and agreed not to press ahead to read aloud his committee’s letter in consideration for Smith’s apparent openness to looking at it in depth. Nonetheless, Flaxman reiterated briefly his concerns about the station’s policies, procedures and programming.

After two female listeners in attendance expressed clashing views about the station’s performance, Steven R. Hageman, executive director of the Asheville Symphony Orchestra, came out strongly in support of the radio station’s staff and management.

“I’d just say I’m confused by what’s going on,” Hageman said. “For the majority of people I speak to who enjoy classical music” and the station’s other programming, “they’re very happy.”

Immediately expressing a similar sentiment, Terry Van Duyn, a member of the board of directors from Asheville, praised Evans’ efforts since she took over daily management of the station last June.

“We’ve seen” nearly every measurement “go up” for WCQS in that period.

Apparently speaking on behalf of the board, Van Duyn added, “We’re very, very supportive of the work Jody is doing.” (As a director, Van Duyn is the chair of the board’s development committee.) Other board members nodded in agreement and none of the directors expressed disagreement to Van Duyn’s praise of Evans.

The board spent the rest of the 45-minute open meeting mostly reviewing routine reports that, in general, indicated many positives on the performance of the station. Following an executive session that was called to discuss pending litigation, the board adjourned.

WCQS-FM/88.1 is located at 73 Broadway St. in downRegarding crititown Asheville. cisms that WCQS

By JOHN NORTH The board of directors of Asheville-based public radio station WCQS-FM (88.1) on Jan. 18 heard from the leader of a group that has filed a petition — with the Federal Communications Commission — asking that the 1,600-watt operation be denied a renewal of its broadcast license.

The bimonthly directors’ meeting began with public comments, turning the spotlight directly on listener Fred Flaxman, who was recognized at once by Bryan Smith, chairman of the station’s board of directors.

Flaxman, a Weaverville resident and retired long-time pubcaster, is the coordinator and organizer of the local Ad-Hoc Committee for Responsive Public Radio.

Recently, the critic of WCQS has clashed with station officials and other listeners — in the local press — over his group’s issues with WCQS, which is located downtown at 73 Broadway St. However, the directors meeting was held at the offices of Habitat for Humanity at 30 Meadow Rd. Flaxman began by asking Smith, station Executive Director Jody Evans and 18 directors present if they had read the letter his ad-hoc group had mailed to them over the preceding weekend. (In the letter, Flaxman’s group offers 14 “suggestions” for change. If the changes are made — the group said in the letter — it would gladly withdraw the petition to deny WCQS’ broadcast license renewal).

In noting that there was no mail service on Jan. 16 because of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, Smith said the letter was received by the station on Jan. 17 and that he and other board members got a copy of it “about 3 or 4 p.m.” that day — too late to be dealt with at the next day’s meeting.

Flaxman then asked if Smith would mind if he read the letter aloud, so that every-

Forum

Continued from Page 6 “I stand for life, liberty and less government,” Meadows said, adding that he is pro-life and a proponent of traditional marriage — “one man-one woman.”

Patterson — who exhibited a sense of humor that often had the crowd laughing — said he is, first and foremost, “a businessman. “I’m running because I want to work for my family” instead of the government.

Patterson said that, as a child growing up, he never dreamed the United States would put itself in a position of depending on borrowing from China to stay afloat financially, and advocates drilling for oil domestically to make the country energyindependent.

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From left are Jody Evans, WCQS’ executive director; Fred Flaxman, coordinator and organizer of the Ad-Hoc Committee for Responsive Public Radio; and Bryan Smith, the station’s chairman of the board of directors.

officials have fired at Flaxman and his committee, Flaxman wrote to the Daily Planet on Jan. 31 that “WCQS more than implies that the opposition to their license renewal is a matter of ‘sour grapes’ on my part. You (the Planet reporter) asked me about that and I told you that this was not at all about me; it is about them. And when people don’t have good arguments on their side, they resort to ad hominem attacks on the motives of the person making the arguments on the other side.”

Further, Flaxman asserted, “So they are attacking me, but I am only one of the 30 people who signed the FCC Petition to Deny their license renewal. I have never met most of the other signers, and their reasons for signing are many, but none of them have anything whatsoever to do with my classical radio series. They agree with the wording of the petition, or they would not have signed it.”

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Asheville Daily Planet — February 2012 — 9

Scientist touts Ayn Rand’s philosophy of reason

By JOHN NORTH HENDERSONVILLE — Fred Hoffstadt addressed writer-philosopher Ayn Rand’s quote that “I swear — by my life and my love of it — that I will never live for the sake of another man” in the Great Quotes lecture series on Jan. 12 in Lake Pointe Landing’s Stony Mountain Auditorium.

About 50 people attended the second in the season’s series, which is moderated by Don Emon. Proceeds from the program will be donated to Mars Hill College for a scholarship this year.

Emon joked that the real topic for the night is “The Philosophy of Ayn Rand — or Fred’s Quest for Moral Clarity.”

Hoffstadt explained Rand’s quote and its background — and suggested how it could apply to individuals’ lives.

Following his presentation, a questionand-answer period was held, after which there was general discussion by the audience. Hoffstadt then closed the program with “the last word.”

Hoffstadt, a Hendersonville resident who holds two masters degrees in the sciences, began his address by noting “I’m not a philosopher, I’m a scientist ... The answers were not there until I learned Objectivism,” which is a philosophy Rand founded.

He noted that Rand first outlined Objectivism in her 1957 magnum opus, “Atlas Shrugged.”

“My emphasis tonight is going to be on aesthetics ... Why do you even need a code of morality? To make choices.”

Hoffstadt spent much of his presentation, outlining Rand’s philosophy, including its metaphysics, epistemology and ethics.

At that point, he asserted, “It seems like Ayn Rand (1905-1982) has been making lots of news these days, even though she passed away about 30 years ago.”

He added, “Philosophy is to life what science is to reality.”

The three axioms of Objectivism, Hoffstadt said are: • There is an objective reality.

• Every existence has its own unique nature.

• Humans are able to perceive that which exists (reality).

In Rand’s epistemology, Hoffstadt said, “Reason ... is the human being’s only means of knowledge.”

He said that Objectivism “is a moral code designed to sustain your life and steer your toward life-sustaining actions and away from life-destructive ones.”

Conversely, Rand said man’s primary vice is irrationality, with “the derivatives” of the initiation of a threat of physical force, and fraud.

In summary, Hoffstadt said, “the standard of value is man’s life ... The reason you choose your values is to mantain and enjoy your life.

“Then, who should profit from your actions? You.” In turning to Rand’s political philosophy, Hoffstadt said “the basic principle” of Objectivism is individual rights. He termed a “right” as “a moral principle defining and sanctioning a man’s freedom of action in a social context.” He said Rand contended that the fundamental right is “the right to life,” including exercising one’s own decisions.

He asked, “Where does government fit into all of this?” He quoted Rand’s answer as “the only legitimate function of government is to protect and defend individual rights,” with the derivatives of a police and court system — and a military for defense.

He then said Rand believed that “intellectual freedom cannot exist without political freedm, which cannot exist without economic freedom ... The economic system

Fred Hoffstadt

Ayn Rand

consistent with these basic freedoms is capitalism.”

Rand also was a proponent of the “trader principle,” in which “one earns what he gets — and does not take the unearned.”

He concluded his presentation by noting that, “in spiritual issues, a trader does not expect to be loved for his virtues and flaws, but from his strengths.”

During a question-and-answer session, a man said, “Different people have different realities. How do you determine” the reality that is real?

“Rand would claim that there is just one reality,” Hoffstadt replied.

A woman said, “I think we all have different values and philosophies.”

“Yeah, well, what Rand is saying in that is there are objectively discoverable criteria by which we behave.”

In concluding the questioning, Emon, the moderator, said, “It seems clear that reason and rationality are a major force in this philosophy. If all people accepted this philosophy, what kind of society would we have?”

“I think we’d all be more respectful of others,” Hoffstadt replied. “If each of us, in all our activities with other people ... I think we (now) trample on others’ rights.”

For instance, he noted he opposed the U.S.’ military campaign in Iraq.

“As far as the God question goes — there is no God in Objectivism. That’s up to science to determine.” Hoffstadt said Rand believed that “morals and ethics can be determined by the human mind ... They don’t come from above.”

“Would there be wars any more?” Emon asked.

“No,” Hoffstadt replied.

“Would people belong to religious organizations?

Emon queried.

“If they are Objectivists — no,” Hoffstadt replied, noting that Rand was an atheist.

He then quoted from a letter by Rand, in which she wrote, “I believe my statement of man’s proper morality does not contradict” any religious belief if that belief includes faith in man’s concept of free will.

Hoffstadt added that, in his view, “Christianity is the one religion (in the world) that espouses free will” and, therefore, is compatible with Rand’s Objectivism.

During an open discussion, a woman said, “To fix our problems, we need to first focus on getting ourselves together ... Everything starts within to fix anything.”

Hoffstadt then said in the “last word” portion of the program that “what I could relate to most ... is the comment that ‘it comes from within.’”

He noted that Rand defined “pride” as “the relentless pursuit of your own moral

perfection ... Ben Franklin would have liked that.”

Hoffstadt also asserted, “I’m so disappointed with the absence of young people here tonight ... I mean they have more important things to do on Thursday nights,” such as watching “Dancing With the Stars” on their television sets.

In a brief interview with the Daily Planet afterward, Hoffstadt was asked if he disagreed with any aspect of Rand’s philosophy.

“Not so much the philosophy, but things she proseletized about ... For example, she didn’t address redemption.” Instead, he said Rand focused on “moral errors.”

Overall, though, Hoffstadt said of Objectivism, “I think there’s a lot of truth in it.”

To that end, he cited Rand’s admonition to “always question your premises.”

As for Rand’s difficulty in getting along with others and proclivity to ex-communicate those in her inner circle who disagreed with her, Hoffstadt said, “I think her intense personality got her into trouble” in such cases.

So what is Hoffstadt’s conclusion about how Objectivism and Christianity might interconnect?

“There are parallels — and not,” Hoffstadt answered, noting that examining any link between Objectivism and Christianity is a complicated matter.

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10 - February 2012 - Asheville Daily Planet

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, Feb. 3

LECTURE, 11:25 a.m., Humanities Lecture Hall, UNC Asheville. Jeff Konz, dean of social sciences and associate professor of economics, will address” Industrialization, Capitalism and Alienation.” The lecture is free and open to the public.

LECTURE, 11:25 a.m., Lipisky Auditorium, UNC Asheville. Brian Butler, chairman and associate professor of philosophy, will address “Beyond Rights: Toward Capabilities.” Admission is free and open to the public.

