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Volume 28 Issue #35
The 18th Annual
UMOJA FESTIVAL! “unity in the community” August 8th & 9th, 2014
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, Terry Patterson Contributing Staff - Jim Kelly, Andy Ross, Ken Silvers, Mark Marquette Published by Tree Street Media, LLC., P.O. Box 3238, 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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The 18th Annual
The 18th Annual UMOJA Festival “unity in the community” , will be held August 8-9, 2014, in downtown Johnson City. Something for everyone, music, storytelling, 5k road race, parade, car show, corn hole toss, stilt walkers, children’s carnival, food vendors, merchandise vendors, info booths, drummers and dancers. Music on the main stage begins at 3 pm Friday August 8. Opening ceremonies with Vincent Dial (call to the drums) followed by Billy Crawford Band then K-DA featuring Shava Jay & Jack Profit. The Company Band takes the stage next followed by Jae Marie, the last act of the evening. Saturday entertainment kicks off at 3 pm with open mic followed by the Watoto dancers and drummers. Open mic is at 5 pm with Amethyst performing next. MJ Beck Band takes stage with Casey McClintock next and Phase II , the last act closes for the evening. For further information contact Joe Bradley at (423) 483-2062. Young Adult Stage opens at 6 pm on Friday with DJ Sterl the Pearl followed by the UMOJA 106 Perk Style Rap Battle. The night ends with DJ Sterl thePearl from 9 pm until 11.pm. Saturday entertainment begins at 1 pm with a UMOJA Gospel Fest. At 4 pm the African Dolls will take the stag, then open mic at 4:30 pm then DJ Sterl the Pearl finishing the nights entertainment. For additional information contact Vicki Briscoe at (423) 202-8344. 5k Unity Road Race starts at 7:30 pm Friday August 8 behind the main stage on Buffalo Street. So, race fanatics lace those shoes up, stretch those muscles out and run to the beat of Unity! The race crosses State of Franklin and winds through the beautiful Historic Tree Streets area and ends at the starting position on Buffalo St. This race is one of the 5 X 5k sanctioned group of races in Johnson City. You Don’t Want to Miss This Race! Register online -www.werunevents.com For additional contact Charnita Hammonds at (423) 773-3475 or charnitahammonds@yahoo.com Storytelling will take place in the Majestic Park Gazebo, both Friday and Saturday, beginning at 4 pm. Dr. Joseph Sobol, ETSU storytelling program will be performing, the storyteller in residence and others will perform. For additional information contact Dr. Joseph Sobol at (423) 439-7863. There will be a variety of food vendors on Market St with the merchandise vendors on Main St, as well as organization information booths. Contact Lorraine Washington for additional information at (423) 943-9162. The UMOJA parade will start from the Carver Recreation Center at 10 am. It will proceed to Unaka Ave, then to W. Market St ending at Commerce Street. The Grand Marshal for this year’s parade is Herb Greenlee. This years parade will be led by the Shriners color guard. Also in the parade is Shaka Zulu stilt walkers, Watoto drummers and dancers, Shriner precision motorcycle group, bands and much more. Parade sponsored by Chapparal of Johnson CIty, 3514 Bristol Highway, Johnson City (423) 218-0330 For additional information call Ronnie Smith at (423) 741-5079. This year’s UMOJA car show, takes place in the parking lot bordered by W. Main St, W. Market St., Commerce St. And Windsor Way. The show starts at 10 am on Saturday. First place trophies for each category will be presented at 5 pm. This year the show is being presented by Sunset Car Club for the benefit of the UMOJA festival. For additional information call Matt Smith at (423) 723-6193.
The children’s carnival will be located in the parking lot of the Munsey Methodist Church, on E. Market St. There will be several inflatable toys and other amusements for the children. There is also a train running on E. Market to Roan St to Buffalo St and back to the starting point at the church parking lot. The carnival will be both Friday and Saturday. For further information call Hattie Barkley at (423) 329-1130.
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Dierks Bentley to headline Bristol Motor Speedway’s Camping World Truck Series Post-Race Concert on Aug. 20 Mountain Dew® CMT Summer Concert Series to Feature Bentleys’ Bristol Performance and Headlining RISER TOUR Boasting one of the most competitive doubleheaders in racing, Bristol Motor Speedway (BMS) revs up Wednesday night’s UNOH 200 presented by ZLOOP (Aug. 20) with award-winning country music star Dierks Bentley. Bentley will electrify racing and countrymusic fans with a full-length concert presented by Mountain Dew. The newly announced tripleheader - the Whelen Modfied race, Camping World Truck Series race and Dierks Bentley concert - provides guests an unforgettable raceday experience at an unbeatable price. “Wednesday night at Bristol Motor Speedway is already one of the most exciting nights in motorsports,” said BMS Executive Vice President and General Manager Jerry Caldwell. “Now, with the support of our friends at Mountain Dew, we are able to offer fans an unbelievable night. The combination of intense racing, a country concert with music superstar Dierks Bentley and a $30 ticket price makes Wednesday night a can’tmiss event.” Bentley, who is currently on the road headlining his 2014 RISER TOUR, is no stranger to motorsports. He performed at the 2013 Sprint Cup Series Awards Banquet, attended races at BMS and recently revamped his number-
one single “Sideways” for race broadcasts on FOX. This is his first solo concert at the Last Great Colosseum. “Racing fans are some of the best and loudest fans anywhere,” said Bentley. “We’ve been out all summer on the RISER TOUR having the time of our lives, so getting to swing by Bristol to hang with all
the race fans is an added bonus.” CMT will record a portion of the Mountain Dew CMT Summer Concert finale and feature one of Bentley’s top hits from his headlining RISER TOUR during a Hot 20 Countdown episode next month. CMT Hot 20 Countdown is a weekly live music video show that counts down the twenty
most popular country music videos. In addition to filming Bentley, CMT hosts, Cody Alan and Alecia Davis, will record their portion of the Hot 20 Countdown show at Bristol Motor Speedway on Aug. 19 – 20. The episode featuring Dierks Bentley at the World’s Fastest Half Mile airs Sept. 6 and 7 at 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (EDT). The Bush’s Beans 150® fires up its engines at approximately 5:45pm and the UNOH 200 presented by ZLOOP is slated for an 8 p.m. start. The Dierks Bentley concert follows the Camping World Truck Series Race. Tickets for Wednesday’s tripleheader start at just $30 with free entry for children 15 and under, until Aug. 16. All tickets increase by $5 starting Aug. 17. A limited number of VIP passes for the Mountain Dew CMT Summer Concert Series are available. VIP passes give fans on track, front-stage access following the Truck Series race. VIP passes are $35 for the general public and $25 for Bristol iBelong season ticket holders. A Wednesday event ticket is required for the VIP pass upgrade. For more information, visit BristolMotorSpeedway.com or call (855) 580-5525.
Have an event coming up? Email a press release and photos to:
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Emmy Winning-Storyteller to Host Storytelling Live!
