All advertisements are accepted and published by the publisher upon the representation that the agency and/or advertiser is authorized to publish the entire contents and subject matter thereof. The agency and/or advertiser will indemnify and save the publisher harmless from any lossof expense resulting from claims or suits based upon contents of any advertisement, including claims or suits for defamation, libel, right of privacy, plagiarism, and copyright infringement.
Founder: Bill Williams
Hello Friends!
Its football time in Tennessee! Orange and White (and a few other colors) are showing up everywhere in preparation for College game days. Fall is coming very soon! Please welcome a new advertiser to our paper. I sadly had the need to make final arrangements for a family friend recently and I was able to work with Jonesborough Funeral Home and Cremation! They made a sad situation so much easier for me. They were so helpful with every detail and really made the whole process much easier. I would encourage everyone to reach out to them in your time of need.
I hope everyone has a great week!
Bristol TN/Va
THURSDAY Aug 29th
Mark Larkins
7:00pm at Bristol Casino Bar
Sounds of Summer:
Dan Harnell & The Troubadours
7:00pm at Downtown Center
FRIDAY Aug 30th
Noah Spencer 7:00pm at Bristol Casino Bar
Momma Molasses 7:00pm at Cascade Draft House
Alli Epperson
8:00pm at The Corner
AJ Smith 10:00pm at Bristol Casino Bar
SATURDAY Aug 31st
5 Year Birthday Bash 4:00pm at Cascade Draft House
Brim & Marci Leal 6:30pm at Rocks Wood Fired Pizza
Kingsport
THURSDAY Aug 29th
Alpine Motel 7:00pm at Lakeview Marina
Blues Drivers 5th Thursday Jam 7:00pm at Model City Tap House
FRIDAY Aug 30th
ro-sham-bo 7:00pm at Lakeview Marina
Vaden Landers 7:00 at Gypsy Circus Cider Company
Donnie and the Dry Heavers 7:30pm at High Voltage
Final Justice 9:00pm at CJ’s Sports Bar
SATURDAY Aug 31st
Midnight Gypsys 7:00pm at Lakeview Marina
Rare Fiction 7:00 at Gypsy Circus Cider Company
Lawless Band & Southbound 9:00pm at CJ’s Sports Bar
SUNDAY Sep 1st
Jason Lloyd 7:00pm at Lakeview Marina
Elizabethton
Elizabethton,
FRIDAY Aug 30th
Chris Long 6:00pm at Jiggy Rays
SATURDAY Aug 31st
Dimestore Cowboys 7:00pm at Elizabethton Covered Bridge Jams
Travis David 8:00pm at Jiggy Ray’s
Abingdon, VA
Abingdon, VA
FRIDAY Aug 30th
Imagine! 6:00pm at Abingdon Vineyards
SATURDAY Aug 31st
Charlie Maples 5:00pm at Abingdon Vineyards
SUNDAY Sep 1st
Alli Epperson 5:00pm at Abingdon Vineyards
SODOKU CROSSWORD
ACROSS
1. Religious pilgrimage
5. Storage medium
10. Game played on a world map
14. Another: Spanish
15. Bath sponge
16. Mother goddess on Pandora
17. Insignificance
19. Popular street name
20. Much ballyhooed
21. Type of ray
22. Mark Twain play not published until it was rediscovered in 2002
26. Beatrix of "Kill Bill"
30. Set aside
34. "You're ___!" (compliment to a comedian)
35. Dresden denial
36. Morn's opposite, to Tennyson
37. Send into exile
39. Marine animal
42. Congo center?
43. Düsseldorf donkey
47. Skyscraper support
48. It's full of life
51. Paperboy
52. "Once upon a midnight dreary..." poem
54. Flea market item, perhaps
57. Dusk
62. Idle
63. Dylan hit originally written for "Midnight Cowboy"
66. ____ nitrate (stimulant)
67. Collie or Yorkie
68. "____ sure you're aware... "
69. Pry
70. Gape
71. Dutch master Frans
Answers to last week’s puzzles can be found on page 09.
Down
1. "The Empire Strikes Back" setting
2. Give it ____ (make an attempt)
3. Faucet flaw
4. Jupiter
5. He wears a red suit
6. Flipper
7. French king
8. Frequently, to Frost
9. Has permission
10. Filmed again
11. Popeye's first words?
12. Pool exercise
13. Japanese writing form
18. Numbskulls
21. Stove fuel
23. Denver to Chicago dir.
24. Soft & ___ (anti-perspirant brand)
25. Smither enders
26. Skewered dish
27. Modern Persian
28. Wild dog of the Outback
29. "How ___ love thee? Let me..."
