Asheville Daily Planet October 2012

‘The scariest man in America’ shares apocalyptic concerns — See Story, Pg. 8

Bill Forstchen

How Asheville grew from zero breweries in ‘93 ... to ‘Beer City’ Tony Kiss

— See Story, Pg. 10

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October 2012

Vol. 8, No.11

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Biden rips GOP rivals in speech at UNCA

By JOHN NORTH

john@ashevilledailyplanet.com

Photo by Perry Hebard, courtesy of UNC Asheville

Vice President Joe Biden (above) makes a point during an Oct. 2 campaign stop at a jammed UNC Asheville’s Justice Center. At one point, the line of those seeking admission wound around the UNCA track (bottom right).

Daily Planet Staff Photo

Photo by Erin Daniell, courtesy of UNC Asheville

Vice President Joe Biden emphasized growing the economy and creating middle-class jobs, while slamming his and President Barack Obama’s Republican rivals — whom he characterized as extremist conservatives who are out-of-touch with the American people — during his Oct. 2 campaign swing through Asheville.

Biden’s visit filled all of the 1,100 seats in UNC Asheville’s Justice Center, with a total attendance estimated at 1,320, with another 200 people viewing the action in an overflow room. (The Justice Center was used because UNCA is leasing its new Kimmel Arena, with 3,400 seats, to the Charlotte Bobcats professional basketball team for preseason practices.)

The vice president’s address began about 30 minutes late — and was preceded by speeches from U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler, D-Waynseville; Democratic Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton and others. Campaign hoopla in Justice began 2-1/2 hours before Biden finally took the stage at 4 p.m.

Greeted with roaring applause, Biden called his “friends” Shuler and Dalton to join him on the stage. Dalton is running for governor, while Shuler is not running again.

See BIDEN, Page 26

‘Little’ Israel destined to KO Iran’s nukes, Bolton says

By JOHN NORTH

john@ashevilledailyplanet.com

BREVARD — “Litte” Israel likely will be the lone nation willing to stand up and knock out Iran’s nuclear missile capability — and it’s a sure bet that the United States will be blamed, “so we (the U.S.) might as well help them and make sure they do it right.”

So said John Bolton, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, who received a standing ovation following his address on “Threats to American Security: A Closer Look at the World’s Trouble Spots” on Sept. 25 at Brevard College’s Porter Center.

“If Israel does it (makes a strike at Iran’s weaponry), it will be at the last possible moment,” he said during a question-and-answer session after his speech.

Given the current U.S. leadership’s luke-

warm support of Israel, “they’d have to do it entirely alone.”

However, Bolton said America should give Israel the backing to ensure it is successful in its strike.

Bolton’s John Bolton presentation, painting a possibly apocalyptic future for the world, did not prompt many smiles, but a rare moment of levity occured during the Q&A, when a man praised him “for one-upping Clint Eastwood.

He (Eastwood) had one empty chair (on stage during a surprise appearance at the GOP Convention in Tampa, Fla.) and you’ve got three

empty chairs (in Brevard).” The audience cheered and Bolton smiled.

A mostly older crowd of about 700 people packed the Porter Center in a near sellout to hear Bolton’s 45-minute speech, followed by a 25-minute question-and-answer session. Only a few BC students were spotted in the audience.

Bolton, who has been a harsh critic of President Barack Obama’s policies, is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. He is a commentator for Fox News Channel, as well as a frequent op-ed writer for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Times and The National Review.

A Baltimore, Md., native with workingclass roots, Bolton earned a scholarship to Yale University, where received a bachelor’s summa cum laude in 1970 and a law degree in 1974. He shared classes with his friend, fu-

ture Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, as well as Bill and Hillary Clinton.

At Brevard, Bolton discussed threats to American security, highlighting his views on threats to U.S. national security and the way in which he believes businesses, investors and governments should respond.

He also presented an up-close look at the world’s trouble spots, presenting his candid discussion of potential areas of concern on the horizon and explored how these areas of unrest could influence the potential landscape of the U.S. “It’s a great pleasure to be here this evening and in this part of North Carolina — I’ve never been here before,” Bolton said in greeting the crowd.

He prompted laughter when he quipped, “You’re only getting the short version of ‘The Speech’ — not the six-hour version.”

See EX-AMBASSADOR, Page 19

2 —October 2012 - Asheville Daily Planet

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Daily Planet Staff Photos

Hotel OK’d despite opposition

Despite a protest outside City Hall (above) against a plan to allow the construction of hotel on just under an acre of a prime real estate (bottom right) across from the landmark Basilica of St. Lawrence (bottom left), Asheville City Council on Sept. 11 gave the go-ahead to the McKibbon Hotel Group to proceed. McKibbon had presented the top proposal for the property to the city in 2006, but no action occurred during the subsequent downturn. Late last year, the Catholic Diocese of Charlotte offered $2 million for the property, proposing to create a plaza with condos and commercial space, but the city favored McKibbon’s 140-room hotel plan.

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Asheville Daily Planet — October 2012 - 3

4 —October 2012 - Asheville Daily Planet

Fired BCGOP official awaits appeal verdict; claims process biased

By JOHN NORTH

john@ashevilledailyplanet.com

Don Yelton, a local Republican who was voted off the Buncombe County GOP’s executive committee on June 25, told the Daily Planet in a recent email that his appeal of the removal has been passed to the state Central Committee, which, in turn, “put it up for arbitration.”

He added that the arbitration commission is comprised of Robin Hayes, the North Carolina GOP chairman; Wayne King, the NCGOP vice chairman; David Lewis and Ada Fisher and the NCGOP attorney.

“I will not be allowed to appear in person, but only offer written material,” Yelton said. “Frankly, this is not arbitration. The legal definition of arbitration is when two parties meet with an unbiased arbitration committee.”

Further Yelton asserted, “How can this committee be unbiased when Wayne King called me and asked me to support him in his run for vice chair — and I told him I was supporting Tim Johnson? Also, Robin Hayes isolated Tim Johnson like Tom Fetzer and finally the attorney is hired by these guys.”

(Johnson is a former chairman of the BCGOP and former vice chairman of the NCGOP — and was the first AfricanAmerican to hold those posts.)

“They have not told me diddly squat, except it will be in writing and that is that.

“Now, to further complicate the issue, Henry Mitchell, the (BCGOP) chair; and Nathan West, (BCGOP) communications director; and Loretta Reynolds, secretary of the party here in Buncumbe, have refused to give me the minutes of the meeting, list of people that voted to set me aside and what position they held and have stopped all notices to me, etc.

“Fair? No way in hell will it be fair,” Yelton said.

Meanwhile, West, who responded on behalf of the BCGOP to the Daily Planet’s request for a response to Yelton’s contentions, said in an Oct. 1 email to the newspaper, “Yelton’s appeal has been sent to the NCGOP hearing committee. It is comprised of Nathan West N.C. Republican Party officials.

“I wouldn’t think, given it is the N.C. Republican Party, that it would be comprised of anything else. So, I’m not sure why he (Yelton) feels it is not unbiased unless he was expecting Chairman Hayes to call up some old Democrat friends of Don and put them on the panel.”

Further, West asserted, “I’m not sure that would count as unbiased either, given that history. I can say that there are no BCGOP members on the panel and this seems fair in our eyes.” (West was referring to Yelton’s departure from the local Democratic Party under similar circumstances before Yelton joined the BCGOP.) Next, West said, “Regarding Wayne King calling Don, I can’t speak to that or

the conspiracy of ‘isolation’ of Mr. Johnson. As far as I know, an election was held for the position and Wayne King was the victor and I’m not sure how this is relevant to Yelton’s appeal.”

On yet another Yelton contention, Don Yelton West said, “He (Yelton) mentions that I have refused a request for minutes. I have received no such request and I would not be the one to approve a request like that. I did confirm a request made by Don through another member of the executive committee, but there has been no formal request of my knowledge.

“It is my understanding that a copy of all signatures collected was provided to Mr. Yelton with the original letter outlining the charges against him.

“The signatures collected are from voting members of the executive committee. I assume he is asserting that there is a possibility some may not have been legitimate or made up. This is untrue and if he believes they were not, he will have the opportunity to bring this up at his hearing.”

West added, “And lastly he asserts that he has been removed from all communication.

Mr. Yelton was removed from our executive committee email list as he is no longer a member of the executive committee.”

Switching gears, West said, “On a positive note, we have some really good things happening and the BCGOP is looking forward to this election. Chairman Mitchell is continuing to create energy and enthusiasm within the BCGOP and we will continue to give 110 percent effort working to get Republicans elected and we have a few surprises coming, so stay tuned and keep looking up.”

Yelton was removed after a lengthy — and stormy — closed meeting of the BCGOP executive committee at the Skyland Fire Department.

During the meeting, some executive committee members — in protest to Yelton’s removal — tendered their resignations, including former BCGOP Chairman Robert Malt.

Yelton was served with an official written notice, dated May 22 and signed by Mitchell, stating that Mitchell would seek to remove Yelton from his party leadership positions for the following two reasons: • “Your failure and inability to perform the dutis of your office due to your confrontational approach, your inability to curb your temper, your repeated disruption of meetings and your personal attacks and insults of other members — both during meetings and outside of meetings as well as other factors that render you unable to perform your duties.

• “Disloyalty to the Republican Party, including engaging in negative campaigning against Republican candidates.”

On July 5, Yelton, who said he missed the June 25 meeting because of a prior obligation to teach a class at Montreat College, told the Daily Planet, “It was not really a hearing — it was a lynching.”

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Asheville Daily Planet — October 2012 - 5

4 candidates square off at CIBO forum From Staff Reports The candidates landed some blows during a forum featuring the aspirants for two seats in N.C. House districts 115 and 116 at a Power Lunch Sept. 27 at Magnolia’s Raw Bar & Grille in downtown Asheville.

The forum, hosted by the Council of Independent Business Owners, included brief opening statements from the candidates, followed by answering questions prepared in advance by CIBO. About 100 people attended.

The candidates included Susan Wilson, Democrat, and Nathan Ramsey, Republican, both seeking the District 115 seat; and Jane Whilden and Rep. Tim Moffitt, battling for the District 116 seat.

While some jabs were fired earlier in the forum, it was not until the end, when the candidates were given the opportunity to ask their opponents a single question that the heat was cranked up a notch.

Leading off on the question to one’s opponent, Wilson asked Ramsey, “Is there any vote that you cast when you were county commissioner chair that you regret?”

Ramsey said his biggest regret was voting in 2001 for limited zoning in areas of Buncombe around the city limits, where the city said it planned to exercise its extraterritorial jurisdiction.

“The majority (of county voters) voted against it (zoning), and the commission (including himself) went ahead with it anyway ... Partly why I ran for office (in 2000) was because I felt it was bad policy” for the commissioners to ignore the wishes of the voters after a referendum is held.

“I got the heck beat out of me by people who supported me,” Ramsey said. “They said, ‘Nathan, you said you would never

Daily Planet Staff Photo

Addressing CIBO during a candidates forum are (from left) Susan Wilson and Nathan Ramsey, both seeking the N.C. House District 115 seat; and Jane Whilden and Rep. Tim Moffitt, both vying for the N.C. House District 116 seat. vote for zoning.’ That’s why I am not mak- Mr. Moffitt has decided to accept so much While Moffitt had 15 bills passed in his ing any promises in this campaign. I’m go- ‘outside’ money — outside Buncombe first term, Whilden said most of that activity ing to do the best I can and, if that’s not County — to run his campaign?” has gone for naught because she feels Mofgood enough, fine.”

Moffitt replied, “That’s a good ques- fitt’s record is not a good one. Moreover, she In turn, Ramsey asked Wilson, “Are you tion — and I think it could be asked” of lamented that some of Moffitt’s legislation advocating any tax increases to address bud- Whilden, too. He noted that the costs of run- has justifiably upset city and local officials. get issues you were talking about for North ning for state office “have gotten so high” “He may have gotten a lot of bills passed, Carolina?” that “it’s just kind of the way it is” to have to but let’s look at the bills he got passed,” Wilson replied, “Would I raise taxes? accept funds from outside the district. While Whilden said. “He is trying to take our That’s kind of an interesting question.” She Moffitt said he has received about 400 in- water away, he is trying to take our airport noted that tax reform usually means a tax dividual contributions, he said that was not away, he has slashed funding to our schools increase, whether it involves closing loop- enough to be competitive. holes or widening the base.

In his question to Whilden, Moffitt que- over a billion dollars. This man’s record is “I’m not going to make a promise one ried, “My campaign is about my record — not good. It may be long, but it’s not good.”

Earlier, in her opening statement, Wilson way of the other because I am interested in I’m pleased with it. I’m here to find out why noted that she moved to Buncombe County looking at what kind of structure we can cre- my opponent is not running on her record.” ate in North Carolina that’s a better strucDisagreeing with the premise of Moffitt’s in 1991 and has worked as a child suppert ture than we have ... As for actively saying, question, Whilden countered, “He (Moffitt) attorney and an abuse and neglect attorney.

‘Yeah, let’s go raise taxes,’ no, I’m not for is running on his record and I’m running on She said she moved to the area because “it’s that ... I don’t want to pay any more taxes mine.” During the one term she served be- absolutely beautiful” and because of the than anyone else does.” fore losing to Moffitt in 2010, Whilden said quality school system.

Whilden said her question would be “why she had about six bills passed.

See CIBO, Page 10

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6 - October 2012 - Asheville Daily Planet

Daily Planet Staff Photos

The crowd listens to a speech by Chancellor David O. Belcher during an open house for Western Carolina University’s new instructional site at Biltmore Park Town Square in South Asheville.

Consolidation of WCU programs in Asheville at Biltmore Park lauded From Staff Reports Western Carolina University celebrated the consolidation of its Asheville-area graduate and undergraduate academic programs at Biltmore Park with an open house and reception — and a speech by WCU Chancellor David O. Belcher at the new site on Sept. 27.

Belcher welcomed everyone to the program and recognized the presence of local political leaders, WCU officials and other notables, as well as George and Jack Cecil, leaders of the Biltmore Estate.

He noted that Jack Cecil, president of Bilmtore Farms, LLC, and developer of Biltmore Park, was “sort of the indispensable one in this. Yeah, I know Biltmore Park is his baby.” Belcher said that the younger Cecil is “completely committed to public education in this state.”

Belcher said that Cullowee-based WCU has had a presence in the Asheville area “dating back to 1937 at a variety of sites,” including at UNC Asheville and A-B Tech.

However, Belcher said in recent years needed growth and expansion at these locations has faced space limitations, so WCU decided to consolidate all of its Ashevillearea academic programs at Biltmore Park.

“With 25,000 square feet of space, WCU programs are located” in an exciting area on a growth corridor, along I-26 between Asheville and Hendersonville.

“We’re all in one location and, therefore, better able to meet the instructional needs of this university.”

Belcher called WCU’s move reflective of “an engaged university” and he prompted some laughter in the crowd when he said, with a note of understatement, “We’re an institution that’s really not about navel-gazing.”

His voice rising with enthusiasm, the chancellor said, “We’re in the middle of this mixed-used community ... It’s a place where people live, where people work ... and now it’s a place where people (can) learn.”

He added that, besides the other programs consolidated at the new site, WCU’s undergraduate and graduate nursing programs will be there, with a $1 million grant it had landed for a new high-tech laboratory.

“We served 500 students here (now), where we offer” 20-plus academic programs.

Belcher then said emphatically that “we have pledged that we will not duplicate any programs already offered by UNC Asheville or any other UNC system school. We are not

WCU Chancellor David O. Belcher speaks at the Sept. 27 open house. here (in Asheville) to be a competitor.”

The chancellor received thundering applause and appreciative laughter from the crowd when, with a dramatic flourish, he asserted, “We like to think of Western Carolina University programs at Biltmore Park as ... the space, the grace and the place!”

In a separate statement released through WCU, UNCA Chancellor Anne Ponder said, “This is a wonderful opporunity for Western Carolina University and for UNC Asheville to expand the graduate school opportunities for the citizens of our region.

“Western Carolina’s relocation of its programs to Biltmore Park allows us to accelerate our collaborations with other UNC campuses to offer high-quality graduate education in Asheville,” Ponder said.

Tom Ross, president of the UNC system, recently approved a 10-year lease agreement between WCU and Biltmore Farms, LLC, enabling classes to begin at the WCU Biltmore Park site this fall.

In a statement through WCU, Jack Cecil said, “This WCU location will accelerate economic growth along the I-26 corridor by bringing a regional research university that provides advanced and technical degrees to the southern Buncombe and northern Henderson area.

“The educational research component that WCU will add to this region has been noted by many economic developers as a key driver of job growth in many other successful communities around the state and nation,” Cecil said.

Hope & Change

In 2008 the American people voted for HOPE & CHANGE. It might be hard to measure the amount of HOPE we received, but it is sure easy to see the CHANGE. Since Obama has been President: • Gasoline prices are up 110% • Median income has gone down $4,300 for a family.

• New business start ups are at a 30-year low.

• Twenty-three million Americans are out of work or underemployed.

• American’s on food stamps has gone up 44% to an all-time record high.

