The Pulse - Vol. 6, Issue 34

Can Recyling Work?

Reduce, Reuse—And Refuse To Answer

by Louis Lee

News, Views, Arts & Entertainment • August 20 - 26, 2009 • Volume 6, Issue 34 • www.chattanoogapulse.com • pulse news 95.3 WPLZ

CONTENTS T H E P U L S E • C H AT TA N O O G A , T E N N E S S E E • A U G U S T 2 0 , 2 0 0 9 • V O L U M E 6 , I S S U E 3 4

COVER STORY

page 11

NEWS & VIEWS 6 BEYOND THE HEADLINES

19 ON THE BEAT

Hamilton County growing pains.

Traffic stop: two sides of the same coin.

9 SHRINK RAP

22 SHADES OF GREEN

A lesson in self-discipline.

How green business generates green.

14 LIFE IN THE NOOG

29 ASK A MEXICAN

Anyone? Anyone? Hughes?

The Parable of the Wab Sheep.

ARTS & FEATURES 16 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT By Helene Houses Trying to write a description of Almost, Maine, now on the Circle Stage at the Chattanooga Theatre Centre, I “almost” felt like Rupert Holmes: "If you like pina coladas/Getting caught in the rain".

21 FILM FEATURE

By Damien Power Never mind marketing, the trailers—or what you might think about the film. District 9 isn’t about aliens coming to earth. It’s about our reactions, and our prejudices, and our selfishness. It’s about racism, greed, and bigotry. It’s about humanity.

24 MUSIC FEATURE

By Hellcat I first met Reginald Bradley Smith in 2001 up in Knoxville through a few mutual friends that made up my Knoxvillian family. It was a big deal that he was coming into town, as it was whispered that he was a charismatic musical genius.

27 MUSICAL DIVERSION By

Michael Crumb Roy Ayers says he’s “honored” to play the Bessie Smith Heritage Festival. His jazz and funk vibraphone stylings will headline this show, which will complement the “Collaborations” art exhibit at the Chattanooga African American Museum.

Cover layout by Kelly Lockhart

REDUCE, RESUSE—AND REFUSE TO ANSWER

By Louis Lee Despite widespread acceptance of the practice and technology of recycling across the country—in some cases, cities have been effectively recycling for more than 20 years—Chattanooga remains on the fence as far as participation in recycling. Portland, Oregon—a city about our size—has “passed the half-way mark”. That is, they actually recycle more tons of garbage than go into their landfill.

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EDITOON LETTERS TO THE EDITOR PULSE BEATS CITY COUNCILSCOPE THE LIST POLICE BLOTTER

17 20 25 26 28 28

A&E CALENDAR NEW IN THEATERS MUSIC CALENDAR NEW MUSIC REVIEWS MYSTICAL DUDE'S HOROSCOPE JONESIN’ CROSSWORD

The entire contents of this publication are copyrighted and property of Brewer Media Group.

No part of this publication may be reproduced in any manner without the express written consent of the publishers. The Pulse utilizes freelance writers and the views expressed within this publication are not necessarily the views of the publishers or editors. The Pulse takes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs, artwork or other materials.

The

Editoon

by Rick Baldwin

Publisher Zachary Cooper zcooper@chattanoogapulse.com Contributing Editor Janis Hashe jhashe@chattanoogapulse.com News Editor/Art Director Gary Poole gpoole@chattanoogapulse.com Advertising Sales Rick Leavell rleavell@chattanoogapulse.com Leif Sawyer leif@brewermediagroup.com Contributing Writers Gustavo Arellano Beverly A. Carroll Elizabeth Crenshaw Chuck Crowder Rebecca Cruz Michael Crumb Hellcat Molly Iles Phillip Johnston Matt Jones Louis Lee Kelly Lockhart Ernie Paik Rick Pimental-Habib, Ph.D. Stephanie Smith Alex Teach Michael Turner Julian Venable Colleen Wade

Letters to the Editor related issues affect the worldwide ecology. It’s not just about my own personal backyard anymore, but the world’s backyard!

Kim Henderson Chattanooga

Editorial Intern Molly Iles Editorial Cartoonist Rick Baldwin Art Department Sharon Chambers Kathryn Dunn Kelly Lockhart Damien Power Staff Photographer Damien Power Contact Info: Phone (423) 648-7857 Fax (423) 648-7860 E-mail info@chattanoogapulse.com Advertising advertising@chattanoogapulse.com Calendar Listings calendar@chattanoogapulse.com The Pulse is published weekly and is distributed throughout the city of Chattanooga and surrounding communities. The Pulse is available free of charge, limited to one copy per reader. No person without written permission from the publishers may take more than one copy per weekly issue. The Pulse may be distributed only by authorized distributors.

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1305 Carter Street Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402 phone (423) 648-7857 fax (423) 648-7860 Letters to the editor must include name, address and daytime phone number for verification. The Pulse reserves the right to edit letters for space and clarity. Please keep letters within 500 words in length.

The Pulse covers a broad range of topics concentrating on culture, the arts, entertainment and local news.

Member

Learning About Coral This article provoked me to care about the decline of coral reefs [“Why You Need to Care About Coral”, Shades Of Green]. Because I am landlocked, reefs have never been in the forefront of my mind until now. But Ray articulately points out the following: “Coral reef plants and animals are important sources of new medicines being developed to treat cancer, arthritis, human bacterial infections, heart disease, viruses, and other diseases.”

Coral reefs are important to the worldwide ecology. Their existence and continued health are vital. Basically preserving the earth and all green

Protecting The Reefs This was a very informative and interesting article [“Why You Need to Care About Coral”]. I was especially happy to see that interest was taken in the coral reefs, they have been dying for years and it is clear to anyone who has ever spent any time on a beach. I grew up on the beaches of Florida and always remember getting up early on the island we used to spend the weekends on my dad’s sailboat at and looked forward to collecting shells and star fish. If we really got lucky we would even find a rare sea horse which was a special treasure for us as kids. The islands are bare now and you never find whole, intact shells anymore unless it is in a beach side store. So it is very obvious things are changing under the water and the coral reefs are a huge part of it.

Ricki Landers Chattanooga Battling Green Meanies Your happy hour sounds like many I have experienced [“The Green Meanies: Farces of Nature”, On The Beat]. I won’t say on what specific grounds,

just in general. I concur on the need to tweak some folks about taking themselves too seriously. A lifetime occupation, like that Greek guy rolling the rock up the hill over and over again.

The lawyer reminds me of this Samoan lawyer I read about in this book one time.

Felix Miller Chattanooga Real World Thinking This type of thinking is what happens when you add an unhealthy dose of “This is the way I think the world should be” vs. their encounters with the Real World without any kind of learning curve [“The Green Meanies: Farces of Nature”, On The Beat]. Or wanting any kind of learning different from what they believe.

Michael Antoniewicz Chattanooga No Aliens?

Hey, you left out Rock & Roll Wrestling Women vs. The Aztec Mummy, sequel to Rock & Roll Wrestling Women vs.

The Aztec Ape [The List: Best Movie Sequels Of All Time]! Okay, they were both real cheeseball, but what do you want out of a couple of 1960’s wrestling flicks? And how could you have missed Aliens? It rocked!

Theodore Grouch Chattanooga

Send all letters to the editor and questions to info@chattanoogapulse.com We reserve the right to edit letters for content and space. Please include your full name, city and contact information.

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Pulse Beats

Quote Of The Week: “We have zoning from 1963. We need to rethink our zoning ordinances so situations like Deep Blue won’t happen again.”

A rundown of the newsy, the notable, and the notorious...

— Chattanooga City Council member Carol Berz, on why she is pushing for a new nightclub zoning ordinance.

Senator Corker Brings The Healthcare Debate Back Home

By Gary Poole gpoole@chattanoogapulse.com

Here is one of the more interesting agenda items set to be discussed at the August 25 meeting of the Chattanooga City Council.

7. Resolutions:

While many of the recent town hall meetings held by U.S. senators and congress members have made frontpage news for their vitriol and wildly inaccurate claims made by citizens, this past Monday’s meeting in Cleveland chaired by former Chattanooga mayor and current U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-TN) was far more civil.

Whether or not many members of the audience truly understood what was—and more importantly was not— being proposed by President Obama and the Democratic leadership in the House and Senate, was not as clear.

“There are many reasons people don’t have health insurance. When we go about trying to solve the problem, you have to look at each situation,” Sen. Corker said. “There are some things the government can do to help organize, but what we need to do is help organize choice for people to actually buy private health insurance.”

It is well understood that the current healthcare system in place in the United States is among the most expensive and least effective among industrialized nations. The disparity of care available for the “haves” and “havenots” is often staggering. In the past decade, nearly 50 percent of personal bankruptcies and home foreclosures have been directly related to massive medical bills that people, even people with basic health insurance, have been unable to pay.

At the same time, employer-provided health insurance has become far more expensive for both business owners and employees while coverage has been drastically reduced. At the same time, more and more people are being denied coverage because of “pre-existing conditions” that leave them fewto-no options when they need medical care.

Figuring out what can be done to solve the myriad of problems facing American healthcare is far from simple. But setting aside all the various plans being proposed and debated by the three House and two Senate committees currently working to develop

“What we need to do is help organize choice for people to actually buy private health insurance.” a final bill, the core questions remain simple: Can we afford the cure, and should the government be involved?

“Before we expand anything, let’s get our house into order,” Sen. Corker said. “I thought the stimulus package was ridiculous. If you feel there are short-term issues that need to be dealt with in this country, at least you’d get the long-term set, so when this little dip is over, people can see there are blue skies down the road.”

The Congressional Budget Office released a report that, based on the “wish list” that President Obama sent to Congress that stated the entire healthcare reform process would cost more than $100 billion a year for the next ten years to pay for all the changes. At a time when the national debt and deficit are at numbers never before seen in U.S. history, a lot of people from all

political backgrounds are understandably worried about how the government plans to pay for everything.

Even more basic is whether or not the federal government should be getting into the health care business, although, of course, it already is through Medicare and the VA. Proponents cite the U.S. Constitution, pointing out that one of the key responsibilities of our government is to “provide for the common welfare” of the people. But many feel that the federal government has far exceeded its own authority in trying to dictate healthcare decisions.

Others wonder how far the current proposals will go. A lot of these people are expressing their fears and frustrations quite vocally in the recent town hall meetings.

At the same time, what could (and should) have been a serious give-andtake on the issues of cost and personal responsibility, has in some cases turned into a political free-for-all, led by unconscionably deliberate untruths being spread by political figures such as former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin with her “death panel” claims. Add in political commentators comparing the healthcare reform logo to Nazi symbols and using scare tactics to cloud the issue, the “debate” in some cases has turned into little more than a political attack on the current administration— instead of a real effort to find a solution to a huge problem.

b) A resolution authorizing payment in the amount of $159,000.00 to Vijay Chaudhari and Joseph Chaudhari, LLC upon the City’s simultaneous receipt of an executed Quitclaim Deed from Vijay Chaudhari and Joseph Chaudhari, LLC for the property conveyed by the City of Chattanooga to Vijay Chaudhari by Warranty Deed with the Possibility of Reverter dated December 20, 2005, and recorded in Deed Book 7794, Page 729, Register’s office of Hamilton County, Tennessee, conveying a fee simple determinable interest in Parcels 146H-K011, 146H-K-012, 146H-K-013, and 146HK-013.01, and upon the City’s simultaneous receipt of a partial release of Parcel Number 146H-K-012 from the lien of that certain Deed of Trust in favor of Cornerstone Community Bank recorded in Book 8180, Page 442, Register’s office of Hamilton County, Tennessee.