31. Go for another 12 issues, say
32. Home of Bally's and the Venetian
33. Antagonist
38. Sound of a giggle
40. Beat, in wrestling
41. Royal order, briefly
44. To be, in Toledo
45. Historic time
46. Tool for evening
49. Muffle
50. Soup in Hanoi
53. Steer clear of
54. Scottish family
55. Man in Milan
56. Sunbeams
58. Taunting syllable
59. ____ Lund of "Casablanca"
60. Catch redhanded
61. Y features
63. Amt. on a dumbbell
64. Actor Carney
65. Affirmative vote
TRI-CITIES NIGHTLIFE
WEDNESDAY
Karaoke with Absolute Entertainment at The Pub Out Back (The Italian Pizza Pub) - Johnson City 7pm
Karaoke w/ Eric Huskins VFW Post 2108 – Johnson City, TN 8pm
Karaoke Night at Wonderland Lounge and Bar - Johnson City, TN 9pm
Karaoke with Ron at Kingsport Moose Lodge 6:30pm
Loudmouth Karaoke at Michael Waltrip Brewing Company - Bristol, VA on Wednesday, April 5th at 7pm
THURSDAY
Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Tulips Grub & Pub - Johnson City, TN 8pm
Karaoke with Absolute Entertainment at Wild Wings Cafe - Johnson City, TN 9pm
Karaoke at Numan’s - Johnson City, TN 10pm
Karaoke at Jiggy Rays Pizzeria - Johnson City, TN
Karaoke at Tipsy Toad Tavern - Jonesborough, TN
FRIDAY
Karaoke with Absolute Entertainment at Rainbow Asian Cuisine - Johnson City, TN 9pm
Karaoke with Absolute Entertainment at The Sports Mill - Kingsport, TN 8pm
Karaoke w/ Eric Huskins VFW Post 2108 – Johnson City, TN 8pm
Karaoke at Numan’s – Johnson City, TN 10pm
Karaoke with Handsome Hodge Entertainment at O’Mainnin’s Pub and Grille - Bristol, TN 10pm
SATURDAY
Karaoke with Absolute Entertainment at Tulips Grub & Pub Johnson City, TN 8pm
Karaoke at Numan’s – Johnson City, TN 10pm
Karaoke w/ Eric Huskins VFW Post 2108 – Johnson City, TN 8pm
Karaoke at Numan’s – Johnson City, TN 10pm
Karaoke with DJ Clyde and Prestige Entertainment at Macado’s -Kingsport, TN 9pm
Karaoke with Handsome Hodge Entertainment at O’Mainnin’s Pub and Grille - Bristol, TN 10pm
TRIVIA BINGO DJ NIGHT
TUESDAY
Team Trivia at Wild Wing Café Johnson City TN
DJ Trivia at Union Street Taproom Erwin, TN 5pm
Trivia at The Corner Bar Bristol, VA 8pm
Trivia at Aubrey’s Johnson City 7pm
WEDNESDAY
Trivia at Tipsy Toad Jonesborough, TN 7pm
Trivia Night Mellow Mushroom
Bristol, VA 7pm
Trivia at Aubrey’s Bristol 7pm
THURSDAY
Mellow Trivia at Mellow Mushroom
Johnson City, TN- 7pm
Trivia at Riverside Taphouse at South Fork
Bluff City, TN 7pm
TUESDAY
Singo at Riverside Taphouse at South Fork Bluff City, TN 6:30pm
WEDNESDAY
Bingo at Tipton Street Pub
Johnson City, TN 9pm
Singo at Holy Taco & Cantina
Boones Creek, TN 8pm
Blazin’ Bingo at Mellow Mushroom Johnson City, TN 6pm
THURSDAY
Bingo at Mellow Mushroom Bristol VA 6pm
Singo at Aubrey’s Bristol 7:00 PM
THURSDAY
DJ B-Digital at O’Mainnin’s Pub and GrilleBristol, TN 10pm
FRIDAY
Handsome Hodge Entertainment at O’Mainnin’s Pub - Bristol, TN 10pm
SATURDAY
Handsome Hodge Entertainment at O’Mainnin’s Pub - Bristol, TN 10pm
SUNDAY
DJ B-Digital at O’Mainnin’s Pub and GrilleBristol, TN 10pm
Aug. 31 vs. Chattanooga
Sept. 7 vs. NC State (Charlotte)
2024 Football Schedule
Sept. 14 vs. Kent State
Sept. 21 at Oklahoma
Sept. 28 Idle
Oct. 5 at Arkansas
Oct. 12 vs. Florida
Oct. 19 vs. Alabama
Nov. 2 vs. Kentucky
Nov. 9 vs. Mississippi State
Nov. 16 at Georgia
Nov. 23 vs. UTEP
Oct. 26 Idle
Nov. 30 at Vanderbilt
Dec. 7 SEC Championship
OF THE WEEK PETS
THOR
Meet Thor, the sweetest, most down-to-earth 4 yr old tabby who is all about lounging and snuggling. Thor’s gentle demeanor and loving nature make him the heart of any home. Whether he’s napping in a
sunny spot or offering his services as a professional cuddler, Thor brings a sense of calm and warmth to everyone he meets. He is up to date on all vaccinations, microchipped, FeLV/FIV negative, and neutered!
Meet Duke, the sweet senior who loves car rides and is ready for his forever home! Just like a charming dating profile, here’s why Duke is a perfect catch:
• Born on 05/08/2017, a delightful Boxer mix companion
• Loves car rides and is always up for
Last Week's Puzzle Answers
Sudoku Crossword
• Needs
• House-trained and a total sweetie. If you’re looking for a loving buddy to join you on road trips and cozy evenings, Duke is the perfect match!
Cryptogram:
Dropquote:
"One characteristic of winners is they always look upon themselves as a do it yourself project."
