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Volume 27 Issue #37
Photo  by  Mark  Marquette
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Bristol STILL “Racin’ the Way It Oughta BE!” Articles and photos by Mark Marquette Like all things in life, Bristol Motor Speedway is experiencing the fact that change is a constant process. It’s no secret that the once hardest ticket to buy in all motorsports has become a bargain with plenty of empty seats the past two years at the
unique, 160,000 seat racing coliseum. My 20-‐years hanging around the track as a photojournalist/ writer has this one insight— the attendance drop-‐off is not the fault of the BMS staff, ϐ marketing mistakes.
The economic recession, the price of gas now constantly above $3 a gallon and the eroding of NASCAR’s base of fans the past decade has created what I perceive as a “perfect storm” that has seen the past four races range from 80-‐110,000 in attendance at the Bristol racing
stadium. Still…that’s a lot of people! The incredible, high-‐banked speedway saw its record streak of 55 sellouts ended in March 2010 when “only” 130,000 saw the 500 laps. That sellout streak started in August 1982 when the track held a paltry 30,000.
The track went through several expansions by original track owner, the late Larry Carrier. When purchased by race mogul Burton Smith and his Speedway Motorsports Inc. (SMI) in 1996 for a reported $26 million, construction immediately began to transform a popular NASCAR track into the “Taj Mahal” of any racing venue in the world. The nearly two dozen tracks on the NASCAR schedule (seven tracks owned by SMI) have all been hit hard by the economy. And, perhaps, a bit of apathy by the casual fan toward stock car racing. Check out the grandstands during all the televised NASCAR races…there’s empty seat everywhere. I’ll never forget an August pre-‐race moment back in the early 2000s when I was Ǧϐ beside the late Jeff Byrd, BMS’s beloved president and general manager. The driver introductions were over; the parachutist had ϐ the stadium with Lee Greenwood singing his famous song, “God Bless the USA” (that always stood the hair on my arm). The National Anthem had been Continued on page 7
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sung by the special children’s choir of NASCAR drivers’ kids. ϐ kaleidoscope of colors as they settled in their seats, and the beautiful summer twilight was electric with human anticipation of a noisy, crazy night of racing. I distinctly remember turning to Jeff Byrd and remarking, “Gawd! Can you believe this Jeff? This is unreal. What a feeling!” “Mark,” Jeff Byrd said, the tall man putting his hand on my shoulder, “I just hope they keep coming back.” “Ah, that’s a no brainer,” I said. To which Jeff replied: “No. In this business, you can’t ever count on that.” How prophetic was that moment with Jeff Byrd, beloved mentor to many, and just one of the great businessmen the Mountain Empire has ever seen. He died in October 2010 after battling cancer, but the leadership was left in the good hands of current general manager Jerry Caldwell. The amazing Bristol bullring of racing has seen its attendance
cut nearly in half because of many factors. One is race fans checked off their bucket lists the “Fastest Half-‐Mile in the World,” and have moved on. Then there ϐ ǡ which has wrecked vacation times for the thousands of fans who have met for years at the racetrack, befriending each other after traveling from towns in Wisconsin to Massachusetts to Florida and beyond. I recently talked to a liquor store owner who said she observed that the same groups of 20 or so who met at campgrounds in the area had stopped coming to shop. One reason was that some of the fans had lost their jobs, taken new ones, and now couldn’t get the vacation time off to spend in Bristol. Those who do come to Bristol will miss some of the friends they had made from other parts of the country-‐-‐-‐sometimes literally in a camping spot in the backyard subdivisions across from the racetrack. Some people try to blame the ϐ once frequent fender-‐benders and spinouts since the racetrack
ϐ in 2007. Sure, there might not be the wrecking of cars like in the past. But there sure is racin! If you don’t think driving 120 mph bumper-‐to-‐bumper in a pack of 43 cars doesn’t require some outstanding skills—well, think again. Fact: today’s NASCAR drivers much are more athletic and methodically trained by car owners in ways that were unheard of to the drivers of 20 years ago. Can you image a ninth grade dropout who left school for an education on the local dirt tracks getting a shot at a NASCAR ride today? That’s part of the tobacco road biography of the great, seven-‐time champion Dale Earnhardt. Fact: the cars themselves are far removed from the almost “rattle traps” of the Golden Era of Earnhardt, Waltrip, Wallace, Labonte and the Allisons. Since Earnhardt’s tragic fatal crash at the Daytona 500 in 2001, the “stock car” has been transformed outside and inside to a safety cocoon that has allowed drivers Continued on page 8
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to survive without injury some awful crashes. When the Bristol.533-‐mile track was resurfaced and a less steep banking created for the August 2007 race, there was less wrecking but more racing. Stock cars were three wide instead of ϐ ǡ Ǧ Ǧ speed was phenomenal to see. Yet the fans called it boring, and missed the excitement of the wrecks and fuming personalities. So racing billionaire Burton Smith spent millions more of his dollars changing the track back to a two-‐lane racing spectacle for the race in August 2012— and there is still grumbling for the “old days.” Well, you can forget ever seeing again NASCAR racing like it was “back in he day.” Time has moved on. In today’s politically correct world, the hot tempered race driver is few and far between as the big money sponsors frown about a “bad dz ϐ tossing helmets. Sponsorship image and a new code of conduct have swept the NASCAR garage, a by-‐product of the sport expanding across the country from its “Southern Boys” roots. All things must pass. So it’s time to embrace the greatest short track in the world, and appreciate the speed and skill on display. I’ve had the privilege of watching many races from the
roof top of BMS. Back in the “old days,” I would see a single ϐ Dz dz a multicolored rubber band stretched around the tight oval. Passing was executed in the corners with a rear quarter panel tap that was either a good pass or a chain-‐reaction wreck of several cars. With the track changes of 2007, the drivers suddenly could race side-‐by-‐ side, and from the roof viewpoint I can watch some amazing “close calls” of “non-‐wrecks” for dozens of laps with one car low and one car high. From the roof of BMS, I see the talent of extremely skilled drivers who’s racing instincts keeps them from wrecking. Want to make the Night Race more exciting? Well, get your butt out of your seat and walk down to the front or back stretch
fence during the racing action. You’ll feel the speed as the stock cars circle around in the cacophony of sound, wind and dirt swirling in the air. Your eyes aren’t fast enough to focus on one car as it blurs by, and your ϐ ͳʹͲ maelstrom of automotive power. A day at the races at Bristol Motor Speedway is more than just the 500-‐lapper on Saturday evening. It’s the entire NASCAR carnival at its best for a weekend that is enriched more by the vacation paradise of our Mountain Empire region. Get a ticket and make it a day of fun in a circus atmosphere at one of racing’s great venues. And appreciate “Racin’ the Way it Is!” at the little Bristol racetrack that has brought the attention of the whole racing world to its doorstep.
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Peters Banks On History Repeating Itself In Wednesday Night Doubleheader
It would be hard to top Timothy Peters’ experience in the UNOH 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event at Bristol Motor Speedway. He did something only two other drivers had accomplished in nearly 200 national series races at the Last Great Colosseum – leading every lap on his way to a win. So if he cannot top the performance, the 32-‐year-‐old Peters hopes history at least repeats itself at Bristol Motor Speedway in the UNOH 200, Wednesday, August 21. “It’s cool coming back to a place where we led every lap,” said the Red Horse Racing driver. “Last year I came in the same truck I won Iowa with, and we’re able to do the same thing again this year. Hopefully, that means the stars will align for us.”
Despite his dominating 2012 performance, the Danville, Va. native acknowledges that battling on the World’s Fastest Half Mile is challenging – an attribute that seems to heighten excitement and shorten fuses for those circling the venue’s legendary banks. “Everyone gets pumped up for good, short-‐track racing under the lights,” he said. “It can be so ϐ ǡ seems like every time they pull that last loop on a driver’s helmet at Bristol the intensity goes up –
like it cuts off our oxygen a little and makes us act a little crazy.” Peters began his racing career at age 8, cutting his teeth driving go-‐karts at his hometown track located behind the Danville Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company before eventually moving on to Legends cars and Late Model Stock cars. A lifetime fan of motorsports, racing at the iconic half-‐mile holds special ϐ the jump to NASCAR’s truck series in 2005. “There’s just something to be said about racing on the World’s Fastest Half Mile,” he said. “How cool is it to see a pick-‐up truck go 120 mph around that place? You can’t see that anywhere else, not to mention the track’s history and success some of the biggest names in our sport had there. I was a huge Darrell Waltrip fan growing up, and you always knew he had the chance to go to victory lane at Bristol.” To see if Peters can once again hoist the trophy in Bristol’s victory lane and watch the gladiators of NASCAR’s Camping World Truck Series and Whelen ϐ bullring, visit www.bristoltix. com or call toll free at (855) 580-‐ 5525. Tickets for the Wednesday night doubleheader start at just $30, and kids 15-‐and-‐under get in free with a ticketed adult.
