SET is a publication of Listerhill
VOLUME 02 ISSUE 07 AUGUST 2014
THIS LITTLE PIGGY MADE BANK
OPEN FOR INTERPRETATION
DON’T GO CHASIN’ WATERFALLS
2 TABLE OF CONTENTS
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AUGUST 2014
AUGUST 2014
TABLE OF CONTENTS 3
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I DON’T KNOW HOW, BUT I HAVE BEEN KIDNAPPED. I AM IN A VAN AND NOTHING CAN BE DECIPHERED. I WAKE UP IN A CHAIR. IN YOUR DREAMS, P13 FEEDBACK
LETTER
LET’S HEAR IT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
FROM THE EDITOR
TOOLS FOR BUILDING YOUR DREAM INDIE SHOPOGRAPHY SHARES TECHY TIPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
WORK HARD FOR THE MONEY
DREAM ON!
A PENNY SAVED IS A DREAM EARNED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
¯ dream |drem| noun 1. A series of thoughts, images and sensations occurring in a person’s mind during sleep. 2. A cherished aspiration, ambition or ideal. 3. A person or thing perceived as wonderful or perfect.
MAKING DREAMS COME TRUE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Words can have several different meanings, whether they’re literal definitions from a dictionary or meanings that vary from person to person. This issue is all about the different ways our contributors interpreted the word ‘dream.’ When I hear the word ‘dream,’ I automatically start replaying dreams I’ve had. Since I was very small, I’ve always been able to remember most of my dreams in great detail (the times I didn’t remember my dream, I would simply tell my mom I had dreamt about Santa Claus). For example, here’s a reoccurring dream I used to have when I was kid: I was asleep in my bedroom when I woke up because something wet was sliding up my hand. My eyes snapped open to find that my room was quickly filling up with mud. All my furniture was being sucked under, including the bed I was lying on. I quickly jumped into the mud and waded through the hallway and into the living room. All the furniture in there had also been sucked into the mud, except for our old, blue recliner. I struggled through the mud and finally made it to the recliner and climbed onto the top. The mud kept rising higher and higher and all the sudden it started to bubble and take shape in front of me. Out of the mud rose a nasty mud
FAIRY GODMOTHERS PROM QUEENS SAY YES TO THE DRESS!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
IN YOUR DREAMS ANALYZE THIS DREAM JOURNAL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-15
TAKING THE RISK DILLON HODGES ON FIREKID, FANS AND FOLLOWING DREAMS . . . 16
CATCHIN’ DREAMS monster; he opened his gooey, dripping mouth wide and rushed toward me. I’d always wake up before I was swallowed. That dream always terrified me and I remember having it often. Luckily, it’s no longer something I have to worry about because my dreams are replaced by random, trippy, humorous scenes that jump from one thing to the next (I really should start writing them all down). Goals and aspirations are another way to define the word ‘dream.’ If your aspiration is to fill an impressive portfolio with published works, you’ve opened the right magazine! SET is always adding new contributors into the mix. Contributing for SET means you end up with published pieces for your portfolio (whether you’re a writer, illustrator or photographer!) and a little extra cash in your back pocket. If you’re interested in getting on board, just shoot an email to editor@getsetmag.com and I’ll be happy to get you started. Happy reading and ‘dream on!”
BY LINLEY MOBLEY, EDITOR
SET is a publication by and for local young people dedicated to lifestyle, finance, technology and community. It is published by Listerhill Credit Union as
part of its ongoing mission to promote the credit union philosophy of cooperation and financial literacy. It is a platform for 15-20 somethings in the community and it is free.
A TUTORIAL TO CREATE YOUR VERY OWN DREAM CATCHER!. . . 17
CALENDAR WHAT’S GOING ON HERE? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18-19
HUNTING FOR LUCIDITY ONE MAN INGESTS AND DIGESTS IN THE HOPES OF A LUCID DREAM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
SPOTLIGHT SET READERS IN ACTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22-25
SMALL TOWN DREAMS THE AMERICAN DREAM: WHAT EXACTLY IS IT THESE DAYS? . . 26
LIVIN’ THE DREAM FIND OUT WHAT A BARBER, A COFFEE FANATIC AND A FASHIONISTA HAVE IN COMMON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28-29
FREESTYLE ONE FINAL THOUGHT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
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4790 East Second Street Muscle Shoals, AL 35661
4 FEEDBACK & CONTRIBUTORS
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AUGUST 2014
LET’S HEAR IT! EMAIL FEEDBACK@GETSETMAG.COM
FEEDBACK is a SET
rhill of Liste ation public
ERIN LYNN
E 02 VOLUM
06 ISSUE
“I loved it!! The facts about Handy, the “who dat?” face ID was hilarious, and I loved seeing some of my favorite local acts have some face time. I love that the Shoals has & still does cultivate some incredible talent, food, & community! Music is visceral & the Shoals opens up and let’s you in. I loved how SET gave me the warm fuzzies for my hometown & reminded me how proud I am of all that it stands for.
