Page 2, The Loafer • February 11, 2014
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February 11, 2014 • The Loafer, Page 3
Volume 28 Issue #10
Publisher - Bill Williams • Editor/Graphic Arts Director - Don Sprinkle • Office Manager - Luci Tate Cover Design - Bill May • Photography - Mark Marquette Advertising - Dave Carter, Akey Kincaid, Lisa Lyons, Terry Patterson, Pam Johnson-Bowling Contributing Staff - Jim Kelly, Andy Ross, Ken Silvers, Mark Marquette, Pat Bussard Published by Creative Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 3596, Johnson City, TN 37602 Phone: 423/283-4324 FAX - 423/283-4369 www.theloaferonline.com • info@theloaferonline.com e-mail: editorial@theloaferonline.com (editorial) adcopy@theloaferonline.com (advertising 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 loss of 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.
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Happy Valentine’s Day For diehard romantics, Valentine’s Day is an opportunity to say “I love you” with extravagant bouquets and five-pound, heart- shaped boxes of ooey-gooey chocolates. Those who have a significant other celebrate the day in giddy earnest. Those who don’t try to ignore it altogether. Along with New Year’s Eve (another “couples” holiday), no other day on the calendar triggers such a love/hate emotional response.
Valentine’s Day is big business, generating more than $1 billion a year in candy sales. It’s florists’ No. 1 sales event of the year — a whopping 103 million roses were sold on Valentine’s Day last year. It’s no wonder why retailers love Feb. 14. Legend has it the holiday was named for an early-church saint martyred for secretly wedding young people against the wishes of the Roman emperor Claudius.
Others believe Valentine was a saint imprisoned for his faith and so beloved by local children that they wrote him loving notes and tossed them into his cell. Whatever the day’s history, it’s long been a favorite among romantics of all ages. Cards embellished with puns or snippets of poetry (“Be Mine, Valentine”), are popular year in and year out. Dating back to the 1700s, valentines have run the gamut from lacetrimmed, hand-painted creations to mass-produced boxed cards geared to children (remember the tiny cards we passed out by the dozens in grade school?). Approximately one billion Valentine cards are exchanged each year...the largest seasonal cardselling occasion of the year next to Christmas. Most Valentine’s Day cards (83%) are purchased by women. However, the number of cards purchased by men (currently 17%) is gradually rising, thought by some sources to be due to the fact that men often purchase two cards for their signinificant others...an amusing one and the obligatory romantic one which they believe is expected of them. Half of all consumers prefer to receive a humorous Valentine, followed by a romantic greeting (31%) and then a more risque form of card (8.2%). More than onethird of women (36%) and 26% of
males prefer to receive a romantic Valentine. 13% of males prefer a more sexy Valentine, whereas only 3.5% of women prefer this variety of card. February 14 is the most important holiday for florists, accounting for 32% of annual sales. 73% of people who buy flowers to send on Valentine’s Day are male... only 27% are female. California produces 60% of American roses, but the vast majority sold on Valentine’s Day in the United States are imported... mostly from South America. Approximately 110 million roses...the majority of them being red...will be sold and delivered within a three-day time period during the Valentine’s Day celebrations. 36% of males and 28% of females put off their Valentine’s Day shopping until February 14 or the day before...64% of consumers will plan to do their shopping a week or more prior to the date. Males tend to spend more money on Valentine’s Day gifts than do females and are more likely to buy big-ticket items...the average amount spent being $95.00. Approximately 3% of pet owners will give a Valentine’s Day gift to their pet. Alexander Graham Bell applied for his patent on the telephone on Valentine’s Day in 1876. The chief colors associated with Valentine’s Day are pink, red and white. Pink is a delicate, almost innocent shade of red and is also connected with Saint Valentine, whose burial was said to have caused the pink almond tree to blossom. Red is a symbol of warmth and feeling...the color of the heart, while white represents purity and faith...a faith between two who love each other.
Valentines Day Ideas
Got plans for Valentine’s Day?
Drop the kids off at Hands On! Regional Museum for a night of worry-free fun while you paint the town red! Pre-registration and payment are required by February 13th. Please call (423) 434-4263 ext. 100 for more information.
Say “I Love You”
Still wandering what to get that special someone for Valentine’s Day?? Say “I Love YOU” with a song! A singing Valentine includes: as song, a rose and a card. Order today: 423.384.9992 or visit appalachianexpresschorus.org
‘Sweet Sounds’ dessert cabaret
Milligan College will present an evening of “sweet sounds,” featuring entertainment and desserts, on Friday, Feb. 14, at 8 p.m. in Milligan’s McCormick Dining Center, located in Sutton Hall. Three Milligan music ensembes - Heard Mentality, Heritage and the Women’s Chorale - will headline the “Sweet Sounds” dessert cabaret, which also includes a variety of other performers from the college and community. For more information, visit www.milligan. edu/familyweekend. For ticket information, call 423.461.8723.