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Jeff Gordon Appearance Highlights Pepsi Max Half-Mile Club the Food City 250 Nationwide event, Friday, August 23 remain available, starting at $99. Great seats remain around the facility with lower-‐row seating for the Night Race starting at $75. Tickets for the Food City 250 start at $35 for adults and $17 for youth 15-‐and-‐under. Guests are encouraged to purchase in advance while the price is $5 less per grandstand ticket than the race-‐week cost for the same seat. The Wednesday night double
Five-‐time Bristol winner and four-‐time NASCAR Cup Series Champ Pepsi MAX driver Jeff Gordon is scheduled to stop by the Pepsi Max Half-‐Mile Club before the IRWIN Tools Night Race August 24, giving fans time before one of the sport’s legendary races. In addition to the appearance by the legendary driver, who is third on NASCAR’s all-‐time win list, membership in the Pepsi MAX Half-‐Mile Club comes with a number of VIP experiences. Guests receive entrance to the exclusive BMS Hospitality Village complete with catered meals, entertainment, door prizes, a cash bar and a special member’s-‐only gift pack, including a souvenir program. Tickets to the Pepsi MAX Half-‐ Mile Club for the IRWIN Tools Night Race are $180 for adults and $135 for those 15-‐and-‐ under. Pepsi MAX Half-‐Mile Club pricing does not include grandstand seating for any of the NASCAR events. To purchase grandstand tickets, fans may ϐ 423-‐BRISTOL (274-‐7865) or toll free at 1-‐866-‐415-‐4158 or go online to www.bristoltix.com. August race weekend ticket packages for the August 24 IRWIN Tools Night Race and
WEDNESDAYS
WEDNESDAYS
header features the Titan Roof 150 Whelen ϐ the UNOH 200 Camping World Truck Series event. Considered by many to be one of the best nights of racing in NASCAR, tickets are $30 and free for 15-‐and-‐under. BMS fans also may renew their
season tickets for 2014 and save time later. For more information or to purchase tickets, fans may call toll free at 1-‐866-‐415-‐4158 or 423-‐BRISTOL or online at www. bristoltix.com.
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Hank Williams Jr. Headlines Pre-Race Show
Intensity tends to ratchet up a notch when all the rowdy friends show up at Bristol Motor Speedway in August, and this year just got a little rowdier.
Guests at the Last Great Colosseum do not have to wait ϐ the IRWIN Tools Night Race for a roaring good time; August
24 the tone is set early when powerhouse performer Hank Williams, Jr., rocks the pre-‐race concert presented by the NRA. “Hank Williams Jr. is an icon
in both music and Southern culture,” said BMS General Manager Jerry Caldwell. “Featuring a legendary artist of this caliber makes perfect sense when you consider that a similar description is appropriate for Bristol Motor Speedway – a one-‐ of-‐a-‐kind facility immersed in the history of motorsports but always looking for new ways to enhance the experience both on and off the track.” With an array of familiar hits, the Grammy-‐award winning artist is primed to excite the crowd before one of NASCAR’s most-‐anticipated events. “Tennessee is home and NASCAR fans are my fans!” said the legendary musician. “This show is going to be a fun one. As a supporter of the NRA, I am
proud to be performing on their stage and showing Bristol Motor Speedway fans how Bocephus boogie-‐woogies.” Guests wanting a front row seat to Williams’s pre-‐race performance can purchase a Pre-‐Race Super Pass for just $80 with a portion of the proceeds ϐ of Speedway Children’s Charities. Providing unparalleled access to Bristol’s renowned pre-‐race events, the pass puts fans front-‐ and-‐center at the NRA stage for Hank Jr.’s show as well as the track’s acclaimed driver introductions. For more information on the pre-‐race SuperPass or to purchase, call (855) 580-‐5525 or visit www.bristoltix.com.
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Veterans, Wounded Warriors Honored In 16th Annual Ford Transporter Parade
Grand marshaled by 91-‐year-‐old World War II veteran Leo Walsh, the 16th annual Ford Transporter Parade offers fans the chance to witness NASCAR’s heavy haulers carry their favorite race cars toward the Last Great Colosseum. On Thursday, August 22, thousands will line the 10-‐mile parade route to watch the cars arrive in style. Starting at 9 p.m. from the Bristol Mall and culminating with drivers expertly parking their rig inside the World’s Fastest Half Mile, children from the Make-‐A-‐Wish Foundation or Children’s Miracle Network and veterans from the Wounded Warrior Project are also accompanying the transporters on this year’s journey. Prior to the start of the parade, fans can visit the Bristol Mall parking lot for an up-‐close look at the haulers and meet those who drive the mammoth machines. Those wishing to watch ϐ so from the BMS grandstands, gaining access through Gate 10 at 9 p.m.
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Scheduling Conflict Results In Alterations To Austin Dillon Q&A, Plenty Of Chances Remain To See Dillon And Help COPD Foundation ϐ necessitated the cancellation of the August 23 question and answer session with Richard Childress Racing driver Austin ϐ Foundation. However, several opportunities to meet Dillon and support the COPD Foundation and Speedway Children’s Charities remain in a series of programs around the Food City 250 NASCAR Nationwide Series event August 23 at Bristol Motor Speedway. “In our business, sometimes things have to be shifted in one direction or another,” said BMS General Manager Jerry Caldwell. “While no one is more disappointed than Austin that ϐ need to cancel the question and answer session, race fans have other options to meet him, learn
about the effects of COPD and help raise money for some great causes.” To raise awareness about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the COPDF teams with one of the hottest drivers in NASCAR®, Dillon, the ϐ honorary ambassador of the DRIVE4COPD campaign. Dillon kicks off the initiative Thursday, August 22 by hosting a COPD screening for fans at the Food City at 1320 Euclid Avenue in Bristol, Va., at 5 p.m. Eastern. At 6:30 that evening, Dillon gives fans a thrill by taking auction winners around the high banks of Bristol Motor Speedway in a Richard Petty Driving Ǥ ϐ Speedway Children’s Charities
and the COPDF. To bid fans may go to https://www.sccauctions. com/. A serious and progressive lung disease, COPD is the third leading cause of death in the United States. Tennessee has the third highest rate of COPD in the country, annually claiming the lives of nearly 2,000 people in
the state. Additionally, BMS guests have ample opportunity to gain knowledge on COPD while on property. A booth featuring educational materials and giveaways where guests can be screened is open Noon to 7 pm, Friday and Saturday, August 23-‐24 in the BMS Corporate Display area (near BMS Hospitality Village between the front stretch and Bristol Dragway). BMS guests may go a step further and help the cause of ϐ Ǥ DRIVE4COPD logo -‐ the orange and blue pinwheel -‐-‐ are for sale at the Speedway World gift shop in the lobby of the Bruton Smith Building behind Turn 2 at BMS ϐ
Souvenir trailers and stands. “We are especially grateful to Bristol Motor Speedway and Austin Dillon for their help generating greater understanding about this debilitating, life-‐threatening lung disease,” said John W. Walsh, president and co-‐founder of COPDF. “The good news is that the disease is mostly preventable and, if discovered in time, almost always treatable. We are standing up for the millions of Americans living with COPD, and encourage anyone 35 or older to get screened to see if they are at risk.” Those wanting to learn more about COPD may take a simple survey herehttp://www. drive4copd.org/AreYouAtRisk. aspx. Tickets remain for all four races at Bristol Motor Speedway Aug. 21-‐24.