14 LY 20 JUNE/JU
JAMES MOODY, @MOODY609 My favorite issue ever. Great idea having current Shoals artists interview the trailblazers.
TYREE BUSBEE
ABLES THE TTURNED HAVEAT C H TH AT ! R C S
It seemed like all similar acts that got reviewed. All the reviews seemed to be from the same perspective. I would’ve liked to see some more edgy acts and more exciting reads from articles.
LITTLER BOY ME DRUMS AR O U N D G ET
ON’T YOU DHANDY KNOWT W E D O BU
FLORENCE MAIN STREET, @FLOMAINSTREET There were so many great articles and other info, this is a FANTASTIC issue.
SET CONTRIBUTORS KAHRI BOLDEN Trinity, AL
SARAH EMERSON Hamilton, AL
HANNAH BOYD
Columbia, TN
ALLIE SOCKWELL
Lawrenceburg, TN
ALICIA THREET Florence, AL
EMILY THOMPSON Florence, AL
JUSTIN ARGO
Birmingham, AL
SAMUEL SATTERFIELD Florence, AL
LIBBY O’NEAL
JAMES THIGPEN
NIKKI MESSER
KAT FORT
KATLYN SHANNON
JEREMY JACKSON
Russellville, AL
Columbia, TN
JARED MCCOY
Hazel Green, AL
Killen, AL
Huntsville, AL
JENNIFER ALLEN
Muscle Shoals, AL
Florence, AL
Decatur, AL
WILL RHODES Killen, AL
AUGUST 2014
TECH 5
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It only takes six days to start a business in the U.S.
There are 28 million small businesses in the U.S.
TOOLS FOR BUILDING YOUR DREAM INDIE SHOPOGRAPHY SHARES TECHY TIPS Building my dream business has been both the hardest and most rewarding thing I have ever done. Then, just to add to the difficulty and rewards of starting and growing my own dream business, it’s also my business to help other entrepreneurs grow theirs. As a designer and strategist for independent entrepreneurs, I work with creative people all over the world to start and grow their own businesses. From jewelry makers to chefs, my dream business is in building dream businesses.
If you’re out to build your own dream business, the following three tasks make for a good start in going for your dream, included are my favorite tools for helping you along.
1. CAPTURE INSPIRATION
One of the most important parts of being an entrepreneur is capturing inspiration. Since inspiration doesn’t come on a schedule, you must be ready to record a thought at a moment’s notice or your next big idea could be gone without a trace.
Best tech: Your smartphone will become your best business friend. The Note, Voice Recorder and Camera apps on my iPhone are my tried-andtrue favorites.
2. REMAIN PRODUCTIVE
Let me tell you a secret — procrastinators don’t build dreamy businesses. Remain productive … and whatever you do, stay off Facebook. Best tech: I use Daylite, a project management app, to manage my projects and my small team. I am also a lover of anti-tech, as there is little better than a good ol’ fashion notebook.
3. MAKE IT EASY FOR YOUR CUSTOMERS TO BUY YOU
Only taking cash or not gearing up your website for e-commerce makes it hard to turn your passion into a
profitable, sustainable business. From First Fridays to online, make it easy for your customers to buy what you’re selling. Best tech: Paypal Website Payments Pro is my go-to for taking payments via website, invoicing customers on the fly or taking payments in the moment with Paypal’s handy app and card swiper. With these few tips you have a place to begin, and before you know it your dream business will become more of a reality.
STORY BY EMILY THOMPSON
6 MONEY
SET isn’t just a magazine looking for people to share their 2 cents. It is entirely comprised of content provided by the 15 - 29 year olds of our community. No one else writes the articles, no one takes the pictures and no one else decides what runs. That’s why we need you. Attend our next editorial meeting, drop us a line or send us an idea for your story. We want your photography, art and music. Get on SET’s team.
getsetmag.com/contribute
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AUGUST 2014
MONEY 7
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Average credit card debt for college students is $3,173.
The average interest on a savings account is 0.06%.
WORK HARD FOR THE MONEY All our lives we have been told to “dream big.” As I’ve gotten older I’ve realized that dreams take more than a full tank of gas and a lot of faith — they take money. To reach your dreams, saving money is a must. The first step is to figure out what you want to work toward — make that dream an achievable goal and keep yourself motivated to reach it. Then, figure out how much your dream is actually going to cost. If you plan on reaching your goal within the next year, you will be safe saving up to the current price, but if your goal is long term, you
may need to save a little more to account for rising costs. Now all you need to do is take the amount of money you have determined to save and divide by the number of months you’ve given yourself to reach the goal. This will tell you exactly how much you need to save each month to achieve your savings goal. You can break it down even more and find out how much per week you should save. Reading all that is probably pretty confusing, so check out the simple formula below to help you figure it all out (you’ll have to plug in x and y for yourself)!