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Nelson Riddle Orchestra to Perform at NPAC on Saturday, February 15th Celebrate the timeless music of the legendary Nelson Riddle and Frank Sinatra as famed big band singer Bryan Anthony and the Nelson Riddle Orchestra transport you back to a magical and beloved era in music! This great evening of entertainment will be performed Saturday, February 15th at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center in historic downtown Greeneville, TN. The concert begins at 7:30 pm. Nelson Riddle worked with Frank Sinatra for the first time in 1953. This remarkable team brought “I’ve Got the World on a String”, “Summer Wind”, “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” and other classics to the American songbook. Bryan and the Nelson Riddle Orchestra celebrate the legacy of this legendary team. The Nelson Riddle Orchestra is generally considered the “World’s Most Recorded Orchestra” having recorded with Sinatra, Nat “King” Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Rosemary Clooney, Peggy Lee, Judy Garland, Dean Martin, Barbra Streisand, Linda Ronstadt and many others. The Orchestra is currently directed by Nelson’s son Christopher. Nelson Riddle’s career began at an early age. On June 1, 1939, the day of his 19th birthday, Nelson Riddle left home to travel in the dual capacity of trombonist and arranger with dance band leader Jerry Wald. In 1941, he joined The Charlie Spivak Orchestra and remained there until he entered the merchant marine in 1943. He spent 1944-45 most profitably, experience-wise, with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. Dorsey employed as his arrangers such talents as Eddie Sauter, Hugo Winterhalter and Freddie Norman. In 1946, Riddle returned to New York and worked for several months as an arranger for such band greats as the Elgart Brothers and Elliot Lawrence. The West Coast intrigued him and, with the help of his good friend guitarist Bob Bain, he secured a job arrang-
ing for Bob Crosby. He arrived in Los Angeles on December 5, 1946, and it became his home. Riddle’s early Los Angeles years were spent learning his craft with the great Mario CastellanuevoTedesco and Victor Young. Riddle was writing arrangements for NBC Radio when he began to occasionally work for Nat King Cole, but as a ghost-arranger. The successes of his arrangements for “Mona Lisa” in 1950 and “Too Young” in 1951 set him on his way to doing most of Nat King Cole’s music at Capi-
tol Records. By this time Riddle had become conductor of the orchestra and had his name printed on the record label, he was no longer an anonymous arranger! Nelson Riddle worked with Frank Sinatra for the first time in 1953. Sinatra’s career was in professional limbo at that time. Lee Gillette at Capitol Records thought it would be a good idea for Sinatra to work with the young arranger, but Frank was skeptical and wanted to work in New York with more Continued on page 6
Page 6, The Loafer • February 11, 2014 Continued from page 5 familiar people and surroundings. Fortunately, Gillette stuck to his guns and the genesis of this most remarkable coupling was “I’ve Got the World on a String”. Notable future recordings with Sinatra would include the albums “Songs for Young Lovers,’ “In the Wee Small Hours”, “A Swingin’ Affair”, and “Nice n’ Easy” to name but a few!
By the mid-1950’s, Riddle was staff arranger at Capitol Records and worked with such immortals as Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, Judy Garland, Rosemary Clooney, Keely Smith, Dinah Shore, The Hi Lo’s, Ella Mae Morse, Al Martino, Dakota Staton, Dean Martin and Bing Crosby. Interspersed with the vocal recordings, Riddle wrote many successful instrumental pieces, with “Lisbon Antigua” becoming a number one hit, netting him his first gold record for sales over one million. His motion picture and television credits include “The Young at Heart”, “High Society”, “Pal Joey”, “Paint Your Wagon”, “The Tender Trap”, “Can-Can”, “Li’l Abner”, “A Hole in the Head”, “The Great Gatsby” (for which he received an Academy Award for musical adaptation), “The Untouchables”, “Naked
City” and “Route 66”, the first TV theme to become a chart-topper. His recording career tapered off in the 1970’s and early 1980’s with the continuing onslaught of rock n’ roll and electronic instruments. In 1983 he received a phone call from Linda Ronstadt asking him to write an arrangement for the old standard, “I Guess I’ll Hang My Tears Out To Dry”. He replied he would not consider writing a single arrangement, but rather a complete album. That was the birth of “What’s New?” which begat “Lush Life” and was followed by “For Sentimental Reasons”. Riddle’s final collaboration was the Album “ Blue Skies”, with Dame Kiri te Kanawa. Nelson Riddle died on October 6, 1985. The modern day version of the orchestra enjoys worldwide acclaim. From the New Theatre in Oxford, United Kingdom... “Throughout
this evening’s performance, Christopher Riddle enjoyed light-hearted and easy banter with the audience, charming them with tales of his father...Bryan Anthony, was equally charming in his banter, but where Riddle was disarming and sweet, Anthony was dashing and smooth...Anthony has a full and powerful voice, and belted out the tunes with ease and style akin to those who sang them the first time ’round. “The Nelson Riddle Orchestra with vocalist Bryan Anthony will perform at Niswonger Performing Arts Center (NPAC) in historic downtown Greeneville, TN on Saturday, February 15th at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $45 for orchestra and mezzanine level seating and $35 for balcony seats. Tickets may be purchased online at www. npacgreeneville.com, in person at the NPAC box office, or by calling 423-638-1679. NPAC offers online seat selection and no-fee ticketing. The box office hours are Monday through Friday, 10 am until 5 pm. The 1130 seat performing arts center is located adjacent to the campus of Greeneville High School in Greeneville, TN. For venue information, and to purchase tickets, please visit www.npacgreeneville.com.
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February 11, 2014 • The Loafer, Page 7
Northeast State welcomes
David Mayfield February 14th
Northeast State Community College welcomes pianist David Mayfield to campus for a special piano recital on Feb. 14. The recital begins at 7:00 p.m. in the Wellmont Regional Center for the Performing Arts Theater at the main campus in Blountville. The concert is free and open to the public. He will perform “French Suite No. 5” in F Major by Johann Sebastian Bach, “Ballade No. 2” in F Major by Frederic Chopin and “Piano Sonata No. 30” by Ludwig van Beethoven.
Mayfield received his Master of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Tennessee in May 2011 where he studied with David Northington and also taught class piano and applied piano. While there, he received training in both the Suzuki Method and traditional methods of teaching under Fay Adams. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Piano at Lee University. Also, he performed in master classes with Adam Golka, Juyong Kang, Ning An, and Gloria Chien. For the past
year, Mr. Mayfield took time to serve as a VISTA Volunteer, helping his community to combat high rates of poverty. During this time, he not only gave performances with a local community group known as the Plateau Player, but also crafting a concert series to bring classical performances to a rural area of Tennessee. The recital is open to the public. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. For more information contact tcteague@ northeaststate.edu.