Bobby Norfolk, a performer who specializes in traditional tales from all over the world, will be Jonesborough’s next storyteller in residence. The three-time Emmy Award-winner will perform a wide variety of folk tales, fairy tales, historical pieces, and personal stories. Norfolk’s interest in stories can be traced back long before he went into the business. It’s the connecting theme that explains how a history major in college became a standup comedian in the 1970s. His first real job was as a park ranger at the Gateway Arch in St. Louis. When the St. Louis Storytelling Festival started at the arts museum where he worked, he was intrigued. “It totally captivated me,” he recalls. “I asked the chief ranger if I could be off Monday and Tuesday to practice my storytelling skills in classrooms. He said, sure, that I could work for him Wednesday through Sunday.” That hard work paid off just six years later, when Norfolk left his job at the park. “I kept thinking that I didn’t want to be 65 at a retirement party with my Smokey the Bear hat on and wishing I had tried doing something back in the 1980s,” he says. From there, his career took off, and Norfolk has been on the go ever since. “We do a lot of traveling,” he says. “People always ask me and my wife, Sherry, where we go on vacation, and we always say home!” During his weeklong residency, Norfolk will offer daily performances August 12 – 16, Tuesday through Saturday, at 2:00 p.m. in the Mary B. Martin Storytelling Hall. Tickets
for all shows are just $12 for adults and $11 for seniors, students, and children under 18. Advance purchase is highly recommended. Norfolk has been a regular at the National Storytelling Festival since 1979, when he was what he jokingly refers to as a “featured listener.” He describes traveling to Jonesborough as a sort of homecoming. “For me, it always had a sort of humble spiritual energy,” he says. “I think it has a spiritual appeal, like when Christians go to Jerusalem and Muslims go to Mecca.” While the Storytelling Live! residency is a coveted gig among storytellers, its demands can be rigorous. Tellers are often scheduled to make local appearances in addition to their regular schedule of matinees. Norfolk, for one, invites the challenge. “For me, it’s not a problem at all,” he says. “I learned long ago, whatever the situation, be like water: form to shape the container.” Norfolk is the latest performer in the International Storytelling Center’s Storytelling Live! series, which will host a new performer every week through October. Information about all TIR performers, as well as a detailed schedule for 2014, is available at www.storytellingcenter.net. Ticket holders will save 10 percent on same-day dining at The Olde Courthouse Diner, The Dining Room, Jonesborough General Store and Eatery, or Main Street Café. The International Storytelling Center is open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. For more information about Storytelling Live! or to make a group reservation, call (800) 952-8392 ext. 222 or (423) 913-1276.
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‘Kaleidoscopic Minds’
exhibit features work from across state “Kaleidoscopic Minds: Wyatt Moody Invitational Exhibit of TeN” is on display at East Tennessee State University’s Slocumb Galleries through Aug. 15. This exhibit, featuring works by painting and print students from 10 art programs throughout Tennessee, is sponsored by Slocumb Galleries and the Department of Art and Design at ETSU in partnership with the Wyatt Moody Scholarship Fund. Students whose work is included in the show are Brian Baker and Adonica Supertramp, ETSU; Amelia Briggs, University of Tennessee (UT)-Memphis; Heather Calfee, Tennessee Technological University; Aaron Carroll, Maryville College; Ashley Hamilton, UT-Chattanooga; Raluca Iancu, UT-Knoxville; Krista Knudtsen, Milligan College; Kate Kolodi, Tusculum College; Cynthia Sukowatey, Austin Peay State University; Myles Triplett, Northeast State Community College; and the late Wyatt Moody. The exhibit was curated to highlight contemporary Tennessee art students whose work echoes the art practice of Moody, an ETSU art student who died in 2009. The title echoes that of his bachelor of fine arts exhibit. Moody described his own art as an exploration of images of creatures and forms in his mind, as he favored figurative work that often investigated mental and physical disorders. Student artists represented in the show were recommended by the art faculty of their respective institutions for their high level of creativity, technical ability and complex ideas. Regular hours for Slocumb Galleries, located in Ball Hall, are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday. For more information, contact Karlota Contreras-Koterbay, Slocumb Galleries director, at 423483-3179 or contrera@etsu.edu. For disability accommodations, call the ETSU Office of Disability Services at 423-439-8346.
“potential” by Heather Calfee
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Wounded Warriors to be honored with a Musical Tribute “The Greatest Casualty Is Being Forgotten”...East Tennessee Will Never Forget..! As folks from all over the Tri-Cities will come together on Sat Aug 16th @ Biggie’s for a musical benefit to “Honor & Empower” our wounded veterans that sacrificed so much for us. “Our Communities Are Proud To Honor Their Sacrifice And Bravery”..! Brad Puckett, Taylor Barker & Mark Ramsey Will Introduce Continuous Music: Rock, Country, Blues & Funk From 1pm Until The Wee Hours...
The Biggie’s family will again be the venue of choice for the “2nd Annual Musical Tribute” benefiting Wounded Warrior Project. Our local area has a wealth of musical talent that will give of themselves for this noble event. Brad and Taylor will play together during the change of acts and there is a segment where Taylor Barker and Mark Ramsey will bring stools to the stage and provide a medley of songs that will be a highlight of the musical tribute to our veterans. There are 12 musical acts that will honor our wounded warriors. Biggie’s will feature a Motorcycle Run that will begin at Noon and return to the restaurant at 2PM. Registration $10.00 with all proceeds going to benefit Wounded Warriors. Veterans from around the country have asked to participate and our community has welcomed them with open arms. There will be many prizes provided by Biggie’s, Budweiser and local companies; with raffles throughout the day and evening, including beautiful 3 color Wounded Warrior T-shirts, created by Bortz Graphix Plus, as well as Collectibles. Of significant inter-
est, will be the raffle for a 2001 Custom Indian Scout. Only 200 tickets will be sold with a ticket price of $100.00. Tickets can be purchased at Biggie’s and they are almost gone so if you have always desired to own an Indian Scout now is your chance. Odds are really very good 1 in 200..! The drawing will be held at midnight of the event. (net proceeds from raffle tickets sold for the Indian Scout go to Wounded Warrior Project) CoChair of the East Tennessee Volunteers Mr. Michael D. Salyer will team up with Taylor Barker to run
the raffles. Last year it was a real hoot and it went a long way to increasing the total donations for the event... The Biggie’s family in keeping with their commitment to honor our wounded veterans has graciously consented to continue the “Gift Card Donation”. All donations of $20 or more will be immediately matched by a “Biggie’s Gift Card” of equal amount. The Gift Card will be offered Sat Aug 16th & Sun. Aug 17th. Donations may be added to a restaurant or bar check and the “Gift Card” will
be issued by management. All donations will benefit Wounded Warrior Project... The musical benefit honoring wounded warriors last year was the biggest musical event of the year and based on our incredible lineup of talent will be even bigger this time around. From Rock, Country, Blues, Funk there will be something for everyone to enjoy, including an incredible sound experience for such a worthy & noble cause. This release will, with the help of our online DPR firm “PitchEngine” will reach all Chambers, & Media Channels in the TriCity area. We are also looking for huge support from our Social Media Contacts and in particular our Facebook Friends that have been very supportive in “Sharing” the posts about the event. Last year the digital press release lifted the morale of our military across the
nation and into multiple countries. It was an inspiration to all of our volunteers that helped to make the Wounded Warrior Project Benefit a huge success..! W.W.P. is a building block of communication, networking, sharing and camaraderie beyond the hospital room. Peer Mentoring, Combat Stress Recovery, Rehabilitation, and Warriors To Work, all are designed to serve the long term needs of our dedicated serviceman and women... Mark Your Calendar...Saturday August 16th, please join us for this incredible day honoring & empowering our wounded warriors and the “Wounded Warrior Project”. Contact Info: williamcamelot@mymorningcoffee.tv
*A Musical Benefit Honoring Wounded Veterans at Biggie’s In Kingsport TN; Is A Sanctioned Event # 17843 By Wounded Warrior Project Is A 501 (C) (3) Non-Profit Organization.