POETRY SLAM, 6 p.m., Bo Thomas Auditorium, Blue Ridge Community College, East Flat Rock. Henderson County Early College’s Drama Club is hold its first Brave Legacies poetry slam.

Audience members are encouraged to be prepared for occasional mature content. Admission is free and refreshments will be served during a brief intermission.

READING/BOOK-SIGNING, 7 p.m., Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café, 55 Haywood St., downtown Asheville. Carl Ernst will read from his latest work and sign books. Ernst seeks to help his readers better understand the historical and literary background of Islam’s foundational text in his new book, “How to Read the Qur’an: A New Guide With Selection Translations.” Ernst is a professor of religious studies at UNC Chapel Hill.

THEATER, 8 p.m., Diana Wortham Theatre, Pack Place, Pack Square, downtown Asheville.

Aquila Theatre will present Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Ernest.” For tickets, visit www.dwtheatre.com or call 257-4530.

Saturday, Feb. 4

DANCE-A-THON, 11:59 a.m.-11:59 p.m., Justice Athletic Center, UNC Asheville. The Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center will hold its inaugural Asheville Dance-a-Thon featuring a crew of Asheville’s dancers and instructors, with 16 genres of dance available. The 12-hour, all-ages, all levels event will include two dance floors. Tickets can be purchased to dance all night long for $75 or simply to watch, $15. For tickets, visit www.ashevilledanceathon.com.

READING/BOOK-SIGNING, 3 p.m., Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café, 55 Haywood St., downtown Asheville. Charleston, S.C., writer and editor Signe Pike will read from his latest work and sign books. Pike decided to travel the globe in search of faeries and those who believed in them after the death of her father. “Faery Tale,” the story of her adventures in England, Ireland, Scotland and Mexico, has been feaured on National Public Radio and was a Kirkus Reviews selection for Best Book of 2010.

THEATER, 8 p.m., Diana Wortham Theatre, Pack Place, Pack Square, downtown Asheville.

Aquila Theatre will present William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth.” For tickets, visit www.dwtheatre.com or call 257-4530.

Sunday, Feb. 5

CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERT, 3 p.m., St. Matthias Church, 1 Dundee St., Asheville. A chamber music concert will feature a solo performance by flutist Kate Steinback. She will perform a program of American composers, which she will repeat in Barcelona, Spain, later this year. A free-will offering will be taken for restoration of the historic church.

POETRY READING/BOOK-SIGNING, 3 p.m., Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café, 55 Haywood St., downtown Asheville. Reading from their works and signing them will be poets Nancy Dillingham (“Home,” “Reflections in a River”), Aaron Belz (“Lovely Raspberry”) and a third writer yet to be announced.

Monday, Feb. 6 TRAFFIC DISCUSSION, 6:30 p.m., auditoriu,

Jewish Community Center, 236 Charlotte St., Asheville. A community meeting to discuss the Charlotte Street corridor will be held. Rsidents will have the opportunity to hear from city transportation department staff concerning concepts for changing the traffic pattern for the Charlotte Street corridor between the Interstate 240 bridge and the intersection with Edwin Place. City staff will present data from recent traffic studies and information about potential elements that could be included in the design if the project is developed for implementation.

POETRY READING, 7 p.m., Laurel Forum, Karpen Hall, UNC Asheville. Norman Fischer, a poet and Zen Buddhist priest, will read from his forthcoming book’length poem, “Conflict.” The event is free and open to the public. See Feb. 7 listing for details on his Feb. 7 lecture.

BOOK DISCUSSION, 7 p.m., Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café, 55 Haywood St., downtown Asheville.

The Bridging Differences Book Club, hosted by Patti Digh, will lead a discussion of “My Own Country” by Abraham Verghese.

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.,Grey Eagle. 185 Clingman Ave., Asheville. A contra dance is held weekly. Admission is $6.

Tuesday, Feb. 7

LECTURE, 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m., Ferguson Auditorium, A-B Tech, Asheville. The A-B Tech Diversity Committee will present a talk on Islam. Behavior Sciences Chair Kelly McEnany and Muslim educator Ahmad Amara will examine stereotypes about Arabs and Muslims in the U.S., give insight into social and political issues and explore how Muslims express their faith. Admission is free and open to the public.

TANGO LESSON/DANCE, 6 p.m., The Boiler Room, Grove House Entertainment Complex, 11 Grove St., downtown Asheville. Tango lessons will precede a dance.

SWING LESSON/DANCE, 6:30 p.m., Club Eleven, Grove House Entertainment Complex, 11 Grove St., downtown Asheville. A lesson will be

Jewish Meditation Center in San Francisco and the author of a number of books. The event is free and open to the public.

SHAG DANCE, 7-11 p.m., The Hangar, Clarion Inn Airport, 550 Airport Road, Fletcher. The Mountain Shag Club’s weekly dance will feature a DJ. At 6:30 p.m., free lessons will be offered by Paul and Debbie Peterson. Admission is $5.

Wednesday, Feb. 8

Norman Fischer, a poet and Zen Buddhist priest, will address “God, Sin, Pain, Song and Jewish Meditation” at 7 p.m. Feb. 7 in 114 Mountain View Conference Room at the Sherill Center at UNC Asheville. followed by a dance, with live music.

FORUM, 6:30 p.m., 103 Ramsey Hall, A-B Tech’s Madison site, Marshall. A-B Tech will hold the first in a series of forums at which it is looking for ideas on what the community wants from the Madison County location.

LECTURE, 7 p.m., Reuter Center, UNC Asheville. The World Affairs Council of WNC will present t talk by Susan Zelle, retired from the Foreign Service Office. She will address “Promoting Democracy.” Admission is $8.

LECTURE, 7 p.m., 114 Mountain View Conference Room, Sherill Center, UNC Asheville.

Norman Fischer, a poet and Zen Buddhist priest, will address “God, Sin, Pain, Song and Jewish Meditation.” Fischer is the senior dharma teacher at the San Francisco Zen Center. He also is the founder and spiritual director of the Everyday Zen Foundation and the co-founder of the Makor Or

TEA TIME SOCIAL, 6 p.m., Apollo Flame, 1025 Brevard Rd., Asheville. The Asheville Tea Party will hold its weekly Tea Time Social. All interested are invited to attend.

WORKSHOP, 7 p.m., Malaprop’s Bookstore/ Café, 55 Haywood St., downtown Asheville.

Betty Shotton, local chief executive officer and author of “Lift-Off Leadership: 10 Principles for Exceptional Leadership,” will lead a “Let’s Talk Leadership” workshop. Shotton will share her thoughts on exceptional leaders and how to use their qualities to continue our leadership growth.

FILM, 8 p.m., Grotto, Highsmith University Union, UNC Asheville. The film “Hotel Rwanda” will be shown. Admission is free and open to the public.

Thursday, Feb. 9

BROWN-BAG TALK, 12:30 p.m., Whitman Room, Ramsey Library, UNC Asheville. The Brown-Bag Talk series with the UNCA faculty will eature an address by Darin Waters, history lecturer, on “Barely Seen and Rarely Heard: Political Invisibility of Asheville’s Black Community, 18651900.” Admission is free and open to the public.

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, Feb. 10

SYMPHONY TALK, 3 p.m., Manheim Room, Reuter Center, UNC Ahseville. Symphony Talk with Daniel Meyer will preview the next concert of the Asheville Symphony Orchestra. Admission is free and open to the public.

See CALENDAR, Page 11

Calendar

Continued from Page 10

Friday, Feb. 10

READING/BOOK-SIGNING, 7 p.m., Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café, 55 Haywood St., downtown Asheville. Scott Poole will read from his work and sign books. Poole, a confessed horror fiend and College of Charleston (S.C.) professor, will look at the significance of nightmares in “Monsters in America: Our Historical Obsession with the Hideous and the Haunting.”

Saturday, Feb. 11 PRECINCT MEETINGS, 10 a.m., Skyland Fire Department, Skyland. The South County Republican Precinct Meetings will be held. To serve as a delegate or officer, an individual must be a registered Republican as of Jan. 31, 2012.

READING/BOOK-SIGNING, 3 p.m., Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café, 55 Haywood St., downtown Asheville. Beth Revis and Megan Miranda will read from their works and sign books. Revis, a local author, will share her newest work, “A Million Suns,” the second in her “Across the Universe” trilogy. Charlotte author Megan Miranda will discuss her first novel, “Fracture.”

READING/BOOK-SIGNING, 7 p.m., Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café, 55 Haywood St., downtown Asheville. Kerby and Mary Neill will read from their work and sign books. “Binding Their Wounds: America’s Assault on its Veterans,” begun by Vietnam veteran and historian Robert “Doc” Topmiller, takes a look into the treatment of veterans from the Revolutionary War forward.

Topmiller suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome and died before the project could be completed. His friends, Kerby and Neill, finished his manuscript, telling Doc’s story alongside it.

ZOMBIES’ PARTY, 7 p.m., ZaPow art gallery, 21 Battery Park Ave., Suite 101, downtown Asheville. A “Zombies and Lusty Ladies” party will be hosted by the gallery. Attendees are not required to dress up, but costumes are highly recommended. Fetures will include free WeeHeavier beer from French Broad Brewing, live music from The Mad Tea Party and prizes for the best fictional character zombie and best lusty lady zombie and most gruesome zombie.

Sunday, Feb. 12

READING/BOOK-SIGNING, 3 p.m., Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café, 55 Haywood St., downtown Asheville. Joshilyn Jackson will read from her latest work and sign books. Jackson’s “A Grown Up King of Pretty” focuses on generations of Mississippi women dealing with a deep family secret.

Monday, Feb. 13

LECTURE, 7 p.m., Humanities Lecture Hall, UNC Asheville. Brooke Allen, author of “Moral Minority: Our Skeptical Founding Fathers,” wil discuss the Founding Fathers’ thoughts on religion and Christianity. Admission is free and open to the public.

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.,Grey Eagle. 185 Clingman Ave., Asheville. A contra dance is held weekly. Admission is $6.

Asheville Daily Planet — February 20112 — 11

swing dance couple. For tickets, visit ticketmaster. com or call (800) 745-3000.

CONCERT, 4 p.m., Lipsinky Auditorium, UNC Asheville. The UNCA Jazz Band and Studio 18 Vocal Jazz Ensemble Concert will feature jazz big-band and jazz vocal selections.

Admission is $5 at the door for the general public and free for students and children.

TEA PARTY DINNER/MEETING, 5:30 p.m., The Bay Breeze Restaurant, 1830 Asheville Hwy., Hendersonville.