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Page 8, The Loafer • February 11, 2014
Valentine’s Benefit Event for Tusculum College band program
The Tusculum College Pioneer Jazz Band will be hosting a Valentine’s Day Dinner/Swing Dance benefit on Friday, Feb. 14, at the General Morgan Inn. The reception will begin at 6:30 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m. The event will include dinner and a performance of the Pioneer Jazz Band, along with special guests. The event is a fundraiser to help raise money for much-needed equipment for the entire Tusculum band program, according to David A. Price, director of music at Tusculum College. As an added bonus, swing dance lessons will be offered free of charge beginning at 5:30 p.m. Lessons will be provided by professional dancers Darian and Tiffany Chancellor. The Chancellors have been professional ballroom dance instructors and competitors for more than 10 years. They began with Fred Astaire Dance Studios and opened Johnson City Ballroom in 2012.
“We are thrilled to have Darian and Tiffany as part of our program. With years of professional experience, it is a great time for beginners to learn or for more experienced dancers to pick up a few new moves,” said Price. Ticket prices for the event are $50 per person and include dance tickets, free dance lessons, an opening reception, a prime rib and shrimp dinner and a special dessert. Please call in advance to request a vegetarian substitution. A cash bar will be available. Tickets are available for purchase at the General Morgan Inn or by contacting Price at 423-636-7303 or emailing daprice@tusculum. edu. A hotel package special is also available by contacting the General Morgan Inn at 423-787-1000. Special table reservations are available for larger group seating by contacting Price.
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February 11, 2014 • The Loafer, Page 9
Barter Theatre begins 2014
with a Big Renovation and a Bigger Musical New dining experience “Bob’s at Barter” opens Valentine’s Day
Bob’s at Barter artist’s rendering by Barter Creative Specialist Nathan Wampler
Barter Theatre announces the February 14th Grand Opening of its new dining experience “Bob’s at Barter,” located at Barter Stage II. The dining space opens just in time to serve patrons coming to “Man of La Mancha” the thrilling, theatrical musical beginning at Barter’s Main Stage. Bob’s at Barter replaces the café at Barter Stage II, and features a brand new menu with more dinner and dessert options, as well as a completely renovated space. With new flooring, paint and light fixtures, as well intimate seating arrangements for comfortable conversations, and a more sophisticated decor, Bob’s at Barter is a cozy spot that invites patrons to linger before and after the show. The entire renovation happened in a little over a month. Barter’s final performance of the 2013 season took place December 29th, and the space had to be completely redone in the month of January, when the theatre is dark. The interior was stripped of furnishings, new flooring installed, new layout constructed, painted, décor and furniture installed, all in just under 45 days. According to Director of Patron Services Lori Hester, “when we started this renovation, we knew the two key things we had to get right were the food and the ambiance. The new Bob’s at Barter is much more than a snack bar - it’s a place you’d want to bring friends or a date and have lunch or dinner.” For Valentine’s Day, Barter Theatre is highlighting its Sweet Deal Package. With two tickets to “Man
of La Mancha,” at Barter’s Main Stage at 8:00pm, as well as two gourmet coffees and desserts at the new Bob’s at Barter for just $85, it’s the perfect Valentine’s date night. Bob’s at Barter is open seven days a week beginning at 11:00am for lunch, dinner, or post-show. Bob’s at Barter is open to the public – no ticket is required to dine in or pick up a meal. The updated menu features some long-time customer favorites like the Porterfield Club sandwich, along with new menu items like a grilled cheese caprese sandwich; spinach salad with strawberries, candied pecans and blue cheese; stuffed mushroom Florentine; a black bean burger and roasted tomato bruschetta. For the kids, Bob’s at Barter still offers grilled cheese and PB&J. Valentine’s Day weekend also marks the beginning of Barter’s
Main Stage Season. “Man of La Mancha,” beginning February 13th, is the funny, imaginative musical based on the story of Don Quixote. Filled with memorable songs like “Dream the Impossible Dream” and “Dulcinea,” and “Man of La Mancha (I, Don Quixote),” it won five Tony Awards when it opened on Broadway in 1966. “Man of La Mancha” takes the original novel “Don Quixote” and gives it a fascinating twist. Author Miguel de Cervantes becomes a character himself, narrating the story of his novel as a play within a play. When he is thrown in to a dungeon by the Spanish Inquisition, Cervantes rallies his fellow prisoners, pulling them in to the fictional world of Don Quixote that he has created. In this bleak prison where no prisoner is likely to escape alive, their play-acting becomes more and more real, offering a temporary escape and a vision of real hope. Bob’s at Barter is a great place to warm up with a cup of coffee, sit down for a light meal, or grab a snack before seeing a Barter Theatre production, like “Man of La Mancha” on Barter’s Main Stage or “Don’t Cry For Me, Margaret Mitchell,” currently playing at Barter Stage II. For more information, or to book a package or tickets for any of Barter’s productions, visit www. BarterTheatre.com or call (276) 6283991.