• Unemployment above 8% for 43 straight months.

• US credit rating has been downgraded.

• The US postal service has defaulted on $5.6 billion due the government for health-care payments.

The shortfall will be paid by taxpayers and/or stamp-users.

• College tuition is up 20%. Colleges have little incentive to control costs now that the government is in the student loan business and taxpayers pay for any loan defaults.

• ObamaCare will take $716 billion away from Medicare insurance companies and hospital providers.

• The US budget annual deficit is up over 200% now at $1.17 trillion.

• The national debt has gone up over 55% to $16 tril lion and is projected to reach $22.5 trillion by 2016.

• The amount of US unfunded liabilities is $1 million for each taxpayer.

Is this the kind of change you voted for?

This November we will decide between free markets with limited federal government. Or, continue with failed economic policies that will force the “Fundamental Transformation” of America into a Socialistic state with more federal government hand-outs and control.

We must move “FORWARD,” but not in this direction.

Paid by: Venture Investments, LLC

Greenway spending draws fire at forum From Staff Reports

WOODFIN — The projected spending of $40 million in local taxpayers’ money for a countywide system of greenways was lambasted as the hidden agenda of elite special interests who run the county for their own gain, Don Guge, the GOP candidate for the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners District 1 seat, charged during a candidates’ forum on Sept. 20 Guge was among three speakers — all Republicans — addressing the nonpartisan Citizens for Change’s “Meeting the Candidates Event” at the Woodfin Community Center. Twelve people attended.

Besides Guge, the candidates included J.B. Howard, seeking the county commissioners’ chairmanship; and Pat Cothran, running for county register of deeds Guge, who is facing opposition from Democrats Brownie Newman and Holly Jones for the newly formed District 1 seat, touted his experience as a detective with the Woodfin Police Department and 22 years’ experience in law enforcement. He also is a veteran of the Gulf War. In addition to his lifelong police career, Guge runs a gun business as a sideline. He holds a bachelor’s in marketing degree from Clemson University and a masters in public affairs from Western Carolina University.

“In my race, there is no middle of the road.,” he said. “My two opponents are selfproclaimed progressives — and I’m a selfproclaimed conservative.”

Further, Guge charged, “Basically, the county is being run by the special interests — and that needs to stop.” He said the tradition of favoring special interests has gone on for years.

He also said he backs rewarding emergency-services workers, such as those in police, fire and rescue, with salary increases, instead of big spending for sidewalks and greenways.

“I’m not against greenways,” Guge emphasized. But, he asserted, “Our county is being run by special-interest groups ... We don’t have representation from the conservative side of the fence... The reality is we need to represent everybody.”

Guge characterized his opponents as “a community organizer” and someone “who runs a soda company.” He added, “I’d bet money on it it that neither of them owns a bullet-proof vest,” while Guge noted that he owns several bullet-proof vests.

When questioned about the greenways, Guge noted that it raises questions, such as who is going to patrol the public trails.

During a discussion of greenways at a recent commissioners’ meeting, he lamented that, “when the speaker began talking about possible murders and rapes, the supporters of the greenways started laughing” and not taking the concerns seriously.

“If y’all knew half of what I know, y’all’d move to the backwoods and form a commune” far away from “civilization,” Guge said, alluding to what he characterized as numerous unreported crimes in the county.

If the aforementioned is true, why does Guge hang around instead of leaving for a better situation? a Daily Planet reporter asked.

“It’s in my blood — it’s the right thing to do,” Guge replied, in reference to his staying and running for office.

“There are wolves in our society and there are shepherds in our society. I would argue that I’ve been a shepherd all my life. My

Asheville Daily Planet —October 2012 — 7

Don Guge

J.B. Howard

family is like that, too. That’s what we do.

You don’t do it for money ... You go out and fight the demons because that’s what you’re supposed to do.”

Further, he reiterated, “My point is money is being spent in the wrong places. We need to fix the way” it is being spent.

Peggy Bennnet, founder of Citizens for Change, said she had heard that instead of the $40 million in spending for the greenways, it will be more like $70 million to $100 million and necessitate a jump in property taxes.

Guge agreed with Bennett’s assessment and added that “just because an outfit says they’re nonprofit, they need to be under contract with the county so that we can see their books.”

Nodding in agreement, Bennett said, “We really need that. If you receive taxpayer money, you need to open your books.”

A woman asked a question “about the greenway thing ... if someone gets hurt, is my homeowners’ insurance going to cover that, or is the county” accepting the liability?

“That question came up at the (commissioners) meeting,” Guge said. “It was dodged. The big question that came up was imminent domain,” which is where the government compels someone to sell his land.

Moreover, Guge noted, “I agree with you — where’s the liability? Let’s go back to basics. The gun issue, which is what I’m known for — are they going to allow concealed carry” on the greenways? “Also, can I ride my horse on the greenways?

“They’re not thinking out all of the issues

that come with this,” Guge charged.

“If they want to do it (build greenways), my issue is funding.” Specifically, he said the county’s greenways, if built, should be financed by private donors, rather than spending the public’s tax money.

In concluding, Guge said, “It’s an uphill battle” for conservatives in the county. “It’s an area dominated by other people who don’t share the same beliefs. But I’ve heard from a lot of Democrats who aren’t happy — and said they’d ‘Vote for Guge.’ My understanding is that (outgoing Democratic commissioner) Bill Stanley has openly made that comment — and I’ve verified it.”

Challenging incumbent David Gantt, Howard reviewed his military background, which was followed by a career with the state Highway Patrol. He also ran a private investigation security business, which he has sold.

“The county commission has been leaderless for several years,” Howard said. “That’s the job of the chairman ... The chairman knows nothing more than the other commissioners.

But I learned years ago, just to pick the right people to do the job” and things run smoothly.

As for the greenways, he noted, “Our present commissioners are playing the shell game” with the plan. “One thing that motivates that crowd over there is money ... I guarantee you some of them are checking out” the possible future routes for the greenway, so that they can buy land to resell at a big profit.

“That’s what it’s all about” to the elite who run the county, Howard said. “They could care less about you and I. It’s all about money.”

He added, “If I got in there, one thing I’d try to do is get to a zero budget in 10 years ...

If I get elected, I might not be around in 10 years, but, hopefully we can get it going in the right direction” and others can carry it on from there. “If you elect a new board with a majority of conservatives, we’ll get it straight.”

Speaking last, Cothran began by asking, “How many of you lie awake at night, worrying about the register of deeds office? I do.”

She noted that the founders of the United States spelled out “the value of real property

rights” in the Constitution and the register of deeds plays a big role in that process.

Cothran said the register of deeds protects, records and retrieves one’s land transactions.

“We have Pat Cothran some good technology in the (Buncombe) register of deeds office, but my concern is some serious issues with the search engine used in that office.”

Specifically, she said, “Inaccuracy causes a loss of time and property rights” for those involved. Later, Cothran termed the office’s error rate as the worst she seen during her career.

Cothran then noted that she is a Buncombe native, who was born and raised in Leicester and graduated from college with a degree in real estate. “I’m a historian and genealogist ... I’m a country girl and I can drive a tractor and shoot a gun.” She also hold a master’s degree in entrepreneurship and has run her title insurance business for years.

“The last time a new register of deeds was elected in this county was in 1918, she said.

Since then, from deaths and retirements while in office, the majority party (the Democrats) have named successors, all of whom won reelection as incumbents.

In reference to her Democratic opponent, Drew Reisinger, Cothran said, “Less than one-tenth of one percent appointed the incumbent — a Florida native with a degree in anthropology who has only run things for a few years as register of deeds.”

Cothran added, “I’m very concerned about (having) an unqualified person serving as register of deeds ... There are mistakes being made in that office. I’m not blaming anyone in that office, but mistakes cause problems for the citizens of the county.”

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8 - October 2012 - Asheville Daily Planet

Author-prof issues apocalyptic warnings at preppers meeting First of a series of two stories

By JOHN NORTH

john@ashevilledailyplanet.com

WAYNESVILLE — Once again, authorprofessor William Forstchen was introduced as “the scariest man in America” — this time just before his Sept. 29 keynote address at the Heritage Life Skills conference at the Haywood County Fairground.

The two-day conference, which drew about 150 people, featured sessions on survival skills, such as fire-starting, long-bow-making, weaving, spinning, trapping, blacksmithing and candle-making. The event host was Carolina Readiness Supply of Waynesville.

In introducing Forstchen, Richard Walsh, a West Asheville prepper known as “Madmick” on YouTube, repeated the colorful description he gave the Montreat College military historian at a preppers conference in Black Mountain this past spring.

Forstchen, standing nearby, grimaced — and then grinned — at Walsh’s introduction. Continuing, Walsh asserted, “He doesn’t realize it ... He won’t take credit for it — for starting the prepper movement in the United States.”

Finishing with a flourish, Walsh triggered applause from the roughly 100 people present as he noted that Forstchen’s book “One Second After,” a New York Times bestseller, virtually “created the prepper movement in the United States.”

As the applause died down, Forstchen picked up the microphone and sat casually on a table — with his legs dangling — in the front of the room. He greeted the crowd in a low-key manner. “Why don’t we do what I prefer to do — a question-and-answer” session? he asked, rhetorically.

However, he said he first would tell about his day, noting that he was not in tip-top condition that Saturday night because “I finished my latest book at 3:30 this morning, so I’m a bit ‘zombified.’”

When he later told his daughter (Meghan) that he had finished the book, Forstchen said she asked him, “How many people did you kill” in it? I said, “Only two.’”

The audience erupted into laughter, as Forstchen’s daughter was referring to the nonstop deaths in his book “One Second After.” That work tells of an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attack scenario, where 90 percent of the U.S. population would die within a week — and many more die thereafter, albeit more slowly Also, Forstchen told the crowd that he participated in a scheduled interview with Israeli National Radio that afternoon. “It’s interesting they’d ask someone without government affiliation” to discuss issues such as the ramifications of an EMP attack, he said.

The crowd laughed when Forstchen said that when he told a colleague that he was going to do the interview, “he made me promise” not to suggest “shooting pork-fat” projectiles into Iran, or tell any other politically incorrect jokes.

In the course of the radio program, Forstchen said he asked the interviewer where she was located in Israel — and she said her studio was “a few miles outside of Jerusalem.” He said he praised her for her courage.

During the interview, Forstchen said he was asked why Iran would want nuclear devices. “I said there’s only one reason for a nation of that size to have one to three

(nuclear) missiles — and that is to fire off an EMP,” with the intent of sending Israel back to 18th century technology or earlier.

(An EMP, experts say, would fry the circuitry in all, or most, digital devices, leaving them inoperable. It would take down the Bill Forstchen grid, probably for years.)

Brimming with admiration for his Israeli interviewer, Forstchen said “she told how her father was a Holocaust survivor and they (the Israeli) know what the future will bring if they don’t stand strong.”

In speaking of the United States, Forstchen said, “I do believe we have to stand strong at this point ... A madman having his finger on the button (to trigger a nuclear attack) is frightening.”

Referring to Iran, the professor-author said the U.S. faces something unusual — foes who have no qualms over killing themselves and everyone else, believing that they will be rewarded in the next life.

Forstchen said he was not wanting to get “political” in his address, “so I’m not counseling on who to vote for ... Just vote.”

Forstchen then opened the question-andanswer session, which began with a man noting that John Moore said on his syndicated radio talk show that “troop movements that seem unusual” were occurring on military bases in eastern North Carolina.

While Forstchen professed to know nothing about that assertion, a man in the audience who identified himself as a Charleston, S.C.-based defense contractor, said, “As far as we know, that’s all speculation.”

Forstchen added that something that is definitely known is that “there is a major carrier buildup in the Middle East” area and in the Indian Ocean.

Someone then asked Forstchen, “What was the general mood in Israel like while you were out there?”

“I wasn’t there,” Forstchen replied. “I was being interviewed” from his Black Mountain home by an Israeli radio journalist. However, based on chatting with his interviewer and his research, “What I hear is they’re ready to go (to war with Iran), but, then again, they’ve been ready to go since 1948,” when Israel was formed.

“But did you feel it (war) is imminent?” a man asked.

“Yes,” Forstchen said. “They (the Israelis) think it will happen within six months.”

The historian then told of the Masada, a Jewish fortress overlooking the Dead Sea, where the Romans laid seige in the spring of the year 73. Upon finally forcing entry with a battering ram, the Romans found all 960 inhabitants dead as the result of suicide. The Jews felt it would be better to be dead than to be slaves of the Romans, Forstchen said.

“The Romans were stunned,” the professor said. “That’s echoed in Jewish history for 2,000 years ... Part of the pledge is ‘Never again, Masada!’ You could see why (today) they would be on guard” against the Iranians.

Another audience member asked about Forstchen’s view of the “solar activity” that is occurring and predicted to occur soon.”

“CMEs — coronal mass ejections — all the time (such) storms are erupting,” Forst-

Daily Planet Staff Photo

Richard Walsh of West Asheville gives a presentation on food preparation during the Heritage Life Skills conference at the Haywood County Fairground in Waynesville, as his his daughter Hannah, dressed in old-timey pioneer style, operates a manual canner. chen replied. “On average, it (the earth) gets hit every 75 to 80 years with a big one. It’s essentially the same as an EMP, but there’s potentially a great impact of a global EMP.” “In other words, every industrialized country in the world would get slammed ...

The last really big one (CME) was in 1921.”

He then spoke of a CME solar superstorm that lasted from Aug. 28 to Sept. 2, 1859. It produced the largest known solar flare, which was observed and recorded by

Richard C. Carrington. Telegraph systems in North America and Europe failed.

Forstchen told of telegraph pylons throwing sparks and telegraph paper spontaneously catching fire.

“The Carrington Effect burned off the Victorian infrastructure of that time,” he said. “It was setting railroad ties on fire. Can you imagine what that would do to our highpower lines today? So we’re overdue....

See WARNINGS, Page 9

Make bug-out plans to deal with cataclysm, expert says Third in a series of three stories

By JOHN NORTH

john@ashevilledailyplanet.com

FORT MILL, S.C. — Given the possibilities for calamity in today’s world, “if you don’t have a bug-out plan, you need to have one,” self-sufficiency expert David Kobler said during a breakout session that he led during Charlotte PrepCon on July 14.

“No one knows the future, so make a plan,” said Kobler, co-owner and co-founder of Practical Preppers, LLC, based south of Greenville, S.C. “There are all kinds of disasters that could happen,” he said, citing nuclear plant problems, a chemical spill, or wildfires, as a few examples. The worst situation, Kobler said, is “a full-fledged breakdown of law and order.”

Further, he said, “Don’t become a refugee ... Refugees don’t do well. The only way to avoid being a refugee” is to prepare in advance with planning and provisions.

For those unable to afford a storage building, he recommends getting an old refrigerator or freezer and “cover them up.

They’re usually pretty secure.”

He suggested bugging out to a primitive location off the beaten track, with a water and fuel sources. It also needs to be defendable.

“The best option, as we all know, is with 20 acres and a cabin in an isolated area,” Kobler said.

Warnings

Continued from Page 14 Someone asked what would happen to the nuclear reactors, if an EMP were to hit the U.S. “So much of what’s really going to happen is classified,” Forstchen said. He added that one of the main reasons for keeping the information private is officials do not want “the bad guys” to be privy to their projections.

“The big question is how we get them (the reactors) back online. It takes a great amount of energy” to do that.

He added that he was at a conference with top U.S. officials near Washington, D.C., where an expert said that “of the (estimated) 500 nuclear facilities in the eastern United States, estimates are around 80 percent of generating capacity still would be offline five years later. “ Forstchen said there were “at least 800 to 1,000 people in the audience,” including top military leaders and scientists, and “nobody said a word.” When nobody voiced disagreement with the damage projection, “I said, ‘Oh, my God!’” In a textbook display of gallows humor, Forstchen said he later heard someone say, “Well, if you lose 80 percent of the reactors, it’ll all work out because 80 percent of the population would be dead, too.”

He noted that is why a number of preppers try to live no closer than an hour away — and preferably farther — from a nuclear plant.

On the bright side, Forstchen observed, “The beauty of it is ... prepping for an EMP or a CME, it’s the same prepping.”

An audience member asked, “Are we seeing precursors to World War III?” “I feel like we’re living in — for America ... it’s 1941,” Forstchen said, alluding to the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor, which prompted American’s entry into World War II. “I don’t think we’re taking seriously” the threat that exists with Iran, the professor said. “The historican in me goes back

He also said a bug-out bag, with provisions like food, water and medicine intended to last for three days, is a must.

As for a bug-out plan, Kobler said, “Make sure your plan will match your physical condition — what you can do and the weakest member of your team can do.”

On a more general level, he suggested “don’t stick out — blend in” with the way one is dressed or with the vehicle being driven, so as to not draw unwanted attention.

He said getting to a bug-out retreat during a calamity can be a daunting task. One method is by following a road, a stream, railroad tracks or power lines. However, Kobler said “there are security problems” with taking that tack, as others may be hiding out to bushwack travelers in those areas.

“The way to do this is to walk 100 yards to the left or right of the lines” or other marker in a procedure that, in the U.S. military, is called “handrailing,” Kobler said.