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The Civil War in Virginia comes to WKMA
On August 2, William King Museum of Art will opened its newest exhibition An American Turning Point: The Civil War in Virginia, on loan from the Virginia Historical Society, Richmond. From 1861 through 1865 Virginia stood at the center of a military and social revolution. How we define freedom, liberty, patriotism, and nation today is directly related to the diverse experiences of the individuals who participated in the war. This exhibition encourages visitors to consider how a single event, separated from us by 150 years, so fundamentally reshaped American society that its impact is still experienced today. What was gained by the Civil War, what was lost, and what is left for us to resolve? “We’re incredibly excited to bring this commemoration of such a major chapter in our nation’s history here to Abingdon,” said Curator of Programming Callie Hietala. “Virginia played a crucial role in the war-- 60% of the battles took place here-- and this exhibit invites you to reflect on what that experience must have been like, both for the soldiers and civilians living through it.” An American Turning Point:
The Civil War in Virginia consists of two 1,500 square-foot gallery traveling exhibitions—Waging War and Surviving War—that together feature over 200 objects and 17 state-of-the-art audiovisual programs. The opening reception will be held on Thursday, August 7 from 6-8 p.m. and will feature a live cannon and an infantry drill. The exhibition will be open until February 1, 2015. An extensive series of programs, including lectures, reenactments
and film screenings, has been planned in conjunction with the exhibition. “We’ve got an exciting lineup of programs for this exhibit to highlight the many facets of the war-lectures, films, a gallery talk, and some living history events that are unlike any you’ve seen before,” said Hietala. “Hopefully each of these will illuminate some aspect of the war and give visitors something new to think about when they visit the exhibit again.” A full listing of programs can be found on the web at www. williamkingmuseum.org/atpprograms. William King Museum of Art is located at 415 Academy Drive, off West Main Street or Russell Road, in Abingdon. The Museum features five exhibition galleries, artist 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.
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“The Dresser” makes Tri-Cities debut at Johnson City Community Theatre If you ask anyone who has ever spent time on a stage, they will tell you that there is a bond that forms between people when performing together. For the dancers, the actors, the musicians, even the backstage crew, there is a moment before the show starts where all performers put a common goal at the forefront of their mind: entertain. The pettiness of personality clashes, the stress of life, the friendships and love affairs fade as the spotlight hits you and you become someone else, even if it is only for a moment. For some that feeling, that escape into another reality can become addicting. It can thwart relationships, test boundaries, but it can also invoke a passion you never knew lived inside you. “The Dresser” directed by long-time theatre patron and actress Vicky Livesay, is a testament to the experiences, memories, and friendships formed backstage. Set during WWII in England, “The Dresser” lets you peak inside an actor’s world backstage. Based on actual events experienced by writer Ronald Harwood when he was a dresser for legendary English actor-manager Sir Donald Wolfit, the audience is taken on a journey of what it is like to be backstage during a theatrical performance, and the egos you can encounter among any troupe of performers. The reverent and endearing “Sir”, depicted by Angus Walton, shows a man who has sacrificed his life for the passionate addiction of performing only to be at a crux with his health, his love, and the decision to retire. Mike Lily portrays the dedicated dresser, Laura Berry lights up the stage as Sir’s lady love, and fellow cast members Sabra Hayden, Jason Headen, Emily Nagy, and Robert Shields portray the theatrical troupe that Sir has put together over the years. Tickets are $15.00, $12.00 for seniors, students, military, MSHA employees, or groups of 15+. Show dates are August 8, 9, 15, 16 at 7:30 p.m. Matinees are August 10 and 17 at 2:00 p.m. The theatre doors open 45 minutes early for purchas-
ing tickets and/or seating. For more information, or to purchase tickets, go to www.jcct.info or call 423-926-2542. Sponsored in part by Lynda and Lew Wexler,
“The Dresser” is sure to captivate and enthrall audiences as relationships unfold to tell an exquisite story of love, sentiment, and devotion.
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The Bacon Brothers and Boz Scaggs this weekend at Niswonger Performing Arts Center
The Bacon Brothers grew up in Philadelphia with their four sisters in a home filled with music. By the late 1960s, Michael, already a professional musician, would gig with his band at the city’s famed Electric Factory with a young Kevin tagging along when he could. It’s a time preserved in the cover art for The Bacon Brothers’ New Year’s Day with a preteen Kevin singing alongside a mandolin-strumming Michael. The record, laden with the brothers’ trademark gritty rock
and a touch of Philly soul, hearkens back to those roots in the City of Brotherly Love when life was less complicated and music filled the air. Michael has gone on to become an Emmy Award winning composer for film and television; most recently scoring Good Fortune - The Story of Morgenthau, as well as a documentary about Texas Governor, Ann Richards for HBO. Kevin, a prolific stage and screen actor, is now starring in the FOX TV drama, “The Following”. But there’s something about singing with your sibling. In 1995, the two formed a band, now, 19 years later, any cynical preconceptions about well-known actors “dabbling” in music can safely be discarded. As The New Yorker observed: “Hollywood hangs like an albatross around the neck of any movie star turned musician, but
this duo shakes off the burden of fame with sharply executed rock that has a blue-collar, rootsy edge.” The band has gigged relentlessly to build up a following and have released seven albums and a live concert DVD. This includes their 2011 European compilation re-
lease, Philadelphia Road: The Best of The Bacon Brothers (Hypertension), which is now available in the US on Soulfood. The band continues to win believers - show by show, album by album. The Bacon Brothers will perform at Niswonger Performing
Arts Center (NPAC) in historic downtown Greeneville, TN on Friday, August 8th at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $50 for orchestra level seating, $45 for mezzanine seating and $40 for balcony seats.