The Henderson County TEA Party will begin with dinner. At 6, the meetThe Project Trio will perform, featuring “classical music with a twist,” will business ing will include perform at 8 p.m. Feb. 15 in UNC Asheville’s Lipinsky Auditorium. welcoming the new general coordinator and discussing organization for the future. At 6:30, TEA TIME SOCIAL, 6 p.m., Apollo Flame, 1025 Kenny West, a Clay County businessman, will deliver the first of the HCTP’s 2012 Cooper Union Brevard Rd., Asheville. The Asheville Tea Party will hold its weekly Tea Time Social. All interested addresses, followed by a question-and-answer session. At 7:30, a town hall meeting will focus are invited to attend. on county issues with Bill O’Connor, vice chairCONCERT, 8 p.m., Lipinsky Auditorium, UNC man of the Henderson County Board of CommisAsheville. The Project Trio, a Brooklyn, N.Y.sioners and an HCTP founder. based chamber music ensemble, will feature “classical with a twist.” Admission is $5 for UNCA students, $7 for all area students, $15 for UNCA faculty-staff-alumni of NCCR-WCU, and FILM, 7 p.m., 143 Highsmith University Union, $20 for the general public.

UNC Asheville. The film “Soul Food Junkies” will be screened, followed by a discussion with filmmaker Byron Hurt. Admission is free and open to LECTURE, 7:30 p.m., Whitman Room, Ramsey the public.

WEST COAST SWING CLASSES, 7:30 and 8 Library, UNC Asheville. “Go Spartans: Girls’ p.m., The Hangar, Clarion Hotel, Fletcher. Free Athletics in Ancient Greece” will be addressed beginners’ lessons for West Coast Swing will be

by Jenifer Neils. She is the Ruth Coulter Heede held at 7:30, followed by intermediate lessons at Professor of Art History and Classics at Case 8 every Monday. The lessons are free. After the Western Reserve University. The lecture is free lessons, an open dance will be held. and open to the public.

CONTRA DANCE, 8 p.m.,Grey Eagle. 185 CONTRA DANCE, 8 p.m., Bryson Gym, Warren Clingman Ave., Asheville. A contra dance is held Wilson College, Swannanoa. A contra dance is weekly. Admission is $6. held weekly, preceded by beginner’s lessons at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $6.

Wednesday, Feb. 15

Monday, Feb. 20

Thursday, Feb. 16

Friday, Feb. 17

1940s MUSICAL REVUE, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, 87 Haywood St., downtown Asheville. A 1940s musical revue, “In the Mood,” will celebrate the life and times of America’s greatest generation through the music of Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, Harry James, The Andrews Sisters, Frank Sinatra and other greats of the 1940s.

A company of 19 will perform, with a 13-piece big band and six signers, including a high-energy

Tuesday, Feb. 21

TANGO LESSON/DANCE, 6 p.m., The Boiler Room, Grove House Entertainment Complex, 11 Grove St., downtown Asheville. Tango lessons will precede a dance.

“LIGHTNING” TALKS, 6 p.m., Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave., Asheville. Ignite Asheville, a series of short talks about a variety of topics, will be held. Admission is $10 in advance, or $5 for students and $15/$10 on the day of the event.

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.

SHAG DANCE, 7-11 p.m., The Hangar, Clarion Inn Airport, 550 Airport Road, Fletcher. The Mountain Shag Club’s weekly dance will feature a DJ. At 6:30 p.m., free lessons will be offered by Paul and Debbie Peterson. Admission is $5.

Wednesday, Feb. 22

TEA TIME SOCIAL, 6 p.m., Apollo Flame, 1025 Brevard Rd., Asheville. The Asheville Tea Party will hold its weekly Tea Time Social. All interested are invited to attend.

SUSTAINABLE VITICULTURE CONFERENCE, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Warren Wilson College, Swannanoa. The 2nd Annual Sustainable Viticulture Conference will be held. The conference registration fee is $40 in advance or $50 walk-in.

Registration includes lunch, coffee break, refreshments, handouts and free parking. To register, visit www.JeweloftheBlueRdige.com and click on the link near the WWC logo.

Thursday, Feb. 23

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.

Saturday, Feb. 25

SUMOU, 6-10 p.m., YMI Cultural Center, 39 S. Market St., downtown Asheville. Asheville’s first Soumu, or in West African lingo, a celebration of dancing, singing, food and music, will be held. Featured will be a dinner of flavors from West Africa, including seafood soupe kandia and chicken and vegetable mafé, plus wines and beer from Pisgah and Wedge brewing companies.

Entertainment will include West African drumming and dance demonstrations, a performance

by Belle Afrique, and music by Asheville’s contemporary Ivorian afropop ensemble Zansa, featuring members of Afromotive. Tickets at $15 for adults at the door and $10 for ages 12 and younger. Tickets include dinner, two drinks and entertainment.

Monday, Feb. 27 CONTRA DANCE, 8 p.m.,Grey Eagle. 185 Clingman Ave., Asheville. A contra dance is held weekly. Admission is $6.

Tuesday, Feb. 28 TANGO LESSON/DANCE, 6 p.m., The Boiler Room, Grove House Entertainment Complex, 11 Grove St., downtown Asheville. Tango lessons will precede a dance.

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.

SHAG DANCE, 7-11 p.m., The Hangar, Clarion Inn Airport, 550 Airport Road, Fletcher. The Mountain Shag Club’s weekly dance will feature a DJ. At 6:30 p.m., free lessons will be offered by Paul and Debbie Peterson. Admission is $5.

Wednesday, Feb. 29

TEA TIME SOCIAL, 6 p.m., Apollo Flame, 1025 Brevard Rd., Asheville. The Asheville Tea Party will hold its weekly Tea Time Social. All interested are invited to attend.

Tuesday, Feb. 14 TANGO LESSON/DANCE, 6 p.m., The Boiler Room, Grove House Entertainment Complex, 11 Grove St., downtown Asheville. Tango lessons will precede a dance.

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.

LECTURE, 7 p.m., Reuter Center, UNC Asheville. The World Affairs Council of WNC will present Lee McMinn, a retired career U.S. Marine Corps officer, university administrator and teacher, who will address “Exiting Iraq and Afghanistan.” Admission is $8.

SHAG DANCE, 7-11 p.m., The Hangar, Clarion Inn Airport, 550 Airport Road, Fletcher. The Mountain Shag Club’s weekly dance will feature a DJ. At 6:30 p.m., free lessons will be offered by Paul and Debbie Peterson. Admission is $5.

Lunch Buffet Mon.-Fri. 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

503 New Leicester Hwy. Asheville, N.C. 28806

Lunch Buffet

$5.99 Tel. (828) 225-4209 Fax (828) 225-4208

12 - February 2012 - Asheville Daily Planet

Daily Planet’s Opinion

Star-gazing ... for the elite Shame on the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners for passing a new outdoor lighting ordinance on Jan. 17 that will benefit an elite handful of casual urban star-gazers, while infringing on the private-property rights of everyone else.

The measure, which applies only to the county’s unincorporated areas, is billed as limiting light pollution, improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions.

Alarmingly, the new law was not prompted by citizen complaints about light pollution, but by the lobbying efforts of the Astronomy Club of Asheville and the Sierra Club — dark-sky extremists. We especially feel sorry for rural county residents who need bright lighting at night for safety, agricultural or other purposes.

During a hearing on the ordinance plan, Kathy Rhodarmer, a Candler resident, showed courage to state forthrightly — in a room packed with supporters of the measure — that “I’ve never seen so many people who want to tell others what to do.”

Carol Peterson, the lone commissioner to vote against the ordinance, noted that it was being amended at the last moment without being properly vetted. While she said “lighting standards are good,” Peterson rightly noted, “... I feel like we’ve got to think about the folks who are not up to speed with what we’re doing tonight, and those are the people I’m trying to make a stand for.”

In public comment later, Mike Plemmons, executive director of the Council of Independent Business Owners, complained that a copy of the amended ordinance should have been provided to CIBO and others.

“Apparently, there were a lot of groups already meeting with you,” Plemmons asserted. “We (CIBO) were not one of them, and we don’t like that ... I do think if the average person in Buncombe County living in the rural areas had known about these, they probably would have had a little different public here.”

Plemmons is right — and a smallbut-vocal elite has won this round.

Following Daniel Boone to the west

CHAPEL HILL — First there was Daniel Boone.

Boone’s real exploits on America’s frontier made him a legend in a new country whose people were ever pushing westward, driving the boundaries of their nation to the Pacific and beyond.

The history of our country’s push westward has never been easy to write, wrapped up as it is with contradictory themes. The tenacious heroism of the settlers braving the long dangerous treks to new homes has to be matched up against the greed, deceit and callousness that forced the original inhabitants off their lands.

While the expansion of democracy led to a land of freedom admired throughout the world, it was built in part on lands seized from a weak neighbor.

How can that story best be told?

North Carolina native poet, novelist, and teacher Robert Morgan showed us one way in his recent biography, “Boone.” Using his great storytelling skills, Morgan demythologizes Boone, while, at the same time, shows him to be an extraordinary and fascinating person.

From his home base along the Yadkin River in North Carolina where he grew up, Boone explored Kentucky and then pulled his kinfolk, neighbors and countless others across the mountains to his new home country.

Later, many of them followed Boone further west to Missouri.

Other men, some of them with adventurous spirits similar to Boone’s, continued the push westward long after Boone left the scene. In his latest book, “Lions of the West: Heroes and Villains of the Westward Expansion,” Morgan continues the saga. Instead of focusing on just one man as he did with “Boone,” he uses short profiles of ten different men to develop a panoramic look at a historic era.

He picked a variety of subjects. Some, like David Crockett, Sam Houston, Kit Carson, and John “Johnny Appleseed” Chapman, are, like Boone, mythical figures, demigods in America’s national pantheon.

Others like Presidents Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, James K. Polk, and John Quincy Adams, though not as colorful, were even more important. They made controversial decisions that put the power of the nation

D.G. Martin behind their visions of an expanding country.

Most of us remember learning in high school history that the key event in opening the door to the expansion of the United States was Jefferson’s Louisiana Purchase in 1803.

Morgan’s portrait of Jefferson shows how his strong and continuing interest in the western part of North America arose long before 1803.

The largest acquisition of territory, other than the Louisiana Purchase, had a North Carolina connection. As president, North Carolina native and UNC graduate James K. Polk led the country into the war with Mexico and the acquisition of the Southwest and California. Even while pointing out Polk’s numerous flaws, Morgan praises him as one of the country’s most effective presidents.

Morgan includes another North Carolinaconnected president, Andrew Jackson, for his role in opening the west. Today, historians criticize Jackson for his part in the forcible removal of the eastern tribes of Native Americans. But Morgan’s sympathetic portrait of Jackson’s bravery, tenacity, and open democracy, shows the reader why many historians admire him.