ILLUSTRATION BY JENNIFER ALLEN
A PENNY SAVED IS A DREAM EARNED
Now that you know how much to save, you need to figure out the best way to do it! There are many ways to save your money, such as keeping it in a savings account. Most savings accounts are interest-bearing, meaning saved money is actually acting as an investment that earns more money the longer it is kept in savings. A normal savings account won’t earn you loads of cash, but it’s better than earning nothing at all. A penny saved is a penny earned, right? With a savings account you know exactly how much you’ve saved and you know it is safe. If you want to earn even more interest, be sure to check out Certificates of Deposit (CDs). With a CD, you initially deposit a lump sum of money, usually starting around $500; the larger the investment, the better the interest rate. CDs have fixed interest rates that won’t decrease
over time and they can be timestamped so the interest-guaranteed investment can’t be withdrawn for several months or years, depending on what you choose. Since you cannot withdraw from a CD until it matures, you can’t dip into those funds until the CD is released. This is especially useful for those who may have struggled with saving money in the past, as the reward for saving is greater. If you attempt to withdraw immaturely, or before the term has passed, the penalties can be substantial. For those of you motivated by things you can physically see, the best way for you to save might be stashing cash. This is great because you can have a visual representation of how much you are saving. Stick a jar on top of your refrigerator, or a 10-gallon jug in the corner of your bedroom, and put in a set amount every week. Also, put a cup in your car and throw in extra change; when it gets full you can roll it (this will keep you from having to pay CoinStar, which also saves money) and stick it in your jar, too. You could even try to save every bill of certain denominations. For example, instead of spending every one or five dollar bill you get, save it. The bills could add up very fast! Nothing motivates like seeing results, and saving your money at home is a sure-fire way to get instant gratification (just be sure to keep your jar in a safe place). After it seems like you have been saving money for an eternity and are completely tired of eating Ramen noodles and oatmeal, it will finally be time to spend all that money on your dream. Go ahead and buy that one-way ticket to Europe, new sports car, condo on the beach, boat, guitar or whatever your dream may be, and then start saving up for the next big thing!
STORY BY LIBBY O’NEAL
8 HERO
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Parents spend $810 on each child who attends prom.
AUGUST 2014
1950s prosperity upgraded the fanciness of proms.
FAIRY GODMOTHERS It’s no secret that University of North Alabama (UNA) alumni Erica “Kris” Lard and Candace Crane have a passion for serving the community. While in college, Lard and Crane both majored in public relations and were involved in multiple organizations on campus that focused on community service. Lard served on UNA’s Student Government Association and participated in Alternative Breaks; Crane was a part of Zeta Tau Alpha and the Miss UNA program. The ladies met in the communications department during their senior year of college after joining PRIDE, a public relations organization that helps students become prepared for the professional world.
After joining PRIDE, a UNA faculty member recognized their leadership skills and asked the two girls to work together to continue a program called The Cinderella Project. The UNA Cinderella Project is a program that aims to provide prom dresses and accessories through local sponsorships and donations to high school girls who can’t afford them. Since both Lard and Crane had considered working for a public relations nonprofit organization upon graduation, this seemed like the perfect opportunity to gain firsthand experience. Lard, who graduated from Deshler High School, was familiar with the need for the program at high schools throughout
PHOTO BY JAMES THIGPEN
MAKING DREAMS COME TRUE
Lauderdale and Colbert counties. Crane, who had experience with event planning, had established relationships with local businesses in the area. For this project, the two were a perfect match. Crane and Lard worked together with members of the community to get enough items donated to make the experience one to remember. In the future, Crane and
Lard would like the program to include providing tuxedos to young men so that a Prince Project can be started as well. They hope the program will become so large that it can accommodate any girl or guy in the state, rather than a select high school or two each year. From this experience, both Crane and Lard have been inspired to continue working for nonprofit organizations. Since graduation, both girls have been driven to work for companies that are focused on a cause. With evident passion and determination, we can expect many more dreams to come true as a result of this dynamic duo.
STORY BY NIKKI MESSER KRIS LARD AND CANDACE CRANE
AUGUST 2014
NONPROFIT 9
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The Cinderella Project encourages every girl who receives a dress to pay it forward.
PROM QUEENS
RACKS OF DRESSES AWAITING THE ANXIOUS GIRLS!
SAY YES TO THE DRESS! Each year someone from PRIDE takes charge of the University of North Alabama’s Cinderella Project — an organization that provides girls the chance to attend prom — and 2014 was the year for Candace Crane and Erica “Kris” Lard. These two ladies really made the event special by challenging themselves to go above and beyond what had been done before them. Crane and Lard worked with the guidance counselors at Florence and Sheffield High Schools to organize the events. Since the girls who were invited to the event were in financial distress, it was important to Lard and Crane to ensure each girl didn’t feel like she was a charity case. So they made the event more of a shopping experience, the girls were allowed to invite friends to help try on dresses while PRIDE members served as shopping assistants. To make it even more exciting, Lard and Crane put together goodie bags for the girls with prom essentials: bobby pins, mints, lip gloss, perfume, hand sanitizer and more. They also had drawings for a chance to win a beauty package, which included hair and makeup, from Regis Salon.