Just in case regular readers of this column have begun to think every meeting of the council is filled with controversial debates about nightclub zoning, annexation, bicycle ordinances or the like, we wanted to share one of the much more common types of resolutions the council has to deal with every week.

Watching elected bodies in action is often akin to the old line about sausage, in that in many cases you really don’t want to watch how it’s made. In this case, there is nothing controversial about the above resolution. Once you wade through all the legal mumbo jumbo, it’s basically a straightforward transfer of property that the city is purchasing for $159,000.

And if you’re more interested in annexation, those public hearings start on September 15.

The Chattanooga City Council meets each Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the City Council Building at 1000 Lindsay St. For more information on the agendas, visit www.Chattanooga.gov/City_ Council/110_Agenda.asp

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Beyond The Headlines

Hamilton County Growing Pains

By Michael Turner

The Top Selling Albums of 2009 (So Far) 1. Taylor Swift - “Fearless” Sales in 2009: 1,316,000 2. Miley Cyrus - “Hannah Montana: The Movie” Sales in 2009: 1,177,000 3. Eminem - “Relapse” Sales in 2009: 1,169,000 4. Lady Gaga - “The Fame” Sales in 2009: 976,000 5. Various Artists - “Twilight Soundtrack” Sales in 2009: 971,000 6. U2 - “No Line on the Horizon” Sales in 2009: 939,000 7. Nickelback - “Dark Horse” Sales in 2009: 912,000 8. Rascal Flatts “Unstoppable” Sales in 2009: 825,000 9. Beyoncé - “I Am... Sasha Fierce” Sales in 2009: 809,000 10. Dave Matthews Band - “Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King” Sales in 2009: 689,000 We’re not sure what it says about musical taste or popculture knowledge, but The List does not own a single copy of any of the above albums, and is still not really sure whether Rascal Flatts is the name of the band (ala Pink Floyd) or the lead singer. And when did Beyoncé change her name?

And why is Lady Gaga popular? Anyone? Anyone?

Bueller? Bueller?

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Twenty years ago, Chattanooga was like many other cities in the country. A once-vibrant downtown area had become filled with vacant buildings and empty lots. Industry had moved away, taking with it many of the jobs that had sustained the economy, and there was little to offer younger residents—who packed up and moved to places such as Atlanta to seek a better future.

Yet as anyone can see now just by driving around town, both Chattanooga and Hamilton County have been through a rebirth. Our downtown is thriving, with plenty of new construction. Areas such as the Southside and suburban areas like East Brainerd have seen marked improvement and growth, and industrial giants such as Volkswagen have decided to make the area home.

The Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Agency released an extensively detailed report last week about development trends in the county and overall metropolitan area for the past eight years. The report covered population growth rates and building increases, as well as providing some advice on how to deal with the future growth of the county.

Since the last census in 2000, Hamilton County has seen a steady growth rate of eight percent. Chattanooga itself grew a bit faster, at a rate of nine percent. While that may not seem to be all that high, when one looks beyond the county borders out into the larger regional area, both Sequatchie and Catoosa counties saw double-digit growth rates, 18.9 percent and 17.1 percent respectively. In fact, all the counties surrounding Hamilton saw growth during the past eight years.

So where are all the new people moving to? Numbers-wise, Chattanooga is the most popular choice, seeing more than 14,000 new residents.

At the same time, the unincorporated areas of the county welcomed more than 10,000 new residents. Of the other municipalities, Collegedale had the highest growth rate, growing more than 19 percent.

There were some surprises in the report. Red Bank and Lookout Mountain both lost more than six percent of their population, while East Ridge and Signal Mountain also reported a drop in residents. And while the county still has a very small Hispanic population (just over 10,000), the number of La-

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tinos in the county has nearly doubled, growing at an astounding rate of 89.2 percent. This trend is expected to continue, which will make for some interesting cultural changes and assimilations in the upcoming decades.

Our population is also getting older. Chattanooga has been featured prominently during the past year in several retirement publications as being a prime relocation choice for retirees. Our relatively low cost-of-living and housing prices combined with many cultural activities make for an enticing choice for a retiree. Overall a very good thing, there is a concern from government officials about the decline in the number of county residents between the ages of 25 and 44.

The county is well below the national average in these age groups, and in fact has an older population than the state and national averages.

However, all that is expected to change once Volkswagen begins operations in 2011. Officials with the Regional Planning Agency predict that not only will the eastern portion of the county grow at an accelerated rate, but that the demographics of the county will alter as younger workers—many with families of young children—move into the area. Volkswagen and the other companies coming to town to support the automotive plant will be hiring younger workers, which should go a long way towards reversing the population decline in that age range.

Even so, the RPA feels that many of the attitudes towards development

in the county need to change. It notes that with the growing city center, there needs to be more of a focus on “compact development” as well as “quality development”, featuring a diversity of choices for residents. A downtown full of nothing but expensive condominiums, for example, is not sustainable. It also strongly encourages business and light industry to redevelop the vacant “brownfields” in the inner city to take advantage of a growing city center population.

But of even greater importance— and concern—is the existing transportation system. The RPA is encouraging both city and county governments to develop a new transportation plan that encompasses all age groups and works for different uses, including pedestrian, bicycling, personal vehicles and commercial vehicles. Two areas of special importance are the creation of more “walkable” communities and the need for public transportation for all age groups to all parts of the county.

Chattanooga and Hamilton County have long had relatively small and steady growth. As such, we’ve never had to deal with much in the way of growing pains. But with all the redevelopment of downtown, combined with the growth of areas like SoddyDaisy and the areas along both I-75 and Highway 27—not to mention the 800-pound development gorilla that is Volkswagen—we as a community need to take some long, hard looks at how we are going to prepare for the coming growth spurt.

A weekly roundup of the newsworthy, notable and often head-scratching stories gleaned from police reports from the Chattanooga Police Department, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, the Bradley County Sheriff’s Department and the Dalton Police Department.

• While many businesses are suffering through the current recession, it’s likely that those in the glass business are doing better than most. The reason being that once again a business owner is having to shell out money to get a glass door replaced. The owner of a Grove Street business was alerted by his security company that someone was breaking into his building. When he arrived, he found a large rock lying in the middle of the front room, surrounded by the remains of the glass front door. Missing from inventory were 11 cell phones and six DVDs. • It’s not just rocks that are being used, though. Police were called out to a Shallowford Road bank office when the branch manager discovered a bullet hole in one of the front windows, and glass fragments all over the front floor.

Nor was this the only incident of its type in the past week, as the owner of a Highway 58 business also had his front door shot out. Unfortunately, he was walking in the door when the unknown

assailant took a potshot at the door.

Luckily for him, the bullet bounced off the door, striking him lightly on the ankle and causing only a blister.

Police were able to recover the bullet in the parking lot, though no one heard a shot being fired or had any idea why anyone would take a shot at the business or the owner.

• It’s a well-known fact that too many people are trying to get ahead financially by making meth. What’s also far too common is that many of the amateur chemists are setting up shop in local motels. East Ridge Police, working off a tip, were able to shut down one such lab at a Ringgold Road motel. Making their job much easier was that the occupants of the motel room invited officers in when they knocked on door, even though there were obvious signs of methamphetamine manufacturing in plain sight.

The two occupants were arrested, and the local HazMat team was called out to clean up the room.

• And if you needed one more reason to go ahead and shell out the money for a portable GPS unit, this might be

Chattanooga Street Scenes

the story to send you over to your favorite electronics store. Two men, who obviously had neither a GPS unit nor even an old-fashioned paper map, become lost while driving on Rossville Boulevard. They stopped to ask directions from a woman who was walking alongside the road. However, the woman was neither interested in giving directions nor even speaking civilly to the men, as she pulled a knife and stabbed one of them in the arm. According to the police report, the two then spent a good bit more time driving around aimlessly before they finally located a nearby hospital.

Photography by Kelly Lockhart

Summer sledding on the rivefront

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Shrink Rap

A Lesson In Self-Discipline

By Rick Pimental-Habib, Ph.D www.DrRPH.com

A

few of you have written to me this summer asking about Betty Lou, and why she hasn’t made a Shrink Rap appearance for a while. Well, I’m touched that you miss her. She’s a sweetie, and a goof, and great company, and has been, as regular readers know, offered up as an example of healthy selfesteem, stress-free living, and unconditional love.

The Betty’s definitely enjoying her summer. We moved into new digs a few months ago, and there are woods on the property housing lots of critters for her to gawk, marvel, and growl at.

Everything from rabbits to owls has made an appearance in our yard, and Miss Thing is ever vigilant in checking them out. She’s not crazy about the neighborhood cats. But she loves chasing the squirrels, enjoys meeting other dogs, and often luxuriates in one of her favorite pastimes, Finding the Patch Of Sun. Whether near a window where the sun’s streaming in, on the porch or in the yard, Betty’s breed dictates that she’s a sun worshipper.

But it’s not all about chasing and tanning. She must also earn her keep, so today she’ll offer us a model of Doing What Needs To Be Done. Also

known as Self-Discipline.

I know what you’re thinking: a dog? Self discipline? Sounds like an oxymoron. Have you ever seen a dog not finish a big bowl of kibble?

But here’s the thing. When she was a pup, Betty would hear the water running in the tub, knew there was a bath in her immediate future, and would skulk away in the opposite direction, trying to hide from me in some obscure corner of the house. So I had to train her to not be afraid of a bath. Over time, she stopped running off, although I still had to coax her toward the bathroom. Then, all of a sudden, as I was filling the tub one day, I turned around and she was there, just looking at me. She knew the bath was for her, and she knew what needed to be done: She had to show up.

M. C. “Kop” Kopmeyer is a legend in the field of success and achievement. Among his many writings are four large books, each of which contains 250 success principles that he has derived from more than 50 years of research and study. When asked, “Of all the one thousand principles for success that you have discovered, which do you think is the most important?”

He’d respond, “The most important success principle of all was stated by Thomas Huxley many years ago. Huxley said, ‘Do what you should do, when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not.’”

Kop would go on to say, “There

are 999 other success principles that I have found through my experience, but without self-discipline, none of them work.”

So to Kop Kopmeyer, self-discipline is the key to personal greatness. It is the magic quality that opens all doors for you, and makes everything else possible. With self-discipline, the average person can rise as far and as fast as his talents and intelligence can take him. But without selfdiscipline, a person with every blessing of background, education and opportunity will seldom rise above mediocrity.

Note that when Kop says, “Do what you should do,” he’s not shoulding on you, as we’ve discussed numerous times in this column.

He’s referring to stepping up to the plate. Manning up. Or womanning up. Shoulding on one’s feelings is something completely different, i.e., “You shouldn’t feel that way.” Or, “I should feel happy.” As we’ve discussed, shoulding on yourself (and others) is filled with guilt and is detrimental to growth, and certainly not part of a journey of success.

Another consideration when discussing self-discipline is around addictions (substances) or compulsions (behaviors.) It simply doesn’t apply to tell someone struggling with alcoholism to “do what you should do” meaning, stop drinking. Or to an addict, “Just stop using. Just say no.” Well, if becoming clean or sober were that

“Without selfdiscipline, a person with every blessing of background, education and opportunity will seldom rise above mediocrity.” easy, it wouldn’t be an addiction. But let’s take this a step further. Perhaps doing what should be done means admitting the need for help, and seeking treatment. It’s important to be clear that where self-discipline is concerned, “doing what you should do” refers to taking realistic steps toward success, toward bettering yourself and your life. It means showing up.