The tales of heroic fighters like Sam Houston, David Crockett, and Kit Carson make them obvious choices for “Lions of the West.” But why did Morgan include “Johnny Appleseed” Chapman? Although apples and trees were important on the frontier, I think Morgan used him to show that the settlement of the West resulted more from the determination of ambitious ordinary people than from government direction.

“Lions of the West” is full of many more good stories, all told by a talented author, whose histories and biographies read like his much-admired fiction.

• D.G. Martin hosts UNC-TV’s North Carolina Bookwatch, which airs at 9:30 p.m. Fridays and 5 p.m. Sundays.

Letters to the Editor Photo ID mandate termed no voting barrier for poor

Several articles concerning the requirement of a picture ID for voters have raised a lot of ire on both sides.

The argument for a photo ID is to prevent voter fraud, while the argument against is that it poses an undue burden on the poor and essentially disenfranchises them.

I wonder how many people realize that many government programs such as food stamps and heating assistance require a government-issued photo ID. It seems that poor and low-income individuals accessing these programs already have their photo ID. This being the case, I would guess if this requirement is voted in, it would affect the nonpoor the most since they don’t access the low-income programs.

The 40-plus million poor on food stamps

already have photo ID that they can use to vote, so I don’t see a cost problem with the poor, and if voter ID eliminates even a small amount of voter fraud, it is worth it.

Low-income individuals not receiving food stamps, lacking valid ID, probably should not be voting for a valid reason Allyn M. Aldrich Asheville

Water system ownership?

Raises Sullvian Act issues

I thought that we firmly established about 20 years ago that the People of Buncombe County paid for and own their water system and the City of Asheville merely holds the paperwork in trust, so to speak. Sullivan Act II comes to mind.

Michael Morgan Asheville See LETTERS, Page 14

The Candid Conservative

The rule of emotions

Have you noticed how the liberal media avoids the words “illegal” and “aliens” when addressing the issue of illegal immigration. It’s a duplication of the effort of the North American Man-Boy Love Club’s effort to conceal their mission of molesting children. Calling illegal aliens “immigrants” avoids the central issue – these folks are violating the law when the cross our borders and again when they use fake identities to stay here. That’s just the beginning of the greatest conspiracy in our country’s history to break down the rule of law. This team effort involves politicians from both parties, employers wishing to side-step the self-corrections of our free market economy, and enablers wishing to get a feel good fix. Replacing the rule of law with the rule of emotions or the rule of greed is a poor trade. A society that corrupts or abandons justice inevitably betrays its future. No one will be uplifted by a broken American Dream.

Bad guys do not think they are bad If you’ve ever wondered how so many people do crazy, harmful, or evil things, look no further than the word denial.

Anywhere you find addiction you will find an equal measure of denial.

Thus the more you do something, the less aware you become of its impact.

People who Barry Goldwater pick their nose in public are usually in denial about how unpleasant it is to others. Evil doers are especially prone to denial because the truth would impair their behavior. People who do bad find a way to believe it’s justified or otherwise OK and politicians are no exception. In the Republican Presidential debates every candidate is practicing denial in one form or another. And that’s from the party with the closest dedications to reason and reality. Liberal Democrats often appear to be out of touch because they are. An addiction to the promise of giving or receiving something for nothing is out of touch with reality — and thus very much in touch with denial.

Carl Mumpower U.S. gets no pass on accountability Conservative Barry Goldwater once offered that “extremism in the pursuit of liberty is no vice. And moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.” He’d recognize we’ve lost our way on both counts in today’s America. All three branches of government — legislative, executive, and judicial — are putting control before liberty. Most Americans are passive or even supportive of this slide away from our traditions of freedom. We don’t seem to believe that dark things that have happened to other cultures can happen to ours. It’s already happening. Spending beyond our means, spending tomorrow’s defense and Social Security dollars today and increasing citizen dependency on government are doing great harm to our society. These harmswill show up later – when it’s too late to alter the outcome. It’s sort of like the guy who claims he can fly, jumps off the building, and for awhile, appears to be correct.

U.S. remains exceptional only by choice Most liberal progressives bristle at the idea of American exceptionalism. Their dedication to the inevitable mediocrity of socialism runs in competition to the extraordinary potentials of a responsible and free society. Unfortunately, that’s not today’s America. We’re trying to run a hybrid combo of crony socialism and crony capitalism that’s exceptional only because its dysfunctional. We’ll remain a bright beacon to the world only if we make bright choices.

The values we talk and walk today will set the course for our future — and those must be good to work good. The replacement of liberty, productivity, and responsibility with dependency, consumption, and entitlement is the left’s mission in word and deed. Conservative thinkers should challenge this exceptional effort to corrupt America. The side, right or left, which works the hardest will secure an exceptional future or assure our exceptional failure.

• Carl Mumpower, a former member of Asheville City Council, may be contacted at drmumpower@thecandidconservative.com

Asheville Daily Planet — February 2012 — 13

From the left

The worth of water

Curtis Bowers

Guest column

Prophet of ‘red’ tide called a bit off-target

Yesterday (Jan. 25), I noticed the piece in the Mountain Xpress (MX), on their “Asheville Disclaimer” page, satirizing your “Leftists taking U.S. on totalitarian path” article from the January 2012 edition (of the Daily Planet).

Reading that MX piece led me to find a copy of the ADP to see what the satire was about, since some of the subject matter was quite serious, albeit buried in a humorpiece.

So, I read your coverage of the Curtis Bowers lecture. I found the Curtis Bowers material to be based on solid perceptions of our situation, but somewhat off-target in its characterization of the nature of the conspiracy that has been so successful in infiltrating and controlling the government of the USA. I believe that Bowers’ take on the matter, and probably his research, is short-sighted and reminded me of the parable of the group of blind men describing different parts of an elephant. Bowers thinks that “the elephant” that’s taken over the US republic feels like communism.

This limited research and subsequent characterization as “a communist plot” feeds directly into the tendency within the public mind to denigrate his legitimate observations, such as is the case with the MX satirical piece.

The phrase, “it’s a communist plot” has been used as a joke during my entire life to characterize someone as being paranoid.

It’s almost as ubiquitous as the phrase, “conspiracy theorist,” which is used to denigrate any evidence or information presented of the REAL conspiracies in our world.

We’ve been mentally trained like Pavlov’s dog to automatically react to the terms “conspiracy theory,” “communist plot” and many others with disbelief and derision.

This is why it was necessary for the handlers of G.W. Bush Jr. to place these words in his first major address to the world after 9/11: “Let us never tolerate outrageous conspiracy theories concerning the attacks of September 11th — malicious lies that attempt to shift blame away from the terrorists themselves, away from the guilty.”

The irony, of course, is that the “conspiracy theory” statement of Bush’s is quite true if interpreted in the proper manner — that the official government story of 9/11 is the outrageous conspiracy theory!

Bowers has legitimate observations of fact, but his problem is that he’s still stuck in the “Right-Left Paradigm.” This leads him to characterize the takeover of the United States and other Western republics

Michael D. Ivey with terms such as “liberal,” “communist” and “socialist” — terms which do more harm to the effort to awaken people than good.

One might just as easily characterize the New World Order in terms from the other side of the R-L Paradigm, such as “fascist,” “neo-conservative,” “neo-feudalism” and such. All such terms only describe one small part of “the elephant” that’s taken over our government, when in fact, it includes all these elements.

Bowers is completely correct in stating that the conspiracy to establish a “New World Order” was established before the turn of the 20th century and is being carried out in the manner of the Fabian Socialists of that time — that is, by gradual infiltration of the centers of political and corporate power.

Infiltration is complimented with the methodologies of intimidation, the “purchasing” of loyalty and recruitment of key individuals into the plan. Such is the reason-for-being of the Council on Foreign Relations, the membership of which having dominated all positions of the Executive Branch for decades.

This methodology has been extremely successful. The conspirators now control practically every national governmental body and most certainly the United Nations and the European Union, which are nothing but NWO front organizations.

So, I salute Bowers for his courage in attempting to awaken people to the imminent threat of the destruction of our Republic and the imposition of a hard-core policestate tyranny while people sit entranced by football, electronic toys and celebrity worship.

Bowers just needs to expand his research so that he understands that it’s not a “communist plot of the left” per se. The New World Order being planned for the Earth’s population has elements of communism, fascism and scientific dictatorship.

There really is a war on for our minds.

May all who have ears to hear begin to wake up to it and begin to resist it in any manner possible. Start here: http://www. infowars.com .

• Michael D. Ivey lives in Asheville.

Ben Franklin famously noted, “When the well’s dry, we know the worth of water.”

It would be equally true to state that in the midst of a catastrophic flood, we know water’s cost. Most of the time, of course, we live our lives between those two extremes, needing sufficient water to comfortably live our lives and figuring out how to deal with a damp basement.

Clean, potable water is something we pretty much take for granted in modern America, and we are often disgruntled when a mishap interferes with its regular delivery. A dry well, a burned out pump, street repairs or a burst pipe may inconvenience us for hours or days, and cost more than we prefer to pay for a necessary staple of life.

Viewed globally, Asheville is more and more an exception rather than the rule in regard to water. We have entered a period of world-wide, permanent, de facto drought. This drought is partly due to climate change, but principally due to population growth.

There are 7 billion thirsty people out there, and not enough clean, fresh water to go around. Water is about to become a bigger political issue than oil, for the obvious reason that we can live without the latter when push comes to shove.

Water is essential to life.

The first modern war fought over water was the 1967 invasion by Israel which resulted in that country’s control of both banks of the Jordan River. More recently, China invaded Tibet to take control of the Himalayan headwaters of the Yellow River, and conflict over water is surely destined to ratchet up in coming decades.

Around the globe, major corporations, particularly Coca-Cola and Veolia, are working to privatize water systems and the American Legislative Exchange Council, a Republican lobbying and think tank group, has made privatization of public water one of its specific goals. ALEC provides model legislation to GOP state legislators across the country, who then push for local implementation.

Here in Asheville, Rep. Tim Moffit, R-Arden, has been moving forward with ALEC’s agenda, and last spring introduced a bill in the N.C. General Assembly that would have wrested control of Asheville’s water system from the City and placed it in the hands of an independent authority.

Due to public outcry, Moffitt modified his bill into a “study,” under which he has now convened a committee to examine the operation of our water system and

Cecil Bothwell determine whether it should be taken from citizen control. He has assured the city that it would be compensated, somehow, if that should occur.

Any step away from the current accountability of the Water Department to the citizens and customers would be a step closer to privatization, and it is at least ominous that Moffitt also chairs a committee which has been explicitly discussing privatization of government functions, including water.