ETSU’s Dr. Ted Olson Helps Create Appalachian Hip-Hop Album
Earlier this month, Appalshop’s record label June Appal Recordings released “No Options: Hip-Hop in Appalachia.” Organizers timed the release to coincide with two important historical observations: Aug. 8, which many Black communities celebrate as Emancipation Day, and Aug. 11, National Hip-Hop Day.
“During the pandemic, Dr. William Turner (a noted scholar on African American communities in Appalachia) and I co-hosted the podcast series ‘Sepia Tones: Exploring Black Appalachian Music,’ and we produced an episode celebrating hip-hop in Appalachia. It was obvious that a number of talented hip-hop artists lived in the region, yet few of those artists were known beyond their home communities,” said Dr. Ted Olson, a professor of Appalachian Studies and Bluegrass, Old-Time and Roots Music Studies at East Tennessee State University.
Part of the album was recorded in the ETSU Recording Lab, and Olson served as co-producer and co-curator.
“Dr. Turner and I applied for a grant from the nonprofit organization Appalshop allowing us to produce an album to showcase the music of many of the region’s hip-hop artists,” he said. “Taking two years to complete, with several of the recordings being made in the ETSU Recording Lab, ‘No Options’ is the first album to document the diversity of hip-hop music from Appalachia.”
Previous compilations of historical and contemporary American hip-hop have tended to ignore recordings by Appalachian artists, organizers said, choosing instead to focus on more urban areas of the American South.
“No Options,” meanwhile, purposefully celebrates the unique perspectives of small-town and rural hip-hop artists. Artists hail from throughout the region, including Alabama, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee and New York. One of the artists, Stunna T, has a track called “Show Up” that was recorded via phone in Wallens Ridge State Prison in Big Stone Gap, Virginia. The album is available for preorder now through June Appal’s Bandcamp.
THINGS TO DO THINGS TO DO
JOHNSON CITY
SATURDAYS
ACOA (adult children of alcoholics) 1:30-3:00pm. Call for info Bill 423-444-6107 or Cheryl 423-262-6149
THURSDAY AUG 29TH
Tri-Cities Turtles Run Club
12:45pm at Yee-Haw Brewing Co.
FRIDAY AUG 30TH
Johnson City Love & Hiking
Date For Couples (Self-Guided) 7:00am at Willow Springs Park
SATURDAY AUG 31ST
Johnson City Love & Hiking Date For Couples (Self-Guided) 7:00am at Willow Springs Park
Johnson City Farmers Market 8:00am at the Pavilion in Downtown Johnson City
BRISTOL
WEDNESDAY AUG 28TH
Bristol Bloom Collective | All Local Flower Market 9:00am at West State Studio
THURSDAY AUG 29TH
Weekly Trunk Show 5:00pm at LUMAC Rooftop Bar
SATURDAY AUG 31ST
Board Game Night 5:00pm at Bristol Public Library
KINGSPORT
SATURDAY AUG 31ST
Farmer's Market 7:00am at Kingsport Farmers Market
Nature: Wolf Howling 10:00am at Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium
Brunch 11:30am at Gypsy Circus Cider Company
JONESBOROUGH
TUESDAYS
Jonesborough Storytelling Guild “Stories n’More” Show 7:00pm at The Intl. Storytelling Center
SATURDAY AUG 31ST
Jonesborough Farmers Market 8:00am at Downtown Jonesborough
Historic Jonesborough Town Tour 1:00pm at Chester Inn
State Historic Site
ABINGDON, VA
WEDNESDAY AUG 28TH
Game Night 5:00pm at Abingdon Commons
Bingo 5:00pm at Abingdon Community Center
THURSDAY AUG 29TH
Southwest Virginia Manufacturers' Expo
9:00am Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center
FRIDAY AUG 30TH
Movies for Adults 2:00pm at Washington County Public Library
SUNDAY SEP 1ST
Bingo 5:00pm at Abingdon Community Center
BLUFF CITY
SATURDAY AUG 31ST
Bluff City Farmers Market 9:00pm at Bluff City Ball Field
THE MOCKINGBIRD SINGS THE BRISTOL SESSIONS
A MUSICAL LOVE STORY ABOUT THE BIRTH OF COUNTRY MUSIC
BOOK BY DR. NANCY HAMBLEN ACUFF, TERRY HARKLEROAD, & SHARON CORT
FRIDAY, SEPT 6 AT 7:30 PM
SATURDAY, SEPT 7 AT 7:30 PM
SUNDAY, SEPT 8 AT 2:30 PM
WEDNESDAY, SEPT 11 AT 7:30 PM
THURSDAY, SEPT 12 AT 7:30 PM
THEATRE BRISTOL ARTSPACE
506 STATE STREET, BRISTOL TN
THEATREBRISTOL.ORG/TICKETS
Those who qualify may receive:
• Payment up to $1,295, which varies by study
• Study-related care from local doctors at no cost
• Study medication at no cost
Participating in research studies helps contribute to the advancement of future medicine and treatment options.
