Page 2, The Loafer • December 23, 2014
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December 23, 2014 • The Loafer, Page 3
Volume 29 Issue #3
in this issue .... 4 6 8 10 14 15
Top 10 New Year’s Resolutions Arts Depot Members Gallery Milligan College recognized again JLB donates for playground rebuild Help with those holiday pounds Lee Ann Womack to perform at MerleFest
music & fun 12 20
Spotlight Crossword & Sudoku
columns & reviews
Happy New Year!
16 17 18 21 22
Stargazer Skies This Week Screen Scenes Batteries Not Included Kelly’s Place
Publisher - Bill Williams • Editor/Graphic Arts Director - Don Sprinkle • Office Manager - Luci Tate Cover Design - Bill May Advertising - Dave Carter, Terry Patterson Contributing Staff - Jim Kelly, Andy Ross, Ken Silvers, Mark Marquette, Jessica Gilliam 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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1. Lose Weight
Losing weight is always a challenge and many decide to choose it as a new years resolution, if you decide to make 2015 your year to shed unwanted pounds then check out our guides and products which will help you get the body you want.
2. Get Fit
Nearly everybody could benefit from doing a bit more excercise or just the right exercise, whether your goal is to lose weight or to tone those abs then getting fit in 2015 is a good resolution.
3. Save Money
With the pressure on finances that we are all feeling, getting control of your finances and reducing debt might be the best life resolution that you can make.
4. Quit Smoking
With increasing numbers of places banning smoking ban and the high cost of cigarettes, quitting might be the best decision you make this year.
5. Drink Less Alcohol
With the dangers of binge drinking and excessive alcohol consumption becoming ever more apparent it might just be the time to cut back.
6. Learn a New Skill
Whether learning a new language, public speaking or business skill, new skills will enhance your life and improve your prospects both in family and work life.
7. Get a Better Job
Bored of your current job? hating the 9-5 or the long comutes, maybe 2015 is the year to find that dream job or start that business you always wanted?
8. Volunteer
Helping others can be the most rewarding use of your time and volunteering your time not only gives something back to those you help but also increases your social circle.
9. Eat Healthy Food
Getting your 5-a-day or eating less fried food can be a challenge, but making it a resolution might help you stick to the foods you know you should.
10. Relax more, be less stressed
Living too hectic a lifestyle? want to spend more time with you kids and less at the office? Make 2015 the year that you break the cycle and start living the life you always wanted.
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Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area Presents
Old Christmas at Fort Watauga Christmas isn’t over yet! Come to Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area and see how our colonial ancestors celebrated a holiday called “Old Christmas”. In Colonial America, Christmas was celebrated as a twelve day holiday with many traditions and customs. Does The Twelve Days of Christmas sound familiar? These twelve days of feasting, and merrymaking ended on January 6th or “Twelfth Night” with a grand celebration. On Saturday, January 3rd from 10am-4pm and Sunday, January 4th from 10am-3pm the Washington County Militia will hold their monthly Militia Muster and Old Christmas
Celebration. As you walk through the gates of Fort Watauga you will travel back in time to an 18th century Old Christmas “Jollification”. Each cabin in the fort will be the setting of Christmas traditions as celebrated by the settlers of different cultures on the colonial frontier. Witness such customs as English Christmas Guns, the Irish Holly Wreath, the German Tannenbaum, Scottish First Footing, and the Dutch Sinterklaas. See how our Christmas practices of today are steeped in these old world traditions. Get the most out of the Holiday Season and visit Sycamore Shoals State Historic Site for a fun, entertaining, and educational family
outing. Arrive ready to be filled with the spirit of Christmas. It’s an event that is sure to become a tradition with your family year after year. Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area is located at 1651 W. Elk
Avenue in Elizabethton, TN. For more information contact the Park at 423-543-5808 or visit our websites at www.sycamoreshoalstn. org or http://tnstateparks.com/ parks/about/sycamore-shoals.