It is my view that Asheville’s citizens should be on high alert, letting Moffitt and other Republican legislators know that we will fight to retain control of our precious resource.

No amount of money will compensate us for loss of our water system to private control. When the water is piped over the mountains to higher bidders in the Piedmont, to South Carolina or to Atlanta, it will no longer be a source for our future economic growth.

Asheville, which today has one of the most reliable and pure water sources in the world, could be left high and dry and terribly, terribly thirsty.

• Cecil Bothwell, a member of Asheville City Council, is a candidate for Congress in North Carolina’s 11th District.

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Send mail to: Letters, Asheville Daily Planet P.O. Box 8490, Asheville, NC 28814 Send e-mail to: letters@ashevilledailyplanet.com

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14 - February 2012 - Asheville Daily Planet

Guest column

Vote-’em-all-out rhetoric? Interesting but ....

A columnist in the Asheville CitizenTimes recommended that we all vote against all incumbents in Congress.

Interesting.

My son-in-law did in fact vote against all incumbents, period, in the 2010 election.

I’m sure he left the polls with a bounce in his step, having struck a blow for liberty or something.

Fifty-six percent in an NBC poll said they would like to replace the whole Congress. The favorability rating of generic “Congress” hovers around 13 percent.

That’s down there with the numbers that think President Barack Obama is a libertarian.

Congress is our scapegoat, our whipping boy, the fall guy in this time of government nothingness.

But do they deserve it?

Lee Ballard Some individuals and groups in the present Congress certainly deserve all the scorn and vitriol we can muster as a people. But generic “Congress” is as much victim as it is villain. Some blame should lie with the Founding Fathers.

The Founding Fathers, in their wisdom, devised a system of “checks and balances” that was designed to keep one branch of government from becoming dominant over the other two. Congress passes laws, but the president must agree. The president

proposes laws, but Congress passes them.

This is the “checks” half of the system.

Another motive the Fathers had, if I recall Miss Bredenberg correctly from sixth grade, was to encourage the branches of government to cooperate.

And that’s what has happened, with few exceptions, over the life of our nation.

President and Congress have worked out differences for the good of the country.

This is the “balances” half of the system.

The Founding Fathers feared tyranny, but they overdid it. It’s a lot easier, you see, to “check” than it is to “balance.”

The system they devised has the tools for mischief built right in. If somebody wants to take up these tools for checking an opponent, they’re right there, ready to use.

That’s what happened last year in the generic “Congress.” Republicans set as their

basic strategy to stonewall Obama and keep him from even the smallest crumb of success. They accomplished this by checking the president’s every move. They opposed and played games.

In the process they destroyed, for now, the credibility of Congress — but they see that as a small price to pay for destroying the credibility of the president.

This year’s election will show they didn’t succeed.

The vote-‘em-all-out rhetoric should be aimed squarely at Republicans for their shameful antics in 2011 — not at the whole Congress. But then again, 2012 is going to be a landslide year for Democrats. So hey, knock yourselves out.

• Lee Ballard lives in Mars Hill.

priority is to provide Buncombe County with strong and qualified Republican candidates and then provide these candidates with the votes they need to WIN in 2012.

This is our path and we will unite Republicans and Independents to accomplish this.

We made great progress in 2011 getting the BCGOP organized and prepared for 2012; we must now continue to build upon our success.

In these difficult times we must work together to reverse the direction of the Liberal social agenda adopted by our local, state, and federal elected officials. We must instead promote financial accountability,

conservative values, and conservative principles at every level of government.

To that end, the BCGOP has our marching orders to unite the party with efforts beginning right here in our own backyards. We will have conservative Republicans elected in Buncombe County and aid in defeating President Obama and electing Pat McCrory Gov. of N.C in 2012!

Tighten those belts up; it’s going to be one heck of a ride.

Henry Mitchell Chairman Buncombe County GOP Asheville

Letters to the Editor Continued from Page 12

Be involved, participate in process, voters urged

Voting is, of course, critical. But so too is your active involvement and participation in the activities and causes for liberty and freedom in which you believe. lease don’t wait for someone else to say what needs to be said, or hope that someone else will do what needs to be done. Get involved today ... in our Tea Party meeting and efforts or in some other form of proactive support for our causes.

Doing nothing will not have been a good option if those in opposition to our core beliefs and principles get elected at any level — local, state or national.

Ron Kauffman General Coordinator Henderson County Tea Party Hendersonville

Mutatations of bird flu deliberately triggers worry I am a retired emergency room doctor who also studied epidemiology in Loma Linda University Medical School.

I was shocked to hear on Channel 4 evening news on Dec. 15 that a virologist in the Netherlands had caused five mutations on the bird flu virous to make it easily trasmissible from human to human like thee common cold.

Thus said Brian Williams, the news anchor on Channel 4. Also, this researcher wanted to publish his feat in Nature magazine and another science magazine.

On Dec. 20, 2011, Brian Williams came on Channel 4 evening news again to report the authorities decided to let him publish, so long as he left out the specific details on how to duplicate his work.

As a doctor, I know that there are now ferrets (a small rate-like mammal) in a NIH-funded experiment in a university hospital (Erasmus U. in Rotterdam, Holland) infected with a human-engineered H5N, avian-flue virus that could kill 60 percent of the human race.

Why does that worry me? Welcome to 2012!

DR. BOB HOLT Hendersonville

2012 to be a ‘heckuva’ a ride, BCGOP chief says

With the New Year of 2012 here and moving forward we are presented with what could possibly be one of the most important election years in the History of America.

We will not stand by and continue to Henry Mitchell see the Conservative Values and Principles that built America, the values and principles Republicans hold close to our hearts and instill in our children, be trampled on by our current Presidential Administration and Democrat controlled Senate.

The time is now it starts here, in Buncombe County, where hard work and selfreliance still live, where these Values and Principles are still cultivated and nourished within our children.

It is time we stand up and recognize that while we are self-reliant, believing that no matter what happens we take care of ourselves and those around us, our community and America is in danger of losing the very things that have made us the Strongest, most prosperous, and Free Nation in the World.

This year our number one

Dr DAN EICHENBAUM (R - NC 11) , FIRST NATIONAL CONGRESSIONAL ICAUCUS ENDORSED CANDIDATE, IS ENDORSED BY ASHEVILLE TEA PAC The Asheville Tea PAC and iCaucus Endorse Dr. Dan Eichenbaum for 11th District House Seat!

Dr. Dan Eichenbaum (R - NC 11), challenging Democratic incumbent Congressman Heath Shuler’s seat in November in NC 11, has become the first Congressional candidate in the United States and in North Carolina to receive the Independence Caucus (iCaucus) endorsement for the 2012 elections. .

Asheville Tea PAC (ATPAC) has determined that the ICaucus principles and values align with ours; those being specifically the promotion and preservation of individual rights, Constitutionally-limited government, fiscal responsibility, and free markets.

ICaucus maintains a standard that satisfies our criteria for evaluating candidates for political office. We do not endorse candidates because they won the primary or they are endorsed by a political party or other organization.

Asheville Tea PAC endorses Dr Dan Eichenbaum (R) for Congress in NC 11 because he has stepped up to the iC Citizen Led Job Interview, received the highest written score and was affirmed by 95% of the iCaucus Affiliate Group members, of which ATPAC is one. ATPAC prides itself in being part of a nationwide effort empowering citizens to remove compromised incumbents from office and replacing them with good men and women who commit to fiscal responsibility through adherence to Constitutional authority. Dr. Dan Eichenbaum is that candidate.

Asheville Tea PAC endorsed candidates are scrutinized to best assure the public that they embrace and can defend our values and principles. All Asheville Tea PAC endorsements are based on the results of the Independence Caucus candidate assessment process. The candidates we endorse have earned the iCaucus endorsement. iCaucus is a citizen’s organization dedicated to bringing the people back into the election process. IC has a proven platform to get candidates elected. IC focuses on finding principled candidates, vetting, endorsing and campaigning to get them elected. IC then holds them accountable to their principles and commitments. iCaucus is not a third party organization.

To find out more, please visit www.ashevilleteapac.org and www.icaucus.org

Ad paid for by Asheville Tea PAC

Asheville Daily Planet —February 2012 — 15

Challenge Continued from Page 4 On a third matter, a Woodfin development update was presented by Town Manager Jason Young, who was accompanied

by Woodfin Mayor Jerry VeHaun.

Young began by noting that “someone made the comment earlier in the meeting about a certain ordinance (to control outdoor lighting) being ‘just something to do.’” He emphasized that in Woodfin, town officials are focused on many important projects with no time left for superfluous matters.

“Woodfin tries to do more with less,” Young said. “We have been a growthoriented community. We see ourselves as a municipal corporation.” He also said Woodfin officials believes in John Locke’s “social compact. (The first principle of Locke’s social contract states that legitimate governments are instituted among the people; second, that the just powers of the government are derived from the consent of the people.)

Turning to specifics, Young noted that Woodfin is Buncombe’s third-largest municipality, behind leader Asheville and runner-up Black Mountain.

However, he said Woodfin has enjoyed the top growth rate of any municipality in Buncombe in the last decade. “It didn’t happen by accident ... Part of it is Woodfin is located in a strategic growth corridor.”

He added, “We think sustainable growth needs to be built on jobs.” He pointed to Mills Manufacturing —which makes parachutes for the military — and Asheville Technologies as industries showing much growth. “We’ll soon introduce our first distillery.”

He said the issue of mobile food kitchens

was considered by the Woodfin Board of Alderman, which agreed to pass a moritorium on the issue. “We have 18 restaurants” with roughly $13 million invested in their eateries and the town decided to protect them. “If you come to our town and invest money, we’ll do Jason Young what we can” to help that business prosper and grow.

“We hope by the end of the year — unless the Mayan prophesy comes true — the excursion line should be operable.”

Specifically, he said a 1-mile railroad track and some of the original trolley cars from Asheville will be used in the excursion train operation.

Young added that Reynolds Village is able to sell units “as soon as they are completed.”

He also mentioned the success of River Walk, a residential development located off Riverside Drive.

In general, Young said, “Quarter-milliondollar and up homes are prospering” in Woodfin and that the Crest Center “is experiencing it’s best year ever for weddings.”

In addition, Woodfin is busily addinng sidewalks, greenways and other amenties, Young said, enthusiastically. “Again, we’re building our community — in some ways — from scratch.”

With a note of pride, Young ended by saying that “we just bought the County Corner Apartments property. We look forward to” completing the purchase — “and demolishing it — and turning it into a park.”

The Daily Planet is everywhere!