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Niswonger .. continued from page 12 William Royce “Boz” Scaggs grew up in small towns of Oklahoma and Texas. At an early age, he showed great enthusiasm for music. “As a kid in the Fifties,” he recalls, “I was swept away by music and radio.” Scaggs took up the guitar at age 13, and played in several bands throughout his high school and college years. Scaggs’ recording career began in 1965. In 1976, he released the multi- million-selling album “Silk Degrees”. This album contained several hits, including “Lowdown”, “Lido Shuffle”, and “What Can I Say”. A world tour followed, with sold-out performances at every venue he played. Scaggs also appeared on the soundtrack of the film Urban Cowboy. Although Scaggs’ musical roots lie within classic rock, soul and R&B, he has enjoyed success across multiple genres; including an acclaimed blues album and a number one selling jazz album. As a result, Scaggs has developed
a loyal worldwide following, and the enduring respect of other musicians. Noted for his talent as a singer, songwriter, and guitarist, Scaggs has collaborated with a number of artists, including Steve Miller and Duane Allman. He has also joined forces with Donald Fagen and Michael McDonald to form a group known as The Dukes of September. Scaggs describes his latest album, Memphis, as a tribute to the past, both musically and biographically. Scaggs’ father, grandparents, and wife called Memphis home, and this album was recorded over three days at the city’s legendary Royal Studios. Memphis offered Boz Scaggs an opportunity to showcase classic songs that matched his voice and personal style. The album fully illustrates Scaggs’ respect for American roots music. “The project just fell out naturally,” Scaggs says. “It didn’t require working over takes
or a lot of revising.” The album also contains a couple of original tunes. Boz Scaggs brings “The Memphis Tour” to Niswonger Performing Arts Center (NPAC) in historic downtown Greeneville, TN on Saturday, August 9th at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $55 for orchestra level seating, $50 for mezzanine seating and $45 for balcony seats. Tickets for The Baocon Brothers and Boz Scaggs 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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Planets probed by incredible spacecraft Two planets in the evening and two in the morning twilight are in our Summer skies to delight the stargazer. As we look at these beautiful wanderers of the night, they are distinctly star like with colored hues all their own. Looking at these four planets given god-like status by ancient stargazers has a different perspective in the 21st Century—each is now a known alien world with a topography and near-surface environment all their own. That’s because of the interplanetary warriors of the Space Age that have targeted the planets since the beginning of crude spacecrafts in the late 1950s. More than six decades later, three of the most sophisticated spacecraft ever rocketed of planet Earth and nearing the end of their fantastic missions. And today the Internet provides anyone with amazing photos of the terrain and unique features of the planets and their total 150plus moons. That’s because of the amazing interplanetary spacecraft that are probing the surface and atmospheres of our Solar System family. First planet Mercury has been under the cameras of NASA’s Messenger spacecraft for four years. An acronym for Mercury Surface, Space Environment, Geochemistry and Ranging mission, MESSENGER is about to end its life with a big crash sometime next Spring. But first, this successful orbiting robot is being moved incredibly low to the surface to get unprecedented detail in the order of several yards or less. Check out nasa.gov and put “messenger” in the search box for details and photos of the unique Mercury surface. Mercury is skirting the dawn twilight in the constellation Cancer, and will pass beneath the Sun Aug. 15 to reappear in the low
western horizon after sunset. The first planet is a small, 800-degree hot world, a thousand miles wider than our own Moon at 3,031 miles. Dense and heavy, it is much like a cannon ball coated in a thin layer of rock. Spacecraft Messenger has been lowered to just 50 miles above the surface. In November it will be moved to 25 miles, than to just 15 miles before purposely crashed in March 2015, ending the mission that began with a 2004 blast off and had gravity-assist, fly-by encounters with Venus and Mercury before orbiting in 2008. Also winding down its mission is European Space Agency’s (ESA) Venus Express, orbiting since April 2008. It has added to the volumes of data taken by NASA’s Magellan spacecraft in the 1990s, piercing the 30-mile cloud deck to reveal a tortured surface of volcanic rock softened by the 900 degree F. heat. Venus Express will be put to sleep in a kamikaze crash in December. Its orbit will be lowered to take data inside the thick, poisonous clouds of sulfuric acid where aero drag will pull the spacecraft to a fiery reentry. ESA has another very successful interplanetary mission on its last legs, the 10th year for the orbiting Mars Express. A valuable partner in the constant surveillance of Mars by seven NASA probes over the last 15 years, ESA’s Martian probe has verified and discovered many of the traces of ice on the surface and dynamic of the thin atmosphere. NASA’s conquest of Mars continues with two rovers and two orbiters providing 24/7 observations of the amazing world. Large in our minds but only half the size of Earth, Mars has the largest canyon (2,000 miles long) and highest volcanoes (7-13 miles high) in the Solar System. It also has all the
ingredients for life—only flowing water has yet to be found, probably underground. Orbiters Martian Odyssey (2001) and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (2008) are filling terabyte hard drives each week with incredible photos and complex data about the Red Planet. Again, the NASA website will guide you to the imagery, uniquely owned by the American taxpayer and free to use or analyze by anyone with a computer and Internet connection. The real stars of probing Mars are the rovers, and two are providing daily reports and photos. Incredibly in its 11th year on the surface is Opportunity, the size of a golf cart. It has outlived all expectations (originally a 90-day mission), and has in July 2014 surpassed the longest trek on an alien surface by any man-made vehicle, 25 miles. While Mars Excursion Rover Opportunity could break down any day (though it is still very healthy), the new Martian star is rover Curiosity, the size of a small
car and armed with an array of science instruments, cameras and a powerful rock piercing laser. Curiosity landed in May 2013, and it has traveled two miles to the foothills of Mt. Sharp, a three mile mountain with evidence of river streams running down its sides, similar to any earthly scene. Curiosity has moved over a riverbed complete with rounded pebbles, sniffed the chemistry of an ancient, salty puddle, and in July 2014 rolled up to pieces of a 7-foot meteorite that has occupied its attention for a couple of weeks. In our evening Summer skies, Mars is teamed up with planet Saturn. Just look south at 9:30 pm and they will be some of the first stars to come out. Mars is distinctly red, and to it left is a bright, butterscotch “star,” the planet Saturn. The two planets are between two bright stars, red Antares in Scorpius to the left (east) and bright, white Spica, to the right (west), in Virgo. Mars is quickly moving eastward in its two-year orbit, and will be below Saturn at the end of
August. The ringed world also has a long successful orbiter that is winding down its mission—Cassini. Named after the 18th Century astronomer who first saw the black gap in the rings named after him, the Cassini Division hinted at the controlled chaos of the rings. NASA’s Cassini has found the rings to defy many predictions, as they are made up of millions of individual icy rocks, graded out in size buy gravity and influence of shepherding moons and the pull of the immense gas planet. Much like the grooves of a record album in their distribution, they ring are 200,000 miles wide but incredibly thin at just a quarter-mile in thickness at most places. This is a ratio of the thickness of quarter stretched 20 miles! NASA will sometime in 2015 use the last of Cassini’s stabilizing propellants to direct the spacecraft into the clouds circling Saturn. As he probe burns up, so does
Stargazer.... continued on page 17
www.theloaferonline.com Stargazer.... continued from page 16 any chance of contaminating the planet’s atmosphere with earthly life that hitched a ride—despite sterilizing the spacecraft while on Earth. The planets are amazing to look at in our night sky. And today we can put a geographic mindset to each of these alien worlds, each unique in their geography and atmosphere. You can look up and imagine the craters of Mercury, the hot plateaus of Venus, the giant
August 5, 2014 • The Loafer, Page 17 volcanoes of Mars, and the razorthin rings of Saturn. So look up a planet or two on the Internet, then look up to the starry nights to let your imagination run wild. Be inspired that we, as human beings, have put a new face on the planets the puzzled and entertained the ancients for thousands of years, many no doubt wondering if they were, indeed, worlds of their own. And we 21st Century people now know them for the alien traits they possess.