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Arts Depot Members Gallery Exhibit Opens Friday, January 2
Meet-the-Artists Reception Saturday, January 3, 2-4 pm The Arts Depot will present artwork created by four area artists in the Member’s Showcase Gallery beginning on Friday, January 2nd with a Meet-the Artists Reception on Saturday, January 3rd from 2-4 in the afternoon. The exhibiting artists are Hannah Duncan (Photography), Josiah Stam, (Acrylic) and James Turner, (Acrylic) from Abingdon and Nancie Norman (Acrylic/oil) from Unicoi, TN. The exhibit continues through February 28, 2015. James Turner: James says “I’ll take you there… give you a glimpse into the often lovely, delusional world of paranoid schizophrenia.” James calls his work “Wheels within Wheels” which was inspired by, he says, “a phrase of Elijah describing his manifestations of angels...I am no Elijah, I only relate to this because my visions were always a profusion of balls of light and spinning wheels.” James has had this condition, of seeing radiant visions, since childhood. He recounts, “not as a continual experience but sometimes when playing by myself as an only child…and, telling my mother about this, she asked “are you afraid?” and I stated “No”. She told me not to worry about them, but “keep it private.” And for the most part James did
James Turner James with Abstract “Wheels within Wheels” as he was told. Fortunately for the viewer James has now decided to share his visions with the world including others with his same diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia. He says “I have found them having similar experiences… tumultuous depths of surprisingly cheerful memories most would choose to forget.” James continues to paint as a healing process. In his exhibit “Wheels within
Wheels”, he says the paintings are “all related but none are alike… all sisters, but no twins.” Hannah Duncan will present an exhibit of black and white photography. When interviewed for this article we asked her where she grew up? Her reply, “I’m still growing up in Abingdon.” Of course she is, she is only 14 years old! But her photography reveals a maturity beyond her years. Hannah said “I love to explore the world…One day I just started taking pictures and really enjoyed it…and now, I want my photography to mean something or tell a story. By freezing a moment I hope people may experience the world in ways they’d never considered before.” She believes that “art should always point beyond the art itself to something higher, greater. I think that’s what art is, a hint of forever.” Although Hannah has not received any formal art education she has won first and second place awards in photography in the Washington County, Virginia Fair,
Arts Depot .... Continued on next page
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December 23, 2014 • The Loafer, Page 7
Arts Depot .... Continued from previous page Josiah Stam works in both acrylic and watercolor and is passionate about creating abstracts many of which he says are “inspired and influenced by music.” Originally from Iowa, Josiah is now a 16 year old, homeschool student living with his family in Meadowview, VA. He attended watercolor and portrait painting classes at the Arts Depot taught by Abingdon artists, David Alexander and Adelaide Moss which fueled his long time interest in art. Since then he has participated in several group shows at the Arts Depot and has won first place for a piece submitted at the Washington County, VA fair in 2014. Josiah believes that “art should reflect the creativity and joy of our Creator.”
Hannah Duncan Untitled Black & White Photograph tied for the People’s Choice Award in the Virginia Highlands Festival in 2014 and looking forward to have her photography published in the winter edition of Ray’s Road Review, an online literary journal. Nancie Norman paints abstract oil, acryl-
ic landscapes, and people. She says she is “intrigued with color and texture” and enjoys creating paintings that capture her enthusiasm and sometimes humor for the subject. She says “life is a journey and who we become is a result of the people we interact with, the places we go, how we spend our time and what we read. My paintings tell a big part of my story.” Nancy grewup in Tennessee, attended college at UT, Knoxville and has lived in several cities in the Southeast, Dallas, TX and has traveled a good bit in Western Europe. She is a selftaught painter who continuously develops her skills and techniques through self-study, workshops and she says, “most importantly, painting with other artists for ideas and camaraderie.”
The Depot Artists Association is a non-profit volunteer organization that operates the Arts Depot and is dedicated to promoting the arts in the community and features the region’s artists. The Arts Depot is located in the historic Depot Square area of downtown Abingdon, VA. The gallery and artists studios are open Wednesday through Saturday 10-4 pm, on the First Thursday of each month until 8pm or by appointment. There is no admission charge. For further information, please contact the Arts Depot at (276) 628-9091, or e-mail at abingdonartsdepot@eva.org or visit the web site at www.abingdonartsdepot.org. The Association is supported in part by grants from the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Nancie Norman-Sea (Top) Josiah Stam The Art of Music III (Below)
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Milligan once again recognized for quality and value Milligan College has been recognized among Christian colleges and universities for its high quality and value in two national rankings. Milligan ranked 11th among the “50 Best Value Christian Colleges and Universities,” according to Christian Universities Online, an independent online resource for prospective students and their families researching Christian higher education. Milligan also was ranked No. 11 in the nation for its value by Faith on View, which ranks Christian colleges in four key areas: reputation, student success and satisfaction, faculty resources, and student selectivity. In addition, the college ranked as the 36th best Christian college in the nation, as
well as No. 10 among Christian colleges in the South. “We are honored once again to be recognized for giving students the most for their tuition dollars,” said President Dr. Bill Greer. “Our caring faculty and staff prepare our students to succeed as hardworking servant leaders, which is why nearly 100 percent of Milligan graduates are employed or in graduate school within one year of earning their degree.” The total cost of a Milligan education is $6,500 below the national average for private colleges. Additionally, Milligan students’ average federal loan debt at graduation is $4,000 below the national average. “With millions of dollars in renewable scholarships and a vari-
ety of financial aid opportunities, a Milligan education can be highly affordable and in some cases comparable or less than what you’d pay at a public university,” said Dr. Lee Fierbaugh, vice president for enrollment management and marketing. Milligan’s retention and graduation rates also are well above other private colleges and state universities. Retention at Milligan is 15 percent higher than other local schools. These recognitions join other national rankings given in recent months, such as U.S. News & World Report, Washington Monthly and Educate To Career (ETC, Inc.), including other rankings from Christian Universities Online, which have all lauded
Milligan for its affordability and value. The Christian Universities Online ranking was built using publicly available data from the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics. To learn more about the ranking, visit www.christianuniversitiesonline.org. Statistics for Faith on View’s study were secured from sources, such as U.S. News & World Report rankings, the Forbes rankings, the National Center for Educational Statistics and educationnews. org. To learn more about Faith on View’s rankings, visit www. faithonview.com. To learn more about Milligan, visit www.milligan.edu.