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KODY NORRIS & The Watauga Mountain Boys @ the Carter Family Fold
Saturday February 15th, 2014, at 7:30 p.m. the Carter Family Fold in Hiltons, Virginia, will present a concert of traditional bluegrass music by Kody Norris and the Watauga Mountain Boys. Kody Norris is young, confident, and bluegrass proud. He’s been fronting his own band now for over nine years, but he’s been playing bluegrass music for much longer. Kody grew up in Mountain City, Tennessee. According to Norris, playing bluegrass in the traditional style is the only way he knows how to play it – or wants to play it. His bright colored suits are reminiscent of Jimmy Martin, and his sound carries you back to the early days of bluegrass. Although he respects and appreciates other music styles, his first love is bluegrass. Despite his young age, Norris’s stage presence and musical ability place him in the ranks of seasoned, veteran performers. Kody has played with various bands and also performed with his idol, Dr. Ralph Stanley. Serious and focused on their music, the Watauga Mountain Boys exemplify the pride they have in their musical heritage. Always performing in suits and hats, they are reminiscent of Flatt and Scruggs and the Clinch Mountain Boys. They have performed at the Wisconsin State Fair, the Pickin’ Porch, Bean Blossom, the High Country Jam, on RFD TV with the Cumberland Highlanders Show, and at many festivals across the U.S. In fact, they’ve played in nearly every state. They’ve performed at the Smithsonian and the Kennedy Center, and their work has been featured in the New York Times. Often playing old tunes that are nearly forgotten, they try to keep their music as original as possible. For more information, check out Kody & the Watauga Mountain Boys on Facebook. Adult admission to the concert is $10, $1 for children 6 to 11, and under age 6 free. For recorded information on shows coming up at the Fold, call 276-386-6054. The Fold is on Facebook – page Carter Fold – and Twitter – Twitter @carterfoldinfo. To speak to a Fold staff member, call 276-594-0676.
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February 11, 2014 • The Loafer, Page 11
CONCERT FOR LOVERS OF MUSIC AND MORE L’amour Toujours Valentine’s Concert
Carter Mansion to open for tours We are happy to announce that our historic house museum, the John and Landon Carter Mansion, will be open for tours on Tuesdays, February 11th, 18th, and the 25th from Noon to 3 pm. In the event of inclement weather, please call Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area to confirm that the site will be open, at 423-543-5808. A visit to Tennessee’s Oldest Frame house, built between
1775-1780 is quite the treat, as the home boasts elaborate architectural details which adorn the house from top to bottom. Join re-enactor Ramona Invidiato on Tuesdays in February for a special look at the history of this beautiful late 18th century home of two of our regions most respected leaders. The Carter Mansion is located at 1013 Broad Street in Elizabethton, Tennessee.
If you’re searching for the perfect gift this Valentine’s Day, Symphony of the Mountains is making the search a lot easier as we present “L’amour Toujours: Valentine’s Concert” on Friday, February 14th at 7:30pm at the Paramount Center for the Arts. The evening will feature soloists and Symphony of the Mountains musicians Sean K. Claire and Jeffery Whaley. Violinist Sean Claire is now in his fourth year as Concertmaster of Symphony of the Mountains and also plays with Knoxville Symphony Orchestra. French horn performer Jeffery
Whaley, who serves as Principal Horn with Symphony of the Mountains was recently appointed Principal Horn with Knoxville and Asheville Symphony as well. The performance will include romantic tunes like Beethoven’s “Romance for Violin and Orchestra”, Sarasate’s “Gypsy Airs”, Saint-Saens’s “Romance for Horn and Orchestra”, Wagner’s “Siegfried Idyll”, Tangos by the Argentinean composer Piazzolla, and Elgar’s “Salut d’Amour”. “We want to create a romantic haven for lovers on this special day” says Symphony of the Moun-
tains Music Director Cornelia Laemmli Orth. “All of the pieces are related to love.” Prior to the concert, a wine bar will be offered for a small fee. The wine bar will begin at 5:30pm and the concert will begin at 7:30pm. Both will be held at the Paramount Center for the Arts in Bristol, TN. Concert tickets are $35 for adults with children and students always admitted free to all Symphony of the Mountains concerts. To purchase tickets, visit Symphony of the Mountains’ website at SymphonyoftheMountains.org or call (423) 392-8423.
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Bristol Motor Speedway and Food City announce a five-year partnership extension &
New “Fuel for Fans” Program
Courtesy of Bristol Motor Speedway
The March 2014 pilgrimage to the Last Great Colosseum just became more affordable for season ticket holders as Bristol Motor Speedway and Food City announce a five-year partnership extension and unveil the new “Fuel for Fans” program. The program loads two Food City GasN-Go Fuel Bucks stops on the iBelong Membership card/Food City ValuCard of every iBelong member and BMS season ticket holder, good for 15 cents off each gallon of gas up to 20 gallons at all Food City Gas-NGo locations. Additionally, Food City is offering a third discounted fill-up to iBelong members who spend more than $15 at one of their stores prior to March 16. “This latest extension takes the partnership between Food City and Bristol Motor Speedway beyond the 25-year mark, and when a relationship lasts that long you begin to view each other as more than business associates. You become friends and family,” said BMS General Manager Jerry Caldwell. “We also view our season ticket holders as members of the BMS family as well and are committed to elevating their visit any
way we can. They remain dedicated, even through recent economic challenges, and this is one way we, along with our partners at Food City, can express our appreciation.” Food City officials also see the program as a means of honoring BMS fans for their continued loyalty. “We are pleased to announce the extension of our relationship with Bristol Motor Speedway and offer the Fuel for Fans program as a way to thank those who have faithfully supported this longtime partnership,” said Steve Smith, president and CEO of K-VAT. “It is the mission of Food City to provide value to our customers as they shop for the staples of everyday life, and this program allows us to extend that value to those who support us both in our stores and at the Speedway.” Tickets to experience a full season of battles inside the Last Great Colosseum tickets start at just $160 and offer ticket holders more than $300 in savings. For information on the Fuel for Fans program and how you can belong to the BMS family, visit www. bristolmotorspeedway.com or call (855) 5805525.