Downtown Asheville

Izzy’s Coffehouse Downtown Books Pack Library (newspaper row) Asheville Civic Center Haywood Hotel/Haywood Street Haywood Hotel/Battery Park Avenue Parking Garage/Battery Park Avenue Federal Courthouse Wall Street Climbing Wall AT&T Building Tupelo Honey Cox Avenue Post Office City Bakery Fine Arts Theatre Hannah Flannagan’s Pack Square Buncombe County Courthouse Over Easy Café Magnolia’s Lawyer’s Building, 29 N. Market St.

North Asheville

Greenlife Grocery/Merrimon Ave. Drip-O-Lator coffeehouse/Broadway St. Bob Lawrence Power Equip./Broadway Five Points Restaurant/Broadway St. Eblen Short Stop-Citgo/Broadway St. Citgo/Beaver Lake/Merrimon Ave. Marco’s Pizza/Merrimon Ave. El Chapala/Merrimon Ave. Rite Aid/Merrimon Ave. Mountain Java coffeehouse/Merrimon Ace Hardware/Merrimon Ave. Subway/Merrimon Ave. Urban Burrito/Merrimon Ave. Luella’s BBQ/Merrimon Ave. Brugger’s Bagels/Merrimon Ave. Two Guys Hoagies/Charlotte St. Express Lanes/Charlotte St. Rosebud Video/Charlotte St.

Montford

West Asheville

Montford Store Reader’s Corner

Ice Service Station/Haywood Rd. Burgermeister/Haywood Rd. Mercado Mexicano/Haywood Rd. La Catrachita Tienda/Haywood Rd. La Piedrita/Haywood Rd. Go Grocery/New Leicester Hwy. El Mariachi restaurant/New Lcstr. Hwy. Leicester Post Office/New Lcstr. Hwy. Miles BP/Patton Ave. Veracruz restaurant/Patton Ave. Mr. Suave conv. store/Smoky Park Hwy. Asiana restaurant/Smoky Park Hwy. El Chapala/Smoky Park Hwy. BP Station, Brevard Rd.

UNC Asheville Health & Wellness Ctr. Reuter Center New Hall Carmichael Hall Dining Hall Highsmith University Union Rhoades-Robinson Hall Ramsey Library Lipinsky Hall Karpen Hall

River Arts District 12 Bones Restaurant

Weaverville/Woodfin Poppy’s Restaurant La Hildaguese El Chapala restaurant IHOP Well-Bred Bakery Laundromat (downtown) General Equipment Rental Taqueria Fast Tienda El Quezetl Bellagio restaurant Frank’s Pizza Nick’s Restaurant

Mars Hill Wagon Wheel Restaurant Mars Hill College Bookstore Original Papa Nick’s Pizza Mars Hill Exxon

Enka/Candler Shell Station Enka Post Office

AVL Hospital District St. Joseph’s Hospital Mission Hospital F&J Market

Biltmore Village Reza’s Café Brugger’s Bagels

South Asheville Province Restaurant South Forest Post Office Go Grocery Earth Fare Arden Post Office

River Ridge Shell/Swannanoa Rd. Tobacco Outlet/Tunnel Rd. Don Juanita/Tunnel Rd. Oteen Post Office Family Dollar/Tunnel Rd. Mobile gas station/Tunnel Rd. Go Grocery/Tunnel Rd.

Swannanoa/Black Mtn. Swanannoa Post Office Amazing Savings/Swannanoa Consuela’s restaurant/Black Mtn. Cherry Street (newspaper row)/Blck Mtn. Hardware store/Black Mtn. Kiwanis Thrift Shop/Black Mtn.

Fairview/Reynolds Dickie’s Foods/Fairview Fairview Post Office Kounty Line/Reynolds

Hendersonville/Fletcher Fletcher Post Office Park Ridge Hospital Papas & Beer Hot Dog World Janitzio Mexican Restaurant

Flat Rock Flat Rock Post Office Hodge’s Tire Service

Waynesville Carolina Readiness Supply

East Asheville

Clyde

Mr. K’s Used Books

Old Grouch’s Military Surplus

16 — February 2012 - Asheville Daily Planet

Dangerous shift to the left hardly noticed, group told

Protesters Continued from Page 1 “You deserve better than what’s being handed down to you.”

Further, Bothwell asserted, “Fortunately, this week we beat SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) and PIPA (Protect IP Act) ...

They’re hearing from you.” The crowd cheered Bothwell’s news.

The next speaker, Dr. Errington Thompson, contended that corporations have “turned our country on its head ... All of us just want a small piece of the American dream.”

As examples of how corporate power is crushing individuals, Thompson cited issues ranging from what he termed “the Great American Rip-Off” in home-buying on easy credit to adjustable rate loans to ratings agencies.

“Used to be, you needed thugs to beat people up in back rooms. Now, it’s legally sanctioned” for corporations to beat up people in broad daylight, Thompson said, speaking metaphorically.

At that point, someone in the crowd yelled, “We are the people!”

Smiling only slightly, Thompson said, “We are the .. sleepy people. We need to wake up ... Focus, think and act.”

He added, “We don’t need to act like the tea party and get all mad ... We need to set up rules that work for us ... We need jobs ... We need a government willing to spend money” to fix the problems.

“We need affordable health care — not in three or four years — but now.” The crowd cheered Thompson’s assertion.

In taking a swipe at two top Republican presidential hopefuls, the surgeon said, “I don’t care how many wives (former House Speaker) Newt Gingrich has messed over ... We have (former Mass. Gov.) Mitt Romney saying corporations Richard Fireman are people — and he’s a major candidate.”

The third and final speaker, Richard Fireman, said, “Corporate power is controlling the legislature and progress in the country.”

(Fireman was introduced as a retired doctor who works for North Carolina Interfaith Power & Light and the Appalachian Institute for Renewable Energy.)

“That’s taking away the possibility of North Carolina getting off fossil fuel ... We won’t get to that till we get Progress and

Several protesters dressed as Supreme Court justices, and one as the Statue of Liberty.

Duke Energy money out of government.”

As the crowd cheered, Fireman asserted, “Corporations are not people. We want an amendment to the Constitution” codifying that assertion “because corporations, as Cecil said, have been doing this for a long, long time.”

Continuing, Fireman said, “Corporations are controlling our country, so we’re ‘warful’ people.

“We need to get legal standing for the pollinators, the coral reefs, the prairies ...”

He noted that Thompson works as a trauma surgeon at Mission Hospital and, as such, “he knows what a crisis is. The world is in crisis. We need a positive vision.”

Fireman added, “The Move to Amend (to deny corporations the status of personhood) is going in the right direction.

“We need an economy based on the earth’s economy, not a money economy,” he said.

After a pause, Fireman told the crowd, “Look at all the flat roofs around here.

They should be” covered with solar panels.

He urged everyone to give “the others” outside of “the human world the rights they deserve,” too.

OA protest organizers noted that Asheville’s rally was among those held on the same day — in more than 130 cities and by 60 organizations — for Occupy the Courts.

“We will gather signatures for a petition calling for a Constitutional amendment to strip corporations of ‘personhood’ protections,” the group noted in a press release.

Racism Continued from Page 1 Regarding using terminology that offends those of another race, she said, “We all step in it from time to time. I was hearing this in third grade — and that I’m almost 40” and still hearing it “is not making me happy — OK?” She said she wrote her 2005 book, “How to Rent a Negro,” because “I felt like a rent-a-Negro,” with the questions her white friends and acquainances were asking her about her race.

In reviewing some of her rental rates, ayo said for those needing “a black opinion,” the price is $75 per 30-minute call; to touch

her hair, $100 per touch; use of AfricanAmerican slang, $100.

“Here’s the thing,” she said. “I don’t do institutional change.”

She told of a poll that was taken in which 2,000 people were asked for five ideas for what individuals could do to end racism.

“For white people, ayo noted, “admit it ...

The first step is admitting you have a race.”

Speaking personally, she asserted, “I’m on a mission to dispel ‘Caucasian’ as a synonym for ‘white.’ The Caucasus is a region.

It’s also a breed of dog.”

Following her talk, audience members received copies of ayo’s “I Can Fix Racism” guide.

From Staff Reports HORSE SHOE — The United States is ruled by an oligarchy with some aspects of fascism, but “no call for violent overthrow of the government,” the chief of the region’s Anti-Communism KTM said during a Jan. 10 lecture at Villa Roma restaurant.

However, he said the U.S. continues to shift in the direction of communism, with too few people noticing what is happening.

Organizer-lecturer Tom Wise addressed “Communism vs. Fascism” during a twohour program. He referenced the analysis of conservative commentator Glenn Beck — positively — several times in his talk.

With a grin, Wise noted — for the sake of newcomers — that the group’s motto is: “There’s still time.” He added that “the whole purpose I started this was to make people aware” of the threat posed by communism to the personal freedom.

While six people attended the meeting, Wise claimed the group has about 700 members.

He began his talk by noting that the Hegelian dialectic is a tool used by communists to bring about the change they desire.

For instance, he said someone starts with a thesis and settles for an antithesis “to keep getting as much (shift in an opponent’s position) as you can, over time ....”

(The website Amerikan Exposé stated that the Hegelian dialectic “is the process by which all change is being accomplished in society today. More importantly, it is the tool that the ‘globalists’ are utilizing to manipulate the minds of the average American to accept that change, where ordinarily they would refuse it.”)

Wise also said Marxism seeks to “denigrate” religions “all the way down to the Bible” — the law of God. While the Bible says, “Thou shalt not steal,” Wise said, “According to (Karl) Marx, there is no such thing as stealing” because he did not recognize private property rights.

Wise contended that “capitalism comes from the Bible ... Capitalism comes from religion” — in particular, Judaism.

In the United States, “they started in Plymouth (Rock) with the communism thing,” but the early experiment failed, he said. The Colonists found that capitalism worked much better. “With the capitalistic element, you’ve got individualism.”

He said Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, who is a GGOP presidential hopeful, “is right on booms/busts (in the business cycle), the Federal Reserve and central banks ...

What he doesn’t say is (that) it’s all built on a Keynesian” foundation — where the government tries to spend its way out of financial problems.

Following the recent housing and stock market collapse and continuing hard times, Wise said, “There’s no turning back.”

In listing the stages of communism, he said the first is revolution, and the second, dictatorship of the proletariat, which Wise said also is known as “mob rule.” (The third stage, which he claimed never has occurred, is a stateless utopia.)

He said the aforementioned could be succinctly summarized as, “Meet the new boss — same as the old boss.”

Further, Wise asserted, “You won’t find this in the history books because they’ll tell you communism is based on peace, brotherhood and compassion ...

