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January 26,2016 | The Loafer | Page 3
Get handsy With It! Hands On! Regional Museum
Volume 30 • Issue #8 Publisher Luci Tate
Editor Graphic Arts Director Don Sprinkle Cover Design Bill May Advertising Dave Carter Terry Patterson Lori Howell Beth Jinks-Ashbrook Don Stuck
happenings 4
Hands ON! February Events
5
ETSU School of the Arts season opens
7
“As You Like It” Concert
8
An Evening with Fiddlin’ Carson Peters Band
9
Free tax preparation assistance
10
‘Metropolitan Corridors’
Distribution Jerry Hanger Teresa Hanger
11
Dracula & blood drive at NPAC
13
Skinny Molly & Toby Jugg at Capone’s
Published by Pulse Publishing, LLC., P.O. Box 3238, Johnson City, TN 37602 Phone: 423/283-4324 FAX - 423/283-4369
21
JRT Presents Swing!
23
Some Things To Do
14
Spotlight - Great Music & Fun Times
24
Puzzle Page
Contributing Staff Jim Kelly Andy Ross Ken Silvers Mark Marquette Brian McManus Joshua Hicks Brian Bishop
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.
Founder: Bill Williams
music & fun
columns & reviews 12
Batteries Not Included - Holy Anniversary!
16
Stargazer - NASA’s Darkest Week Remembers Fallen Astronauts
17
Skies This Week
18
Screen Scenes - “The Big Short”
21 Trivial Traveler - If You’re Going to San Francisco 20
Mountain Movers - The Matt Wineman Interview
22
Pets Of The Week
25
Lock, Stock & Barrel - Perks of Owning a Bolt Gun
26
Kelly’s Place - Elvis Meets Nixon: An Election Year Portrait
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February Calendar of Events Tuesday, January 26th - Sunday, February 7th
Magnificent Magnets
Did you know Earth is considered a giant magnet? Discover the power of magnets as you test various items for magnetism, watch cereal become magnetic, and even try out some neodymium magnet challenges. The Eastman Discovery Lab will be open by announcement periodically throughout each day. (***Please note that this program contains neodymium magnets which may inhibit the proper function of pacemakers. This program also contains small parts that may not be suitable for children under 3 years of age.) Tuesday, February 9th - Sunday, February 21st
Undeniable Chemistry
We may not have a special formula for the science of relationships, but we do have the formula for some fun experiments to help celebrate Valentine’s Day in the Eastman Discovery Lab. You won’t believe your eyes with our optical illusion heart, learn about solubility while creating a Sharpie tie dye valentine, and enjoy a show of dancing, bobbing conversation heart candies. Wednesday, February 24th, 9:30 am - 12:00 pm
Imagineer It! Workshop
Celebrate National Engineering Week with a workshop that will test your craftsmanship, skill, and ingenuity. Assemble a miniature hovercraft, build your own table-sized, self-supporting bridge and create your own 2-liter bottle rocket launcher. A healthy snack is included. Cost $12 for members, $15 for non-members. Ages 7-13. Payment is required with registration by Tuesday, February 16th. To register, please call 423-434-4263 ext. 100, T-F 9-5 or e-mailreservations@handsonmuseum.org. Tuesday, February 23rd - Sunday, March 13th
Can You Hear Me Now?
Discover some of the smallest bones in our bodies - the ones in our ear! Celebrate Alexander Graham Bell’s birthday by learning about sound and how Mr. Bell used sound in many of his inventions. Play a song on our palm pipes, listen to our singing crystal water glasses, and even try out our Boomwhackers! The Eastman Discovery Lab will be open by announcement periodically throughout each day.
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A Coole January ETSU School of the Arts opens season ‘For the Ear Alone’
Although Nobel Prize-winning poet and playwright William Butler Yeats was very much an Irish nationalist and writer, his legacy and work are celebrated worldwide with societies, conferences, programs, awards and readings. “He was a great romantic and explorer of spiritual frontiers whose poetry fuses the personal and the political, the sensual and the cosmic,” says Joseph Sobol, an ETSU professor in the Storytelling Program. “It has been said that the Irish nation and even modern consciousness itself were born in the poetic imagination of W.B. Yeats.” The year 2015 marked the 150th anniversary of Yeats’ birth and January 2016 inaugurates the centennial of Ireland’s Easter Rising, a key event in the struggle for Irish independence and the subject of one of Yeats’ greatest poems. ETSU’s Department of Literature and Language, Department of Communication and Performance’s Storytelling Program and Mary B. Martin School of the Arts are marking this confluence of occasions on Wednesday, Jan. 27, and Thursday, Jan. 28, which is the 86th anniversary of Yeats’ death, with a two-day celebration, “For
the Ear Alone: A Festival in Honor of W.B. Yeats.” The festival is so-titled because of the profound musical and dramatic qualities of Yeats’ work. “He composed his poems orally, like an ancient Irish bard,” Sobol says. “He would walk through the woods and chant lines to himself and chant them over and over again until he had just the right rhythms and the right musical sense to the words.” “For the Ear Alone” will feature five events – some free, some ticketed – beginning with a free panel discussion “W.B. Yeats and the Poetic Drama” at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27, in Reece Museum, ETSU. Panelists include two of the world’s foremost directors of Yeats’ poetic dramas – Sam McCready and James Flannery. McCready, originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland, is co-founder of the Lyric Theatre in Belfast and longtime head of the drama workshop at the Yeats International Summer School, while Flannery, a professor emeritus of theater at Emory University, is founder and director of the Yeats Drama Foundation. Sobol, composer and author of In the Deep Heart’s Core: A
ture and Language, complete the expert panel. At 7 p.m. on Jan. 27 in Martha Street Culp Auditorium, Irish ac-
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Joan McCready
Mystic Cabaret from the works of Irish drama scholar and chair of W. B. Yeats, and Katherine Weiss, the ETSU Department of Litera-
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ETSU ..... continued from page 5 tress Joan McCready will portray Yeats’ patron, collaborator and friend Lady Augusta Gregory in Coole Lady: The Extraordinary Life of Lady Gregory, a ticketed event. In this one-woman show, written by the actress’ spouse, Sam McCready, Lady Gregory, a dramatist herself, reflects on a life of service to her country and the arts and the struggles in her personal life at her beloved estate, Coole Park. Gregory and Yeats were driving forces behind the Irish Literary Revival, as well as co-founders of Abbey, the Irish National Theatre. They were at the center of much political and literary drama in Ireland and England, while also prolifically creating their own original works. “Joan McCready commands the stage as Lady Gregory, talking us through her remarkable life,” says the Belfast Telegraph. “Coole Lady is finely crafted, well performed, informative and entertaining.” A second panel discussion, “Yeats and Contemporary Poetry,” kicks off Day Two of the festival, on Thursday, Jan. 28, at 3:30 p.m., again in Reece Museum. This panel – composed of Columbia University visiting professor of literature Emily Bloom; poet and Appalachian State professor Kathryn Kirkpatrick; and ETSU literature professors Dan Westover and Thomas Crofts – will trace the influence of Yeats on the course of 20th- and 21st-century verse. “Dan Westover, Thomas Crofts and Kathryn Kirkpatrick are all published successful poets,” says Weiss, who will moderate the poetry panel. “These panelists are encouraged to read from their own poetry or share with us the projects they are working on, as well as talk to us about how Yeats has influenced them and other writers. Emily Bloom, who has done radio work on Yeats, is a young scholar, a really young voice on the panel, and that should be an inspiration to the students.” The panel discussions will provide “the back story,” for patrons attending the performances, Weiss says. Receptions will follow the panel discussions, at 5 p.m. each day. A second ticketed stage performance will highlight Thursday’s
schedule, at 7 p.m. in Culp Auditorium. In the Deep Heart’s Core, an award-winning theatrical song cycle of Yeats’ poems and stories from his autobiographical writings, is composed and arranged by Sobol. The performance will feature Sobol on guitar, and original cast member Kathy Cowan on vocals, as well as local singers Dominic Aquilino and Clara Ray Burrus and musicians Lee Bidgood on fiddle and Robbie Link on bass. The music although it has “a unified thread of Irish melody” spans genres, including folk, cabaret jazz and rock ’n’ roll, Sobol says. In the Deep Heart’s Core, which premiered in 1993 at the old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago, ran for nearly a year at the Bailiwick Theatre in Chicago and toured nationwide, including a five-week run at the Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Va. The Chicago Tribune called it, “A joy – poetry to the ears, alternately tender and rousing.” For Yeats’ 150th anniversary, Sobol revamped the show for numerous venues and casts, performing in the Midwest, East Coast and Ireland. “Joseph has performed In
the Deep Heart’s Core across the country and around the world,” says Anita DeAngelis director of the Mary B. Martin School of the Arts. “It is exciting to help him share it with our campus and local audience.” Sobol says that Yeats’ poems tapped a wellspring of musical inspiration in him, resulting in this work of what he calls “poetic musical theater.” “When you take that kind of music of consonants and vowels, language and image, it suggests music in a most powerful way,” he says. “It speaks music to me. It’s very inspiring to work on. “In the Deep Heart’s Core is not a conventional musical play, but a lyric drama in which the life and passions of the poet are revealed through the songs and the stories that he made from them.” Concluding the two-day “For the Ear Alone” festival will be a Yeatsian poetry slam. Titled A Terrible Beauty Is Born at 9 p.m. in Culp Auditorium, the slam will blend readings and spoken word
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“As You Like It” Concert Is A Testament to Family
Soloist falls ill and the Symphony family steps up to help! We are less than two weeks from our exciting “As You Like It” Concert on Friday, January 29th at 7:30pm in Kingsport, TN and Saturday, January 30th at 3:00pm in Pound, VA. Repertoire will be the unveiling of our audience-selected overture, Beethoven’s selfproclaimed best work “Symphony No. 7”, and Haydn’s long lost “Concerto in C Major for Violoncello and Orchestra Hob. VIIIb:1”. If you’re wondering about the Haydn concerto there’s a story there. Our scheduled soloist, Cameron Lugo, recently became ill and is unable to perform the Tchaikovsky “Concerto for Violin, Op. 35, D Major”. However, the Symphony is never one to let down our patrons or our fellow musicians. Principal Cellist Mathew Wilkinson stepped up and, with just a few days until the first rehearsal, offered to perform the beautiful Haydn piece while his colleague rests and recuperates. We certainly wish Cameron a speedy recover and look forward to that Tchaikovsky concert in an upcoming concert. Mr. Wilkinson, A Peoria, Illinois native, received his undergraduate degree from the University of Oregon in Cello Performance. In 2005, he moved to Knoxville, TN to pursue his Master Degree and teaching certificate at the University of Tennessee. He is a regular member of the Oak Ridge Symphony and Principal Cellist of the Symphony of the Mountains. IN the summer of 2007, he was invited to perform in the National Repertory Orchestra in Breckenridge, Colorado where they performed over thirty
concerts. He is currently the orchestra director at Maryville High School and Junior High School. Mr. Wilkinson’s teachers include Ko Iwasaki, Suren Bagratuni, Steven Pologe, Hans Jensen Jorgen, and Wesley Baldwin. Concert tickets are just $35 for Friday evening and $20 for theSaturday matinee. Children and
students are always admitted free to all Symphony of the Mountains regular season concerts. To purchase tickets, please call our Box Office at (423) 392-8423 or visiting our website at SymphonyoftheMountains.org. Concert tickets will be available at the halls two hours prior to the start of each concert.