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Ford Speedway In Lights Sets Record For Largest Single-Night Crowd In Event History More than 4,500 cars marveled at the region’s largest holiday light show the weekend of Dec. 12th, the third largest attendance in Ford Speedway In Lights history. The Friday through Sunday crowd was buoyed by the largest single-night crowd in 18 years as more than half the weekend’s cars passed through the gates on Saturday night. “Ford Speedway In Lights has become a holiday tradition for families all across the Southeast,” said Executive Director for Speedway Children’s Charities Claudia Byrd. “We expect numbers to trend upwards as Christmas approaches, but this weekend was truly amazing. “I can’t thank everyone enough for visiting and continuing to visit Speedway In Lights. I know our guests enjoy making memories with their families, but most are aware their visit also touches the lives of children across Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia.
Speedway In Lights is one of the primary fundraisers for Speedway Children’s Charities, and weekends like this one demonstrate the overwhelming compassion of our community.” Along with the approaching holiday, BMS General Manager Jerry Caldwell also credits the debut of Santa Vision, Speedway In Light’s latest enhancement, for the record-setting crowds. “The number of families of who make Ford Speedway In Lights part of their holiday traditions is a testament to the extraordinary quality of the show,” said Caldwell. “Each year it is our goal to ensure every guest, whether they are experiencing Speedway In Lights for their first time or for their 18th, has an unforgettable visit. “For 2014, we’ve made it easier for our visitors to share their Speedway In Lights memories through increased connectivity in Christmas Village and this month
we debuted a new, animated element - Santa Vision. The popularity of these additions and of Ford Speedway In Lights as a whole is gratifying, and we are delighted to share this special season with so many families from across our region.” Debuting the first week of December, Santa Vision employs some of the latest advancements in digital technology to immerse guests traveling down Bristol Dragway in a winter wonderland. The animated element features five distinct clips ranging from reindeer races to a sneak peek at Santa preparing for Christmas Eve. More than two million twinkling bulbs and 250 dazzling displays also light the over four-mile route that allows guests to drive down the legendary Thunder Valley straight strip, circuit the World’s Fastest Half-Mile and roast marshmallows in the Infield Christmas Village.
The 18th annual Ford Speedway In Lights powered by TVA opens nightly from 6-10 p.m. through Jan. 3. Entry costs are $12 for cars Sun. - Thurs., $15 for cars Fri. - Sat. Entry of activity vans is $20 and $85 for buses. All proceeds from the event benefit the Bristol Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities,
which has raised nearly $9 million in support of children’s agencies across Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia since its inception in 1997. For more information on Ford Speedway In Lights or the Bristol Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities, visit SpeedwayInLights. org.
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Junior League of Bristol
Makes Donation to Anderson Elementary School
for Playground Rebuild
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The Junior League of Bristol has made a $10,000 donation to Anderson Elementary School to assist with the costs associated with the rebuild of their existing playground. The school has expressed a serious need over the last few months for a new and safe space for the school age children to enjoy. The Bristol Tennessee City School Foundation and Anderson Elementary School Parent-Teacher Association have also raised funds towards the cause. These combined efforts have placed the school close to their total goal in order to execute the build of the playground. “With more than 65 years of service to the Bristol TN/VA community, the Junior League of Bristol TN/VA is honored to partner with Anderson Elementary to make a lasting positive impact with a
playground that the children at the school, as well as, all of the neighborhood families can enjoy,” said Junior League of Bristol President, Tasha Foy. The remaining funds necessary to complete the project are part of a continual effort by the both the Junior League of Bristol and Anderson Elementary. Individuals of our community looking to make a donation can do so by contacting Principal Andrew Brown of the school. The Junior League of Bristol, Tennessee-Virginia, Inc. is committed to ensuring that children and their families have the opportunity and services for optimal physical, intellectual, emotional, mental and social growth and development and will advocate that opportunities and services are provided.
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Celebrate The Season
With An End-Of-Year Tax Write-Off The holiday season leave your wallet a bit lighter? You can get a little money back from Uncle Sam by donating gently used clothing and other unwanted items to Goodwill Industries of Tenneva for an end-of-year tax deduction. By cleaning your closets and garages, you get more than a writeoff. Goodwill uses the revenue from your donations for its job training programs, employment placement services and other community based programs for people with a barrier to employment. Goodwill Industries of Tenneva channels 95 percent of its revenues directly into its services. “End the holiday season and start the New Year off right by making an investment in your local community,” says Robert Miller, President and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Tenneva. “Every donation to Goodwill will help us finish strong in 2014 and make 2015 a better year for hundreds of individuals who need job training, career services and other community-based Goodwill programs.” Goodwill accepts gently used clothing, household items, children’s items and cars - even those holiday gifts that weren’t quite
right. Donations are sold in our 13 stores across east Tennessee and southwest Virginia. Donors interested in claiming tax deductions should keep itemized lists of their donations. The Internal Revenue Service allows a deduction for each item, but the donor determines each item’s value. Generally, an item’s value should be based on fair market value – what the item would sell for in a thrift store. Goodwill provides receipts to donors at its drop-off sites, and attendants can validate itemized lists when they are presented. For general guidelines, please visit www.irs.gov. Goodwill Industries of Tenneva operates thirteen retail locations throughout a 17-county service area, spanning from East Tennessee into Southwest Virginia. The mission of Goodwill Industries of Tenneva is to provide access to employment services for people with barriers to employment. In 2013, Goodwill Industries of Tenneva provided service through employment training, job readiness and vocational assessments to over 1,000 individuals. For more information, call 423.245.0600 or visit www.goodwilltnva.org.