“We really wanted to focus on making it fun for the girls,” Lard said. Lard and Crane helped each girl hand pick the perfect dress. One girl in the ROTC program even found a camouflage printed dress! Almost every girl left with a dress that made her feel like a princess. So far, the UNA Cinderella Project has provided hundreds of dresses to girls all over the state. This year the goal was to collect 100 dresses, and they exceeded that by gathering over 120. For Crane and Lard, the impressive numbers didn’t mean nearly as much as the impact they were able to make. “It feels good when it’s all over and the event was a success and you can say that you’re responsible for it,” Crane said. If you would like to donate your new, or gently worn, prom dresses and accessories, the UNA Communications Department accepts them year-round. For more information about the program, contact Kris Lard at eklard@una.edu.
STORY BY NIKKI MESSER
10 FEATURE
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AUGUST 2014
16 MUSIC
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The first instrument called a ‘guitar’ appeared in the 1200s.
AUGUST 2014
Check out Hodge’s latest album, “Rumspringa.”
TAKING THE RISK PHOTO BY LEE TAYLOR
DILLON HODGES ON FIREKID, FANS AND FOLLOWING DREAMS
DILLON HODGES RECORDING THE UPCOMING FIREKID ALBUM If you want to know about all of Dillon Hodges’ exploits, awards, daring deeds, rumors and accolades, allow me to direct you to the Internet. For all other inquiries, rabbit holes and the like, well, that’s why I called him up the other day when he had a break from working on his latest project in Los Angeles. As long as I’ve known him, Hodges has always been the easygoing conversational type, the kind where it’s cool just to zone out. The phone is quiet for a minute, like he’s working out a lyric that just came to mind, as I ask for the second time, “Where did this dream come from anyway? The Shoals is fairly familiar with Dillon Hodges … but Firekid?” “Yeah, it all started with my cover of “Feel Good Inc.” [by the Gorillaz].
We sort of just brainstormed the sound after playing banjo over a loop on a Roland 808. The sound really started there, and it’s constantly surprising me what it’s turning into. If Firekid’s sound is one thing — it’s evolving.” I’ve known Hodges a while, I’ve bought and wore out all his releases and attended Firekid’s inaugural performance. Obviously he’s talented, but I wasn’t expecting to leave that show hooked on his sarcastic blend of lazy Appalachian hollering, flatpicking madness and simple — but perfectly complementary — sequenced drum tracks. He describes his lyrics better than I ever could: “fall[ing] somewhere between the wisdom of a sage and the punch line of a grandpa.” It’s one of those things where you want to be “in on it,” but forget it. Nobody’s
“in on it,” he’s just a great songwriter. The kind that doesn’t have a record out yet, throwing you into hopeless hours of scouring YouTube to find some bootlegged videos from any recent shows (seriously, there’s this version of “Lay By Me” that I’ve been listening to on repeat for the last hour). To be completely candid, I tried to get Hodges to talk romantically about how great his songwriting is, how untouchable it is by the rest of us. With no luck of pulling out any sort of pride, I settled for asking, “So what do you want this project, this record, to do after it’s all said and done?” “I want this record to be the epitome of that experience when you walk into a bar to hear a country band and after the show, the sound engineer turns on rap — and everyone keeps dancing.
I want these songs to be content-rich and translate well, whether on acoustic or with a full band. I want to make the statement that music isn’t something that’s become too cool for school. The truth is I’m listening to Celine Dion. I’m listening to Katy Perry. So what? I love those acts. I find beauty in music.” Humbled, I get off the “too cool for school” bus to ask what the driving force behind all this is. I mean, he moved to Nashville to be with his wife and spends weeks on end in Los Angeles pursuing this dream of Firekid. “It’s the people. Sure, I want this project to be [financially] successful. But what I’m really driven by is seeing the reactions of those people that hear the music for the first time. It pushes me forward, makes me want to go deeper.” Seems like a fair enough trade between artist and audience. We enjoy the music. He makes more music. Hodges has always been going deeper, though, not even solely because of audience enjoyment. He mentions that, as a kid, he wasn’t so popular being the fro-headed, lefty bluegrass picker. Sure, he could sweep those flatpicking contests, but he was tearing up bluegrass while everyone else was trying to play that tricky rhythm guitar in Dave Matthews’ “Ants Marching.” As far as I can tell, Hodges pursues his dreams as sure as tomorrow will follow today — and those Dave Matthews kids, well, we all know how we ended up. Trying to be chill, I had to ask the proverbial question. I mean, this issue is about dreams (and pursuing them), so it’d do no good to leave you all without a moral to the story. “So what would you tell the readers of SET about pursuing their dreams?” “Follow your instincts. Take the risks. When I set out on the journey of this project, I was still working on “Rumspringa.” And then — all of the sudden — this opportunity came up, and I knew it was a risk. But I put everything aside. I was going to take that risk.”
STORY BY JAMES THIGPEN
AUGUST 2014
ART/DIY 17
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The Ojibwa tribe created the dream catcher.
The dream catcher’s hoop symbolizes strength & unity.