WƌĞǀĞŶƚ ĂŶĚ īĞĐƟǀĞůLJ August 20, 2013 • The Loafer, Page 15 dƌĞĂƚ ůnjŚĞŝŵĞƌ͛Ɛ ďLJ Share your Alzheimer’s story, 2025 ĂŶĚ 2025 Share your Alzheimer’s story, KƉƟŵŝnjĞ ĐĂƌĞ ƋƵĂůŝƚLJ ĂŶĚ Share your Alzheimer’s story, KƉƟŵŝnjĞ ĐĂƌĞ ƋƵĂůŝƚLJ ĂŶĚ Ask Congressional leaders to make Join us as we learn more ĞĸĐŝĞŶĐLJ Ask Congressional leaders to make ople ĞĸĐŝĞŶĐLJ Ask Congressional leaders to make ĂďŽƵƚ ĂŶĚ ĚŝƐĐƵƐƐ ƚŚĞ ĮƌƐƚ Expand support for people Alzheimer’s a priority, and Expand support for people ĞǀĞƌ EĂƟŽŶĂů ůnjŚĞŝŵĞƌΖƐ Alzheimer’s a priority, and with the disease and Alzheimer’s a priority, and Plan. with the disease and their caregivers Hear ĨƌŽŵ ůĞĂĚĞƌƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĮĞůĚ ĂďŽƵƚ ŶĞƐƐ their caregivers Hear ĨƌŽŵ ůĞĂĚĞƌƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĮĞůĚ ĂďŽƵƚ dŚĞ EĂƟŽŶĂů ůnjŚĞŝŵĞƌ͛Ɛ ŶŚĂŶĐĞ ƉƵďůŝĐ ĂǁĂƌĞŶĞƐƐ ŶŚĂŶĐĞ ƉƵďůŝĐ ĂǁĂƌĞŶĞƐƐ Hear ĨƌŽŵ ůĞĂĚĞƌƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĮĞůĚ ĂďŽƵƚ ŶŚĂŶĐĞ ƉƵďůŝĐ ĂǁĂƌĞŶĞƐƐ WůĂŶ ĐĂůůƐ ŽƵƚ ϱ ƐƉĞĐŝĮĐ ŶŚĂŶĐĞ ƉƵďůŝĐ ĂǁĂƌĞŶĞƐƐ research, support, and the trajectory and engagement research, support, and the trajectory goals: and engagement ve research, support, and the trajectory Track progress and drive WƌĞǀĞŶƚ ĂŶĚ īĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ŽĨ ƚŚŝƐ ĚĞǀĂƐƚĂƟŶŐ ĚŝƐĞĂƐĞ͘ Track progress and drive ŽĨ ƚŚŝƐ ĚĞǀĂƐƚĂƟŶŐ ĚŝƐĞĂƐĞ͘ improvement dƌĞĂƚ ůnjŚĞŝŵĞƌ͛Ɛ ďLJ ŽĨ ƚŚŝƐ ĚĞǀĂƐƚĂƟŶŐ ĚŝƐĞĂƐĞ͘ improvement 2025 Ő Join us as we learn more KƉƟŵŝnjĞ ĐĂƌĞ ƋƵĂůŝƚLJ ĂŶĚ ůnjŚĞŝŵĞƌ͛Ɛ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ϲƚŚ ůĞĂĚŝŶŐ ther ůnjŚĞŝŵĞƌ͛Ɛ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ϲƚŚ ůĞĂĚŝŶŐ ĂďŽƵƚ ĂŶĚ ĚŝƐĐƵƐƐ ƚŚĞ ĮƌƐƚ ĞĸĐŝĞŶĐLJ ZĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƚĂƟǀĞ Jon &ŝĞůĚ ZĞƉ͘ ĨŽƌ ŽŶŐƌĞƐƐŵĂŶ Ž cause of death. There is no other cause of death. There is no other & Thursday, Augu ZĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƚĂƟǀĞ Jon ĞǀĞƌ EĂƟŽŶĂů ůnjŚĞŝŵĞƌΖƐ &ŝĞůĚ ZĞƉ͘ ĨŽƌ ŽŶŐƌĞƐƐŵĂŶ ĐŚƌŽŶŝĐ ĚŝƐĞĂƐĞ ƚŚĂƚ ĂīĞĐƚƐ ƐŽ ZĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƚĂƟǀĞ Jon Expand support for people &ŝĞůĚ ZĞƉ͘ ĨŽƌ ŽŶŐƌĞƐƐŵ & Lundberg ĐŚƌŽŶŝĐ ĚŝƐĞĂƐĞ ƚŚĂƚ ĂīĞĐƚƐ ƐŽ Phil Roe: John Abe Teague Plan. & Lundberg Phil Roe: John Abe Teague many without a way to s Lundberg Phil Roe: John Abe Teag many without a way to with the disease and cure, prevent or even slow its cure, prevent or even slow its dŚĞ EĂƟŽŶĂů ůnjŚĞŝŵĞƌ͛Ɛ Kingsport Rena (Theater, 1st Floor) their caregivers progression. WůĂŶ ĐĂůůƐ ŽƵƚ ϱ ƐƉĞĐŝĮĐ progression. ŶŚĂŶĐĞ ƉƵďůŝĐ ĂǁĂƌĞŶĞƐƐ ŶŚĂŶĐĞ ƉƵďůŝĐ ĂǁĂƌĞŶĞƐƐ (Theater, 1st Floor) goals: (Theater, ŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ͗ and engagement dŽ ƌĞŐŝƐƚĞƌ ĂŶĚ ĨŽƌ ŵŽƌĞ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ͗ WƌĞǀĞŶƚ ĂŶĚ īĞĐƟǀĞůLJ dŽ ƌĞŐŝƐƚĞƌ ĂŶĚ ĨŽƌ ŵŽƌĞ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ͗ Free Event Track progress and drive ƐŵĂŶŝƐΛĂůnj͘ŽƌŐ dƌĞĂƚ ůnjŚĞŝŵĞƌ͛Ɛ ďLJ ƐŵĂŶŝƐΛĂůnj͘ŽƌŐ Free Event Share your Alzheimer’s story, Free Event ZĞŐŝƐƚƌĂƟŽŶ ŝƐ ZĞƋƵĞƐƚĞĚ 2025 improvement 423.928.4080 ZĞŐŝƐƚƌĂƟŽŶ ŝƐ ZĞƋƵĞƐƚĞĚ 423.928.4080 Share your Alzh ZĞŐŝƐƚƌĂƟŽŶ ŝƐ ZĞƋƵĞƐƚĞĚ Share your Alzheimer’s story, KƉƟŵŝnjĞ ĐĂƌĞ ƋƵĂůŝƚLJ ĂŶĚ Ask Congressional leaders to make www.theloaferonline.com dƌĞĂƚ ůnjŚĞŝŵĞƌ͛Ɛ ďLJ
Alzheimer's Town Hall Alzheimer's Town Hall
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Thursday, August 22, 9:00 a.m. Thursday, August 22, 9:00 a.m. Kingsport Renaissance Center Kingsport Renaissance Center
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Page 16, The Loafer • August 20, 2013
Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band Capones - August 24th
Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band will play at Capone’s, 227 E. Main Street, on Saturday, August 24th. Tickets are $5 at the door. Doors open at 8pm and show starts at 10:30pm. Ages are 18 and up. Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band is a funk band from Asheville, NC that was formed in 2002. Their music is a unique sound of original compositions, triumphant horns, laid back grooves and heavy backbeats empowered with deep soul and seismic rhythms. The band has performed over 150 shows and they complete three to four national tours each year. The band is fully committed to the funk genre
and incorporates colorful costumes and interactive stage personalities into their shows. They say they have a philosophy of having fun and feeling good and it’s their goal to shake the world, one cheek at a time! The groups last album is a re-‐ mix titled Re-‐Doin’ It Hard which was released on Sept 18, 2012 and they are currently working on a new album. Band members are: Mary Frances (keys, vocals), Al Al Ingram (bass, vocals), Derrick Johnson (trombone), John Paul Miller (guitar, vocals), and Lee Allen (drums). For More Information -‐ http:// nu.bootyband.com
Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band are heading back on the road this summer with dates across the US. The funkadelic 5-‐piece, featuring smokin’ horns, a keytar slinging babe-‐a-‐licious brunette, and old school funk rhythms, will be bringing high-‐energy, dance-‐driven party music to a street party, club, or festival near you. The band will be making stops throughout their home state of North Carolina, the Rocky Mountains, and the Northeast in anticipation of a fall album release. This September, America’s favorite intergalactic nu funk-‐rock band, The Booty Band, will release Onward! -‐ an album chock full of booty-‐ shaking thumping bass grooves. Tickets for festival and club dates are currently on sale online and through venue box ϐ Ǥ on Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band and tour dates, visit www. bootyband.com And if you’ve never been to a Booty Band Party, check out their latest video for “Lovin’” to see what you’ve been missing: http://bit.ly/18Z137N Purveyors of original Funk since 2002, Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band zoomed onto festival stages nationwide, fueled by a heavy mix of powerful original compositions, triumphant horns, laid back grooves and heavy backbeats. Having fun and feeling good is the philosophy of this Asheville, NC 5 piece band, and colorful costumes and interactive stage personalities are all part of the show. Proclaiming that their goal is to shake the world, one cheek at a time, when the Booty Band hits the stage, everybody dances! The group has been together for a full decade, performing well over 150 shows and completing three to four national tours each year. With a new album in the works at Echo Mountain Studios in Asheville, NC (projected release date: Sept 2013), a remix album entitled Re-‐Doin’ It Hard released Sept 2012, and Summer tour in full ǡ ϐ to watch.
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August 20, 2013 • The Loafer, Page 17
New Madrid
Barley’s in Knoxville August 22nd New Madrid, Athens,
ǯ ϐ Ǧ Ǧ psychedelic rock band, will bring their stellar live show to Barley’s in Knoxville on Thursday August 22. The Blue Heavy will support the show. New Madrid recently signed to Normaltown Records, the imprint of esteemed New West Records (Steve Earle, The Whigs, Ȍǡ ϐ their sophomore album at Chase Park Transduction Studios. As with their 2012 debut album Yardboat, acclaimed Athens producer David Barbe, best known for his work with REM, The Drive-‐By Truckers and Son Volt, was at the helm. Yardboat earned the band “Album of the Year” while their lauded live
show secured them “Artist of the Year” at Athens’ Flagpole Magazine Music Awards show this past June. Originally formed in the mountains of Tennessee, members Phil McGill, Graham Powers, Ben Hackett and Alex Woolley began as friends in high school. New Madrid was born in late 2010 after years of musical collaboration. In 2012 they relocated to Athens, GA, the perennial powerhouse music ϐ acts REM, Pylon and The B-‐52s. Yardboat, the band’s debut album is the product of this long collaboration. Recorded over an impressive three-‐day span, almost all of the songs on Yardboat were captured live in
the studio and transferred to traditional analog tape. Flagpole Magazine described the music as “both earthy and interstellar, sweet, simple Southern rock blasted into the ionosphere.” Settling into a large red barn just outside of Athens, New Madrid has etched out a fertile creative environment where
they can explore and further evolve their signature sound. The results of that exploration are best experienced in the live setting. With reverb-‐drenched vocal harmonies that soar over a lush and textured musical framework, the wall-‐of-‐sound they forge has garnered them comparisons to heavyweights
My Morning Jacket and Animal Collective. New Madrid’s sophomore full length, due out on Normaltown Records in early 2014, seeks to capture the darker and denser psychedelic soundscapes that make their ever-‐evolving live show a must-‐see experience.