He especially warned of using roads for an escape route because they “don’t offer much cover or concealment ... Typically, roads are not good to be on, but they’re also the quickest way to get from point A to B.” Kobler noted that “I’m a big fan of cacheing — that way, if someone beats you to your bug-out location, you’re going to have vital supplies in (hidden) locations” all along the way.

to 1941, 1939, 1938.... If we’d said, ‘Don’t even consider this’” to Nazi German dictator Adolf Hitler, the death and destruction of World War II might not have happened.

Great Britain’s Winston Churchill “flat out declared that appeasement will result in global catastrophe,” Forstchen said. His advice was ignored and he was banned from the BBC for a year, but made a comeback into power after his prediction proved to be correct, the professor noted.

“I think we’re in for a terrible crisis,” Forstchen reiterated.

He then referred to a scene in the 1984 film “Red Dawn,” where a downed U.S. pilot explains to a group of teenagers — fighting guerilla-style against Russian and Cuban invaders — how the war started by saying.

Forstchen paraphrased the pilot as saying, “It seems like every 50 years somone has to prove who’s the biggest kid on the block.”

As Forstchen looked out on the grim expressions of those in the audience, pondering his analysis and projections, he suddenly quipped, “Can we talk about ‘How Happy Bunny Goes to Town’?” — a reference to his daughter’s suggested title for a new book by him, with a happier subject than that of “One Second After.” The audience laughed.

Among the many other questions, someone asked for Forstchen’s thoughts on “why people don’t know about the threat in the Middle East.”

“There are (repeated) examples of people thinking they’re living in peace, when they should have been preparing for war,” the military historian replied.

“Throughout history, we’ve had leaders who felt appeasement was the answer ... So why’s the president (Barack Obama) doing what he’s doing? I don’t know, but I think he’s sending out the wrong signals,” Forstchen said.

Story to be continued

Asheville Daily Planet — October 2012 — 9

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10 - October 2012 - Asheville Daily Planet

Saga unveiled of how Asheville became ‘Beer City USA’ From Staff Reports Asheville and Buncombe County now boast 10 craft beer manufacturers with more on the way, but it was not always like that, beer enthusiast Tony Kiss said Sept. 21 at UNC Asheville’s Reuter Center.

During a talk titled “How Asheville Became Beer City,” which drew about 60 people, Kiss said that when he began working at the Citizen-Times in 1984, there were no craft breweries in the area, downtown Asheville was mainly boarded up and there was “not much going on.”

That all changed in 1994, when the first serious craft brewery was opened by Oscar Wong in downtown Asheville — and Kiss wrote one of what would be many beer stories to come as Asheville would eventually be recognized as a craft beer mecca.

Indeed, to keep up with the area’s burgeoning beer scene, he now writes a regular column titled “The Beer Guy” for the paper.

Kiss said he actually wrote his first local beer story in 1993, when he heard about a craft brewery opening in Waynesville. He said the brewery “consisted of a card table ... a couple of dudes (entrepreneurs)” and not much else, “so I did a little story.”

In 1994, when Wong appeared on the Asheville scene, Kiss said he always remembered that the beermeister liked to quip: “If you want to make a small fortune in the beer business, you start out with a large fortune.”

The audience laughed heartily at the joke.

Wong connected with Barley’s Tap Room on Biltmore Avenue, opening his Highland Brewery in the basement, with Barley’s upstairs at that time, Kiss recounted.

Wong’s efforts inspired others — and today, Kiss said, Buncombe’s 10 craft breweries include nine in Asheville and one in Black

CIBO

Continued from Page 5 Wilson said businesses need to be attracted to Buncombe and “we need good educational facilities to do this.”

Ramsey noted that he is a Buncombe native and “I grew up here,” graduating from Reynolds High School and UNC Asheville.

He then earned a law degree from UNC Chapel Hill, returned to Buncombe “and began milking cows” at his dairy.

Ramsey said that “small business is the backbone of Buncombe County. For Buncombe to be prosperous and successful, it needs to encourage business by cutting regulations. He noted that he served for eight years as chairman of the Buncombe Board of Commissioners — as the lone Republican with four Democrats. Ramsey said his board tenure shows that he can work successfully “in a nonpartisan way.”

Mountain.

Two more breweries are expected to open in Buncombe in the near future, he said.

In addition, Sierra Nevada and New Belgium, the No. 2 and 3 American craft brewTony Kiss ers, recently chose to locate in the area, with the former locating next to the Asheville Regional Airport in Mills River and the latter in Asheville’s River Arts District.

“Between the two (aforementioned) breweries, they’ll (intially) bring in about 200 jobs, with salaries averaging $40,000 per year, which is pretty good money around here,” Kiss said. Eventually, “this will be like 500 more jobs in beer” in the area.

Regarding Wong, Kiss told how he set up the fledgling Highland Brewery in Barley’s cluttered basement, powering the operation with recycled dairy equipment and producing Asheville’s first craft beer.

Fortunately for the risk-taking Wong, Highland became a favorite of local beer-drinkers, but it would take years for his brewery to stop losing money, Kiss said.

“They flushed tens of thousands of gallons of beer down the (city) sewer system” in the early days until Wong felt the beer tasted good enough to offer for sale, Kiss said.

“They started out with draft only. Its Highland Gaelic Ale became its flagship” brand.

Today, “Highland is the biggest local brewery” in the area and it makes 30,000 gallons of beer per year,” he said.

Seeing Highland’s popularity, other breweries followed, including Jack of the Wood/ Green Man, what is now known as Asheville Brewing, French Broad, Pisgah, Wedge, Oysterhouse, Lexington Avenue Brewery, Craggie and Thirsty Monk.

When Asheville claimed four breweries, Kiss said he asked his editor if he could write a beer column. He was asked if he thought there was enough going on to merit a column, to which he said “yes” and never has looked back.

“It’s always fun for me,” Kiss said of his sampling of craft beers and his adventures in keeping up with the beer business and the often-colorful characters involved in it.

“I never figured it’d be more than one or two (local craft breweries) when it started off,” so he initially was surprised the way the business has skyrocketed in the area.

“None of the breweries in Asheville have failed — so far,” Kiss said. “That’s pretty amazing considering how many restaurants go out of business around here.”

Kiss noted that he often is asked, “How many more breweries can we have?”

To that, he said, “We (Asheville) have more breweries than anywhere in the United States” per capita.

“Every brewery in Asheville has its own unique personality — and they make different kinds of beers.” What’s more, some of the breweries also are in locations that serve multiple uses, such as Asheville Pizza, which features pizzas and movies, too.

In his own observation and analysis, Kiss

said he has concluded that,“if you’re doing something differently, it greatly increases your chance of success ... Usually, 60 or 70 different beers are being made on any given day” in Asheville.

A few years ago, Asheville won the “Beer City USA” crown, when it came down to Portland, Ore., and Asheville, Kiss recounted.

“Portland is a 10 times bigger city than Asheville,” with its 80,000 population.

“Asheville surprised everyone by winning that (Internet) poll. I think its won the poll for the fourth straight year” this year. Upon further thought, he amended his statement to specify that Asheville is sharing the title this year with Grand Rapids, Mich.

While pleased that Asheville keeps winning the “Beer City USA” title, Kiss said he personally wondered if it meant anything elsewhere. However, when he was traveling in Belgium, someone asked where he was from. “I said, ‘Asheville,’” and his foreign questioner responded, “Beer City USA!” As for the two major craft breweries locating in the area, Kiss said, “Sierra Nevada and New Belgium were both carefully recruited.

They both had maxed out on the West Coast.

“I thought we might get one of the two” as the recrutiing process progressed. “I was as stunned as anyone when both decided to locate here,”Kiss said.

As for the future, he noted, “Hardly a week goes by that I don’t hear someone considering opening a small brewery in Asheville.” Kiss said there are currently more than 20 functioning breweries in Western North Carolina — “most within 30 minutes of Asheville.

“I don’t see any end to them ... In a year’s time, we might have four or five more breweries. I don’t think there’s any limit, if your product is different,” Kiss said.

Whilden said, “I served for one term — and I’d like to run for another term ... I’m running because I love where we live .. I’m very attached to this area.”

Then, taking a more combative tack, Whilden said she is running because education was “slashed” by over $1 billion in the last three years. “I feel we need to build up our schools because strong schools make for strong businesses.” Whilden also said, “ I think local issues need to be decided locally.”

Moffitt said, “I don’t consider myself very political.” He also noted that he turned 48 years old “this week.” He spoke of his early life in Asheville, living downtown, where he sported a mullet hairstyle. Moffitt noted that he found opportunity, even though he was cash-short, as various business professionals helped him on the road to success. “It’s great to call this home and to be here today,” he said.

Among the questions asked by CIBO was:

If elected, what’s your No. 1 priority?

“Well,” Moffitt replied, “I’ve been in office just this one term ... We had a deficit we had to work on ... I think what’s still pressing us is the economy.” He also said that, to some extent, tax reform is a priority.

Continuing, Moffitt said that “15,000 rules were implemented between 2000 and 2010 (by the state legislature) — that’s an extraordinary” number. Ultimately, he said, “We’ll focus on job creation.”

As for her top priority, Wilson said, “I think I’d focus on schools ... We need to put money in on the front end because it pays dividends in the back end.”

Whilden said, “My No. 1 priority is education. I’m very, very upset with the $1 billion cut from our school ... I just think it’s horrible the way our education system in the state has been slashed — and I just don’t want to see it burned.”

Ramsey said his top three priorities would be tax reform, improving the ability to improve workforce schools and refining “the way we build our infrastructure,” so that North Carolina is poised to prosper in the 21st century.

Another question was: “Did you support Amendment 1?”

“I did vote for Amendment 1,” Ramsey replied. However, he added that he feels people should have the right of free association.

Wilson said, “I did not support the marriage amendment. Clearly, the target was the gay and lesbian population” of North Carolina.

Moffitt asserted, “I voted in favor of the marriage amendment. I think the government’s involved too much in our lives, but, given the way things are,” he voted as he did.

Whilden, who opposed Amendment 1, said, “I agree with something Mr. Moffitt has said ... I don’t think government should be inolved in the marriage business.”

Asheville Daily Planet — October 2012 — 11

12 - October 2012 - Asheville Daily Planet

‘Get back to basics’ to boost N.C. schools, Tedesco says From Staff Reports For years, North Carolina’s public school sysem has had a tendency to follow the latest fad in education, but the students would be much better served with a return to the basics, John Tedesco, Republican candidate for state superintendent for public instruction, told a gathering in Asheville on Sept. 14.

“I think we need to get back to basics,” he said. “I don’t believe we need to push kids through (the school system), if they can’t read.”

He added, “I get passionate about this because I think our children are worth fighting for.”

Tedesco made the remarks during a luncheon forum, which drew about 20 people, at Mangolia’s Raw Bar & Grille in downtown Asheville. The luncheon featuring the candidate was hosted by Lisa Baldwin, a member of the Buncombe County school board.

Tedesco began by noting that he speaks fast because he has so many idea he wants to convey quickly. “My wife sometimes teases me that I have a Southern heart and a yankee mouth,” he quipped, triggering laughter from the GOP faithful.

He noted that he grew up in Pittsburgh, Penn., and his father worked in the steel mills, so he was raised in a working-class environment. “I jokingly say I wasn’t born here in North Carolina, but I got here as fast as I could.”

Tedesco, who lives in the Raleigh area with his wife and three teenage children, said most of his career has been in public adminstration, so “I saw how our systems are set up ... I said to myself (eventually), ‘I think I need to get involved in this on the front end.’”

As for his political stance, he said, “Everyone knows I’m a conservative, unabashed.”

The candidate lamented that North Carolina is ranked fourth in the nation in inschool suspensions and fourth in the nation in incarcerations of its populace.

Tedesco also said, “Our teachers are doing more with less ... One in five of our (North Carolina) children” are dropping out of school and many of those who do stay in school “are not graduating prepared for our workforce.”

For instance, the candidate asserted, “We have thousands of jobs we can’t fill (in North Carolina) because people don’t have the training.”

He also addressed the connection between the state’s school systems shortcomings and the “prison pipeline.”

With a $1.4 billion budget for public education, Tedesco said North Carolina has the 16th biggest school system “in all of America.”

“Over the past 20 years, educational spending has more than doubled, while students have stayed about the same in their performances on standardized tests. Tedesco said most of the spending increase has gone “for administration.”

He added, “We need to get those dollars for teachers and for students in the classroom.”

Tedesco vowed to work hard “to get administrators out of our classrooms and let the teachers teach.” He also said he would push to get parents more involved and “we can’t have a one-size-fits-all education model.”

While “I’ll admit I don’t have all the answers,” Tedesco also said, “I have no ego about it” and will pursue what works best for educating the students.

Among his plans, if elected, are the following: • Reduce the level of bureaucratic oversight.

• Increase customer service.

• Let more local control of schools happen.

• Build a bettereducated workforce.

•Trim waste and protect classrooms.

• Empower parents and communities.

• Return to basics and innovate.

John Tedesco During a quesitonand-answer period afterward, Tedesco was asked for his ideas on addressing what meeting attendee Christina Kelly G. Merrill characterized as “a huge drug problem” in Buncombe’s public schools.”

(Merrill is a candidate for Buncombe commissioner, District 2.)

Merrill also said “Nobody wants to talk about it .... We have a huge, growing drug problem.”

Tedesco replied, “Children need to feel safe” to be able to learn. “There’s no single, magic bullet. It takes a community to get engaged” to rid schools of drugs. “We need to start that conversation,” noting that he thinks “the No. 1 concern of every parent is the drug problem.”

Baldwin said, “Along those lines, the Department of Education needs to put together a data bank ... It would be good to share iformation.”

Tedesco added, “One of the biggest challenges (in the drug fight) is the parents don’t engage” with the schools. “We have to understand the community outside of our schools ...

In many cases, we have babies having babies — and then they (the young mothers) have to drop out of school.”

Merrill said, “In Buncombe County, some of the highest drug problems are in high-income communities.”

Tedesco said he is aware of drug problems among youngster from upper-income areas and, having been born and raised in workingclass Pittsburgh, he said, “I was blessed by the grace of God with an education ... and I got out” from drug problems around him.

Meeting attendee Linda Humphries, a retired teacher, asked if Wake County, where Tedesco serves on the school board, has a “due process or grievance procedure.”

“Part of our community outreach is creating two-way communications with parents, so they know their rights,” Tedesco replied. “It’s all about engaging with the public.” He added that grievances are all handled in closed session “because you’re dealing with employee privacy issues.”

Meeting attendee Don Yelton asserted, “Our (school) board is very closed-minded and they’re shutting Lisa (Baldwin) down.”

Tedesco expressed sympathy for Baldwin, but noted that, if elected state school superintendent, “I can’t work on a local level, but I can from a statewide level.

When pressed by Yelton if Tedesco faces the same situation on the Wake County school board as, Yelton contended, does Baldwin with the Buncombe school board, Tedesco said insofar as internal disagreements go, “All nine of us (on the Wake County school board) are really cool about it.”

An unidentified man asked, “Can your school board members make comments during meetings?”

“Yes,” Tedesco replied.

Asheville Daily Planet — October 2012 — 13

Liberal pundit rips corporate news media’s performance

From Staff Reports

Liberal pundit Amy Goodman ripped the corporate news media and discussed her new book, co-written with Dennis Moynihan, “The Silenced Majority,” on Sept. 7 at A-B Tech’s Ferguson Auditorium in Asheville.

About 180 people showed up, filling every regular seat, sitting in the aisles and standing in the back, for the “Take Back the Media” event. MAIN, the local Mountain Area Information Network and its lowpower radio station 103.5 FM, hosted the program as a fund-raiser.

Afterward, a book-signing was held in the lobby outside the auditorium.

Wally Bowen, MAIN’s founder, noted that “MAIN started oin 1994-95 with the idea” of building a local media infrastructure.

Bowen, who appeared shaky and soon sat down, but continued to speak, explained, “As a lot of you know, I’ve been diagnosed” with Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

“Sorry for this interruption,” Bowen said.

“That’s OK!” a young woman shouted, cheerily, prompting the crowd to applaud Bowen.

He spoke with pride of the fiber-optic network MAIN has built and said the operation will live on after him.

Continuing, Bowen said that soon, “we’ll be coming back on the air with a new stronger signal” for the radio station.

Bowen then noted that the night’s featured speaker, Goodman, “has been a hero to so many of us for so long.”

“So are you, Wally!” a woman shouted, again promting applause for the ailing Bowen.

Preceding Goodman on the stage was her partner, Moynihan, who “thanked Wally as not only an inspiration, but as a mentor,

too.”

M o y n i han prompted laughter from the audience as slammed what he termed the mainstream “corporate media,” noting that it serves “so dismally.”

“Corporations do have Amy Goodman a lot of power” and that problem is compounded, he said, by the dominance of corporate media that caters to its fellow corporations.

“It’s great to be in Asheville, as we (the two-hour daily news outlet Democracy Now) travel the country,” he said. “It’s places like this you see the small ‘d’ in democracy in action.”