Baconfest returns Aug. 30th Johnson City, TN- The 3rd Annual Tri-Cities Baconfest returns to Johnson City for a smokin’ great time on August 30, 2014. The TriCities Baconfest will once again raise funds for local charities in a variety of ways, and give one local restaurant or chef a shot at the Big Time..a chance to be on national television and a shot at winning a prize purse of $25,000 in Las Vegas! The festival has expanded this year and will be held at the Millennium Centre in Johnson City. The event organizers are excited about the day’s activities, “Each year the event continues to change and become more amazing than the previous year. We’re adding more food vendors or what we call “Pork Partners” to our event along with some special events that we’re sure our attendees will enjoy,” said Travis Woodall of Positive Approach Events. This tasting event will featured bacon-infused dish samples from some of the area’s best restaurants, retailers and chefs. And this year, it’s a true competition as the TriCities Baconfest is an Official Qualifying Event of the World Food Championships (Bacon World
Championship) to be held in November in Las Vegas, Nevada. “We wanted to take the event to the “next” level by not only giving back to a variety of charities, but also giving our Pork Partners a chance to get recognized for their amazing culinary skills,” said Woodall. “We are sending details now to our food vendors and are already getting great “feedback”. I mean, how great would it be to see a local from our region become the Bacon World Champion?” In addition to bacon infused dishes, popular returning events such as the Man vs Bacon eating competition and the crowning of a new Mr and Ms Tri-Cities Baconfest are scheduled. And new this year will be a singer/songwriter competition with the songwriters being tasked to pen a song with a “bacon theme”. The winner will receive a cash prize as well as studio time from Steele Creek Studios in Bristol, TN who is sponsoring the event. Tickets for the event go on sale this month and more information can be found on the website at www.tricitiesbaconfest.com or on facebook at www.facebook.com/ tcbaconfest
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Skies This Week Celestial events in the skies for the week of Aug. 5th - Aug. 11th, 2014, as compiled for The Loafer by Mark D. Marquette.
Thurs. Aug. 7 Full Moon week and it comes at its closest approach to Earth—so the media will ballyhoo it as a “Super Moon.” The Moon will be 221,600 miles from Earth on Aug. 10, the closest full phase all year and at “perihelion” in its orbit around Earth. That logically means the Moon will be at its biggest (up to 15 per cent larger) and up to 20 per cent brighter than average Full Moons. Don’t get “moon burn!” The farthest Moon is around 252,000 miles, called aphelion. All the moonshine will drown out all but the brightest of the annual Perseid Meteor Shower, which in progress and peaks the night of Wednesday, Aug. 13. In the early evening sky, Saturn and Mars put on a show as the Red Planet moves closer to the ringed world. And this week there were a group of manned missions that made headlines in space history.
Tues. Aug. 5
The rising Moon in twilight this week will make for some spectacular photography against our Appalachian Mountains. With todays extreme zoom digital cameras it’s easy to find the right exposure combination of ISO, f-stop and shutter speed to give you a great photo: the key is to capture the dark Maria on the Moon and the landscape on the Earth.
Wed. Aug. 6
On this 1961 date in space history, Russian Gherman Titov was the second person rocketed into space, and the first to sleep during his full day journey. Titov, deceased, is still the youngest of more than 500 human space travelers—his flight was one month before his 26th birthday.
On this 1997 date in space history, Space Shuttle Discovery was launched on Space Transportation Mission (STS) 85. Six astronauts spent 12 days in space releasing and recapturing an atmospheric satellite and testing materials for the International Space Station (ISS).
Fri. Aug. 8
On this 1989 Columbia was launched on STS-28, a top secret mission for the Department of Defense. Five astronauts deployed two spy satellites on the quick 5-day mission. In 2007 Columbia STS-118 Endeavour was launched on a “hard hat” mission to the construction destination 225 miles above— the growing ISS.
Sat. Aug. 9
Looking south at dark around 9:30 pm, yellow Saturn and red Mars are brilliant, an outstretched hand apart. Over the next months, Mars will get closer to Saturn.
Sun. Aug. 10
STS-105 2001 - The “Super Moon” is full in Capricornus, drawing all eyes upward. On this 2001 date in space history, STS-105 with orbiter Discovery blasted off the Florida East Coast and four astronauts delivered a cargo hold full of supplies to the ISS and continued installing life support equipment during two space walks.
Mon. Aug. 11
On this 1962 date in space history, the USSR launched Vostok 3 with cosmonaut Andrian Nikolayev. The next day Vostok 4 was launched with Pavel Popovich aboard, and the two spacefliers saw each other’s spacecrafts from a distance and communicated with each other in this space spectacular.
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Patriotic Concert
to Benefit 9/11 Memorial The Lincoln Theatre is pleased to welcome back America’s Beloved Tenor: Daniel Rodriguez for a special performance with special guest Marla Kavanaugh on Saturday, August 9. Daniel Rodriguez is an American operatic treasure from New York City. He became known as “The Singing Policeman” in his former work with the New York City Police Department due to his role as one of the department’s designated National Anthem singers. Daniel helped bring the country an uplifting spirit of promise and hope after the September 11th terrorist attacks with his stirring rendition of “God Bless America”— and it is with that spirit that he continues to perform. He returns to the stage of The Lincoln Theatre for a concert of inspirational and patriotic songs, accompanied by members of The Lincoln Theatre Children’s Chorus! The concert will pay tribute to first responders and our military, who serve our nation every day. A portion of the proceeds from ticket sales for this event will benefit the addition of commemorative lighting to the Town of Marion’s September 11th Memorial, located at
the Marion Fire Department. “We are excited to have Daniel Rodriguez back at The Lincoln,” said Executive Director Kristin Untiedt-Barnett. “This year it is extra special as we are able to help raise funds and awareness for the September 11th Memorial in Downtown Marion.” The Memorial was built around a piece of steel from the Twin Towers in New York City that were attacked on September 11, 2001. It was dedicated in 2011, but work to complete the project continues. The new lighting addition on the Memorial will include two vertical lights that represent the Twin Towers. Daniel Rodriguez will perform at The Lincoln Theatre on Saturday, August 9 at 7:00pm. General Admission tickets for this performance are $15 for Adults, $10 for Students, First Responders, and Military. Contact The Lincoln Theatre Box Office for details: 276-7836092. Online: www.thelincoln.org
The Lincoln Theatre is a non-profit organization and receives programming support from Virginia Commission for the Arts and National Endowment for the Arts, the Town of Marion, the WilliamsBerry Charitable Foundation, 2014 Spring Season Sponsor Smyth County Community Hospital, and members of our community.