New Year’s Sunrise at Grandfather Mountain Start the first day of the new year perched atop Grandfather Mountain, observing and photographing the sunrise splendor. $10 general public, $5 Bridge Club members. Registration required at events@ grandfather.com or (828) 733-2013.
Day after Christmas blahs.... not to worry!
The sun rises on a wintery scene at Grandfather Mountain. Guests can experience the view for themselves with a sunrise session Jan. 1. Skip Sickler | Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation.
Dance the night away to tunes of Limited Edition, always entertaining and a favorite among the locals. If you haven’t attended a 4th Friday dance this is a good opportunity to make new friends and see old ones! Music for everyone, from waltz to rock, is played & if we miss your favorite dance tune just ask for it! Join us on Friday, December 26 at the Jonesborough Visitors Center. The dance begins at 7:00 with line dance lessons offered from 6:30 to 7:00. Cost $6.00. For additional information call 423-952-0772.
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MPCC fitness classes can help take off those holiday pounds
Memorial Park Community Center, 510 Bert St., offers a variety of fitness classes to help shed those holiday pounds. • TeenFIT – Monday-Friday 4-5 p.m., ages 13-17, $1 per person per day. You’re never too young to start a healthy lifestyle. • Nuline Dance – Mondays 9-10 a.m., all ages, $3 per class. Easyto-follow cardio-dance to a wide variety of music, plus toning and mat work. All fitness levels/modifications demonstrated. • Nuline Dance Fitness – Mondays 5:45-6:45 p.m. or 7-8 p.m., Wednesdays 11 a.m.-noon, ages 18 and older, $5 per class. Suitable for all levels. No partner required. • Beginner Yoga – Mondays 4:305:45 p.m., ages 18 and older, $5 per class. Introduction to basics of yoga and meditation. • Piloxing – Mondays 5:30-6:30 p.m., ages 16 and older, $5 per class. Piloxing® incorporates cutting-edge research fitness techniques to burn maximum calories, build lean muscles, and increase stamina. Combines the power, speed, and agility of boxing with
the targeted sculpting and flexibility of Pilates. • Foundations of Yoga – Mondays 5:45-7 p.m., ages 18 and older, $5 per class. Teaches balance and flexibility and builds muscle while learning to control breathing and relaxing. • Hatha Yoga – Tuesdays and Thursdays 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., ages 18 and older. $5 per class. Teaches yoga postures, breathing practice, and relaxation. • Zumba – Tuesdays and Wednesdays 5:30-6:30 p.m., ages 16 and older, $3 per class. Zumba fuses hypnotic Latin rhythms and easyto-follow moves to create a dynamic fitness program. • All About Them Arms – Tuesdays 6:30-7 p.m., ages 16 and older, $3 per class. Works exclusively on toning arms. • Chiseled Abs – Wednesdays 6:30-7 p.m., ages 18 and older, $3 per class. Works exclusively on toning and tightening abs. Please call Memorial Park Community Center at 434-5750 for more information.
First Day Hike
slated for Winged Deer Park Citizens are invited to start the new year connecting to nature with a First Day Hike on Thursday, Jan. 1. From 1-2:30 p.m., families can join a free, slow-paced hike with stops and explanations
of Winged Deer Park’s winter environment. Participants will meet at the Disc Golf Parking Lot. For more information, please call (423)283-5821.
Recycle gift wrap and boxes
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Johnson City residents are encouraged to recycle gift wrap and gift boxes. Curbside recycling customers should place these items in recycling bins, which should be at the curb by 6 a.m. on collection day. Please remember to break down boxes. Wrapping paper, boxes and other recyclables are also accepted at the following collection sites: • 91 New St. (Solid Waste Services Complex) • 3300 W. Market St. (behind Son-
ic Drive-in) • 2311 Browns Mill Road (behind Kroger) • 2544 Boones Creek Road (adjacent to Johnson City Power Board) • 120 Carroll Creek Road (Winged Deer Park boat ramp parking lot) As a reminder, plastic packaging and gift wrap with a foil finish are not recyclable and should be discarded in the trash. For more information, please call the Solid Waste Services at (423)975-2792.
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Lee Ann Womack and Trampled By Turtles To Perform at MerleFest 2015
MerleFest, slated for April 23-26, 2015, has announced Grammy-winning country vocalist Lee Ann Womack and festival circuit favorites Trampled By Turtles as part of the music festival’s lineup. The four-day event, an annual homecoming of musicians and music fans, will once again take place on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. MerleFest is known for its unique mix of traditional, roots-oriented music from the Appalachian region, including bluegrass and old-time music, Americana, blues, country, Celtic, Cajun, cowboy, zydeco, rock and many other styles that the late Doc Watson referred to as “traditional plus.” Lee Ann Womack has a collection of Grammy, CMA, Billboard and ACM awards to mark her acclaimed country music career. A singer’s singer, her international multiple week No. 1, “I Hope You Dance,” brought her to the attention of a global audience. “The Way I’m Livin’,” her much anticipated roots music project on the Sugar Hill label, has been celebrated at such prestigious out-
lets as The Wall Street Journal, RollingStone.com and USA Today. From their beginnings on the Midwestern festival circuit in 2003, Duluth, Minnesota’s Trampled By Turtles’ distinctive folk/roots hybrid sound has attracted a fervent fan base that anticipates every album and tour date. The release of 2012’s “Stars and Satellites” saw the band play to more fans than ever, sell close to 100,000 albums, and make their first national television appearance on “The Late Show with David Letterman.” The sought-after quintet even launched their own festival outside of Minneapolis in September 2014 and headlined at the Red Rocks Ampitheatre. “The addition of Lee Ann Womack and Trampled By Turtles to our 2015 lineup is just another example of how we are keeping ‘traditional plus’ music front and center,” said Steve Johnson, artist relations manager for MerleFest. “Both are a perfect compliment to an already diverse lineup. We are excited to have them on board and we expect there may still be a few more surprises to come.” Additional performers for MerleFest 2015 will be announced in the coming months. The lineup is viewable at www. MerleFest.org/lineup. Tickets for MerleFest 2015 are now on sale and may be purchased at www.MerleFest.org or by calling 1-800-343-7857. A three-tiered pricing structure is offered for MerleFest 2015: an Early Bird Tier 1 ticket discount is available through February 15, 2015, an Early Bird Tier 2 ticket discount will run from February 16, 2015, through April 22, 2015, and the third price tier will be gate pricing. Fans are encouraged to take advantage of the extended early bird discount.