To see if you qualify, visit www.MyCoughTrial.com or call 1-866-488-8088
Local Events:
1.. Twilight Alive July 19th Kingsport, TN
2. Hillbilly & Vet Pre-Party July 20th
7pm Wild Wings Café
3. Hillbilly & Vet Car & Bike July 20th
3pm – 7pm Wild Wings Café
4. 3rd Annual Tri-Cities Takeover August 25th
Bike Nights:
Wednesday: 19E Pit Stop
Wednesday: Jonesborough VFW
Thursday: Darrell Waltrip
Thursday: Old Town Tavern
Friday: Tulips
August 3rd Peacemakers Greenville, TN
Bike Night and Bike Show
Rides:
1. Hillbilly Shine Ride to Maggie Valley NC Meet 8am KSU
8:30am Jonesboro VFW
2. Bear Barnes Memorial Ride August 17th
Bike Rallies:
1. 15th Annual Hillbilly Show & Shine July 26th – 27th
2. 85th Annual Sturgis Bike Rally August 2nd – 11th
Rides & Rallies sponsored by biker wear
Beanz Biker Corner Beanz Biker Corner
Hello again everyone, it’s a HOT summer so lets go camping in the mountains, by the river, or at the lake. I love to go camping. I tent camp. Today, it seems like most people enjoy camping. Heck, I know I sure do! And who’s to blame them – camping is an amazing outdoor activity. But everybody has their own way of camping. Some like tents, or RV or a pull behind. No matter how you camp, you are making memories with family and friends. It’s a great way to get back to nature and get away from the noise of the city and the everyday rush. Stress just seems to melt away.
Recreational camping has a long history, with origins traced back to ancient times when early humans built temporary structures in the wilderness for shelter and survival during hunting and gathering expeditions. However, modern recreational camping as we know it today was popularized in the late Victorian era Thomas Hiram Holding, who wrote the first edition of "The Camper’s Handbook" in 1908, is considered the founder of modern recreational camping. For the overwhelming majority of human
By Anne Hartley
history, people have “camped” as a way of life. We humans lived a nomadic existence out of necessity, moving with the seasons, following food sources and avoiding inclement weather. A roving lifestyle in nature was all we knew for millennia. That, however, is far removed from the type of camping we’re talking about today. We’re interested in modern camping; the campground, sleeping bag and tent, kind of camping.
Here are some camping safety tips:
1. Choose the right shelter and site for your camping trip. 2. Stay upto-date with the weather and be prepared for any changes. 3. Pack and store food safely to avoid spoilage and contamination. 4. Practice campfire safety and never leave a fire unattended. 5. Use insect protection and avoid areas with high infestation. 6. Be aware of allergies and bring any necessary medication. 7. Protect your skin from the sun with sunscreen, hats, and clothing. 8. Stay hydrated and drink plenty of water. 9. Learn about local wildlife and keep a safe distance from them. 10. Be careful near water and follow the rules for swimming and boating. 11. Avoid poisonous plants and learn how to identify them.
Back when I was a kid, camping trips consisted of a leaky tent pitched on a rocky piece of earth and some marshmallows burnt to a crisp over the campfire. Don’t get me wrong, I loved camping then and I still love it now, but there’s no denying that camping has evolved in ways that were unimaginable a few decades ago. Today, modern campgrounds boast everything from waterparks to coffee carts, and they appeal to a larger number of people than ever before. With the amenities offered at some American campgrounds these days, there’s nothing rough about roughing it.
Useless Facts:
1. The total number of campers each year was constantly growing, but the boom was quite noticeable after the pandemic. In 2021, there were 93.8 million active camping households in the United States alone, from which 9.1 million households were camping for the first time in their life.
2. The majority of campers live in urban areas, so going camping for them is also escaping the busy city life. In a survey held in 2021, more than half of all campers (56%) were coming from urban living areas.
3. Camping is for everyone, regardless of their income. In fact, about 41% of first-time campers in 2020 came from higher-income households.
4. The average number of nights campers spend on a campground is between 7 and 9 nights.
5. You don’t need to travel long distances to enjoy nature. In 2021, 56% of campers traveled less than 100 miles for their trip. In fact, one third of them stay within just 50 miles of their homes.
Full Moons of 2024
1. Buck Moon on Sunday, July 21 - 6:19 am
2. Sturgeon Moon on Monday, August 19 - 2:28 pm
3. Harvest Moon on Wednesday September 18 - 10:36 pm
4. Hunters Moon on Thursday October 17 -7:27 am
5. Beaver Moon on Friday November 15 - 4:29 pm
6. Cold Moon on Sunday December 15 - 4:02 am
Social Sentiments
By Wendy Hayden socialsentiments
Back Your Brand
What makes your brand stand out above the crowd? How would you describe the unique purpose of your brand in less than 60 seconds?
The Social Sentiments brand stands for bringing dreams to life through the use of social media marketing. The passion behind the brand is an accidental discovery of a love of social media. When that passion was realized, a world of opportunity opened up to help people understand the power of social media.
A strong elevator pitch shows that you believe in your brand and are passionate about sharing your expertise with people
who can benefit from it. Your belief in your brand will shine when you keep your passion in mind. Always remind yourself of why you created your brand and why it is worthy of sharing with the world. Your pitch should reflect the reasons why you back your brand, what makes it stand out, and the good it can create for potential clients.