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The 22nd annual South Holston Lake and River Cleanup is Aug. 9th Volunteers still needed and can register the day before
The Cleanup is slated for Aug. 9 but for those volunteers interested in taking part in the event, early registration will take place Aug. 8 from 4-6 p.m. at Observation Knob. Registration also will be held beginning at 8 a.m. Aug. 9 with the cleanup scheduled for 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Observation Knob serves as headquarters for the lake cleanup while the Weir Dam is the center of operations for the river cleanup. Other registration sites include the Highway 421 Ramp, Little Oak Ramp, Washington County Park Ramp and the Bluff City Boat Ramp. A post-cleanup celebration will take place that afternoon from
noon-3 p.m., and will feature food, live music and door prizes. Tshirts will be distributed at Observation Knob while supplies last. “This is one of the longest running Cleanups that the Tennessee Valley Authority is part of,” said Keep Bristol Beautiful Coordinator Kathy Lowdermilk. “And the reason it’s always been so successful is all the hard work and dedication of the South Holston Lake Cleanup committee and the thousands of people who volunteer their time to help. Without them, it just wouldn’t be possible.” South Holston Lake is located along the border of Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. The lake covers 7,580 acres
with 168 miles of shoreline. The Cherokee National Forest borders much of the lake along with The U.S. Forest Service Campgrounds, Girl Scouts Campgrounds, private campgrounds and Sullivan County Campgrounds. South Holston Lake provides drinking water to 73,000 people and recreation such as boating, fishing and swimming for an average of 4 million people each year. Monetary contributions and door prizes also are currently being accepted. To make a donation, please contact Kathy Lowdermilk at 423-989-4850 or via email at klowdermilk@bristolchamber.org.
Carving classes at MPCC
Memorial Park Community Center, 510 Bert St., will offer classes in both wood and soap carving starting Aug. 7. Soap Carving: Thursdays, 1 p.m. Participants are asked to bring two large bars of Ivory soap and a butter knife. Soap carving can be enjoyed by all ages, and the resulting sculptures can be displayed or used as soap. Fee is $1 per person. Wood Carving: Thursdays, 2:30 p.m. Participants will learn about tools, wood, techniques, and safety. Fee is $65 for the four-week series. (Fee includes all supplies; personal kits may be purchased for an additional charge.) For more information, please call 434-6237.
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The Fiddlin’ Carson Peters Band to perform at the Carter Family Fold
Saturday, August 9th, 2014, at 7:30 p.m., the Carter Family Fold in Hiltons, Virginia, will present a concert by the Fiddlin’ Carson Peters Band. Admission to the concert is $10 for adults, children 6 to 11 $1, under age 6 free. Nine-year old Carson Peters, or “Fiddlin’ Carson Peters,” as he is becoming known, is a true musical prodigy. He is quickly making a name for himself with his fiddle by winning competitions and entertaining audiences across the region. Carson lives with his parents, Jamie and Robin Peters, in Piney Flats, Tennessee. They noticed at a very early age that he could keep time with any tune being played by clapping his hands or tapping his feet. His special talent for music became apparent after he taught himself to play “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” at the ripe opld age of two on a ukulele that his grandmother bought him. While on vacation in 2006, his parents bought him a 1/8 size fiddle at an Amish flea market in Pennsylvania and set out in search of a teacher who would take a child as young as Carson at only 3 ½ years old. Their search led them to Morrell Music in Johnson City and Sara Fletcher Collins. Carson was taught by Mrs. Collins for about three years. He’s currently a student of Keith Williams in Greeneville, Tennessee. In 2008, Carson and his parents began attending old-time and bluegrass festivals where Carson could hear and jam with some very talented musicians as well as compete in youth fiddle competitions. His most noteworthy contest wins have taken place at the Bluegrass and Old-Time Fiddlers’ Convention in Mt. Airy, North Carolina, where he has received first place in the Youth Old-Time Fiddle, Bluegrass Fiddle, and the Youth Folk Song categories. He has also received the most promising young talent award at this festival multiple years. Carson was named Tennessee State Peewee Fiddle Champion for 2010 in Clarksville, Tennessee, and has also won first place in the Youth
Old-Time and the Youth Bluegrass Fiddle category at the famous Old Fiddlers’ Convention in Galax, Virginia. Carson says winning trophies and getting your name in the newspaper is “really cool,” but that is not the main reason he works so hard at his music. “It’s all about using the talent GOD gave me to make people smile,” he says. Carson truly loves to entertain people! At nine years old, Carson is a seasoned performer playing numerous venues throughout the region – Bristol Rhythm and Roots, Dollywood’s Bluegrass and BBQ, Asheville’s Bluegrass First Class, and a live broadcast on WDVX in Knoxville to list a few. Carson has also had the honor to play on national TV as a guest on NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in August of 2013. Carson has been blessed to have a great band to help him entertain audiences at local venues around the region performing old-time, bluegrass, and gospel music. The band consists of Tom and Bobbie Dier from Green County, Tennessee, and Carson’s father Jamie Peters. Tom plays the bass or “big fiddle” as Carson calls it. In addition to playing a great bass for the band, Tom is also a writer and
loves to farm on their property in Greene County. Bobbie is a musician of many talents and has been an avid bluegrass and old time music fan for many years. Besides playing the mandolin for over thirty years, she also plays banjo, guitar, and mountain dulcimer. The rhythm guitar in the band is played by Carson’s father Jamie. Carson is truly blessed to have these fine Christian musicians in his band. In addition to entertaining with his band, Carson plays music with his special friends, Howard and Vivian Hammonds, and their fine gospel group, Headed Home, in churches around the region. He also frequently visits area nursing homes as well as the VA Hospital in Johnson City. Be prepared to be amazed by Carson Peters. His talent and stage presence equals that of the most seasoned of performers. Dancers won’t be disappointed because he’s as fine a fiddler as any that ever graced the stage of the Carter Fold. There will also be beautiful vocals and gospel music – something for everyone. For more information on the Fiddlin’ Carson Peters Band, go to http:// fiddlincarsonpeters.com/.