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Christmas Star and Ancient Shiner
The Christmas Star: Gods Ruled Stars And Planets, Not Physics (Part 2 of 3) Gospel according to Matthew: 9 When the Wise Men had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the Star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 10 When they saw the Star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. A couple short sentences in the Bible illuminate the most celebrated star in history, the Star of Bethlehem. Twenty Centuries after the birth of the Christian Messiah, just exactly what the Star of Bethlehem actually was remains one of astronomy’s biggest mysteries. Astronomers know it wasn’t a comet, a meteor, or a supernova. What it probably was involves the movements of the brightest planets Jupiter and Venus as watched by the ancient stargazers. Those ancient stargazers were part Astrologers, part Astronomers and part Mystics. They were probably Zoroastrian Priests from Persia, and we know them as the Magi, or Wise Men. And they had something very amazing to watch in the years preceding the birth of Jesus Christ. In fact, from 4 BC to 2 BC, the planets Jupiter, thought to be the King of the Gods, Venus, the goddess of fertility, and Mercury, the messenger, played tag in the feet of Leo the Lion and its regal star, Regulus. The 21st Century battleground of Iran and Iraq is where the drama of the Star of Bethlehem is carefully watched thousands of years ago. The same stars were seen all over the Northern Hemisphere, but it is in the “Cradle of
Abram made a covenant with God, and his name was changed to Abraham. He would be the father of the descendants of the long history of the Hebrews, also known as the Israelites and the Jews. Bible study refers to them as the Children of Abraham, and their beginnings are in the Plains of Shinar. And this sets the stage for the Star of Bethlehem, the most famous star of history. This celestial symbol was the inspiration for a group of Wise Men, or Magi to travel a great distance to pay respects to a baby, born into poverty but destine to rule the world. Who were the Wise Men, and what did they see? It is in the story of the Plains of Shinar that the Biblical miracle of the Christmas Star is made clear as a sign in the sky that only a chosen few could have interpreted. One of the mysteries of the “Star of Bethlehem,” as only described in the Gospel of Matthew, is that Civilization” where the legends of power, and under the dynasty of previous history. And none had no common person saw it. No the night sky were born. Called King Ur, the former glory of the more power or access to royalty shepherds, no innkeepers, no polithan the priest-stargazers. Sumaria, Mesopotamia, Babylon arts and sciences were restored. ticians or housewives. The sacred duty of these Finally, the Plains of Shinar and Shinar, these forgotten civiliThe Bible says that even King zations are where man’s curious were occupied by the peoples of priest-stargazers was to survey the Herod didn’t see it—that’s why he mind began to be nourished by the Syrian and Arabian deserts, stars and predict any events they summoned the Wise Men to his people we know very little about. the Amorites. They had a king foretold the welfare of the king throne. Herod wanted the Wise The recorded history of the named Hammurabi who reigned and the empire. Babylon became Men to tell him where to look. Shinar Plains began about 2,500 from 1792 BC to 1750 BC, and he the center for astronomical studies Therefore, the Christmas card BC when the Akkadians and their is mentioned in Genesis as Amra- in the world. And the early Bibli- image of a brilliant star shining cal stories of Genesis center on the down on the nativity like a search king, Sargon, ruled from 2371 BC phel, king of Shinar. Hammurabi built a fabulous Shinar Plains and another great beacon is an artistic, not factual, to 2316 BC. A Moses-like ruler, Sargon, loved the heavens and or- city near the present day Bagh- city, Ur. concoction. In the Bible, Abram was born, dered his priests to make constant dad—the legendary Babylon. The Natural sky phenomenon like observations and make records. famous gardens, the beautiful supposedly under the appearance an exploding star, called a superThe royal astronomer, Bel, wrote buildings and the symbol writing of a bright comet. He refused to nova, or a comet would have been volumes on his observations, called “cuneiform” were some of worship the stars as Gods, and recorded in history. And there based on the earlier Sumerians the legacies of this intelligent civi- sought a covenant more worthy. aren’t any comets or “new stars” He was rewarded when the angel lization. works. Stargazer .... The priests of Babylon had more Gabriel appeared and told Abram A hundred years after the death Continued on page 19 of Sargon, the Sumerians regained power than any such servants in about the one true God.
