Page 2, The Loafer • January 27, 2015
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January 27, 2015 • The Loafer, Page 3
Volume 29 Issue #8
in this issue .... 4
Superbowl XLIX
5
Buddy Holly Story @ NPAC
8
“Yanks Go Railroading: The Northeast Lines”
10
Mavis Staples at January Jams
11
Mapping the Cosmos at WKMA
18
Auditions for local theatres
music & fun 12 20
Spotlight - Great Music & Fun Times Crossword & Sudoku
columns & reviews
Superbowl XLIX
14 15 19 21 22
Stargazer Skies This Week Screen Scenes - Paddington 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.
Page 4, The Loafer • January 27, 2015
Sunday, February 1st - Kickoff @ 6:30 p.m. ET. Super Bowl XLIX is the first Super Bowl matchup, and the first postseason matchup, between the Patriots and the Seahawks (the Seahawks were part of the AFC before moving to the NFC in 2002; the Patriots and the Seahawks have never matched up in postseason play during the Seahawks’ tenure in the AFC). It is notable for featuring the coach of one team who had replaced the other coach at one point. Current Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was hired in 1999 to replace Pete Carroll, who is now the coach of the Seahawks. This is only the third time this has occurred. The other two times were in Super Bowl III and Super Bowl XXXVII. In both cases, the team coached by the man who was replaced by the other won the game.
New England Patriots The New England Patriots had a rough start to their 2014 season, starting the season with a 2–2 record and hitting a low point with a humiliating 41–14 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in week four. By this point, the Patriots faced heavy criticism in the media, especially quarterback Tom Brady. Former Patriots safety and teammate Rodney Harrison declared Brady “looked scared to death” in the pocket and “doesn’t have any confidence in his offensive line.” However, New England recovered with a NFL season long seven game winning streak, beginning with a dominating 43–17 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in week five, and went on to lose only two more games for the rest of the year, finishing the season with a 12–4 record and the number one seed in the AFC. They finished fourth in the NFL in scoring (468 points) and eighth in points allowed (313), and had the largest point differential in the NFL (with an average margin of victory of 9.7 points). The Patriots defeated the Baltimore Ravens 35–31 in the AFC Divisional playoffs, and then defeated the Indianapolis Colts 45–7 in the AFC Championship Game. Brady had another fine season in his
14th year as the team’s starter, earning his ninth Pro Bowl selection with 4,109 passing yards and 33 touchdowns, with just eight interceptions. His top target was Pro Bowl tight end Rob Gronkowski, who caught 82 passes for 1,124 yards and 12 touchdowns, along with wide receiver Brandon LaFell, who caught 74 passes for 954 yards and seven touchdowns. Wide receiver Julian Edelman was another key aspect of the passing game, with 92 receptions for 974 yards and four touchdowns, while also rushing for 92 yards and returning 25 punts for 299 yards and a touchdown. Running back Jonas Gray was the team’s leading rusher with 412 yards and a 4.6 yards per carry average, while Stevan Ridley added 340 yards and Shane Vereen had 391. Vereen was also a reliable pass catcher, hauling in 52 receptions for 447 yards. On special teams, kicker Stephen Gostkowski was selected to his third Pro Bowl and became the third player ever to lead the NFL in scoring four times, converting 35 of 37 field goals (94.6 percent) and racking up 156 points. Special Teamer Matthew Slater also made the Pro Bowl for the 4th time. The Patriots defensive line was led by five time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Vince Wilfork and defensive end Rob Ninkovich, who compiled eight sacks. Behind them, linebacker Jamie Collins led the team in tackles (116) and forced fumbles (four), while also intercepting two passes. Linebacker Dont’a Hightower was also a big contributor with 89 tackles and six sacks. The secondary was led by Pro Bowl cornerback Darrelle Revis, along with Logan Ryan and safety Devin McCourty, each of whom recorded two interceptions, while Brandon Browner recorded one, and added a physical presence to the secondary.
Seattle Seahawks Although the Seahawks qualified for a second consecutive Super Bowl appearance, they also started the season slowly just like New England, floundering near the season’s midpoint with a 3–3 record. However, they went on from there to win nine of their final 10 regular season games, preventing their opponents from scoring any touchdowns in five of them. By the time they finished with a 12–4 record and entered the playoffs, they had earned the number one seed, and not allowed any touchdowns in the previous 10 quarters. Their defense ranked first in the NFL in fewest points allowed (254) and their offense was tied at first in rushing yards (2,762). The Seahawks defeated the Carolina Panthers 31–17 in the NFC Divisional playoffs, and then defeated the Green Bay Packers 28–22 in the NFC Championship Game. Quarterback Russell Wilson was back in control of the Seattle offense, completing 63.1 percent of his passes for 3,475 yards and 20 touchdowns, with seven interceptions, while also rushing for 849 yards and six touchdowns. The team’s leading receiver was Doug Baldwin, who caught 66 passes for 825 yards and three touchdowns. Receiver Jermaine Kearse was another reliable target with 38 catches for 537 yards, while tight end Luke Willson caught 22 passes for 362 yards. Running back Marshawn Lynch was selected to his fourth Pro Bowl, ranking fourth in the NFL with 1,306 rushing yards and first in rushing touchdowns with 13. He also caught 37 passes for 364 yards and four more touchdowns. Running back Robert Turbin chipped in 310 yards and 16 receptions. On special teams, kicker Steven Hauschka ranked fourth in the NFL with 134 points and made 31 of 37 field goals
(83.8 percent). Michael Bennett anchored the Seattle defensive line, leading the team with seven sacks, while teammate Bruce Irvin ranked second with 6.5 and intercepted two passes, returning both for touchdowns. Behind them, linebackers K. J. Wright and Pro Bowl selection Bobby Wagner combined for a staggering 211 tackles (107 for Wright, 104 for Wagner), while Wright also forced three fumbles. But the strongest aspect of the team’s number one ranked defense was their secondary. Known as the “Legion of Boom”, they sent three of their four starters to the Pro Bowl for the second year in a row: cornerback Richard Sherman, free safety Earl Thomas, and strong safety Kam Chancellor. Sherman led the team with four interceptions, while Thomas had 97 tackles and forced four fumbles. Chancellor had 78 tackles and also recorded six passes defensed.