The ability to back your brand in 60 seconds is crucial to selling your unique expertise. Bring your brand to life with your inspiring short story!
Barter’s Shawshank Redemption is Authentic in More Than One Way
In the dimly lit backstage corridors of Barter Theatre, the cast of The Shawshank Redemption put on uniforms that are more than mere costumes. These prison uniforms, painstakingly stitched together by the hands of actual prisoners, enhance the realism of the production with an unparalleled level of authenticity. As the actors slip into the rough, coarse fabric, they are not only stepping into their roles, they are stepping into the lives of those who crafted these garments. This connection to the real-world experience of incarceration deepens their performance and brings a profound emotional weight to the stage. Each thread and seam of these uniforms tells a story of resilience and redemption, mirroring the very essence of The Shawshank Redemption. For the prisoners who created them, it is a rare opportunity to contribute to the outside world, to leave a mark beyond the prison walls. For the cast, it is a poignant reminder of the human lives entwined with their art. This collaboration between those inside and outside the prison system transcends the
boundaries of the stage, offering a powerful testament to the shared humanity that binds us all.
An important design element is that prisoners during the mid-20th century did not wear jumpsuits or scrubs. They wore jeans and button-up shirts. And they were allowed to wear belts and/or suspenders and have shoe lacesall of which are forbidden now.
“As I was searching online to find enough shirts and jeans, remembering they have to be identical to each other, in the sizes for our cast, I kept running into ‘out of stock’ notices. Finally I decided to just go to the manufacturer’s website and try to buy the clothes directly from them,” explained Barter’s Costume Shop Manager Alice Sullivan. “The label is Prison Blues, manufactured by Correction Connection. What I learned from the website is that this company employs people who are incarcerated in Oregon.”
From what Sullivan learned, the inmates construct all of the garments, which are then used throughout the Oregon Department of Corrections, but
also sold for profit to the public.
“The company motto ‘Made on the INSIDE to be worn on the OUTSIDE’ is actually true! This really spoke to me,” Sullivan said. “The authenticity of the clothing supports the work our actors are doing in creating their characters. These are not just costumes. The costumes are real prison uniforms and are very similar to the uniforms worn by inmates in the 20th century.”
This is such a well known film that Barter’s Producing Artistic Director Katy Brown felt it would be necessary to lean into that design for our show.
“When people picture Red and Andy (DuFresne) in their minds they always see Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins as they looked in the film,” Sullivan said. “And what I really like about the costume design for the film is that the inmates’ shirts are NOT just plain, blue chambray work shirts. They are actually striped - known as Hickory Shirts. The small stripes add texture and depth.”
Additionally, the uniforms came in actual sizes, whereas today the
options are small, medium, large, etc. This was much more expensive to the taxpayer, and required more labor to produce and maintain, than the uniforms we know today.
“Some of the cast members were so impressed they asked for the company website so they could buy things for their personal wardrobes,” Sullivan noted. “The clothing is competitively priced, but the quality is much better than most anything else on the market. For instance, the Prison Blues jeans do not have any spandex, and they are constructed from heavy denim.
“Anyone who wore blue jeans in the mid to late 20th century will remember when Levi’s would last for years! That’s what these jeans are - old school Levi’s. Correction Connection uses very high quality fabrics and thread. The workmanship is outstanding! These garments are meant to last for years and they willphysically and also in the minds of the audience.”
Time Traveling for my Sanity
I don’t think I’m alone in being at a breaking point with the state of the world today.
Aside from finally hitting the “these kids today” age, I concurrently have the misfortune of living in one of the most bizarrely chaotic and exhausting times in history, and thanks to technology, there’s hardly an escape from the nonstop coverage of globally divisive negativity, short of barricading yourself in a bunker with no electricity. Quite frankly, that scenario is sounding most appealing to me versus the alternative at the moment.
Since I still have parents, pets and taxes I can’t abandon for a life of peace and seclusion, I’ve decided to construct an alternative reality for myself that brings me a great deal of joy without going completely off the grid and out of my mind. The one good thing about living in this day and age is that you can literally decide to be anything you want to be, and that is why I have decided to live my life like it is 1950 as much as humanly possible.
Please hear me out and don’t have me committed.
This idea came about innocently enough. I think we all have periods in history that we feel drawn to; for my friend Robbie it’s the antebellum south, for my mother it’s her hayday in the 70s and for me it’s the idyllic Baby Boomer years between WWII and Vietnam. Maybe it’s from growing up in less than perfect settings with parents who both worked a lot, but even as a kid I adored classic TV shows and movies that depicted the perfectly groomed nuclear family in friendly neighborhoods with wellappointed lawns. As I grew into womanhood, I idolized the smoky
eyes and tiny waists of the “Hitchcock Blondes,” and searched in vain for the brawn of classically dark and handsome leading men like Paul Newman, Marlon Brando and Cary Grant in my fellow slack-jawed Y2K collegemates. Even my house in Elizabethton was a 1948 cottage, which I took a great deal of pleasure in decorating by scouring local antique stores for periodappropriate furnishings.