“Marx founded his idealogy on the (Second) French Revolution,” he said, noting that that was “the synthesis for him.

“We know it today as the Overton Window,” which is defined by Wikipedia as

Tom Wise

Karl Marx

a political theory describing “a ‘window’ in the range of public reactions to ideas in public discourse, in a spectrum of all possible options on a particular issue. It is named after its originator, Joseph P. Overton, former vice president of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy.”

Regarding the Overton Window, Wise said it translates in today’s America as “compromise, compromise, compromise.”

With a grimace, he asserted, “They say you can’t put the genie back in the bottle,” in reference to what he sees as contemporary America’s downhill slide. Wise said much of the problem is because “we, as individuals, don’t question” or challenge what is happening.

“It’s the Hegelian thing — they push you here and you end up there.”

He said the leftists are “always screaming in chorus ... If you say, ‘Communism killed 100 millon people,’ they say, ‘It’s false history.’”

Wise said “an anarchist is best-suited to go against the communists because they (the anarchists) don’t care about structure.”

Over the years, “every single dynamic has been moved off the scale” by the leftists, resulting in a too-powerful federal government, he said. Conversely, “I believe state rights are (supposed to be) more powerful than federal rights,” under the Constitution.

Wise charged that a “big thing in Marxism” is to “find a grievance, organize it and exploit it ... It doesn’t matter what it is. The object is to seize power.”

He told the group that “they (the communists) know how to organize; you don’t ...

They want to be able to take your property without a fight.”

Further, Wise said, “Very, very few people in this world are real communists.

Most are dupes, useful idiots, stooges.” He added that “we have communist states” in the U.S., citing California, Oregon and Michigan among the examples.

In communism, he said lower-case “c” is the idealogy and upper-case “C” is the party.

In turning to fascism, he said, “Small ‘f’ fascism is the police state, but any state that protects private property has an element of fascism. The United States, with the Constitution, keeps the fascism to a minimum.”

Wise said fascism “begins when the police power oversteps its power to protect private property.”

“Communism with fascism is what we know” in the real world, he said. “There’s never been a communist nation — and you never get to a stateless utopia ... They always want a strong leader.”

“At the very end, we don’t want communism,” resulting in the banning of private property, religion and other aspects of a free society, Wise said. “The capitalist society is the freest.”

For the future, Wise predicted that “we’ll be forced into it (capitalism) because of the economy ... I don’t think we’ll go back to caveman times.”

Asheville Daily Planet — February 2012 — 17

Man’s relationship history could be ‘hedonistic adaptation’ I just got dumped by a guy who swore he was ready to settle down (after years of serial monogamy). His relationship history reminded me of the man you wrote about recently who had been married and divorced five times and was on relationship number six. Woman number six wrote you, “He’s in his 50s; his marriage-hopping has to stop.” Obviously, she’s fooling herself, but what’s his deal? What’s anyone’s who gets married over and over?

— Morbidly Curious Some model their marriage on their parents’ and some on their parents’ car lease. (Sadly, hanging a new-car smell pine tree around the wife’s neck doesn’t seem to stem the flow of trade-ins.)

Everybody wants to believe their love will last, but when a guy’s marrying Wife Number Five, some honesty in vow-making seems called for — for example, “Till mild boredom do us part.” And in keeping with the trend of using movie lines in the ceremony, the groom can turn to the minister at the end and state the Schwarzenegger-accented obvious: “I’ll be back.”

The notion that the only valid relationship is one that ends with the partners in twin chairs on the veranda of Senior Acres, rocking off into the sunset together, keeps some of the wrong people chasing it. The truth is, some people just aren’t wired for forever. That’s okay — providing they’re honest with themselves and their partners that for them, lasting relationships last only so long (“when two become as one” and then one starts getting all fidgety for the next one).

Even for those who are determined to make forever work, there’s a problem, and it’s called “hedonic adaptation” — getting acclimated to positive additions to our lives and no longer getting the lift out of them that we did at first. This happens with boob jobs, lottery wins — and marriage, explained happiness researcher Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky on my weekly radio show.

Lyubomirsky writes in her terrific book, “The How of Happiness,” of a 15-year study in Germany showing that couples got a big boost in happiness when they got married -- a boost that, on average, lasted two years.

According to Lyubomirsky, research shows that the most powerful ways to combat hedonic adaptation are adding variety and expressing gratitude. You add variety by shaking up your date night routine, going on vacation (even a quick one), and varying your daily life in small, fun ways.

You can express gratitude by buying or making some little thing to say how much you appreciate your partner or by verbally admiring his or her hotitude and wonderful qualities. Lyubomirsky explained, “Gratitude is almost by definition an inhibitor of adaptation,” because adaptation means we’re taking something for granted. “Being grateful for something is appreciating it, savoring it — i.e., NOT taking it for granted.”

Predicting whether a particular guy is a romance junkie can be tough. (It’s not like a meth habit. There are no scabs.) A girlfriend-hopper might swear he’s ready to settle down and believe it — until the moment he realizes he’s not. You’ll want to believe him; we all tend to lead with our ego: “I’ll be the one he’s different for.”

This is risky if your ovaries are on the clock. If, however, you can just live in the moment and hope for lots more moments… well, there’s always that chance you’ll end up being his eighth and only.

On crowd nine

The man I’ve been in a long-term on-

The Advice Goddess

Amy Alkon

and-off relationship with has started seeing someone else. He’s cagey about the details, but what’s really bothering me is that she has no clue that I exist. I’m tempted to write her an anonymous note, telling her that I was here first, have been here a long time, and am continuing to have sex with her Lothario.

— Pen Poised Like many people around the holidays, your thoughts turn to the have-nots: “Hi, I believe you have not heard that I’m having sex with your new boyfriend.” The reality is, you’re looking to escape feeling vulnerable by lashing out. (When life gives you lemons … break some other woman’s windows with them.) The “anonymous” note is really about telling this woman, “Hey! I’m here! I’m lovable! I’m important!” Well, there’s a better way to say those things, and it won’t even take a stamp. Just call this man and say goodbye. This means finally admitting that the parameters of this relationship aren’t working for you. Come on … you’re well-aware you aren’t his one and only, yet there you are complaining, “Waiter, waiter! There’s a harem in my soup!” What is there to say to you but “Yes, madam, of course there is. It’s the Lothario special. It comes with other women on the side.”

— Bothered

Axing a girl out

You overlooked the danger when you replied to the woman who was invited on a hiking date by a man she’d had a crush on. You said that he probably got interested because he saw her with her new boyfriend. Well, he could also have wanted to murder her because of that.

Every year, there’s news of a female body being found in a remote area — or not found after a disappearance.

— Prudent Woman Recall that this guy spent seven years barely noticing this woman before noticing she had a boyfriend and asking her out. This is not exactly the behavior of a man obsessed, brimming with jealous rage.

Chances are, he just thought, “Hmm, I could hit that.” (And I very much doubt he meant “over the head with a shovel.”)

How likely is it that a date could end in a shallow grave? Well, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, in 2005, 513 women in the U.S. were murdered by “boyfriends” (men they were dating but not married to) and 164 men were murdered by “girlfriends.” (And yes, men, too, are victims of domestic violence, much of which goes unreported.) These intimate partner murder stats are a bit unreliable because the FBI doesn’t always identify the perp/victim relationship, but even if you include the 2,363 uncategorized murders of women, a woman’s chances of being a victim of “dinner and a murder” are seriously small.

Divide the 513 number by the population of unmarried American women ages 15 to 64 -- 45,752,000, per a 2009 Census Bureau sample -- and a woman has an 11 in a million chance of getting offed by her date.

(Statistically, she’s far more likely to speak Cherokee.)

Of course, those odds of getting murdered really only apply if she’s anywoman on anydate with anyman. Unfortunately, partly because people are reluctant to be

seen as “blaming the victim,” there’s a politically correct popular notion that intimate partner violence happens at random, to random victims, kind of like an air conditioner falling out of a high window just as you’re underneath walking the dog.

But, various authorities on violence, including personal security expert Gavin de Becker and domestic violence researcher Jacquelyn Campbell, have independently identified very similar coercive, autonomylimiting behaviors in men who murder their female partners. These behaviors echo the four items from a 1993 Statistics Canada survey that researchers Martin Daly and Margo Wilson noted were strong predictors that a woman will experience serious violence from a male partner: “1. He is jealous and doesn’t want you to talk to other men; 2. He tries to limit your contact with family or friends; 3. He insists on knowing who you are with and where you are at all times; 4. He calls you names to put you down or make you feel bad.”

Although government agencies and victim assistance organizations parrot the politically correct warning that intimate partner violence “can happen to anyone,” the truth is, certain women are more likely to be victimized, and research shows a stew of contributing social, financial, and cultural factors. (Poverty and prior experience of family violence are two biggies.) Amazingly, there’s almost no research showing the particular psychology that might make one more prone to get into (and stay in) a physically violent relationship. (In the scant findings there are, researchers are unable to tease out whether, say, low self-esteem precipitated victimization or was caused by it.)

But, it seems likely that women who have

low self-worth, who are “pleasers,” and who have abandonment issues — women who are more likely to stay in emotionally abusive relationships — are more likely to stay in physically abusive ones. De Becker, in his vast experience with victims and victimizers, concurs, observing in “The Gift of Fear” that “men who cannot let go choose women who cannot say no.”

The muzzle of political correctness — intended to protect the feelings of victims — actually makes women more likely to be victimized by stifling discussion about who becomes a victim and how they might prevent it. Interestingly, the bounds of political correctness don’t extend to how we portray men. But, demonizing all men as deadly is like demonizing crossing the street because many people die each year at intersections (983 in 2009).

A better idea is to look both ways. In relationships, this means assessing your individual risk for victimization and fixing feelings of low self-worth instead of trying to plaster over them with a partner -- a partner you may feel compelled to cling to no matter what. In dating, this means engaging your judgment — not going off into the woods with some guy you barely know but also not seeing life as one giant “Law & Order” episode: “Hey, pretty lady…in the mood for a murder-suicide, or would you rather just see a movie?”s • (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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18 - February 2012 - Asheville Daily Planet

Faith Notes Friday, Feb. 3

DINNER/VARIETY SHOW, 6-8 p.m., First Baptist Church, 63 N.. Main St., Weaverville. A “Music With a Mission” dinner and variety show will be presented by the Baptist Student Union of UNC Asheville. The meal will include chicken Parmesan, baked potato, green bean casserole, rolls, beverage and dessert. Tickets, which are $10, may be purchased by calling David Stone at 337-0682 or 645-6720. See Feb. 4 listing for details on a second dinner/variety show.