PHOTOS BY JEREMY JACKSON
CATCHIN’ DREAMS A STEPBY-STEP TUTORIAL TO CREATE YOUR VERY OWN DREAM CATCHER! So much time is spent chasing after our dreams, but let’s be real, who’s been able to catch them? I have created a super fun, simple DIY tutorial that will lead you stepby-step to create your own dream catcher!
SUPPLIES:
Sticks or hoops Crochet doilies (you can find these at thrift shops) Feathers Jewelry wire String Beads Scissors Pliers Shells, lace or anything else you want to add. Get creative with it!
STEP ONE
Align your sticks in the desired shape and be sure to make enough room for your doily in the center. Be mindful that the doily will obviously stretch, so give it a little more room around the edges. Cut about 2 feet of jewelry wire and begin wrapping the ends of your sticks together, make sure it’s snug. Use your pliers to fasten the wire together and make sure there are no sharp ends poking out. If you want to cover the wire, you could wrap colored string around each corner. Now you have the frame of your dream catcher.
STEP TWO
Place the frame on a flat surface and lay the doily in the center. Choose any color string and begin with the top center edge. Start threading it through each end of the doily. I didn’t really have a concrete system; I just played around with it until I figured out what worked the best. Make sure your doily stays aligned and keep the thread pulled tight.
STEP THREE
Decide how long you want the strings to hang off the end and then cut the length and amount you choose. You can either go with just
one color, or jazz it up with a lot more. There are probably different ways to attach the string, but I found the easiest way is to simply knot each string to the bottom of the frame.
Voila! You now have a one-of-akind dream catcher. You can easily find things lying around the house to add to it. Get jazzy with it, cook up something that no one else has and have loads of fun while doing it!
STEP FOUR
Now for the best part — accessorizing! It’s time to thread beads, feathers, shells, lace, etc. onto the string or doily. Attaching things to your strings not only gives it flavor, but it keeps your dream catcher balanced and free from getting tangled.
STORY BY ALICIA THREET
18 CALENDAR
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Kahri Member Since 2013 Abby Member Since 2013
Drew Member Since 2013
Rebecca Member Since 2013
AUGUST 2014
AUGUST 2014
CALENDAR 19
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EVENTS AUGUST 1
STEELY DAN @ Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN 8:00pm “GAURDIANS OF THE GALAXY” @ Your Local Theatre “WHAT IF” @ Your Local Theatre
AUGUST 2
THE SUNSHINE TOUR FT MICHAEL FRANTI & THE SPEARHEAD @ The Woods Amphitheatre, Fontanel, TN STEELY DAN @ Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN 8:00pm PASSENGER @ Marathon Music Works, Nashville, TN 8:00pm SHAKE AND BAKE 5K @ Birmingham, AL
AUGUST 3
MATCHBOX 20 & GOO GOO DOLLS @ Aaron’s Amphitheatre, Atlanta, GA 7:00pm
AUGUST 7
MILEY CYRUS @ Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN 7:30pm
AUGUST 1 - AUGUST 31 CALENDAR OF EVENTS
AUGUST 8
RODRIGO Y GABRIELA @ Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN 8:00pm CHARLIE WILSON @ Von Braun Civic Center, Huntsville, AL CARNIVAL OF CHOAS @ Pegasus Record, Florence, AL 7:00pm “TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES” @ Your Local Theatre “INTO THE STORM” @ Your Local Theatre
AUGUST 9
BABY STEPS MEMORIAL 5K @ Birmingham, AL GREEN CORN RUN @ Danville, AL
AUGUST 11
THE EXPENDABLES @ Your Local Theatre THE ONE-HUNDRED FOOT JOURNEY @ Your Local Theatre THE GIVER @ Your Local Theatre
AUGUST 16
BOSTON @ The Woods Amphitheatre, Fontanel, TN BIRMINGHAM R(UN) FOR ONE @ Hoover, AL SAVE THE O’S @ Hoover, AL SHINE FOR THE SPINE GLOW RUN 5K @ Alabaster, AL
AUGUST 18
FLORENCE FOODIES @ Poplar South Deli & Grille in Florence, AL 6:30pm
FLORENCE FOODIES @ Legends Steakhouse in Florence, AL 6:30pm
AUGUST 19
AUGUST 13
AUGUST 22
“LET’S BE COPS” @ Your Local Theatre
AUGUST 15
MOTLEY CRUE & ALICE COOPER @ Oak Mountain Amphitheatre, Birmingham, AL
ONE DIRECTION @ LP Field, Nashville, TN BACKSTREET BOYS @ Chastain Park Amphitheatre, Atlanta, GA 7:00pm BRUNO MARS @ Phillips Arena, Atlanta, GA 7:30pm
CROSBY STILLS & NASH @ BJCC, Birmingham, AL 8:00pm VALLEY ROOTS @ Pegasus Records, Florence, AL 8:00pm “SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR” @ Your Local Theatre
AUGUST 26
AUGUST 23
AUGUST 28
OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW @ The Woods Amphitheatre, Fontanel, TN PARACHUTE @ Masquerade-GA, Atlanta, GA 7:00pm KEITH URBAN @ Oak Mountain Amphitheatre, Birmingham, AL ROCK ‘N’ RUN 5K @ Homewood, AL
MERLE HAGGARD @ The Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN 7:30pm
AUGUST 27
KILLEN FOUNDERS DAY 5K @ Killen, AL AEROSMITH @ Phillips Arena, Atlanta, GA
AUGUST 29
BLAKE SHELTON @ Lakewood Amphitheatre, Atlanta, GA 7:00pm
AUGUST 30
AUGUST 24
PITBULL & JESSIE J @ Crofton Park, Birmingham, AL
AUGUST 25
DRAKE & LIL WAYNE @ Aaron’s Amphitheatre, Atlanta, GA 7:00pm
THS RED & BLACK WELCOME BACK 5K @ Alabaster, AL MERLE HAGGARD @ The Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN 7:30pm
IF YOU HAVE ANY EVENTS YOU WOULD LIKE LISTED, EMAIL CALENDAR@GETSETMAG.COM
AUGUST 31
20 FOOD
Night owls are more likely to experience nightmares.