Lately I’ve been having some health issues, which is particularly troubling for me because I’m a lucky individual who’s never had to give a second thought to illness beyond an annual sinus infection. As I was lying around one day, scrolling through Instagram, I stumbled upon an account dedicated to vintage historical photos, and many of them were of the era I adore so much. As I thumbed my way through the photos of people living their lives in 1950s America, I began to notice how few overweight people there were. In fact, there were none. If you snapped a candid photo on any beach right now, the average weight would easily run 40lbs heavier than the vacationers 70 years ago. What were they doing that we’re not now?
This led to making my way down a Google rabbithole, researching the day-to-day lives of the 50s housewife. Surprisingly they devoted little time to exercise in spite of their figures, and it’s of course due to the fact that women were naturally more active then. They started their day 30 minutes before the rest of the family, prepared 3 nutritious meals, maintained spotless households and ran daily errands by foot. Most families only had one car, which meant women walked to the grocery store, bank or clothier during the day while their husband was gone to work. In their little free time, they read books, took up hobbies like tennis or golf or took classes to learn new skills-all geared toward making
themselves more well-rounded individuals. I then dove into old recipes and diet plans to see how and what they were eating differed from myself, and it’s of no surprise they ate very little processed foods and portion sizes were far smaller. They baked their own breads, emphasized milk and fruits at each meal and always left room for a pinch of dessert. This is all stuff I can get behind!
So back to my decision to time travel for my own health and sanity. I do not enjoy the direction the world is heading, and that is not geared toward any one political or religious opinion; in general and in short, I think we’re going to hell in a handbasket. And even though I’m a modern woman and can recognize there were numerous faults with 1950s/1960s America, I think we’re losing a lot by doing away with many of these values. Lying on our backs, eating fast food and scrolling through useless memes, while working sedentary jobs is turning us into monsters. I feel empty from wasting my life away in this manner day after day, comparing myself to filtered, vapid people who care only about what designer label on their silicone filled butt will receive the most likes from strangers for validation. I crave intellectually stimulating people who are active and motivated and strong in their own beliefs, regardless of whether they differ from mine.
In an attempt to be the change I want to see, I’m adopting as many of these lifestyle habits of yesteryear as I can make feasible. I’ve begun following a diet that more closely resembles what was eaten then, and while I’m not baking my own bread, I did go buy some from the farmers market that was made in the simplest and most organic way. I’ve started reading books again and in the car, switched from my normal true crime podcasts to informative and educational ones like Civil War history and alcohol-
by Kathie Scalf
industry news for my career. I’ve started caring more about my appearance before leaving the house, and just for fun I’m avoiding news and current events in favor of classic films of the era I’ve not seen.
The wildest thing about living in 2022 versus 1955, is that you now have a choice in your own successes and failures and you can blame it on no one else. We all hold the literal key to the universe in our hands with internet powered smart phones. Any and everything you’ve ever want to know is a click away, it’s just up to you whether you use this key for good or evil. Which means if you’re ignorant, fat and poor, it’s by your own choice, just as much as if you’re educated, healthy and successful. I might seem like I’m sticking my head in the sand to the current turbulent times by mentally going backward, but I’m thinking the key to me moving forward might be taking a few steps backward. Who’s coming with me?
XO - Kathie
In my opinion the current film "Twisters" is a must see on the largest theater screen possible. Some films you can see at home just fine, but certain films need the extra oomph theaters provide."Twisters" is described as a standalone sequel to the 1996 classic "Twister," which featured the famous flying cow sequence. The new film once more features a group of storm chasers, one group considered the "heroes" and the other group the "villains." The film features plenty of scientific jargon and ideas, but just like the "Jurassic Park" or "King Kong and Godzilla" movies, we come to see the main attraction in action, in this case tornados. The film introduces us to Kate Carter (Daisy Edgar-Jones), who works in Oklahoma with some fellow storm chasers who, as in the first film, have a doppler named Dorothy V, they hope to launch inside a tornado for research. After a tragic accident to the team which leaves Kate devastated, she leaves Oklahoma to take a job at the NOAA (National
By Ken Silvers theloaferonlineprint @gmail.com
Twisters
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) in New York City. Of course anyone with an IQ over 50 knows her job with NOAA will be a thing of the past when one of her former chasers, Javi (Anthony Ramos), visits from Oklahoma with the hope of luring her back to Oklahoma to to help him in the new company he works for named Storm Par, a mobile tornado radar company. Kate reluctantly agrees to return for a one-week position, which we all know will lead to more. Once she is back in Oklahoma, Kate meets the other members of Javi's team, which includes new Superman David Corenswet as Scott. Just as she gets acquainted with the team, "Tornado Wrangler" and YouTube star Tyler Owens (Glen Powell), shows up in his truck, and quicker than a twister can hit, you know Kate and Tyler are destined to be a couple. As in the original film, the two groups attempt to outdo each other in storm prediction and chasing. Eventually Kate and Tyler are in the tornado wrangler truck together, and Kate discovers her old friend's organization is on the seedy side. Her discovery leads to her trusting Tyler and feelings develop between all the storms and witty banter. The film features several smaller tornados, until a massive EF5 hits the ground headed for El Reno, Oklahoma. At this point in the film, Kate becomes the Ripley (Sigourney Weaver's character in the "Alien franchise) of the film and heads straight into the tornado to release Dorothy, which contains various chemicals
which they hope will. dissipate the twister in order to save more lives. The film ends with the expected happy ending for Kate, Tyler and Javi, and we get there after several harrowing storms and forgiven misdeeds by the characters.The actors are all great, but with his arrogance and bravado, Powel nearly steals the film from the twisters. "Twisters" breaks no
new ground in story-telling, but has great special effects and is one of those films I like to call a "popcorn flick," i.e. pure Hollywood magic on the screen. So I recommend that you sit back and let "Twisters" blow you away. (Rated PG-13)
Bristol
PARAMOUNT
Sep 6 ZOSO-The Ultimate Led Zeppelin experience
Sep 26 Key West
Sep 27 Trae Crowder
Sep 28 Dusty Slay (two shows)
Oct 4 Destination Soultown featuring the Sensational Soul Cruisers
Oct 6 Sunday Funday Clean Comedy Show
Oct 11 An Evening with Todd Rundgren
Oct18 Atlanta Rhythm Section
Nov 9 Deana Carter
Nov 10 John Crist
Nov 14 Farm & Fun Time featuring Wood Brothers with Lindsay Lou
Feb 15 Vitamin String Quartet
BRISTOL RHYTHM & ROOTS REUNION
Sep 13-15 Ashley McBryde, The Wallflowers, The Red Clay Strays, Sam Bush, Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, The Steeldrivers, 49 Winchester and more.
