The Pulse - Vol. 7, Issue 18

Chattanooga’s Weekly Alternative

FREE • News, Views, Music, Film, Arts & Entertainment • May 6, 2010 • Volume 7, Issue 18 • www.chattanoogapulse.com

Contributing Editor Janis Hashe News Editor / Art Director Gary Poole Advertising Manager Rhonda Rollins Advertising Sales Rick Leavell, Leif Sawyer, Townes Webb Graphic Design Jennifer Grelier Staff Photographer Louis Lee Contributing Writers Gustavo Arellano, Rob Brezsny, Chuck Crowder Michael Crumb, Hellcat, Joshua Hurley Matt Jones, Phillip Johnston, Tara Morris Ernie Paik, Rick Pimental-Habib, Ph.D. Stephanie Smith, Tristan Taylor, Alex Teach Colleen Wade, David Whaley Editorial Cartoonist Rick Baldwin Calendar Editor Kathryn Dunn Editorial Interns Elana Acosta, Ashley Miller Copy Assistant Bryanna Burns Videography Josh Lang Contact Info: Phone (423) 648-7857 Fax (423) 648-7860 info@chattanoogapulse.com Calendar Submissions 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.

The Pulse is published by

Brewer Media Group 1305 Carter Street Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402 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.

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Publisher Zachary Cooper

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AL OF A e NU RS OG Puls AN TE NO he RI TA n T

President Jim Brewer, II

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Chattanooga’s Weekly Alternative

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13 BEST SEATS IN THE BACK ROW

By Phillip Johnston You know you’ve been there.

You’re sitting in a darkened theater (or perhaps a darkened living room) and you’ve just seen something remarkable on the screen—a striking image, a sweeping landscape, or a simply great film. Happy or sad, something has been excited within you; perhaps a desire to share what you’ve seen.

feature stories

news & views

By Tara Morris During four years of working at Big River downtown, I have had the distinct pleasure of utilizing the music mecca of Rhythm & Brews in my own backyard.

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24 PUTTING THE FOLKS IN FOLK MUSIC

everything else

20 NO ONE’S BUFFALO IS NAMED DONNA

By Stephanie Smith Folk music is the music of a native culture. It is steeped in tradition and the pride of the locals. As renowned folk artist Ben Harper says, “Folk is bare bones music.” In other words, folk is the music of the good ol’ guys and gals.

28 SUMMER MOVIE BLOCKBUSTER MADNESS

By Gary Poole For the past several years, while the rest of the economy has tanked, Hollywood has been rolling in record-setting piles of cash, paid by moviegoers looking for a few hours of escapism. When economic times are tough, movie-ticket sales go through the (theatre) roof.

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PULSE BEATS BEYOND THE HEADLINES SHRINK RAP LIFE IN THE NOOG ON THE BEAT ASK A MEXICAN

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CITY COUNCILSCOPE POLICE BLOTTER THE LIST NEW MUSIC REVIEWS MUSIC CALENDAR A&E CALENDAR NEW IN THEATERS MODERN MANNERS JOY STICK DINING OUT SPOTLIGHT SPIRITS WITHIN FREE WILL ASTROLOGY JONESIN’ CROSSWORD

Letters to the Editor A Towing Solution Government price controls, no [“The Continuing Controversy Over Towing”].

But maybe require that parking lots be posted “$400 tow zone” using big signs, with letters a foot high, if they want to collect that much. And if the truck guys see somebody walking into another establishment, the remedy is to call that other place and get the driver to pay $50 or so and move his car, not tow the moment the coast is clear and demand $400 with hassle.

Andrew Lohr

of his ego. He no more has made Brainerd Road “safe” by towing cars than I have by walking three times in a circle while holding a burning candle underneath a full moon. The name of the game is money, and greed is well out-of-control with Cantrell and others like him. This is an industry that has long needed to be regulated to eliminate the abuses and profiteering exhibited by so many of these drivers and company owners who have no concern over the impact they have of regular, hard-working people.

Cindy Thomason

Let’s Get Serious Tow truck drivers really believe they are the ones cleaning up the neighborhoods and keeping them safe [“The Continuing Controversy Over Towing”]? Please! Les Cantrell needs to get control

Missing Shades Of Green I started reading your newspaper religiously after I realized you had a section devoted to environmental issues. The issue all about sustainability was particularly refreshing. But lately I’ve

noticed this column no longer exists. Chattanooga has so many environmental issues that need to be addressed, and we have a multitude of organizations working towards solutions. This is the sort of information our community needs to be aware of. I would love to see the “Shades of Green” column return to your publication.

Ethan Evans Editor’s Note: The columnist who most recently wrote the “Shades of Green” column moved away. We do plan to bring the column back soon.

The Life You’ve Dreamed Of Right on, Dr. Rick [“Seven Qualities for Creating Bliss”, Shrink Rap]! I believe it’s never too late to have the life you’ve dreamed of, and never too late to become the person you wish to be. Your column consistently drives this home.

Thank you for your positive message reminding us that our bliss is our responsibility, and life is for the living!

Rev. Bill Wallace Looking For Future Leaders The first Global Youth Leadership Class in Chattanooga for the upcoming school year is accepting applications. This class’s purpose is to raise global awareness amongst teenagers while showing students how to execute a plan to help third world countries. If you are a rising sophomore, junior or senior, you are eligible to apply to participate in the first year of the Global Youth Leadership Class in Chattanooga. To apply to be part of this first class in Chattanooga, visit our website at www. globalyouthchattanooga.com Nisha Boyington

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 Tennessee Issues New School Age Immunization Requirements

Quote Of The Week:

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

The Tennessee Department of Health has issued new immunization requirements this year for children enrolling in preschool, kindergarten, and seventh grade or for new students entering Tennessee schools.

In addition to more required vaccines, children in these groups must also present a new Immunization Certificate in order to enroll in a Tennessee school in the fall.

The new vaccines required by the state to attend school and childcare facilities are already among those routinely recommended for all children by the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics, so most young children have already received them.

Immunizations are one of the most efficient and cost-effective ways to protect children against childhood diseases, and Tennessee law requires documented immunizations, without which children may be prevented from attending childcare, school, or college.

“We are continuing to protect more young children and adolescents than ever before from vaccine-preventable diseases that can cause serious illness or death,” says Nettie Gerstle, Communicable Disease Program Manager for the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department. “These new requirements will build awareness among parents of the health benefits of these vaccines and their importance in sustaining and promoting the health of children and the community.”

Effective July 2010, additional vaccine requirements for students enrolling in daycare/pre-school include hepatitis A, hepatitis B, H. influenza type B (Hib) and pneumococcal (PCV). For kindergarten, students will need a final polio dose on or after their fourth birthday as well as two doses or verified immunity of varicella (chickenpox) by the child’s physician or the health department. Incoming seventh graders will also need a tetanus-diphthe-

“It is not to be used to balance the budget or refurbish buildings, to pay utilities or operating costs. None of that.”

—Hamilton County Schools Superintendant Dr. Jim Scales, in response to how the county’s $10.9 million share of the federal “Race to the Top” funding can be spent.

ria-pertussis booster (Tdap) birthday as well as two doses or verified immunity of varicella.

New enrollees in a Tennessee school other than kindergarten or 7th grade will need diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTap or DT, if appropriate), two doses each of measles, mumps and rubella, a final polio dose on or after their fourth birthday, two doses or verified immunity of varicella, and a hepatitis B shot.

For locations and clinic hours, call (423) 209-8393 or visit health.hamiltontn.org.

Change a Child’s Life Forever May is National Foster Care Awareness Month, a chance for adults of all ages, married or single, to step up and change a childís life by becoming a foster parent.

In the Hamilton County area alone, nearly 400 children enter foster care every year. “It’s an amazing thing, but it’s really the unconditional love of a family that is the number one thing a child needs to overcome a traumatic past and succeed in life,” said Kristin Stucker, foster care recruiter for Youth Villages in Chattanooga.

Youth Villages invites anyone interested in learning more about becoming a foster parent to a free foster parent training session set for Saturday, May 8, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Class will be held in the Youth Villages office in Chattanooga at the 6400 Building located at 5741 Cornelison Road.

Youth Villages’ foster parents go through 10 weeks of free training scheduled in the evenings or on Saturdays. Meals and refreshments are provided. Youth Villages’ foster parents also receive 24-hour support through trained counselors who are available any time the foster family or child needs them. Weekly support groups provide foster parents with an additional outlet for questions and support. In addition, Youth Villages’ foster parents receive monthly reimbursements to help them offset the cost of adding a child to their household.

“Being a foster parent is a calling,” Stucker said. “We make sure foster children have their health care needs paid for, and we reimburse families to make sure all the needs of the child— food, clothing, medication, etc., are met.”

According to Stucker, the state of Tennessee has worked hard over the past decade to reduce the number of children in foster care. Prevention services have helped keep thousands of children with their families, and reunification services have helped other children return to their birth families or another member of their family faster. Still, thousands of children need foster homes every year in Tennessee, including here in Chattanooga.

“If people only knew how much of a difference they can make as a foster parent and how rewarding it is, we would have the number of families we need to help all the children who need homes,” Stucker said. “I think that, unfortunately, too few people know this.”

To become a foster parent for Youth Villages, adults must be at least 25 years old, be single or legally married for at least a year, have adequate space in their home for a child, pass a background check, have a valid driver license and reliable transportation, show proof of stable income above the poverty line and complete foster parent training.To register for an information session or training, or to learn more about becoming a foster parent, e-mail Kristin.Stucker@youthvillages.org or call (423) 954-8843.

Here is one of the more interesting agenda items set to be discussed at the Tuesday, May 11 meeting of the Chattanooga City Council.

7. Resolutions: a) A resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute an agreement with Hamilton County and the Tennessee Department of Transportation for a $1,723,601.00 Transportation Enhancement Grant for construction of the Downtown Riverwalk and providing $215,450.00 in matching funds in the fiscal year 2011 Capital Budget which matches dollar for dollar the contribution provided

by Hamilton County for this purpose.

One of the crown jewels of the redevelopment of the riverfront has been the Riverwalk, which has steadily grown over the years and is a very popular destination for visitors and residents alike.

The above ordinance would continue to fund the expansion of the Riverwalk south of the Olgiati Bridge, with a final plan of continuing along the riverfront through the Alstom property and ending up near the First Tennessee Pavilion across from Finley Stadium.

The eventual goal is to have a series of connected trails and greenways from the Chickamauga Dam all the way down to the Nickajack Dam, winding through the Tennessee River Gorge, one of the most beautiful places in the country for nature lovers.

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 agenda and minutes from past meetings, visit www.

Chattanooga.gov/City_Council/110_Agenda.asp

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A weekly roundup of the newsworthy, notable and often head-scratching stories gleaned from

The List

police reports from the Chattanooga Police Department, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, the Bradley County Sheriff’s Department and the Dalton Police Department.

• If you had a hammer, you could hammer in the morning, hammer in the evening all over this land.

But does the same thing work with a hatchet? Well, not for one enterprising burglar who attempted to hack his way into a Dalton drug store. Police were alerted after someone spotted a hatchet-wielding man on the roof of the store. When officers arrived, the man ran but left behind the unlikely burglary tool.

The suspect is described as a white man with blond hair around 5’7” and approximately 180 pounds. Dalton Police are offering a $1,000 reward to anyone who has information about the man.

• When choosing a getaway vehicle, a CARTA bus in not generally considered to be a first choice.

Especially not when a robber then decides to brag about his criminal exploits to fellow passengers. But that is exactly what one man did after he allegedly committed an armed robbery of a Tennessee Avenue convenience store—and then regaled a passenger on the bus about his criminal activity. He even showed off the pistol he used in the robbery.

Officers were able to corroborate the story and then take the loose-talking

The Ten Most Popular “How To” Articles On wikiHow.com wikiHow bills itself as “The World’s Collaborative How To Manual” and features user-written articles on how to do just about everything.

So what are the most popular topics?

robber into custody, where he faces a variety of charges and is being held under bonds totaling $55,000.

• If a group of people show up at your house driving what appears to be a paint company truck and offer you a special house-cleaning service, chances are you are being scammed.

A Hixson Pike homeowner told police that four men driving a pair of trucks with the logo of a well-known paint company offered to spray his house with a special dirt-repellent cleaner.

When they finished, they demanded a check for $4,500. By the time the homeowner realized he had been scammed, the crooks had already cashed his check. The paint company confirmed with officers that they have never offered such a service.

• And if you receive a call from someone claiming to be a law enforcement officer in England, this too is a scam. A Pinelawn Avenue woman alerted local officials that a man claiming to be a police officer in England called her and said he had her grandson and that the boy was hurt. A younger-sounding man came on the phone, claiming to be the grandson and told the woman he was not feeling good. The selfstyled officer then told the woman that she needed to send him $4,700 to get the grandson released from jail.

However, since the woman knew her grandson was doing well and living comfortably in Iowa, she declined to send any money and called the real police, who advised her that she had dealt with the situation properly.