He noted that King Features contacted Goodman and him in 2009 to write a weekly column. Their new book, “The Silenced Majority” is “really just a compilation of those columns” they have written together.

He added with obvious pride that “we got in four columns on the Aurora (Colo.) killings” in time to be included in the book.

Their book tour will last two month “and we’re glad we’re kicking it off in Asheville,” immediately following their coverage of the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte.

Goodman began her talk by showing off her media pass to cover the DNC, noting that it has an AT&T logo on its lanyard. She said that shows corporate influence in the political process in the U.S. — even in the Democratic Party.

While Goodman said the Internet “could be the greatest democratizing force in the world, corporations want to privatize it and reap the profits.”

Pausing, she asserted, “We’ve got to fight against that ... and be extremely vigilant.”

On the other side of her DNC media credential, she showed the logo of Time-Warner.

On the bright side, Goodman said, “It was amazing to see the Democrats (unofficially) rename the stadium (in Charlotte) Panthers’ Stadium, instead of its real name, Bank of America Stadium. She noted that BofA paid “millions of dollars” for the naming rights to the stadium.

“This corporate collusion has left so many people in trouble,” Goodman said, noting with pride that the Democrats managed to strike back, at least at BofA. She then discussed the Republican National Convention, which was held in Tampa, Fla, noting that about 500 protesters came out to protest the RNC’s agenda.

With warnings of a possible hurricane, many of the 50,000 GOP attendees delayed attending for the first day, when the activities were canceled. “So the 500 protesters showed up, but not the 50,000 Republicans,” Goodman said, as the crowd cheered.

“In the afternoon, in the pouring rain, they announced from ‘Romneyville’ that they would be marching because they had felt ‘the pain of Bain” Capital, Romney’s firm..

To be equal opportunity critics, she said protesters set up an ‘Obamaville’ at the DNC convention. She said Romneyville and Obamaville were modeled after “Hoovervilles,” which existed during the Great Depression.

“You know, so much is made of the parisan bickering in Washington, but the

major problem is the bipartisan consensus in Washington.” Goodman’s comment was greeted with loud applause by the Asheville audience.

She eventually turned her criticism back on the news media, asserting, “We’re so used to the media — these small groups of pundits who know so much and get so much wrong.”

Goodman added, “It’s so important that we open up the media” to independent news sources. “War and peace ... Life and death ...

These are the important discussions we need to have” as a society.

She asked, “How many of you lisen to DemocracyNow.org?”

Most hands were raised, as Goodman smiled and noted that her program is “on over 1,100 (radio) stations right now. We’re trying to put the ‘p” back in public.” The crowd again applauded.

Goodman said corporate interests are “trying to influence the editorial pages of the surviving newspapers of this country ... I really do think the newspapers would be able to survive — and even thrive — if they opened up their opinion pages” to more non-corporate viewpoints.

Regarding her co-written book, “The Silenced Majority,” Goodman said it refers to Americans “silenced by the corporate media, which is why we’ve got to take it back.”

She said that Democracy Now, launched 16 years ago, “is a very scrappy little news organization ... We needed the Internet from the beginning because (renting) satellite (time) is very expensive ....

“That’s the power of independent media — it brings down barriers ... Independent media is so important because it allows people to speak for themselves,” Goodman said.

14 - October 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.

Thursday, Oct. 4

GREEN PARTY MEETING, 10 a.m., upstairs in the Fortune Building, 729 Haywood Rd., West Asheville. The Buncombe County Green Party will hold a business meeting that is open to the public.

“ZELDA” MUSICAL, 2 and 8 p.m., Main Stage, Flat Rock Playhouse, Flat Rock. The play, “Zelda: An American Love Story,” will be performed through Oct. 28. The new “jazz age” musical, set in Asheville, is loosely based on the lives of Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald. It tells the story of a beautiful Southern belle who meets handsome author F. Scott Fitzgerald at a dance on July 4, 1917. What follows is a love affair for the ages and a couple that comes to define a new cult of American celebrity. with a score that nods to Cole Porter and George Gershwin. “Zelda” is billed as “an old-fashioned musical told in a completely new, contemporary way.” The shows usually are at 8 p.m., but with occasional 2 p.m. matinees scheduled, too. No shows are offered on Mondays and Tuesdays. For tickets, which are $40, visit www. flatrockplayhouse.org, or call 693-0731.

LAST LECTURE, 3-5 p.m., theater, A.K. Hinds University Center, Western Carolina University, Cullowee. David Dorondo, associate professor of history at WCU, will present his “last lecture,” titled “Sunlight Through Tears: Teaching and the Burden of History.” The annual WCU series honors a faculty member chosen by students to give a “last lecture,” the words the person would share if the lecture was the last one was ever going to give.

SONS OF RALPH CONCERT, 7 p.m., Mountain Heritage Center, Western Carolina University, Cullowee. The First Thursday Concert and Community Jam series will feature a performance by Sons of Ralph, members of which will share tales of life on the road.

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, Oct. 5

COIN SHOW, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Hickory Metro Convention Center, 1960 13th Ave. Dr., Southeast, Hickory. The North Carolina Numismatic Association’s 54th Coin Show and Convention will be held through Oct. 7. The show runs 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 6 and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 7.

Admission is free.

“SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN” SHOW, 7:30 p.m., Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts, 1028 George Rd., Franklin.

Set in the 1930s, this musical tale, “Smoke on the Mountains,” introduces the singing Sanders family, which performs its traditional and bluegrass gospel songs for the members of the Mountain Pleasant Baptist Church in celebration of its new electric lightbulb.The show features almost 30 gospel tunes and rich stories of the Sanders family’s history on the gospel circuit.

The show continues on Oct. 9, 12, 16, 19 and 23.

For tickets, which are $15 for adults, and $10 for students call (866) 273-4615.

DAVID CASSIDY CONCERT, 8 p.m., Biltmore House, Asheville. David Cassidy will perform in concert. His hits include “Cherish,” “Could It Be Forever,” “How Can I Be Sure,” “Rock Me Baby” and “I Think I Love You.” For tickets, which are $60, visit www.biltmoreconcerts.com.

OPERA, 8 p.m., Diana Wortham Theatre, 2 S. Pack Square, downtown Asheville. Asheville Lyric Opera will pressent “La Traviata.” For tickets, visit ashevillelyricopera.org, or call the box office at 257-4530.

Saturday, Oct. 6

STAMP/POSTCARD SHOW, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Comfort Suites Hotel, 890 Brevard Rd., Asheville.

The musical “Zelda: An American Love Story” will be performed through Oct. 28 on the Main Stage at the Flat Rock Playhouse. The show is set in Asheville, when Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald lived in the city.

The Asheville Stamp & Postcard Show will be held. Admission is free. The show will conclude from 10 am. to 4 p.m. Oct. 7.

DEMOCRATIC POLITICAL EVENT, 7 p.m., Grand Ballroom, Grove Park Inn, 290 Macon Ave., Asheville. The 52nd Annual Western Gala dinner will feature Gov. Bev Perdue, Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton and R.T Rybak, mayor of Minneapolis and vice chair of the Democratic National Committee. The event is being hosted by the North Carolina Democratic Party and the governor. For dinner tickets, which are $100, visit headquarters@ncdp.org. The dinner will be preceded at 6 p.m. with a reception on the Vanderbilt Terrace.

LUNSFORD FESTIVAL CONCERT, 7 p.m., Moore Auditorium, Mars Hill College, Mars Hill.

Features performers will include Asheville’s Midnight Plowboys, joined by Laura Boosinger and Mark Davis, as well as Betty Smith, The Buddy Davis Family, Phil and Gaye Johnson, Green Valley Cloggers, Stoney Creek Boys, Joe Penland, Roger Howell, Trantham Family, Appalachian Harmony and Richard Hurley. Earlier, free daytime activities will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. around campus during the 45th annual Bascom Lamar Lunsford “Minstrel of Appalachia” Festival.

CONCERT, 7-9 p.m., Town Square, Biltmore Park, Asheville. Oldies band Tuxedo Junction will perform in a free outdoor concert. Admission is free.

Sunday, Oct. 7

JAZZ CONCERT, 3 p.m., St. Matthias Church, 1 Dundee St., Asheville. A concert of chamber music for piano trio featuring the works of Haydn and Beethoven will be performed. The players will include Debra Belcher, piano; Brent Yingling, violin; and Ron Lambe, cello.

ILLUSIONIST SHOW, 7:30 p.m., John W.

Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center, Western Carolina University, Cullowee. “The Jason Bishop Show” will be presented. Bishop is known for his “double levitation” illuision. For tickets, which are $20 for adults, $15 for WCU faculty and staff, $5 for students and children, call 227-2479, or visit bardoartscenter.wcu.edu.

Monday, Oct. 8

TEA TIME SOCIAL, 6 p.m., Lone Star Steakhouse, Arden. The Asheville Tea Party will hold its weekly Tea Time Social. All interested are invited to attend.

CANDIDATE FORUM, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Black Mountain Library, 105 N. Doughtery St., Black Mountain. A candidate forum for Buncombe County Commission District 2 and North Carolina House District 115, coordinated by the League of Women Voters, will be held.

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, Oct. 9

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.

FINANCIAL PROGRAM, 7 p.m., Turkey Creek Baptist Church, Leicester. Rich Davis will present a program titled “Financial Wisdom in Challenging Times.”

SHAG DANCE, 7-10 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.

BONNIE RAITT CONCERT, 8 p.m., Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, downtown Asheville. Bonnie Raitt Slipstream Tour 2012 will perform, along with Sarah Suskind. For tickets, which are $67.10, visit ticketmaster.com or call (800) 745-3000.

Thursday, Oct. 11

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.

BUDDY HOLLY LEGACY SHOW, 8 p.m., Tryon Fine Arts Center, Tryon. The center will present “Rave On! The Buddy Holly Experience.” The show features the music of Holly, as well as that of Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper. For tickets, call 859-8322 or visit www.tryonarts.org.

MARY WILSON CONCERT, 8 p.m., Biltmore House, Asheville. Mary Wilson, one of the original members of The Supremes, will perform in concerr. For tickets, which are $55, visit www. biltmoreconcerts.com.

Friday, Oct. 12

CONCERT, 8 p.m., Diana Wortham Theatre at Pack Place, 2 S. Pack Square, downtown Asheville. The Jeremy Kittel Band will perform.

For tickets, which are $30 for adults, $25 for students and $15 for children, call 257-4530 or visit www.dwtheatre.com.

See CALENDAR, Page 15

Margarita Mondays — 1/2 off all Margaritas All Day Every Monday

Asheville Daily Planet — October 2012 — 15

The Korash Dance Company will perform at 4 p.m. Oct. 13 at the Foundation Performing Arts Center at Isothermal Community College in Spindale.

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Saturday, Oct. 13

Events

OKTOBERFEST GALA, noon-6 p.m., Wall Street, downtown Asheville. Oktoberfest, a Bavarian-inspired street party, will be hosted by the Asheville Downtown Association. Featured will be music by the Stratton Mountain Boys, food and locally brewed beer.

DANCE PROGRAM, 4 p.m., The Foundation Performing Arts Center, Isolthermal Community College, Highway 74-A, 286 ICC Loop Rd., Spindale. The Korash Dance Company will perform a blend of ballet, moder and jazz dance, molded into a style of choeography that is billed as “both eloquent and explosive.” For tickets, which are $18 and $23 for adults and $8 for yougsters, call the box office at 286-9990 or visit www. foundationshows.org.

POPS CONCERT, 6:30 p.m., Bascom Lamar Lunsford Stage, Pack Square Park, downtown Asheville. Members of the Asheville Symphony Orchestra will present a free concert in the park, under the direction of Music Director Daniel Meyer. Lawn seating is free for the 90-minute pops concert. Concertgoers are encouraged to bring lawnchairs and blankets. The program will include music from “The King and I,” “A Chorus Line” and “Star Wars.” Activities will begin at 1 p.m. with food trucks and beverage vendors located near the park. Tickets for $35 are available through Oct. 12 for the 425 reserved seats in front of the stage by calling 254-7046.

BLUE RIDGE & FRIENDS SHOW, 7:30 p.m., Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts, 1028 George Rd., Franklin. Blue Ridge & Friends, billed as a versatile music group, features Southern gospel with barbershop quartet harmonies, as well as occasional contemporary gospel sounds. For tickets, which are $12 for adults, call (866) 273-4615.

BRUCE HORNSBY CONCERT, 7:30 p.m., Harrah’s Cherokee Casino & Resort, Cherokee.

The band Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers will

perform in concert. For tickets, visit tickemaster. com or call (800) 745-3000.

“ROCKY HORROR” SHOW, 8 p.m., downtown stage for Flat Rock Playhouse, Main Street, downtown Hendersonville. The FRP will present its interpretation of “The Rocky Horror Show.”

The show will be presented through Oct. 31, with no shows on Mondays and 2 p.m. matinees-only on Sundays. For tickets, which are $35, visit www.flatrockplayhouse.org, or call 693-0731.

Monday, Oct. 15

TEA TIME SOCIAL, 6 p.m., Lone Star Steakhouse, Arden. The Asheville Tea Party will hold its weekly Tea Time Social. All interested are invited to attend.

CANDIDATE FORUM, 6:30-8:30 p.m, Skyland Volunteer Fire Department, 9 Miller Rd., Arden. A candidate forum for Buncombe County Commission District 3 and North Carolina House District 116, coordinated by the League of Women Voters, will be held.

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, Oct. 16

TANGO LESSON/DANCE, 6 p.m., Eleven on Grove, 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.

SHAG DANCE, 7-10 p.m., The Hangar, Clarion

The Oak Ridge Boys will perform at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 20 at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin.

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.

Thursday, Oct. 18

BOOK PRE-SALE, 2-5 p.m., Madison County Library, 13335 N. Main St., Marshall. A Book Pre-Sale will be held for Friends of the Madison County Library members only. However, anyone may join the Friends on that day by paying the membership dues at the door.

MUSICAL COMEDY, 7:30 p.m., The Foundation Performing Arts Center, Isolthermal Community College, Highway 74-A, 286 ICC Loop Rd., Spindale. “Faye Lane’s Beauty Shop Stories: A Musical Comedy” will be performed. The show is billed as “the semi-sweet memories of a former Green Been Queen in story and song. For tickets, which are $14 and $19 for adults and $5 for yougsters, call the box office at 286-9990 or visit www.foundationshows.org.

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, Oct. 19

BOOK SALE, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Madison County Library, 13335 N. Main St., Marshall. The library’s sale will feature hardcovers, papersbacks, fiction and non-fiction, CDs, DVDs and more. The sale will continue at the same time on Oct. 20.

See CALENDAR, Page 16

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

16 - October 2012 - Asheville Daily Planet

DA5 bids fond farewell with last 2012 gala

The Buchanan Boys (left) was the opening band for the final 2012 Downtown After Five concert series on Sept. 21. The country-rock group is from Jackson County. The featured band was The Black Lillies. Hundreds of people showed up to hear the music, socialize and partake of the plethora of food, beer and other beverage options.

Staff Photo

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Events

followed by a dance.

SHAG DANCE, 7-10 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.

CONCERT, 7:30 p.m., Blue Ridge Community College, East Flat Rock. Pianist Julie Bees will perform. For tickets, which are $3 for student and $50 for season tickets for all others, call 694-1743.

Friday, Oct. 19

ELVIS EXTRAVAGANZA, 7 p.m., KIngsport Renaissance Center, 1200 E. Center St., Kingsport, Tenn. The 3rd Annual Elvis Extravaganza will feature six of the Top Elvis Presley Tribute Artists in the world. Each will perform for more than 20 minutes in a stage show-style performance piece as “The King of Rock ‘n’ Rolls” — and every genre or Elvis’ music will be covered.For tickets, which are $10, call (865) 684-6082.

LARRY GATLIN CONCERT, 8 p.m., Biltmore House, Asheville. Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers, one of America’s most popular countrymusic acts of the 1970s and ‘80s, will perform in concerr. For tickets, which are $65, visit www. biltmoreconcerts.com

Thursday, Oct. 25

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, Oct. 26

Saturday, Oct. 20

CONCERT, 7-9 p.m., Town Square, Biltmore Park, Asheville. The band Crocodile Smile will perform in a free outdoor concert. Admission is free.

OAK RIDGE BOYS CONCERT, 7:30 p.m., Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts, 1028 George Rd., Franklin. The Oak Ridge Boys will perform four decades of charted songs and 50 years of tradition to its stage show. Among the group’s top hits are “Elvira” and “Bobby Sue.” For tickets, which are $33-$39 for adults, call (866) 273-4615.

CONCERT, 8 p.m., Diana Wortham Theatre, at 2 S. Pack Square, downtown Asheville. Janis Ian and Tom Paxton will perform in a concert titled “Together at Last.” For tickets, which are $30 for adults, $25 for students and $15 for children, call 257-4530 or visit www.dwtheatre.com.

Wednesday, Oct. 21

COFFEEHOUSE CONCERT, 7 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 1 Edwin Place, Asheville. Ronny Cox with his trio will perform in the monthly Mountain Spirit Coffeehouse.