Page 18, The Loafer • August 20, 2013
Food City Race Night Returns to State Street August 22nd As the area prepares for the onslaught of race fans and RV’s, the folks at Food City are gearing up for the annual Food City Race Night, which paves the way for a weekend of action-‐packed Nationwide and Sprint Cup racing at one of NASCAR’s most popular venues. The event will take place on Thursday, August 22, 2013 on State Street in downtown Bristol, VA/TN. Food City has hosted the highly popular event, which has contributed over $500,000 in Ǧ ϐ Ǧϐ Ǥ Join Food City as they honor Larry McReynolds, one of NASCAR’s most successful and recognized Race Analysts and former crew chief, during welcome ceremonies beginning at 5:30 p.m. Jeff Gordon, Richard Petty and Aric Almirola will make on-‐stage appearances. Country singer and songwriter Jamie O’Neal will take the stage
from 7:00 until 8:15 p.m. for a live concert performance. Since the release of her debut album in 2000, O’Neal has been impacting country music with her soulful voice and the immense amount of passion behind every word she sings. O’Neal became a household name with her single, “There Is No Arizona,” which set her path ϐ No. 1 hits and many career accolades to follow, including four Grammy nominations. Ǧϐ evening jam-‐packed with driver autograph sessions, show cars, simulators, souvenir trailers, entertainment and a smorgasbord of free food samples. The action will get underway at 1:00 p.m. and continue until 9:00 p.m. $5.00 advance tickets are available at area Food City locations. Tickets will be $6.00 on the day of the event. Children twelve and under
are admitted free of charge. Proceeds from the event will ϐ Crisis Center. This year’s media sponsors are Bristol Herald Courier and News Channel 11. “Food City is committed to giving back to the community. Our NASCAR sponsorship enables us to host our annual Food City Race Night events, which provide an inexpensive evening of excitement for the entire family,” says Ron Bonacci, vice president of marketing for Food City. Food City has already received ϐ name drivers and attractions, with more expected in. Among ϐ Richard Petty (150 wristbands will be given out at 4 p.m.), Rusty Wallace, Eric McClure, Jeff Burton (300 wristbands will be given out at 4 p.m.), Luke Lambert, David Ragan (300 wristbands
will be given out at 4 p.m.), David Stremme, Brian Scott, Max Gresham, Morgan Shepherd, John King, Chris Lafferty, Jennifer Jo Cobb, Nate Monteith, Ryan Reed, Todd Bodine, Caleb Holman, Dakoda Armstrong, Brennan Newberry and Chad Finchum. Live entertainment on two stages is schedule to begin at 1:00 p.m. and will feature Cody Shuler & Pine Mtn. Railroad, Chris Lafferty, Cadillac Blue, Rhonda Vincent, Tony Justice, Tim Dugger and many others. Free food sampling will be available from 4 until 9:00 p.m., while supplies last. Shuttle services will be available from 11:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. Pick-‐up and drop off locations include: the Bruton Smith Building (front entrance) at
Bristol Motor Speedway; Tower C/Speedway Blvd. at BMS; Hwy. 11E & Whitetop Road; Hwy 394 and Whitetop Road; Hwy. 394 & Copperhead Road and the Bristol Mall -‐ Exit 1 off I-‐81. The event site is just minutes from Bristol Motor Speedway. Food City Race Night will also take place on Wednesday, August 21st at the Expo Center in Knoxville, TN from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. So mark your calendar and make plans to attend. For a complete listing of special guests and attractions, please visit the website at www.foodcity.com, where updates will continue to be posted as they become available. Please note that driver autographs are limited to time available and schedules are subject to change.
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August 20, 2013 • The Loafer, Page 19
Racers Ready? First Annual Tennessee Idiotarod Race Held at Kingsport Oktoberfest, Sept. 28th
Say the name Idiotarod, and you’re guaranteed to get a chuckle or two. While Bristol Motor Speedway will be a buzz with shiny, souped up race cars this month, the Tennessee Idiotarod will be “a-‐rattle” with shopping carts racing down the streets of downtown Kingsport on September 28th. Just what is it? The Tennessee Idiotarod is a shopping cart race ϐ Dz dz grab onto or tie themselves to a ȋ ϐ Ȍ store shopping cart and run through the streets of Kingsport. In case you didn’t know, the Idiotarod is named after a thousand mile dog sled race in Alaska. The race usually features people in costumes and themed carts. A Food Drive is also part
of the event, with a percentage of the proceeds going to a Ǧ ϐ announced. It’s the most fun you’re going to have giving back! When asked why create such an event at Kingsport Oktoberfest, one of the event organizers, Stephanie Carson said, “Why not? We’re all about having fun and inviting the community to participate in our festival. I am sure this is going to be fun for both participants and spectators.” Teams must consist of three ϐ is 20 dollars per person. You can register and read the complete set of rules at www. kingsportoktoberfest.com. The Tennessee Idiotarod is part of the 2013 Kingsport Oktoberfest which also offers a
Craft Bier Garden, Wiener Dog Race, Corn Hole Competition,
FREE live music and Das Kid Zone and much more.
Page 20, The Loafer • August 20, 2013
Joe Young
Acoustic Coffeehouse August 21st In a world where glitter and glam is imposed on the masses liberally and frequently, it’s comforting to have some semblance of “real” to cut through all the capricious noise. New Hampshire native, Joe Young is that element of real. He is the guide – lending all those who take the care to listen – to legitimate six-‐string, word-‐spun accord. Honey, he’s got so much love to give. Honey, he’s got so much life to live. Putting pen to paper yields stories of travel, love, and relationships. Thoughts of grandeur steeped astutely in a
cadence of world wearied, and hard earned life experiences. The words that exude from Young’s cavernous cranium, bleed with serene honesty, and implied truth. Asking the right questions, and offering the best answers he knows how to deliver with no eye on any sort of prize. Instead, he’s sharing stories that relate to humanity. A humanity that will ϐ spins. With a voice and delivery that loosely resembles Ryan Adams, Joe Purdy, Ray LaMontagne, and Sean Hayes, Young has carved a niche for himself in the ears and
hearts of listeners everywhere. From standard pop-‐folk, to soul searching ballads, and a smattering of inquisitive rambling Americana, Young plays music that takes you on a journey. The destination of which is of no real importance, so long as you’ve got your ears and mind open, and are ready to follow him on down the road to aesthetic aural pleasantry. ϐ plucking notes on his acoustic guitar at age 14 to present day, Young has taken a progressive approach to crafting genuine full-‐bodied tunes that get better and better by the day. Sure he cites Bob Dylan, and Johnny Cash ϐ Ǥ ǯ to be compared to a number of musicians from yesteryear and Ǥ ϐ well. If you’re really listening; if you’re really paying attention,
what you’ll hear is Joe Young. And Joe Young hopes you’re pleased with just that. Joe Young’s new debut CD We Will Never Be The Same is a breath of fresh air into the current singer-‐songwriter scene. It’s exciting, gripping, and it is whole original. The entire album plays with a largeness of sound, a tremendous purpose, and a driving poetic vision. Young is onto something big in his folkie singer-‐songwriter genre. He is closer to the neo-‐hippie sound of the last 20 years while his powers of perception and details of description more than hints at timeless qualities. There is something serious going on with this youthful artist. -‐ Bill Copeland Music News
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August 20, 2013 • The Loafer, Page 21
Wolf Coloring Books Benefit Abingdon Non-Profits
Abingdon loves wolves. After ǡ ϐ as Wolf Hills. While the public anticipates the third “Who’s Afraid of Virginia’s Wolves” public art project scheduled for 2014, Abingdon’s Main Street organization has published a coloring book which chronicles the journey of a wolf cub as he visits wolves featured in the 2012 project. The coloring book was designed by Abingdon artist, Nadya Warthen-‐Gibson, and is available for purchase for $5 per copy at the Abingdon Convention and Visitors Bureau, Holston Mountain Artisans and the Arts Depot. As part of Abingdon’s next First Thursday event, the Arts Depot will host a live auction of the twelve original drawings
featured in the coloring book. The auction will take place September 5, at 6:00 p.m. at 314 Depot Square. John Crigger will serve as auctioneer and ϐ Main Street as well as the Arts Depot. “We’re always looking for ways to partner with other organizations and this is a ϐ and for First Thursday,” said Abingdon Main Street Director, Susan Howard. “Nadya’s wolf picture story will appeal to kids of all ages. This is going to be a really fun little event.” For more information, contact Abingdon Main Street at 276.492.2237, by email at advance@abingdon-‐va. gov or visit www.facebook.com/ AbingdonMainStreetWolves.