Hillbilly Bad at Holston River Brewing Company Get ready Holston River Brewery patrons. Hillbilly Bad will be taking the stage on Thursday, January 28th. The band consisting of East Tennessee musicians Benny Wilson on vocals and harmonica, Lynn Shirley on vocals and acoustic guitar, Tim Kirkland on vocals and bass guitar, Mike Malone on lead guitar and “Frog” Nelms on drums. They will be playing original songs with catchy lyrics and foot stomping music, along with a few covers here and there. The band members come from all genres of music and work well together. It’s obvious they enjoy what they’re doing. So treat yourself to an afternoon out with Hillbilly Bad. You’ll have an awesome time and thank yourself later. Music starts at 8:00pm.
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An Evening with Fiddlin’ Carson Peters Band with Special Guest Jeffrey Benedict
The Kingsport Office of Cultural Arts and Engage Kingsport present an evening with The Fiddlin’ Carson Peters Band and special guest Jeffrey Benedict on Friday, January 29, 2016 at the Renaissance Arts Center Theatre in Kingsport. Tickets are $15. This show is part of The Engage Kingsport Performing Arts Series 2016. Engage Kingsport Performing Arts Series’ shows feature reserved seating in the beautiful Renaissance Arts Center Theatre, a 350 seat theatre. Tickets are available online at EngageKingsport.com or at the Office of Cultural Arts at 1200 E. Center Street, Kingsport or by phone at (423) 392-8414. Carson Peters, or “Fiddlin’ Carson Peters” as he is becoming known started playing the fiddle at the ripe old age of 3 when his parents bought him a 1/8 size fiddle. By age 4, he was playing in fiddle competitions and jamming at musical festivals. At eleven years old, Carson is a seasoned
performer playing numerous venues with his band throughout the region. Carson has also had the honor to play on national TV as a guest on NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jay Leno as well as play with Jimmy Fortune on the floor of the Tennessee State Senate. On March 28th of 2014, Carson’s dream of playing on the Grand Ole Opry stage was realized when he was invited by Ricky Skaggs to come and perform with him and Kentucky Thunder. In May of 2014, Carson was asked to make reappearance at the Opry, but this time with his own band. We are excited to welcome Carson and his family back to Kingsport; they performed here last in January 2015. Special Guest Opener: Jeffrey Benedict Jeffrey Benedict is a talented singer and multi-instrumentalist who has won awards for his playing and his songwriting. Jeffrey stuff, like life, love, screwing it up, says his songs deal with the “basic trying again and getting it right”.
Renowned for his innovative clawhammer style banjo playing
and for fearlessly combining many differing musical styles, his music mixes strong, driving rhythms and sensitive, imaginative lyrics. Although Appalachian music underlies much of Jeffrey’s sound, you can hear the influence of numerous modern performers and songwriters. Jeffrey appears frequently as the front man for the popular Americana band, My New Favorites. My New Favorites has performed many times in Kingsport. His solo shows usually feature one or more of the other members of that band.
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ETSU business students offer free tax preparation assistance
A group of East Tennessee State University business students, under the guidance of accountancy faculty member Dr. Anthony Masino, will offer free tax preparation assistance again this year through the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program. The student volunteers will be available on five Saturdays - Feb. 6 and 20, March 5 and 19, and April 2 -from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. in the third floor computer lab, room 318, in Sam Wilson Hall, located on campus at 200 Ross Drive. As an approved VITA location, the ETSU group will assist taxpayers who had $54,000 or less in income during tax year 2015 and need assistance in preparing their own tax returns. ETSU students, staff, faculty and the general public are invited to participate. In addition to free basic income tax return preparation and electronic filing, volunteers will inform taxpayers about special tax credits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit,
and Credit for the Elderly or the Disabled. Taxpayers can visit the ETSU VITA website and an IRScertified volunteer will guide them through the tax return process. Those who wish to have their tax return prepared at a ETSU VITA session should bring with them: • Proof of identification – government issued picture ID • Social Security Cards for the taxpayer, spouse and any dependents on the tax return • Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) assignment letter for the taxpayer, spouse and dependents • Proof of foreign status, if applying for an ITIN • Birth dates for the taxpayer, spouse and dependents on the tax return • Wage and earning statement(s) from all employers, including any W-2, W-2G 1099-R, 1099-Misc. • Interest and dividend statements from banks (Form 1099) • A copy of last year’s federal and state returns, if available
• Proof of bank account routing numbers and account numbers for direct deposit, such as a blank check • Total paid to daycare provider(s) and the daycare provider’s tax identifying number (the provider’s Social Security Number or business Employer Identification Number), if appropriate • To file taxes electronically on a married-filingjoint tax return, both spouses must be present to sign the required forms Last year, more than 30 graduate and undergraduate students successfully completed IRS certification requirements in order to volunteer. Those volunteers were able to prepare and assist members of the public with over 100 tax returns. For further information, contact Masino
at 423-439-4432 or Masino@etsu.edu. For disability accommodations, call the ETSU Office of Disability Services at 423-439-8346.