Those who play a lot of video games are more likely to have lucid dreams than those who do not.
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AUGUST 2014
Every month, one in five people have a lucid dream.
HUNTING FOR LUCIDITY consumption, but I began taking 100mg every night before bed. B-6 helps your body create serotonin, a chemical that makes you sleep. Once I began taking this vitamin, I quickly noticed that my dreams became much more vivid. Every morning, I remember brighter colors and more exciting dreams. These dreams weren’t necessarily good or bad, just exciting and bright. But the dreams faded faster than normally do when I wake up. Usually when I dream, I can remember what happened for a good part of the morning, but while taking B-6, I’d already forgotten what it was I dreamed about almost as soon as my feet hit the floor.
MAKE YOURSELF A DANG QUESADILLA!
ONE MAN INGESTS AND DIGESTS IN THE HOPES OF A LUCID DREAM Have you ever had a nightmare and wished you could escape? What about a great dream that you wish you could make a little bit better? Well, both of these are made possible by a mostly hard to reach state of mind called lucid dreaming. A lucid dream is a dream during which the dreamer is able to make conscious decisions. Think “Inception,” but instead of
Leonardo DiCaprio controlling the dream, it’s you! Just imagine you’re having this terrible nightmare — a giant cobra is about to gobble you up — but you’re able to decide that you want that cobra to turn into a nice gummy worm … and it does! Then you’re able to spend the rest of your dream chomping on candy. Sounds great, right? The first lucid dream I ever had started out very boring. I was grocery shopping with mom. I had just been with her that day and I could not for the life of me figure out why we were going again. That’s when it hit me that I was dreaming. As soon as I realized that, I decided I wanted to leave … and that’s exactly what I did. The rest of my dream I was with my friends hanging out and having a good time. But since then, I haven’t really been able to replicate the experience. And so I set out to see if there were certain foods or vitamins that would help me recreate this experience. I began with vitamin B-6. Naturally, most people receive 1.3mg of B-6 through daily
The next vitamin I tried was melatonin, a vitamin used to regulate serotonin, a chemical that helps you sleep. Melatonin had a similar effect to B-6. My dreams were much more vivid, they faded quickly and I faintly remember them being very strange. So far, I’d tried two vitamins and neither had worked for me in producing lucid dreams. However, I did feel I was on the right track! After digging around on the Internet for a little while I found a few foods that supposedly caused the elusive lucid dream: turkey, chicken, garlic and spicy food. So I headed over to the grocery store to do some shopping. Turkey is a good candidate because of the tryptophan it contains. Tryptophan is a chemical that helps your brain fall asleep (which is why after a big Thanksgiving dinner you get drowsy). Normally I’m more of a ham sandwich kind of guy, so I don’t buy a lot of turkey, but I’ll do what I must in the name of SET. I made sure to eat at least a decent size serving before bed. However, with turkey I got absolutely nothing. Literally nothing. So the next night I stepped up my consumption, but I still wasn’t able to get anything. The only thing I remember is 8 hours of blackness while I slept (maybe I overdid it on the tryptophan). I was
a little discouraged, but I wasn’t going to give up. Next on the list — spicy foods. The thought here is that by eating spicy food you will raise your core temperature. By raising your temperature, you will have a harder time slipping into a deep sleep and instead sit right on the edge of sleep and being awake. I started by making chicken quesadillas with peppers (chicken also contains tryptophan and the peppers, spicy… you get it). It wasn’t hard to cook and it was actually a really good meal. Unfortunately, I had the same disappointing results as I’d had with the turkey. So I stepped up my spice game. The next night I headed to Buffalo Wild Wings for dinner … and that did the trick. That night I began to have a nightmare. I can’t remember exactly what it was but I do remember large bugs coming after me — and by large I mean bigger-than-people sized insects — it was terrifying. But just as it was beginning to get bad, I consciously decided that I didn’t want to have a nightmare anymore and the bugs just left me alone. I don’t remember much after that, and I didn’t actually get an extended lucid dreaming experience, but I was able to make a conscious decision while I dreamt, and that was my main goal! I’m just one guy and by no means an expert, but based off my experience I recommend eating a lot of hot, spicy foods. But everyone’s different, so one of the other things may work great for you. Try these things out and let us know what crazy lucid dreaming experiences you get!