Page 22, The Loafer • August 20, 2013
Bombadil
Machiavelli’s August 22nd ϐ media support in outlets like the New York Times, NPR’s Weekend Edition, and No Depression, Bombadil has added more stops to its 2013 tour. The dates are in support of the band’s new album, Metrics of Affection , released on July 23. If you’re not familiar with Bombadil, Paste premiered the music video for Metrics of Affection Ǯ ϐ track, “ Escalators” -‐ that will get you started, so check it out. Bombadil is a North Carolina-‐based band whose music is a quirky, sophisticated twist on vintage pop, indie rock and alt/country, and are
managed by the same team who manage the Avett Brothers. “... an indie record done right,” “...a combination of open-‐minded chamber folk and the bright and sunny pop music of the 1960s,” “...sounds like the folk/rock ‘Sgt. Pepper’s,’” and “...everything
an indie record should be,” are just some of the comments from writers about Metrics of Affection. “The Kinks and the Beatles would be a good touchstone for us,” the band’s James Philips told one journalist about the band’s ϐ Ǥ Dz people ask us about what our band sounds like, you’re not really allowed to say ‘the Beatles.’” Bombadil -‐ James Philips (drums), Stuart Robinson (piano, ukulele) and Daniel Michalak (bass, piano, harmonica) -‐ have been sidelined for much of the past three years due to a debilitating nerve injury sustained by Michalak that affected the use of his hands. In 2009, Bombadil was gaining quite a bit of traction with the scheduled release
of Tarpits and Canyonlands (“the album that should have made them famous,” said one journalist), a quirky and dynamic live show, and slots on Bonnaroo, FloydFest, Shakori Hills, Pickathon and other festivals. But all that dissipated when Michalak’s condition deteriorated to the point where he was unable to feed himself, much less play 200 shows a year. By the time Tarpits and Canyonlands was released, Bombadil was already off the road and unable to tour. Michalak spent the last couple of years searching for a cure, trying everything from acupuncture to orthopedists to ϐ ǡ hands have improved to the point where he’s able to tour again. Bombadil, the band named after an obscure character in the Tolkien universe, whose music tells tales of loneliness, heartache, awkwardness, puppy love, suicide and murder-‐by-‐ drowning, is back.
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August 20, 2013 • The Loafer, Page 23
Nelson Ziegler, Karen Kyte Featured at Art Market Gallery in September Recent  works  by  Nelson  Ziegler  of  Sevierville,  a  painter  in  both  watercolor  and  oils,  and  Karen  Kyte  of  Seymour,  a  clay  artist,  will  be  featured  in  September  at  the  Art  Market  Gallery  in  downtown  Knoxville.  Besides  inherent  differences  between  two-Ââ€?dimensional  and  t h r e e -Ââ€? d i m e n s i o n a l  mediums,  this  show  will  present  an  interesting  contrast  of  styles  and  control  of  personal  expression.  Nelson  Ziegler’s  paintings  are  in  private  and  corporate  collections  nationwide.   His  work  has  been  in  many  notable  juried  exhibitions,  among  them  the  National Â
Arts  Club,  Salmagundi  Club,  Allied  Artists,  American  Artists  Professional  League,  and  Knickerbocker  Artists,  all  in  New  York  City;  Faces  of  America  national  watercolor  portrait  show;  the  Copley  Society,  and  Guild  of  Boston  Artists;  and  the  Tennessee  Watercolor  Society.   His  many  national  and  regional  awards  include  the  Gold  Medal  for  watercolor  at  the  American  Artist  Professional  League,  and  Honorable  Mention  in  The  Artist’s  Magazine  annual  competition.  A  graduate  of  the  Art  Institute  of  Boston  and  Northwestern  Academy  of  Watercolor,  Nelson  is  a  member  of  the  National,  New  England,  Tennessee  and  Knoxville  Watercolor  Societies,  and  the  Oil  Painters  of  America. Karen  Kyte’s  childhood  absorption  was  with  decorating  everything  and  making  endless  mud-Ââ€?pies:  “I  was  the Â
busiest,  messiest  kid  on  the  block,â€?  she  says.  Nevertheless,  her  educational  goal  at  the  University  of  South  Dakota  had  been  a  practical  one,  to  study  medical  technology.  That  was,  until  she  took  a  painting  class.  Dz ‹˜‡” Ď?Ž—Â?‡• Ž‘•– –Š‡‹” ‰ŽƒÂ?‘—”ǥ replaced  by  my  real  passion,  mud-Ââ€?pies.â€?  She  graduated  with  a  B.S.F.A.  and  was  launched  on  making  imaginative  and  playful  clay  pieces. For  Karen,  creating  is  spontaneous,  a  way  of  seeing,  being,  and  thinking.  She  visualizes  what  she  calls  compelling  images  in  a  lump  of  clay,  which  wills  itself  into  forms  expressing  certain  shapes,  colors,  and  movement,  and  notes  her  gratitude  that  earth-Ââ€?formed  art  (“previously  known  as  mud-Ââ€? piesâ€?)  replaced  microorganisms  in  her  life.  During  Knoxville’s  monthly  First  Friday  Art  Walk  downtown, Â
an  opening  reception  for  the  exhibit  will  be  held  from  5:30  to  9  p.m.,  Friday,  Sept.  Sept.  6.  There  will  be  live  music  by  Sunshine  Station  and  complimentary  refreshments  and  many  members  as  well  as  the  featured  artists  always  are  on  hand  to  meet  and  mingle  with  patrons.  Owned  and  operated  by  more  than  60  professional  regional  artists,  the  Art  Market  is  located  at  422  South  Gay  St.,  a  few  doors  away  from  Mast  General  Store,  and  next  to  the  Downtown  Grill  &  Brewery.  Hours  are  11  a.m.  to  6  p.m.,  Tuesday  through  Saturday;  11  a.m.  to  9  p.m.  Friday;  and  1  to  5  p.m.,  Sunday.  The  gallery  is  handicapped  accessible  and  parking  in  the  abutting  garage  is  free  after  6  p.m.  and  on  weekends.   For  more  information,  call  865-Ââ€?525-Ââ€?5265,  or  visit  artmarketgallery.net,  orfacebook.com/Art.Market. Gallery.
Page 24, The Loafer • August 20, 2013
Summer Saunter
Grandfather Mountain August 24th
On Saturday, August 24 Grandfather Mountain will offer ϐ Saunter guided hike series, “A Stroll with Aldo Leopold.” This saunter along the Bridge Trail led by Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation’s Director of Education Jesse Pope will explore how the land has been used in this area and what insight Aldo Leopold might have suggested for Grandfather Mountain. Aldo Leopold, known as the father of wildlife management, had a curiosity about nature and a sense of ethical responsibility
toward protecting the land and all its inhabitants from a very young age. After earning his Master of Forestry degree from the Yale Forest School he became a member of the U.S. Forest Service. Leopold helped found game protection associations throughout the Southwest. In 1935 Aldo joined a group of conservationists to establish the Wilderness Society. “I’m really eager to explore our park with visitors to look at Grandfather through Leopold’s lens,” said Pope. “His monumental thoughts on land ethics have challenged me to
become a better naturalist and ϐ the years. I hope this saunter with Leopold will inspire others as much as he has inspired me.” This Summer Saunter focuses on examining our relationship and responsibility to land and environmental community. As an educator Leopold’s main objective was “to teach the student to see the land, to understand what he sees and enjoy what he understands.” This hike is free with regular admission to Grandfather Mountain. No reservations are required. Interested guests should meet at the base of the Bridge Trail across the road from the Black Rock parking area at 11 a.m. The Saunter will last approximately 1.5 hours. The Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation is Ǧ Ǧ ϐ established to preserve Grandfather Mountain, operate the nature park sustainability in the public interest, provide an exceptional experience for guests, and inspire them to be good stewards of the earth’s resources. For more information, visit www.grandfather.com or call 800-‐468-‐7325. (Photo by Landis Taylor)
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August 20, 2013 • The Loafer, Page 25
Tracy Ference
William King Museum ϐ visited the William King Museum when she moved to Abingdon a few months ago. When her mother mentioned to the front desk associate that her daughter was an artist, they learned that there was a studio for ϐ Ǥ The rest, as they say, was history. Ference moved to Abingdon after living in Milwaukee. Though she is originally from Erie, Pennsylvania, she lived in Texas, North Carolina, Ohio, and Wisconsin before settling in Abingdon, Va, last year. She didn’t go to art school – her love of art stems from a passion that began in childhood. She put it on the backburner while she received a Bachelor’s degree in psychology and went to graduate school before quitting to start a family. When her family was living in Texas and her children were in school, a neighbor who ϐ Ǥ From there, Ference learned techniques through library books, videos, and workshops around the United States. “My style is realistic with an impressionistic edge,” Ference says. She enjoys drawing all life. “When people aren’t available, fruits and vegetables always are.” Upon entering her studio on the second level of the Museum, plenty of beautiful still life oil paintings are on view: apples, peppers, plums, grapes, and onions. Iowa artist Rose Frantzen, who completed a yearlong community-‐oriented project she called Portrait of Maquoketa, recently inspired Ference. In this project, Frantzen completed 180 portraits of local residents who were willing to pose for four or ϐ Ǥ 2009, these portraits were displayed in the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery in Washington D.C. Ference has decided to do something similar in Abingdon. To celebrate her move into her new studio on the second level of
the Museum, Ference is offering a special on pencil portraits during the month of July. She will work off of a photograph taken by fellow Museum studio artist Chad Thompson and complete the portrait of your choosing up to a size of 11x14”. During the ǡ ϐ portraits at the price of $250 with some of the proceeds going to the Museum. To register for one of these special portraits, please contact Ference at tracyferenceart@ gmail.com or visit her in her studio behind the admissions kiosk on the second level of the Museum. Ference keeps studio hours Tuesday through Friday. When
you visit the Museum, drop in her studio and watch her work! For more information on all of the studio artists at the William King Museum, please visit us on the web at www. williamkingmuseum. org or call 276-‐628-‐ 5005. William King Museum is located at 415 Academy Drive, off West Main Street or Russell Road, in Abingdon. The Museum features ϐ ǡ studios and outdoor sculpture garden. Educational programs in the visual arts are offered year-‐ round for both children and adults, and school audiences are served by in-‐house and outreach programs. Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, the William King Museum is a partner of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, a member of the Virginia Association of Museums and is funded in part by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Page 26, The Loafer • August 20, 2013
Tennessee Mafia Jug Band Carter Family Fold August 24th
Saturday, August 24th, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. the Carter Family Fold in Hiltons, Virginia, will present ϐ Jug Band, an old time band.