JOHNSON CITY
JOHNSON CITY TN
MARTIN CENTER FOR THE ARTS
Aug 17 The Concert: A Tribute to ABBA
Sep 28 Black Jacket Symphony will perform will perform Elton John’s Madman Across The Water
Oct 7 Ben Folds
FREEDOM HALL
Sep 20 Rocktropolis’ 24 featuring Ace Frehley, Josey Scott of Saliva, Sebastian Bach and Scotty Austin
Oct 3 Zach Williams, CAIN, Matt Maher & Ben Fuller
Oct 20 Whiskey Myers, JJ Grey & Mofro
GREENVILLE
NISWONGER PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
Aug 24 Exile
Sep 5 Arrival From Sweden-The Music of ABBA
Sep 11 Stryper-40th Anniversary Tour
CONCERT SCHEDULE CONCERT SCHEDULE
Sep 23 Wheel of Fortune Live
Oct 5 Artimus Pyle Band honoring Ronnie Van Zant’s Lynyrd Skynyrd
Oct 13 Newsboys
Oct 18 The Isaacs-Tribute to the Grand Ole Opry
Oct 27 Sara Evans
Nov 2 Grand Funk Railroad
Nov 14 Tracy Lawrence
Nov 24 Gladys Knight
Dec 1 Girl Named Tom-Christmas Tour
MARION VA
MARION VA
THE LINCOLN THEATRE
Aug 24 Landslide: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac
Sep 18 The Machine performs Pink Floyd
Sep 28 Abbey Road: Tribute to The Beatles
Oct 11 Spank The 80s
Oct 19 & 20 Gene Watson
Oct 27 An Evening with Pam Tillis
Nov 8 Killer Beaz
Nov 9 On Fire: The Hottest Tribute to Van Halen
Nov 16 Rhonda Vincent & The Rage
Nov 22 The Wizards of Winter
Nov 30 Chapel Hart
Dec 31 7 Bridges: The Ultimate Eagles Experience
CHARLOTTESVILLE
CHARLOTTESVILLE VA
TING PAVILLION
Sep 9 GOOSE
Oct 2 Vampire Weekend
Oct 3 Joe Russo’s Almost Dead
Oct 9 Ray Lamontagne & Gregory Alan Isakov with Erin Rae
Oct 25 Whiskey Myers with JJ Grey & Mofro And Colby Acuff
Knoxville
KNOXVILLE TN
BIJOU THEATRE
Aug 20 PJ Morton
Sep 13 Jamie Lissow
Oct 1 Spyro Gyra
Oct 2 Shovels & Rope
Oct 3 The War and Treaty
Oct 26 Henry Cho
Nov 8 Gaelic Storm
Nov 15 Preacher Lawson
TENNESSEE THEATRE
Sep 10 Patti LaBelle
Sep 22 Keb’Mo’ & Shawn Colvin
Oct 1 My Morning Jacket
Oct 3 Teddy Swims
Oct 10 Switchfoot
Oct 28 Jesse McCartney
Nov 19 Theory of a Dead Man
Dec 11 Mike Birbiglia
Dec 18 A Magical Cirque Christmas
THOMPSON BOWLING ARENA
Sep 12 Hootie and the Blowfish with Collective Soul and Edwin McCain
Oct 2 Jeff Dunham
Oct 25 Jelly Roll
Nov 19 Justin Timberlake
KNOXVILLE CIVIC AUDITORIUM
Oct 10 Air Supply
Oct 11 Chonda Pierce
Oct 18 Gary Allan
Oct 26 Dusty Slay
Nov 17 Sal Vulcano
Dec 11 Christmas with CeCe Winans and Roman Collins
KNOXVILLE CIVIC COLISEUM
Oct 3 Brantley Gilbert
NEYLAND STADIUM IN KNOXVILLE
Sep 22 Morgan Wallen and Hardy
ASHEVILLE
ASHEVILLE NC
THE ORANGE PEEL
Aug 27 The Linda Lindas
Sep 3 Soul Asylum
Sep 7 Brandy Clark
Sep 9 Buckethead
Sep 11 Bad Flower
Oct 1 The Hives
Oct 3 Mother Mother
Oct 20 Railroad Earth
Nov 7 & 8 Drive-By Truckers
Nov 10 Morgan Wade
Nov 11 GWAR
Dec 6 & 7 The Wood Brothers
Dec 12 Tommy Emmanuel
RABBIT RABBIT
Aug 30 Sublime and Rome
Aug 31 Juvenile with The 400 Degreez Band
Sep 17 Black Pumas
Sep 24 Kaleo
Oct 5 Violent Femmes
Oct 8 Lake Street Dive
Oct 13 Vampire Weekend (sold out)
EXPLOREASHEVILLE.COM ARENA
Aug 30 King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard
Sep 17 Seether and Skillet
Oct 2 Ray LaMontagne & Gregory Alan Isakov
Oct 21 An Evening with Sturgill Simpson
Oct 25 & 26 GOOSE
Nov 9 Tedeschi Trucks Band
THOMAS WOLFE AUDITORIUM
Oct 1 Nurse Blake
Oct 17 Jo Koy
Oct 18 Barenaked Ladies
Oct 19 Gillian Welch & David Rawlings
Oct 23 Straight Up No Chaser
Nov 20 Bonnie Raitt
Nov 24 Mark Normand
Dec 12 Mike Birbiglia
Cherokee, N.C.