So Betty gets kudos for stepping up to the plate (or the bath) whether she feels like it or not. I think Kop would be proud. I know I am.

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Cover Story

Can Recyling Work?

There have been numerous workshops, study groups, government blue ribbon panels and civic movements all devoted to recycling. It was even a major issue in the recent mayoral campaign. So why isn't it working any better?

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Cover Story

Reduce, Reuse—and Refuse to Answer?

By Louis Lee

D

espite widespread acceptance of the practice and technology of recycling across the country—in some cases, cities have been effectively recycling for more than 20 years—Chattanooga remains on the fence as far as participation in recycling.

Portland, Oregon—a city about our size—has “passed the half-way mark”. That is, they actually recycle more tons of garbage than go into their landfill. A call to the Portland Metro Government confirmed that 56 percent of their garbage is recycled. However, other answers were harder to come by: How much does it cost the government? Does the government recoup any of their expenditure from the sale of the recycled material? What’s the overall carbon footprint of the recycling effort, trucks and cars included?

These answers are hard to obtain.

Many Chattanoogans want recycling in their city to evolve into a successful, effective program.

Enough people are in this category to give Mayor Ron Littlefield pause when a recall campaign was launched using the city’s refusal to reinstate weekly curbside recycling as the sole reason to remove him from office. Curbside recycling was cut from weekly to monthly more than two years ago, and is now in the process of being restored to twice monthly, beginning in September.

The leader of the recall petition, Frank DePinto, told Pulse News, “We will still need to keep up the recall pressure and signatures

“In the last four months, every attempt

by Pulse News to find out the exact financial connection between the City of Chattanooga and the Orange Grove Center has been either refused or ignored.”

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because the mayor has rescinded these good intentions before,” adding, “We will not let him get away with it again.” DePinto went on to congratulate the mayor on his decision, but even in his congratulations, noted, “We, the ‘Citizens to Recall Mayor Littlefield,’ feel this is a very ‘giant-step-forward,’ and again our congratulations to him.” Note the continued use of the organization’s name.

DePinto has been on the forefront of the recycling saga since the early days prior to 1994 when the city first instituted the service. He was also one of the first to fight back when, in 2006, the curbside program was nearly eliminated.

Along with a group of volunteer citizens, he sat on the city’s recycling task force. Many members of this task force continue to feel their recommendations were ignored, and that the city had no intention of taking any action based on the task force’s work.

The city’s position was that, instead of having trucks covering the city for weekly pickups (and producing greenhouse gases in the effort) that people who really wanted to participate in the program would be willing to bring their recyclables to collections centers. Questions immediately arose about the negative offset of having private cars driving to the collection

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centers to drop off recycling. Nonetheless, in an effort to encourage recycling by private citizens, the city built four more collection centers, which, according to their statistics, have been a resounding success. However, former task force members continue to hear from senior and disabled citizens who have long since dropped out of the recycling program since they are unable to take their recyclables to the centers.

Ongoing unanswered questions about Orange Grove Clients of the Orange Grove Center operate the centers. These developmentally disabled individuals do the sorting work once recyclable materials are delivered. Despite repeated inquiries, many questions about the specific relationship between the city and the center remain unanswered. According to data provided

by DePinto, Orange Grove receives $300,000 a year to operate the collection centers and the main recycling facility.

In the last four months, every attempt by Pulse News to find out the exact financial connection between the City of Chattanooga and the Orange Grove Center has been either refused or ignored.

Former task force members asked many of these same questions and also describe themselves as being stonewalled in their attempts to obtain

Cover Story information.

How can participation be increased?

According to Mayor Littlefield, the city remains concerned about the low percentage of Chattanoogans who recycle. According to Public Works statistics, only 13 percent of city residents put recyclable materials on the curb for pickup.

That figure, the mayor justly notes, will have to increase to make the program viable in the long run.

However, there is ongoing debate about effective techniques to increase participation.

Most US cities with effective and cost-effective recycling programs have made recycling mandatory. Some use both a “carrot and a stick”, in that city residents are rewarded for recycling in some way, but bear extra costs if they do not.

The mayor also plans to increase participation in the program by continuing an alsocontroversial ongoing education program. A measure that would allow the city continue to retain the services of public relations firm Waterhouse to create a public awareness campaign was nearly defeated by fiscally conservative city council members, led by Deborah Scott. These council members didn’t want the city spending $100,000 to teach the public about a program which has been already in existence for 15 years. The city’s reticence to reveal the money trail of the past 15 years makes it impossible to make an educated determination as to the expense-to-payback ratio of a PR campaign.

We are just weeks from the start of the twicemonthly program. The city is requiring residents, including those currently participating in curbside recycling, to register for twice-monthly curbside

“One of the most readily recycled materials— glass—must be brought to the collection centers, negating much of the advantage of curbside recycling.”

recyclable pick-up. The Department of Public Works is taking the registrations and will build a list of residents wishing to participate, attempting to create efficient truck routes to service every citizen wanting to participate without increasing the impact of emissions.

Questions also remain about the city’s choices here. Increasing costs of running the truck fleet will continue to erode the fiscal viability of the program. And one must question whether the residents of Portland have the same limitations on recycling. In Chattanooga there is literally a laundry list of things that cannot be recycled.

Glass cannot be picked up. One of the most readily recycled materials must be brought to the collection centers, negating much of the advantage of curbside recycling.

Many residents say it’s just too complicated and labor-intensive to recycle here, which is why they don’t participate. Another look at Portland shows that the city picks up metal, paper, plastic and glass at the curbside. Residents rarely have to go to a collection center to participate. Portland residents can also collect a rebate if they separate and sort their recyclables themselves. The city provides bins to residents designed specifically for recycling, rather than expecting residents to store and bundle the recyclables.

Residents tell us that if the city makes recycling easy–and maybe even profitable for them—they will participate, and in greater numbers.

We will continue to dig into the financial relationship between the city and the Orange Grove Center. We will report to you what we find. We will also continue to support a successful recycling program—even as we question the choices the city has made to create one.

95.3 Pulse News www.chattanoogapulse.com 8.20.09 The Pulse

13

Life In The Noog

Anyone? Anyone? Hughes?

By Chuck Crowder www.thenoog.com

U

nfortunately “Celebrity Death Summer 2009” continues with the passing of one of the most important and prolific filmmakers of all time—or at least my generation—John Hughes.

Ask anyone who’s not between the ages of 35 and 45 about John Hughes and they’ll probably have to think real hard, and then give up. But if you name any one of the memorable coming-of-age ’80s films with his indelible stamp on it, their amnesia is suddenly cured.

There are the big five. Sixteen Candles (1984), about a frustrated middle child whose sweet sixteen is forgotten by a family wrapped up in the throes of the eldest daughter’s wedding. The Breakfast Club (1985), set in a high school detention hall where a geek, a criminal, a jock, a beauty queen and a loner are forced to spend eight hours together on a Saturday and discover what makes each other tick. Weird Science (1985), in which two geeks create their dream girl using little more than a Commodore 64 computer and a Barbie doll. Pretty in Pink (1986), which chronicles the plight of a poor teenage girl who happens to be zoned for the richest, snobbiest high school in town. And Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986), about an ultra-hip, resourceful kid who plays hooky in downtown Chicago with his too-hot-for-highschool girlfriend and hypochondriac best friend (with dad’s Ferrari).

I was lucky enough to have been in high school when most of these films were released. And believe it or not, the cultural climate and students of Hixson High at the time weren’t too far off from that of the suburban Chicago schools in which these films were set. But if we ever felt alone in our struggles as misunderstood firstgeneration MTV’ers, all we had to do was go to the movies to see that things were the same just about everywhere.

In fact, even though Hughes himself was a teenager when I was born, he had us ’80s teens pegged in dress, music, attitudes and dialogue.

Some of his infectious script gems even became pop-culture rhetoric around Northgate Mall on any given

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Friday night. “Dong, where is my auto-mo-bile?”, “No more yanky my wanky, donger want food!”, “Does Barry Manilow know that you raided his closet?”, “See, the physics club is kind of social. Demented and weird, but social”, “Every damn night? On the telephone?”, “Typical party— chips, dips, chains, whips”, “Anyone?

Anyone? Bueller?”

Many of the actors lucky enough to have delivered those lines owe a debt of gratitude to Hughes for singling them out as the perfect representation of the characters he created. Molly Ringwald, Matthew Broderick, Andrew McCarthy, Ally Sheedy, Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson, Anthony Michael Hall, Jon Cryer, Ben Stein, Bill Paxton and many others might still be in oblivion if it weren’t for Hughes. And there are a lot of bands of the time that can thank Hughes for associating their music with a time and feeling that we’ll remember long after “We are the world” is forgotten.

The theme songs that Oingo Boingo, Psychedelic Furs and Simple Minds contributed are tattooed in our heads, right along with the films’ characters and settings. And is it me, or was OMD’s ballad “If you leave” in every single one of those movies?

Seems like it at least.

But the most important thing about Hughes’ movies is that together they make up a rubber stamp of what it is like to grow up—in any

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decade. Change the wardrobes and soundtracks and his films would stand the test of time—even with my nowteenage daughter. In fact, should she ever want to know what it was like to grow up in my day, I can pop in any one of the five aforementioned films and she’ll immediately get it.

Not too many directors have a body of work that’s deep or consistent enough to categorize a certain style as their own. Aside from Kubrick, Scorsese, Hitchcock, Mel Brooks, Woody Allen and nowadays maybe the Coen Brothers or Farrelly Brothers, there aren’t too many directors whose name alone overshadows their pictures or whose influence ensures a film’s merit as an instant classic.

And even though Hughes went on to direct such “classics” as the National Lampoon “Vacation” series, the “Home Alone” series and even Planes, Trains & Automobiles, he’ll always be remembered for summing up the teenage experience into a tidy set of tales that I’m glad appeared just as I was going through it. And if you were too, then “don’t you forget about [him].”

Chuck Crowder is a local writer and general man about town. His opinions are just that. Everything expressed is loosely based on fact, and crap he hears people talking about. Take what you just read with a grain of salt, but pepper it in your thoughts. And be sure to check out his wildly popular website www.thenoog.com

“If we ever felt alone in our struggles as misunderstood first-generation MTV’ers, all we had to do was go to the movies to see that things were the same just about everywhere.”

the largest radio news team in the Tennessee Valley local, national, international ...we've got you covered

95.3 Pulse News www.chattanoogapulse.com 8.20.09 The Pulse

15

Arts & Entertainment

Fishing for Magic in Almost, Maine

By Helene Houses

T

rying to write a description of Almost, Maine, now on the Circle Stage at the Chattanooga Theatre Centre, I “almost” felt like Rupert Holmes: "If you like pina coladas/Getting caught in the rain”.

In the case of this play, the lyric would be more like If you like Bud Light/Getting caught in the snow.

And in certain places, the script rises above sweetly-sliding-into-syrupy romantic to something a little deeper.

But mostly, it doesn’t. And that might be just the perfect theatre ticket for the many lovers of stories such as Sleepless in Seattle.

Playwright John Cariani sets the series of vignettes about people falling in and out of love in his native state, “at nine o’clock on a cold, clear, moonless, slightly surreal Friday night in the middle of the deepest part of a Northern Maine winter.” Almost all the characters know almost all the other characters, because most are residents of an area that is not quite a town, and have been all their lives.

Cariani invests these people with, depending on your point of view, an endearing naiveté and openheartedness, or a cloying simplemindedness. This is why I recommend taking your own theatre temperature: Do you love stories that cause you to gently laugh in recognition and that celebrate the magic of love? By all means, book your ticket now. If your taste runs to scripts that slice and dice you, Almost, Maine is likely not your cup of au jus.