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Carter Railroad Museum January Heritage Day:
‘Metropolitan Corridors’
On Saturday, Jan. 30, East Tennessee State University’s George L. Carter Railroad Museum will hold its monthly Heritage Day with the theme, “Metropolitan Corridors: Northeast Railroading in Retrospect.” The day will showcase the history and model operations of the lines that ran from Maine to Washington, D.C., and westward to the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys. At their height, these operations employed tens of thousands, had
thousands of miles of track and competed for luxury and business travel. Included were the Broadway, Capital and 20th Century limited passenger trains and combinations of companies that handled passengers from the cold northeast to sunny southeastern vacation spots. Freight traffic patterns were aligned for rapid handling of dry goods and perishables from the west and south into the populous northeast, making a diverse mix of traffic that continues on today’s Norfolk Southern, CSX
and Amtrak operations Heritage Day Coordinator Geoff Stunkard says, “Giant companies battled for traffic, and service and promotion became part of their legacy to attract commercial firms and the riding public. We will feature some of the great names of the past: B&O, Pennsylvania, New York Central, and others. This was an era of streamliners and eyecatching paint, providing a lot for our visitors to see this month.” Members of the George L. Carter Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society and the Mountain Empire Model Railroaders (MEMRR) club will coordinate the exhibits. Visit www.memrr.org to learn more about MEMRR, which helps demonstrate and maintain the model layouts, museum exhibits and other projects. The Carter Railroad Museum is open every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free, but donations are welcomed. The museum can be identified by a flashing railroad crossing signal at the back entrance to the Campus Center Building. Visitors should enter ETSU’s campus from State of Franklin Road onto Jack Vest Drive and continue east to 176 Ross Drive, adjacent to the flashing RR crossing sign. To learn more about the museum, visit http://johnsonsdepot. com/glcarter/cartermuseum. For more information about Heritage Day, contact Alsop at 423-439-6838 or alsopf@etsu.edu. For disability accommodations, call the ETSU Office of Disability Services at 423-439-8346
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Dracula - January 30 at NPAC
L.A. Theatre Works presents this classic tale of seduction with a unique twist - as an old time radio play. The frightful tale of Dracula takes the stage at NPAC on January 30 at 7:30 pm. This gothic horror is a classic for all time and still holds its place as one of the greatest horror stories ever told. In Charles Morey’s acclaimed adaptation, Count Dracula slips quietly into Victorian London with a cargo of his native Transylvanian soil, necessary for rest between his victims. The city seems helpless against his frightful power and only one man, the smart and resourceful Dr. Van Helsing can stop the carnage. To do this, he must uncover the vampire’s lair and pierce Dracula’s heart with a wooden stake; setting up an epic confrontation of good vs. evil. Under the leadership of Producing Director, Susan Albert Loewenberg, L.A. Theatre Works has delighted audiences with its unique live radio theater style performances. An L.A. Theatre Works performance is immediate, spontaneous, and features a first-rate cast, live sound effects, and a connection to the audience rarely felt in a traditional theater setting. Experience the theatrical production of Dracula at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center (NPAC) in historic downtown Greeneville, TN on Saturday, January 30 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $40 for orchestra level seating, $35 for mezzanine
seating and $30 for balcony seats. Tickets may be purchased online at www.npacgreeneville.com, in person at the NPAC box office, or by calling 423-638-1679. NPAC offers online seat selection with no processing or delivery fees. There is a $1.50 ticketing fee per ticket regardless of purchase
method. The box office hours are Monday through Friday, 10 am until 5 pm. The 1150 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.
Blood drive to be held at NPAC
Starve a vampire, donate blood! Join forces with Medic and the Niswonger Performing Arts Center and help replenish the blood supply in our area. Medic Regional Blood Center’s mobile unit will be located in front of NPAC, 212 Tusculum Boulevard, from 10 am to 5 pm on Friday, January 29. Felicia Rhodes, Donor Resource Coordinator for Medic, said, “We are very low on the negative blood types right now, but of course, all blood types are needed. January is very hard for us due to it being cold and donations go down.” One out of every 10 people admitted to a hospital needs blood.
“Each pint of blood we collect can help save up to three lives and will touch the lives of so many more,” said Vicki Hudson, Executive Director of the Niswonger Performing Arts Center. “What a great way to pay it forward and make an impact on people in our community.” All donors will receive a special edition t-shirt and a free ticket to the Saturday, January 30, performance of Dracula. Donors must be at least 17 and weigh 110 pounds or more (16 year olds who weigh 120 pounds or more can donate, but must have parental consent). Medic Regional Blood Center
is the sole supplier of blood and blood products to 23 hospitals in 28 area counties, including both Laughlin Memorial Hospital and Takoma Regional Hospital in Greeneville. NPAC is hosting the blood drive in conjunction with the stage performance of Dracula. Experience this theatrical production on Saturday, January 30 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $40 for orchestra level seating, $35 for mezzanine seating and $30 for balcony seats. Tickets may be purchased online at www. npacgreeneville.com, in person at the NPAC box office, or by calling 423-638-1679.
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Holy Anniversary!!!
On January 12th, LEGO announced their newest set—a Batcave and Wayne Manor play set based off the classic “Batman” TV series with Adam West. The date this set was announced wasn’t a random date. LEGO timed the announcement perfectly for the date of the fiftieth anniversary of the day “Batman” premiered on ABC. Yes Bat-Fans, it’s been fifty years since the world was introduced to The Dynamic Duo’s twice a week TV adventures—but more on that in a moment. Anyone who knows me is well aware that Andy Ross is a big ol fan of Batman, and has been for more or less his entire life. It’s also well know that the one version of Batman I geek out over the most is the Adam West iteration. The three versions of Batman that to me ARE Batman is the 60s series, the two Tim Burton films, and the brilliant animated series from the early 90s In addition to loving Batman as kid, I also loved LEGOs. You can
imagine the inner-seven-year-old freak out I had upon reading over the specs of the LEGO Adam West set. Not only does the set feature incredibly detailed LEGO takes on the Bat Cave and the famed Wayne Manor study—complete with sliding book case and Bat-Poles that the min-figures can ACTUALLY slide down—it also comes with The Bat-mobile, The Bat Cycle, and The Bat-Copter. The LEGO set is the kick off to a year of celebration for the classic TV series, which has had something of a resurgence lately. It all began around 2013 when deals were made for merchandise of the series to happen. Suddenly, a whole new world of Bat-Toys came to be. Mattel launched a new line of action figures, Funko began making bobble heads and their popular POP figures with the series. Even DC Comics themselves honored the show with a collection of Batman comics of the era that were directly adapted as storylines on
the show—then later launching a whole new comic series called “Batman ’66” set in the Adam West universe. All of this crescendoed with the biggie, the one that many said would never happen to due an AMAZINGLY complicated web of legal issues—the release of the entire “Batman” TV series on home video for the very first time ever in November 2014. Outside of the 1966 feature film, not a single second of the classic TV series had been released in any home video format. The series could be seen on TV, but home video was an entirely different issue. I won’t go into the legal web of hurdles that had to happen, but I will go into the glee of the series getting an amazing deluxe blu-ray release looking the best the series ever has—all restored from the original 35mm camera negatives. When the “Batman” TV series premiered in January of 1966, it became a gigantic phenomenon.
Though it may be hard to imagine for those us weren’t even glints in anyones eyes at the time, the show became as big as anything you see today with “Star Wars” or “Harry Potter.” The series is the reason the inhabitants of Gotham City became household names. Unlike other comic characters of the time, “Batman” had never had much of a representation in the media. Outside of two movie serials in the 1940s, the character hadn’t ventured outside of the comic book. Because it became such a monster so quickly, for years the public thought Batman was “The Bright Knight.” It wasn’t until the late 80s and efforts like “The Dark Knight Rises” and Tim Burton’s “Batman” feature film that the public began to see the character returned to its roots. Which for years caused many to look on the Adam West series as something of a “red headed stepchild.” For me, and others in my generation, we never had this view of the show. We grew up with both “The Bright Knight” & “The Dark Knight” and we loved both takes of the character. Watching the “Batman” series as a kid, I took it deadly serious. Begging my mother to hold off taking me to school so I could catch the tail start of the second episode in the mornings and see how Batman was going to get out of the trap he was in. Watching the series as an adult, I’ve come to deeply appreciate how smart and clever the show was written. Something that many have commented on as the series is being celebrated again. “Batman” is a witty series that was built with layers. Kids take it serious, and the adults find the humor in it all. Shat has been one of the newer discov-
eries about the series is comic book scholars have begun to note is that if you look at the Batman comic as it was being produced when the show went on the air—it’s a surprisingly faithful adaptation. It’s often been said that the “Batman” series is campy, over the top and silly. Well, there’s a comic from the time that shows Batman and Robin fighting apes on the moon. Granted, that’s a more extreme example, and I’ve always felt “campy” isn’t quite the right word for the series. After all, the show burned bright—only existing for three seasons, but yet it has endured as pop culture staple for fifty years. The one thing that can’t be denied when watching the series is that it’s an incredible amount of fun. It’s hard not to get caught up in the excitement of a glowing red Bat-Phone, followed by Batman and Robin racing out of the Batcave in the one the best Bat-mobiles ever designed for the screen. What can I say? I have a particular weakness for the ‘60s “Batman” series that I can’t shake. I think it’s all due to the fact that I have loved it since I was about three—I honestly can’t recall a time in which I wasn’t a Batman fan. I have great excitement for many wonderful things coming in this anniversary year for the series—including a brand new animated movie from DC Animation that will see Adam West, Burt Ward, and Julie Newmar return to voice their characters. Naturally, I hope to get my hands on that LEGO set too. When I do, I’ll just revert to my inner seven year old self for a few hours. Will I get this LEGO set? You’ll just have to stay tuned to this column to find out. Same Bat-time. Same Bat-Channel.