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Celestial events in the skies for the week of Dec. 23 - Dec. 29, 2014, as compiled for The Loafer by Mark D. Marquette.
Christmas Week mornings have Saturn in Libra rising in the east, while all night Jupiter has kept vigilance from above in Leo. After sunset, twilight slowly reveals a beautiful string of starry lights in the southwest visible for just two hours. The crescent Moon joins the evening sights, a fascinating target for binoculars or any telescope. The late night finds Orion the Hunter beginning his dominance of the celestial realm with his canine companions Canis Major and Minor. Behold the beauty of the Universe as you safely celebrate the holidays.
Tues. Dec. 23
That string of lights spanning across half the south and west horizons are Fomalhaut, Mars, Altair and Vega. The night sky can be a sanctuary of structure and sanity from the craziness of holiday shopping. Taurus, Auriga, Orion and Gemini are rising in the east, adding some brilliant “bling” in the sky.
Wed. Dec. 24
On this 1978 date in space history, the Soviet Union landed Venera 11 on Venus. Its twin spacecraft Venera 12 landed Dec. 20, and both transmitted lots of data for a few hours. But a faulty design on
a lens cap for the spacecraft cameras left them stuck and no photos could be taken. Recent NASA landers on Mars had clear lens covers in case they didn’t pop off.
mm and 6 mm. The higher the number the lower the power, so put that 25 mm in the telescope and experience 80-100x power. The 12-10mm lenses will give about 200x power, and that 6-4mm Thurs. Dec. 25 Christmas Day. Born on this day lens is almost worthless at close to in 1642 is one of the world’s quint- 400x on anything but the Moon. essential geniuses Isaac New- Sat. Dec. 27 ton. Two little known facts about Another tip on that new teleNewton, he pursued alchemy in scope: It is important to underthe quest to make gold, and was a stand all the motions the telescope scholar of the Bible. can go through so you are familiar with them in the night. A red flashlight, made with cellophane if need be, is essential to see the telescope focusing assembly and read star charts and a Moon map.
Sun. Dec. 28
First Quarter Moon today. The oval to the upper right is Mare Crisium, Sea of Crisis, where several Soviet Union landers and rovers have been placed. Along the terminator of day and night and near center is the dark Mare Tranquility where Apollo 11 landed.
Mon. Dec. 29
Following along the terminator night-by-night is a wonderful Anybody getting a Christmas experience in a telescope as new telescope has the Moon to get ac- crater and mountain ranges are requainted with. There are usually vealed. Even by the hour the line three lenses with even the cheap- of sunrise can show a new mounest telescope…say, a 25 mm, 10 tain peak or crater rim.
Fri. Dec. 26
Page 18, The Loafer • December 23, 2014
“Exodus: Gods and Kings”
Director Ridley Scott (“Gladiator”) has brought a tale to the big screen not seen since the 1956 release “The Ten Commandments”, that of Moses and the Hebrew exodus from Egypt. The biblically-inspired “Exodus: Gods and Kings” is of epic scale and stars Christian Bale in the role made famous by Charlton Heston, Moses. The film begins in 1300 BC when Moses is a general and member of the royal family living in the Egyptian city of Memphis. Moses and his brother Prince Ramesses are planning an attack against the Hittite army, and before they leave for the battle, the two are told of a prophesy in which one of them will save the other and become a leader. During the battle, it turns out Moses saves Ramesses, and both are left pondering the future. After the victorious battle, Mo-
ses is sent to the city of Pithom to visit the viceroy who oversees the Hebrew slaves in that area. While Moses is in Pithom, he encounters slave Nun (Ben Kingsley), who proceeds to tell the general of his lineage. Nun tells Moses in order to save him from being killed when he was a baby, he was placed in a basket in the Nile river and is discovered and raised by Pharaoh’s daughter. When two Hebrews overhear the story, they run to report it to the viceroy in hopes of gaining favor. The viceroy in turn heads to Memphis to tell Ramesses of the lineage of Moses. Ramesses is conflicted about his beloved brother, but eventually exiles Moses from the kingdom. Eventually Moses comes to Midian, where he meets Zipporah (Maria Valverde), and the two eventually marry. After a nine year
leap in the story, Moses is injured in a rock-slide on a mountain, sees a burning bush and has an encounter with God. Moses eventually understands he was chosen to lead his people out from bondage in Egypt, and leaves his family to return to Memphis. When he confronts Ramesses about freeing the Hebrews, the new king refused to do so and the plagues begin with the waters of the Nile turning to blood. Only until the last devastating plague, the death of the firstborn children of Egypt, does Ramasses free the Hebrews. While Moses and his people are headed toward the Red Sea, Ramesses is suffering such grief over the death of his beloved son, he gathers his army and heads out in pursuit of Moses. As we know, Moses and the Hebrews make it safely across the sea, but the same cannot be said for the Egyptians. As the film nears the end, we see the creation of the Ten Commandments, and Moses and his people wondering in the wilderness. I was very impressed with the special effects in the film, and thanks to the technology of today’s filmmaking, the plagues and the parting of the Red Sea have never been more impressive. As for the actors, as usual, Bale continues to take various characters and bring them to life in his unique way. The supporting cast does a wonderful job, and they reflect the performance of Bale. The film can be seen in the 3D format, but I chose the 2D format, which proved to be just fine, even though I may even consider a 3D viewing of the film at a future date to see the special effects in a new light. Overall, “Exodus: Gods and Kings” is a fine and inspiring film to enjoy during the holiday season. (Rated PG-13) A-