Well, we searched through wikiHow to see which articles had the most visits, and the results show an interesting insight into what people really want from the Internet—information on how to be more attractive to the opposite sex and what to do with them once you get their attention.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

How To Lose Weight Fast How To Get Six Pack Abs How To French Kiss How To Kiss How To Know If A Guy Likes You How To Know If A Girl Likes You How To Get A Girl To Like You How To Get Rid Of Black Circles Under Your Eyes 9. How To Make Your Hair Grow Faster 10. How To Make Jello Shots

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Beyond The Headlines

Money to Make Work I

f you’ve ever had anything to do with the grants process, whether as an applicant or as part of an organization giving grants, you know how unusual it is to find grants for individuals, as opposed to nonprofits or other groups. Sure, there is the high-profile MacArthur Fellows Program (popularly known as the Genius Grants), but your odds of getting one of those are right up there with astronomical.

By Janis Hashe

“Last year, MakeWork received 108 applications and expects to receive more this year, making competition stiffer—but also continuing the upward trend in final results quality.”

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Yet right here in Chattanooga, we have a highly successful program, now going into its third grant cycle, which provides up to $15,000 each for individuals.

CreateHere’s MakeWork grants provide assistance to artists of all disciplines in projects, career advancement or studio assistance categories.

And while the first application deadline is Friday, the final deadline is Friday, May 14, so if you’re an artist in the following fields: performing arts, visual arts (2D), visual arts (3D), literary arts, culinary arts, and new media, you still have time to get an application in—though you will have to pay the $45 application fee, as opposed to the $30 that early appliers pay.

CreateHere Senior Fellow Jessica Martin told us that since 2008, the MakeWork program has infused $450,000 into Chattanooga’s cultural economy, awarding 55 artists and artisans andfunding distinct artistic endeavors across the region.

“This year, we are excited about the ability to support working creatives by awarding up to $125,000 in grants,” she reports. “This will be available to artists in Chattanooga and within a 50-mile radius of the city.”

Last year, MakeWork received 108 applications and expects to receive more this year, making competition stiffer—but

also continuing the upward trend in final results quality.

“We are not doing interviews this year,” Martin says, noting that the entire application process is now online, making it easier for both applicants and jurors.

The jurors are selected by the CreateHere staff from both local and out-of-town experts in individual fields. “There are no quotas for disciplines,” she emphasizes.

“All decisions are made on the merit of the work.”

CreateHere has also made staff available this year to consult with artists wishing to apply. Martin gives three bits of advice: “Set out for the jury what you already have in place. Have someone look over your application before you submit it and point out any areas that are confusing.

And have a well-researched budget: straightforward, clear and concise.”

MakeWork grants can be paired with other grants, though they are not designed as “matching” grants, Martin says, and stresses that artists should mention where their other sources of funding will come from if the MakeWork grant would not cover the costs of what they are proposing.

CreateHere is proud that the program has produced no “vanilla projects,” Martin says. Last year’s cycle included everything from Dylan Kussman’s web series The Steps to a documentary film

by Dave Porfiri to a project by DJ Phillip Allen to sculpture by John McLeod, as well as many more.

Although CreateHere has a finite life cycle as an organization, Martin believes MakeWork may find a permanent place in Chattanooga’s grants world. “It is something that elevates the work,” she says, “and if people and organizations continue to show support, it may have legs beyond CreateHere.”

The application, grant guide, FAQ and basic information about the grants can be found online a twww.createhere.org/arts/makework.

Chattanooga Street Scenes

Photography by Louis Lee

Fence art along Main Street.

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Shrink Rap

By Rick Pimental-Habib, Ph.D

Making Love Last Editor’s note: The good doctor is on a welldeserved break at the beach, so we are reprinting one of his most popular columns.

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“When it comes to making love last for the long run, my advice is to take your time, honor both your needs and your partner’s needs, and together let the process that is best for you unfold naturally.”

Dr. Rick Pimental-Habib, Ph.D., is a psychotherapist, minister, and educator, in private practice in Chattanooga, and the author of “Empowering the Tribe” and “The Power of a Partner.” Visit his new wellness center, Well Nest, at www.

WellNestChattanooga.com, and his website at www.DrRPH.com.

have a dear friend who once described to me the secret to her long-term relationship. Although they are not a married couple (yet), they are a very committed couple, and have been together and in love for many years. The philosophy they live by comes from an e.e. cummings poem, and the line reads: “holding close with open arms.”

I love that sentiment. On the surface, it sounds comforting, like one of those quotes that touches you before even knowing its full meaning. But upon further inspection, this philosophy has several levels. First, it implies closeness, a security between the two of them that they can trust; they know, whether in each other’s presence or not, that each are held close to the heart, and are always nearby in mind, and in spirit.

So let’s put trust and feeling secure with each other as the first important building blocks for making love last.

The philosophy also means freedom.

“Open arms” allow each to discover their world as individuals, apart from their partner. Make no mistake: this is not an “open relationship”, although it could mean that for some couples. But in this case the meaning of open arms is more about the freedom that comes from living a life as an individual, in balance with living a life as part of a couple. And when a person feels encouragement to absorb new ideas and experiences while away from his/her partner, they then return home a more interesting person, with more to share. This is what my world was like today! What was yours like?

Think of this as a mutually rewarding going-away, then a coming-together. Like waves at the shore, there is a natural rhythm that brings a continual renewal to the relationship. It maintains one’s sense of individuality while enjoying the richness

of coupledom. Why wouldn’t you want your partner to have (and express) thoughts, opinions, experiences, interests, and passions that are different from yours?

And vice versa. Whatever values you have in common provide the “glue” for your long-term involvement. It’s the differences that add icing to the cake, conversation at the table, and spice in the bedroom.

Perhaps another ingredient for long-term relationships, then, is the encouragement to be fully who you are, an individual in your own right.

This reminds me of another couple I know who, for many years, did not live together, but lived nearby. They saw each other several times a week and on most weekends. Every time they got together it was like a date, something they looked forward to and found very exciting and romantic. Granted, the everyday little annoyances are pretty much nil when you don’t have to put up with toothpaste squeezed from the middle or pantyhose draped over the shower curtain. Noncohabitation can have its advantages. This arrangement kept their relationship fresh and loving for many years. When they decided they were ready to live together full time, they already had so many positive experiences as a couple—and a real foundation of friendship and good communication—that their segue went as smoothly as you could imagine. And they are still together.

So allowing time for the nurturance of a strong friendship and good communication is another facet of successful long-term relationships.

And of course there are more, which this column will address from time to time.

When it comes to making love last for the long run, my advice is to take your time, honor both your needs and your partner’s needs, and together let the process that is best for you unfold naturally. It may or may not conform to convention, but it will be your own path.

Until next week, from W.H. Murray: “Until one is committed there is hesitancy, and the chance to draw back.” www.chattanoogapulse.com | May 6, 2010 | Vol. 7, Issue 18 | The Pulse

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Cover Story

Best Seats in the Back Row

By Phillip Johnston

“The Back Row Film Series exposes people to films they would not normally see, creating a culture that would not be there otherwise. The films themselves are relevant, sometimes controversial, and at the very least, thought provoking.”

Y

ou know you’ve been there.

You’re sitting in a darkened theater (or perhaps a darkened living room) and you’ve just seen something remarkable on the screen—a striking image, a sweeping landscape, or a simply great film. Happy or sad, something has been excited within you; perhaps a desire to share what you’ve seen with someone else so that they can feel your excitement, anger, joy, or frustration.

If this is familiar to you, you’re probably familiar something else. What if there is no one there to share the moment? The people with you may be uninterested and the rest of the theater has probably emptied. All that remains is you, sitting in your seat trying to figure out what to do with the images that have just flickered on and off the screen.

As the summer approaches, The Arts & Education Council’s Back Row Film Series is here for a fifth year to remedy that problem.

The Back Row Film Series originated five years ago when the AEC began to see the noticeable summertime gap between the spring and fall Independent Film Series’ at the downtown movie houses. Instead of another series of independent and

foreign films, the AEC decided on a lineup of event that take film beyond the screen, offering screenings of movies you’ve probably never heard of—they’re often the best kind—paired with guest speakers, musical performances, culinary presentations, and visual art. The aim is not just for interaction, but to connect these important films to the city of Chattanooga in tangible ways.

For the last two years, Andy Montgomery has been the chair of the Back Row Film Series committee and, together with the Arts and Education Council,

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Cover Story

he has ensured the series meets the twofold goal of the AEC: to enrich the Chattanooga community by providing innovative, artistic experiences.

“The Back Row Film Series exposes people to films they would not normally see, creating a culture that would not be there otherwise,” Montgomery says. “The films themselves are relevant, sometimes controversial, and at the very least, thought provoking.”

In short, it’s not a series specifically about stories and performances, but rather about sustainability and practices. You’ll rarely find a garden-variety narrative film featured at a Back Row event because, more often than not, Back Row films are documentaries.

“We always try to theme the series around Chattanooga connections,” Montgomery notes about the selection process. “This year is another example of us working with regionally based partners. We try to connect with organizations in

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this area that can speak directly to the topic of the film.”

For example, the first Back Row event of the summer is on May 6 at the Tennessee Aquarium and features a screening of Rupert Murray’s powerful documentary The End of the Line, a film that is nothing short of the inconvenient truth about the devastating effect of overfishing on the world’s ecosystems.

After premiering at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2009, The End of the Line has played in movie theatres, aquariums, and universities around the world, informing audiences everywhere that our oceans are not limitless tanks of seafood ready to pillaged daily so we can daily enjoy the Captain’s Feast at Red Lobster.

Filmed over a period of two years, the film follows investigative reporter Charles Clover as he confronts politicians and celebrity restaurant owners who seem to show little regard for the damage their policies—and their menus— are doing to the world’s oceans.

From the Atlantic coast, to the Straits of Gibraltar, to the Tokyo fish market, The End of the Line predicts that if nothing changes, we will see the end of most seafood by 2048. Consequently, it offers three solutions: ask before you buy, tell your politicians, and join the campaign for responsible fishing.

Following the screening of The End of the Line, Charlie Loomis from Greenlife Grocery will give a few pointers on how audience members can choose more ocean-

Cover Story friendly seafood. Greenlife is the only retailer in the Southeast certified by FishWise, a nonprofit organization designed to improve the sustainability and financial performance of seafood retailers, distributors, and producers.

“FishWise takes all the guesswork out of it for us,” says Charlie Loomis in reference to purchasing fish for Greenlife. “It’s tough as a seafood buyer to keep on the up and up and read through the jargon. Some people say we shouldn’t have swordfish in our case, but if you’re fishing for swordfish in a sustainable area, it’s perfectly fine.”

FishWise helps Greenlife label seafood with green, yellow, or red tags indicating the sustainability level of the fish. “Red indicates that fish have come from overfished and underpopulated areas,” Loomis notes. “We carry no fish with red tags in our cases.” By using this system, Chattanoogans are in a unique position to take a stand against a dangerous food practice that consumers often participate in unknowingly.

Unlike the AEC’s Independent Film Series, the Back Row series does not cater to film aficionados. “Part of our mission is to bring the arts to everyone instead of just bringing it to film buffs,” Montgomery says. One of last year’s biggest Back Row events was a screening of Tableland, a filmic credo for responsible eating that recognized eating as one of life’s purest forms of pleasure. Montgomery noted that the film brought out a very different crowd than normal, but a crowd excited about sustainable food production and ready to be involved in Chattanooga’s local food scene.

Typically, a Back Row Film Series event

brings in around 120 people and the AEC has found that community members from all across the demographic map come to participate.

Chattanooga history films tend to bring in the older crowd, while music and arts films often bring in a younger audience. “I really like that the series draws people who are not films buffs,” Montgomery says. “We get a better cross-section of people that way.”

Still, one film this season is sure to draw in Chattanooga’s film lovers: The Spaghetti West, a documentary about those classic Italian movies of the ’60s and ’70s known as “Spaghetti Westerns” that launched the career of Clint Eastwood and made the paradigmshifting name of Sergio Leone synonymous with the untamed West. The Spaghetti West will screen at the newly renovated Lindsay Street Hall (right off MLK Boulevard) on July 8 and is part of an evening packed with history, food, and Western flair in tribute to film classics like A Fistful of Dollars, The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, and Once Upon a Time in the West.

“The idea for this one came up last year when I was talking with a buddy of mine who suggested doing a spaghetti dinner followed by a screening of a spaghetti western,” explains Montgomery. The final result is an evening for the Back Row audience to enjoy a catered spaghetti dinner followed by a screening of The Spaghetti West, a short Q&A with a spaghetti western expert, and a musical performance by a cowboy band.

Another aspect of the Back Row

“From the Atlantic coast, to the Straits of Gibraltar, to the Tokyo fish market, The End of the Line predicts that if nothing changes, we will see the end of most seafood by 2048.”

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Cover Story academic setting in favor of living and working together in the community.

According to the film’s press kit, students design homes and neighborhood buildings reflecting the needs and wants of their clients, many of whom don’t have indoor plumbing or a proper roof over their heads.