Saturday, Feb. 4

CLOWNING CLASS, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Calvary Episcopal Church, 2840 Hendersonville Rd., Fletcher. An “Intro to Basic Clowning” will teach clowning history, character development and make-up application. To register, for which the fee is $30, including lunch and supplies, call 684-6266.

DINNER/VARIETY SHOW, 6-8 p.m., Hominy Baptist Church, 135 Candler School Rd., Candler. A “Music With a Mission” dinner and variety show will be presented by the Baptist Student Union of UNC Asheville. The meal will include chicken Parmesan, baked potato, green bean casserole, rolls, beverage and dessert. Tickets, which are $10, may be pruchased by call David Stone at 337-0682 or 645-6720.

CONCERT, 6:30 p.m., Thomas Auditorium, Blue Ridge Community College, East Flat Rock. Cecilia St. King, “Peace Troubadour,” will perform. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted.

SPIRITUAL COMEDY PROGRAM, 7 p.m., Center for Spiritual Living, 2 Science of Mind Way, Asheville. Brett Butler’s “Spiritual Coming Out” party will be held. Doors open at 6 p.m. Butler, an actress-comedienne who appears on television’s “Grace Under Fire,” will preside over a gathering of what is billed as “laughter and tears.” She will celebrate the human journey and stepping fully ito the spiritual light. She will appear with special guest Dale Allen Hoffman, an Aramaic spirituality mystic. Tickets, are $20 from the CSL, $22 on-line at www.CSLAsheville.org or $25 at the door.

CONCERT, 7:30 p.m., First Baptist Church of Asheville, 5 Oak St., downtown Asheville. The Blue Ridge Orchestra will perform in a free concert.

Sunday, Feb. 5

CONTEMPORARY SERVICE, 10 a.m., Fellowship Hall, St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, East Chestnut St., Asheville, A Cross+Wired contemporary service will feature the Praise band, with guitar, keyboard and drums.

Casual dress is encouraged and refreshments will be served after the service.

CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERT, 3 p.m., St. Matthias Episcopal Church, 1 Dundee St., Asheville. A concert for solo flute will feature Kate Steinbeck. Donations will be accepted.

Tuesday, Feb. 7 TRUTH ON TAP, 6 p.m., Mezzaluna restaurant, 226 N. Main St., downtown Hendersonville. The Rev. Chad O’Shea of Unity in Mills River will hold a “pub chat” on matters spiritual and otherwise.

Wednesday, Feb. 8 INTRODUCTORY ACUPUNCTURE SEMINAR, 7 p.m., Unity Center, 2041 Old Fanning Bridge Rd., Mills River. “Acupuncture for Body, Mind, Spirit” will be taught by Gloria Chan. The seminar is an introduction to how acupuncture works and all the different health problems (physical, emotional, mental, spiritual) successfully treated by acupuncture. A love offering will be taken.

Friday, Feb. 10

SPAGHETTI DINNER, 5-7 p.m., First Presbyterian Church of Swannanoa, 372 Bee Tree Rd., Swannanoa.

The church will hold a spaghetti dinner and bake sale.

The dinner is a fundraiser for Hand in Hand, which offers assistance to low-income students in the Owen School District. Meals are $6 for adults and $3 for children. The snow date is Feb. 17.

MOVIE NIGHT, 7 p.m. Unitarian Universalist Church of Asheville, 1 Edwin Place, Asheville. The film “A Sense of Wonder— the Rachel Carson Story” will be shown.

Donations will be accepted.

Thursday, Feb. 12

CONCERT, 3 p.m., St. Matthias Church, 1 Dundee St., Asheville. The concert will feature voices from the Brothers of Faith, Spiritual Voices and St. John “A choirs, singing traditional African-American spirituals in honor of Black History Month. The three choirs will be joined by soloists Dr. C.R. Mosley, Linda Jones, Lucille Ray and Taiven Thompson. A free-will offering will be collected.

LENTEN RETREAT, 7-8:30 p.m., St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 768 Asbury Rd., Candler. A Lenten retreat will be held Feb. 12-16. Speakers will be Fathers Alex Ortiz and Tom Deely. The theme is “The Family of Christ.”

Wednesday, Feb. 15

ADVANCED ACUPUNCTURE SEMINAR, 7 p.m., Unity Center, 2041 Old Fanning Bridge Rd., Mills River.

A seminar on “Acupuncture: First Port of Call or Last Resort?” will be led Gloria Chan. The seminar will take a more in-depth examination of how acupuncture is different from Western medicine and how they can complement each other. A love offering will be taken.

Saturday, Feb. 18 FILM, 3 p.m., Lord Auditorium, Pack Memorial Library, downtown Asheville. A documentary film, “God in Human Form: The Life and Work of Avatar Meher Baba,” will be shown. It documents the dynamic life of Meher Baba (1894-1969), one of India’s most revered spiritual masters, who observed silence for 44 years.

The film was written and produced by Peter Nordeen of Asheville. Afterward, a question-and-answer session will be held with the filmmaker. Admission is free.

Sunday, Feb. 19

FRIENDSHIP POTLUCK, 12:45 p.m., Unity Center, 2041 Old Fanning Bridge Rd., Mills River. Attendees will be afforded the opportunity to meet others at Unity and are asked to bring six to eight servings of a main dish. salad or dessert to share.

Wednesday, Feb. 22

ASH WEDNESDAY PROGRAM, 7 p.m., Unity Center, 2041 Old Fanning Bridge Rd., Mills River. The Rev. Chad O’Shea will address “What is Lent?” on Ash Wednesday, which is the start of Lent, the 40 days of preparation before Easter. He will explain how the 40 days represent the time Jesus spent in the desert, fasting and enduring temptation. A love offering will be taken.

Wednesday, Feb. 29

CHOCOLATE MEDITATION, 7 p.m., Unity Center, 2041 Old Fanning Bridge Rd., Mills River. The Rev. Chad O’Shea will lead a “Chocolate Meditation.”

Attendees will explore — and indulge in — “the food of love.” O’Shea will share the history and chemistry of this beloved food, then lead a meditatation on the experience of enjoying it.

“We’ll also talk about love in its many forms,” he noted. A love offering will be taken.

Covenant Reformed

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 281 Edgewood Rd. • Asheville, N.C. 28804

828-253-6578

www.covenantreformed.net Wednesday— 7 p.m. Prayer/Bible Study Sunday— 9:30 a.m. Sunday School 11 a.m. Worship • 6 p.m. Worship

Celebration Services 11 AM Sunday

New Books by Dr. Bob Holt, M.D. at Lulu Dot Com “Jesus in India,” etc.

An Informal Spiritual Center of Practical Christianity for Everyday Living.

130 Shelburne Road West Asheville 252-5010 www.unityofasheville.com Bookstore Meeting Rooms

Advertise your church in this space

@ $10 per month

If interested, e-mail us at

advertising@AshevilleDailyPlanet.com ... or call 252-6565.

www.healthark.com

email: decoderdoc@juno.com

Unity Center A Church Family for ONE and ALL Come as you are!

891-8700 / 684-3798 Sunday Services 9:30am & 11:00am Serving WNC for 60 years

2041 Old Fanning Bridge Rd. Mills River 28759 Rev. Chad O’Shea

www.unitync.net

Tell our advertisers — who enable us to bring you this newspaper for FREE every month — that you saw their promotions in the Daily Planet!

Asheville Daily Planet — February 2012 — 19

11. Rentals

1. Announcements THANKS for reading the Asheville Daily Planet.

2. Building Materials 1988 HONDA GI-1500 BiKE to a good and responsibe person. You can contact Mrs. Juliana Smith at michcena007@gmail.com for more information.

3. Animals Free to good home, one male and one female English bulldog babies. They are both very friendly with kids. If you are interested, contact harryp3869@gmail.com.

4. Employment

South Buncombe County

such non 19 century luxuries including: central air/heat, dishwasher and even an icemaker and microwave oven. There is a lease/purchase opportunity which would allow the lessee to apply 1/2 of lease fees for up to 5 years toward purchase price.

LEASE IS $1,600/mo. Lease to OWN OPTION AVAILABLE. Call Jerry at (828) 262-0605

\

Republican Precinct Meetings Saturday, February 11, 10am, at Skyland Fire Dept.

NORTH ASHEVILLE, between downtown and UNCA, two rooms, kitchen, bathroom, all on bottom floor, for lease. Could work as office or apartment. $850/ mo. 713-6336.

Get Involved Now

AshevilleTeaParty.org What we stand for:

Stop the Progressives

Individual Rights - Limited Government Fiscal Responsibility - Free Markets

Please attend if you vote at:

Tea Time Social: Wednesdays, 6 p.m.

HELP WANTED: Get paid by driving your car as usual. You will earn $200 driving your car. No other obligation than driving your car around as you normally do. The ad will be placed on your car for people to see. The ads are typically vinyl decals, also known as “auto wraps.” Contact ASAP for more info harryp3869@gmail.com

11. Rentals

         

Apollo Flame Bistro

1025 Brevard Road, Phone: 665-0080 General Membership Meetings Skyland Fire Department 7 Miller Road, behind First Citizens’ Bank corner of Long Shoals and Hendersonville Rd. 7 p.m. Tuesdays: Feb 7th, March 6th, April 3rd and April 24th

AshevilleTeaParty.org

TC Roberson High School Skyland Fire Department New Hope Presbyterian Averys Creek Elementary School Averys Creek Community Center Biltmore Forest Town Hall Lutheran Nativity Church Glen Arden Elementary School Arden First Baptist Church Skyland Fire Dept. – Bishop Station

This is your chance to make a difference. Become a Republican Party Officer and/or Delegate. Find out more about local and state races.

North Asheville 2/1 townhome/apt $495.00 ALL units 1 mile from downtown off of merrimon avenue on bus line. 828-252-4334

Saturday, February 11, 10am at the Skyland Fire Dept.

(SE corner of Hendersonville Rd and Long Shoals)

Black Mtn 2/1 apartment with heat pump and central air. Also washer dryer connection, In nice area. $545.00. 828-252-4334

[Snow make-up day Sat, Feb 18th, same time, same place]

NOTE: Must be registered Republican as of January 31, 2012 to be a delegate or officer.

For More Info or Questions, Call 687-9432

WEST ASHEVILLE 3/2 mobile home, close to downtown, on the bus line, washer-drier connection, city water, city sewer, in quiet park, $625.

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

Camo • Tactical Gear • Fobus • Airsoft guns & supplies • Army Surplus • MREs

CZONEMBAT

currency for the

ammo: new millennium!

1472 Patton Ave. Asheville, NC

828-736-5511

CIA@charter.net • www.ashevillecombatzone.com

20 — February 2012 - Asheville Daily Planet