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Skinny Molly will be appearing in Johnson City, Tennessee at Capone’s on Friday, January 29th! Skinny Molly, featuring Mike Estes of Lynyrd Skynyrd, has always been known for their phenomenal stage show and electrifying live performances. The band is a who’s who of a few great Southern Rock giants, including Kurt Pietro of Blackfoot and Jay Johnson of the Rossington Band. While Skinny Molly consists of members who played with these famous bands that still have radio air play today, they are blazing new trails for the genre. They recently released their third CD, Here for a Good Time, on Moss Rose Records out of Nashville, Tennessee. Skinny Molly is just returning from a two month-long tour of seven countries in Europe which included SOLD OUT shows in the France, the United Kingdom, Germany and the Czech Republic and have another month and a half tour of Europe coming up this Summer. So don’t miss your
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Skinny Molly & Toby Jugg at Capone’s opportunity to witness what has become one of the best Southern Rock bands out on the road currently. Toby Jugg will take the stage @ 9:30 for a one hour show, and then Skinny Molly says they’re Here For A Goodtime, and by the way that’s the title of their new CD. Toby’d got some surprise’s up his sleeve, with more new tunes from the Rock, Stock and Barrel CD. As mentioned this is a fund raiser for the “Save The Sign” venture in JCTN. So be ready to Rock, ready to Stock, ready to Barrel, but most of all be Here For A Goodtime. Tickets on sale @ Capone’s in advance $10.00’s. Day of show $15.00. Remember the 100th person through the door has V.I.P. access with a guest. It could be you, so come on downtown and party with two of the best Southern Country Rock/Southern Rock Bands from the State of Tennessee. Skinny Molly & Toby Jugg XXX Get you Some (a sip of the Jugg) that is!!!!!
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- TUESDAY - Jan. 26th SONGWRITERS NIGHT
at Holston River Brewing Company 6pm
OPEN MIC
at Acoustic Coffeehouse
DOWNTOWN COUNTRY at Jiggy Ray’s 6:30pm
- WEDNESDAY - Jan. 27th MAL COOPER
at Acoustic Coffeehouse
THE PYTHIA
FIDDLIN’ CARSON PETERS BAND
BONNIE BLUE
at Kgt. Renaissance Center
SOUTHERN 76 BAND
JEFFERY BENEDICT
BONEYARD REJECTS
at Rush Street Bar & Grill 9pm
CHARLES WALKER BAND at O’Mainnin’s Pub
SETH YOUNG CRANSTON DEAN at Acoustic Coffeehouse
- SATURDAY - Jan. 30th JUSTIN CRIDER / HIDDEN VALLEY BOYS
at Holston River Brewing Company 9pm
at The Family Barn 6:00pm
at WoodStone Deli
at JC Brewing Co. 7pm
OPEN MIC
- THURSDAY - Jan 28th NATE MONTGOMERY
at Bone Fire Smokehouse
JIM PERKINS
at O’Mainnin’s Pub
HILLBILLY BAD
at Holston River Brewing Company 8pm
OPEN MIC
at Acoustic Coffeehouse 8pm
- FRIDAY - Jan. 29th DIRTY SOUL REVIVAL
at 50 Fifty Sports Tavern
KITI GARTNER
at Bone Fire Smokehouse
THE BLACK LILLIES / SAM QUINN & THE TAIWAN TWIN at The Willow Tree Coffeehouse & Music Room 8pm
SOUTHERN BREEZE BAND
at Holston River Brewing Company 9pm
SOUTHERN COUNTRYMEN BAND (Country) at The Outdoorsman 7pm
SKINNY MOLLY at Capone’s
CROOKED ROAD REJECTS at Country Club Bar & Grill
BETH SNAPP at Down Home
SOUTHERN SOUND
(Classic Country & Southern Rock) at The Family Barn 7:30pm
MARSHALL BALLEW KEVIN BUTTRY
at Kingsport Eagls Club 6pm
THE LOW COUNTS
at Sleepy Owl Brewery 7pm
at Yee Haw Brewing Company 7pm at David Thompson’s Produce 7pm
CIRCLE OF THE SONG TOUR
(featuring Ed Jurdi - Band of Heathens, Seth Walker & Edward David Anderson - Backyard Tire Fire) at The Willow Tree Coffeehouse & Music Room 8pm
WYLDEHEART
at Holiday Inn (Exit 7)
SHOOTER
(Country, Classic Rock, Oldies) at Elizabethton Moose Lodge 9pm
MOONLIGHT RUN
at Country Club Bar & Grill
JEFF RUBY IZZY & THE CATASTROPHICS at Acoustic Coffeehouse
at Capone’s
- SUNDAY - Jan. 31st JAM SESSION
at Jiggy Ray’s 7pm
LIVE MUSIC
ASYLUM SUITE
MONK & MALONE TYLER WILLIAMS BAND at Carter Fold
MATT HALL JAZZ QUARTET at Uncorked 7pm
BONEYARD REJECTS
at Rush Street Bar & Grill 9pm
WEBB WILDER at Down Home
CHRIS JAMESON GHOST TRIO at Bone Fire Smokehouse
at The Family Barn 1pm
at Bone Fire Smokehouse
CARY MORIN
at Acoustic Coffeehouse
- MONDAY - Feb. 1st THE FROSTY ANGELS
at Bristol’s Pickin’ Porch
OPEN MIC
at Acoustic Coffeehouse
BLUEGRASS JAM
at Hardee’s (Boones Creek)
THE BLACK LILLIES Friday Jan. 29th | 8pm The Willow Tree Coffeehouse & Music room
KARAOKE TUESDAY
Karaoke At Numan’s - JCTN ***********************
WEDNESDAY
Karaoke w/ Southern Sounds Karaoke at American Legion 8pm Karaoke At Bristol VFW - BTN Turn the Page Karaoke At VFW Post 2108 - JCTN ***********************
THURSDAY
Karaoke At Numan’s - JCTN Karaoke w/ Southern Sounds Karaoke at Macadoo’s 8pm Karaoke At Holiday Inn - JCTN Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment At Everette’s Bar & Grille - JCTN Karaoke At Bristol VFW ***********************
FRIDAY
KaraokeAt Bristol VFW - BTN Karaoke w/ Southern Sounds Karaoke at Sportsman’s Bar & Grill 9pm Karaoke w/ Reverb Karaoke at The Cottage 8:30 pm Turn the Page Karaoke at VFW Post 2108 - JCTN Karaoke At Elizabethton VFW Karaoke w/ DJ Marques At Holiday Inn (Exit 7) - BVA Karaoke At Numan’s - JCTN ***********************
SATURDAY
Turn the Page Karaoke at VFW Post 2108 - JCTN Karaoke At Numan’s - JCTN Karaoke at Bristol VFW Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment At Macado’s - Kingsport ***********************
SUNDAY
Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment At Everette’s Bar & Grille - JCTN ***********************
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Spotlight Directory
50 Fifty Sports Tavern 2102 N. Roan Street Johnson City Acoustic Coffeehouse 415 W Walnut St. Johnson City 423/434.9872 Bristol’s Pickin’ Porch 620 State St Bristol 423/573-2262 Capone’s 227 E Main St Johnson City 423/928-2295 Carter Family Fold 3449 A. P. Carter Hwy Hiltons VA 276/594-0676 Country Club Bar & Grill 3080 W State St Bristol 423/844-0400 David Thompson’s Produce 251 Highway 107 Jonesborough 423/913-8123 Down Home 300 W. Main St. Johnson City 423/929-9822 Elizabethton Moose Lodge 288 Lovers Lane Elizabethton 423/542-5454 Family Barn 15559 Lee Hwy Bristol VA Holiday Inn (Exit 7) 3005 Linden Dr Bristol Va 276/466-4100 Holston River Brewing Company 2621 Volunteer Pkwy Bristol TN
Jiggy Ray’s 610 E. Elk Ave Elizabethton 423/ 518-1500 Johnson City Brewing Company 300 E. Main St. Johnson City 423/ 930-4186 Kingsport Eagles 926 E. Stone Dr. Kingsport Kingsport Renaissance Center 1200 E Center St Kingsport 423/392-8415 Kosher Pickle 3900 Bristol Hwy Johnson City 423/ 979-7000 O’Mainnin’s Pub 712 State St Bristol 423/844-0049 Rush Street 1229 E Stone Dr Kingsport 423/247-3184 Wellington’s Restaurant Carnegie Hotel 1216 W State of Franklin Rd Johnson City 423/979-6400 The Willow Tree Coffeehouse & Music Room 216 E Main St Johnson City Woodstone Deli 3500 Fort Henry Dr Kingsport 423/245-5424 Yee Haw Brewing Company 126 Buffalo St. Johnson City
Webb Wilder
Saturday January 30, 2016 8PM Down Home 300 West Main Street
January 26,2016 | The Loafer | Page 15
Page 16 | The Loafer | January 26,2016
NASA’s Darkest Week Remembers Fallen Astronauts
This is NASA’s darkest week as 16 Americans and Israel’s first astronaut are remembered for their ultimate sacrifice in pushing the boundaries of human exploration. Since Alan Shepard’s first suborbital ride into outer space 54 years ago, there have been three fatal American accidents claiming astronauts lives in their spaceships. Separated by decades but falling in the same week, the NASA family and all Space Age followers will be thinking of the men, women and their families as the tragic dates roll by: Jan. 27, 1967, Apollo 1; Jan. 28, 1986, Space Shuttle Challenger; Feb. 1, 2003, Shuttle Columbia. A unique and beautiful memorial to the fallen astronaut corps is a centerpiece of the public grounds at Kennedy Space Center. A huge slab of polished stone has the names of the deceased astronauts etched, the huge memorial rigged to catch floodlights shining on the structure, highlighting the names. There are 24 names on the memorial, though 17 died in spaceships. Seven astronauts in training are also on the memorial Jan. 27th marks the 49th anniversary of three Apollo 1 astronauts trapped inside their capsule when a fire broke out during a launch pad dress rehearsal. Succumbing to the searing heat sparked by an electrical spark and fueled by pure oxygen were three future Moon voyagers, space veterans Gus Grissom and Ed White, and rookie Roger Chaffee. Grissom was the second American in space, duplicating Alan Shepard’s suborbital flight in 1961. He then commanded the maiden voyage of the two-man Gemini spacecraft with John Young. Grissom’s command of the first Apollo