Citizen Architect is a documentary chronicling the life of the late Sam Mockbee, a respected artist, architect, teacher, community organizer and caregiver to poverty-stricken Hale County residents. The hourlong film reveals that the Rural Studio at Auburn is concerned with much more than architecture and building and is primarily about providing students with experience in using their skills for the betterment of their communities.

Wainright originally made Citizen Architect for PBS and the film features never-beforeseen interviews with Mockbee (who has since passed away) and his students. Mockbee’s career breached boundaries of poverty, class, race, education, and citizenship to inspire social change. In addition to the director, some local

“Citizen Architect is a documentary chronicling the life of the late Sam Mockbee, a respected artist, architect, teacher, community organizer and caregiver to povertystricken Hale County residents.” series is filmmaker-audience interaction. At the June 3 event at green|spaces, director Samuel Wainwright Douglas will screen his film Citizen Architect followed by a Q&A. Citizen Architect is a story out of Hale County, Alabama, one of the most destitute and impoverished communities in the country, also home to Samuel Mockbee and Auburn University’s Rural Studio.

The Rural Studio invites Auburn University architecture students to leave behind the typical

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graduates of the Rural Studio program (Thomas Palmer, Craig Peavey, Brad Shelton and Josh Cooper) will be present to talk about their experiences walking in Mockbee’s Hale County footsteps.

August’s Back Row event is also at green|spaces and will feature The Greening of Southie, an award-winning documentary that offers a grand tour of the construction of The Macallen Building, Boston’s first residential green building.

Filmed over two years of construction, The Greening of Southie opens at construction crew orientation, where tried-and-true construction workers have gathered to hear about the “green building” they are being asked to build. One worker shakes his head upon hearing the word “environment”; another admits that she thinks the concept of a green building is “dorky.” As a whole, many of these construction workers can only ask, “What’s the point?”

That The Macallen Building is to be Boston’s first LEED-certified building seems a big step for many of the workers, but more profound problems come as the architects introduce us to the neighborhood—a notoriously closed community with a reputation for Irish mobs and a resistance to change. Change, however, is exactly why 33-year-old developer Tim Pappas has hired the youngest consultants he can find, knowing full well that The Macallen Building will either make or break the team.

“What is exciting about the site of the Macallen Building is that it was a former industrial area,” says Monica Ponce de Leon, one of the building’s architects. “We are transforming an area of South Boston that had been very rundown.”

From wheatboard cabinetry to recycled steel, bamboo flooring to dual-flush toilets (“Double

Cover Story flush? I use that system a lot, the double-flush. One never seems to do the job,” says one of the Macallen tile layers in the beginning of the film), The Macallen Building is something new for Boston— which means, of course, that the job site has its skeptics. Tensions flare when the wheat-board cabinets swell, making countertop installation impossible. The green roof plants die off, the bamboo floors buckle, and the project is almost lost to time. But redemption comes in unexpected ways.

In the end, The Greening of Southie is about bold ideas that lead to a new way of thinking. “I’ll be able to tell my grandkids, ‘Grandpa worked on the first green building,’” says Yvan LaCroix, carpentry foreman for The Macallen Building, “and maybe by the time my grandkids work in this trade, every building will be a green building.

We’ve ruined the environment; so why can’t we help fix it?”

Back Row’s presentation of The Greening of Southie is another chance to interact with a filmmaker.

Ian Cheney co-directed The Greening of Southie and he’ll be present on August 6 at green|spaces for a Q&A following his film. No stranger to the environmental film scene, Cheney is a Yale graduate

with his master’s in Forestry and Environmental Studies. His previous film, King Corn, an exposé on subsidized farming and how it feeds America’s fast food industry, premiered at South by Southwest and was nominated at the Environmental Media Awards.

He’s also the founder of Wicked Delicate Films, a documentary and commercial media productions company based in Boston.

The Back Row Film Series is Chattanooga’s primary summer film event and it offers a rare chance for intelligent community interactions with important films. “Chattanooga is a very warm-weather-oriented city,” says Andy Montgomery, noting the importance of having AEC events in the summer. “When the weather is nice, people are more likely to come to events than they would be in the winter. People enjoy getting out and Back Row features four really good community events this summer.”

The Back Row Film Series benefits Chattanooga as a city, too, and highlights just how important the Arts and Education Council is in offering hands-on arts events, sparking important conversations, and bringing the very best of the worldwide film scene downtown for the benefit of the whole community.

Back Row Films Schedule The End of the Line

The Spaghetti West

$10 6 p.m.

Thursday, May 6 Tennessee Aquarium Film screening followed by discussion

$15 6 p.m. spaghetti dinner, 6:30 screening, 8 p.m. discussion, 9 p.m. live music Thursday, July 8 Lindsay Street Hall, 901 Lindsay Street

Citizen Architect

The Greening of Southie

$10 6 p.m. reception, 6:30 p.m. screening, 7:45 p.m. Q&A with director and producer Thursday, June 3 green|spaces, 63 E. Main Street

$10 6 p.m. reception, 6:30 p.m. screening, 7:45 p.m. Q&A with director Thursday, August 5 green|spaces, 63 E. Main Street

www.chattanoogapulse.com | May 6, 2010 | Vol. 7, Issue 18 | The Pulse

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Life in the Noog

By Chuck Crowder

As The Old Saying Goes…

I

“I was like thinking that I could like move up there and like see what like it’s all about and like get an apartment and like call on some contacts and just like become like immersed in like the whole experience of Washington.”

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 popular website www.thenoog.com

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met a young lady the other day who was about to move to Washington, D.C. and on to grad school at either American University or George Washington University, whichever one would accept her lovely charm and stellar GPA. And rightfully so.

She was a very bright, intelligent woman dead set on making international law her career path.

But in my mind, she had one personality flaw that would keep her from successfully completing an oral interview by any respectable school or law firm.

She said “like,” like a lot.

“I was like thinking that I could like move up there and like see what like it’s all about and like get an apartment and like call on some contacts and just like become like immersed in like the whole experience of Washington,” she explained.

Meanwhile all I could do was keep count of the “likes” on my fingers and toes. And much to my amazement, one rambling run-on period of free-flowing thought included 42 such uses of the word. So having bit my tongue long enough, I couldn’t help but point that fact out like, back to her. Needless to say I went home alone, but grinning all the way.

My 14-year-old daughter had a problem with the “likes” around age ten. My entire family banded together and employed the same tactics we used on my 20-year-old niece when the same problem reared its ugly head. We would yell “LIKE!” back to her every time she improperly used the word, rendering her frustrated to no end when a story

she tried to convey was continually interrupted and more importantly, not heard.

It worked. My daughter doesn’t misuse the word in normal conversation anymore. She might around her friends on a Friday night, but not in school and certainly not around her family.

Because, along with her memory of our badgering, she also finally realized our point that misuse of that word can perceivably reduce your IQ by roughly 20 points in the minds of just about anyone you are trying to impress.

But “like” is just one of the many weird verbal phenomena that exist among people who should know better.

Another is placing an unneeded “at” at the end of sentences that request an explanation of the whereabouts of something or someone. “Where’s he at?” instead of “Where is he?”

Nothing will reduce a person’s perceived intelligence level faster than ending a sentence with a preposition.

All grammar lessons aside, there are words and phrases in the Southern vernacular that have always intrigued me. One is, “How’s yer mom and them?” Meaning, of course, the current condition of your mother and the rest of your kin. Popular question, as well as the popular parting phrase “be good” or if commerce is taking place, “pre-she-ate-cha!” These are of course in addition to the one that baffles any visitor from the North the most—“fixin’ to.” But we Southerners all know what that phrase means—procrastination.

There are some terms I’ve never really quite understood, such as “forsaken.”

Countless country songs lament this condition so often that although the exact definition still eludes me, I know that forsaken is definitely something that I don’t want to be. (Wait a minute, is “be” a preposition?)

Life in the Noog Usually songs in which someone has been forsaken generally also profess that the situation will improve in the “sweet by and by.” I take it that means in the future. In fact, many country phrases are worded in a way that creates some sort of hope within a potentially bad situation, such as “will the circle be unbroken?” Very optimistic compared to what it truly means, which is “is the circle gonna break or not?”

But enough about our Southern cousins, let’s take a minute to discuss some common phrases all Americans use that don’t make much sense at all.

What about “a-whole-nuther,” “just in time,” “irregardless,” and “all-ofa-sudden?” My bets are that someone using or listening to one of those terms knows exactly what it means, but has no idea why that particular phrase means what it does.

Working in a corporate

environment, I hear a lot of catch phrases that are truly just middle management “ladder talk.” One is “last night” as in “I sent you an email last night.” In this context, “last night” means anytime after 5 p.m.

Another one is “reach out.” In order to appear you are the proactive hero that’s jumped in to save the day, you must begin the process by “reaching out” to the person to whom you will delegate a task or who holds the information necessary for you to complete yours. “Reach out to Bill, he knows the proper procedure on TPS report covers.”

I’m as sure “as the day is long” we will always have words and phrases that are constructed, adopted, misused and then frowned upon for “a coon’s age.” But like at least we will like always have like something like to talk about, and stuff.

Like, pre-she-ate-cha.

www.chattanoogapulse.com | May 6, 2010 | Vol. 7, Issue 18 | The Pulse

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Music Feature

By Tara Morris

No One’s Buffalo is Named Donna

“The music of Donna The Buffalo transcends age, and prides itself on expressing a celebration of life with every stroke of the fiddle and squeeze of the accordion.

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D

uring four years of working at Big River downtown, I have had the distinct pleasure of utilizing the music mecca of Rhythm & Brews in my own backyard. With an amazing staff and one of the most musically influential men in town, Mike Dougher, Rhythm & Brews brings not only music—but fun.

For a decade now, Mike has booked a slew of major acts into Chattanooga, and even those wonderful ’80s cover bands that bring back jungle fever and make you remember how much you wished you had Jesse’s girl.

The Pulse | Vol. 7, Issue 18 | May 6, 2010 | www.chattanoogapulse.com

But on nights such as Thursday, May 6, Rhythm & Brews brings you an act out of New York whose eclectic and often socially conscious style is based in traditional mountain music, with elements of Cajun/ zydeco, rock, folk, reggae, and country. This genre seems to be a theme right now, with Old Crow Medicine Show and bluegrass music hitting the waterfront this weekend, but when Mike tells me that this show will be the best, well, I believe him.

Donna The Buffalo is a five-person ensemble consisting of Tara Nevins, Jeb Puryear, Dave McCracken, Jay Sanders, and Vic Stafford. For 21 years, this roots group has toured and spread their love of feel-good music that connects poetry, spirituality, and socially conscious ideals. Their 2008 release Silverlined on Sugar Hill Records hit number 8 on the Americana Music Chart.

To those not in the know, Donna The Buffalo might seem an “interesting” name. Countless scenarios of why someone would name their buffalo Donna engage the mind—but I have come to find out that it was purely a mistake.

During their first show, an “under the influence” MC slurred their name from “Dawn of the Buffalo” to “Donna The Buffalo”—and they never

went back.

A sweet story, just like the sweetness found in Tara Nevins’s vocals and the bounce in their sound. Words of peace and justice, love, life, and death flow from the speakers…Jeb and Tara have sung more than 140 songs together with DTB. This band has graced the stages of Bonnaroo, Camp Bisco, Rothbury, and Austin City Limits, to name a few. They’ve worked with such artists as Bela Fleck, Jim Lauderdale, Preston and Keith Frank, and with Nevins touring with the drummer of the Grateful Dead, Bill Kreutzmann’s band BK3, this band is no joke.

After more than 20 years of bringing musical love to the masses, it’s no surprise this band has an extensive fan base calling themselves “The Herd”. This unique and supportive community follows the band with zeal and is an extension of the band’s dedication to community and roots music. The music of DTB transcends age, and prides itself on expressing a celebration of life with every stroke of the fiddle and squeeze of the accordion.

This Thursday night, DTB will be joined by Nashville’s own Infamous Stringdusters, a Chattanooga favorite whose fusion of acoustic bluegrass is sure to impress. When these boys came together, they were hardly new to the scene, with ties to artists such as Dolly

Music Feature

New Music Reviews Various Artists South African Legends (Putumayo World Music)

Parton, Charlie Daniels, and Vanessa Carlton. After the 2007 release of Fork in the Road, they toured extensively. The band starred in a documentary made about their touring experience, and signed a deal with Lions Gate Films, which will license their music for commercials and other media.

Despite all the name-dropping, these bands have worked their way up and will surely give you a chance to relax, engage, and get down. Dougher told me how long he has been trying to get Donna The Buffalo and shared his excitement. Once again it is a big week in the Valley for music, and with the many choices, we must all quit our jobs, panhandle for ticket money and give it all to every show we can. If this is a bit too much, then make a date and go see why Donna The Buffalo has been able to perform for so long.

Cheers!

Donna The Buffalo and The Infamous Stringdusters $15 10 p.m., Thursday, May 6 Rhythm & Brews, 221 Market Street (423) 267-4644. www.rhythm-brews.com

“Overall, you’ll hear a vast array of eclectic sounds on this CD, with a range of instruments.”