Scott Dunlap both directed and designed the show. His set design

is stripped down and effective, with some lovely touches (look at the Circle’s floor), and the costumes, at least in one vignette, almost become characters in their own right.

According to his director’s notes, he knows and admires the playwright, and he’s obviously dedicated to treating the script with respect. I found the pacing of the vignettes too similar, leading to a certain lethargy.

As usual, the CTC is blessed with some gifted actors in key performances.

My two favorite vignettes were Act One’s “Her Heart” and Act Two’s “Where It Went” for one reason: Greg Glover. In the first-named scene, he plays a repairman who spots a strange woman roaming around in his backyard, whom he’s able to help in an unexpected way. Glover plays this “magic realism” scenario with complete sincerity, giving us a unique character who happens to find himself in a strange situation. In “Where It Went,” he creates a completely different person, a man coming to realize his marriage is over and wondering how he never noticed. Glover is what is called a “sympathetic” actor, meaning he has a quality onstage that draws audiences to him.

In these two scenes, it serves him and the play very well.

Luke LaGraff is a funny, moving and believable “Jimmy” in “Sad and Glad.” You

“I recommend taking your own theatre temperature: Do you love stories that cause you to gently laugh in recognition and that celebrate the magic of love? By all means, book your ticket now.”

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completely buy this sad sack, dogged by vicissitudes, downing one or five too many beers. His authenticity is sorely needed in this scene, which really stretched my magic realism tolerance with its ending.

“They Fell” features Zach Cavan’s great comic timing (the man has mastered the art of the comic pause), but suffers from predictability. I also appreciated Stacy Helton’s attempts to make a real and affecting person out of “Steve” in “This Hurts,” but again, for me, the script kept getting in the way.

Other cast members Thaddeus Taylor, Joanna Miller, Magge CaberaHudgens, Shanelle Newton and Jasen Durrence gamely throw themselves into their scenes with commendable commitment.

As ever, we salute the CTC for offering its patrons a range of scripts for a range of theater tastes. And if you’re less of a crab than I am, Almost, Maine might be your oyster.

Make that lobster.

Almost, Maine $15 8 p.m. August 21, 22 Chattanooga Theatre Centre, Circle Stage, 400 River Street. (423) 267-8534. www.theatrecentre.com

A&E Calendar

Send your calendar events to us at calendar@chattanoogapulse.com

Friday

Thursday Mystery of the TV Talk Show 7 p.m. Vaudeville Café, 138 Market St. (423) 517-1839.

Night Visions: The Art of Frederic Remington and Frank Tenney Johnson Hunter Museum of American Art, 10 Bluff View. (423) 266-0944.

Acclaimed independent film about a man alone with a computer on the moon.

Bijou Theatre, 215 Broad Street (423) 265-5220. www.carmike.com

“Accessing the Artist’s Brain: Drawing as a Metaphor” Association for Visual Arts, 30 Frazier Ave. (423) 265-4282.

Comedian who hit big on Last Comic Standing.

“Doulton Delicacies” Houston Museum of Arts, 201 High St. (423) 267-7176. www.thehoustonmuseum.com

$28.50 8 p.m.

Tivoli Theatre, 709 Broad Street (423) 642-TIXS. www.chattanoogaonstage.com

Ralphie May

Saturday

Cotton Patch Gospel 10 a.m. & 7:30 p.m. The Colonnade, 264 Catoosa Cir. (706) 935-9000.

Mosaic Market 11 a.m. 412 Market St. (corner of 4th/Market) (423) 624-3915.

Many brews and some downhome blues. $15 2 p.m. - Midnight Chattanooga Riverfront www.southernbrewersfestival.com

Monday

“Jellies: Living Art” Hunter Museum of Art, 10 Bluff View. (423) 266-0944. www.huntermuseum.org

Lavell Crawford 7:30 p.m. & 10 p.m. The Comedy Catch & Giggles Grille, 3224 Brainerd Rd. (423) 629-2233.

“HelloWorld.Show();” Create Here, 55 East Main St. Ste. 105. (423) 648-2195.

Cotton Patch Gospel 7:30 p.m. Ripple Theater, 3264 Brainerd Road, (423) 475-5006.

“Discovery” River Gallery, 400 E. Second St. (423) 265-5033.

“Artist to Artist Talk with Roy Ayers” 3 p.m. EPB Auditorium, 10 MLK Blvd. (423) 266-8658.

Almost, Maine 8 p.m. Chattanooga Theatre Centre, Circle Stage, 400 River St. (423) 267-8534. www.theatrecentre.com

A Walk Through Time 4 p.m. & 8:30 p.m. Chattanooga Theatre Centre, Main Stage, 400 River St. (423) 267-8534.

The Mystery of the RedneckItalian Wedding 8:30 p.m. Vaudeville Café, 138 Market St. (423) 517-1839. www.funnydinner.com

Tuesday

Wednesday Friends of the Library Book Sale 9 a.m. Sears Court at Northgate Mall, Highway 153 at Hixson Pike.

“Bagels and Barbeque: The Jewish Experience in Tennessee” 10 a.m. Kolwyck Library, Chattanooga State, 4501 Amnicola Hwy. (423) 697-4448.

All You Can Eat Comedy 10 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia, 231 E. MLK Blvd. (423) 266-1400. www.myspace.com/jjsbohemia

Night Visions: The Art of Frederic Remington and Frank Tenney Johnson Hunter Museum of American Art, 10 Bluff View. (423) 266-0944.

“Landscapes” The Gallery, 3918 Dayton Blvd.

(423) 870-2443. www.redbankgallery.com “New York Cool” Hunter Museum of American Art, 10 Bluff View. (423) 266-0944. www.huntermuseum.org “Forms and Faces” North River Civic Center, 1009 Executive Dr. (423) 870-8924.

“Doulton Delicacies” Houston Museum of Arts, 201 High St. (423) 267-7176.

Helen Burton “Leo the Lion” Watercolors and Photos from Tour of Europe In-Town Gallery, 26A Frazier Ave. (423) 267-9214.

Lavell Crawford 7:30 p.m. & 10 p.m. The Comedy Catch & Giggles Grille, 3224 Brainerd Rd. (423) 629-2233. www.thecomedycatch.com

Friends of the Library Book Sale 9 a.m. Sears Court at Northgate Mall, Highway 153 at Hixson Pike.

“Root Workers and Railroad Tracks: The Work of James McKissic” Chattanooga African American Museum, 200 E. MLK Blvd.

(423) 266-8658.

The Mystery of Flight 138 8:30 p.m. Vaudeville Café, 138 Market St. (423) 517-1839. www.funnydinner.com

River City Red Hots Jazz Show and Dinner 6:30 p.m. Delta Queen Hotel, Coolidge Park. (423) 468-4500. www.deltaqueenhotel.com

Friends of the Library Book Sale 9 a.m. Sears Court at Northgate Mall, Highway 153 at Hixson Pike.

“Speak Easy” spoken word and poetry 8 p.m. Mudpie Restaurant, 12 Frazier Ave. (423) 267-9040.

Mural Madness 6 p.m. Mellow Mushroom, 205 Broad Street. (423) 266-5564.

Sunday Trail of Tears Bus Tour 9:30 a.m. Chattanooga History Museum, 615 Lindsey St. (423) 265-3247.

15th Annual Southern Brewers Festival

Almost, Maine 8 p.m. Chattanooga Theatre Centre, Circle Stage, 400 River St. (423) 267-8534. www.theatrecentre.com

Poetry Open Mic Night 7:30 p.m. Barnes & Noble, 2100 Hamilton Place Blvd.

(423) 893-0186.

“Forms and Faces” North River Civic Center, 1009 Executive Drive. (423) 870-8924.

Moon

Fun Fridays Children’s Reading Hour 10:30 a.m. Rock Point Books, 401 Broad St. (423) 756-2855. www.rockpointbooks.com

“HelloWorld.Show();” Create Here, 55 East Main St. Ste. 105. (423) 648-2195.

“Doulton Delicacies” Houston Museum of Arts, 201 High St. (423) 267-7176.

“Discovery” 10 a.m. River Gallery, 400 E. Second St. (423) 265-5033. www.river-gallery.com

“Enchanting” Landis Gallery, AVA, 30 Frazier Ave. (423) 265-4282.

“New York Cool” New exhibit of pieces on loan from NYU opens at the Hunter. $9.95 Noon to 4 p.m.

Hunter Museum, 10 Bluff View (423) 267-0968. www.huntermuseum.org

“Sign of the Times” Jewish Cultural Center, 5461 North Terrace. (423) 493-0270.

Night Visions: The Art of Frederic Remington and Frank Tenney Johnson Hunter Museum of American Art, 10 Bluff View. (423) 266-0944.

Editor’s Pick: Featured Event Of The Week Collaborations: Two Decades of African American Art Major new exhibit, profiled in last week’s cover story, opens at the Chattanooga African American Museum.

Included are works from 54 black artists, including Leroy Allen, Benny Andrews, John Biggers, Earnest Davidson, William Tolliver and Ernest Withers.

Friday, August 21 $5 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Chattanooga African American Museum, 200 MLK Blvd. (423) 267-1628. www.caamhistory.org

95.3 Pulse News www.chattanoogapulse.com 8.20.09 The Pulse

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On The Beat

Traffic Stop: Two Sides of Two Coins

By Alex Teach

I

walked up to the parked car and tapped on the window with bare knuckles. (I was sleeping when a tap on the window abruptly awoke me.) The driver was startled, but he came to and rolled down the window. (I was shocked and scared shitless, but kept it inside and rolled down the window and said, “Yes, sir?”)

He said “Yes, sir?” and I asked him if he was OK. He said he was, but was clearly out of his mind on pills or booze or both.

(He asked if I was all right and I naturally said, “Yes”, but I had no idea where I was or how I came to be talking to this man.

God Hell, I didn’t even know what time it was. The clock said 7:45, but judging by the sunlight it could be a.m. or p.m. and I honestly didn’t know which. I wasn’t actually even sure where I was. Holy Hell.)

The guy was clearly confused, and I’d be surprised if he even knew where he was. Jail was the long answer to this, but I’d leave that up to him. It was early and he wasn’t a problem yet. (It felt late; it had to be a.m., I’d been out the night before, but I hadn’t had the chance to catch up yet, GOD this was confusing. I’d just act cool, and not be a problem. If he wanted to put me in the can, he’d already have me cuffed.) I asked him why he was parked here on the side of the road, and he said he was too tired to drive and just felt safest if he parked. It was crap, but reasonable crap, and that worked for me. I hadn’t eaten yet and planned to do so if at all possible in the next hour. (He asked what I was doing here, and just having woken up I said thought “sleepiness” was the best answer. I think I was right.

He wasn’t an idiot, but he wasn’t in a hurry and I thought I had a chance here. Good God, I still didn’t even know if it was morning or evening. If my ass were sore, I’d swear I’d been “date raped”; Lord, I wish I were joking.)

The guy clearly couldn’t drive due to his “sleepiness”, and his short answers and readiness to cooperate

were indicators that I would indeed be seeing three eggs and hash browns sometime before 9 a.m. Whatever.

He was off the street and I wasn’t paid by the body, I was just glad I wasn’t having to fight or kick someone and wipe up blood or shit or vomit before eight in the morning. Hell, put it that way and I think I could like this guy. “Where do you live?”