spaceship put him on the short list of men NASA wanted to command the first Moon landing. Indeed, it could just as easily be Virgil “Gus” Grissom in the history books as the first man to set foot on the Moon instead of Neil Armstrong. And right there on the Moon with Grissom could have been Ed White, who’s first American spacewalk in 1964 has produced the iconic image of man floating freely outside a spaceship. Chaffee, too, would have had a ticket punched for a Moon mission, and all three Apollo 1 astronauts are revered across the country with schools, museums and awards named in their honor. Their ultimate sacrifice resulted in a greatly improved Apollo spacecraft, one that literally rose out of the ashes and first flew to the Moon in December 1968 in the historic orbital mission of Apollo 8. The lessons learned from the destruction of two $2 billion spacecrafts and the death of 14 astronauts in the Challenger and Columbia Space Shuttle accidents have also yielded a huge reward— the safe construction of the $100 billion ISS. Sold to the US Congress as a “space truck” that would stimulate space commerce with affordable, twice-a-month launches into Earth orbit, the Space Transportation System (STS) of Shuttle orbiters and launching rockets never lived up to the ambitious dream. First launched in April 1981 with Columbia, the Shuttle fleet was lucky to be launched every two months, and issues were constantly cropping up in the most complicated machine every built to fly. The patchwork fixes of the dy-
namically precarious Space Shuttle caught up with NASA on the 25th launch and 10th of orbiter Challenger. In NASA lingo, it is known as STS-51L A segment on the right side Solid Rocket Booster blew a seal and hot flame gushed out like a blow torch. That sent the Orbiter crashing into the huge, orange External Tank, holding 500,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen and oxygen. It was 73 seconds into the 11:30 am launch when the explosion ripped Challenger apart. So apathetic was the public in 1986 about a Space Shuttle launch that only cable news networks showed Challenger live, the main interest coming from thousands of school children across the nation. They were watching the first “Teacher in Space” Christa McAuliffe, the first true civilian launched into space. She was to give a school lesson to those thousands of kids from space later that week. But she never made it. The Challenger disaster was directly caused by below freezing temperatures at Cape Kennedy. Rubber seals were prohibited from setting up properly in the seven giant segments that were stacked to make up the Solid Rocket Boosters on each side of the Shuttle. One “O-ring” didn’t seal the gap, hot flame blew through and eventually brought Challenger down. A Congressional investigation blamed poor management decisions to launch Challenger under unfavorable and unknown weather conditions, while compromising human safety to keep an unrealistic launch schedule. Pressure to launch was exacerbated by several previous delays, and President Ronald Reagan was scheduled to
talk to the crew in orbit during his State of the Union address on Jan. 28, 1986. Dead were Commander Dick Scobee, Pilot Michael Smith and mission specialists Ellison Onizuka, Ronald McNair, Gregory Jarvis, Judy Resnik and Christa McAullife. Evidence showed that the astronauts probably survived the initial explosion when the rigid, spaceproof crew cabin was blown out of the fuselage and tumbled the 7 miles to a 300 mph impact with the Atlantic Ocean. Three astronauts had turned on their emergency oxygen packs, so they were conscious for a while before the fatal impact with the ocean. The entire Shuttle program was revamped with several close calls being revealed. The Solid Rocket Boosters were redesigned to prohibit another segment blow through, and other concerns were addressed. But what kept nagging launch inspectors was the amount of ice that clung to the big, orange External Tank—created by the -250 below zero liquid helium and oxygen inside. Video had shown many flights were ice and sometimes foam sections of the External Tanks would break off during the first minute after blast off, sometimes striking the Orbiter and its wings. Finally, the problem became a disaster when the matriarch of the Shuttle fleet, Columbia, was launched on January 16, 2003. STS-107 was the last Shuttle mission scheduled not to visit the ISS. Instead, the Space Lab filled the cargo bay for a 16-day science mission. Had Columbia docked with the ISS, no doubt a gaping, two or three-foot hole in its left wing would have been seen by Space Station astronauts. Instead, the crew of Columbia were unaware that while they performed two weeks of the most productive science ever done in a Shuttle’s Space Lab, their spaceship was crippled and could not survive the blazing, 10,000 mph reentry through Earth’s atmosphere. Again, NASA had employees who suspected something was wrong with Columbia. Launch video showed that seconds into the launch a five-foot chunk of foam broke loose and smashed into the left wing. Engineers investigated the possibility that damage may have occurred, and several managers requested
that a US spy satellite be pointed at Columbia in orbit to see if any problems could be detected. That request was turned down as unnecessary. Had the damaged wing been discovered by that spy satellite, a rescue scenario would have been incredibly difficult. Columbia would not be able to reach to ISS because of orbital differences and lack of fuel. But food and water would have been rationed to the crew while another Shuttle was hurriedly prepared for a rescue launch—a two-month process crammed into a few weeks at best! NASA never has publicly assessed if they could have pulled off a Columbia rescue mission. And when the July 2009 final repair of the Hubble Space Telescope was added to the Shuttle manifest, orbiter Endeavour was on the adjacent pad 39-B as a rescue ship when Atlantis roared off pad 39-A The 400-mile high orbit of the Hubble made it logistically impossible for the Space Station to be a safe haven. So, in another NASA comedy of fatal errors, a simple puncture in Columbia’s wing brought the 10-ton spaceship to its doom as the reentry plasma tore through the fuselage, and within minutes the supersonic speed ripped the vehicle apart, debris and human remains being spread over East Texas and Southwest Louisiana. Like the Challenger astronauts, the Columbia 7 had no chance, though their death was probably swift and merciful. Lost were Rick Husband, Willie McCool, Michael Anderson, David Brown, Kalpana Chawla, Laurel Clark. The seventh member was Israel’s first astronaut, Ilan Ramon, a popular national war hero. NASA’s darkest week always gives space enthusiasts a reflective time to assess where the space program has been and where it is going. These deaths have been the price that America has paid for expanding into the Solar System, the first primitive steps away from our home planet. The loss of life has not been in vain. Built on their shoulders is the incredible orbiting International Space Station, home to mankind’s first serious outpost in outer space. And a place, in spirit, where we touch the stars.
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January 26,2016 | The Loafer | Page 17
Celestial events in the skies for the week of Jan. 25th - Feb. 1st as compiled for The Loafer by Mark D. Marquette. Brighten NASA’s darkest week by looking up at the beautiful night sky. This is the peak of the glorious Winter constellations, and at 9 pm all the players are in their positions. The crown jewel the night, Sirius, is high in the southeast showing off its #1 status as the brightest star. Directly overhead is The Pleiades star cluster, the Seven Sisters looking beautiful on a crystal clear night. Meanwhile, the morning sky is laced with all the planets!
Wed. Jan. 28 Challenger 1986- Dick Scobee, Mike Smith, Judy Resnick, Ellison Onizuka, Ron McNair, Gregory Jarvis and Christa McAuliffe
Tues. Jan. 27 Apollo 1 1967 - Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee
Thurs. Jan. 29 Orion the Hunter takes over the sky, moving across the south sky with his dogs in tow, Canis Major and Canis Minor. The bright stars bisected by three stars of the hunter’s belt are a beautiful sight, and dan-
gling down is a sword with the Great Nebula, easily seen in binoculars. Fri. Jan. 30 At predawn 6:30 am EST, you can see strung like jewels from the horizon up: Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Mars and Jupiter! Sat. Jan. 31 On this 1958 date in space history, America orbited its first spacecraft, Explorer 1. Russia had orbited the first spacecraft in October 1957, Sputnik 1, which had a beeping transmission signal. Explorer 1 had several scientific instruments to record the energized Van Allen belts circling Earth. In 1961, Chimpanzee Ham was launched in the first suborbital flight in Mercury spacecraft. In 1971, Apollo 14 was launched to the Moon by a Saturn V rocket. Mon. Feb. 1 Columbia 2003 - Rick Husband, Willie McCool, Michael Anderson, David Brown, Kalpana Chawla, Laurel Clark and Ilan Ramon.