By Stephanie Smith

Putumayo World Music’s newest release, South African Legends, is the sixth in a series of collaborations and is touted as “a celebration of the musical diversity of South Africa, from Afrojazz and township jive to mbaqanga and Afropop.” South African Legends is produced by various artists in collaboration with the Putumayo label. The aim of the album is to celebrate this “rainbow nation” (where there are 11 official languages) with music that conveys the country’s struggle to overcome apartheid and subsequent victory as a democratic nation.

As someone who has little to no knowledge of native African music, I can only comment on the experience the CD gave me—and I truly enjoyed this album. I am a great lover of swing and big band music, so I was particularly drawn to Track 7: Orlando.

With a mix of the harmonic blend of 1940s girl group The Andrews Sisters combined with the deep earthy voice of the late singer and political activist Miriam Makeba, the result is a slow-grooving jam that will have your feet tapping along as you melt into the music. The late folk hero and renowned anti-apartheid activist Johannes Kerkorrel’s tribute to his homeland on Track 9: Halala Afrika made me want to sing along—ah! if only I could speak Afrikaans and Zulu!

Track 1: Ujaheni will certainly entice

Mountain Cove Bluegrass New Generation The Chattanoogabased musicians Mountain Cove Bluegrass have recently released their first CD entitled New Generation. New Generation was recorded in Chattanooga

by The Possum Hunters’ lead guitarist, Steve Mabry.

The youthful voices singing the traditional bluegrass songs attend Hixson High and Signal Mountain Middle High Schools respectively. The band members are Austin Adkins (rhythm guitar, age 17), Cody Harvey (banjo, 16), Michael Holloway (bass, 16), Colin Mabry

Lion King devotees with its pennywhistles, organ and drums, while fans of UB40 will appreciate the laid-back vibe of Track 2: Mbombela. There are several more contemporary tunes with soulful urban sounds ranging from R&B to rap to reggae.

Finally, the Grammy Award-winning Soweto Gospel Choir is featured on Track 12: Ngahlelele. Overall, you’ll hear a vast array of eclectic sounds on this CD, with a range of instruments from pennywhistles to drums to organ to clarinets to electric guitar.

South African Legends is a fantastic compilation to add to your musical collection. If you enjoy world music, you should get this album—especially if you are not steeped in South African music. And even if you are, this would really amp up your cultural I.Q. When the World Cup comes to Africa for the first time on June 11 this year, you will have a new respect for the South Africans’ music, which has been used as a tool for generations to help bring them to the place of economic prosperity and democracy that they are experiencing now in the international spotlight.

Even better, a portion of Putomayo’s proceeds from the sale of this CD will be donated to Artists for a New South Africa (ANSA), a nonprofit organization working in South Africa to combat HIV/AIDS and advance human rights.

(guitar/lead vocals, 15), Will Markham (fiddle, 14), Tyler Martelli (harmonica, 15), and Garrett Massman (mandolin, 16).

New Generation is just that: a new generation of bluegrass musicians raised on and trained in the bluegrass traditions of their fathers and grandfathers. All of boys have been playing their instruments since they were very young and most have relatives who play as well. They came together through a mutual love of music that tells the stories of life, love and relationships through the centuries: Rocky Top (the unofficial state anthem), Fox on the Run (the classic tale of catchand-release dating back to Adam and Eve), and I’ll Fly Away (the uplifting Southern-church-tent-revival classic).

The instrumental Double Banjo Blues is quite impressive—a nearly seamless musical tapestry woven together with accomplished pickin’. As a first introduction to the Cove boys, you would never guess that the musicians

are decades younger than most of their musical peers.

It is that same enthusiasm combined with quality musicianship that won them second place last year at the Smithville Fiddlers’ Convention, a national-level competition where placing is a difficult task.

There are no tricks on this album: the material’s tried-and-true, the harmonies are layered and smooth, and the pickin’s superb. What makes this album refreshing is the thumbprint of youth. Lead vocalist Colin Mabry clearly understands his job and takes it seriously, yet there is a confident exuberance in his voice that can only be matched by other youngsters—the kids who haven’t yet been tainted by the oppressive world.

Mabry and the band have the support of their family and friends, and the end result is an unapologetic ode to the past from the next generation. Support local musicians! For more information, visit www.mountaincovebluegrass.com

www.chattanoogapulse.com | May 6, 2010 | Vol. 7, Issue 18 | The Pulse

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Music Calendar Thursday Spotlight

Donna The Buffalo and The Infamous Stringdusters Ought to be a kick-ass Americana evening. $15 10 p.m.

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

Thursday Tommy Davis 6:30 p.m. Mudpie Restaurant, 12 Frazier Ave. (423) 267-9043. www.mudpierestuarant.com Open Mic 8 p.m. The Riverhouse Pub, 224 Frazier Ave. (423) 752-0066. www.myspace.com/ theriverhousechattanooga Preston Paris 9 p.m. The Palms at Hamilton, 6925 Shallowford Rd., #202.

(423) 499-5055. www.thepalmsathamilton.com Open Mic Night 9 p.m. Market Street Tavern, 850 Market St. (423) 634-0260.

Channing Wilson 9 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar, 5751 Brainerd Rd. (423) 499-9878. www.budssportsbar.com Karaoke 9 p.m. Images, 6500 Lee Hwy. www.imagesbar.com Live DJ 9:30 p.m. Riverhouse Pub, 224 Frazier Ave. (423) 752-0066.

Jeremy Cate 9:30 p.m. T-Roy’s Roadhouse, 724 Ashland Terrace.

(423) 870-0880.

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The Pulse | Vol. 7, Issue 18 | May 6, 2010 | www.chattanoogapulse.com

Friday Spotlight

Donna The Buffalo with The Infamous Stringdusters 10 p.m. Rhythm & Brews, 221 Market St. (423) 267-4644.

The Legendary Shack Shakers, Danny Barnes (Bad Livers) 10 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia, 231 E. MLK Blvd. (423) 266-1400. www.myspace.com/jjsbohemia DJ ScubaSteve Fox and Hound Pub & Grille, 2040 Hamilton Place Blvd., #150. (423) 490-1200.

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

Friday End Poverty Now Benefit: Featuring Duble Dragon, Jack Gray and Arthur Godfrey 6 p.m. Riverview Park, 1000 Barton Ave. www.chattanoogachanger.org Booker Scruggs Ensemble 7 p.m. The Original Blue Orleans Restaurant, 3208 Amnicola Hwy. (423) 629-6538. blueorleanscreolerestaurant.com Kathy Tugman Quartet 7:30 p.m. The Foundry, 1201 Broad St. (423) 424-3775. www.chattanooganhotel.com Rita’s Gift 8 p.m. Ziggy’s Hideaway, 607 Cherokee Blvd.

(423) 634-1074. myspace.com/ziggyshideaway Karaoke with Dan Hickey 9 p.m. Mudpie Restaurant, 12 Frazier Ave. (423) 267-9043.

Backwater Still 9:30 p.m. Riverhouse Pub, 224 Frazier Ave. (423) 752-0066.

Dead Levy 9:30 p.m. T-Roy’s Roadhouse, 724 Ashland Terrace.

(423) 870-0880.

Psychadelphia with Turbine 10 p.m. Rhythm & Brews, 221 Market St. (423) 267-4644. www.rhythm-brews.com Karaoke 10 p.m. Chattanooga Billiards Club East, 110 Jordan Dr. (423) 499-3883. www.cbcburns.com Skin Deep 10 p.m. T-Bones Sports Café, 1419 Chestnut Ave. (423) 266-4240. www.tboneschattanooga.com Roger Alan Wade, Uncle Lightning, and Marty Bohannon 10 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia, 231 E. MLK Blvd. (423) 266-1400. www.myspace.com/jjsbohemia Bluegrass Pharaohs 10 p.m. Market Street Tavern, 850 Market St. (423) 634-0260. www.marketstreettavern.com Paul Smith and the Bourbon Street Band 9 p.m. Bourbon Street Bar, 2000 23rd Street. (423) 697-0066.

Gabe Newell 8 p.m. Tremont Tavern, 1203 Hixson Pike. (423) 266-1966. www.tremonttavern.com Robin and Linda Williams Charles & Myrtle’s Coffeehouse, 105 McBrien Rd. (423) 892-4960. www.christunity.org DJ Spicolli Raw Sushi Bar Restaurant & Nightclub, 409 Market Street, (423) 756-1919. www.myspace.com/jimstriker

Roger Alan Wade, Uncle Lightning, Marty Bohannon Hang with the talented music locals at JJ’s.

10 p.m.

JJ’s Bohemia, 231 E. MLK Blvd. (423) 266-1400. www.myspace.com/jjsbohemia DJ GOP The Palms at Hamilton, 6925 Shallowford Rd., #202.

(423) 499-5055. www.thepalmsathamilton.com

Saturday Kathy Tugman Quartet 7:30 p.m. The Foundry, 1201 Broad St. (423) 424- 3775. www.chattanooganhotel.com A Midsummer Nightmare, Our Oppressors, Every Word a Prophecy, and Silence the Sorrow 8 p.m. Ziggy’s Hideaway, 607 Cherokee Blvd.

(423) 634-1074. www.myspace.com/ ziggyshideaway Open Mic Night 9 p.m. Mudpie Restaurant, 12 Frazier Ave. (423) 267-9043. www.mudpierestuarant.com Preston Paris 9 p.m. The Palms at Hamilton, 6925 Shallowford Rd., #202.

(423) 499-5055. www.thepalmsathamilton.com Eddie Turner and the Troubled Twins 9:30 p.m. T-Roy’s Roadhouse, 724 Ashland Terrace.

(423) 870-0880.

Music Calendar Saturday Spotlight

The Sam Quinn Band Quinn of the everybodyfields returns with his own band. $10 8 p.m.

Barking Legs Theater, 1307 Dodds Avenue (423) 624-5347. www.barkingslegs.org Uncle Touchy 9:30 p.m. Riverhouse Pub, 224 Frazier Ave. (423) 752-0066.

Dave Matthews Tribute Band 10 p.m. Rhythm & Brews, 221 Market St. (423) 267-4644. www.rhythm-brews.com Cadillac Saints 10 p.m. T-Bones Sports Café, 1419 Chestnut Ave. (423) 266-4240. www.tboneschattanooga.com Space Capone CD Release 10 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia, 231 E. MLK Blvd. (423) 266-1400. www.myspace.com/jjsbohemia Second Saturday with special guest DJs 10 p.m. Market Street Tavern, 850 Market St. (423) 634-0260. www.marketstreettavern.com Paul Smith and the Bourbon Street Band 9 p.m. Bourbon Street Bar, 2000 23rd St. (423) 697-0066.

The Sam Quinn Band 8 p.m. Barking Legs Theater, 1307 Dodds Ave. (423) 624-5347. www.barkinglegs.org Rick Rushing & The Blues Strangers 6 p.m. Tremont Tavern, 1203 Hixson Pike. (423) 266-1966.

Sunday Spotlight

Beth Wood Charles & Myrtle’s Coffeehouse, 105 McBrien Rd. (423) 892-4960. www.christunity.org DJ Spicolli Raw Sushi Bar Restaurant & Nightclub, 409 Market Street, (423) 756-1919.

DJ GOP The Palms at Hamilton, 6925 Shallowford Rd., #202.

(423) 499-5055. www.thepalmsathamilton.com

Sunday Open Mic w/Jeff Daniels 4 p.m. Ms. Debbie’s Nightlife Lounge 4762 Highway 58, (423) 485-0966. myspace.com/debbieslounge Irish Music Sessions 6 p.m. Tremont Tavern, 1203 Hixson Pike. (423) 266-1996. www.tremonttavern.com Disciple, The Well Experience, The Red Door, Beyond Bethel 7 p.m. The Warehouse, 5716 Ringgold Rd., East Ridge. www.myspace.com/warehousetn Open Mic 8 p.m. Gene’s Bar & Grill, 724 Ashland Terrace, (423) 870-0880. myspace.com/genem Karaoke with DJ Stoli 9:30 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar, 5751 Brainerd Rd. (423) 499-9878. www.budssportsbar.com DJ GOP The Palms at Hamilton, 6925 Shallowford Rd., #202.

(423) 499-5055.

Monday Old Tyme Players 6 p.m. Market Street Tavern, 850 Market St. (423) 634-0260. www.marketstreettavern.com Paul Lohorn and the Monday Nite Big Band 7 p.m. Lindsay Street Hall, 901 Lindsay Street. (423) 755-9111.

Karaoke with DJ Stoli 9:30 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar, 5751 Brainerd Rd. (423) 499-9878. www.budssportsbar.com Dancing & DJing The Palms at Hamilton 6925 Shallowford Rd., #202.

(423) 499-5055. www.thepalmsathamilton.com

Tuesday Billy Hopkins 6 p.m. Market Street Tavern, 850 Market St. (423) 634-0260.