I asked. (He asked me where I lived, and I was still scared but ecstatic. I told him slowly, and saw him ponder this. I told him that if it was too much bother there were people I could call, but he disregarded it. What a nice guy; not all cops are dicks, that’s for sure.) The drunken ass lived 15 minutes from here, but said he could call for a ride to pick him up. I could see he was on the same page now and hadn’t put me on the spot admitting he was completely twisted from the night before. The ride would take 30 minutes to get here, so screw it, I thought I’d just take him myself.

What a dumbass. I wonder if he even knew how lucky he was that only breakfast and a closed mouth was keeping him from a ride to the Joint.

(He said no, he’d take me himself.

Amazing. I love this guy. He had me step out of the car and get in the back of his, and I did, quietly. Blubbering was not in order, and this was clearly my situation to screw up at this point.

Easy, Trigger…easy.)

It was a quiet ride and I liked it that way. He told me where to turn and when the turn was coming, and there was no confusion. I actually visualized my breakfast at this point.

He needed to go to jail, but he also needed being tied to a slow tractor and dragged through a field for a while or maybe just shot in the leg, and all three options just seemed like a lot of trouble. Goddammit, I just wanted to eat and start this day so it could end, peaceably, and the threat of him wasn’t present when I got there and wouldn’t continue after I left. I could live with that. And so would the City, since it cared so much about me as well… “Ha ha,” I laughed aloud. (Somehow I knew to keep my mouth shut and not screw this up with small talk or too much gratitude. I told him where to turn and notice before we got there, and he seemed happy with this. Good gravy, he even laughed to himself a few times before we got there. I went from gratitude to being a bit nervous I was with

him, but he was driving me home and not to a knife-filled barn so far, so it seemed safe to still be happy. Still though…this guy wasn’t quite right.)

I pulled up to his house and let him out with a warning. I hadn’t done this, I told him. I was never here. He was stranded and I helped him out, at most. And then I leaned in, real close, and said this was a one-time deal, and that if I ever had to do this again, I’d have him flogged and beaten before he even went to court, which was the best he could hope for. He offered no resistance, and I left him there in his driveway. I could taste breakfast already. (He got me home, and once I was there, I realized he knew where I lived, and this seemed bad somehow.

He got me out of the car and uncuffed me, then said this hadn’t happened.

Then said if it did, it better not happen again. That if it did happen again, he said the worst most awful things to me I could think of. Jesus, waking up was scary, but this guy telling me with is dead eyes and slow voice I would…I would…it was awful.

I went inside…and saw the clock. 8 a.m., NOT p.m. Oh, thank God… Maybe a little more sleep was in order before I went in to work.)

Breakfast was good for a Waffle House. Maybe a nap was in order before I went back to work. (God, what time is it? I am HUNGRY! Waffle House sounds good.)

“He had me step out of the car and get in the back of his, and I did, quietly.

Blubbering was not in order, and this was clearly my situation to screw up at this point.”

When officer Alexander D. Teach is not patrolling our fair city on the heels of the criminal element, he is an occasional student at UTC, an up and coming carpenter, auto mechanic, prominent boating enthusiast, and spends his spare time volunteering for the Boehm Birth Defects Center.

95.3 Pulse News www.chattanoogapulse.com 8.20.09 The Pulse

19

New in Theaters Inglourious Basterds The plot of the film is fairly straightforward: During World War II, a group of Jewish-American soldiers known as “The Basterds” are chosen specifically to spread fear throughout the Third Reich by scalping and brutally killing Nazis.

The Basterds soon cross paths with a French-Jewish teenage girl who runs a movie theater in Paris that is targeted by the soldiers. However, as with anything that Quentin Tarantino gets involved with, nothing is simple. With Inglourious Basterds, Tarantino literally rewrites the history of the Second World War and turns it into the ultimate Jewish revenge film. Not to mention the accent he forces Brad Pitt into, nor the Sam Peckinpah-ish levels of extreme violence. If you enjoy Tarantino’s movies, chances are you will really enjoy this film. If you are just being introduced to his work, be prepared to be shocked, confused and even grossed out at time. In

other words, it’s a typical Tarantino movie…which is just the way he likes it.

Starring: Brad Pitt, Mélanie Laurent, Christoph Waltz, Eli Roth Director: Quentin Tarantino Rating: R

Also in Theaters Solution To Last Week’s Puzzle

Never Worry About Losing A Copy Of The Pulse Keep Up Online at www.chattanoogapulse.com

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Post Grad (New) Alexis Bledel is a college grad whose big plans for the future take a detour when she’s forced to move back in with her crazy family.

Shorts (New) A small town is thrown into chaos when a mysterious rainbowcolored rock falls from the sky, granting wishes to anyone who holds it.

District 9 From producer Peter Jackson, a cerebral sci-fi tale about alien refugees in South Africa who hold the key to a mysterious, powerful secret.

The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard Jeremy Piven stars as an infamous, fast-talking used car salesman hired to help save a struggling dealership over the Fourth of July.

Ponyo Legendary anime director Hayao Miyazaki’s tale of a 5-year-old boy and a goldfish princess who longs to become human.

Bandslam Vanessa Hudgens is part of group of high school misfits who form

a fledgling rock band to compete in the ultimate battle of the bands.

The Time Traveler’s Wife Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana star in the tale of a man cursed with a genetic anomaly that causes him to skip back and forth through time.

A Perfect Getaway A young newlywed couple goes backpacking in a remote island paradise, only to be thrust into brutal battle for survival.

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra A Real American Hero, based on the 1980’s cartoon/action figures, comes to life to battle the evil forces of Cobra.

Funny People In the latest from director Judd Apatow, Adam Sandler stars as a veteran stand-up comedian who has a near-death experience.

Aliens in the Attic A group of kids must fight off an alien attack when knee-high extraterrestrials invade the family vacation home.

The Collector A would-be robber

breaks into the home of his employer, only to become a reluctant hero confronted with a kidnapping situation.

Orphan A mourning couple decides to adopt a child, only to discover that the seemingly angelic little girl is not what she appears to be.

The Ugly Truth Katherine Heigl and Gerard Butler team up as TV morning-show producers searching for the ugly truth on what makes men and women tick.

G-Force An elite team of highly trained secret agent guinea pigs is the world’s last hope against an evil plot to take over the world.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Daniel Radcliffe returns as the teen wizard, back at Hogwarts and facing his darkest threat yet.

(500) Days of Summer Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel star in the boy-meets-girl story of an unpredictable noholds-barred love affair.

Film Feature

Apartheid 2.0

By Damien Power

N

ever mind marketing, the trailers—or what you might think about the film.

District 9 isn’t about aliens coming to earth. It’s about our reactions, and our prejudices, and our selfishness. It’s about racism, greed, and bigotry. It’s about humanity.

The premise is simple: A solitary transport ship comes from the stars to settle in one mile above Johannesburg, South Africa. A nation with a checkered past when it comes to race relations, the South African government appears to do what it does best: set up a ghetto.

The starving, weakened aliens are corralled into a shantytown known as District 9, where they are fed cat food, denigrated with racial slurs (“Prawns”) and generally lead sad lives of poverty and shame.

Then you have Wikus Van De Merwe (played by South African newcomer Sharlto Copley). He’s your typical white-bread middle manager, charged with moving the “Prawns” from the District 9 shantytown into the District 10 concentration camp far away from Johannesburg. Unfortunately for this condescending, passive-aggressive racist, he is infected by a biological weapon that is slowly transforming him into “one of them.”

Most of the time, when you hear that premise, you think, “Oh, he’s going to be ‘one of them’ and become a mindless killing machine.”

In truth, the mindless killing machines in this film are white guys in private defense contractor uniforms. Wikus’s transformation makes him considerably more human, and he must to come to terms with humanity’s seemingly limitless potential for allowing greed to obliterate our morality.

However, District 9’s greatest accomplishment is communicating this message without being weighted down by it. Tons of credit goes to Copley for his lighthearted, sarcastic and hopeful performance, and even more goes to his eventual alien ally “Christopher”, who demonstrates more humanity than half the humans in the movie.

From a cinematography standpoint, the movie is beautiful. Although this probably shouldn’t weigh on my analysis, the movie was produced for only $30 million, but the effects look like they should have cost ten times that.

It’s clear that Peter Jackson had a hand in the production of the film, as the alien performances had more in common with Gollum than JarJar. Jackson’s second intelligent decision was selecting South African director Neill Blomkamp to helm the film.

Blomkamp clearly takes a page from the Jackson school of cinematography, carefully matching practical visual effects with computer graphics to make both appear more realistic.

Keep an eye on Blomkamp—he’s got the goods.

“Wikus’s transformation makes him considerably more human, and he must to come to terms with humanity’s seemingly limitless potential for allowing greed to obliterate our morality.”

Additionally, it was very refreshing to have Johannesburg as the setting of District 9. It’s a place I’ve never seen (and really, still haven’t), but it’s an arresting place to set a movie like this. If this were a Hollywood film, the aliens would have landed in New York or Los Angeles or Chicago, and the personalities of those cities would have stifled the spirit of this movie. There’s just something about the insincere joviality of the people of Johannesburg (with their odd colonial accents) that adds an unjustified credibility to their racism.

They’re bigots—but they’re friendly.

The surprising part is that the film lived up to my expectations.

These days, whenever you see a yearlong marketing campaign for

a movie, you can pretty much rest assured about just how horrible it will be. Oddly enough, most films’ marketing intelligence is inversely proportionate to the intelligence of the film itself. In the case of District 9, the marketing was exceptionally representative, without giving away the farm. In fact—I just realized— I’ve put more spoilers into this review than the trailers for the film.

When’s the last time you saw that happen?

On that note, let’s wrap this up.

Go see District 9. It’s really good.

District 9 Directed by Neill Blomkamp Starring Sharlto Copley, Jason Cope, Nathalie Boltt Rated R Running time: I hour, 53 minutes

95.3 Pulse News www.chattanoogapulse.com 8.20.09 The Pulse

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Shades Of Green

How Green Business Generates Green

By Elizabeth Crewnshaw

J

ust about every time I watch the news, the stories share a common theme: jobs. The Recession, the Recovery Act, President Obama’s performance, the environment—all of these issues are measured in part by how many jobs are filled or created.

“Green-collar jobs” has become a nationally recognized moniker.

“Green collar” is a term coined to describe jobs promoting emerging green technology and sustainability.

These careers encourage businesses to incorporate environmental principles instead of working against them.

According to the Pew Research Group, the green job sector is “poised for explosive growth.” The country appears to be solidly committed to a future in which sustainability is a commodity, woven into the fabric of our economy.

Communities across the nation are vying for these new jobs. So far, the West Coast is attracting the most green-collar business. With progressive policies, environmentally minded communities, and motivated citizens, states like California and Oregon are adding millions of green jobs to their beleaguered economies.

Compared to the West and Northeast regions of our country, the Southeast is a little behind the times when it comes to growing a green economy. Green jobs are not a new phenomenon. But when most people hear the term, images of traditional “green” jobs come to mind.

Positions in the public parks system or in implementing energy-efficient building retrofits, next-generation transportation, and renewable energy are all examples of traditional green jobs.

Emerging green-collar jobs are new positions created in response to a growing demand for sustainable services. One such service is “sustainability consulting.” Recently, a firm called WAP Sustainability was founded in Chattanooga. WAP focuses on helping businesses outside of the traditional green business bubble incorporate green principles

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into everyday business operations.

I recently interviewed WAP partner Brad McAllister about his new, green business.

“There is no reason why every job can’t be green,” says McAllister.

“Everything can be made more efficient and more sustainable.”