Page 18 | The Loafer | January 26,2016
IN THEATRES NOW Box Office Top 10
In Theaters Now
Ride Along 2 (2016)
“The Big Short” As I was watching the current film “The Big Short” I felt like I needed a degree in Economics to understand most of the film. My movie partner felt the same way at the conclusion of the film. Don’t get me wrong, the nominee for Best Picture at the Academy Awards is highly entertaining, it’s just that you really need to listen to every word of the film even if you have no clue what is happening. The film is a comedy-drama and features Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, and Brad Pitt, all in memorable roles. Bale, who was nominated for Best Supporting Actor, is featured as Michael Burry, an eccentric hedge fund manager. The film begins in 2005, and Michael discovers the U.S. housing market is very unstable, and predicts the market will collapse in the second half of 2007. Michael knows he can profit from this situation and creates a credit default swap market, which allows him to bet against the housing market. Michael visits various banks with his idea, and with the banks believing the housing market is secure, agree to his proposal. Of course, Michael’s clients believe he has lost his mind, and demand he stop his plan, but he refuses. Others, including Gosling’s character Jared Vennett, a trader, and Carell’s character Mark Baum, a hedge fund manager, get wind of Michael’s plan and are intrigued. There are several other minor characters who become involved in the plan as well, but the road to riches has a rocky beginning. Brad Pitt’s character Ben Rickert, a re-
As his wedding day approaches, Ben heads to Miami with his soon-to-be brother-in-law James to bring down a drug dealer who’s supplying the dealers of Atlanta with product.
The Revenant (2015)
A frontiersman on a fur trading expedition in the 1820s fights for survival after being mauled by a bear and left for dead by members of his own hunting team.
Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens (2015)
Three decades after the defeat of the Galactic Empire, a new threat arises. The First Order attempts to rule the galaxy and only a ragtag group of heroes can stop them, along with the help of the Resistance.
13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (2016)
when the biological father, Dusty Mayron, returns.
Norm of the North (2016)
When a real estate development invades his Arctic home, Norm and his three lemming friends head to New York City, where Norm becomes the mascot of the corporation in an attempt to bring it down from the inside and protect his homeland.
The Forest (2016)
A woman goes into Japan’s Suicide Forest to find her twin sister, and confronts supernatural terror.
The Big Short (2015)
Four denizens of the world of high-finance predict the credit and housing bubble collapse of the mid-2000s, and decide to take on the big banks for their greed and lack of foresight.
Sisters (2015)
Two sisters decide to throw one An American Ambassador is last house party before their parkilled during an attack at a U.S. compound in Libya as a security ents sell their family home. team struggles to make sense out The Hateful Eight (2015) of the chaos. In the dead of a Wyoming winter, a bounty hunter and his prisDaddy’s Home (2015) Stepdad, Brad Whitaker, is a ra- oner find shelter in a cabin curdio host trying to get his stepchil- rently inhabited by a collection of dren to love him and call him Dad. nefarious characters. But his plans turn upside down
IMDb.com (01/23/2016)
tired banker, aids to minor characters who are Wall Street outsiders. Because the film is based on a true story, we all know what happened in 2007: the collapse of the housing market that led to a global financial crisis. Even if you can’t understand everything going on in the story, the performances of the actors
involved make the film worth seeing. Bale was awarded with a nomination for good reason, as he excels in the role of the highly intelligent, but socially inept Burry. The real surprise for me was Carell, who continues to show he is far more than a comedian with each dramatic role he tackles. On a humorous note, the cast all
sport tragic hair cuts, led by Bale’s messy cut and Gosling’s black dye job. Even Pitt is not spared with his wavy hair and grayish beard. If nothing else, “The Big Short” with entertain and educate you at the same time about an unfortunate time in our history. The film leaves
us with the notion that we may be on the road to collapse again. Will Wall Street and big banks ever learn? Maybe, maybe not.
Rated: R
B+
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January 26,2016 | The Loafer | Page 19
If You’re Going to San Francisco The Golden Gate Bridge, Lombard Street, Alcatraz, cable cars – these are among the sights that make San Francisco one of the most unique and recognizable cities in the world. But today, let’s talk a bit about the magnificent San Francisco City Hall. Though easily identified to many hailing from Northern California, I’d consider it one of the city’s secondtier landmarks. In spite of this, it should be added to any visitor’s itinerary, as it is undoubtedly one of the most impressive civic build-
ings in the country. With your first view of City Hall, you will no doubt notice the structure’s most prominent feature: its massive dome. Exceeding the height of the one that tops the US Capitol Building in Washington DC (also found on the back of your $10 bills), by nearly twenty feet, City Hall’s dome towers 307 feet above the plaza below and is 112 feet across. That qualifies it as being, by some measures, the fifth largest dome in the world. Yet, in contrast to the scale of it,
the Beaux-Arts building boasts a finely detailed façade and interior that makes it as beautiful as it is spectacular. The history of San Francisco City Hall makes it just as interesting as its design does. Completed in 1915, it was built to replace San Fran’s original city hall, which had been reduced to tiny, little pieces by the famous earthquake of 1906. However the current building proved to be susceptible to earthquakes as well. In 1989, the Loma Prieta quake (that’s the one
that interrupted the World Series) caused the aforementioned dome to move from its anchor points by four inches. Thankfully, it has since been retrofitted in order to better protect it in the future. Memorable events have taken place at City Hall. Among these were the marriage of Marilyn Monroe to Joe DiMaggio (1954), the assassinations of Mayor George Moscone and city Supervisor Harvey Milk (1978), and several public viewings of prominent San Franciscans. President Warren
G. Harding lay in state under the rotunda as well (possibly, no one is quite sure) as he died suddenly while visiting the city in 1923. In addition, the building has served as a filming location for numerous Hollywood productions, including Dirty Harry, A View to a Kill, The Rock, and The Wedding Planner. All in all, it’s a pretty neat place. Whether you are a student of art and architecture, history, or the work of Mr. Clint Eastwood, go take a look.
Page 20 | The Loafer | January 26,2016
The Matt Wineman Interview This guy is making a difference after many people would have written him off over twenty years ago! I know this because I have been his friend that long and yes, we were both headed down the wrong path in life for a very long time. If you want to hear about someone who has moved mountains to get it back on the right path to better himself and the community, read this piece about one of my best friends, Matt Wineman to the very end. BRIAN: Matt, you grew up in the area. Tell us about your experience and did it shape who you became? MATT: I grew up fortunate in the middle class here and the privileges that come with that. Along with that cam expectations of a college degree, good job, family and career in whatever I chose. There was a definite friendly and supportive atmosphere surrounding me while I grew up. That shaped me as I traveled in later life and really served to endear people to me due to that part of my personality. BRIAN: Once you got past those younger days, what turn did your life take and where did it lead you? Somewhere tropical right? MATT: After my first three years of college, I took the ubiquitous semester of to “find myself” and found myself working in the restaurant industry which opened my eyes to a different lifestyle. That lifestyle involved things that were not healthy for me in the long term and my family stepped in. They supported me by encouraging travel to other parts of the world and seeing things beyond the scope of my previous life experience that were healthy and constructive. So I bought a one way
ticket to Saint Croix USVI. And so began an 18 year chapter of my life. BRIAN: Once you were in such a tropical paradise, what made you want to come back? Perhaps more importantly, why did you want to go into counseling for people with addictions? MATT: I had issues before I moved with substance use. However, I was in an environment in East Tennessee where that was frowned upon and had to remain hidden. Drug use in the islands was encouraged as a way of life. Working in the restaurant industry as a late night bar tender allowed access to every substance imaginable. That was such a temptation to me that I jumped in to a lot of it very willingly and stayed there. After 16years of heavy use in the Caribbean, I had an intervention from some friends which got me clean and saved my life. Basi-
cally, I was hurt and could not get off my sailboat. My friends expressed their concern and left me there to detox with periodic wellness checks. They saved my life. I don’t really talk much about what happened on that boat during that time but it wasn’t pretty. After ten days I came up clean and sober and went into construction. I was paid with sweat equity in a restaurant I helped build so, by the grace of God, I ended up as an owner. I decided to come back to Tennessee because of a burning bush moment. I was clean, happy and had actually ended up owning a bar. But I realized I had let my Tennessee driver’s license expire. So I came back to the states to renew that. Once I made the trip back, it took all of 20 minutes to renew and it left me with extra time before I went back to Saint Croix. That allowed the time for me and my dad to have lunch that Friday.