The Word Alive, Stray from the Path, Amity, Between Two Seas, Fallacy 7 p.m. The Warehouse, 5716 Ringgold Rd., East Ridge. www.myspace.com/warehousetn The Ben Friberg Trio 7 p.m. Table 2, 232 E. 11th Street, (423) 756-8253. www.table2restaurant.com Spoken Word/Poetry Night 8 p.m. The Riverhouse, 224 Frazier Ave., (423) 752-0066. www.myspace.com/ theriverhousechattanooga Open Mic with Hellcat 9 p.m. Raw, 409 Market St. (423) 756-1919.

Irish Music Sessions May be time for Celtic longings…

No cover 6 p.m.

Tremont Tavern, 1203 Hixson Pike (423) 266-1996. www.tremonttavern.com Open Mic 9 p.m. Tremont Tavern, 1203 Hixson Pike. (423) 266-1996. www.tremonttavern.com Karaoke with DJ Stoli 9:30 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar, 5751 Brainerd Rd. (423) 499-9878. www.budssportsbar.com Two Man Gentleman Band, New Binkley Brothers 10 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia, 231 E. MLK Blvd. (423) 266-1400. www.myspace.com/jjsbohemia DJ ScubaSteve Fox and Hound Pub & Grille, 2040 Hamilton Place Blvd #150, (423) 490-1200.

Wednesday Ben Friberg Trio 7 p.m. Market Street Tavern, 850 Market St. (423) 634-0260. www.marketstreettavern.com Open Mic 10 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia, 231 E. MLK Blvd. (423) 266-1400. www.myspace.com/jjsbohemia DJ GOP The Palms at Hamilton, 6925 Shallowford Rd., #202.

(423) 499-5055. www.thepalmsathamilton.com

www.chattanoogapulse.com | May 6, 2010 | Vol. 7, Issue 18 | The Pulse

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Arts & Entertainment

Putting the Folks in Folk Music

By Stephanie Smith

“We want to be a place where people can learn to let music be a big part of their life without music being the sole focus of their life.”

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F

olk music is the music of a native culture. It is steeped in tradition and the pride of the locals. As renowned folk artist Ben Harper says, “Folk is bare bones music.”

In other words, folk is the music of the good ol’ guys and gals. The songs tell the stories of old with simple lyrics and acoustic instruments. Each culture has its own musical style that its “folk” perform proudly and pass down to future generations to keep the music alive.

The Pulse | Vol. 7, Issue 18 | May 6, 2010 | www.chattanoogapulse.com

The Folk School of Chattanooga is a place where local folk can learn about and celebrate Chattanooga’s rich musical heritage. The school, which was originally founded by teachers at the Mountain Music Store in Red Bank, is now a nonprofit music school, located at 250 Forest Avenue in North Chattanooga. specializing in old-time, bluegrass, Irish and world music. Students can take private lessons or group classes in guitar, fiddle, banjo, mandolin, dulcimer, piano and flute. There are also special eight-week group classes throughout the year with various topics from music theory to vocal ensembles.

Christy Burns (a local hammered dulcimer player) and Matt Evans (banjo) are the co-directors of the school. Both have a lot of experience in folk music, specifically music of the Southern Appalachians, and Burns has performed internationally and in festivals all over the United States.

“We had been working for a year and, with money combined by performances and teaching, had kind of been passively paying attention to spaces that would become available,” explains Evans. “On January 1, 2010 we moved into the new space.”

In 2009, Evans won one of the

MakeWork arts grants and had to come up with a business plan for the folk school. It was a tremendous help to the development of the organization.

“There is no way we could have done anything we have been able to do without the funding and support from CreateHere,” says Evans. “We got six months of business consulting from Mike Harrell, Latitude Advisors, and we were able to pay to bring to town Colleen Heine from the Folk School of St. Louis. We worked with the two of them last summer and they helped us develop our class approach to teaching music.

“We decided to teach eight-week classes, develop a strong business plan and budget, and we knew if things went as we hoped they would we would be able to afford our rent.

So [CreateHere] helped to make [the school] self-supporting business.”

Business has been going so well, in fact, that the directors recently decided to add summer programming for children into the mix of classes.

“We’re offering four different sessions—one week or multiple weeks—and the main idea is kids come to have fun,” says Evans. “We introduce them to different types of traditional music around the world

Arts & Entertainment

and play music-associated games.

I don’t think there’s any [place] where kids can just get introduced to learning music for a week around here unless it’s instrument specific.

We let them try different instruments and hope they leave the camp with the sense that learning music is fun.”

Evans is thrilled with the new space and the tremendous local response and hopes to see the folk school enjoy a long life and provide the locals with the opportunity to learn and express themselves in a musical way.

“I think it’s a place that people who have always wanted to learn music can have a place. Other places are

where people have their sights set on being concert pianist or rock band.

We want to be a place where people can learn to let music be a big part of their life without music being the sole focus of their life,” he says.

“I feel like most people out there—I don’t care how old they are—are walking around out there saying ‘Some day I’d like to play a…’, but they need a friendly, affordable, accessible place to try it out.

“Everybody needs that chance and that place where they can try it out and we are that place.”

Contact the school at (423) 827-8906 or www.mmfolk.com for more information about classes.

www.chattanoogapulse.com | May 6, 2010 | Vol. 7, Issue 18 | The Pulse

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A&E Calendar Highlights Friday

Thursday

The End of the Line Documentary about the devastation of over-fishing. Learn how to choose ocean-friendly seafood with the folks from GreenLife. $10 6 p.m.

Tennessee Aquarium, 201 Chestnut Street. (423) 267-1218. www.artsedcouncil.org

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

Think Tank Roundtable presents: “Take the Lead” 8 a.m. UTC University Center, Rms. A, B, & C. “Theaterquest Live: Art Acts, Part 5” 6 p.m. Hunter Museum of American Art, 10 Bluff View. (423) 266-0944. www.huntermuseum.org “Party with a Purpose!with David Anthony and the Gentlmen’s Jazz Quartet” 7 p.m. Blue Orleans Restaurant, 1463 Market St. (423) 757-0088.

Mystery of the TV Talk Show 7 p.m. Vaudeville Café, 138 Market St. (423) 517-1839. www.funnydinner.com “The Southeastern Funny People Search IV” Preliminary Round 8 p.m. The Comedy Catch, 3224 Brainerd Rd. (423) 629-2233. www.thecomedycatch.com Austin Center & Lawrence Mathis Exhibit Jewish Cultural Center, 5461 N. Terrace Ave. (423) 483-0270.

“Horizons” Shuptrine Fine Art Group, 2646 Broad St. (423) 266-4453.

Opening reception for “Chris Scarborough: Drawings and Photographs” AVA showcases the innovative artist’s work.

Free 5:30 - 8 p.m.

AVA, 30 Frazier Ave. (423) 265-4282. www.avarts.org

Saturday

Jack and the Beanstick Fairy tale comes to life with the Youth Theatre. $7- $9 2:30 p.m.

Chattanooga Theatre Centre, Circle Stage, 400 River Street.

(423) 267-8534. www.theatrecentre.com

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Southern Blooms Festival 8 a.m. Rock City, 1400 Patten Rd., Lookout Mountain, GA. (706) 820-2531.

Armed Forces Day Parade 10:30 a.m. Downtown Chattanooga, Market St. from MLK. CWLI Leadership Luncheon Series 11:30 a.m. Chattanooga Choo Choo, 1400 Market St. (423) 266-0944. www.cwli.org “A Breath of Fresh Art” Opening Reception 5 p.m. In-Town Gallery, 26A Frazier Ave. (423) 267-9214. www.intowngallery.com “A Creative Mix” Artist Reception 5:30 p.m. The Arts Center, 320 North White St. (423) 745-8781. www.athensartscouncil.org “Solid and Round”: Artist Talk/ Reception, Verina Baxter 5:30 p.m. Tanner Hill Warehouse Row Project Space, 1110 Market St. (423) 280-7182.

Evening Shade Concert Series 6:30 p.m. Johnston Park, Historic Downtown Cleveland.

Fine Arts Extravaganza 7:30 p.m. Chattanooga State, 4501 Amnicola Highway. www.chattanoogastate.edu Kyle Petty & Friends Songwriter’s Night 7 p.m. Miller Plaza, 850 Market Street. kylepettycharityride.com Jack and the Beanstalk 7:30 p.m. Chattanooga Theatre Centre, 400 River St. (423) 267-8534. www.theatrecentre.com Farewell performances of Faye Woodroof 7:30, 10 p.m. The Comedy Catch, 3224 Brainerd Rd. (423) 629-2233. www.thecomedycatch.com Mystery of Flight 138 8:30 p.m. Vaudeville Café, 138 Market St. (423) 517-1839. www.funnydinner.com Late Night Party Cruise 10 p.m. Delta Queen, 100 River St. (423) 468-4500. www.deltaqueenhotel.com Female Impersonation Show Midnight. Images, 6065 Lee Hwy. (423) 855-8210. www.imagesbar.com

Sunday Southern Blooms Festival 8 a.m. Rock City, 1400 Patten Rd., Lookout Mountain, GA. (706) 820-2531. www.seerockcity.com Farmers Market 10 a.m. Creative Discovery Museum, 321 Chestnut St. (423) 756-2738.

Hubble in 3D 11 a.m., 1, 3, 5, 7 p.m. IMAX Theater at the Tennessee Aquarium, 1 Broad St. (800) 265-0695.

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

Ultimate Wave Tahiti in 3D 4, 6, 9 p.m. IMAX Theater at the Tennessee Aquarium, 1 Broad St. (800) 265-0695.

Mystery of the Nightmare Office Party 6 p.m. Vaudeville Café, 138 Market St. (423) 517-1839. www.funnydinner.com Friends and Family Night by the Sweet Adelines 7 p.m. Burks United Methodist Church, 6433 Hixson Pike. www.scenicitychorus.com

The Pulse | Vol. 7, Issue 18 | May 6, 2010 | www.chattanoogapulse.com

Faye Woodroof, Farewell Performances 7:30, 10 p.m. The Comedy Catch, 3224 Brainerd Rd. (423) 629-2233. www.thecomedycatch.com Mystery of the Red Neck Italian Wedding 8:30 p.m. Vaudeville Café, 138 Market St. (423) 517-1839. www.funnydinner.com Late Night Party Cruise 10 p.m. Delta Queen, 100 River St. (423) 468-4500. www.deltaqueenhotel.com Female Impersonation Show Midnight. Images, 6065 Lee Hwy. (423) 855-8210. www.imagesbar.com “Picture This” North River Civic Center, 1009 Executive Dr. (423) 870-8924.

Works by Helen Exum St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 305 W. 7th St. (423) 266-8794.

“Birds of a Feather” Houston Museum of Decorative Arts, 201 High St. (423) 267-7176.

“A Creative Mix” The Arts Center, 320 North White St. (423) 745-8781.

Chattanooga Market “Mom Takes the Cake” Where better to celebrate Mom than at the Market...

Free.

11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

First Tennessee Pavilion, 1826 Carter Street. (423) 648-2496. www.chattanoogamarket.com

Southern Blooms Festival 8 a.m. Rock City, 1400 Patten Rd., Lookout Mountain, GA. (706) 820-2531.

Mother’s Day Piano Brunch 10 a.m. Delta Queen, 100 River St. (423) 468-4500.

Ultimate Wave Tahiti in 3D 11 a.m., 4, 6 p.m. IMAX Theater at the Tennessee Aquarium, 1 Broad St. (800) 265-0695.

Wild Ocean in 3D Noon, 2 p.m. IMAX Theater at the Tennessee Aquarium, 1 Broad St. (800) 265-0695.

Mother’s Day Luncheon with Metropolitan Hand Bell Quartet 1 p.m. 184 W. Jackson Ave. (423) 365-PLAY. Hubble in 3D 1, 3, 5 p.m. IMAX Theater at the Tennessee Aquarium, 1 Broad St. (800) 265-0695.

Jack and the Beanstalk 2:30 p.m. Chattanooga Theatre Centre, 400 River St. (423) 267-8534.

Female Impersonation Show 10:30 p.m. Images, 6065 Lee Hwy. (423) 855-8210.

A&E Calendar Highlights Monday Ultimate Wave Tahiti in 3D 4 p.m. Imax Theater at the Tennessee Aquarium, 1 Broad St. (800) 265-0695.

Speak Easy: Spoken Word and Poetry 8 p.m. Mudpie Restaurant, 12 Frazier Ave. (423) 267-9040. www.mudpierestaurant.com “Earth Day with Daniel Bigay” Bill Shores Frame and Gallery, 307 Manufacturers Rd. (423) 756-6746. www.billshoresframes.com “Harmonic Inspirations” Chattanooga African American Museum, 200 E. MLK Blvd.

(423) 266-8658.

Sandra Hobbs and Mary Zelle Exhibit Studio 2/Gallery 2, 27 W. Main St. (423) 266-2222.

“Themes of Identity” Hunter Museum of American Art, 10 Bluff View. (423) 266-0944.

“All That Jazz: Fiberworks of Carole Harris” River Gallery, 400 E. Second St. (423) 265-5033. www.river-gallery.com

Tuesday “Tuesday Night Live!”

5:30 p.m. Chattanooga Theatre Center, 400 River St. (423) 267-8534. www.theatrecentre.com “A Short History of Chattanooga” Lecture 7 p.m. 615 Lindsay St., Suite 100.