Private Outdoor Hot Tubs Massages Accommodations LOCAL SOAK SPECIALS FOR BUNCOMBE COUNTY RESIDENTS! 2 HOURS FOR THE PRICE OF 1 HOUR SUNDAYS-THURSDAYS 42Private tub, Cold Plunge, Cedar Sauna Towels, sandals, shower & amenities

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The band Santigold will perform at Moogfest 2012, which will be held at various venues Oct. 26-27 in downtown Asheville.

For tickets, which are $15 for adults, $10 for students and free for ages 13 and younger, call 299-4171 or visit www.uuasheville.org.

Monday, Oct. 22

TEA TIME SOCIAL, 6 p.m., Lone Star Steakhouse, Arden. The Asheville Tea Party will hold its weekly Tea Time Social. All interested are invited to attend.

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, Oct. 23

TANGO LESSON/DANCE, 6 p.m., Eleven on Grove, 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

MOOGFEST, noon., various venues, including U.S. Cellular Center, the THomas Wolfe Auditorium, Orange Peel and Asheville Music Hall, all in downtown Asheville. The third annual Moogfest 2012 will feature around 30 musical performers during a two-day festival endimng Oct. 27. Among the scheduled bands is Santigold. The festival is intended to honor the legacy of the late Bob Moog, who is credited with revolutionizing electronic music with his invention of the Moog Synthesize.

Moog moved to Asheville in 1978 and his company Moog Music is located in Broadway Street, just north of downtown Asheville. General admission passes begin at $100. Single-day passes start at $65, Weekend VIP passes are $250. For tickets, visit www.moogfest.com.

TAYLOR MASON SHOW, 7:30 p.m., Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts, 1028 George Rd., Franklin. Taylot Mason, billed as a world-class ventriloquist, prolific writer and successful comedian, will perform in a show aimed at an audience of all ages. For tickets, which are $10-$12 for adults, call (866) 273-4615.

Faith Notes Send us your faith notes

Please submit items to the Faith Notes by noon on the third Wednesday of each month, via email, at spirituality@ashevilledailyplanet.com, or fax to 252-6567, or mail c/o The Daily Planet, P.O. Box 8490, Asheville, N.C. 28814-8490. Submissions will be accepted and printed at the discretion of the editor, space permitting. To place an ad for a faith event, call 252-6565.

Saturday, Oct. 6

COUNTRY BREAKFAST, 7:30-10 a.m., Carson’s Chapel, Tom’s Creek Road, Marion. An old-fashioned country breakfast, featuring all-you-can-eat, will be offered for $6 for adults, $4 for ages 6-12 and free for ages 5 and younger.

WOMEN’S FINANCIAL WORKSHOP, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., First Baptist Church of Asheville, downtown Asheville. OnTrack WNC’s Women’s Financial Empowerment Center will hold its first Women and Money Conference titled “What’s in Your Financial Toolbox?”

The Women and Money Conference will include workshops and presentations on topics in three focus areas: “Build Your Financial Foundations,” “Nail Down Your Financial Future” and “Retool for a New Direction.”

Registration costs $15 — and includes lunch and all workshop materials. Register at www.ontrackwnc.org/ women, or call OnTrack WNC at 255-5166, ext. 112.

PIG-PICKING/SINGING, 5-7:30 p.m., Reems CreekBeech Presbyterian Church, 4 Sugar Grove Rd. (at the end of Reems Creek Road), Weaverville. The church will host its annual pig-picking and singing. The Fireplace in Woodfin will prepare the barbecue and church volunteers will supply side items. Cost is $9 — or $4 for a child’s hot dog plate — including a drink and dessert.

Take out will be available. Proceeds will be used by the Weaverville Senior Meal Site and the church.

Sunday, Oct. 7

20TH ANNIVERSARY SERVICE, 11 a.m., Expo Building, WNC Agricultural Center, Fletcher. Grace Community Church will hold a 20th anniversary celebration service. The hour-long service, “Good News to the Mountains,” will feature various art forms, video testimonies, music and a short message from Pastor Dave Desforge. Child care will be available, starting at 10 a.m. at the log cabin building. A free lunch will follow. To register and reserve a meal ticket and child care, visit graceinfo.org.

DIALOGUE SERMON, 11 a.m., West Asheville Presbyterian Church, 690 Haywood Rd., Asheville.

The church will host Rick Rice from radio station Rock 104.9 as part of a dialogue sermon at the worship service. Cliff and Sheryl Schlegelmilch will provide music.

World Wide Communion will be served.

CONCERT, 2 p.m., Unity Center, 2041 Old Fanning Bridge Rd., Mills River. The annual “Unitics Go Classic” concert will be held. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 on the day of the show.

ANIMAL BLESSING, 5 p.m., Grove Park, 338 Charlotte St., Asheville. A “Blessing of Animals” service will be sponsored by four churches — St. Mark’s Lutheran, First Presbyterian, St. Eugene Catholic and St. Mary’s Episcopal. Donations of food for animals and cash donations for Brother Wolfe Animal Rescue are requested.

All species are welcome.

BENEFIT CONCERT, 6 o,n,m Nazareth First Missionary Baptist Church, 146 Pine St., Asheville. A benefit concert for the Rev. Ronald Sullivan and an Apprecia-

tion Day in memory of the late Rev. Otis Ware will be held. The concert will feature music by five choirs and soloist Chaplain Robbie Williams.

Tuesday, Oct. 9

REVIVAL, 6:45 p.m., St. John’s “A” Baptist Church, 20 Dalton St., Asheville. Fall revival services will be held nightly through Oct. 11. The revival speaker will be the Rev. John Brewster, pastor of Asheville’s Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church. Area choirs will provide music for the sercices.

The Rev. Randolph C. Evans is the host pastor.

Wednesday, Oct. 10

Asheville Daily Planet — October 2012 — 17

86 Lilly Pad Lane, Flat Rock. Geri Chavis will lead an educational workshop that explores the power of poems and creative expression as an avenue to personal development, well-being and headling. The workshop, titled “Poetry for Growth and Healing: Creative Explorations of Changes in Our Lives,” lasts two hours and costs $40. Chavis teaches courses in literature, women’s studies and poetry therapy at Catherine University in Minneapolis, Minn. She also is a psychologist in private practice and an author. To register by the Oct. 20 deadline, visit stkate.edu/registeronline, or call Kelly Povo at (651) 690-6063.

Sunday, Oct. 28

FALL FESTIVAL, 4-7 p.m., Canton Armory, Penland Street, Canton. A fall festival, hosted by First Baptist Church, will feature games, food and a cake walk.

Wednesday, Oct. 31

TRUNK OR TREAT, 3-5 p.m., First Presbyterian Church of Swannanoa, 372 Bee Tree Rd., Swannanoa.

The church will host a Trunk Or Treat gala, featuring treats and face-painting.

FILM, 7 p.m., Unity Center, 2041 Old Fanning Bridge Rd., Mills River. The film “Reincarnation: Do We Really Die?” will be shown. A love offering will be taken.

Friday, Oct. 12

ANNUAL BAZAAR, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Maple Grove United Methodist Church, 79 Maple Grove Church Road (near Kmart), Waynesville. The church will hold its twoday Annual Bazaar, which will conclude on Oct. 13.

Saturday, Oct. 13

CLOWN WORKSHOP, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Calvary Episcopal Church, 2840 Hendersonville Rd., Fletcher. An “Introduction to Basic Clowning” will be offered. Te course includes history of clowning, character development and makeup application. The $30 cost includes lunch, makeup and supplies. To register, call 684-6266.

Wednesday, Oct. 17

FILM, 7 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville, 1 Edwin Place, Asheville. The documentary “A Message From the Carcellus” will be shown in the Social Justice Film Nite series. The film is a 20-minute short in which filmmakers Todd Tinkham and Molly Matlock interview people from Pennsylvania, New York and Louisiana about the impacts of natural gas fracking on their communities. Admission to the screening is free. A discussion will follow the screening.

Wednesday, Oct. 24

HEART WISDOM PROGRAM, 7 p.m., Unity Center, 2041 Old Fanning Bridge Rd., Mills River. Author Alice McCall will present a program on “Living With Heart Wisdom.” Admission is free, but a love offering will be taken.

Saturday, Oct. 27

HEALING WORKSHOP, 10 a.m., Highland Lake Inn,

LETTERS The Asheville Daily Planet invites Letters to the Editor of 200 words or less. Please include your name, mailing address, daytime telephone number and e-mail address.

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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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18 — October 2012 - Asheville Daily Planet

Involve media in political process, analyst urges From Staff Reports

Liz Colton, a diplomat, journalist, educator and author, offered her perspective on recent upheavals in Syria, Egypt and elsewhere in the Middle East that have drastically altered the volatile region’s dynamics during a Leadership Asheville Critical Issues Luncheon Sept. 26 at the Asheville Country Club.

Despite her many vocational pursuits, the Asheville native said she was acting essentially as an analyst as she addressed about 125 people during her speech and a question-and-answer period that followed.

Her topic was “Global Politics: U.S. Foreign Policy and the Media.”

Colton has worked in more than 100 countries on six contents. Her most recent diplomatic assignment was as a foreign service officer with the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, Egypt.

Prior to joining the Foreign Service, she was an Emmy-winning journalist for ABC News and other media, working in the Middle East, Europe, Africa and Asia.

She has been a Fulbright Scholar, a university professor and executive editor of 10 newspapers. She holds several degrees, including a Ph.D. in social anthropology from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Her consulting firm, E.O. Colton & Associates, based in Asheville and Washington, D.C., promotes global collaboration.

Colton currently serves as adviser and program director for the American Committees on Foreign Relations.

Colton began by emphasizing, “My talk today is nonpartisan” as “we’re right in the middle of the election politics.

“It doesn’t matter which party the president is with or who the secretary of state is,” as an American Foreign Service official, “you’re doing the work for the United States” people.

She told of being in Khartoum, Sudan, in 2005, when she had one of the most memorable experiences of her career.

There were many Muslims and a number of Christians there, but the U.S. did not “have that good of relations with” Sudan.

“The news had come out the day before that there’d been an incident” of desecrating copies of the Koran — the Muslim holy book — by the Americans at Guantanamo Bay. “Being in a Muslim country, we (at the U.S. consulate) did not think this was very good.”

America’s then-Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice issued a statement, saying, in effect, “I will state right now that we deplore these actions” and that the U.S. government does not condone the desecration of

the sacred texts of Muslims, or any other faith.

While Colton said she was please with Rice’s statement, the American Embassy “wasn’t very well-protected,” and “we heard that, at the Islamic university, that the professors and stu- Liz Colton dents were going to march across a bridge over the Nile (River) and protest at the American Embassy.”

Thinking fast, Colton had Rice’s statement translated into the native language and had copies made and called the news media “to make sure everyone knew the U.S. Embassy would welcome the demonstrators.

When the protesters arrived later at the Embassy, Colton said six or so of the top leaders were invited inside, where she had a translator available to help her.

She recollected that she told the native leaders that “first, I’d like to wecome you to our Embassy. You are welcome here. We congratulate you on your free and peaceable assembly.” She then gave the leaders copies of Rice’s speech in translation.

“The tall, distinguished-looking leaders looked at each other — and this is not what they expected ... They went back to their people, had a confab and then back across the bridge.”

Using her aforementioned story as an example, Colton said that, during her service as a U.S. diplomat, “I felt the people-topeople kind of relationships had an impact.” In the specific case she cited, “for a while, there wasn’t any antipathy” between the natives and U.S. Embassy staff.

In her advice to whomever is the next president, Colton said, “For some time, people have recognized that politics and the media are interconnected. They are inextricably intertwined.”

“You don’t have foreign policy without a relationship with the media — at some level,” she said.

“You can say you can’t control the media, but you can work with the media,” Colton said. “In a democracy ... the diplomat has one role, the media, another role.

“The fact is, you can’t control the (news reporters), but you can work them ... This is missing very much” in today’s U.S. foreign policy, she said.

“One thing I see right now is foreign policy leaders are not working closely with the media to explain” what is happening.

At that point, she reviewed the history

of why the U.S. is in the situation it finds itself in the Middle East today. Among many details, she recounted the Camp David Accords resulting in a peace treaty between Israel and Egypt, brokered by then-President Jimmy Carter. She also told of the U.S. Embassy Iran being stormed in November 1979, with 52 Americans held hostage for 444 days. (Some sources have said the hostage crisis played a pivotal episode in future U.S.-Iranian relations, as Iranians and other Muslims pointed with pride to the successful strike against the Americans.)

She added that, in 1991, when the Soviet Union collapsed, “the world went from two superpowers to one superpower (the U.S.).” Predictably, Colton said, American “became the object of everyone’s blame

“You don’t have foreign policy without a relationship with the media — at some level,” Liz Colton said. and scapegoating” for all of the world’s problems.

“In the 1980s during the Cold War, I didn’t feel this antipathy toward America” around the world.

“So there was no antipathy, but nothing takes up the 1990s in the Middle East.

We had an office called the Office of the Hegemon.

In 2005, the secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, went to Cairo (Egypt) and made a very strong speech. She challenged the leaders of the Middle East, including of Egypt, to change” “In 2009, President (Barack) Obama wen to the University of Cairo and made a very strong speech — and it had a lot of impact.”

She said the U.S. has different kinds of relationships with countries in the Middle East. “We need to be flexible to bring them forward, if indeed that is possible.”

“If I were able to send a memo to the future (U.S.) president,” it would be to note that “domestic and foreign policy are not two separate things.

“The president should spell out what the foreign policy is ... The president should use diplomacy in every way possible.”

Colton added that “the president should be personally involved” in diplomacy — “personally building relationships with (foreign) leaders.”

For instance, she noted that former President Bill Clinton “had been very good friends” with Great Britain’s former Prime Minister Tony Blair. “But President (George W.) Bush made close ties with Tony Blair, which was crucial” when he launched the joint military action in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“Ultimately, foreign policy has to be bipartisan. Foreign policy doesn’t change much over time because it is American policy,” regardless of which political party holds sway.

To America’s leaders, Colton said, “work with journalists.” Instead, she lamented, as it is now, “If you (as a journalist) get on the wrong side of someone in Washington, you lose your access — and (eventually) your job.”

She also said, “Many diplomats never leave the building ... I could never understand that.” Instead, she said diplomats must be going out and meeting people to build good relationships.

“In the Middle East, the biggest problem is the Israeli-Palestinean conflict ... As long as that problem’s not solved, the U.S. will be blamed” for problems in the region.

“We don’t need to solve that problem, but rather, we need to encourage it be solved.”

“It certainly wasn’t true in the first term of President (George W.) Bush .... (ThenSecretary of State) Colin Powell couldn’t leave town because he was afraid of what (then-Secretary of Defense Donald) Rumsfeld might do.”

When Rice took over as secretary of state, “it wasn’t a problem (Rumsfeld’s meddling), so she was able to fly around the world,” meeting people and making friends.

“The president should be a world leader — and that’s nothing against (also) being a national leader ... He needs to be pragmatic and diplomatic — and not in an ‘Ugly American’ way.”

During a question-and-answer session afterward, a woman asked Colton, “How can we hope to express bipartisanship to foreign policy when we really don’t have it here among ourselves?”

“If you’re in Washington, these people are all friends, but they project the image (to their constituents) that they hate one another,” Colton replied.

Another woman asked, “How can we as voters get to the reality of what’s going on” when there is so much inflammatory rhetoric in today’s U.S. political scene?

Colton said she always advises her students — and others — that “you’ve got to read everything and watch as much as you can” of the news.

See ANALYST, Page 23

Ex-ambassador

Continued on Page 1 He said the U.S. has made a mistake in not considering the challenges that some of its allies were facing in the recent past, but that the nation “has been dragged back in by 9/11” and other terrorist incidents.

“We need a rebalancing, so we can have more intense debates” over America’s foreign and economic policies, Bolton said.

What’s more, he asserted that, “politically, at election time,” it is important for the electorate to let the two candidates for president know of their feelings about the urgency of handling foreign affairs properly.

Unfortunately, Bolton said that — to date — “across the political spectrum we haven’t focused much on unpleasant things,” such as U.S. foreign policies with adversaries.

“On the broad foreign level, let’s start with Russia,” he said, adding that Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that “the collapse of the Soviet Union was the biggest geo-political disaster of the 20th century.”

After a pause, Bolton asserted, “Most of us think it (the Soviet breakup) was one of the best things about the 20th century.”

Some in the crowd laughed.

“Regardless, this (Putin’s strong nationalistic stance) is bad news for citizens of formerly independent countries” around Russia — “and bad for the United States.”

Bolton also contended that the U.S. is now faced with “a Russian policy to fly political cover for Iran and Syria.” He added that “relatively high oil prices is the rock on which their (Russia’s) economy rests ...

“What always gives Russia pleasure is to stick its thumb in our (America’s) eye.”The former ambassador then castigated the Obama administration for scrapping — on Sept. 17, 2009 — plans for a missile defense complex in Poland and the Czech Republic, The system was intended to protect against future missiles from Iran. When Obama scrapped the project, the decision was praised by Russia, Bolton said.