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Stargazer .... Continued from page 16 mentioned in the 25-50 years before the birth of Jesus Christ. Commonly seen bright meteors or a “shooting star” didn’t last that long. So, none of these could be the famous star. The Star of Bethlehem was something in the sky that needed interpretation, and the only people allowed to “read” the horoscope of the starry night were special scholars. We’ve established that throughout history there have been PriestStargazers revered for the forecasts they provided kings about business fortune, war and love. These ancient stargazers carefully watched the star patterns over the Plains of Shinar, and noted the movements of the five naked-eye planets, the Sun and the Moon. Those Shinar Plains were the homeland of the Old Testament “Children of Abraham,” God’s chosen people, according to the Bible. The stories of the Hebrews’ struggles, and the Biblical Old Testament prediction of a Messiah for the Children of Abraham would
be well known by all men of wisdom in the Fertile Crescent and beyond. In fact, Persian priests for the religion of Zoroaster spent hundreds of years searching the skies for signs that a Hebrew king would be born and rule the region. This was an obsession with the PriestStargazers of the empires of the Persian lands, as they believed the future was in the stars. In the Old Testament, the Children of Abraham have well documented stories of the trials of their epic existence. As sung about in Psalm 137, their home is Babylon. In the Book of Daniel, King Nebuchadnezzar sent for the Chaldeans to interpret his dreams. In Babylon, the name “Chaldean” had a second meaning—“wise men.” Shortly after the time of Daniel, the Fertile Crescent was again conquered, this time by Cyrus the Persian in 539 BC. The Persian Stargazers were also priests who were known for their deep religious knowledge. They
would be looking for signs of the Old Testament Hebrew Messiah. Another name for these Persian priest-astrologers was “Magi.” Cyrus freed the Children of Abraham, and they returned to Jerusalem, 800 miles away, to rebuild their nation. Then they are forgotten in the Bible for 400 years. The excluded Bible books, The Apocrypha, document some of this history of Abraham’s people during what is called the Silent Years. The New Testament account of Jesus’ birth is a time of the Roman Empire’s peak, the 750th year of its founding, and the 25th year of Caesar Augustus being crowned Emperor. A coin minted in 4 BC commemorates the quarter century of Augustus’ rule. Bible scholars point to this historic event as the reason for the special tax that Joseph and pregnant Mary had to pay, thus Luke’s account of them traveling from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Meanwhile, the science of astronomy was changing during
the centuries before Jesus. The stargazers of Greece, who were philosophers and not priests, were beginning to comprehend the physical Universe. From 500-325 BC, such great Greek thinkers as Thales, Plato and Aristotle put the facts back into astronomy, and steered clear of the sooth-saying of astrology. Then came Alexander the Great, who lived from 356-323 BC, just 33 years, like Jesus. He literally conquered the world, and the great library of the Egyptian city, Alexandria, stored the latest sky charts and concepts as recorded by the great Greek astronomers. The observations from the Shinar Plains and all the knowledge of the Priest-Stargazers were integrated
in the works of the great Greek thinkers. Unfortunately, the Romans, who wanted to claim the knowledge of the skies for their own, destroyed that library in Alexandria, containing some of the world’s greatest treasures from ancient civilizations. And so it was that the Greek and Roman cultures intermingled with the science of the ancient Shinar Plains. The concepts were often wrong, but astrology still kept Priest-Stargazers busy with horoscopes for their Kings. What was in the stars was a prediction for the King of Kings. NEXT WEEK THE CONCLUSION: What the Magi Saw
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A Christmas Apology During this most wonderful time of the year, I would like to take a moment this week, and issue a series of public apologizes to a few individuals that I’ve wronged or hurt over the course of 2014. I don’t wish to dwell too much on what I am apologizing for, I just wish to acknowledge the right parties and move on. If you’re not covered in the following, I’m going to assume I am un-aware of how I caused great distress to you this year, and please see my publicist for inclusion in next year’s list. For those of you that I’ve not wronged, a very Merry Christmas to you! Let’s begin. Daniel: Sorry that I ruined the annual game of Monopoly this past Spring. It was not my intention to toss the game out your third story window while accusing you and your family of secretly plotting my demise. I had not adjusted to my new medication yet. Susan: See Above. Mimberly: I’m sorry I did not handle our break up well, I should have been a little more composed. Thank you for not mocking my
sobbing in your bathroom. The Staff of the Waffle House in Piney Flats: Sorry I demanded you cover me in syrup and leave me for dead on the highway, I did not handle the break up with Mimberly well. To the person a the lay-away department in Wal-Mart: Sorry I snapped at you, I know you somehow thought I was there to prank the store and get away with a Fisher Price toy that you had 10 of out on the sales floor, but you’re constant need to check in to see if I was genuinely the one there to get it got to me. I paid for your medical bill. To all those of you who tried to get me to watch “Frozen:” I actually want an apology from you, because I can’t get “Let It Go” out of my head. To the people up the street from me: Sorry that this year’s July 4th blowout got carried away and turned into an actual blow out. Also, sorry that my friend used a six pack of Miller Lite to try to put out the fire in your tool shed. I hope you’re happy with the re-
placement, and will be willing to say hello to me at New Years. You’re invited. $30 iTunes gift card is in it for ya. I think that covers most of it, it’s Christmas week so let’s all look forward to a year of much better things and love and joy and peace and all that jazz. Merry Merry.