(423) 265-3247.

“Chris Scarborough: Drawings and Photographs” AVA Gallery, 30 Frazier Ave. www.avarts.org Tennessee Aquarium Backstage Pass 11 a.m. Tennessee Aquarium, 1 Broad St. (800) 262-0925. www.tnaqua.org “It’s A Jungle Out There” Lookout Mountain Gallery, 3535 Broad St. (423) 508-8117.

Photography by Robert Parker Leo Handmade Gallery, 22 Frazier Ave. (423) 634-0440. www.leogallery.blogspot.com “A Breath of Fresh Art” In-Town Gallery, 26A Frazier Ave. (423)267-9214. www.intowngallery.com

Wednesday “Solid and Round” Tanner Hill Warehouse Row Project Space, 1110 Market St. (423) 280-7182.

“French Venues” Linda Woodall Fine Arts, 7836 Ooltewah-Georgetown Rd. (423) 238-9985.

“Recent Landscapes: Lawerence Mathis” Tanner Hill Warehouse Row Project Space, 1110 Market St. (423) 280-7182.

“Still Lifes from the Permanent Collection” Hunter Museum of American Art, 10 Bluff View. (423) 266-0944. www.huntermuseum.org Austin Center & Lawrence Mathis Exhibit Jewish Cultural Center, 5461 N. Terrace Ave. (423) 483-0270.

“Horizons” Shuptrine Fine Art Group, 2646 Broad St. (423) 266-4453. www.shuptrinefineartgroup.com “Picture This” North River Civic Center, 1009 Executive Dr. (423) 870-8924.

Editor’s Pick: Featured Event Of The Week Chattanooga State Fine Arts Extravaganza Chattanooga State hosts its first annual Fine Arts Extravaganza.

At 6:30 p.m., take an informal walking tour of the college’s outdoor museum, led

by Chattanooga State’s artist-in-residence, sculptor John Henry. At 7:30 p.m., the festival continues with a salute to the performing arts in the Humanities Theatre in the C.C. Bond Humanities Building.

Friday, May 8, 6:30 p.m.

Free C.C. Bond Humanities Building, Chattanooga State, 4501 Amnicola Highway.

(423) 697-4404. www.chattanoogastate.edu

www.chattanoogapulse.com | May 6, 2010 | Vol. 7, Issue 18 | The Pulse

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Film Feature

Summer Movie Blockbuster Madness

By Gary Poole

“Cameron Diaz … can kick, punch, fight, spit, chew, drawl and scratch with the best of the fellows.

And that’s just during the press junket.”

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F

or the past several years, while the rest of the economy has tanked, Hollywood has been rolling in record-setting piles of cash, paid by movie-goers looking for a few hours of escapism. It’s a trend that dates back to the Great Depression; when economic times are tough, movie-ticket sales go through the roof. Alas, it doesn’t always mean that we get very good films, from a critical standpoint, but we get a lot of big, flashy, colorful movies with appealing stars and enough big screen moments to satisfy an audience for a few hours.

The Pulse | Vol. 7, Issue 18 | May 6, 2010 | www.chattanoogapulse.com

The Summer of 2010 looks to be taking the same (script) page from the past two summers with a slate full of action and adventure flicks, kid-friendly films (both animated and live action), a dash of comedies and even a romantic comedy or two.

So as the weather heats up and the appeal of spending the afternoon or evening in a nice, big, air-conditioned room filled with the smell of freshly buttered popcorn grows on you, here’s a handy guide to some of the big films coming soon to a theater near you.

The Memorial Day weekend was once considered the unofficial start of the summer movie season, but since Hollywood—like most of the rest of the country—has grown increasingly impatient, the big-event movie to kick of the season keeps coming earlier every year. 2010 is no different, as the first big film of summer hits screens with a bang with this week’s release of the eagerly anticipated reunion of Robert Downey, Jr. and a big red metal suit. Iron Man 2 has all the elements you want in a summer movie: big stars, big effects, big explosions, loud music and a story that actually has some depth to it (overhyped fame, unchecked narcissism, incipient alcoholism) and one of the best bad guys of the year in Mickey Rourke.

The week after, it’s time to get out

the tights and the leather vests and test your skills with a bow and arrow…or you could leave that to Russell Crowe in the Ridley Scott-directed Robin Hood, which tries to do to men-intights movies what Gladiator did to sword-and-sandal flicks. Add in the always-reliable Cate Blanchett as Maid Marion, and it’s a recipe for success, as long as the overgrown adolescent in the metal suit isn’t still ruling the box office.

By the weekend of May 21, it’s time for the kids to take center seat as everyone’s favorite green ogre returns to action in Shrek Forever After, where things are turned around via a curse and a plot stolen directly from It’s A Wonderful Life that will almost certainly win over parents as well as their offspring. And that’s good, because a week later it’s time for the adults to have a date night with the four fabulous friends from New York taking Sex and the City 2 on the road…to the Middle East.

If the estrogen levels are too high in Carrie Bradshaw’s world, there’ll be plenty of testosterone flowing that same weekend as Jake Gyllenhall and his pecs strut their way through the videogame-influenced Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time.

And if one substance is going to be in high demand this summer, it will most definitely be testosterone,

Film Feature

New in Theaters

By Gary Poole

Mother and Child

evidenced by June’s big guy flicks The A-Team, Jonah Hex, Knight and Day, and to a lesser extent the buddy-posse comedy Grown Ups staring Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade and Rob Schneider.

That said, Knight and Day gets its testosterone not just from Tom Cruise but from Cameron Diaz as well, who can kick, punch, fight, spit, chew, drawl and scratch with the best of the fellows. And that’s just during the press junket to promote the film.

There are a few other minor films coming out in June, too, a few you may even have heard about a time or two on the Internet. The remake of The Karate Kid, starring the quite talented and amazingly flexible Jaden Smith, the return of Woody and Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story 2 and some little vampire movie sequel with the unwieldy title The Twilight Saga: Eclipse all have been subjects of nearobsessive online speculation. And in the case of “Eclipse”, there is nothing “near” about the level of obsession around the film and stars Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner. Vampires + werewolves x the women who love them = boxoffice gold.

July brings us M. Night Shyamalen’s live-action take on the anime success of The Last Airbender,

Steve Carrell lends his vocal talent to the quirkily odd animated farce Despicable Me, director Nimród Antal tackles a revisioning of the alien world of Predators minus Arnold Schwarzenegger and razor-toothed aliens but with a kick-ass female lead, Nicolas Cage and Jay Baruchel team up for a real-world version of the Fantasia-inspired The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Steve Carell headlines his second film of the month, alongside Paul Rudd, in the sweetly dark comedy Dinner for Schmucks, and both Angelina Jolie and Matt Damon return to ass-kicking secretagent action form with Salt and The Adjustment Bureau, respectively.

Still not satisfied? Come August are films starring a few names you may be familiar with: Luke Wilson, Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Julia Roberts, Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Bow Wow, Ice Cube, Emma Thompson, Maggie Gyllenhall, Jennifer Aniston, Jason Bateman, Drew Barrymore and Christina Applegate. Admittedly, not all in the same movie—though that would be one incredibly wonderful film—but all headlining a nice variety of films.

The calendar may say it’s still spring, but in our movie heart-ofhearts, we know it’s already summer.

Lights, camera…action!

There are actually three mothers (at least) and a slew of children in this rambling drama that covers the lives of several very different women. Annette Bening, a bitter health-care professional, longs for the daughter she gave up for adoption when she was 14, Naomi Watts is a man-eating lawyer who ends up unexpectedly pregnant (and has a fling with a cast-against-type Samuel L. Jackson as her boss), and Kerry Washington is a married banker desperate to adopt a child after she and her husband have been unable to conceive a child of their own. This R-rated exploration of the complicated lives of women and motherhood continues the fine work of indie writer-director Rodrigo García, who proves to have a very good feel for mature, adult women and how to portray them in all their complexity, strength and real-world

Babies Documentary from French director Thomas Balmès, a father of three, who chronicles the life of four babies from four very different parts of the world and shows how much they have in common with one another. The babies are from Namibia, Mongolia, Japan and San Francisco, and provide a major cuteness factor to a film that handles its message of “we’re all really alike” with the subtlety of a sledgehammer.

Casino Jack and the United States of Money Another documentary debuts this week, this one from Alex Gibney, who focuses his lens on disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Gibney chronicles the life and times of a man who was so over-the-top with his lavish lifestyle and personality that it seems hard to believe the film is not fictional. He said he felt with he was in a world of “secret agents gone wild”.

Happiness Runs Andie McDowell and Mark L. Young star in the story of a young man who attempts to break away from a hippie

vulnerability.

Starring: Annette Benning, Naomi Watts, Kerry Washington Director: Rodrigo García Rating: R commune, in the process discovering that free love is far from free, especially when combined with the soul-numbing use of drugs in place of true happiness.

Iron Man 2 Tony Stark is back, bigger, better, louder and even more emotionally dysfunctional than before. Robert Downey, Jr. gets back into the metal suit, ably assisted by Gwyneth Paltrow and newcomers Don Cheadle (taking over the role vacated by Terrence Howard) and Scarlett Johansson. Add in the gonzo performance of Mickey Rourke as a mad Russian inventor and Sam Rockwell as a fast-talking arms dealer and you have the popcorn movie of the (early) summer.

The Oath It’s the weekend of documentaries.

Academy Award nominee Laura Poltras takes an unflinching look at two men on opposite sides of the war on terror, whose fateful encounter in 1996 set them on a course of events that led them to Afghanistan, Osama bin Laden, 9/11, Cuba’s Guantanamo Bay, and the U.S. Supreme Court.

www.chattanoogapulse.com | May 6, 2010 | Vol. 7, Issue 18 | The Pulse

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On The Beat

By Alex Teach

I Hate It When Jesse’s In Town H

ere I was, in the Presidential Suite of the Read House. Again. With Jesse Jackson. Again.

“Teach, hand me my cane.

I’m gonna make these boys my hookahs!

Reverend Foot Up Yo’ Ass is about to PREACH!”

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. Follow him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/alexteach

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Nothing good ever came of this room but I seemed to be drawn back here by forces beyond my control, or perhaps more like a moth to a bug zapper. If the hotel was haunted, as was rumored, this suite was the dark heart of the place, or was certainly where the legends must have been born. I’ve only ever left this room to have bones broken, great sums of cash lost, and aspersions cast toward my character that haunt me to this day.

Hell’s bells, my first arrest (and fortuitous release) was even born of this room. What the hell was I doing here again? I looked down at my wrists, and for just a horrifying second I could still see the red welts that those cuffs had left long ago, and I involuntarily shuddered.

The lights were dim and Carl Perkins’s “Gone, Gone, Gone” was blasting in the background with all his pre-stereo glory.

Jesse had rearranged the furniture so that all the chairs in the room were in a semi-circle, and had somehow managed to have a tall-backed chair brought in for himself. Such an attention whore… but who was I to talk?

A coffee table was in the center where I had my feet resting on a copy of Time

The Pulse | Vol. 7, Issue 18 | May 6, 2010 | www.chattanoogapulse.com

with his face on it he’d had laminated.

“Pay that no mind,” he’d say. “I was just going to give that to Junior later.”

It was there on our first meeting here in 1998, too, but I let it pass. It had to be a different one, though, because the first one hadn’t been protected, and this one probably was because I’d spilled some high-end cognac all over it that night.

(Accidentally, of course.)

I’d barely coaxed him back to the suite and it was a good thing, too, because he had finally cracked open a half-gallon jug of Wild Turkey and was treating it like he was trying to clean out a carburetor he was hiding in his stomach.

The guy was pushing 70 years old, but he was damn near 6’3” and completely Hell & Jesus when he had Kentucky’s Finest bourbon running through him.

We’d barely avoided a brawl a half hour earlier between him and his entourage in the parking lot behind Lamar’s Lounge where we’d met for the night, and I’d probably be hearing about it later. (My phone showed two missed calls from a captain already. God, tomorrow’s gonna be hell…but getting there is a separate issue to worry about at this point. You’ve got to learn to prioritize in this life.)

“Do you not know who the hell I am?!” he’d bellowed for no good reason at a group of young men who had ignored us inside earlier as we lounged on what couldn’t be very clean couches and sucked down Whiskey Sours by

the platter full. “I’m Jesse Jackson, bitches! I’ll beat the shit outta you, I’ll eat your clothes!” I glanced upward and thought, “Please. Not again.”

The young men were agitated but confused as anyone would be who was being harassed by an American icon in poorly lit alley. “Teach, hand me my cane. I’m gonna make these boys my hookahs! Reverend Foot Up Yo’ Ass is about to PREACH!” His handlers surrounded him as he leaned forward with his hands held palms out as if to invite them in, and they gently coaxed him into our limo with wellpracticed techniques while I apologized profusely but firmly to the young men and sent them on their way. “He’s an impersonator, guys. Name’s Curtis, I’ll send you a note or something later, sorry.”