In speaking of the need for the missile shield in Central Europe, Bolton said it would deter “rogue states like North Korea and Iran” from holding the U.S. hostage by threating to blow up one or more American cities.

“Their nuclear weapons don’t pose a military threat to the United States,” Bolton contended, “but it could hold some of our cities hostage,” in the absence of the shield.

“I think defense is a good thing — and I think protecting innocent Americans is a very good thing....

“So why do the Russians object to our missile shields? They feel it will impair their first-strike capability.” With a grin, Bolton said that, in itself, would be an extremely good development for the U.S. However, he added, “Russia’s missiles go over the North Pole — take a look at a map,” so its opposition to the missile shield is a joke.

“To have given up on those missile defenses in Poland and the Czech Republic ... prevents us (the U.S.) from protecting ourselves and, Bolton said, shows the Obama administration’s flagrant weakness in foreign policy.

Every time “President Obama says ‘just give me some space’” on foreign policy matters until after he is re-elected, “they open another bottle of champagne at the Kremlin,” Bolton said.

As a second example of Obama administration foreign affairs blunders, Bolton said, “Let’s take China.” He said two messages out of China intended to soothe the U.S. and other Western powers are “the peaceful rise of China” and “China is a responsible stakeholder in foreign affairs.”

Bolton noted, “This certainly is a possible scenario for China ... But it’s not the only scenario ... There’s another scenario where the People’s Liberation Army” takes over the country and dominates everything there.

He said the Chinese are developing their “blue-water capabilities,” resulting in one of the world’s “most sophisticated” naval forces.

“They’re pushing the U.S. Navy back from the western side of the Pacific (Ocean) ...

We’ve seen China making beligerent claims to islands in the South China Sea.” After another pause, Bolton asserted, “All of this put together presents a different scenario for China’s future.”

In noting that China is an “ancient country” — about 7,000 years old —he said it has been all over the place in recent history. From 1958 to 1961, he told of the so-called “Great Leap Forward,” which “was the biggest killer of human beings in history.” (Some references claim 45 John Bolton speaks million Chinese were at Brevard College. killed in four years.)

Next, China had its Cultural Revolution, Bolton said, from 1966 to 1976, resulting in more deaths and chaos.

In 1989, a massacre of protesters took place in China’s Tiananman Square, he said.

(Some sources say 800 to 4,000 people died in the crackdown, while the official Chinese government figure is 241 deaths.)

“Nobody can really know what direction China will go in the future. Anybody who believes everything’s ‘just fine’ in our relationship with China” could be wrong.

If the U.S. fails to stand up to China in certain areas, such as its claims on islands in the South Sea, “they simply will run the table” and make surrounding countries that now claim the islands “more subject to Chinese influence than we want.”

Bolton then turned to what he termed “the second level of threats, which he also called “more urgent threats. These, he said, “are continual global war threats.”

He said the “threat of arms proliferation by its very nature” triggers an “incredibly strong desire for others neraby to have proliferation.”

He added, “Let’s be clear ... If anybody in the world is going to stop weapons proliferation, it would be the United States....

“Let’s start with North Korea, which hasn’t been in the news lately. They’ve detonated two nuclear devices,” both of which were failures. “We can scoff at some of these North Korean failures, but that is how they continue to improve” — by learning from failures.

Bolton called North Korea “a textbook case in what a country that is determined” to have nuclear weapons looks like. The former ambassador said he believes North Korea will never voluntarily give up its nuclear capability because “these nuclear weapons are their trump card.”

While China is in the best position to pressure North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons, Bolton said, “China fears that if they pressure North Korea too much, the regime will collapse. But that actually would be a good thing,” given that the North Korean people are suffering terrible deprivations under the regime in power.

In actuality, Bolton said, the main reason the Chinese do not want North Korea to collapse is because they fear the resulting unification of the Koreas would bring U.S. troops to the Yalu River — Chinas border from North Korea.

“As long as North Korea continues this experiment ... it will be a threat, not only in East Asia, but in the world,” Bolton said.

He added that both North Korea and Iran are using Russian Scud missile technology.

Bolton asked — rhetorically — why North Koreans recently were in Syria. To that, he replied, “Because someone was paying the North Koreans to build that (nuclear) reactor — and I suspect it was Iran ... This shows, I think, the risk of Iran’s nuclear program.” He said no U.S. officials know the

Asheville Daily Planet — October 2012— 19

range of Iran’s missiles, but they do know know “Iran has enough (materials) for six to eight weapons right now...

“If Iran raced to have a nuclear weapon, they could do it in six months,” Bolton estimated. “The Iranian government today — and for the last several decades — has been the central bank for funding world terrorism,” he asserted.

“The Iranian threat is very close to be so enormous that Israel is thinking about striking for a third time ... I believe they did strike, it’d be an act of self-defense ... A nuclear Iran is not something that can be deterred. When you have an enemy who views life in the hereafter as more valuable than now, making this incredibly volatile region will be even more dangerous.

“My view is Iran will get nuclear weapons” in the near future, he said. “My view also is that it must be the United States” to step in and stop it. “That’s why the focus is on little Israel,” which likely will strike “at the last moment possible” and the U.S. will be blamed.

From the assassination of a U.S. ambassador and three other American in Libya on 9/11, “we can see across the Middle East that the threat of terrorism is one that continues to spread ... This threat of terrorism ... is a distributive network and it’s growing.” He foresees “deadly civil war in Syria and the threat’s growing day by day.”

With the U.S. presidential election looming on Nov. 6, Bolton said, “This is the time when the politicians have to listen to us” — and Americans should avail themselves of the opportunity. “We must demand that the candidates state where they stand on these issues.”

During a question-and-answer period, a man asked about the impact on foreign relations of the perceptions of the United States as a declining country.

“Our friends in the (Middle East) region see this decline of the United States and they’re very, very worried,” Bolton said. “When we withdraw (from Afghanistan), it’s not like it (the fighting) stops — it gets worse.”

He then told of a popular saying of the Taliban: “You’ve got the watches; we’ve got the time.”

Bolton said, “So these attacks are going to get worse as we withdraw. The Taliban will retake control of Afghanistan and use it as a base for international terrorism — as it was before we took over Afghanistan.”

A man asked about Bolton’s view of the U.S.’ participation in the United Nations.

“One of the building blocks of the United Nations is soverign equality, where each country gets just one vote,” Bolton answered. “A lot of what goes on in the United Nations is to undermine what is going on with the United States.”

He added, “Some people say, ‘Why don’t we just withdraw from the United Nations?”

Bolton said when the late conservative thinker Jeane Kirpatrick once was asked that question, she paused and said, “No. It’s not worth the trouble.”

Bolton suggested that the U.S., which he said now contributes about 22 percent of the U.N.’s budget, should change the system across-the-board, making every payment voluntary. The crowd cheered.

A woman asked Bolton to discuss his views of the Muslim Brotherhood.

“The Muslim Brotherhood is a very radical organization,” he replied. “To say it’s moderate,” as some Obama administration officials have contended, “just isn’t true.”

Bolton said that after the Muslim Brotherhood assasinated Egyptian leader Anwar Sadat in 1981 — for his working out the Camp David Accords for peace with Israel in 1979 — he was replaced by Hosni Mubarak, who remained an ally of the U.S. After the so-called “Arab Spring,” Mubarak was removed from his position and new leadership took over Egypt, dominated

by the Muslim Brotherhood, he noted.

“People in the region will say in no uncertain terms that we need to fear the Muslim Brotherhood,” the ex-ambassador said.

For instance, he said the Coptic Christians in the Middle East “are voting with their feet, out of fear of what is happening in the region.”

Bolton added, “If we (the U.S.) are not going to oppose the Muslim Brotherhood, it sends a message in the region — and others in the region will decide they’re not going to oppose it either.”

Democracy, Bolton said, “is not just holding elections and taking power. Democracy is a culture and a way of life ... The argument that the Muslim Brotherhood got the majority of the vote doesn’t make them legitimate ....” #8

Can I draw Workers’ Compensation benefits if my work injury only aggravated a pre existing condition I had?

Yes. North Carolina

Worker’s Compensation law does NOT mandate that your disabling condition be caused by your accident. You may be eligible for Worker’s Compensation benefits if your work injury aggravates, accelerates, or significantly contributes a pre existing condition that makes you unable to return to your job.

The law that applies to pre existing condition changes regularly. You should consult a qualified lawyer to discuss the current law on this complicated and frequently changing topic.

20 — October 2012 - Asheville Daily Planet

Daily Planet’s Opinion

Aloft hotel clashes with downtown’s art deco style

While McKibbon Hotel Group, developer of the new Aloft Asheville Downtown hotel on Biltmore Avenue, has the right to construct a building with an exterior that it likes, one wonders about the firm’s sanity in placing such an architectural monstrosity in downtown Asheville.

One would expect that McKibbon would want to protect its multimilliondollar investment by erecting a building that would please — rather than infuriate ­— the people of Asheville, who are justifiably proud of their downtown’s unique look, and that it would want to preserve the beauty of the downtown, which is renowned for its drop-dead-gorgeous, eclectic, art deco-style buildings.

Indeed, Asheville is home to the largest collection of art deco buildings in the Southeast, thanks to the internationally famous architects, who were brought in

to work on the Biltmore House in the 1920s. While here, they designed a number of downtown buildings in their spare time, commissioned by far-sighted property-owners with aesthetically pleasing architectural taste that McKibbon lacks.

The downtown also has arts and crafts and other handsome styles of buildings — and they don’t clash.

The Aloft hotel — with its goofy sloping front roofline, tacky neon lights and blocky, Soviet-style shape — resembles a cheap lodge in one of shabby parts of Miami. Arguably, it is the ugliest building ever placed in our downtown.

Worse, City Council on Sept. 11 agreed to proceed with the sale of the land across from the breath-taking Basilica of St. Lawrence to McKibbon to erect a 140-room hotel. Now is the time for public pressure to be exerted on McKibbon to give that hotel a stellar design.

Blame it on William Jennings Bryan

CHAPEL HILL — Are you are already tired of the presidential campaigns and the barrage of television ads, glad the conventions are over, and dreading the upcoming debates?

Blame it on William Jennings Bryan.

It used to be different. That was before radio, television, and airplanes. It was not so long ago that presidential candidates did very little personal campaigning. Sometimes the candidate stayed at home on his front porch and let his supporters across the country organize for the election.

All that changed in 1896 when William Jennings Bryan secured the nomination of the Democratic Party and mounted a hardcharging national campaign. Until that year a presidential candidate had rarely, if ever, appeared in North Carolina.

But, as Bob Anthony, told me the other day, Bryan whistled stopped through North Carolina for three days in September 1896 making more than 20 stops in “Asheville, Black Mountain, Old Fort, Marion, Morganton, Hickory, Statesville, Mooresville, Charlotte, Salisbury, Greensboro, Burlington, Durham, Raleigh, Selma, Goldsboro, Wilson, Rocky Mount, Whitakers, Battleboro, Enfield, Halifax, and Weldon.

Longer stops and off the train rallies at Asheville, Hickory, Charlotte, Salisbury, Greensboro, Raleigh, Goldsboro, Wilson, and Rocky Mount. Briefer stops, with Bryan often speaking from the rear of the train at the other places. He arrived in Asheville from Knoxville on Sept. 16th, and his last stop was at Weldon on his way to Virginia during late afternoon of Sept.

18th. In three days in the state, he spoke to crowds that collectively were estimated to have numbered more than 100,000 people.”

If you are tired of full-time campaigns, blame it on Bryan.

Anthony, curator of the North Carolina Collection at UNC Chapel Hill, has been preparing a talk for a program on important North Carolina political campaigns at the Wilson Library on the UNC campus this Friday and Saturday, Sept. 14, 15.

The program will examine campaigns of North Carolinians like William Graham, Zeb Vance, Kerr Scott, Luther Hodges, Jim Holshouser, and Reginald Hawkins, and the Raleigh mayor’s campaign of Isabella Cannon.

How does William Jennings Bryan fit into this pattern?

Anthony says that the three day-multiple stop tour in our state was reason enough.

Presidential and gubernatorial campaigns

D.G. Martin have never been the same in North Carolina or the rest of the country.

But there is more. Anthony’s talk is titled “Next to Nebraska: North Carolina and William Jennings Bryan’s 1896 Presidential Campaign.”

Anthony says that Bryan credited support from North Carolina as being, next to his home state of Nebraska, the most important for him in securing his party’s nomination.

Even though Bryan, at age 36, barely met the minimum age requirement to be president, he had several things going for him in our state, according to Anthony.

• He was a compelling public speaker who had previously proved his talents with a rousing speech at the women’s college in Greensboro, where he gained many admirers.

• He had made a good friend of Josephus Daniels, the young but influential editor of the Raleigh News & Observer.

• He was a pro-farmer advocate who had admirers not only among Democrats, but also among supporters of the Populist Party, which had come to power in the North Carolina legislature in a cooperative or fusion effort with the Republican Party. Many North Carolinians, whatever their political party, agreed with Bryan’s efforts to increase the supply of money by coining more silver and weakening the gold standard.

After his famous “Cross of Gold” convention speech opened the door, Bryan’s North Carolina supporters were poised to help him win the nomination.

Bryan lost the election. But his vigorous effort won in North Carolina and led to earthshaking changes in the state’s political power structure. Bryan’s candidacy drew support from Populists, thereby weakening their fragile partnership with Republicans. That change led to the 1898 and 1900 White Supremacy campaigns that destroyed the Populists, marginalized the Republicans, and froze African-Americans from the North Carolina political process for most of the 20th Century.

Blame it on Bryan.

• D.G. Martin hosts UNC-TV’s North Carolina “Bookwatch.”

Letters to the Editor Shrinking Asheville? It’s run by Dim and Dimmer

City Council member Cecil Bothwell offers us a helpful window into the thinking of local government in his recent commentary (The Incredible Shrinking City” in the September 2012 Daily Planet), where he bemoans the fact that Asheville is legally prohibited from charging county residents more for water service than citizens of Asheville.

His complaint centers on the consequence of this law which he says is “removing a huge incentive for voluntary annexation.”

The only way I see that water rates could be an incentive to county customers is if those rates could be somehow manipulated to the disadvantage of those customers. In other words, the city could have an interest in rates artificially raised to the point where county customers have a disincentive to remain outside the loving arms of Asheville.

I say “artificially” because the desired rate hikes would presumably then be lowered immediately upon submitting to voluntary municipal annexation and the subsequent city taxes, ordinances and landuse regulations that annexation imposes on the newly abosrbed citizens. This, of course, counters any notion that higher

rates simply reflect the higher cost of serving county customers that are farther away.

Besides, the county is where the water comes from in the first place.

This arrangement would be about as voluntary as when the mobster warns the shopkeeper to pay protection money and when the shopkeeper asks, “Protection from who?” the mobster answers, “From us.”

Yes, Asheville is a shrinking city. With the Sullivan Acts, new democratic barriers to forced annexation, a newly-independent airport authority, a pending regional water system merger, the repeal of some recent questionable annexations, and with businesses, students and residents moving out and half of city workers now living out of town, Asheville, and specifically its tax base, is shrinking and will continue to shrink.

Couple that with the city thumbing its nose at Raleigh with an irrelevant water referendum and Asheville’s future looks like it’s being run by Dim and Dimmer.

The only question remaining is, if Asheville insists on dreaming beyond its means, what mechanism with she now resort to for skimming revenues from the unwilling?

TIM PECK Asheville See LETTERS, Page 21

The Candid Conservative

Golf: What a waste!

Can you imagine what could be accomplished if the time, money, and energy invested in golf were funneled into something constructive like the conservative movement. We could move mountains. That’s not going to happen.

The devil knows a good thing when he sees it and he’s going to persist in seducing our best and brightest into his green portal to hell. Still, if golf is going to continue sapping the nation’s juices, credit is due to Augusta National for opening their doors to female members for the first time in their 79 year history. They did it smartly with an invite for former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and South Carolina investment banker Darla Moore – two strong, exciting, and competent ladies. Congratulations Augusta, you’ve caught on that one of the smartest things a guy can do is uplift the gender that civilizes our world. That you’re setting them up for the green door to purgatory is conversation for another time.

Sexualizing our daughters

By now you’ve probably noticed a trend in America – we’re obsessed about sex. So obsessed in fact we’re willing to sacrifice our female off-spring to our warped cultural model.

Sorry America, it’s just not possible to build a healthy culture by training your girls to be toys and your guys to be little boys. That path to darkness ends with a lot of angry women and selfish, immature men. Girls are getting an especially bad deal. No, we do not hide them behind burkas. What we do is display and reveal them as cute and sexy little Barbie dolls. For proof, check out Victoria’s Secret – would you believe these folks have a marketing strategy for children? Given a choice between a sexy doll and a modest doll, 70% of the 6 year olds in a recent study identified with the sexy doll.

Women civilize our crazy world. Programming girls to think of themselves as pleasure objects is a great betrayal of their gifts. Shame on you America.