William Paddock and McAllister founded WAP Sustainability in 2008.

The idea was to combine business principles with solid environmental science. The two formed the concept for the business while at the Institute for Sustainable Practice, a part of Lipscome University devoted to furthering sustainability in Tennessee.

WAP’s aim is to act as a resource for businesses and local governments, advising and creating sustainability programs, taking the intimidation factor out of going green. The two owners have worked with the Mars Corporation, the National Marine Fishery Service, and the Cities of Chattanooga and Cookeville.

McAllister spoke of a rewarding aspect of his job: impacting individuals. When a company with thousands of employees adopts a sustainability program, that new way of operating rarely ends at 5 p.m.

Employees become more conscious, influencing demand for green products and policy, and they are apt to share this new way of thinking with their friends and family. Sustainability program adoption among employers can work as a powerful tool in transitioning communities to a greener future, improving conditions for everyone.

“The fact is that we are running out of resources. We are nearing the peak of our carrying capacity of the current way we do business,” McAllister told me. “It’s time to make strategic, intelligent business decisions so we can keep up our current quality of life.”

Specific to the Southeast, McAllister described the potential impact of dirty fuels on our air and on climate change, and the issues regarding their disposal. Though not as frequently discussed, land-use issues and urban sprawl pose a threat to the level of relative convenience we enjoy here in Chattanooga. The arrival of VW and its distributors brings great economic promise—but the growth

“When a company with thousands of employees adopts a sustainability program, that new way of operating rarely ends at 5 p.m.” they will bring must be managed sustainably. Atlanta is an undesirable role model, with its sprawling eight lanes of bumper-to-bumper traffic and disconnected, far-flung suburbs.

Water is another concern that we in Chattanooga can often overlook.

Atlanta has very publicly suffered from mismanaging its water supply. It is no secret that we in Tennessee have polluted waterways—but we rarely address the resource’s availability.

“We tend to be blind to water issues in Chattanooga because we have the beautiful Tennessee River in our back yards, but this abundance has little to do with overall quality,” said McAllister of the area’s water issues.

We face many environmental issues here in Chattanooga, but protecting our natural resources does not have to hinder growth. The more businesses and government agencies that adopt green operations, the more attractive our city will be to cuttingedge companies. Chattanooga has a history of overcoming environmental challenges, but in order to stay competitive, we must work harder than we ever have before.

Elizabeth Crenshaw is LEED accredited and works for EPB in Strategic Planning, but her views are her own. Originally from South Carolina, Elizabeth moved to Chattanooga after graduating from Warren Wilson College in 2007.

95.3 Pulse News www.chattanoogapulse.com 8.20.09 The Pulse

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Music Feature

Sweet Eastern Saint Meets The Tammys

By Hellcat

I

first met Reginald Bradley Smith in 2001 up in Knoxville through a few mutual friends that made up my Knoxvillian family. It was a big deal that he was coming into town, as it was whispered that he was a charismatic musical genius. I remember a whirlwind introduction and a fun-filled weekend that blurred into what seemed like one exceptionally long day.

He was quiet and kind, with knowledge of music that would impress even the most particular scenesters. He was living the life that most of my friends dream about; playing music professionally and making a living doing it. Reg is a successful touring and studio musician, as are all the members of his band, Sweet Eastern Saint. Each member has a steady job playing music for Nashville greats like Leann Rimes, Lee Brice, and other country stars most of the year, but from what I gathered it just isn’t enough. This band, while it does have some low hints of Southern rock in its sound, is definitely not a country act. Apparently playing other people’s music is just something you have to do to pay the bills while trying to push your own musical projects along. It is something that all of the band’s members can relate to, and they do whatever they have to do to make time for rock and roll on their terms.

Ryan Wariner and Reg first started

playing together in 2001. Their rock band toured with Cowboy Mouth, Brian Vanderark (Verve Pipe), and opened for Willie Nelson a few times.

In the last eight years, they have constructed an impressive rock band that really doesn’t need any more genre names. Simply put, it is tight and seamless rock and roll. Reg sings, plays rhythm guitar and keys, while Ryan holds the lead guitar. The two of them have added Derek Mixon on drums, James Cook on bass, and Chris Tuttle on keyboards.

The resume of people these guys have worked with ranges from Jewel and Tracy Byrd, to George Clinton and Sheila E. Needless to say, their background is diverse, which adds to their rich sound. The name of the band comes from a time when Reg was touring in Portland and Ryan was in another part of the country, and all Reg wanted to do was get back to the Southeast to work on and record their new songs. He came up with “Sweet Eastern Saint” as some sort of entity that would guide his travels back to what he truly wanted to do.

Whatever it was, it seems to have worked, and they will be rolling into Chattanooga this Thursday to JJ’s Bohemia to support their upcoming CD release Changes in Elevation, and to rock out with The Tammys. Sweet Eastern Saint will be offering free promo CDs to anyone who comes up and asks for one.

Ah, The Tammys. There is a bit of story here that needs to be addressed. First, if you are familiar with The Tammys, you will notice there has been quite a format change. They have gone from a four-piece band to a three-piece band, with the only original piece of the band being front man

“These guys have worked with Jewel and Tracy Byrd, to George Clinton and Sheila E. Needless to say, their background is diverse, which adds to their rich sound.”

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Dustin Concannon. Due to some, uh…technical difficulties, Ryan Fortenberry, Jeff Hiett, and Chris Eves are now focusing on other musical outlets. Chris Eves unfortunately will not be playing with The Tammys at Nightfall on September 4, but he has committed to being the bands new back-up dancer, and man, can he dance!

Andrew Minnick and Will Martin, both formerly of Leaving Miss Blue, have joined the band, adding some high energy to the line up. Will plays a mean bass, which adds to the power of the rock trio, and Andrew is a very tight drummer.

The sound is very similar to the original Tammys, with fewer two- and three-part harmonies. Most of the songs are the same as before, with the addition of four new songs on the set list. I think that while a lot of changes have taken place within the band, the desired point still comes across in the songs. That point being classic rock and roll. I was a bit worried when they opted to do musician musical chairs, but when they played last month, they proved to me that they knew what they were doing. I suggest that you come out and form your own opinion, as I am sure they would be more than interested to hear some feedback.

Also, to all of you musicians out there: I will be hosting an open mic at Raw on Tuesdays, starting next week, so come out and show me what you’re working with! The best act of each week will be given some show opportunities. Support local music!

Sweet Eastern Saint with The Tammys $7 10 p.m.

JJ’s Bohemia, 231 MLK Blvd.

(423) 266-1400. www.myspace.com/jjsbohemia

Music Calendar Friday

Thursday

Ernie Dempsey & Soul Crush Unplugged After a year’s hiatus, Soul Crush is back by popular demand. $5 10 p.m.

Rhythm & Brews, 221 Market St. (423) 267-4644. www.rhythm-brews.com

Send your calendar events to us at calendar@chattanoogapulse.com

Spoken, The Cane Running 7 p.m. The Warehouse, 5716 Ringgold Rd., East Ridge www.myspace.com/warehousetn Karaoke Night with Poeboy Entertainment 8 p.m. The Tin Can, 618 Georgia Ave. (423) 648-4360.

Channing Wilson 9 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar, 5751 Brainerd Rd. (423) 499-9878. www.budssportsbar.com Open Mic Night 9 p.m. Market Street Tavern, 850 Market St. (423) 634-0260.

Pink Cadillac 9 p.m. The Palms at Hamilton, 6925 Shallowford Rd #202.

(423) 499-5055.

The Tammys, Sweet Eastern Saint, Keith Crisp 10 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia, 231 E. MLK Blvd. (423) 266-1400.

Jim Nemeth with The Stratoblasters Retro blues and soul from a modern harp master.

Free.

7 p.m.

Nightfall, Miller Plaza, 850 Market Street.

(423) 265-0771. www.downtownchattanooga.org

Saturday Preston Pariss 8 p.m. The Palms at Hamilton, 6925 Shallowford Rd. #202.

(423) 499-5055.

Caroline Herring 8 p.m. Charles & Myrtle’s Coffeehouse, 105 McBrien Rd. www.christunity.org Open Mic Night 9 p.m. Mudpie Restaurant, 12 Frazier Avenue. (423) 267-9043 Infinite Orange 10 p.m. Market Street Tavern, 850 Market St. (423) 634-0260.

The Distribution EP Release Party 10 p.m. Rhythm & Brews, 221 Market St. (423) 267-4644. www.rhythm-brews.com Those Darlins, Hey Penny 10 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia, 231 E. MLK Blvd. (423) 266-1400. www.myspace.com/jjsbohemia

Tuesday

Wednesday

DJ at the Palms 8 p.m. The Palms at Hamilton, 6925 Shallowford Rd. #202.

(423) 499-5055.

My Epic, So Long Forgotten, Behold the Brave 7 p.m. The Warehouse, 5716 Ringgold Rd., East Ridge.

Ben Friberg Jazz Trio 6:30 p.m. Market Street Tavern, 850 Market St, (423) 634-0260.

Captain Black, Jam Boxx, Really Wrong, Chin Muzick 10 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia, 231 E. MLK Blvd. (423) 266-1400. www.myspace.com/jjsbohemia

The Ben Friberg Trio 7 p.m. Table 2, 232 E. 11th Street. (423) 756-8253. www.table2restaurant.com

Two drummers and a sound that brings back the ’60s and ’70s. $5 10 p.m.

Midtown Music Hall, 820 Georgia Avenue.

(423) 752-1977. www.midtownmusichall.com

Monday

Fireside Lounge 4021 Hixson Pike, (423) 870-7078.

Dave Pope 8:30 p.m. The Foundry, 1201 S. Broad St. (423) 424-3775. www.chattanooganhotel.com Matt Stillwell 9 p.m. Midtown Music Hall, 818 Georgia Ave. (423) 752-1977. www.midtownmusichall.com Black Cat Moon 9 p.m. The Tin Can, 618 Georgia Ave. (423) 648-4360.

OGYA 10 p.m. Market Street Tavern, 850 Market St. (423) 634-0260.

Oxxen, Racing Death 10 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia, 231 E. MLK Blvd. (423) 266-1400.

Bud Lightening 10 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar, 5751 Brainerd Rd. (423) 499-9878.

The Molly Ringwalds 10 p.m. Rhythm & Brews, 221 Market St. (423) 267-4644.

Sunday Trombone Shorty, Beth Hart, Ralph Roddenberry Noon. Southern Brewers Festival, 100 Chestnut St. (423) 424-2000. www.southernbrewersfestival.com Bessie Smith Heritage Festival 3:30 p.m. Chattanooga African American History Museum, 200 E. MLK Blvd. (423) 266-8655.

Roger Alan Wade 5 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia, 231 E. MLK Blvd. (423) 266-1400. www.myspace.com/jjsbohemia Six to Never, Zero Point, Subconscious 7 p.m. Club Fathom, 412 Market St. (423) 757-0019. www.clubfathom.com Out of Body, Whispers of the Muse 8 p.m. Ziggy’s Hideaway, 607 Cherokee Blvd. (423) 634-1074. www.myspace.com/ziggyshideaway

Crawfish Gordon

Michael and Rebecca Noon. Miller Plaza, 850 Market St. (423) 265-0771.

Mushina, Sheila Weller, Enruined 7 p.m. The Warehouse, 5716 Ringgold Rd., East Ridge.

Tim Hughes Quartet 7:30 p.m. Blue Orleans Creole Restaurant, 3208 Amnicola Hwy. (423) 629-6538.