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February 11, 2014 • The Loafer, Page 13
Coming live, from New Orleans:
Dirty Bourbon River Show
“ A circus-like barrage of sound serving as entrance music for a magical mystery tour of whiskey-soaked French Quarter back alleys” – Rory Callais, Offbeat Following their unannounced, acclaimed (SPIN, Brooklyn Vegan) last minute main stage performance at Voodoo Festival in City Park in New Orleans on Halloween weekend, the Crescent City’s own Dirty Bourbon River Show will be coming to Bristol to play 620 State Feb. 14. To celebrate the new year the Dirty Bourbon River Show will be releasing their 8th studio album - Аккордеон Запись (Accordion Record) - digitally through their website (dirtybourbonrivershow.com) and through their Bandcamp (dbrs.bandcamp.com). Fulfilling their promise of releasing 2 albums a year for their 1st four years as a band, this release and the upcoming live shows in 2014
The Local Show: Feb. 14:
620 State
620 State St., Bristol, TN 10 pm/no cover marks yet another step forward in the ongoing history of the Dirty Bourbon River Show. The Dirty Bourbon River Show is comprised of Noah Adams (vocals, piano, guitar, accordion, trumpet), Charles “Big Charlie” Skinner (vocals, trombone, wind toys), Matt Thomas (vocals, tenor, bari and Mississippi saxophone, clarinet), Jimmy Williams (bass, sousaphone) and Dane “Bootsy” Schindler (drums).
Free Dinner and Show to Benefit local Food Bank
SPOONS & TUNES EVENT The Acoustic Coffeehouse, 415 W. Walnut St., will be hosting a food/goods drive on Sat, February 15 for Good Samaritan Ministries Inc., a not for profit organization dedicated to helping the homeless and impoverished in our community. Because supplies are low the need for donated food is greater than ever. Entertainment will include fire breathing, musical entertainment, storytelling, aerial acrobatics, & hula hooping. A dinner of chicken and dumplings will
be served at 5:00, and entertainment will begin at 7:30. A donation of $5 or 5 nonperishable food items or common household goods (toothbrushes, toilet paper) is requested. Have fun while helping those in need! If you can’t make it to the show donations can be brought beforehand to The Acoustic Coffeehouse or the Knoxville TVA Employee Credit Union, 2004 N. Roan St where donation bins will be located.
Page 14, The Loafer • February 11, 2014
Martians Messin’ with NASA Rover? A true Martian “now you don’t see it, and now you do” bit of mystery is fueling the alien conspiracy experts demanding an answer to who left a jelly doughnut right in front of Mars rover Opportunity. Even Star Trek renowned actor William Shatner has publically asked NASA what’s up with the mystery rock on Mars. Shatner poised the question via Twitter during a NASA press conference on Opportunity’s latest discovery. “Have you ruled out Martian rock throwers?” tweeted Shatner, whose role as Capt. Kirk on the Starship Enterprise is one of Hollywood’s iconic characters. To get you up to speed, while perched in its stationary winter position, Opportunity photographed the rocks near it one day, and 12 days later on Jan. 8 a mystery rock appeared. The white rock has a red center, and is about the size and shape of a jelly doughnut. The information has made its rounds in the UFO circles, fueling the In-
ternet with all kinds of speculation. Mars Rover lead scientist Steve Squyres said the object, called “Pinnacle Rock,” is just that, a stony rock—but unlike any seen before. The space scientist thinks the rock is flipped over, exposing an underside that might not have seen sunlight for millions of years. Squyres answered actor Shatner’s tweet by saying he’d look out for any Martians. Conspiracy writer Rhawn Joseph, has filed a suit against NASA for withholding information about the obviously alien object. The advocate of extraterrestrial life says the Martian rock is a living thing that is growing, like a fungus. In papers filed in a Florida court, Joseph calls for NASA to thoroughly examine the object. This is exactly what they are doing. Keep in mind, this new, “now you see it, yesterday you didn’t” Martian rock is in front of Oppor-
tunity, an old rover. The new rover, Curiosity, is on the other side of Mars in an ancient stream bed at the base of a mountain. The facts so far and NASA’s best hunch as to what’s happen: Analysis with Opportunity’s arm of scientific instruments shows the rock to be nothing like any rocks sampled before. And it literally appeared out of nowhere. Analysis has shown the rock contains twice the amount of magnesium than any other on Mars. It also has sulfur and manganese—all components of volcanic activity like occurred on Mars two billion years ago. Hunches where the Martian “jelly doughnut” came from are: -- One of the many frequent dust devils in this part of Mars deposited it Wizard of Oz style. These tiny twisters have cleaned off the solar panels of Opportunity many times, allowing the batteries to recharge. Continued on page 15
www.theloaferonline.com Continued from page 14 -- The stone is debris from a nearby meteor impact that happened between Opportunity’s Martian days 3,528 and 3,540; -- The rock was kicked out of one of six wheels of the golf cart-sized Opportunity. Maybe it’s been stuck awhile during the amazing rover’s 25-mile, 10 year trek across a once wet lake; -- Aliens left it as a subtle message to mess with us humans on Earth. Don’t laugh. There are extraterrestrial investigators that are dead serious about this.
This isn’t one of those trick-ofthe-light mirages that perpetuated the phony “Face on Mars” hysteria of the 1980s. That famous image by the 1976 Viking 1 orbiter has been photographed dozens of times by the sophisticated orbiters of the 21st Century and revealed to be nothing more than an interesting rocky plateau. As for what this Martian mystery rock will turn out to be, the verdict is still out. And Steve Squires and his team of Mars experts at Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena, California are on top of it, in full view of the media and social network. Thus the Jan. 23rd press conference on Facebook and Twitter. What was a promised 3-month job for Opportunity’s guaranteed life expectancy has turned into a decade of incredible information gathering. Opportunity has not moved in six weeks as it waits for the Martian Summer Solstice this week on Feb. 15 and warmer weather to recharge its batteries for power to the wheels. It is at the rim of a large crater named Endeavour. Mars has become a familiar home to a core group of less than 50 planetary scientists around the world. They’ll figure it out…but it probably won’t satisfy those alien advocates. Look for more news at your local grocery store rack of National Enquirer and Globe.