Clint and the empty seat

The hype and hoopla of the party conventions is over. Perhaps this year’s biggest real convention story was the media pass the Democrats got for their extremism. The left’s been very successful in using that word to

Carl Mumpower attack what, until recently, had been widely recognized as mainstream values. In today’s upside down world if you’re not into genocide masquerading as choice, stealing masquerading as sharing the wealth, and self-destructive narcissism masquerading as freedom, then you’re the extremist. By that definition, conservatives, per their interest in reality, reason, responsibility, and right are really radical. So be it. One of those radicals, Clint Eastwood, had some special convention moments speaking to an empty “Obama” chair. Not a bad guy to have on the side of conservative America.

The Democrats have had fun beating Clint up.

We can understand why the side championed

by Pee Wee Herman might be a little upset.

Romney’s right again

Contrary to the manufactured mass media image of the Republican Presidential candidate, Mitt Romney is neither a fool nor a fake. He proved such in his recent off-camera comments about the growing dependence of so many Americans on Uncle Sam. He’s right, and his candor is admirable. It’s rare for anyone to talk about accountability and responsibility in today’s America. More and more people are searching for a special deal, entitlement opportunity, or license to be a victim. Heck, forty-five percent of our country’s Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans are seeking some sort of disability status. If the best of us are taking a dependent position what about the rest? Almost fifty-million people are on food stamps. We’re being sold a scam confusing government dependency with opportunity.

Conservatives should resist, not despair. In America’s long and prosperous history, good and noble people have never been the majority.

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

Asheville Daily Planet — October 2012— 21

On the left

The politics of payback

Republicans regained control of the North Carolina General Assembly in 2010 after something over a century, though any semblance of consistency between the GOP in the post-Civil War south and the GOP in the post-Obama era is completely coincidental.

Recall that Republican carpetbaggers flooded into the power vacuum of the defeated Confederacy, and were generally, and not unreasonably, hated by Southern Democrats. Republican African-American politicians were elected to office in former slave states.

The Old Guard succeeded in retaking control. The Democratic Party then imposed Jim Crow laws, in many ways reestablishing racial suppression and de facto slavery. Blacks arrested on trumped up charges could end up on chain gangs building roads and rails, or as leased out labor for plantations. (Much of the labor on the rail line to Asheville from Old Fort was done by black prisoners, many of whom died in the effort.)

The Democratic Party, led by its power base in the north and east, moved left, while the Republican Party moved right.

When Lyndon Johnson signed the 1964 Civil Rights Law, he observed that his party was forfeiting the South for a generation. Sure enough, Dixiecrats moved to the Republican party (viz: Strom Thurmond and Jesse Helms.) Nixon’s Southern Strategy ginned up support among racist Dems, and that support continued for Reagan, and both Bushes.

While southern states began to vote for Republicans on the national level, in much of the South Democrats still controlled the Courthouse and the State House. Old family and community ties held fast. Hence we had some GOP governors through the 20th Century, but the NC General Assembly was beyond their reach.

The combination of an economic meltdown and the election of a black President in 2008 finally garnered Republicans the traction they needed to claim a majority in 2010. The self-styled tea party movement managed to blame the Obama administration for the Bush economic collapse, and the undercurrent of racism was all too apparent on bumper stickers and tee shirts, and sometimes merely inuendo.

The new GOP majority in the U.S. House of Representatives was unable to accomplish anything much beyond throwing logs under administration wheels, given the opposition control of the Senate. But Tar heel Republicans held both houses in Raleigh.

They quickly passed a radical right legisla-

Cecil Bothwell tive agenda, apparently heedless of the damage they would impose on citizens and the economy.

A one-cent sales tax add-on was permitted to expire, reducing state revenue by a billion dollars. An income tax cut was enacted that will only benefit upper income households (though it pretends to be aimed at small businesses.) Failure to provide state matching funds forfeited another $1 billion in federal Medicare money. Funding for the state university system was slashed. Funds for primary and secondary education were axed.

Environmental protection was reduced.

At the local level it was payback time as well. Though the GOP likes to style itself as the party of small government and fiscal responsibility, we have seen an unprecedented level of interference and imposed costs here in Asheville and Buncombe County.

With support from his party colleagues, Rep. Tim Moffitt rammed through a reorganization of Buncombe County government that expanded our Commission from 5 to 7 members (so much for smaller government.)

He pushed through a plan to remove Asheville’s water system from city control and hand it over to the Municipal Sewerage District, preceded by a mandate for the City and MSD to study the proposal — studies which will cost rate payers $300,000$400,000 before any merger actually occurs (so much for fiscal responsibility).

Moffitt’s cohort sharply reduced the ability of cities to cope with large commuter populations by curtailing annexation—a restriction that will eventually result in either substantial tax increases for city property owners, or sharp reductions in city services.

The politics of payback are nasty and short-sighted. North Carolina voters were not told that this was the GOP agenda during the 2010 election cycle. The knee-jerk reaction to a bad economy and a black President is playing out in a series of legislative actions that will create long term hardship for our state.

One hopes we’ll see fewer jerky knees and more thoughtful votes this November.

• Cecil Bothwell is a member of the Asheville City Council.

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

Letters to the Editor Continued from Page 20

A call to action issued as vital election looms

As we approach the most significant elections in our lifetime, facing some of the most incredible challenges in more than 70 years, I’m reminded of the words of two great leaders: • “Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.”

— Winston Churchill • “There are two ways to enslave a Country. One is by sword. The other is by debt!”

— John Adams Voting, of course, is critical. For whom you vote is vitally important; so too is your active involvement and participation in activities and causes for liberty and freedom in which you believe.

If you want Mitt Romney elected, please 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 — attend Tea Party meetings and volunteer at our local GOP office to proactively support our conservative candidates.

Doing nothing will not have been a good option if Obama and his Progressives who oppose our core beliefs and the founding principles are elected at any level — local, state or national.

Ron Kauffman Chairman, Henderson County TEA Party Hendersonville

Moffitt, others castigated for anti-science stance

The radical right-wing in our General Assembly made North Carolina the laughingstock of the nation with a bill that prohibits state agencies from using current scientific predictions of sea level rise due to climate change. Legislators created the bill at the command of coastal developers.

These developers deny the science because they know it will spell the end of taxpayer subsidies for damage to coastal homes and infrastructure built too close to the ocean.

I recently asked a panel of state legislators how they justified HB819.

Buncombe County Representative Tim Moffitt, who earned a dismal 9 percent (out of 100 percent) environmental voting score this year from the non-partisan N.C. League of Conservation Voters, said, “Science is not absolute.”

Science is not absolute, but it’s the best tool we have to plan for a safe and healthy future. Virtually all climate scientist agree that global warming presents a clear and present danger to civilization. My followup question to Moffitt is this, “If you went to the Mayo Clinic and 98 percent of the doctors there diagnosed you with cancer, would you believe them?”

I endorse Jane Whilden, Susan Wilson, and Susan Fisher for N.C. House. They value science and care about our environment.

Heather Rayburn Asheville See LETTERS, Page 22

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22 - October 2012 - Asheville Daily Planet

Commentary Democrats termed stupid if GOP’s tactics work At the Wagon Wheel restaurant in Mars Hill one morning, as I sipped my coffee and waited for friends, four men sat at a table across the room. I knew only one of them. Suddenly one voice rose above the others: “Don’t Republicans understand we aren’t ignorant anymore?”

They left soon thereafter so I didn’t get to ask the obvious: What was the man ranting about? As I think about it now, possibilities flood my mind.

Was he talking about the ads attacking Obama on TV? Or Republicans in the General Assembly who vote one way in Raleigh and then when they’re in their districts explain how they didn’t really do what they did.

Or maybe he was a conservative Christian who realized that Republican billionaires hoodwink churches with trinkets, like a constitutional amendment, so they’ll

Lee Ballard make tax cuts for rich people part of their gospel.

Or maybe he was a Tea Party guy who happened to look at where the movement’s money comes from.

Or maybe he had just received a slick mailer telling how totally terrible the Democratic candidate in his district is, in vivid color and lurid detail ─ how the Democrat is salivating to raise taxes and spread favors to every crony in the county.

Or maybe the light came on as he washed his hands in the restroom, when he

realized that all the money buying TV time and slick mailers comes from rich guys off somewhere hiding behind friendly names like “Real Jobs NC.” Or maybe he put two and two together and understood that those hiding rich guys aren’t just generous benefactors, that they’re really buying a General Assembly friendly to hiding rich guys.

Or maybe he understood that Republicans slashing money for education aren’t slashing because of cash shortages, but rather they have a long-range plan to shrink public schools and grow charter schools that are not governed by elected school boards and, oh wow, how they plan to bring all those liberal state universities under the control of those hiding rich guys.

But alas, the moment has passed. I didn’t ask my friend sitting with the man for an interpretation. So I had to speculate.

Now two things come to mind. First, I note that the man’s questions is a rhetorical question ─ an apparent question that’s not asking a question. He’s really saying, “Republicans should know that we’re not ignorant anymore.”

To that, I respond, Well, as long as their tactics work, they assume we ARE ignorant.

And second, I think of the scene in the movie, “When Harry Met Sally,” the one at the sidewalk cafe when Meg Ryan’s character goes into ecstatic shrieks ─ and a woman at the next table says to her friend, “I want what she had.” I’d like to know what the man in the Wagon Wheel had to eat that morning. I’d recommend it to everybody.

• Lee Ballard lives in Mars Hill.

a Mountain Xpress article (March 1, 2011 “A done deed”) reported on the Democratic party’s choice: “The committee — made up of Buncombe County precinct chairs and vice chairs, Democratic elected officials and other party leaders — chose Reisinger, a 27-year-old party activist… But though Reisinger was unemployed at the time of the vote, he and his allies stressed his years of experience as a political organizer. He recently managed Patsy Keever’s successful Statehouse campaign and worked to elect Asheville City Council member Gordon Smith, U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler and President Barack Obama. ‘It’s a fantastic opportunity for me and my wife,’ Reisinger gushed after winning the job.”

Let’s see… a 27-year-old unemployed party activist political organizer campaign worker who sees his appointment as a fantastic opportunity for him and his wife, was appointed as our register of deeds.

Going from $0 to $78,497 in six days surely is fantastic. Add the commissioners’ gift of immediate health insurance coverage by waiving the six-month waiting period, a benefit worth more than $6,500, and no wonder Reisinger gushed about that fantastic opportunity for him and his wife.

Voters, elect a truly qualified, educated, and experienced candidate – Pat Cothran.

Visit www.patcothran.com.

William R. Teague Leicester

Letters to the Editor Continued from Page 21

Tips given for handling street preachers at gala

Street preachers have been invading Bele Chere like poison ivy in a park. This year, they spread their amplified hate beyond Vance Monument and took over Pritchard Park.

Just around the corner by the Battery Park Stage, however, we wicked witches of Coven Oldenwilde — whom many might assume to be a natural target for puritanical ranters — actually welcomed thousands of festivalgoers at our nonprofit wristband booth unmolested.

Here’s how, based on our two decades of experience, Coven Oldenwilde prevents the disruption of our annual public Samhain ritual by brigades of anger-addicted Bible thumpers bused in from out of town.

The preachers’ sole weapon is sound — a loud megaphone drone of accusatory spew that intentionally ruins the spirit of the festival. Their tactic only works in a relative sonic vacuum, easily neutralized if the local sound-scape is filled with amplified live or recorded music, as by a stage or concerted

drumming, such as a drum circle.

Asheville can’t afford to lose the valuable publicity boost the Southeast’s largest street festival gives it each year. Here are two suggestions for keeping future Bele Cheres from being expensively buzz-killed by evangelical agitators.

One: Asheville’s drum-circle regulars could organize and raise funds from affected merchants to pay a rotating crew of skilled drummers to keep a danceable beat going at Vance Monument and Pritchard Park throughout the festival.

Two: Pre-recorded music (preferably by local bands and DJs) could be played continuously there, amplified loud enough to defeat megaphones but not interfere with the live bands nearby.

DIXIE DEERMAN and Steve Rasmussen Coven Oldenwilde Asheville

Cothran support urged over current office-holder When Drew Reisinger was appointed to fulfill Otto DeBruhl’s unexpired term,

EDITOR’S NOTE: No more letters to the editor regarding candidates will be printed in the Asheville Daily Planet until after the November elections.

See LETTERS, Page 23

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Asheville Daily Planet — October 2012 — 23

Daily Planet Staff Photos

Occupy Asheville marks movement’s 1st anniversary Occupy Asheville members chanted “We are the 99 percent!” and “This is what democracy looks like!” as the group re-emerged on Sept. 17 to commemorate the first anniversary of the movement’s found-

ing. The Occupiers marched (above left) around downtown Asheville, chanting slogans and bearing banners.Eventually, the group ended the march in front of City Hall, where it held a rally. Everyone

present was invited to take a turn standing atop a soapbox (top right) to express opinions on any subject. A number of Occupiers — and others — took advantage of the opportunity.

Letters to the Editor

Sassy’s Computers has the fastest computer repair in town.

Continued from Page 22

True unemployment rate? It requires math Eighty-eight million people are out of the job market.

That is approximately 28 percent of the U.S. population of 311 million. And not all of the 311 million are of working age. That’s just the ones of working age that are no longer looking for a job — they have given up.

Now add the 8.1 percent for the ones still looking for a job — that equals 36.1 percent.

The unemployment rate is even higher if,

Analyst

Continued from Page 18 On a separate issue, she said, “I consider this nonpartisan — up until two weeks ago, people were saying foreign policy was not very important” in the presidential election, “but that is the elephant in the room ... How can we have a strong economy when we don’t develop good relationships around the world for our products and ideas?”

A woman asked Colton her thoughts on U.S. financial support to Israel.

“Well, we also give monetary support to Egypt,— it started in 1968,” Colton replied. “We need to be very clear with the Israelis, Palestinians and Egyptians on what our expectations are — on paper.

“We shouldn’t just be giving the aid without specifying our expectations,” she said. “But unfortunately,” Colton said, neither the U.S. government nor the secretary of state have done that.

A man asked how Colton would suggest defusing the cultural differences between Islamic countries and the U.S. “The tragedy is that it’s only a small group that’s causing the problems,” Colton said. “All we can do is to continue to reach out and show them our ideals ... At the same time, we need to reach out to Chris-

you remove the ones that are not of working age out of the 311 million people in the USA. Where’s the HOPE? I know where the CHANGE is.

FREMONT V. BROWN III Asheville • EDITOR’S NOTE: Brown is the vice chairman of the Asheville Tea Party.

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tians, Buddhists” and those of other faiths equally, too.

“Again, our First Amendment is a very important part of our foreign policy ... As a journalism professor ... regarding hate language, I think there is a limit, but we’re also against language that incites hate and death.”

Perhaps with tongue-in-cheek, a man asked, “What lessons have we (the U.S.) learned from Iraq and Afghanistan?”

As the crowd chuckled at the irony of the question, Colton said, “I don’t know anybody — looking back — who felt it was right that we were there.

“In looking back, the misinformation that was used to inspire it — I have a terrible feeling about it.”

A woman quoted Bill Clinton saying the Muslims cannot react to every insult — and asked Colton’s view of that assertion.

“I agree,” Colton said, noting that she always saw the role of a diplomat “as being a friend ... A lot of diplomats don’t make friends, so when they talk (to others), it sounds condescending.”

Speaking of Muslims, she said, “In that world, they can’t even comprehend that a movie could be made — and not by the government —and it’s just out there.”

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24 — October 2012 - Asheville Daily Planet

Alive ... and welded

What is an appropriate amount of togetherness time for a couple? My 9-year-old son spends half the week with me, plus every other weekend. My girlfriend of a year wasn’t happy with only the other half of my time, so she started joining me and my son. She and I are now together 5 1/2 days a week (3 1/2 of which are also with my son). I’m never alone; I have no time to go grocery shopping, etc.; and no one’s happy. My son prefers being alone with me; she enjoys him but feels she’s sacrificing our time together. On Saturday, I had an important business meeting at 10 a.m. and a 2 p.m. coffee with a visiting guy friend.

I had paperwork to do in between, meaning I’d be away from her from 9 to 5. She was really upset, acting almost betrayed, and wanted me to reschedule everything for my Saturday with my son.

I said no. She then said she’d come for coffee before my meeting, lunch afterward, and join me and my friend. I’m normally nonconfrontational, but I again said no. She complained all weekend.

Now I’m afraid to even schedule a haircut on Saturday, the only time I can go.

— Overwhelmed

Your girlfriend makes intestinal parasites seem like bong-hitting slackers.

It sounds so nice when a woman tells you she always wants to be by your side -- until you realize that she means like your ear or your right arm. (At a carnival, it must be a tough fit in the Porta-Potty.) Contrary to what you’ve been led to believe, your needing a haircut or wanting to spend time with your son or a guy friend without female supervision isn’t a sign that you’re a failure as a man and a boyfriend. And beyond needing to be off-leash long enough to hit the grocery store, a man needs time to sit on the pot like “The Thinker” or grunt and drool a little in front of the TV. Don’t mistake this woman for someone who loves you just because she’s in a relationship with you, and love is usually considered the point of that sort of thing.