Back in the room, he was blitzed but still well mannered enough to be pouring the warm bourbon into the thickbottomed glasses that accompanied the room’s ice bucket. I gotta hand it to him…the man had poise. He poured two, sloppily, and took a strong pull of one. (Sloppily.) “WOO!” he yelled, “This NEVER gets smoother, you know? Damn, we need to have us a few cigars.” He snapped his fingers and one of his staffers, still wearing aviator shades despite the hour, appeared with a dark mahogany humidor and held the lid open while Jesse picked one out, and handed its twin to me. We cut the tips

in silence and shared a butane torch.

“These aren’t from your ass-buddy Castro, are they? I mean, I’ll smoke ’em, but you know I do not approve.”

I really didn’t. If there’s one thing I hate, it’s Communist dictators, but I took Jesse for who he was and I had a few shady friends myself. But damn if these stogies weren’t worth it.

“Shit, relax. These can’t be traced.

I’m a living legend. I’m the 51st State.” I had no idea what he meant.

He leaned back and let the glass of bourbon dangle in his left hand, the cigar between his fingers on the right as the rancid but sweet smoke began to fill the room. It was 2010 and the hotel had rules, but there were benefits to being Jesse Jackson. “Sorry about back there at the club. Those sours make me irritable. Jacqueline won’t even let me keep them in the house.”

“How is Jackie these days?” I asked.

He ignored the question.

“I’m hungry,” he said instead. “How about a Reuben?” Without waiting for a response, he picked up the hotel phone and asked for room service.

His speech was slurred and causing problems, and the familiar look of indignation began to crawl across his face again. He couldn’t help it; he lived for the Feud. It’s clearly why we were friends, despite how infrequently we got to see each other. “This is ludicrous! Of course I’m aware of the hour!” (pronounced “away-ah of the Ow-ah”) “Do you not know who I am? My credit is impeccable! I have a

Platinum American Express Card! Go across the street for one if you have to or I’ll eat you alive in court! My friend here and I will be co-owners of this shitbox hotel, do you hear me?

I’ll buy your house! Just make sure to have a dill spear on the side, would you, baby? Thank you.” He hung up, completely calm again.

He leaned his head back and stared at the ceiling a few moments, and said, “I wished I’d spent more time with my children.” I raised an eyebrow at the randomness, and finished my drink.

He fell asleep a few moments later, clearly for good, and I slipped out of the room and into the cool night, nodding at his handlers along the way.

Jesse was a rare beast and managed to change with the times like an angry political chameleon, a Genuine Warrior, but he was the last of his generation of true giants and I think he knew he was closer to the end than the middle (much less beginning). Our differences were tremendous and how we met is another story for another time…but I was glad to have seen The Good Reverend again because I never knew when it would be the last. But I never counted him out, and always kept the phone close…just in case.

There was a chill in the air, but the night was clear and the moon was full enough to cast my shadow. I shoved my hands in my pockets, smiled to myself, and decided to go for a walk.

It was a strong night. The Reverend was in town, after all.

Solution To Last Week’s Crossword

On The Beat

Keep Up With Us Online at www.chattanoogapulse.com www.chattanoogapulse.com | May 6, 2010 | Vol. 7, Issue 18 | The Pulse

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The Pulse | Vol. 7, Issue 18 | May 6, 2010 | www.chattanoogapulse.com

Modern Manners

When And Where To Text: A Social Solution I

By Tristan Taylor

“Those who ignore manners, or worse, mock them, are to society as fleas are to my dog. Annoying, irritating, and hard to get rid of without resorting to some form of mass murder.”

was recently at a dinner party filled with great good, fine wine and lively conversation. The parents in our group discussed the latest education trends, the somewhat younger folks talked about the goals for their nascent careers, while the more mature among us discussed which televised advertising ailment we were most likely to suffer from if we didn’t immediately run to our doctor and demand the newest miracle pill.

Then in the midst of all of this genial conversation, one of the people (who shall remain nameless) whipped out her iPhone and without even a mumbled “excuse me” proceeded to text back what at first appeared to be at least the first three chapters of War and Peace. I waited patiently for her to finish her virtual conversation, yet when she started on the fourth volley of her text-and-reply tennis match, I asked her if the rest of the party was boring her.

“Why, no,” she replied, with a perplexed look on her face. “No, it’s a great party!”

“Then why are you talking to someone who isn’t here and ignoring those of us who are?” I asked by way of reply.

And all she could do was look at me with the confused face of a Golden Retriever who has lost his tennis ball. It had simply not occurred to her—and it must be admitted she is quite young,

just barely out of college—that texting someone while in the middle of a public gathering was simple bad manners.

Ah, yes, I used the “M” word.

Manners. Sometimes known as etiquette, but still rooted in the do’s and don’ts of acceptable social behavior.

Manners are the oil the keeps the engine of human interaction from grinding down.

Those who ignore manners, or worse, mock them, are to society as fleas are to my dog. Annoying, irritating, and hard to get rid of without resorting to some form of mass murder. Which, while acceptable in the flea world, is rather frowned upon in human civilization.

But what has become of modern manners when even friendly, intelligent, well-meaning people like my young friend aren’t even aware when they are violating the mores of proper etiquette? What we needed, I thought, was a way to helpfully educate the unaware of what are, and are not, acceptable manners. Manners not derived from some Vanderbiltesque high-society version that wasn’t even really appropriate in the 1950s, but from the real world of the 21st Century, the world inhabited by smart, upwardly mobile people who are never without a communications device or far away from a more powerful computer. People who live their lives out in a far more public manner via Facebook and Twitter, and who bring a whole new sense of acceptability to both the workplace and their social lives.

I am not here to scold or reprimand, though I may offer a slightly sharp word or two now and then, but I do feel that engine of social interaction is in serious

need of an oil change. And I happen to have at hand of very large barrel of 10W30 Manners.

Let’s take the aforementioned phone faux pas. Most of you probably realize that my friend had exhibited a bit of rudeness in her text-happy tête-à-tête. But where specifically was she rude? Did she go overboard by continually texting, or is it considered rude to text at all?

The proper answer is that it acceptable to return a quick text message with something along the lines, “Sorry, at a party, can’t talk—will call later” or similar such thought. It would be nice to at least say, “Excuse me, I need to answer this” beforehand, but considering how fast most texters are these days, the quick reply is generally finished even faster than saying the excuse out loud.

But what if the text is important?

What if it’s work-related, or a babysitter needing to find something, or a best friend having a break-up, or even someone trying to find directions to the wonderful party? What is the proper etiquette for those situations? This is actually an easy answer—use the “Bathroom Rule”. If a conversation is going to take longer than a quick second, then step away from the party (or group) to conduct the text-athon.

A quick, “I’ll be right back, I need to take care of this” covers the basic exit manners, as you do step away. When you are finished, put away the phone and feel free to rejoin the party, confident that you have exhibited excellent manners and have done your bit to keep everything well-oiled.

www.chattanoogapulse.com | May 6, 2010 | Vol. 7, Issue 18 | The Pulse

33

Joy Stick

By David Whaley

Street Fightin’ Man

S

uper Street Fighter 4 is the new super-cool version of Street Fighter 4. It already has everything unlocked that was in the first game, plus more! They brought back the awesome bonus stages that were in the original series of the older games—which really brings me back to when I was a little kid busting up a car with my bare fist. Oh, what fun it can be!

But that’s just one new thing they have added. Some old favorites from the Alpha Series return, such as T. Hawk, Cody, Guy, Dudly, DeeJay, Abon, Ibuki, Makoto, and two new characters, Juri and Hakan that were never even in the first Street Fighter 4.

Juri is my favorite because she provides an interesting blend of sadistic villainy and Taekwondo. Hakan is a cool new character, but his epic oil-wrestling grapples and hammy voice acting are little too much.

Regardless of whom you choose, you’ll have to spend plenty of time learning their move-sets. The mechanics are virtually identical to those of the original Street Fighter 4. Each character can perform a wide variety of punches and kicks with different attack strengths. More complex commands

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with the directional pad allow you to perform special moves; for example, uppercuts, grapples, charged hits, flying kicks, and several other stunts.

Keep in mind, though, the stronger the attack, the longer it takes to perform it. The trick is to use all of these attacks in tandem to inflict as much damage as possible. A light jab might not do much, but it gives you just enough time to follow it up with another punch, sweeping kick, throw, or anything else you might be able to dish out. Everything is just as responsive, often even more so, as in the first version.

With a firm grasp of the timing and mastery of the controls, you can spend hours developing your playing style.

That’s the cornerstone of any good fighting game, and Super Street Fighter 4 utilizes it well. This is also a very good online fighter game if you ever get tired of beating up your friends. Online play will always present a challenge, and there is a new tournament mode where you can fight against other awesome players such as yourself. All in all, I would highly recommend this game if you’re interested in the old “Street Fighter” games—or into any fighter game, for that matter.

Play n Trade 5084 South Terrace, Suite 18.

(423) 386-5996

The Pulse • Dining Out Spotlight

Authentic Mexican Food at Casa Raul

by Colleen Wade What makes Mexican food authentic? There are plenty of restaurants in the Tennessee Valley that claim to be authentic, but what really makes Mexican food authentic? You could argue that a dish is authentic if it has been cooked traditionally in Mexico for many years.

You could argue that a dish is authentic if it contains the flavors and spices native to Mexico—ingredients such as corn, tomatoes, beans or garlic.

I would say that in order to be authentic, Mexican dishes should be both those things with a dash of family.

Casa Raul on Cummings Highway has all those things.

Raul Carrillo, owner of Casa Raul promises that Casa Raul has flavor, freshness, and cleanliness. As Raul’s son, Caesar works alongside his father; it’s plain to see the importance of family at Casa Raul. On the weekends, Caesar’s brother, sister, and cousins join the family business.

Not only does this family atmosphere ensure you authentic Mexican food, it also explains the personal treatment that every customer experiences at Casa Raul.

When he opened Casa Raul in 2006, Carrillo, a congenial man who values family above all else, said his motivation

for opening his own restaurant was simply, “to bring a little piece of authentic Mexican food,” to the Tennessee Valley. He wanted a place that families could be comfortable and could afford to sit down and eat together.

Casa Raul has definitely achieved that! Not only did Carrillo and his family provide a safe and relaxed atmosphere for families of the Tennessee Valley, they managed to do it at a price all families can afford.

At Casa Raul, you can certainly let your taste buds travel down to Old Mexico.

Send your mouth on a journey with dishes like fajitas—grilled chicken or beef cooked

with onions and bell peppers and served with flour tortillas, gorditas—a small thick taco made with corn flour, filled with your choice of meat and topped with ingredients like lettuce, tomatoes and cheese, or flan—a type of Mexican dessert similar to a custard—a dish the Carrillos lovingly prepare every morning. For a true taste of Casa Raul, try an order of Pollo Raul, a dish created by Carrillo himself. It consists of a savory chicken breast laid over a bed of rice smothered in queso blanco, a creamy, mild unaged white cheese melted into a sauce.

Pollo Raul is served with tortillas and vegetables.

Where else can you get an order of authentic Mexican food with all the savory spices and rich tastes of old Mexico AND get a heaping side of family? Nowhere but Casa Raul, of course. Get ready to enter a place dedicated to family, delicious food, and excellent customer service. It’s just like home…because, as you know, Raul’s casa es su casa.

Casa Raul is located at 2502 Cummings Highway in Tiftonia. Open Monday and Tuesday from 11 a.m. - 9 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. - 10 p.m., and is closed on Sundays. (423) 821-5348.

www.chattanoogapulse.com | May 6, 2010 | Vol. 7, Issue 18 | The Pulse

35

Spirits Within

By Joshua Hurley

Great Buys from Down Under S

ome say the economy is on the upswing—but the country still needs a year or so to stand back up financially on two firm feet. Well, at least the decent folks at Riley’s have some “Great Buys” to bail you out until then. Great Buys is where Riley’s Wine and Spirits on Hixson Pike in Hixson picks something special, lowers the price and then shares it with the readership of The Pulse. This week we go Down Under to a place known for its fine wines.

Crane Lake Down Under is one of some 60 different wine labels produced by the Bronco Wine Company located in Ceres, California and sitting on 35,000 acres in California’s Central Valley. Bronco is the fourth-largest wine producer in the U.S., making 61 million gallons of wine annually (20 million cases a year). It was founded by Fred Franzia, a nephew of Ernest Gallo, in 1973. Franzia is the original maker of the eponymous and world-famous “box” wine Franzia, but sold the company to Coca Cola.

Bronco’s other labels include Coastal Ridge, Napa Creek, Forest Glen, Fox Brook, Rutherford Vintners, Redwood, Napa Ridge, Raymond Hill, Quail Ridge and Charles (Two- or Three-Buck Chuck) Shaw. The latter label took the wine world by storm several years ago upon its debut, offering a perfectly decent California wine for $1.99 at California Trader Joe’s

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retail stores. The whole country wanted in on it, but unfortunately the further the wine was shipped from California the more expensive it became, hence the name “Three-Buck Chuck”. (Presently Charles Shaw wines are unavailable in the Chattanooga market.)