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Who among us would have ever imagined there would be two movies about Hercules released in 2014? Certainly not me. The new film “Hercules” follows the January release “The Legend of Hercules”. The first Hercules effort starred Kellan Lutz of “Twilight” fame in the title role. While the first effort wasn’t horrible, it is considered one of the biggest flops of 2014. I consider the first film as a “young” Hercules film, since Lutz is 29, and the newest Hercules, Dwayne Johnson, is 42. In the case of these two movies, younger is not better. While the first version of Hercules kept me in my seat, I remember little from the film. The latest version, simply titled “Hercules” is more entertaining, and the acting experience of Johnson proves a plus. The film begins with the origin of our hero, presented as the child of the god Zeus and a mortal
woman. After Hercules completes the legendary Twelve Labors (Google that), he is betrayed by the goddess Hera, which leads to a tragedy in his life. After the tragic occurrence, Hercules decides to live as a mortal and travels with a band of mercenaries. The mercenaries are thief Autolycus (Rufus Sewell), warrior Tydeus (Aksel Hennie), archer Atalanta (Ingrid Bolso Bardal), prophet Amphiaraus (Ian McShane), and storyteller and nephew of Hercules Iolaus (Reece Ritchie). As the story kicks into gear, Hercules and his mercenaries are approached by a Ergenia (Rebecca Ferguson), who wants the group to train the armies of Thrace so they can defend themselves against the vicious and bloodthirsty armies of warlord Rheseus. After Hercules and his group meet with King Cotys (John Hurt), they accept the offer to train the army. Not long after the train-
ing begins, King Cotys orders an attack on Rheseus, with Hercules and the army of Thrace emerging victorious. However, despite the victory, Hercules and his group are betrayed by the King, who has been in cahoots all along with King Eurystheus (Joseph Fiennes), who was actually responsible for the aforementioned tragedy involving Hercules. Even though they have been betrayed, King Cotys still pays them in gold and advises them to leave the city immediately. However, as they are gathering their
gold, Hercules makes the decision to see vengeance on both kings. Thus, the stage is set for a massive battle between Hercules, his small group, and the army of Thrace. The film wastes little time getting to the action, and with a brisk running time of 98 minutes, doesn’t have any unnecessary scenes. Even though at times Johnson is a bit over-the-top with his screaming “I am Hercules”, he still does a masterful job in the role, with massive muscles and long hair garnering their own attention. While Johnson may never win any
awards for acting, he is perfect as a big screen action hero, and has far more acting range than the blank Lutz (the other Hercules). The 3-D effects in the film are a blast, and at times I felt myself flinch, as if I need to dodge a swung sword or fired arrow. “Hercules” is the type of film that is a fine companion piece for the older “sword and sandal” movies of the 1950’s and 60’s, albeit with heightened special effects. If you simply want to have a fun time at the theater, don’t miss the “popcorn flick” that is “Hercules”. (Rated PG-13) B
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The BulletBoys Take Aim At The Bonnie Kate
A big show is brewing in Elizabethton, which will see the BulletBoys headline the Bonnie Kate Theater & Café on Monday, August 11th. In the late 1980’s, the BulletBoys hit the scene with two hits: ‘Smooth Up In Ya’ and a cover of the classic ‘For The Love Of Money’ (originally by the O’Jays). Both songs made the Top 30 on the Billboard Rock chart. Debuting near the apex of the hair metal era, which saw the massive success of bands such as Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, Guns N’ Roses, and Whitesnake, the BulletBoys held their own and then some. In fact, their eponymous inaugural album reached Gold status. With the fall of the genre, their follow up album, did less well (#69 on the Billboard 200), but their single ‘Hang On St. Christopher’ managed to break into the Top 30 on the Rock chart. The group has persisted in their metal mission over the years, in various formats, and is now touring their most recent release, Elefante. This album has received excellent reviews and marks the band’s 8th studio album. The current lineup includes two founding members, with Marq Torien on vocals and lead guitar, and bassist Lonnie Vencent. Notably, Torien was a guitarist for Ratt before that group was signed, and was also a member of King Kobra. Nick Rozz has played rhythm guitar with them for several years and Shawn Duncan recently joined the group on drums. They’ll be playing music from across their career, and including their hits. Opening the night will be None To Done. This local outfit stays true to the heritage of the 80’s metal epoch, with influences such as Dokken, Ratt, Metallica, and Queensryche. This is all the more interesting, because the
group consists of college-aged members, born well after the heyday of the genre. Lead vocals, guitar, and front man duties are held down by an enormously talented Taylor Moorefield. A robust bass reverberation is provided by Alex DeStafeno. Drums will be covered by Lawrence Rucker. This is his first show with the group and he’s also an ETSU percussion major. The band was founded by lead guitarist Daelin Dula, a gifted writer and player. 3 Shades of Red will rock the middle slot. This group includes a lineup of well-known and well-seasoned Tri-Cities area hard rock musicians: Tony Cunningham on vocals, David Messick on lead guitar, Stephen Frazier on guitar, Glenn Bortz on bass, and Cody Sanders on percussion. They list their influences as coming from bands such as Tool, Shinedown, and Godsmack, amongst others. Founded in the fall of last year, this band has a shared vision to play quality music with an original and unique touch, and their music ranges the spectrum of all things rock and roll. The recently revitalized Bonnie Kate Theater has been hosting acts of increasing quality and frequency over the past year. Justin Thurman has headed up this impressive effort via Starship Entertainment. Upcoming Bonnie Kate Theater shows include Bam Margera on 8/14, Faster Pussycat on 8/25, and the Misfits on 11/22, with The BulletBoys show will begin at 8pm with None To Done kicking it off, followed by 3 Shades of Red. Advance tickets are only $12, and $15 at the door. For more information, visit www.thebonniekate.com/ or www. starshipentertainment.com/ or call (423) 297-1054.
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The Fine Art of Spite Showering My friend Emily was going to be out of town for a week. The week before her trip, she sent me a message over Facebook asking if I would keep an eye out on the house for her. Feed her cat, Muffin, and make sure that things were generally decent looking and that no marauders had invaded. Emily lives not too far from a walking path I use regularly as part of my whole “hey, let’s stop eating pizza and be active” initiative. So it would be easy to just swing on by after my walks. As the week began things were fine at Emily’s pad. I would go on my walks, listen to my podcasts, then pop in and check on things. I’d sit for a while, pet Muffin, feed him, then leave without my presence being known. The entire cycle would repeat for the next few days. As my weekend approached, and I had a full bill of shows to do at the theater I haunt, I asked Emily if she would mind if I brought my weekend bag and took a shower at her place between my walk and heading straight to the theater. Emily had no problem with this, but did inform me that her young brother, Chip, might be coming by the house to get the birthday gift for their mother which had been
hidden at Emily’s. It was Emily’s way of telling me “If you see a high school senior roaming around my house, don’t be alarmed.” Friday arrived, and I went on my usual morning walk, listened to my usual podcasts, and jotted down my usual notes about life and love and all the other things artistic people do on a walk. I arrived at Emily’s with my weekend bag. Considering that it was a very hot morning, I was quite damp as I placed the key she had given me into the lock and turned it. As I opened the door, I was a little alarmed. The pristine house that I had left the night before looked like party had threw up all over the place. I made my way to the guest bathroom, walking up the stairs slowly, trying to avoid stomping any more dirt into the carpet with my shoes. Right outside of the guest bathroom there is a couch, and as I made my approach, I found a strange young person sleeping on the couch. They looked to be hungover, as if they found a stray blanket and pillows and threw themselves onto the couch at some point during the night. They were restless, and noticed me walking by.