Admission to the concert is $15 for adults, $1 for children 6 to 11, under age 6 free. From the pastoral hills, hollers, shopping malls, and
interstate highways of Goodlettsville, Tennessee -‐ home of Bill Monroe, Bashful Brother Oswald, Stringbean, Grandpa Jones, Keith Whitely -‐ and some living country music performers -‐ comes the most entertaining blast from the past since Lester Moran and the Cadillac Cowboys. They’re the ϐ Ȃ ϐ a scrubboard with roots like wisdom teeth. ϐ Band has shamelessly stolen a feature of the old Roy Acuff Show -‐-‐ a bit known as “Pap & the Jug
dzǤ ϐ brightens up the stage with rib-‐ tickling old time tunes. Even better, they have an utter lack of self-‐consciousness (and some might say any sense of decorum). ϐ not only knows the music, they wear the costumes, tell corny jokes, and even do slapstick gags that throw a cable-‐tv-‐numbed audience into hysterics. Grown women have lost control of internal organs when the Jug Band entertains ... tears a’ runnin’ down both legs!! ϐ has a CD “Barnyard Frolic”, had a video on CMT and GAC cable TV, and their latest CD is “Poor Leroy’s Almanack”. They can be heard on the sound track of Faye Dunaway’s movie “Yellowbird”. The Jug Band provided the entertainment for the society wedding of Billy Bob Thornton and Angelina Jolie several years ago -‐-‐ you see how well that turned out. They played a New Year’s Eve show at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville and nearly brought the house down. They perform concerts all over the south, for bluegrass
festivals as far away as Indiana, New England, and Canada. Tours of Europe and the far east are in the works. The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. (our nation’s capitol) has hosted the Jug Band. They’ve been on the Grand Ole Opry stage over a dozen times, and in spite of their wild antics they get invited back! Hot picking, powerful harmony singing, and riotous hijinks -‐ that’s the Tennessee ϐ Ǥ ϐ introduced them to the Fold, and it was a match made in Heaven. Get ready to laugh until your sides hurt. Be sure to bring your dancing shoes, too – you’ll need them! For more information on ϐ ǡ to Ǥ ϐ Ǥ com/. Shows from the Carter Family Fold can be accessed on the internet at http://www. carterfoldshow.com. For recorded information on shows coming up at the Fold, call 276-‐386-‐6054. The Fold is on Facebook – page Carter Fold – and Twitter – @carterfoldinfo. To speak to a Fold staff member, call 276-‐594-‐0676.
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Rosie Flores
We Be “Jammin” In Abingdon August 22nd On August 22, 2013, Rosie Flores will take the stage at the Abingdon Market Pavilion. ǦͳͻͺͲԢ ǡ ϐ alternative country music
scene. During that time she ϐ three country music videos, and has continually toured the U.S. and Europe. Her unsurpassed talent as a singer, songwriter and guitar player; has earned her the respect and love of her colleagues and adoring fans the world over. Born in San Antonio, Texas, Flores grew up listening to regional radio stations and watching Dick Clark’s legendary
rock’n’roll television show American Bandstand. She cites Elvis Presley and Brenda Lee as ϐ Ǥ Rosie began her recording career at age seven, when her father engineered a two-‐track recording of her singing at home with her brother and sister. One of these childhood recordings ended up on her Hightone release, Rockabilly Filly. The Town of Abingdon has created a Thursday Jams concert series for the summer as part of the Abingdon Music Experience. Starting May 16th until September 19th, there will be nationally recognized bands showcased at the Abingdon Market Pavilion each Thursday. Each concert will start at 6:30pm and will be FREE to the public. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets. There will be food and beverage vendors serving BBQ, Hamburgers and Pizza. No coolers are allowed. The events will be held rain or shine. For more information on the concerts, you can call 276-‐676-‐2282 or visitwww. abingdonmusicexperience.com.
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Devour the Day Capone’s August 23rd
Devour the Day will take the stage at Capone’s, 227 E. Main Street, on Friday, August 23rd. Tickets are $7 at the door. Doors open at 8pm and show starts at 10:30pm. Ages are 18 and up. Devour the Day is a hard rock band that was formed in 2012 by former Egypt Central band members, Blake Allison and Joey Chicago. After having great
success in that band the guys decided to write and produce music out on their own. The band’s debut album titled “Time and Pressure” was released on May 7th. Blake Allison (Lead singer, Guitar, Songwriter and Producer), Joey Chicago (Bass, Vocals, Songwriter.
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Moon Age Daydream of Memories and Myth “Hey diddle diddle ϔ ǡ the cow jumped over the Moon. The little dog laughed to see such a sport and the dish ran away with the spoon.” author unknown, ϐ ͳͺͷ
The Moon makes its monthly waltz through our night sky this week at full phase, and everybody will be looking up. Though really not big in the sky at one-‐half degree across— you can cover it with a thumb at arm’s length—the Moon is enormous in the mind of man. The statistics are unassuming compared to the impact on civilization and the animal world. Just 240,000 miles away, ϐ surface a full second to travel to our eyes on Earth. The Moon is 2,160 miles wide, making it ϐ orbiting a planet—and larger than dwarf planet Pluto! And the 1:4 ratio of the Moon to the Earth’s diameter of 7,926 miles is the largest in the Solar System,
making us uniquely a “binary” planetary system. And at no time was there more attention given to the silvery orb in the sky than 44 years ago, when the hype was beginning to build for the long anticipated Apollo 11 landing on July 20, 1969. ϐ decades ago during the 1960s Moon Race between America vs. Soviet Union that it would be at least 50 years before man returned to the lunar surface? ϐ go back to the Moon by 2030, but the USA and Russia have moon missions on the drawing board and no funding, and Europe wants a role in a lunar voyage. ǯ ϐ six American Stars and Stripes on the Moon? ǯ ϐ of our Moon—even without looking up! Examples: the latest vampire entertainment craze, and how about dozens of songs written about our Moon. What would Pink Floyd be without the album Dark Side Continued on page 31
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of the Moon? Or Credence Clearwater Revival without a Bad Moon Rising? Van Morrison’s song Moon Dance and Neil Young’s album Harvest Moon made them superstars. Inspired by the six Apollo moon landings from 1969-‐1972, The Police were Walking on the Moon… “Giant steps are what you take...hope my leg don’t break;” the Grateful Dead sang about a Picasso Moon... “boiling ball, shining bright, I see the magic, I see the light.” And Jerry Garcia loved to sing that he was Standing on the Moon... “with nothing left to do, a lovely view of Heaven, but I’d rather be with you.” Maybe Jerry is now the Man in the Moon! The Moon is called many names by the hundreds of civilizations that have roamed the Earth. Lunar deities include Selene, Phoebe, Artemis, Luna, Nana, Thoth, Diana...and dozens of others in Asian and African dialects. And of course, there are hundreds of myths and legends surrounding the Moon. Werewolves and vampires are always associated with the Moon, and we have the full Moon as a central character in hundreds of works in literature. Don’t forget the lunacy factor of la Luna. Though crime and crazy human acts are thought
to rise during the Full Moon, the statistics just don’t support that notion. It makes more sense that nefarious acts would be planned during the dark phases of the Moon, not when alleys, backyards and parking lots are illuminated by moonlight. Science and the Moon didn’t meet each other until 400 years ago when Galileo turned his crude telescope to the Moon in his backyard in Pisa, Italy in the November 1609. Galileo discovered that the Moon had mountains, was scarred with holes (craters), and appeared to have smooth, dark seas (solid lava). Suddenly, the Moon became a world of its own. And that revelation by Galileo threatened the foundation of centuries of teachings by the Catholic Church. In the 21st Century, a child’s toy telescope can be more powerful than Galileo’s crude
instrument. Those department store telescopes that Santa Claus dropped off a year or so are perfect for moon gazing. Binoculars are also great for looking at the Moon, and they can be held steady against a fence post or with a tripod adapter. Their low power gives a sharp, clear image that allows you to pinpoint the patterns of mountains and craters against the dark, ancient seas of ϐ Ǥ Dig out that telescope from under the bed or in the closet— or maybe it’s a spider playground in the garage! Use the highest number eyepiece (like 32 mm) for low power (80x-‐100x), train the telescope on the Moon and be amazed. You are looking at the Moon 10-‐times better than Galileo ever saw it, and with a Moon map you can become familiar with the lunar landscape in an intimate way. To get a good Moon map, one place to look is the local library. There will be several books with maps you could copy. There are also software for your computer, even the popular smart phone has an “app,” and most of these downloads are free. The Virtual Moon atlas is one of the best available for free. And Google Moon is also excellent. Four centuries ago, man’s eyes were opened by the discoveries of Galileo, who wondered what made up the Moon. Just four decades ago, mankind found out for sure, as 12 Apollo astronauts held Moon rocks in their own hands. Take some time to look up at the Moon, whether with your naked eyes, binoculars or a telescope. Feel the moonlight on your face, and hold the thoughts of those Moon age daydreams. And, enjoy a little lunacy in your night!