So, here comes Down Under—Crane Lake’s Aussie label, aimed straight at Australian wine lovers such as the Lindemans- and Yellow Tail-dedicated.

Riley’s is offering customers three varietals to choose from: Chardonnay, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon in two different sizes: 1.5L ($7.74 plus tax) and 750mL ($4.37 plus tax). All three varietals are made from grapes grown in Southern Australia, the country’s best growing region.

Crane Lake Down Under Shiraz 2008 is deep purplish in color, containing aromas and flavors of blackberry and pepper followed by a light, easily accessible oak finish.

Crane Lake Down Under Chardonnay has gotten some attention, with some critics rating it in the low 80s, displaying flavors of buttered popcorn, clean and crisp in taste and texture, full bodied and with fruit-forward apples, pears and honeydew melons. This chard was easy to like.

Crane Lake Down Under Cabernet Sauvignon 2009: Yes, I know it’s young, in fact just born, but it’s also easy to drink, with flavors of ripe black cherry, blackberry and cinnamon, with a sight oaky spice on the finish.

Cheers!

JONESIN’

“Schoolyard Pranks” –only for the classiest children.

Free Will Astrology TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Among the ancient Anglo-Saxons, the month of May was called “Thrimilce.” The word referred to the fact that cows were so productive at this time of year that they could be milked three times a day. I thought of that as I studied your current astrological data, Taurus. During this year’s Thrimilce, you are almost impossibly fertile and abundant and creative. My advice is to give generously, but not to the point of exhaustion: the equivalent of three times a day, but not four.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): In accordance with the astrological omens, I encourage you to seek out a concentrated period of sweet oblivion. Not a numb, narcotized limbo. Not a mournful unconsciousness that’s motivated by a depressive urge to give up.

No, Gemini: The mental blankness that you cultivate should be generated by a quest to rejuvenate yourself, and it must have qualities of deliciousness and delight. You not only have a need to rest and recharge in a lush nowhere—you also have the right to do so.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): A while back, I gave my readers this homework: “Tell a story about the time a divine intervention reached down and altered your course in one tricky, manic swoop.” A woman named Kelly testified as follows: “At first I was disturbed to find I couldn’t identify the last time Spirit descended into my midst with a forceful intervention. But finally I realized why: I have been working to make my whole life be guided by the Spirit of my Higher Power, as a deep undercurrent. That way I don’t need bolts of lightening to fix my course.” This is a useful lesson, Cancerian. It’s an excellent time for you to follow Kelly’s lead. Ask yourself how you could cultivate a deep, abiding undercurrent of the good influence you want to have guide you, thereby making lightning bolts of divine intervention unnecessary.

Across 1 Rubbish 4 Rockin’ out 10 Plant with fronds 14 “All Things Considered” reporter Shapiro 15 European rocket series 16 One of the deadly sins 17 More formal version of an ear-related prank?

19 All tied up 20 City in Spain’s Basque Country 21 Chuck who told viewers he’d “be back in two and two” 23 “Let’s Make ___” 24 It may start to show 26 Leather punching tool 27 Like, totally awesome 28 Small farm size 30 Obvious winner 33 Chest-related prank with a more posh color option?

35 Painter Chagall 38 “___ hesitates is

lost” 39 Actress Ward 40 Dignified version of a punch-to-the-leg prank?

43 Head female 44 Fortune teller’s opener 45 Way to look at things, for short 48 Playboy boss 49 Ending for general or marginal 50 Dog the Bounty Hunter’s real first name 52 Early ___ (technology fan, often) 55 Day for egg rolls 56 Hit by The Kinks 57 Version of a punching prank for a more refined palate?

60 “The ___ Love” (R.E.M. song) 61 “A life,” to Lemaitre 62 Be delinquent 63 Georgia used to be part of it 64 One of Mars’ moons 65 Horror legend Chaney

Down 1 Restaurant with shellfish 2 Food company named for two states 3 Called 4 Fast-moving ball game 5 “Alice’s Restaurant” singer Guthrie 6 Dot follower, in some e-mail addresses 7 ___ tai 8 Wonderstruck 9 Fish in a Pixar pic 10 Fail to get any better 11 It gets opened before some speeches 12 Winnebago occupant 13 City far from L.A., CA 18 Ringside org.

22 Pearl City’s island 24 Where Van Gogh painted 25 “Shucks” 29 “I’m Your Man” subject Leonard 30 Make some noise in bed

31 Out of commission 32 Federal performance funder, for short 33 Correspondence course for fix-it types, once 34 Items pointed to from afar 35 1900, way before 1900?

36 “Now I get it!”

37 Where rodents enter walls 41 Room at the top?

42 Puts under 45 Walk a beat 46 Combo punch 47 Actor/dancer/singer Ben 49 Title role for Renee Zellweger 51 Org. that puts on shows for the military 52 Multigenerational baseball surname 53 Oxford heads 54 Former Israeli prime minister Olmert 55 Italian basso Pinza 58 Camping gear co.

59 “I really appreciate that,” while texting

Crossword created By Matt Jones. © 2010 Jonesin’ Crosswords. 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 #0466.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): The exact height of Mt. Everest has proved challenging to determine. Even using modern scientific methods, different teams of surveyors have come up with varying measurements.

The problem is not simply with the calculations themselves. The world’s tallest peak is definitely evolving. Shifts in the earth’s tectonic plates work to raise it up and move it northeastward. But there’s also evidence that the melting of its glaciers due to climate change is causing it to shrink. A member of one mountain climbing expedition said, “If Everest is bobbing up and down, we must hope to catch it on a low day.” I bring this to your attention, Leo, in order to offer you a metaphor for the coming weeks.

Your version of Mt. Everest is shriveling. Get ready to ascend.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Have you been lusting after spiritual traditions other than your own? Have you been fantasizing about cheating on the deity you’ve always been faithful to, and seeking a taboo liaison with a strange and exciting god from another part of reality? If so, Virgo, that’s a good sign. I suspect you could use a few adjustments to your familiar relationship with the Divine Wow. After all, you have gone through a lot of changes since the last time you hammered out your definitive theories about the meaning of life. What made good sense for you back then can’t be completely true for you any more. So feel free to let your mind wander in the direction of holy experiments.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): When a girl is born, her ovaries already contain all the eggs she will ever have. What this means, of course, is that a part of you was in your grandmother’s womb as well as in your mother’s. Now would be an excellent time to celebrate that primal fact. Your connection with your mother’s mother is especially important these days.

I suggest you meditate on what gifts and liabilities you received from her (genetic and otherwise), and how you might be able to make better use of the gifts even as you take steps to outwit the liabilities.

By Rob Brezsny Truthrooster@gmail.com SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Who is the person most unlike you in the world? I suggest you study that person for tips on how to improve your life. What are the healthy experiences you are least attracted to?

You might want to meditate on exactly why they’re so unappealing, and use that information to update your ideas about yourself. What are the places on the earth that you long ago decided you would never visit? I invite you to fantasize being in those places and enjoying yourself. Can you guess why I’m calling this Opposite Week, Scorpio?

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Are you in a trance or a rut or a jam? If so, excuse yourself.

It’s break time! You need spaciousness. You need slack. You need to wander off and do something different from what you have been doing. If there’s any behavior you indulge in with manic intensity, drop it for a while. If you’ve been caught up in a vortex of excruciating sincerity or torturous politeness, shake it off and be more authentic. Of all the good reasons you have for relaxing your death-grip, here’s one of the best: Life can’t bring you the sublime gift it has for you until you interrupt your pursuit of a mediocre gift.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): The state of Texas is a Capricorn, having become part of the United States on December 29, 1845. At that time, it was granted the right to divide itself into five separate states at some future date. So far it hasn’t chosen to do so, and I would advise it to continue that policy.

I extend the same counsel to all of my Capricorn readers. From an astrological perspective, this is not a favorable time for you to break yourself up into sub-sections. On the contrary: I suggest you sow unity and solidarity among your various parts.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): I’m all for recycling, composting, and carpooling. Anything you and I can do to reduce our carbon footprint is brilliant. But I also agree with author Chris Hedges, who says, “The reason the ecosystem is dying is not because we still have a dryer in our basement. It is because corporations look at everything, from human beings to the natural environment, as exploitable commodities. It is because consumption is the engine of corporate profits.” So beyond our efforts to save the earth by adjusting our own individual habits, we’ve got to revise the way corporations work. Now let’s apply this way of thinking to the specific personal dilemma you’re facing right now: It’s important for you to change yourself, yes—and I’m glad you’re taking responsibility for your role in the complications—but you will also have to transform the system you’re part of.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Every year Americans fork over six times as much money on buying lottery tickets as they do on going to the movies, according to the documentary film Lucky. Yet many people who actually buck the improbable odds regard their “luck” as a curse. “Winning the lottery is like throwing Miracle-Gro on all your character defects,” said one person. Let this serve as a cautionary tale for you in the coming months, Pisces. To get ready for the good things that are headed your way, you should work to purify any darkness that’s lurking in your unconscious.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Hip hop music definitely needs to include more tuba playing. I think that’s what’s missing from it. Likewise, the sport of skateboarding would benefit from having more dogs and monkeys that can master its complexities; the state of journalism could be improved by including more babies as reporters; and you Aries folks would significantly upgrade your life by learning how to play the game of cricket. (If you believe everything I just said, you’ll be equally gullible when a little voice in your head tries to convince you to seek out things you don’t really need or adopt behavior that doesn’t suit you.)

www.chattanoogapulse.com | May 6, 2010 | Vol. 7, Issue 18 | The Pulse

37

Ask A Mexican!

By Gustavo Arellano

Special Arizona Boycott Edition D

ear Readers: All together, now: ¡A LA CHINGADA WITH ARIZONA’S SB1070!

For those of ustedes too occupied with the your Drinko por Cinco hangover, the initiative I mentioned (signed a couple of weeks ago into law by Arizona’s governor) gives immigration powers to the state’s police officers and sheriff’s deputies and allows them to stop and question anyone they think looks like an illegal immigrant. Besides being the most blatant invitation to racially profile Mexicans since the sombrero, it’s also a civil liberties disgrace that is making the Copper State’s greatest son, libertarian icon Barry Goldwater, no doubt wishing he was born in Utah.

A movement is underway to boycott the state and also national companies based in Arizona such as U-Haul and US Airways. A boycott of the state worked back in the 1990s, when Arizonans refused to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday as a state holiday, and it should work now—visit arizona-boycott.org for other companies to shun (and if you’re a baseball fan, don’t forget to root for your team when they play the reprehensible Arizona Diamondbacks, whose owners shower millions on Arizona’s retrograde politicians). But I also want to urge a buycott—there are good people who have been fighting the Know Nothings in the state for decades, who constantly get threatened and who need our support. Below is a partial list of groups and organizations that deserve your attention, whether a monetary contribution, a kind note, or physical support.

Now, some of the good people of Arizona: • Phoenix New Times: Sure, they carry my column from time to

38

time, they’re the sister paper of the Mexican’s hometown OC Weekly, and is the base for the two drunk micks who own our parent company, Village Voice Media.

But the New Times, more than any other news organization in the country, has exposed best and longest the terrifying reign of Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, the intellectual godfather of SB1070.

Their reporters past and present, especially John Dougherty, Paul Rubin and Stephen Lemons, have been the subject of intimidation, stonewalling, and harassment by Arpayaso and his goons solely because they’ve exposed Arpayaso for the corrupt, taxpayerwaste of a pendejo that he is.

Arpayaso knows how dangerous the New Times is—he once had my patrones Michael Lacey and Jim Larkin arrested on charges so spurious he had to release them within a day.

Click on phoexnewtimes.com a million times a day to spur their readership numbers, which allows them to bring in more advertising and gives them more fuel against that pinche Arpayaso.

• Flagstaff Live! and the Tucson Weekly: They carry my column— enough said. Visit flaglive.com and tucsonweekly.com.

• Puente Movement: Not to be

The Pulse | Vol. 7, Issue 18 | May 6, 2010 | www.chattanoogapulse.com

confused with the fine Puente Project, which helps California students advance to universities, the Puente Movement has been the primary organizer of protests in Phoenix against Arpayaso and must frequently suffer bona fide Nazis hurling invectives at kiddies and peaceful people. Visit puenteaz.org • Somos America: A coalition of Arizona groups united for immigration reform, now understandably focusing on dismantling SB1070. Visit somosamerica.org.

• Derechos Humanos: Fighting the same fights as the other groups, but from Tucson. Know Nothings despise the group’s head, Isabel Garcia, which means we should anoint her the next Dolores Huerta. Visit derechoshumanosaz.net • Border Action Network: Exactly what it sounds like. Visit borderaction.org • Clarence Dupnik: Sheriff of Pima County, which includes Tucson.

Has called SB1070 a “national embarrassment.” The anti-Arpayaso.

Hopefully, I can return to this column’s usual obsession with little people and big-breasted women, but let’s help the good who fight evil in the belly of el Diablo.

Again, people: ¡A LA CHINGADA WITH SB1070!

“I also want to urge a buycott— there are good people who have been fighting the Know Nothings in the state for decades, who constantly get threatened and who need our support.”

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