I was greeted by the strange fellow, and I simply said “hello” then went on about my way. As I was in the guest bathroom, and began unpacking my shower gear, a thought crossed my mind. I was being very adult and feeling angry that a hung over student was trying to rest just feet away from where I was going to cleanse myself. I had with me my portable bluetooth speaker set, as I always like to play music while I shower and get ready. That is when the idea hit me, a wicked idea, but an idea none the less. Much like in a cartoon, a transparent devil appeared on my shoulder and whispered into my ear “What’s the worst thing in the world to play loud at a hungover person?” I began to scan my iPhone to see what I had on it, my
iPhone serves as my utility belt of music, and I keep some basics on it to have on hand for any and all occasions. Then, as if a cloud had parted, I found it. “I’m Stranded” by The Saints, the late 70s debut album by the beloved Australian punk rock group. I turned the water on, the loud rush of the water hitting the tub floor echoed around the bathroom—the room had good acoustics. I switched the water to the shower head, turned on the music, and cranked the volume as loud as I could. The music began to play, loudly echoing around the room as well. Being an album I am awfully fond of, I began to sing along to the tunes. Singing that was mixed with intermittent loud gargling, and pounding on the sides of the shower walls with my fist in time
with the beats of certain songs. In total, I spent about twenty minutes in the bathroom. Finished and dressed. I turned the music off, and packed everything away back into my weekend bag. As I walked by the couch, I noticed that the sleeping person had piled the blanket and all the pillows up on their head. I called my mission a success and moved on with my day. Did Emily ever find out about what took place? Not my events, but I think she learned of what Chip did. Monday the following week, photo’s from their mother’s birthday party hit Facebook, it seemed Chip had a black eye that I didn’t recall him having before. He looked terrified, and Emily looked satisfied. See you next week.
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You Only Live Twice: The Narrative of Your Life “You only live twice, or so it seems One life for yourself and one for your dreams” If you’re a James Bond fan you will no doubt recognize the above lyrics from John Barry’s 1967 movie theme as sung by Nancy Sinatra. I suggest you hum this song to yourself as you read this column. Think of it as my first column to be accompanied with music—kind of like those ever-present and annoying greeting cards with built-in digital music players. A modern updating of this song’s lyrics would read “One life for yourself and one for your digital photos.” Used to be that photos were reserved for special occasions, but now, with the advent of mobile technology, photos are taken constantly, literally creating a second life for us. And now, thanks to the so-called Internet of Things (IoT), you can create your second life much easier than ever before. And you can do it without having to hold a mobile device in your hand or even noticing that pictures are being taken. What I’m talking about here is a relatively new device called a Narrative Clip (formerly known as Memoto) that literally records nearly every moment of your life, therefore making each of those moments a special occasion. Housed inside a little cube that reminds me of that smallest little iPod is a five megapixel camera that takes a new photo every thirty seconds. Narrative has a clip that allows the user to place it anywhere on his or her clothing so that it doesn’t interfere with actual human contact. The idea is to focus on the moment rather than on self-conscious picture-taking. While you are engaging in meaningful (or not-someaningful) encounters with the “real world,” your trusty little Narrative is recording those moments without your intervention.
The enticing little blurbs found on the Narrative website tell prospective customers that “You won’t even notice that it’s there,” and that Narrative is “Your new photographic memory.” In a particularly grandiose statement, we are told to “Capture the moment as it happens, without interference,” complementing “your staged photos of majestic scenery with the intensity of the small moments that matter the most.” Of course, with the Narrative app that allows you to download your photos into hardware or cloud memory you can “Relive your favorite moments.” This is where the you-only-live-twice thing is relevant, because if you took the time to review all the photos that are taken at the clip of two per minute, you might literally need two lives to review all this stuff— one for the “real thing” and one for the photographic images of the real thing (more about this later). The proper term for this new little $229.00 device is “lifelogging camera,” and as we become more and more immersed into the Internet of Things, we should expect to see more wearable cameras appearing on the market. As an April review by Stu Roberts in Gizmag points out, there are two ways this new lifelogging gadget can be viewed—as a wondrous life recorder or as a creepy surveillance device. On the one hand, Narrative can be seen as just “another device chipping away at our privacy” or, on the other hand, as a “clever means of capturing photos that [the user] may otherwise have missed and capturing candid moments in [our] lives without the conspicuous intrusion of a manual camera.” In other words, when we start using this device,
we might be viewed as a pervert or as a caring person who wants to focus attention on another human being rather than on a camera. Or we might be seen as a very creepy caring person. The Gizmag piece concludes that Narrative, although it might be a neat concept for those who are obsessed with recording their entire lives, seems a bit overpriced for what you get, and the picture quality leaves much to be desired. However, Narrative isn’t designed to replace your more sophisticated digital camera, or even your smartphone, but is primarily there to make sure you focus on other things rather than taking pictures. Yes, you’re still taking pictures, but the illusion is that you are not taking pictures. When Stu Roberts showed this little lifelogging gadget to his friends, they felt “it was a nice idea and that it would be a good stocking filler.” A somewhat pricey stocking filler, that is. Regardless of what you might think of Narrative, it is indicative of the world we should be prepared for. Of course, we already live in a world cluttered with millions of Facebook profiles and selfies, taken in a more self-conscious way than would be the case if we all had Narratives. The Internet of Things is not going away and we
are already immersed in its first wave. Narrative is a particularly good example of how information has already multiplied to the point where we can’t possibly consume or pause to reflect on and understand most of it. Let’s say you purchase a Narrative Clip and use it continuously for one year as it takes pictures every 30 seconds, even when you’re asleep (if you’re into filming your own “Paranormal Activity” kind of lifelog, that is). If I have done my math correctly (which I probably haven’t), you should be faced with well over one million pictures to sort through. So, to make sense of this vast array of life moments, you will have to literally relive your past year, albeit in a much more compressed form. You do the math. How long will it take you to sort through and make sense of over one million pictures if you view ten of them each minute? Obviously, most people will not keep Narrative running while they are asleep or, hopefully, while they are using the bathroom or taking a shower (wonder if Narrative is waterproof?), so this will dramatically cut down on the time it will take to sort through all this data. But even assuming you keep it running for only 8 hours each day, that’s still a lot of stuff. And what will it all mean in the end?
Will it reveal how boring or how full of meaning our lives are? I suppose we should get ready for the onslaught of reality shows that will be based around instant celebrities who will insist that we watch their meaningless lives unfold on our screens. And, just think, we can use our Narrative devices to film us watching other people’s lifelogs. Of course, we already do that with our smart devices. Will wonders never cease? A parting thought—if I had my own Narrative I could record my writing this column every week. Doesn’t sound very interesting to me, but here is something that is very interesting (and the topic for a forthcoming column). David Rose’s newly-published book Enchanted Objects: Design, Human Desire, and The Internet of Things (featuring a brief section about Narrative) is a must-read for those of you who want to prepare yourself for the Internet of Things (which, as Rose points out, has been there all along in various predigital manifestations). So, that’s your homework for this week. Feel free to record yourself reading Rose’s book). See you next week, with or without Narrative.
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