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Celestial events in the skies of the week of Aug.20-‐26, 2013, as compiled for The Loafer by Mark D. Marquette. The Full Moon of August was known by Native Americans as the Green Corn Moon or the Grain Moon as the important harvest time is a month away. In 2013, we’d most likely call the “Rain Moon!” Enjoy the greenery of Summer as long as you can, for by the time the next Full “Harvest” Moon cycles around, leaves will begin to fall ϐ Ǥ all but the brightest stars, and you’ll have to wait a week to really see the Milky Way overhead. Looking south at 9 pm, Saturn is making its last appearance in the south-‐ west, setting by 10:30 pm in the sprawling constellation Virgo the Virgin.
9 pm, anchoring Lyra the Harp, made up of four stars in a lopsided parallelogram. Lyra borders the eastern side of the Milky Way. Our Solar System is heading in the direction of Vega, a blue-‐white star 26 Light Years away. That means the light we see from Vega tonight left the star in 1997. And, Vega is one of the closest stars we see at night, many being thousands of Light Years away. Sat. Aug. 24 Two other bright stars team up with Vega to form the Summer Triangle. Deneb is the tail of Cygnus the Swan, or the head of a giant cross “asterism” that is imbedded in the Milky Way. And to the south is Altair in Aquila the Eagle, also looking like a smaller cross on the west side of our Galaxy’s stretching arm of stars.
Tues. Aug. 20 Full Moon is at 8:45 pm DST, rising just minutes after sunset. Enjoy the silvery light ϐ ǡ this week! The light of the Moon revealing luscious, green leaves of trees is a unique visual, and it’s always a special time for nocturnal animals in the wild, using the ϐ Ǥ
Sun. Aug. 25 ǡ ǯ ʹ ϐ ͳͻͺͳǡ then eight years later whizzed by Neptune in 1989. Voyager 2 is still functioning, 15 billion miles from Earth at the very edge of our Solar System. In fact, astronomers are debating if Voyager 2 is truly in interstellar space, or still within the envelope of ϐ Ǥ
Wed. Aug. 21 ϐ ǡ ǡ ϐ tonight in the constellation Pisces the Fishes, but it is too faint to be seen without a telescope. It was 24 years ago this week that a NASA spacecraft, Voyager 2, gave mankind its only close-‐up view of this 30,000-‐mile diameter gas giant. Enveloped in deep blue clouds of methane, Neptune has the fastest winds in the Solar System, the clouds whipping around at 1,500 mph! It’s up to the Hubble Space Telescope to give us sketchy images of the changing cloud structures on Neptune, 2.75 billion miles away.
Mon. Aug. 26 Daylight now is 13 hours, a noticeable difference from the 14 hours a month ago. The night is gaining on the day, with the Autum-‐ nal Equinox three weeks away on Sun. Sept. 22nd.
Thurs. Aug. 22 On this 1976 date in space history, the Russian Luna 24 return capsule landed back on Earth with about an ounce of Moon dirt. It was the second lunar soil return mission for Russia, a small consolation for losing the manned race to the Moon to America in 1969.
Neptune
Fri. Aug.23 The second brightest star of the Northern Hemisphere, Vega, is directly overhead at
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For The Love of Harry
Harry Nilsson was a genius, tortured soul, and one of the best singer/songwriters this country ever produced. Nilsson was to Rock and Roll what Roger Miller was to Country. Harry Nilsson happens to also be one ϐ ǡ and I adore his music with a passion. It also pains me that Nilsson died in 1994, and as
with most genius, we are only now fully appreciating his work. Though best known for the song “Coconut” and his recordings of “Without You” and “Everybody’s Talkin’”, Nilsson wasn’t a man without success in his time. He wrote “One”, which was made famous by Three Dog Night, and his 1971 masterpiece Nilsson Schmilsson was a
massive chart success. In the process of eventually reaching number 3 on charts, the album spawned two top ten hits. So why is it that it’s taken so long for Harry Nilsson to receive his due? His due, by the way, in the form of the recently released
17 CD box set Nilsson: The RCA Albums Collection. A massive undertaking that contains all of the albums Harry recorded for RCA from 1967-‐1977, and three discs of bonus material, featuring 50 never before released tracks. Harry Nilsson was never too
concerned with chart success, the more his personal relationships broke up, the more and more he became interested in following his own muse. This is not to say that Nilsson never did his own thing anyway, Nilsson’s style Continued on page 35
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August 20, 2013 • The Loafer, Page 35 and Areal Ballet. There’s what ϐ album recorded by a rock singer, 1974’s absolutely beautiful A Little Touch of Schmilsson in The Night, and 1977’s John Lennon produced Pussy Cats. Lennon and Nilsson famously once spent a lost weekend together carousing around Los Angeles. It was during the recording sessions for Pussy Cats that Nilsson blew out his vocal cords, though they did eventually recover. I love Harry Nilsson. I can’t state that enough. His music is always in rotation in my life. If
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stayed more or less the same. A touch of humor, wit, an amazing singing voice, and lines that could make you laugh and break Ǥ ϐ example being from the song “Don’t Forget Me”, written to his ex wife. “I’ll miss you when I’m lonely, I’ll miss the alimony too”. It’s beautiful and humorous, yet inside that beauty and humor ϐ Ǥ My path to Nilsson was one in which I stumbled upon him. I had heard “Everybody’s Talkin’”, liked it, but I had no clue who preformed it. Sometime in the mid 2000s I was driving along in my car listening to the indie station on Satellite Radio. Some band that I can not recall was playing their favorite songs, and the last tune they played was Nilsson’s “You’re Breaking My Heart”. The song, which is one of my favorites of Nilsson’s, opens with the memorable line of “You’re breaking my heart/ you’re tearing it apart/so f*** you!” I laughed, and as the rest of the angry yet funny song played on, I was enamored. I couldn’t write anything down, I just made a mental note. Flash to a year or two later, and I’m in an antique store looking at records. I pull out this odd looking album, rather well played, that had this weird Dracula theme to it, with Son of Schmilsson on the front. Looking over the back
I see the name Nilsson, see the song title “You’re Breaking my Heart”, and my brain made the connection. It was a dollar well spent. I think I wasn’t alone in having this type of discovery ǯ ǡ ϐ kinda hard to track down, then ϐ other friends my age who were Ǥ ϐ moment of Nilsson awareness was well on it’s way, when in 2010 the documentary on his life Who is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin’ About Him)? Came to DVD, and as of this writing is currently on ϐ ȋ ǯ out too). For those of us new Nilsson devotees, and those long time in love with Harry’s music, the surprise announcement earlier this year of the 17 disc box set was very much something to celebrate. Shortly before his death, Nilsson had been pursuing RCA to issue a box set of his work, the result was a mere two CD anthology called Personal Best. Yet here at last is the box set we’ve all been dreaming of. I’ve not had the chance to get my hands on it yet, but judging from what I’ve been reading on-‐line about the collection, it will not disappoint. In addition to the unreleased material, the album contains both the stereo and mono mixes ǯ ϐ ǣ Pandemonium Shadow Show,
ǯ ǡ ϐ ϐ get ready to discover your new favorite artist. Nilsson: The RCA Albums Collection is without doubt THE major music release of the year. In an ever growing world of digital media and new music that seems to fragment us more and more, we need a gentle reminder of those who came before us, and to keep their beautiful work alive and well for future generations. The Beatles adored Harry Nilsson, it’s well known fact, and Nilsson deserves to be as much a part of
the lexicon as they are. So I envy you younger readers, you high school and college aged students. I envy the thrill you’ll feel as you listen to Nilsson Schmilsson for the ϐ ǡ ǯ knocked over when you hear Harry sing “Without You” (the master of which was made in one take). The time has come for you to put the lime the coconut and drink it all up. Don’t do it for me, but do it for Harry. See you next week. Follow me on Twitter @ThatAndyRoss