STORY BY SAMUEL SATTERFIELD
AUGUST 2014
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The average age of marriage is 29 for men and 27 for women.
AUGUST 2014
In 2012, the average salary in America was $44,321.67.
SMALL TOWN DREAMS THE AMERICAN DREAM: WHAT EXACTLY IS IT THESE DAYS? Growing up, we were all told, whether directly or through the media, to chase the “American Dream.” Just as they had been encouraged, our parents and teachers wanted to instill in us that through hard work and dedication we could have the American Dream that generations before us had sacrificed for. As time marches on, however, the dream has begun to evolve. In the beginning years of our country, the earliest Americans were simply searching for freedom. By the 1950s, the goal changed to landing a good paying job, having two and a half kids and buying a nice house and car that would make the whole neighborhood jealous. Now that we’re in 2014, the thought of the American Dream can seem kind of blurry. Our world and the people in it are evolving and so are a lot of our ideals on what prosperity and success look like. With this curiosity, I polled 18 local 20-somethings about various aspects of what one might think the modern American Dream would include and the top three might just surprise you.
EDUCATION
As our generation grew up, the importance of education was pushed on us from a very early age. For UNA student Jordan Graham, education was an obvious top choice. “Education is something that can never be taken from you,” Graham said.
THE “AMERICAN DREAM” HAS CHANGED A LOT SINCE 1954. OR HAS IT? While this choice may seem a bit traditional, education for our generation comes from different sources than it did for those who came before us. First, the number of people attending college is growing every year and more people than ever will be graduating with associate’s, bachelor’s and professional degrees. Another way many are getting education is through new life experiences, such as travel, work and through the technology that we have access to, which can be just as valuable in today’s job market as a degree. It’s clear the more we know will help us unlock the doors to achieve the success we want.
FINANCIAL STABILITY
We grew up in a world where the economy plummeted before our eyes. We’ve watched as our country fell deeper into debt, as friends and family lost homes in the housing market crises and as the value of a hard-earned dollar went down and prices sky-rocketed. For Shoals local Hogan Ricks, this topic means more than living debt-free. “Being financially stable would not only allow me to do more things in my life but
it would also mean that I could provide for my future family,” he said. Being financially stable does not mean having the never-ending flow of money that previous generations aspired for. Financial stability means not having to worry about debt and bills and simply having enough money to provide ourselves a comfortable life. But no one ever said this was going to be easy. “Financial stability is definitely hard to achieve these days and very easy to get out of control,” said Hamilton, AL native Maddie Noe.
MARRIAGE AND FAMILY
Everyone wants to love and be loved. Just like the 1950s, many in our generation hope to find their one true love, settle down and start a family. “I feel that life means so much more when you get to share it with someone,” said Victoria Smallwood of Florence, AL. Smallwood is not alone — for many, marriage, long-term relationships and love is a big part of the modern American Dream. A common desire for children is also present for many 20-something’s. “I
believe that having a family and enjoying life with them is a huge part in what life is about,” said Chassity Martin of Collinwood, TN. Though the idea of the modern-day family is different for every person, to be able to raise a child — whether biological, adopted or fostered — provides a means to help pour into and inspire the future generations to chase their American Dream. While we all may have our own personal American Dream, it’s interesting to see how a few common (and even traditional) aspects bond us together as we all chase success in our lives. While we can see that the world is changing around us, at the end of the day we all just want to be happy … and that is the true American Dream.
STORY BY SARAH EMERSON
AUGUST 2014
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70% of small businesses are owned/operated by 1 person.
AUGUST 2014
2/3 of college students intend on becoming entrepreneurs.
LIVIN’ THE DREAM FIND OUT WHAT A BARBER, A COFFEE FANATIC AND A FASHIONISTA HAVE IN COMMON PHOTO BY JAMES THIGPEN
boutiques, all chasing after the same dream — running their own business.
AUSTIN SHIREY
Austin Shirey first became interested in becoming a barber while he was living in Manhattan. At the time, Shirey sold ads for “Esquire,” but he knew he didn’t want that to be his ‘forever career,’ so he started considering his options. His favorite thing to do in New York was visit different barbershops. As Shirey began talking to barbers, he decided to make the jump and enroll in barber school, a 10week program. He then gained an apprenticeship and started cutting at Blind Barber in Brooklyn. After moving back to his hometown of Sheffield, AL, he started working at Bob and Bill’s Barbershop. Working in a barbershop owned by someone else results in less profit: the barber keeps half the money made from a cut, while the shop owner gets the other half. Shirey wanted more independence, so he decided to venture out and open his own business.