CHEROKEE, NC
HARRAH’S CHEROKEE
Sep 6 ZZ Top
Sep 20 & 21 Jamey Johnson
Oct 19 Charlie Wilson
Oct 25 Little Feat with Duane Betts & Palmetto Motel
Oct 26 Tower of Power
Nov 23 Babyface
Dec 14 Colter Wall
Dec 20 Home Free
Mill Spring, N.C.
HAMPTON VA
TRYON INTL EQUESTRIAN CENTER
Aug 30-Sept 1 Earl Scruggs Music Festival with Tanya Tucker, Old Crow Medicine Show, Yoder Mountain String Band, Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives, The Steeldrivers and many more.
Is That a Nintendo in Your Pocket?
In late April, Apple updated the rules to their app store and for the first time this new language allowed for apps to be officially available for the iPhone and iPad that emulate games. Shortly after the change, the gaming app Delta was released and became massively popular. After reading about Delta, I downloaded it to my phone and I haven’t looked back since.
Now, I’m not going to go into detail on how to get games onto your phone to use with the app. You’re a savvy human who understand how to google, but let me tell you that having a game boy full of 80 games ready to go with me at all times has been a game changer. It’s perfect for little moments of pure joy when you need one. There is something so simple and great about being stuck a waiting room, then knocking out a good twenty minutes playing the game boy version of “Jeopardy” from 1991.
Delta emulates Nintendo systems, mostly from the 1990s. It can play games made for the original Nintendo, Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64, Game Boy and Game Boy color,
Batteries
Not Included
By Andy Ross
and also the Nintendo DS. What makes Delta so great is the way it effortless does this, packing it all in a simple, elegant package. You load the game rom file to your phone and it matches it to the right cover art and self-organizes the games by system. You just tap the cover and your game starts, with a touch screen controller that is designed to look like the one for the system that game is for.
Now sometimes playing a video game by touch controls can be a be a bit, well, lacking. Delta makes up for this by having haptic feedback, giving you a little bit of a more tactile experience. What impresses me the most is how natural Game Boy games take to the form. On a iPhone screen they’re roughly the same size, if not a little bit bigger, than the screen of original Game Boy hardware.
The nostalgia aside, it’s far more engaging and entertaining, to me, to open up delta and play some of these games over their modern mobile counterparts. The current apps for “Wheel of Fortune” and “Jeopardy” are OK, but they feel a bit lacking to me. Tap on delta, tap on the game, and in a minute you’re doing your best to keep up with the computer. It’s comforting, fun, and just a marvel of modern technology to think of the games I use to haul around in a bag on vacations, all being on one device in my pocket.
I’ll tell you what’s shocked me the most out of all the games I’ve been playing. I’ve become mildly addicted to playing golf games. Yep. I am not athletic in real life, I’ve only ever been golfing once, I nearly drove the cart off a cliff that time. Yet there is something so relaxing and enjoyable about playing a few rounds of PGA European Tour from 1994 while I wait when dining alone in a crowded restaurant.
I even did an entire 18 hole round
of “Jack Nicklaus Golf” when I was waiting in the green room the other night before I got on stage, mostly as I tend to arrive rather early and had quite a bit of time on my hands. Then after that I played the very bad to OK Game Boy tie-in game for the 1993 action film “Cliffhanger.”
A game which is fun in a weird and rather ridiculous way.
That may not seem that impressive
or interesting to you, technical wonders are more common and less dazzling these days. For those of us who are depressed elder millennials, it is impressive. It’s also a comfort and in these times when we often feel tired and overwhelmed, there is a pure comfort in being able to just knockout a round of “Tetris" the way you first fell in love with it on your phone. See you next week.