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All I Want for Christmas is…. LESS BOTTLED WATER I am probably the last person on earth you should trust for financial advice, so don’t take this column too seriously. The occasion for writing it during this week of Christmas is a little piece from Business Insider I discovered while checking out my various Zite news feeds (Zite being my favorite App). The title—“10 Mindless Ways You’re Spending Too Much Money”— caught my eye and I thought this might be a good topic for this column, especially since most of us are perhaps already suffering from buyer’s remorse this week. Don’t worry, because I’m not going to be an Ebenezer Scrooge about all this--just a curious observer of pop culture. As you nervously await the January bills that will cause you to squirm, let’s take a look at some of the ways Business Insider reporter Ashley Marcin says we can sensibly cut our holiday and post-holiday spending (she calls this “conscious spending”), so we won’t be looking back on the holidays with regret rather than pride. First up on Ashley’s list is her suggestion that you drastically reduce your intake of bottled beverages, especially water. She advises you to emulate her family, who has “learned to love our tap.” Her column gave me an occasion to engage in the arduous task of trying to locate an essential book in my way-too-overcrowded study. Elizabeth Royte’s fascinating Bottlemania: How Water Went On Sale And Why We Bought It (2008) tells the rather convoluted story of how we became a culture that pays for something that should be free. According to Royte, bottled water “is an unparalleled social phenomenon, one of the greatest marketing coups of the twentieth and twentyfirst centuries,” creating a situation where “the tap is alien to today’s
youth, who’ve grown up thinking water comes in bottles, taps aren’t for drinking, and fountains equal filth. . . .Like iPods and cell phones, bottled water is private, portable, and individual.” It should be otherwise, of course. Next, take a hard look at your magazine subscriptions, both print and online versions. Ask yourself if you really need them and if you bother to read them at all. I am guilty, although I only subscribe to three magazines, including Time, which I do peruse at least for a few minutes each week (often finding things to write about in this column); however, I spend much more time (no pun intended) reading, or at least scanning, my free online magazines. I am glad to see dietary supplements on Ms. Marcin’s list. Do we really need all these? And aren’t we a little too obsessed with eating all that healthy (i.e. expensive) stuff? Not that eating healthy is a bad thing, of course, but just like our obsessions with bottled water, we have gone a little overboard
with our insistence on stockpiling supplements containing the words “natural” and “organic” (two largely meaningless and misleading words I would like to see less of in the coming year). Needless to say, Ashley believes we spend too much money on entertainment. Although I don’t spend very much money at the movie theatre, I do have a rather large collection of DVD and Blu-Ray discs and I am addicted to streaming, having gladly given up our cable box two years ago. I consider entertainment as a Constitutional right (it should be an amendment), but I believe we can spend our entertainment dollars a little more wisely. After all, some essential forms of entertainment—such as people-watching— don’t cost a dime. Yes, we all know we could do more to conserve energy. Ashley suggests we turn down our heat and wear more clothing while indoors. Go out and buy a few of those snuggle blankets with sleeves like the one my daughter bought me a couple of years ago. And we
could drive less, although I can’t give up a habit formed during my childhood, when my dad would aimlessly drive us around just to see what was around the next corner. The sixth item on the list concerns finding ways to resist the temptation to spend too much while shopping online. A valuable suggestion is to always reenter your credit card information manually rather than having it all-too-conveniently stored in the “Buy-With-One-Click” format to which we all fall prey. Amazon.com (and the myriad of other shopping sites) is both a blessing and a curse. And now that we are installing instant pay apps on our phones, we will have to be extra cautious about making spending so easy. I plan on purchasing a few pre-paid gift cards this year to use while shopping on line rather than choosing the one-click option too often. Food and clothing occupy the seventh and eighth spots on our Business Insider list. Yes, we spend way too much on food and cloth-
ing, both of which are subject to fads and styles. And we no doubt eat out way too often, turning food into a form of recreation rather than nourishment. Yes, I stand accused on this one. Advertising, like nearly everything else in our culture, is the driving force, and, as I tell my students every semester, if only 40% of our population were to wake up tomorrow morning perfectly happy and content with what they have, our economy would collapse. Because advertising is based on creating discontent and unhappiness with what we have—the premise being that acquiring that shiny new product will create happiness and contentment (until the new and improved shiny object is introduced) Closely related to our additions to food and shopping are those store add-ons that can increase our expense at the check-out line. You know, all those tempting little items that are strategically placed alongside the cash register, in hopes that we will toss a few into our buggies before checking out. Once again, I am guilty as accused. Occupying the tenth spot on the list is ATM fees. The moral of this story is to try avoiding any ATM that doesn’t represent the bank where you have a checking account. And, for those of you who enjoy being paranoid, be aware that ATM kiosks are prime targets for information hacking. There we have it—some advice for spending less money this holiday season (and all through the year). It is my hope that this week you will focus on the many things that money can’t buy. Examples are all around you. Here’s wishing you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas. See you next week for my annual look back at the year that has just flashed before our eyes.
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