February 11, 2014 • The Loafer, Page 15
Redleg Husky
at Acoustic Coffeehouse - Feb. 15th Redleg Husky is an Americana/ folk band from Boone, North Carolina that captures the sounds of a long drive, a well-worn record, and boots on a dusty floor. Formed in 2012 by Misa Giroux and Tim McWilliams to pursue their love of acoustic roots music, their eclectic musical backgrounds and Master’s degrees in Appalachian Music have led them to their unique combination of contemporary folk and blues. Originally from Southbury, Connecticut, Misa has been playing Mary Chapin Carpenter cov-
ers in her room since she was 13. After seeing Tift Merritt perform a solo show at the Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton, Massachusetts with just a soulful voice and a beat-up guitar, she knew that music was something she had to pursue. A lifelong resident of Cincinnati, Ohio, Tim started out mastering the licks of Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Continuing a journey to find the music that has inspired the artists he loves, Tim has become engulfed with oldtime, country and delta blues field recordings. He now merges blues and old-time styles on acoustic guitar, flowing from the songs of Doc Watson to Muddy Waters with ease. Their debut EP was recorded in January 2013 in Greensboro, NC by Daniel Levi Goans (Lowland Hum) and mastered in Brooklyn, NY by Peter Recine (Allison Weiss, The Files and Fires). They recently recorded their first full-length studio album, Carolina, at Wild Chorus Studios in Knoxville, TN with Scott Minor (Sparklehorse) to be released in late February 2014. Acoustic Coffeehouse is located at 415 W. Walnut St. Information: 434-9872 or visit http://www. acousticcoffeehouse.net.
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www.theloaferonline.com I was up at 5 am with a little insomnia a week ago and stuck my head outside to see if it was clear. Then my slippers hit the driveway as I looked up at a beautiful starry sky of three bright planets. Venus, Saturn and Mars are putting on a show that’s worth getting up early to see. After this week the Moon will make its way into the early morning scene, and that’ll just help show you the boundaries of the ecliptic, where the Moon, Sun and planets are found. In the evening, enjoy the Full Moon of February and how it shines down on our still barren winter landscape.
Tues. Feb. 11
At 5:30 am the pre-dawn sky is spectacular as the summer constellations are on display. But directly south is a bright red “star,” planet Mars, and below it is the white star Spica of Virgo the Virgin. Scorpius is rising directly south with its heart being the red star Antares. And, rising high in the east is brilliant Venus.
Wed. Feb. 12
Staying in the early morning sky, Mars and another red star, Antares in Scorpius, sandwich a quite yellow star, which is the planet Saturn. The ringed world is in Libra the Scales, the only zodiacal constellation that is not a living creature.
Thurs. Feb. 13
Orion directly to the south is awesome, and to its left the brilliant Jupiter is lodged in the center of the brothers Gemini. Below are Procyon and Sirius in Canis Minor and Canis Major, Orion’s two dogs.
February 11, 2014 • The Loafer, Page 17 Fri. Feb. 14
The lover’s night sky will be filled with moonlight as the full phase orb will illuminate the barren winter landscape. Always a striking scene when it rises over mountains or buildings, the Full Moon of February is called the Wolf Moon, Snow Moon or Hunger Moon by Native American tribes.
Sat. Feb. 15
The Winter Octagon is on display with an amazing eight first magnitude stars and the planet Jupiter. Starting above Orion, the stars are red Aldebaran, yellow Capella, Castor, Pollux, Procyon, brightest star Sirius, Orion’s knee Rigel and shoulder Betelgeuse.
Sun. Feb. 16
Sunrise at around 7 am is preceded by the rising of brilliant Venus, easily seen at 6 am in the constellation Sagittarius. The Sun enters the constellation Aquarius the Water Carrier, but astrology wrongly says the Sun is entering Pisces the Fishes, a constellation ahead.
Mon. Feb. 17
Directly north is the Big Dipper, standing on its three-star handle. As the night wears on, the Big Dipper will empty the contents of its four-star bowl over the landscape. These seven famous stars are just part of a much larger constellation, Ursa Major, the Great Bear.
Skies This Week Celestial events in the skies for the week of Feb. 11-17, 2014, as compiled for The Loafer by Mark D. Marquette.
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My 10 All-time favorite films Since I have been doing this column for quite a few years, I decided to veer from my usual review and reveal my 10 favorite films of all time. This was something I decided to do to allow you to get to know a bit more about me and my movie preferences. On this list you will see plenty of trilogies (I prefer to see them as one complete story), and blockbusters. While I love all types of movies, these are the films that I never tire of watching. After all, isn’t that what being a movie fan is all about? Now I present my 10 favorite movies of all time!
1-The original “Star Wars” Trilogy. I will never forget the first time I saw “Star Wars” on the big screen. I was breathless. After the film was over, the experience was all I could talk about. A “Star Wars” geek was born. Hey, I can even tolerate the new films, and look forward to the new films beginning in 2015.
4-”The Bourne”Trilogy- When “The Bourne Identity” hit the big screen in 2002, most movie fans, including myself, just couldn’t picture Matt Damon as an action hero. Boy were we all wrong. After the first film, I couldn’t wait for the 2-”The Dark Knight” Trilogy. other two adventures featuring JaWhile I enjoyed the other Batman son Bourne. If any more “Bourne” films from previous years, the films are made, I beg Hollywood 2005 release of “Batman Begins” to bring Damon back. finally presented a cinematic version of Batman that many fans had always wanted. At last Batman was The Dark Knight.
5-”Moonstruck”- The first non-trilogy on the list won Cher an Academy Award for best actress. The 3-”The Lord of the Rings” Trilogy. 1987 release about an American/ These films are simply amazing. Italian family living in Brooklyn, So impressive was director Peter NY, charmed American movie Jackson’s trip to Middle Earth, the fans with warmth and humor. Academy gave the final chapter Never underestimate the power “Return of the King” the Best Pic- of the moon, or director Norman ture award of 2003. Jewison.