A woman who loved you would want you to be happy and comfortable and would respect that you’re trying to be a good dad, even if it meant seeing you less. If that didn’t work for her, the loving approach would be ending it with you, not guilting you into saying, “Sorry, son…you’ll have to throw the ball across the yard and go get it yourself. Daddy’s girlfriend hasn’t seen him in almost 45 minutes.”

Did you, by some chance, forget your testicles on a picnic table in the summer of 2011? There’s something very wrong with

The Advice Goddess

Amy Alkon

your girlfriend (probably that she never fixed the Big Empty within). She might’ve been compelled to get cracking on the repair job had you stood up to her from the start. But, by wimping out, you enabled her, basically giving her the go-ahead to colonize every moment of your time and giving her a year to get used to it.

At this point, doing what you obviously need to — getting time to yourself and quality time alone with your son -- should go over like ripping a Band-Aid off a burn victim. But, if you want things to change, you have no other choice than to lay down limits and stay firm on them. It’s possible you’ll lose her, but that surely beats slapping a police officer and tripping a jail guard just to get a few days of alone time in a cramped, windowless cell.

Apocalypse meow

For years, a group of us girls has gone camping, to dinner, to concerts, etc. Our husbands do their own thing together while we hang out. When they bring a new guy into their circle, they seem to think we should automatically accept his female partner. We normally do because we’re nice like that. The problem is, there’s a gal who invites herself to everything she catches wind of from her husband. She consistently creates incredible upheaval, agitation and hurt feelings with her callous remarks and abrasive personality. Triple that when she drinks.

Her bad chi is ruining the nurturing dynamic of our loving and supportive group. Help soon, as she’s trying to get in on a camping trip. We’d be stuck with her for five negativity-filled days.

— The Women Imagine if Hillary Clinton, as secretary of state, communicated like so many other women tend to. Forget the direct approach.

She’d roll her eyes behind some prime minister’s back, burn sage after he leaves, and make the Joint Chiefs hold hands and chant, “Shine white light on our borders and restore our protective womb of national security!”

Men and women approach conflict in very different ways. Men have an easier time being direct because they evolved to be the competitors of the species and see

trying to top one another as a normal part of life. If the guys were bugged by a guy in their group, one of them would probably just blurt out, “You’re being a punk. Be less of a punk.”

Women, on the other hand, evolved to be the cooperators, nurturers, and empathizers of the species, prizing group bondedness and keeping the peace. This sounds so much nicer than how the menfolk do things, but actually leads to ugly indirect aggression like dirty looks, spiteful gossip, and shunning. Though it’s best not to go around breaking one another’s noses over who has the cutest shoes, women often end up festering with nastiness, while guys can sometimes sock each other and then go off and have a beer.

Assuming you lack the “Bewitched” skill set — the power to twitch your nose and transform or relocate people and objects — wishing things were different is merely a way to kill time while in line at the supermarket. One of you needs to take this woman aside, gently explain the group culture, and give her a couple examples of things she’s said that don’t quite mesh with it. She also needs to be told that it’s kind of a problem when she gets likkered up.

The direct approach is tough in the moment but ultimately less hurtful than the silent one, and it gives her a chance to mend her ways. If she keeps on harshing, it should be no surprise to her when she’s invited not to come, having been given fair warning that your group is more “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Chi” than “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pabst.”

The tweakest link

I met this man, and it was instant attraction. I’m a 40-year-old woman with my own place, a car and a good job, and he’s an ex-convict who served four years in prison for selling meth. He’s very loving, but he has no car or driver’s license (it expired during prison), has a minimum-wage job, and is too needy -always checking up on me and doubting where I am. I pay for our meals, etc., and drive him everywhere. It’s like I’m taking care of a child. I’m trying my best to forget about the material things and just base this on love.

— Weary It’s a good thing you think the guy’s hot, or you might try to trade up to a serial murderer with a driver’s license.

It must’ve been a kick to get it on with a real bad boy instead of the kind who pulls up on a Harley wearing a leather jacket he bought at the mall. But, assuming you don’t have all the conscience of a dirt clod, how could you make this more than a one-nighter?

Sure, officially, he’s “paid his debt to society,” but he wasn’t in prison for growing pot, the gateway drug to lying in a beanbag

chair and reinventing the wheel. He was selling snortable slow suicide, complete with rotting teeth and a “meth mite” bonus — nonexistent but seemingly real crawly bugs that users try to dig out from under their skin with their fingernails or sharp objects, leaving some really sexy open sores.

Beyond what he’s done to make a buck, he’s now about as independent as one of Paris Hilton’s purse dogs (although he probably asks his “mommy” to buy him a cheaper class of sweater).

You can’t possibly respect him, and if you can’t respect him, you can’t love him.

You’ve just been calling this “love” to cover for a bad decision that you let give birth to a whole litter of bad decisions.

You did have help — the flawed machine known as the human brain. When we do something dumb, our brain encourages us to ignore evidence we’ve made a mistake so we can hang on to our shiny image of ourselves as smart people making wise choices. This feels good in the moment but can, say, leave a person working hard to convince herself that she’s shallow and materialistic to want her equal.

If you can accept making mistakes as a normal, expected part of being human, you can put your braying ego on mute, critically assess all your decisions, and admit your mistakes instead of getting into a committed relationship with them. (There’s no time like the present to start.)

As wonderful as it is to feel needed by a man, it’s best if it’s simply because he loves being around you, not because without you he’d have to eat raw hot dogs out of the package and take two buses to make the meeting with his parole officer.

• (c) 2012, 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 (advicegoddess.com). Weekly radio show: blogtalkradio.com/amyalkon

Asheville Daily Planet — October 2012 — 25

Author warns of being ‘connected’ 24/7 The first in a series of two stories

By JOHN NORTH

john@ashevilledailyplanet.com

Being connected 24/7 to the world via high-tech devices is changing the brains of users, with studies showing shorter attention spans, an inability to engage in deep thinking and a number of other problems.

So said Nicholas Carr, who discussed the findings in his New York Times best-seller, “The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains,” during his address Sept. 28 at A-B Tech’s Ferguson Auditorium .

Carr’s book, heralded “as the flashpoint for ongoing debate over the power and peril of technology,” has resulted in harsh attacks against him by some high-tech enthusiasts.

About 100 people attended the program hosted by LenoirRhyne University’s Center for Graduate Studies of Asheville.

To the crowd’s great amusement, K. Paul Knott, center director, announced that Carr’s talk would be delayed briefly because “we’re having a little problem with the Intenet — I’m not making that up.”

The problem soon was solved by an A-B Tech computer specialist, who was called in on short notice.

With a look of much relief that the technical problems had been fixed, Knott noted that Carr’s presentation would mark the L-RU Asheville center’s first cultural program.

Knott thanked the staff and faculty of A-B Tech for allowing the program in the auditorium, noting that LRU’s Asheville center does not have a room that large.

He also pointed out that his school’s Asheville program opened in July 2011 — about 15 months ago and “we have nine programs going in our opening year,” with one that will start in June.

The L-RU Asheville Center is located at 36 Montford Avenue in a part of a building that it owns, along with the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce. Knott said school officials call 36 Montford Ave. “our living room.”

L-RU’s Visiting Writers Series, under which Carr was appearing, is in its 24th year at the school’s Hickory-based

campus, Knott noted.

He then turned the program over to Laura Hope Gill, director of the writers program at LRU-Asheville. In introducing Carr, she said he is “a remarkable writer and a remarkable seer into our culture.”

Further, Gill said, “I’m grateful for the work of Nicholas Carr ... He reminds us we are a party of the story ... To step outside of the story to tell people what kind of story we’re writing here.”

Carr noted that “I’ve been at the Hickory campus for the Nicholas Carr last several days and it was very gratifying” to confer with the students and professors.

“Thanks for spending part of your Friday evening with me,” especially considering it is “beautiful” outside.

The program began with a picture on the screen titled “The mind in the net,” showing an E-book, a laptop computer and a smart phone. “What we’ve done is create an environment to do things all day long’ in a way that never happened before in human history, Carr said.

His concern about information overload and high-tech addiction prompted him to write “The Shallows,” Carr said.

Prior to his extensive research for the book, the author noted that he was an “early adopter” with a fondness for “new gadgets” and a general affinity for “high-tech” gear. However, Carr said he noticed he was struggling with his attention span.

“I had the feeling that my mind wanted to be distracted ... to check my e-mail” in an obsessive-compulsive way.

“I found my mind wanted to behave like when I’m looking at a screen .. It wanted to multitask, like when I’m using a computer.”

He added, “I studied what scientists have found out about how our minds’ work ... Also, if humans have had an example before in history” when people were similarly obsessed.

From a sensory view, he said “one of my favorite examples is the map ... The way people made sense of space (before maps) was purely through their senses, but once you introduce the map, suddenly you have this abstract picture.

“The arrival of the map changed the way people thought.

They started to pay more attention” to the world around them “in an abstract way.”

Carr said he also found that the clock’s invention greatly changed people’s lives. Previously, there was the natural phenomenon of “time as flow.” But “we saw the same thing — first happening in the 1500s (with the invention of clocks) — when people began the taking of time in a more abstract way.”

With the advent of clocks, “suddenly time was seen as a series of units that could be measured ... It introduced a new way of thinking. It’s no coincidence that you saw the explosion of scientific thinking.”

He said the map and clock are examples of how new intellectual technologies resulted in new ways of thinking.

A changed environment leads to changed habits and eventualy to a changed brain, Carr noted, citing scientists’ findings.

“People have recognized this in a historical way ... Up until the late ‘60s or early ‘70s, it was assumed that our brains were mallable up to about age 20. Then, you were basically stuck with the neural pathways you had” for the rest of one’s life.

However, further research showed that “that’s all wrong — the brain is mallable throughout our entire lives,” he said.

“The brain is constantly changing, adapting to circumstances,” as is the body, Carr then discussed neuroplasticity, which posits that as one’s “circumstances change, it changes your brain ... So when we think about the Internet,” one should think about what is its intellectual ethic.

“We’ve never had a tool that we’ve so integrated into the life of your mind,” Carr said. “With television, people watched it a lot, but you didn’t carry your TV around with you all day and all night.”

“With the net, as we’ve seen the spread of laptop computers, tablet devices and smart phones, you’re aways connected to the world,” Carr said.

To be continued in next month’s Daily Planet

GUGE Republican candidate for Board of Commissioners, D1

• Career law enforcement • Gulf War Army veteran • B.S. degree from Clemson University • MPA degree from Western Carolina University • Small business owner for 12-plus years Endorsed by the Buncombe County Association of Educators

Don Guge

“I’ve seen the best and the worst in our community, and I know we can spend our money more wisely.”

— Don Guge

DON GUGE STANDS FOR:

• Representating all people, not just special interests • Protect all our county employees • Cutting wasteful spending • Sustainable business for hard-working families Paid for by Committee to Elect Donald Guge

“Our county shouldn’t be run by special interest groups... We need representation from all aspects of the political spectrum... The reality is we need to represent everyone.”

— Don Guge

26 - October 2012 - Asheville Daily Planet

Biden

Continued from Page 1 ”It’s not an exaggeration to suggest that the nation faces the starkest choice for president in my lifetime,” Biden said, adding that the result will have “a profound impact on social policies, particularly for women and minorities.”

Regarding Obama and GOP rival Mitt Romney, the vice president said, “They’re both good men — good family men and good husbands. But that’s where the similarities end.”

Biden said that when Romney chose Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., for his vice presidential running mate, he signaled the extremist conservative direction in which he would head.

The largely partisan crowd laughed in derision when the vice president said that Romney claimed to have picked Ryan because “he was the intellectual center of the Republican Party ... So when Gov. Romney picked him (Ryan), all of a sudden, all of the blanks got filled in.”

He reiterated, “Ladies and gentlemen, the differences (between the political positions of the two sets of candidates) is immense.”

Noting that he is “supposed to be an expert on foreign policy, Biden told of being at a recent closed conference, when he was asked, “What is America to do?”

Biden said he responded, “America has to be the best-educated nation in the world.” The crowd, which included a number of UNCA students, faculty and staff, applauded loudly.

He said his wife Jill, a schoolteacher, likes to say, “‘Any nation that out-educates us will out-compete us.’ It’s in our national interest that we move from 14th in the world back to No. 1 again” in the percentage of the population holding college degrees.

Biden said Obama and he had set the goal for the U.S. to be No. 1 by 2020, again eliciting applause from the crowd. “We can’t compete unless we’re better-educated,” he asserted.

To that end, the vice president said the U.S. has about 600,000 jobs “out there waiting” because there is a scarcity of people with the training to fill them.

He lamented the government paying the banks $60 billion to repay college loans, and said “the Republicans didn’t like it, but we took $6 million of that for Pell Grants.”

After a pause, Biden added, “I understand that here in Asheville, you’ve got the lowest percentage of (college loan) debt ... We’d like to get the rest of the country like that.

“None of us would be where we are today if it had not been for loans, as well as scholarships and, by the way, we don’t think that encourages a culture of dependency....

“Children tend to become what you expect of them — and we expect” them to do well. “For Romney and Ryan, education is an after-thought,” Biden charged.

In another jab at his rivals, the vice president said, “If you listen to them (the Republican ticket), you wonder — this recession ...

How did it happen?”

He accused the Republicans of putting

“two wars on a credit card ... and a trilliondollar tax cut for millionaires ... The result is they left us with a trillion-dollar debt in our first year” with Obama at the helm.

“Look,” Biden said, “Romney and Ryan people who are here today will say Biden is always playing the blame game ... As my grandmother used to say: ‘You can’t solve a problem unless you know what caused the problem.’

“So it shouldn’t be a surprise that their policies of these hemorraging tax cuts got us into this problem.”

He added, “Look, folks, these people (Romney and Ryan) act like compromise is a dirty word.”

On the bright side, Biden said with tongue in cheek, “At this (GOP) convention, they discovered the middle class.”

In contrast, the vice president said that Obama and he know very well about the middle class — and hold it is high esteem.

The crowd cheered.

“My grandfather used to say: ‘Show me your budget and I’ll show you what you value.’”

Biden then charged that Romney and Ryan want to turn Medicare into a private voucher system. In an effort to win support from their consituency, he said the pair want to institute “massive tax cuts,” even though “they (the rich) didn’t ask for the tax cuts — and they don’t need them.”

With a note of sarcasm, the vice president prompted laughter from the audience when he said, “These guys (the rich), I guess, are also the job creators.”

Biden then said that experts have claimed that, if Romney and Ryan were able to enact their tax plan, “each (middle-class) family (in North Carolina) would lose $2,000 in tax cuts ... The middle class has done enough. It’s not the time to lay the burden on the middle class.” The crowd erupted into loud applause.

“We’ve seen this movie before ... and we’re not going back,” he said. “We’re not going back — that’s a promise ... We’re going to start doubling our exports — that means jobs, sending products made in America overseas.”

“This isn’t rocket science,” Biden said regarding solving America’s problems.

“We’ve got the most productive workers” in the world — “three times as productive as the workers in China ... We need to be not just the most productive, but the besttrained” people in the world, he said.

The crowd jumped to its feet to cheer when Biden reiterated that “it’s time the rich help with the (national) debt,” which he said Obama want to cut by $4 trillion through the rest of the decade.

Contrary to the view of his GOP rivals, Biden said, “Folks, there is no quit in America!” However, Romney and Ryan, he said, believe that 47 percent of Americans regard themselves as victims and dependent on the government.

To cheers, Biden said, “I don’t recognize the country they’re talking about ... We are so much better and so much more responsible ... Ladies and gentlemen, America is neither dependent nor in decline.”

A MESSAGE TO BUNCOMBE VOTERS

You might use the register of deeds office only once or twice in your lifetime and may not be aware that what you don’t know CAN hurt you. The slightest discrepancy or problem in that office can cost you time, money and loss of property rights. Throughout 26 years in the title insurance business, I have worked daily with the register of deeds office, and I clearly understand the significant financial impact of that office on our county’s citizens.

Buncombe County’s Register of Deeds directs a multi-million dollar budget and oversees 16 employees. That office is a business that requires oversight by an experienced business professional.

The greatest portion of my life’s work taught me the intricacies of the register’s office, the legal environment in which the office operates, and the protection of our property rights through vigilance.

Buncombe County voters, you have in me an educated, experienced, accountable and proven leader. I encourage you to visit my website, view the Candidate Comparison and the Issues tab, and learn more.

Traditionally, register of deeds elections tend to be “endorsement races” — contests where political backing and connections count more than qualifications for office. With the important duties that office performs for you, the voter, true qualifications matter more than political affiliation.

The last new, voter-elected register of deeds was George Digges Jr. in 1918. He retired before the end of his term 45 years later and son “Winky” Digges was appointed to that position. Winky died in office after 15 years and Otto DeBruhl was appointed. After 33 years, Otto retired during his term in 2011 and the current incumbent was appointed.

It’s time your votes elect a new register of deeds.

B.S. in Real Estate, MBA & Master of Entrepreneurship Leadership roles in Fortune 500 companies Business Owner and Jobs Creator Certified Real Estate Educator Buncombe County Native

32 years of business leadership in Buncombe County!

Asheville Daily Planet — October 2012 — 27

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28 - October 2012 - Asheville Daily Planet