Slap Happy Retards, Aerea, Ray Charles Death Tempo 8 p.m. Club Fathom, 412 Market St. (423) 757-0019.

Coathanger Abortion, Repugnancy, Sediment, Milquelizard, Hoth 8 p.m. Ziggy’s Hideaway, 607 Cherokee Blvd. (423) 634-1074.

Less Honkies, More Tonkies 8 p.m. The Low Down, 306 Cherokee Blvd. (423) 468-3593.

Billy Hopkins & Friends 8 p.m. Market Street Tavern, 850 Market St. (423) 634-0260

The Weight, True Stories, Eric Nelson You never know what will happen on Sunday nights at JJ’s. $7 10 p.m.

JJ’s Bohemia, 231 E. MLK Blvd.

(423) 266-1400. www.myspace.com/jjsbohemia

Summer Music weekends featuring New Binkley Brothers Noon. Rock City Gardens, Lookout Mtn., GA. (706) 820-2531. seerockcity.com/summermusic Open Mic w/Jeff Daniels 4 p.m. Ms. Debbie’s Nightlife Lounge 4762 Highway 58, (423) 485-0966. www.myspace.com/debbieslounge Irish Music 6:30 p.m. Tremont Tavern, 1203 Hixson Pike, (423) 266-1996. www.tremonttavern.com Cowboy Mouth 8 p.m. Rhythm & Brews, 221 Market St. (423) 267-4644. www.rhythm-brews.com Open Mic Gene’s Bar & Grill, 724 Ashland Terrace, (423) 870-0880. www.myspace.com/genem14

Editor’s Pick: Featured Event Of The Week

Your Best Friend, Jacob’s Ladder, Half Price Hero, Farethewell, Kyle and the N. 7 p.m. The Warehouse, 5716 Ringgold Rd., East Ridge.

Johnston Brown 8 p.m. The Palms at Hamilton, 6925 Shallowford Rd. #202.

(423) 499-5055.

Lucky’s 2536 Cummings Highway, (423) 825-5145.

Open Mic with Mike McDade 9 p.m. Tremont Tavern, 1203 Hixson Pike. (423) 266-1966. www.tremonttavern.com

Cody McCarver 9 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar, 5751 Brainerd Rd. (423) 499-9878.

Tremont Tavern 1203 Hixson Pike, (423) 266-1996. www.tremonttavern.com

Karaoke Night 9:30 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar, 5751 Brainerd Rd. (423) 499-9878. www.budssportsbar.com

DJ at the Palms 9 p.m. The Palms at Hamilton, 6925 Shallowford Rd. #202.

(423) 499-5055.

Second Annual Bessie Smith Heritage Festival Some real heavy hitters from several music worlds, Roy Ayers, Tim Browne, Angela Winbush, Vasti Jackson, Joe Johnson, Leela James, Anthony David and Frank B., come together to salute the Queen of the Blues.

Saturday, August 22, $35 in advance, $40 at the door.

3:30 p.m. - Midnight. Bessie Smith Hall, 231 E. MLK Boulevard.

(423) 266-8658. www.bessiesmithheritagefestival.com

95.3 Pulse News www.chattanoogapulse.com 8.20.09 The Pulse

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New Music Reviews Jason Webley with Sxip Shirey Days with You (Eleven)

“On the unconventional side, there’s an ample supply of unusual numbers that showcase the duo’s playful experimentation.”

The Distribution The Distribution (www.myspace.com/ thedistributionband)

Although a rookie, the Distribution is a sevenpiece soul outfit that is a serious contender for being Chattanooga’s premier party band, channeling its abundant talent for an unpretentious, let’s-get-downto-business funk approach. The group’s songwriters, keyboardist Carl Cadwell and singer Michelle Higgins, are joined by Mary Higgins and David McReynolds on vocals, Caleb Long on guitar, Infradig drummer Josh Green, and

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The Pulse 8.20.09 www.chattanoogapulse.com 95.3 Pulse News

By Ernie Paik

Seattle’s Jason Webley, neogypsy-folk purveyor and former busker, came up with an ambitious idea to make an 11-part series of collaborative projects, each made with a different partner. The latest of these follows the format of its predecessors, released as a 7-inch single with an accompanying CD, and Webley has found a kindred soul in Sxip Shirey, a member of the unclassifiable circus-gypsy-Balkan outfit the Luminescent Orchestrii and a musical MacGyver, who cobbles odd instruments out of improvised materials and toys.

Although Webley is known for cabaret noir songs like “Dance While the Sky Crashes Down,” Days with You opens with the allout pop approach of its title track, which builds on a looped acoustic guitar part with propelling drums and Webley’s trademark accordion.

Although the vocals don’t blend together perfectly, it’s an irresistible, nourishing, yet bittersweet song, enhanced with some grand string runs toward the end.

Regarding conventional expectations for a Webley/Shirey partnership, we have the slithering “Leave Me,” with an Eastern European taste, the willowy and nervous “Drift” with tag-team vocal duties, and a pair of numbers (“Winter Comes” and “Almost Time to Go”) that have a kind of Richard Thompson acoustic approach that’s comforting.

On the unconventional side, there’s an ample supply of unusual numbers

that showcase the duo’s playful experimentation. I’m sure some would disagree, but I maintain that in less skilled hands, these tracks might be mere curiosities and novelties; they don’t have the immediate pop appeal of “Days with You,” but they do demonstrate an eccentric, yet effortless charm. “Joe’s Phonograph” sounds like an accordion player walking through a poltergeist-infected junk shop, and “Elephant Radio” is a light shower of toy piano sounds, bells, and levitating keyboard notes. Webley is not yet halfway through his 11-part project, and his fruitful alliance with Shirey clearly shows that he’s not running out of steam any time soon.

Coral Castles bassist Travis Knight.

The groove often builds upon a solid rhythm section foundation, with Michelle and Mary Higgins delivering the goods, sometimes modulating gloriously in unison, and McReynolds firing back with his own vigorous spirit and distinctive counterpoint; the band’s insistent sound is completed by wah-wah guitar licks and keyboard lines that owe more than a few nods to Stevie Wonder.

The Distribution’s live shows have a few modern aspects, like their cover of LCD Soundsystem’s “Time to Get Away,” but their debut 4-song self-titled EP draws primarily from classic soul sources, somewhat like a no-brass take on the Dap-Kings and Gabriel Roth’s Daptone Records. But while Roth has legendary producing skills to get

that authentic decades-old sound, the Distribution is still working out some studio concerns, not yet settled on an ideal balance.

The opener, “Natural Bridge,” could stand to have a slightly more aggressive sound, and things really kick in toward the end, when the vocalizations open up with freer outbursts. The second track, “Something New,” works even though it has a split personality, with a pert, soul-pop first half that gives way to a deep funk second half. “Not Enough” closes the EP with elements that bring to mind the Jackson Five, including a great, suitably sing-songy bass hook.

While the band’s recordings don’t have as much sweaty fun as its live shows, the EP is sturdy, entirely danceable, and a welcome and promising debut.

Musical Diversions

Roy Ayers Is Bringing the Vibes

By Michael Crumb

R

oy Ayers says he’s “honored” to play the Bessie Smith Heritage Festival. His jazz and funk vibraphone stylings will headline this show, which will serendipitously complement the “Collaborations” art exhibit at the Chattanooga African American Museum.

Ayers hasn’t played Chattanooga in the last ten years, and he’s glad, he says, to return. His last gig here featured the late Phyllis Hyman. Ayers recalls her as “a remarkable singer.”

Ayers has worked with many other major jazz figures, including Freddie Hubbard and Grover Washington.

During the time I was living in Taos, I became acquainted with Frank Morgan, a saxophonist who had been recording for more than 50 years.

People there would pack the Taos Inn in utterly respectful silence when Frank played, backed by the best musicians in town. Roy Ayers recalls playing with Frank Morgan at the “It Club” on Washington Blvd. in Los Angeles.

Talking with Ayers from his place in Sarasota, Florida, I was impressed with the same sort of quiet joy that I recalled from conversations with Frank Morgan, conveying the sense

“Talking with Ayers, I was impressed with his quiet joy, conveying the sense of a driving creative spirit constantly searching for new expressions.” of a driving creative spirit constantly searching for new expressions. In fact, Roy Ayers wrote a song called “Searching,” a part of his repertoire he hopes will “inspire people to live more happily and with more fulfillment.”

There’s plenty of witnessing to the inspiration that Roy Ayers has spread around. Since sampling began 25 years ago, his music has frequently been sampled, including samples of his hit, “Everybody Loves Sunshine”

by Mary J. Blige and 50 Cent. Will Smith and Jazzy Jeff also sampled his hits. Ayers explains that the only artist who has been sampled more is James Brown.

Ayers left German recording company Polygram in 1983, the year before sampling began. He now has two companies of his own, Unomelodic and AFI CD, Records and Tapes.

Ayers expects to be playing his hits,

such as “Everybody Loves Sunshine,” “Running Away,” and “You Inspire Me”, as well as new music he’s composed, so fans can expect surprises. Andre Hodeir writes in his seminal book Jazz, “In jazz, the act of creation can be performed almost as freely in the simple exposition of a theme as in the invention of a chorus…the musician is able to renew it in its very essence without actually getting very far away from it.” Ayers usually writes his music on a piano because it is easier to write it down.

He continues to progress his own music, and he’s happy to have fun with it, looking to surprise his fans— and even his own band.

In addition to his performance, Ayers will also be giving a talk at EPB Auditorium on Saturday, August 22 at 3 p.m. This is free and open to all.

Among other artists performing at Heritage Festival will be Tom Browne (“Funkin’ in Jamaica”) and Angela Winbush. Also artists from “Artists in Motion” will be present to create art around the music themes at the festival, a dynamic integration of music and art.

Second Annual Bessie Smith Heritage Festival $35 in advance, $40 at the door 3:30 p.m. – Midnight Saturday, August 22 Bessie Smith Hall, 231 E. MLK Blvd.

(423) 266-8658. www.bessiesmithheritagefestival.com

95.3 Pulse News www.chattanoogapulse.com 8.20.09 The Pulse

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The Mystical Dude's Horoscopes Leo (July 23-August 22): You are now entering your own domain whereby expressing yourself brings true creative satisfaction. On Friday, keep an open mind about money and unpredictable resources and be aware of both sides. A secret love brings unusually tempting offers Saturday; be wary it’s not too nice and you undo what’s already created! Conscious recognition of how your money-earning skills have transformed brings a practical feel-good factor Sunday. Tuesday and Wednesday heralds the beginning of a new cycle of work and effort; there’s a lot of diplomacy to learn, mostly behind the scenes, showing you’re a force to be reckoned with.

Virgo (August 23-September 22): Thursday’s new moon brings a need to overcome any self-confidence issues, which will likely be first triggered by speaking out for your individuality on Friday, when an unreliable significant other makes you starkly aware of how you come across. Trusting friends who are also aware of sudden surprises in partnerships helps you out on Saturday, enabling you on Sunday to activate willpower and direct the other parts of your life into personal interests instead. Tuesday and Wednesday see you balancing your books and budget fairly, making sure you can pursue any urges and come out a winner in work and play.

Libra (September 23-October 22): Thursday’s new moon sees the beginning of developing a creative cycle with a group. Being a little secretive on Friday gives you awareness of the changes you’d like to implement, though others might misunderstand you. Your agreeable professional stance helps you to make unusual changes and add more freedom to your routines Saturday, leading you to realizing you have some persuasive and manipulative techniques that are best used “on the quiet” on Sunday. Tuesday and Wednesday see you beginning a flexible communicative approach, mostly forced because you know that you’ll reach success through your own enterprise, so why not pursue that goal instead of holding back?