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Elysium Matt  Damon  is  back  on  the  big  screen  ‹Â? Dz Ž›•‹—Â?dzǥ ƒ •…‹njĎ?‹ –Š”‹ŽŽ‡” –Šƒ– ”‹˜ƒŽ• –Š‡ action  and  pace  of  his  “Bourne  Identityâ€?  movies.  I  was  fascinated  to  discover  the  meaning  of  the  word  Elysium,  when  related  to  the  ancient  Greeks.  I  encourage  you  to  “Googleâ€?  the  word  and  you  can  see  Š‘™ ‹– ”‡Žƒ–‡• –‘ –Š‹• Ď?‹ŽÂ?Ǥ “Elysiumâ€?  is  set  in  the  year  2154,  when  classes  of  the  human  population  have  been  separated.  The  wealthy  live  on  the  luxurious  space  station  Elysium,  while  the  rest  of  the  population  (the  99%)  lives  on  an  over-Ââ€?populated  ruined  Earth.  Imagine  the  entire  Earth  as  a  third-Ââ€?world  country  and  you  will  get  the  idea.  While  people  just  try  to  stay  alive  on  the  ravaged  Earth,  the  citizen  of  Elysium  live  on  a  space  station  that  is  like  Beverly  Hills  in  the  sky.  The  Elysium  citizens  live  with  no  poverty,  disease,  or  war,  making  the  station  the  envy  of  those  on  Earth,  and  a  desired  destination.  On  the  station  we  meet  the  high  ranking  Elysian  government  minister,  Jessica  Delacourt  (Jodie  Foster),  who  comes  off  like  Joan  Crawford  in  space.  Jessica  is  a  power  player,  and  has  an  employee,  a  mercenary  named  Kruger  (Sharlto  Copley)  in  charge  of  eliminating  illegal  aliens  who  are  attempting  to  reach  Elysium.  As  if  that  isn’t  bad  enough,  the  Earth  is  patrolled  by  vicious  robot  cops,  of  which  are  manufactured  at  a  Los  Angeles  plant  where  our  hero,  Max  Da  Costa  (Damon)  works.  Max  is  an  ex-Ââ€?con,  who  has  reconnected  with  old  friend,  Frey  (Alice  Braga),  now  an  employee  at  a  run  down  hospital.  Max  and  Frey  grew  up  together  in  an  orphanage,  and  we  learn  he  promised  her  when  they  were  children,  that  he  would  take  her  to Â
Elysium  one  day.  Max  eventually  becomes  even  more  entwined  with  Frey  when  he  has  a  horrible  accident  at  work  one  day,  ”‡•—Ž–‹Â?‰ ‹Â? Š‹• „‡‹Â?‰ Ď?‹”‡† ƒÂ?† Â?‡ƒ”Ž› killed.  The  accident  spurs  Max  on  to  make  an  attempt  to  travel  to  Elysium,  so  he  can  get  in  one  of  their  “healing  chambersâ€?,  and  be  instantly  healed.  Max  also  discovers  Frey’s  daughter  is  slowing  dying,  so  he  has  an  extra  incentive.  Max  seeks  help  from  a  smuggler  named  Spider  (Wagner  Moura),  and  soon  he  is  wearing  an  exoskeleton  that  increases  his  strength,  and  will  allow  him  to  download  important  information  from  the  owner  of  the  plant  where  he  works.  As  she  continues  to  rule  with  an  iron  Ď?‹•–ǥ ‡••‹…ƒ •‡Â?†• ”—‰‡” ƒˆ–‡” ƒš ƒÂ?† his  companions.  Max  eventually  makes  his  trip  to  Elysium  with  Frey,  but  not  exactly  ‹Â? –Š‡ ™ƒ› –Š‡› ’ŽƒÂ?Â?‡†Ǥ Š‡ Ď?‹ŽÂ? ‡Â?†• ‘Â? a  heroic  note  for  Max,  but  not  in  the  way  you  might  expect.  Director  Neill  Blomkamp  (“District  9â€?),  who  also  wrote  the  script,  again  brings  plenty  of  political  commentary  to  the  ’”‘…‡‡†‹Â?‰•ǥ ƒÂ?† –Š‡ Ď?‹ŽÂ? „‡Â?‡Ď?‹–• ˆ”‘Â? his  touch  of  being  able  to  mix  plenty  of  action  with  intelligence.  The  actors  are  all  wonderful,  with  Damon  and  Copley  at  the  top  of  their  games.  In  fact,  I  guarantee  you  will  hate  Copley’s  character  due  to  his  excellent  performance.  The  always  reliable  Damon  is  Jason  Bourne  in  space,  so  that  is  enough  said.   As  for  Foster,  her  character  is  quietly  vicious,  and  the  actress  underplays  the  role,  so  as  to  not  go  over-Ââ€?the-Ââ€?top,  which  she  could  have  easily  done.  “Elysiumâ€?  is  violent  yet  riveting,  and  is  ƒ Â?—•– ˆ‘” •…‹njĎ?‹ ˆƒÂ?• ‘ˆ –Š‡ Dz Žƒ†‡ —Â?Â?‡”dz ilk.  (Rated  R)  B+
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You Are Getting Sleepy.... Very Sleepy
In this hi-‐tech world, it seems that people are not getting enough rest. Surprised? In any event, who can argue that given today’s fast-‐paced and stress-‐ ϐ ǡ employees are sleep-‐deprived? And who has time, or permission to sleep on the job? I’m getting sleepy just writing the previous sentence, and I worry that I might be in danger of putting you to sleep before you reach the end of this week’s column. I guess that’s the risk involved in writing about sleep. In any event, try to stay awake to learn more about the EnergyPod and other sleep-‐ inducing products. MetroNaps, a company based in Englewood, New York, has conducted research and has designed a line of products all
based on the same concept— namely, that we would all be better off if we could nap at least twenty minutes every afternoon. I have no problem with that, but marvel at the company’s audacity. Read on to see what I mean. Here are a few things we can learn from the company by perusing their website. First, we learn that since the company’s founding in 2003, their “sole purpose is to help you improve performance in your organization through fatigue prevention and energy enhancement.” In other words, the goal is to create environments that allow employees to sleep on the job—selectively and with lots of planning, that is. Second, all this “fatigue prevention” comes
with a rather hefty price tag. For ǡ ϐ Ȁ sleepship is called the EnergyPod and costs $8,000-‐-‐$12,000. Don’t know about you, but that sounds like a pretty expensive way to catch a few winks while at work. Take a look at the EnergyPod. It, as one blogger points out, resembles a big white PacMan eating the person taking a nap. Another more descriptive comment says “this contraption might give me nightmares of drowning in yoke and egg whites. I will then wake up from my hellish nap with ϐ arms.” This device, whatever it might look like, is designed for a “perfect pre-‐programmed 20 minute nap,” but offers the user the choice of selecting longer or shorter sleep times. We would hope to have this choice after spending eight to twelve grand for privilege of taking a nap. Don’t worry, you won’t be sleeping in total silence, because “specially devised rhythms play to facilitate relaxation and eliminate surrounding distractions.” Once you’ve been put to sleep for twenty minutes by these calming sounds (since when did rhythms have a calming effect?), you will wake up “gently but effectively as the EnergyPod executes a programmed combination of lights and vibration.” Why can’t we just put our heads down on our desks and nap without going through all this hi-‐tech hoopla?
I guess because if we did we ϐ Dz ǯ ϐ ϐ napping.” The EnergyPod is powered by a software program called i20, indicating the optimal 20 minutes that supposedly “is ϐ Ǥdz ϐ using this software is that that it minimizes “sleep inertia,” which is also known as grogginess. The literature doesn’t explain just how this is accomplished. For instance, does EnergyPod software induce sleep (a rather scary thought) or merely wait for us to fall asleep? And if it makes us sleepy, how does it do it? I guess some things are destined to remain a mystery. MetroNaps has installed EnergyPods in airports, schools, and businesses, and is growing despite the rather high prices of its products. Their mantra of including a 20-‐minute nap in each workday has theoretical basis, particularly in the work of Dr. David Dinges, who has a rather arcane-‐sounding title as Chief of the Division of Sleep and Chronobiology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He has also founded a professional journal called, appropriately enough, SLEEP. In a recent interview, Dr. Dinges points out that “If you don’t get adequate sleep time, the ability to use your prefontal cortex can be eroded. And it can lead to serious errors and mistakes, and potentially exacerbate stress reaction and poor emotional states.” And he believes that sleep deprivation leads to less productive work and thus has a rather large economic impact
on American business and industry. So I suppose he would endorse the value of installing EnergyPods. Once again, I can’t understand why we can’t just nap wherever we choose on whatever we choose. But I have to admit that the EnergyPod has a pretty striking physical Pac-‐Man type of appearance, although I don’t know if I would feel comfortable using one at the workplace, where it would no doubt encourage passersby to stair and mill around while I was trying to sleep. We are apparently a sleep-‐ obsessed culture and always in search of some way to keep alert. I once asked my Humanities class what they would place inside a time capsule to best Ǧϐ century. As you might expect, I received some predictable responses—cell phones, iPods, laptops, and other gadgets— but was taken by surprise when one student said he would place a can of Red Bull inside the capsule. This makes perfect sense, given our obsessions with highly-‐caffeinated drinks, best represented by our zombie-‐like visits to Starbucks. We seem to be avoiding or preventing sleep, ϐ Ǥ Dinges and others. In light of this observation, I vote we take more naps. I will stop and let you contemplate the place of sleep in our culture. And after writing about MetroNaps, I feel a nap coming on. But I don’t think I will seek out a $8,000 EnergyPod before I retire to examine the backside of my eyelids. See you next week with something a little more wide-‐ awake.
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