I firmly believe God was reaching into this situation and my father made peace with me, which I had needed for years and not realized. On the same trip, something made me ask my sister if I could go to her church with her. Needless to say, she was shocked but thrilled. The sermon was undeniably just for me. My heart was changed, I was ready to bring the next chapter of my life into line with what I felt God intended for me. I told my dad over breakfast the next day I felt called to move back home. After everything that had happened over the years, he was hesitant and took an hour or two to think it over. He came back with an unconditional offer for me to come home and stay with him until I got settled. This is where it gets even better. On the flight back to get my things, I started thinking that I was crazy and had gotten caught up in the moment. On the leg of my journey from Charlotte to Miami, I was seated in an isle between two people. I can’t recall the gentleman’s name but his 13 year old daughter was named Tabby. I struck up a conversation with them and they shared that they were heading to the Caribbean for mission work. Yes, I felt the resounding shock through my body like a shockwave from and explosion. Once I shared my story, they prayed with me and of course I was engulfed in tears. Tabby
came up and tugged on my shirt and asked to hug me in the airport before we parted ways. Her dad joined in and they spoke God’s blessing on me. I pulled my phone out right there in Miami national airport and called my family to tell them I was moving home. I called a friend in St. Croix and told him my intentions as well. My friend picked me up and spent the better part of two hours trying to talk me out of it. In the end, he agreed that I needed to move home. Two weeks later, I was on a plane to Tennessee. Two weeks later, I was enrolled in school. Two and a half years later, I had my degree in social work. Now I am working in my field and pursuing a Master’s degree in it as well. BRIAN: Um, WOW! What comes next? Where are you working? MATT: Devoting my life to helping those in need to help them build back the bridges they have burned. I want to offer a hand up to those that have ignored the hands offered before. I am working at Family Promise in greater Johnson City. I help homeless families find permanent self-sustaining housing so they can move their lives forward and become independent in society. We love helping as many people as we can. Folks can reach us at www.familypromisejc.com or call 423 202 7805.
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JRT Presents Swing!
The Jonesborough Repertory Theatre invites you to see Swing! between January 29 and February 14. This fast-paced, uplifting, fun musical review will take you through the history of jazz and the swing era of the 30s and 40s featuring songs such as “Skylark,” “Stompin at the Savoy,” and “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.” Featuring familiar tunes from legendary artists like Duke Ellington, William Basie, Benny Goodman and others, be ready to experience the incredible vocal and dance talent of the community as Jonesborough Repertory Theatre once again gives you a “must see” show. Whether you are from this generation or from decades ago, you will enjoy the songs, dances, live band and history of it all as you realize how this style of music shaped much of the music and dance we know today. Swing!, by Paul Kelly, who pulled together tunes from various well-known performers and composers, received six Tony nominations in 2000. This show will be the fourth production of
JRT’s 2015/2016 season and is directed by Jennifer Schmidt, assisted by Janette Gaines and choreographed by Lindy Ley. The cast of Swing! includes more than 30 local actors and a live band. Shows will run on Thursdays,
Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $16 general admission, $14 for students and seniors. To purchase tickets, call the Historic Jonesborough Visitors Center at 423.753.1010 or go online to jonesboroughtheatre.com.
January 26,2016 | The Loafer | Page 21
ETSU ..... continued from page 6 performances, as well as music and open mic slots. Noted national and regional poets and scholars will perform their favorite Yeats and Yeats-related poems, Sobol says. A limited number of open mic positions are available for the slam, with sign-up at http:// ow.ly/WV8C0. “We’re very pleased to collaborate across disciplines with the Yeats’ festival,” DeAngelis says. “Irish literature and culture influenced our regional heritage, and these offerings blend classic literature with contemporary outlooks.” The festival also offers a chance to learn about poetry without actually sitting and reading it, Weiss says. “Yeats himself believed that his poetry should be sung, not read in silence and in isolation,” she says. “If we take that on, then
we really shouldn’t go and sit in our den and read his poetry by ourselves. We should be going out and experiencing it with people that then we can talk about it afterward. “The community should come see the performances, see the panels, disagree with us, engage in the arguments, engage in the laughter and just make his writing a living experience rather than a solitary experience.” Tickets for Coole Lady and In The Deep Heart’s Core are $10 general and $5 for students of all ages with ID. Special discounts will be available for tickets purchased for both stage performances. For information about the festival or for tickets, please contact Mary B. Martin School of the Arts at 423-439-TKTS (8587) or visit www.etsu.edu/martin.
Page 22 | The Loafer | January 26,2016
Pets Of The Week
Storm is a 12 year old fellow. He is a neutered make who is up to date on all vaccines. He enjoys his neighbors but is ready to be a part of a family again! A sweet senior pet!
Mikki is an exceptionally sweet cat who has been at the shelter for a couple of years and ready to find that forever home! The Bridge Home has an ongoing aluminum can can collection in front of the shelter at 2061Hwy 75 in Blountville,TN 37617. The cans are collected by a volunteer and the money from the aluminum goes towards badly needed food and supplies for the animals
Registration under way for youth soccer program Registration is now open for the Johnson City Parks and Recreation youth soccer program. Practices will begin the week of March 6; games begin the week of April 2. Ages 3-5 will be on coed teams, and ages 6-11 will be divided into boys and girls teams. Age cutoff date is Aug. 15. Ages 3-9 will play at Civitan Park, and ages 10-11 will play at Winged Deer Park. Teams will play a 10-game schedule with weekday games starting at 5:30 p.m. and Saturday games beginning at 9 a.m. Cost is $25 for city residents and $30 for non-city residents. A late registration fee of $20 will be applied starting Feb. 22. Registration is available online at www.myjcparks.com and at the Winged Deer Park Athletic Office, 4137 Bristol Highway. In person registration hours are 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, please call 283-5822.
The Bridge Home No Kill Animal Rescue recently moved in to their new 7,300 sq foot building @ 2061 Hwy 75 Blountville, TN,37617. The Bridge Home is a non profit 501(c)(3) organization established in 2002 dedicated to the welfare of homeless or abandoned animals. They provide care and compassion for stray and unwanted cats and dogs until they can be adopted into a forever home. Every animal in their care is spayed or neutered and fully vaccinated before being adopted. Being a non profit the shelter is funded entirely by membership dues and private donations. They always need volunteers or monetary donations. Other always needed items:pet food, cat litter & cat toys dog treats & dog toys,paper towels, cleaners, office supplies,Purina weight circles. Phone: 423.239.5237 Hours are Mon-Fri 12pm-6pm Sat 12pm-3pm and Sun 2pm-4pm. Website is www.bridgehomerescue@gmail.com or like them on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/bridgehome?fref=ts.
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Some Things to do ........ Jonesborough Senior Center to Host Country Breakfast The Jonesborough Senior Center Advisory Board will host its annual Country Breakfast open to the community on Saturday, Jan. 30 beginning at 7 a.m. The breakfast is by donation and will consist of southern biscuits and gravy, sausage, bacon, eggs, grits and fruit. Meals are available by eating at the Senior Center or carry out. A bake sale will also take place during the breakfast. Admission is by donation only. Take out dishes are also available. The Country Breakfast will take place on Saturday, Jan. 30 from 7 to 10 a.m. at the newly opened Jonesborough Senior Center located at 307 East Main Street in Jonesborough. For additional information on the Jonesborough Senior Center Country Breakfast contact Mary Sanger at 423-753-4781 or marys@jonesboroughtn.org.
Improve balance at MPCC Memorial Park Community Center Senior Services, 510 Bert St., will offer a free Balanced Bodies class for ages 50 and older from 12:30-2:30 p.m., Monday, Feb. 1. ETSU Physical Therapy students will provide a balance screening as well as education on fall prevention and ways to improve balance. Pre-registration is required by Friday, Jan. 29. Register in person at the Senior Services desk or call (423)434-6237.
Mize Farm and Garden Spring Seminars Classes are at 10:30 on Saturdays. FEB 6 Fruit trees with John Hamrick. FEB13 Vegetable gardening with Phil Ramey. FEB 27 Raised beds with Martin Litz. MAR 5 Attracting birds, bees and butterfly’s with Charlene Thomas. MAR 12 Honey bees with John Hamrick. 215 Old Gray Station Rd (423) 467-2300
Gray Book Club Gray Library Do you like to read? Do you like to talk about books? Then come to our Book Club meeting at the Gray Library on Thursday afternoon, January 28 at 2:00 p.m. The book for discussion this month is The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown. ‘It was an unlikely quest from the start. With a team composed of the sons of log-
gers, shipyard workers, and farmers, the University of Washington’s eight-oar crew team was never expected to defeat the elite teams of the East Coast and Great Britain, yet they did, going on to shock the world by defeating the German team rowing for Adolf Hitler. The emotional heart of the tale lies with Joe Rantz, a teenager without family or prospects, who rows not only to regain his shattered self-regard but also to find a real place for himself in the world. Drawing on the boys’ own journals and vivid memories of a once-in-a-lifetime shared dream, Brown has created an unforgettable portrait of an era, a celebration of a remarkable achievement, and a chronicle of one extraordinary young man’s personal quest.’ This program is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided. If you are interested in attending, please call the Gray Library at 477-1550.Gray Libraries
Workforce Solutions to offer ECG technician course Northeast State’s Workforce Solutions will offer an Electrocardiogram Technician course at the Regional Center for Health Professions (RCHP) in downtown Kingsport starting Feb. 15. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in this field is projected to grow more than 20 percent through 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations. Electrocardiogram (ECG) Technicians peform electrocardiograms and are one of the first providers to assist patients experiencing cardiac symptoms. ECG Technicians are critical members of the patient care team and may be employed in physician offices, emergency rooms, and hospital-based cardiology clinics across the country. The course includes theory and hands-on instruction during the program. Classes are taught on Mondays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the RCHP, 300 W. Main St. in Kingsport. The course runs from Feb. 15 through April 18. Individuals interested in starting a career in the medical field, prospective patient care technicians, current nurses, or those looking to develop skills may benefit from this program. The program includes the National Healthcareer Association certification exam. This course also serves as a prerequisite for the upcoming Certified Clinical Medical Assistant program beginning in May 2016. Fee for the course is $475 and the deadline to register is Feb. 1. For more information and how to register for this class, contact Rebecca Moody with Workforce Solutions at 423.354.5520 or rzmoody@northeaststate.edu.