AUSTIN SHIREY, MOTORCYCLE ENTHUSIAST AND BARBER EXTRAORDINAIRE. For many, the word “dream” has to do with life goals. If you’re a young entrepreneur, your dreams revolve around opening a business and doing exactly what you love each day. While you may face challenges like financial hardship or discouragement, in the end, the challenges are worth it. Along with the obstacles come even greater rewards. As a business owner, you
get the ability to create whatever culture you want, choose the hours and make the shop reflect your own personality. Below you’ll find the stories of a handful of entrepreneurs and find out how they turned their dreams into realities. You’ll discover young locals passionate about barbershops, coffee shops and
Shirey’s new shop, Greasy Hands Barbershop, will open this fall on 4th Avenue in Florence. The shop’s name is inspired by hair grease as well as a hint of Shirey’s other passion: motorcycles. Shirey’s long term plans include opening up a community bike shop where locals can hang out and work on their engines together, hopefully in the same vicinity as Greasy Hands. Shirey’s shop stands out from others because of his attention to detail. To him, cutting hair is an art form. With each cut he provides
customers with the full treatment — a hot towel on the back of the neck and the use of high quality products. Shirey’s advice to aspiring business owners? “Just do it. But before you do it, figure out a way to make your passion a career. The first thing I did was make informed decisions and asked questions. I figured things out before leaving my current job: the costs, the obstacles, everything.” Now that he’s on his own, Shirey is enjoying his freedom. “I can have fun all day, talk with a variety of people and be happy and free doing what I love.”
CHRIS WENINEGAR AND MATT JOHNSON
While coffee shops are popping up left and right, there are those that stand out more than others. Muletown Roasted Coffee, located on the square in Columbia, TN is one that’ll grab your attention the moment you walk in the door. The owners are Chris Weninegar and Matt Johnson, two friends with a passion for coffee and people. Weninegar has been working with coffee since the age of 14. “It’s funny how life brings you back to right where you started. Coffee has always been a part of my life.” Muletown started in August of last year, with the owners working out of a garage for about six months before moving into the shop. (Don’t all the best things start off in garages? Apple, Google, Muletown…) Muletown places a strong emphasis on customers, which is apparent when talking with the owners, “Muletown is more than
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AUGUST 2014
CHRIS WENINEGAR AND MATT JOHNSON, COFFEE FANATICS AND MUSICIANS ON THE SIDE. a great cup of coffee. It’s a place where connections happen, where a stranger walks in and leaves as a friend.” Weninegar and Johnson want the shop to provide a sense of community. They want to know the people who grow the coffee beans, as well as those who drink the coffee. In July of this year, the shop started buying their coffee beans from farmers who they were able to get to know personally. Most young entrepreneurs would agree that the biggest obstacle of owning a business is money. “Being young, we don’t have equity built up like our parents. When the shop was first opening, we were getting things ready while still working our other full time jobs,” said Weninegar. Small businesses also have to win encouragement from the community; without that, starting up your own business can be daunting. “What is the purpose behind opening up your own place? Know why you want to do it. It can’t just
be to make money, ‘cause if it is just money, you’ll be discouraged for the first few years,” said Weninegar. “You need to have passion for what you’re doing, which allows you to find creative solutions for the problems that will pop up. Always remember the ‘why.’”
MAGAN MCNUTT
MAGAN MCNUTT, FASHION LOVER AND PURSUER OF DREAMS. how hard they worked at their own business and how their businesses grew over the years. I knew at a young age I wanted to be just like them and open my own business,” McNutt explained. Her interest in fashion springs from her mother, who is also her ultimate shopping partner.
Blush Boutique, located in Tuscumbia, AL, opened in August 2012 and has been a favorite in the Shoals ever since. Many of you may be familiar with this women’s clothing store, but did you know it was started by a college student?
McNutt has always been passionate about fashion, but it hasn’t always been a part of her career goals. “I didn’t always know I wanted to open up a boutique, but it ended up being a perfect fit for my career,” she said.
Originally, owner Magan McNutt started Blush to have something to do on the side while she finished college at the University of North Alabama. After two weeks of running the store from her garage and car, McNutt decided to expand her business and began looking for retail space.
Blush stands out from other retail stores because McNutt’s main focus is customer service. The shop employees pride themselves in building a relationship with everyone that walks through the doors.
McNutt had a lot of inspiration from her father and grandfather, who were also small-business owners. “I have always been so amazed at
For McNutt, the biggest obstacle is staying focused on the big picture. “It’s easy, as a young entrepreneur, to get caught up in the little things that come along,” she said. However, with the obstacles come rewards.
McNutt enjoys many aspects of being a young entrepreneur, but her favorite comes from seeing people around town wearing clothes from Blush. For those who plan to open their own business, McNutt stressed the importance of having a business plan and strategies when first beginning a new business. “Remember that it’s not always going to be an easy road from the beginning; you must work hard to get your business where you want it.”
STORY BY ALLIE SOCKWELL
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ONE FINAL THOUGHT
THIS YEAR, AUGUST 28 MARKS THE 51ST ANNIVERSARY OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.’S “I HAVE A DREAM” SPEECH
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