Scorpio (October 23-November 21): Thursday’s new moon begins a cycle of determined creative professionalism. Friday sees you tuning into awareness of spirit: No need to over-analyze everything to friends! A long-distance social contact helps you have fun expressing yourself uniquely Saturday, leading you to recognize on Sunday that a thorough thought transformation is a practical necessity to fulfil future plans. Tuesday and Wednesday: Communications shift behind the scenes; you’re reaching across and holding together all beliefs, yet is there room for everything? Something’s staying and something’s going. Use your personal power and laser-pointed intuition as you work out what to include—or not.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21): The new moon Thursday heralds a cycle of creative learning to expand your knowledge.

Friday: You’re split into two minds, work or home? You’re the one who performs a particular task, and there’s an innovative way to synthesize things together. Saturday sees an unusual social encounter who tunes into changes you are making resourcefully. Now you see how to change your income in empowering ways on Sunday. Tuesday and Wednesday bring distinct change of energy, as it’s time to put your plans into place; however, there’s a monetary issue that’s pulling you in two directions, which could cause an upset.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19): Thursday’s new moon begins a cycle of enthusiastic changes and creative rejuvenation.

Friday sees you firing off messages in all directions; apply control to ensure they go to the right pigeonholes. A loving partner enjoys the unorthodox thought patterns you’ve been having Saturday, leading to Sunday’s recognition that power is found in learning more, or at least in taking a good holiday. Tuesday and Wednesday initiate new partnerships; balance out to create a more communicative professional situation. A slightly pushy partner gets you all fired up to talk about your ambitions and career and those all important regenerations in your general approach.

Aquarius (January 20-February 18): The new moon begins a cycle of recognizing the necessity of creative collaborations on Thursday.

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JONESIN’

By Matt Jones

“No Ham For Me” –don't be a pig about it.

Unreliable and unpredictable talk about money and resources can be stressful on Friday, so no need to decide yet, especially when on Saturday a co-worker or employee comes up with clever and usable innovative options. Sunday sees a partly unconscious decision to make changes in your life, whilst remaining impeccably practical and cool. Tuesday and Wednesday see you curious to ask relationship questions that can change your viewpoint. You’re getting frustrated at work output and experience compulsion to get more competitive. Contain anger and do exercise routines instead.

Pisces (February 19-March 20): Thursday’s new moon plants seeds for you to get creative with diet and health. A significant other’s talking tweaks you on Friday. Try not to be too impatient or stubborn to hear their point of view.

Saturday is a fine time to go out and have fun and show off your individualistic side. Sunday, sitting down with a partner to talk about your changing objectives is vital and empowering. Tuesday and Wednesday have you thinking very differently than usual; getting competitive with team play and sports is the right way to let off pressure; arguing with your children is not.

Aries (March 21- April 19): Thursday’s new moon triggers an exciting and enthusiastic energy for a creative project, possibly involving your children. It’s important to listen to the ideas of anyone else you’re working with on Friday, as simply blanking them out could cause problems. Use a growing magnetism to improve home-based relationships Saturday, as others appreciate your intuition and awareness of spirit.

Strip away negative attitudes on Sunday so you can dedicate yourself to work and ambitions. You will have to learn to communicate with fairness and decorum on Tuesday and Wednesday as your life direction and career brings tension and an ultimatum.

Taurus (April 20-May 20): Thursday’s new moon starts a domestic cycle of emotional growth that’s all about building your happiness. Friday brings thoughts of fun and social events, but awareness of future plans puts you in two minds. A pleasing tone of voice and attitude helps to generate unusual and exciting local space around you and friends Saturday. Your creativity and desire for pleasure encourages you to strip away self delusions and demonstrate your true beliefs Sunday. Your well-balanced mind gets rattled Tuesday and Wednesday with too many analytical details at work, potentially causing an eruption from your usually placid self!

Gemini (May 21-June 20): You’ll notice a revitalised way of thinking Thursday onwards with communications to siblings developing importance. A family member gives advice Friday; however, if it doesn’t fit with your life direction, don’t dismiss it antagonistically. Saturday brings unexpected personal rewards for incorporating the unusual techniques you’re known for, helping you on the right track. On Sunday, an Illumination of your family’s role helps fine-tune business sense, particularly in financial dealings with a partner.

Avoid rash money spending for the sake of leisure on Tuesday and Wednesday. It is not worth the risk to speculate now unless you want a huge upheaval.

Cancer (June 21-July 22): From Thursday, the New Moon plants seeds that develop into financial resources. There’s a problem listening to someone close’s advice Friday, so be aware of both sides before deciding.

Your agreeable demeanour helps you express your sometimes unpredictable viewpoint on Saturday. and by Sunday the subject matter shifts towards your significant other; using determined statements will show inner strength. Keeping peace is best at home with the family on Tuesday, even though finding a diplomatic solution motivates you to try a different approach. Get strategic Wednesday. Who’s to blame, you or them—and should you let go or hold on?

Julian Venables is a British astrologer whose worldwide travels bought him to Chattanooga.

Email themysticaldude@gmail.com for a personal consultation. Visit www.mysticaldude.com to discover more about the local astrology group, classes and the free podcast on iTunes!

The Pulse 8.20.09 www.chattanoogapulse.com 95.3 Pulse News

Across 1 Bank savings options 4 Fast food mascot with a spherical head 8 Impairs 13 Baseballer Felipe or Moises 14 “___ a slitted sheet I sit” (tongue twister phrase) 15 Major US metal processor 16 Half-glasses?

17 Distorted Pearl Jam hit song?

19 Goth band from the late 1970s 21 Earned top honors 22 “Tru ___” 23 No later than 24 Cup alternative 25 “Go, bullfighter!”

26 Submissions to eds.

27 Lose one’s resolve 30 “We Try Harder” rental company 31 Too serious 32 Like the most valuable baseball cards, e.g.

34 Group of radio users making music together?

37 Mailroom machine 38 Take down a notch 39 Nabokov heroine and namesakes 40 Copenhagen gardens 42 Common tax form, to Caesar?

45 Marshy area 46 Time magazine cofounder Henry

47 Ceramic coating 49 Come to a close 50 Dir. with a heading of 67.5 degrees 51 Base, chemically speaking 53 The act of poking fun at yellow fruit?

56 ___ San Lucas 57 Fix a manuscript 58 “La Traviata” song 59 Person who may be evil 60 Lauren who played cruise director Julie McCoy on “The Love Boat” 61 Prying 62 Leipzig-to-Dusseldorf direction Down 1 Does some housework 2 Sweet boxful 3 California roll, for example 4 “Tak and the Power of ___” (Nickelodeon cartoon) 5 Colonel George Taylor’s movie captors 6 “___ blimey!”

7 Was acquainted with 8 “An Incomplete and Inaccurate History of Sport” author Kenny 9 Priest’s garment 10 Got really cold 11 Painting behind bulletproof glass since

2005 12 College hurdle, redundantly 13 Band’s release 18 Second-largest primarily French-speaking city in the world 20 He won a Nobel Peace Prize and a Grammy 24 Inverted 28 Section of “Carmina Burana” used in “battle to the death” movie trailers 29 Big ___, CA 30 Commedia dell’___ 31 They once shared an arena with the NHL’s New Jersey Devils 33 Pass out 34 Renegade, for Barack Obama 35 Fresh off the factory floor 36 “Hung” channel 37 Wager that’s not very risky 41 “The ___ Cometh” (O’Neill play) 42 Parrots’ larger relatives 43 Rapper who hosted “Pimp My Ride” 44 Was deceptive 46 Acts like a library 48 Prefix for vegetarian 51 Mark Harmon CBS series 52 “That’s fine by me” 54 Repeated part of a Temple cheer 55 Gold, in Guatemala

©2009 Jonesin’ Crosswords (editor@jonesincrosswords.com) For answers to this puzzle, call: 1-900-226-2800, 99 cents per minute. Must be 18+. Or to bill to your credit card, call: 1-800-655-6548. Reference puzzle #0427

Ask A Mexican

The Parable of the Wab Sheep

By Gusatvo Arellano themexican@askamexican.net

Dear Mexican, My family hasn’t been long in this country, came here because of lousy treatment by other Europeans, and didn’t live close enough to the southern U.S. border to have exposure to Mexico or Mexicans.

So, anyone looking down on Mexicans can be mysterious to many of us that have migrated to the Southwest, like myself. My family wasn’t part of the evil done to Mexico and I have no racial or cultural prejudices. If anything, I just don’t want to be clueless. In light of this, am I a gabacho, or is there another term to describe me? (I’m not trying to escape the negative, as my signature may show - just seeking accuracy.)

— Sin Pista y Confundido Dear Gabacho, You didn’t tell me what European group is your herencia—are you a mick? A spic? Bohunk? Honky?

Kraut? Limey? Frog? Polack? Ruski?

Maybe a vile Luxembourger?—so, sí: unless someone of European descent in the United States specifically identifies with an ethnic group or nationality, they’re a gabacho in wab eyes. If you don’t think the term applies, you can apply for amnesty with the Mexican consulate but must make a strong case you don’t possess the gabacho mentality of Drinko por Cinco and Carlos Mencia when it comes to Mexicans—and even then, a bribe is a must.

Dear Mexican, At Catholic Mass recently, I heard the priest read from John 10:1: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a robber and a thief.” This verse seems to contradict Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and other Catholic leaders’ long history of encouraging illegal aliens to “entereth not by the door” to the United States, and then promoting “stolen” U.S. citizenship through amnesty when they get here. Jesus Christ, by his words here, does not seem to have those same sympathies, now does he, Mexican?

— Just Asking Dear Apostate, Actually, He does. You refer to the Parable of the Sheepfold, and like any good cafeteria Catholic, cherry-pick those parts of the faith that suit you while ignoring the Nazarene’s actual intentions. In this case, you fail to mention that Christ was condemning those who tried to misguide His followers. Refry this for a reading: The sheep are the Mexicans, the eternal meek who shall inherit Aztlán, already in His sheepfold and in no further need of salvation because we’re one of the few nationalities on Earth who give His names to our sons, and then mongrelize it to Chuy. Jesus is the United States, and everyone else is Man. Those who choose to join His sheep go through the gate of

historicism, the gate that has seen the many sheep Christ/America has accepted and protected throughout the centuries; those who choose to snipe from the sidelines, who insist this country is broken—those are the damned, the Pharisees. And Christ wants more Mexicans and other immigrants; you forgot to mention John 10:16, where Christ stated, “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, [and] one shepherd.” The USCCB understands this, and therefore advocates greatly for amnesty for illegals when not covering up and apologizing for pedophile priests. ¡ASK A MEXICAN! BOOK CONTEST FINAL WEEK! In 25 words or less, tell me your favorite local Mexican restaurant and what makes it so bueno. I’ll soon be traveling ’round los Estados Unidos in my trusty burro to research my upcoming book on the history of Mexican food in the United States, and I need places to haunt and cacti to sleep under. One entry per person, one winner per paper, five winners total for areas that don’t carry my column!

“Unless someone of European descent in the United States specifically identifies with an ethnic group or nationality, they’re a gabacho in wab eyes.”

Ask the Mexican at themexican@ askamexican.net, myspace.com/ocwab, find him on Facebook, Twitter, or write via snail mail at: Gustavo Arellano, P.O. Box 1433, Anaheim, CA 92815-1433

95.3 Pulse News www.chattanoogapulse.com 8.20.09 The Pulse

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The Pulse Real Estate Guide

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