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Perks of Owning a Bolt Gun
Before you ask, no this article is not about the air actuated bolt gun used to slaughter animals, made famous by the villain on “No Country For Old Men”. This article is about the perks of owning a bolt-action rifle. Bolt-action technology is over a century old and has changed very little, so why has it not only survived but thrived while other platforms have gone extinct? The first thing you have to lokk at is a bit of history. Contrary to what many have come to believe, the bolt-action rifle was not designed as a hunting rifle, it was in fact at one point the pinnacle of firearms technology utilized by armed forces around the world. One thing people fail to realize is that civilian firearms have always ridden the coattails of military firearms. For example after World War I the civilian market was flooded with surplus war rifles such as the Winchester 1917 chambered in 30.06. After World War Two the market was flooded with surplus M1 Garands, and after Vietnam M-16 rifles were readily available. Sadly from the 80’s to present firearms manufacturers designed clones of popular rifles
like M-16 and the military surplus rifles became nearly impossible to find. So bolt-action rifles have stood the test of time and are among the most popular platforms among hunters, sharpshooters, snipers, and even backyard plinkers. This is due primarily to their accuracy, and the plethora of available calibers. So what makes bolt=action rifles so accurate? With semi-automatic rifles the energy produced from the chemical reaction in the chamber both projects the bullet from the barrel, and actuates the action. Therefore less energy is actually used to project the round. With a bolt-action rifle the action is actuated by hand, not unlike a single-action revolver. Therefore all the energy from the chemical reaction is used to project the round, leading to greater velocity, which directly affects accuracy. Because of they are often used for hunting, sniping, etc. Bolt-action rifles tend to have more twists in the groves of their barrels, which increases the spin of the projectile, which also directly affects accuracy. Cost is also a big reason boltaction rifles are so popular, due to
their simplicity they tend to cost substantially less than their semiauto counterparts. For example, Mossberg makes rifle called the MVP Patrol, this rifle was designed to be used by Law Enforcement sharpshooters on rooftops, it is chambered in 5.56 or .308 and accepts standard AR mags, meaning it has the same magazine capacity as an AR-15. It retails for $479.00. In contrast a low-end AR will end up costing you $600. So why isn’t everyone going out and buying the MVP? Because sadly like all things bolt guns have their cons as well. The ability to shoot rounds by simply pulling the trigger again is why 9 times out of 10 the AR will sell over the bolt gun. Limited mag capacity is also a big factor, most bolt-action rifles have a maximum 5 round capacity, this is because the likelihood of needing to shoot a deer more than five times is highly unlikely, if you find yourself in that situation you might want to take up fishing. As always I hope you enjoyed this article and if you have any questions or comments please feel free to email me, I look forward to your feedback.
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Elvis Meets Nixon: An Election Year Portrait
My favorite rumor from that far-away decade of the 1960s is that one of the many underground protest groups from that time had spiked public drinking water with LSD. When someone remarked that they were glad this wasn’t done, another responded with the question, “How do you know?” So, I guess you can say I am having flashbacks during this current election year. What if the history of the last forty- five or so years has been nothing but a hallucination? That would certainly explain
things, wouldn’t it? All just a bizarre dream from which we will hopefully awake, feeling refreshed and ready for better days. Dream on. In any event, it has been my custom for the last nearly 27 years to refrain from commenting directly on politics. So, to continue this custom, I won’t say anything about the current political situation, but will instead take you back to the early 1970s to another perhaps equally bizarre political era when today’s candidates
were much younger and not yet vying for the nation’s top office. And because I am generally an enemy of nostalgia in all its forms, I won’t get trapped in the wellworn “good-old-days” scenario. Actually, I don’t long for those days very much at all, and I was definitely there to witness them. I am thankful, however, that Glenn Frey and his colleagues were there to make things more interesting, and I have thought of him often this past week. My idea for this column came when I was perusing IMDB this morning looking for some interesting new movie trailers. I was intrigued by Director Liza Johnson’s upcoming new movie (scheduled for its release this April on, appropriately enough, tax day), “Elvis & Nixon.” This movie, starring Kevin Spacey as Richard Nixon and Michael Shannon as Elvis, and featuring a supporting cast including Johnny Knoxville, Colin Hanks, and Ashley Benson, commemorates the behind-thescenes shenanigans that took place during Elvis’ surprise visit to the White House on December 21, 1970; this event was rather hush-hush until it was revealed to the public on January 27, 1972 by the Washington Post, the same group of journalists who would later play an instrumental role in removing Nixon from the White House (conspiracy theories, anyone?). Seeking Nixon’s permission for him to become an undercover drug agent, Elvis posed for a series of now-infamous pictures with the President. In fact, these pictures have become the most-requested prints from the National Archives, well ahead of requests for pic-
tures of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. Of course, now that we have millions of online picture archives available to us 24/7, why do we need to request anything from the National Archives? In any event, it seems that these iconic pictures of Tricky Dick and The King define much of our national experience. Maybe this does lend credence to our LSD-In-The-Drinking-Water theory. Interestingly enough, Johnson’s upcoming treatment of this rather bizarre incident is the second cinematic version of this meeting of the minds. Allan Arkush directed a 1997 flick called “Elvis Meets Nixon,” starring a not-so-stellar cast including Rick Peters, Bob Gunton, and Alyson Court. I haven’t seen this movie, but it apparently takes quite a few liberties with the story, as does Johnson’s upcoming movie. I plan to watch it before the new movie is released. This little meeting between Nixon and Elvis has, quite understandably, led to some interesting parodies. Just take a look at Google Images and you will find pastiches of Nixon with the Lone Ranger (a real shot of Vice President Nixon meeting with actor Clayton Moore), Elvis with Darth Vader, Ronald Reagan (as Nixon) with George W. Bush (as Elvis), and an interesting shot of Elvis as Nixon and Nixon as Elvis. Now that Nixon, along with LBJ, is undergoing considerable reevaluation by historians, it is a good time to recommend some items that we should review when coming to terms with perhaps our most enigmatic President. And, along the way, we should also take a look at a couple of new interpretations of Elvis’ place in American popular culture. First up is David Greenburg’s fascinating and essential 2003 book, NIXON’S SHADOW: THE HISTORY OF AN IMAGE, a look at the many ways Nixon has been portrayed in our culture, from role model to villain; when I read it I am reminded of Sarah Churchill’s THE MANY LIVES OF MARILYN MONROE, an equally fascinating study of the shifting images of the movie icon. Second, you should watch Ron Howard’s 2008 presentation of another interesting Nixon meeting—the one between the exPresident and interviewer David Frost. “Frost/Nixon” is one of my
favorite movies for several perhaps inexplicable reasons (and the BluRay extras contains excerpts from the actual 1977 Frost/Nixon interviews). Third, since any appraisal of Nixon has to grapple with the implications of Watergate, see or rewatch Alan J. Pakula’s classic 1976 account of the scandal, “All The President’s Men,” as a double feature with Andrew Fleming’s delightful and completely-madeup 1999 movie “Dick,” starring Kirsten Dunst and Michelle Williams as two teenagers who quite by accident become Nixon’s personal dog walkers and in the process help uncover the secrets of Watergate. Fourth, if you are in the mood for a quite lengthy and very controversial treatment of the Nixon years, settle into Oliver Stone’s star-studded (i.e. Anthony Hopkins as the President) 1995 film, “Nixon.” It plays well as a horror movie as well as a political potboiler. And, last but certainly not least, don’t miss a hard-to-classify 2013 documentary, “Our Nixon,” composed of film clips from Super 8 home movies taken by presidential aides and assistants H.R. Haldeman, John Ehrlichman, and Dwight Chapin during the Nixon presidency. Other stuff, such as interviews and excerpts from the infamous White House Tapes, are thrown in for good measure. A truly bizarre movie experience you won’t want to miss. Show it at your next gathering or political fund raiser. As promised, here are a couple of new books you should add to your Elvis bookshelf: Joel Williamson’s masterful and thoughtprovoking 2014 book ELVIS PRESLEY: A SOUTHERN LIFE is not to be missed, and the just-published book by our premier Elvis biographer, Peter Guralnick, chronicles the life of the man who first recorded Elvis, SAM PHILLIPS: THE MAN WHO INVENTED ROCK ‘N’ ROLL. These two books place Elvis squarely in the cultural milieu that fostered his fame and later brought on his demise. Of course, we know that the aging King still shows up once in while in some out-of-the-way place to disprove rumors of his death. I hope you are planning to attend the premier of “Elvis & Nixon” this April. Just be sure to drop your tax returns off before entering the theatre. See you next week.
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