8-”Jurassic Park”- As with “Star Wars”, this 1993 release left a lasting impression on me after I saw 6-”Star Trek”- I have always been the film on the big screen for the a “Star Trek” fan, but really en- first time. The first time you see joyed the newer versions (“Next the CGI dinosaurs you will nevGeneration”) more than the origi- er forget it. What child, or adult nal cast (shock). So when director for that matter, doesn’t love or J.J. Abrams rebooted the series in isn’t fascinated by the extinct crea2009, I was thrilled. The casting tures. A new adventure, “Jurassic is spot-on perfect, and I just can’t World” is stomping to a theater imagine any actor more perfect near you in 2015. as the new Kirk than Chris Pine. The real heart of the film, and the recent sequel, is the wonderful friendship between Kirk and Spock (Zachary Quinto).
9-”Skyfall”- I have enjoyed all the James Bond movies to one degree or another. But for me this 2012 release is one of the best because we are presented with the origin of Bond, and we even get to see his childhood home. Plus, Daniel 7-”The Wizard of Oz”- I have seen Craig continues his reign as one of this film more times than any on the best Bond’s ever. the list, as I began my viewing of the adventures of Dorothy and her friends as a child, and still watch the film whenever I need a dose of the yellow brick road.
10- “Aliens”- It was really hard to choose between this 1986 release and its 1979 predecessor “Alien”. I chose this one because of the unforgettable battle between star Sigourney Weaver and the Alien Queen. Almost nonstop action and thrills make “Aliens” one of the best sci-fi movies ever released. There are many other films that could have made my list, “Jaws” for one, but the above list are the movies I want with me if I’m ever stranded on a deserted island or in a galaxy far, far away.
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18th Century Militia Muster at Sycamore Shoals Showcasing Colonial Skills and Trades
February 11, 2014 • The Loafer, Page 19 On February 15 and 16 Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area in Elizabethton, TN will present a weekend of 18th century living history. The Washington County Regiment of North Carolina Militia, the park’s host living history organization, will be encamped in and around Fort Watauga providing visitors with a glimpse into our Revolutionary past. Walk among settlers and native peoples who share stories of our history through talks, presentations and demonstrations of 18th century life. The Washington County Militia provides many historic programs throughout the year at Sycamore Shoals. This particular event will focus mainly on the daily tasks and trades that made a frontier settlement thrive. The Watauga settlement, in the 18th century, was a remote backwoods community. The early settlers relied on each other as well as their Native Cherokee neighbors for
specialized items and knowledge such as woodworking, weaving, rope making, blacksmithing, sewing and hunting techniques. Join the reenactors of the Washington County Militia at Fort Watauga as they present a myriad of programs on these skills and trades of the 18th century. Also witness the militia as they present flintlock musket firing demonstrations, 18th century artillery demonstrations, and military drill. Bring out the entire family for this free event, and enjoy an exciting, entertaining, and informative day at the beautiful and historic Sycamore Shoals State Park. The event takes place on Saturday, February
15th from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm and Sunday, February 16th from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm. Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area is located at 1651 W. Elk Avenue in Elizabethton, TN. For more information about this and other exciting events at Sycamore Shoals please call 423-5435808 or visit the park websites at www.sycamoreshoalstn.org and http:// tnstateparks.com/parks/ about/sycamore-shoals. This event is sponsored by The Washington County Regiment of North Carolina Militia. You may visit their website at washingtoncountyregiment.wordpress.com.
Activities Throughout the Weekend Include… Open Hearth Cooking – Salt Rendering – Maple Syrup Making Leatherwork - Leather-bound Journal Making – Wool Processing Hand Sewing – Pine Needle Baskets – Native Skills - Woodsman Skills Flintlock Rifle & Musket Firing - Trapping & Animal Pelts Display Tavern Life – Daily Frontier Life
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February 11, 2014 • The Loafer, Page 21
A Holiday Struggle
This week I want to take a moment to talk about something that I have first hand experience with. There’s an upcoming holiday that I really struggle with, as do a lot of people. It’s a holiday that can make people feel depressed, alone, resentful, and hopeless. A holiday that comes around every February. I’m sure by now you’ve come to figure out that I am talking about President’s Day. President’s Day is an amazingly polarizing holiday, how do you celebrate without letting George or Abe overshadow each other? Do you get wooden teeth for you dog, and a stovepipe hat for you cat? Do you wear a powdered wig, or rock out an amazing beard? You can’t really have a cook out with the one you love, it’s too cold. Last year, I decided to just really throw the hammer down the hallway and throw a President’s Day party. It wasn’t so much a celebration of two of
the great leaders of our land, so much as “Let’s eat pizza, dress like dead presidents, and do bad karaoke!” It was mishmash of people who showed up, mostly friends of mine, and a few friends of friends. Overall, I knew most of the people, but it was hard to see sometimes beyond the mix of powered wigs and beards that many were sporting. The pizza and beer went quickly, and as soon as the karaoke machine was plugged up, someone grabbed it and started to sing “Purple Rain.” I was up next, and I chose to sing that classic Buzzcocks tune “Everybody’s Happy Nowadays.” Some of the room knew it, some of the room didn’t, and the next person up sang “Don’t Stop Believing.” Things took an odd turn when someone who I didn’t known, dressed as James K. Polk, grabbed the microphone after a brief pause in activity, and said into it “Would anyone like to hear some Gil-
bert Godfrey jokes?” Suddenly, we felt as if we had stumbled into a David Lynch film. A man dressed as Polk, doing a Gilbert Godfrey impression, and telling jokes that made the party screech to a halt. Polk finished, and shortly after he seemingly disappeared. I returned to the microphone with a group of friends, and we sang The Beatles’ “Oh, Darling.” After that, more pizza, more singing, and the only party game of the night “Who in the hell was James K. Polk?” We never did figure out who Polk was, or whose friend he was. The idea of having a President’s Day Party was a success, with minimal mess, and only one person leaving in shame. It’s an odd holiday to wrap your head around, but it doesn’t have to be as much of a struggle as you once thought of. Dress your friends up like Taft and watch them sing “Hit Me With Your Best Shot!” It’s great fun! Just make sure nobody knows any Gilbert Godfrey jokes first. See you next week.
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Try to be mindful while reading this column Because I am always alert to new trends and buzzwords, I was attracted to the cover article in the February 2 issue of Time magazine, “The Mindful Revolution: The Science Of Finding Focus In A Stressed-out, Multitasking Culture.” In this informative piece, author Kate Pickert tells me that although “meditation is considered an essential means to achieving mindfulness, the ultimate goal is simply to give your attention fully to what you’re doing.” Pickert uses the example of how she has learned to eat a raisin in a wholly different way to help us understand what mindfulness is all about. After examining the raisin very closely and paying close attention to its surface indentations and wrinkles, she puts it into her mouth, rolling “the wrinkly little shape over and over with [her] tongue, feeling its texture.” Finally, after all this close and tectural analysis, she eats the darned thing, being mindful of chewing it “very slowly.” So, there you have it—the art of examining and eating a raisin mindfully. I’ll have to keep Pickert’s technique in mind the next time I eat my bowl of Raisin Bran for breakfast. As I write this, I am trying to be very mindful. Usually, I write my weekly columns while watching TV and listening to Pandora. But today all those distractions are turned off, and guess what? I’m having a much harder time getting words from my head to the screen, so maybe I should reintroduce these distractions. I have of course noted the irony of writing this column in a mindful way while staring at the screen on my Mac. And, while composing this column, I resent people like Pickert telling me I need to be more mindful. Why do most of these mindfulness gurus assume we can’t be mindful in the presence of technology? I think I’m being pretty mindful while writing this, using technology while listening to music and watching TV (and my computer
screen) at the same time. And, yes, I check my phone periodically in the midst of all this activity. The fact that I am perfectly content and at peace with myself while immersed in all this activity must mean there is something seriously wrong with me. After reading the Time article, however, I felt a little guilty for my lack of mindfulness and have considered enrolling in one of the 1,000+ Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) classes that are being offered all over the world as I write this sentence. Although this current emphasis on mindfulness reflects the particular interests of the moment, the MBSR concept goes back to 1979, when MIT scientist Jon Kabat-Zinn transferred some of the core principles of Buddhist-based mindfulness into scientific terminology and attached to the program and his classes an entrepreneurial cast that made them more legitimate and palatable to the masses. Just think of the comfort that comes from leaving the stress-filled world of work behind long enough to fork over some serious dollars to enroll in a stress reduction program. And now that doctors and scientists are telling us that mindfulness is linked to better health and longer lives, who cares about the spiritual side of this age-old Buddhist practice? From what I can gather about all this MBSR hoopla, it is a secular way of transforming Buddhism into a method of helping us become more efficient workers and bureaucrats. MBSR has thus surrounded itself with appropriate jargon. As Pickert observes, the so-called mindful revolution “is rooted in Eastern philosophy, specifically Buddhism. But two factors set it apart and give it a practical veneer that is helping propel it into the mainstream.” And these two factors are “smart marketing,” meaning that Kabat-Zinn and others have secularized the idea to make it more appealing to sophisticated
suburbanites, and “neuroplasticity,” the concept that being mindful is at heart a biological concept that leads to healthier bodies. Pretty clever, huh? In a recent Greater Good: The Science of a Meaningful Life online article, we are told that “When we practice mindfulness, our thoughts tune into what we’re sensing in the present moment rather than rehashing the past or imagining the future.” And while focusing on the present moment (which of course instantly become a past moment, while a future moment instantly becomes the present moment) we should come to the realization that there is no wrong or right way “to think or feel in a given moment.” If that sounds a little fuzzy and perhaps a little ethically reckless, consider this statement from Andy Puddicombe, a former Buddhist monk who saw the light and became an entrepreneur instead: “There’s nothing bad or harmful about the smartphone if we have the awareness of how to use it in the right way. It’s unplugging by plugging in.” If I were more mindful of what
he’s saying, maybe I could figure out what he means. A quick search through my iPad’s App store yielded nearly 170 mindfulness apps, including one that attracted my most mindful attention—an intriguing free one called “The NOW—Mindful Living.” Resisting the temptation to download it immediately, I read the description instead. According to its (mindful?) developers, theirs is “an app to help you retrain your mind to live more fully in the moment.” And to make sure you do just that, you can receive push notifications “to remind you to be fully focused on the present.” This is billed as “Continuous Mindfulness Training.” So, in order to be as detached from technology as possible while you are being more mindful of the present, you wait (mindfully, of course) for push notifications from your iPad or iPhone. Why didn’t I think of that? Guess I just wasn’t focused or mindful enough. Before I became exhausted from my immersion in this continuous mindfulness training, I couldn’t resist taking a neat little Mindfulness Quiz that I found on
the Greater Good website. With questions (accompanied by, of course, those irritating multiplechoice bubbles) like “I am aware of what thoughts are passing through my mind,” and “There are things I try not to think about,” I hardly knew where to begin, but I plunged in and completed my quiz in record time. Alas, my score on the quiz was 66 out of a possible score of 100. After receiving my “C”, I consulted the answer bank and learned that I “have a moderate tendency to practice mindfulness,” and that I am “not always able to focus [my] awareness on the situation at hand.” So, it looks like I need to enroll in a MSBR class after all. Or should I just turn off the TV and the Pandora? While you contemplate what may turn out to be the myth of mindfulness, I will bid you a fond farewell, because I need to be mindful while emailing this column to the Loafer office (or wherever it goes when I push Send). Have a mindful (or, perhaps more interesting, a mindless) week.
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February 11, 2014 • The Loafer, Page 23
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