www.nfl.com/superbowl/49
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“Buddy” – The Buddy Holly Story Saturday, January 31st at Niswonger Performing Arts Center Now in its 25th amazing year, the “World’s Most Successful Rock ‘n’ Roll Musical” continues to thrill audiences around the world. Viewed by more than 20 million people worldwide, Buddy opened in London’s West End in 1989, and has been seen on Broadway, throughout Canada, the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Germany, Scandinavia, South Africa, the Netherlands and Singapore; winning numerous awards along the way. Buddy tells the story of Buddy Holly through his short, yet spectacular career. The musical follows Holly from his humble beginnings in Lubbock, Texas to his final performance at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa. After playing what was to be their final concert, Buddy, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. Richardson (better known as “The Big Bopper), boarded a small plane bound for Moorhead, Minnesota. The plane crashed shortly after take-off, claiming the lives of all aboard. This tragic accident has become known as “the day the music
died”. Buddy Holly’s brief life has become the stuff of legend. “Buddy” – The Buddy Holly Story is a celebration of the life and times of the young man with spectacles. This performance captures Holly’s unique mixture of innocence, determination, humor, and charm. This performance features several of Holly’s classic songs, as well as many others, including Ritchie Valens’ “La Bamba” and The Big Bopper’s “Chantilly Lace”. “Ludicrously enjoyable. Exhilarating” --The Daily Telegraph “Sends people out of the theater on an unstoppable high...sensational.” --The Boston Globe “Forget about feel-good. Buddy is feel-great, leaving its audience
roaring for more.” --Vancouver Sun “Buddy” – The Buddy Holly Story will perform at Niswonger Performing Arts Center (NPAC) in historic downtown Greeneville, TN on Saturday, January 31st at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $40 for orchestra level seating, $35 for mezzanine level seating, and $30 for balcony level seating. Tickets may be purchased online at www.npacgreeneville.com, in person at the NPAC box office, or by calling 423638-1679. NPAC offers online seat selection and no fee ticketing. The box office hours are Monday through Friday, 10 am until 5 pm. The 1130 seat performing arts center is located adjacent to the campus of
Greeneville High School in Greeneville, TN. For venue information, and to purchase tickets, please visit www.npacgreeneville.com.
Have an event coming up? Email a press release and photos to:
editorial@theloaferonline.com
Page 6, The Loafer • January 27, 2015
Jonesborough Contra presents the
“FOOT BALL”
on Super Bowl Sunday! The Historic Jonesborough Dance Society will hold a contra dance on Sunday, February 1, 2015 at the Jonesborough Visitors Center, 117 Boone Street. The guest performers are Joseph Sobol and Lee Bidgood. The caller is Christi Bothwell. Admission to the dance is $7, $5 for HJDS members and $5 for full time students. All dances are smoke, alcohol and fragrance free. No partner is necessary. Families and children are welcome. A class for beginners will be held at 2:00pm. Super Bowl Sunday brings the 6th Annual “FOOT BALL”. While the fans of the sport of NFL Football are gearing up for the championship game of the season, contra dancers will asked to enjoy a “Tailgate style” potluck dinner and an hour of waltz before the dance. Recorded waltz tunes will play from 1:00 to 2:00pm. The contra dance runs from 2:30-5:30pm. “We’ve done this event last five years and had well over 100 dancers come for the afternoon dance” states event organizer David Wiley, President of the Historic Jonesborough Dance Society. It’s a way to burn off a few calories before indulging in the snacks and treats at Super Bowl parties. The first 10 dancers who arrive wearing their favorite FOOTBALL Jersey will receive a free ticket to the annual Jonesborough Kiwanis Club spaghetti supper. During the Foot Ball, we will attempt to do the WAVE up and down the contra lines that will be recorded on video and uploaded to YouTube. Storyteller, musician, folklorist, and author, Joseph Daniel Sobol is an artist of wide-ranging accomplishments. An artist-in-residence for many years in North and South Carolina, he received a Masters in Folklore from University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, and
a Ph.D. in Performance Studies from Northwestern University. He toured the country from 1994 through 1999 with his award-winning musical theatre piece In the Deep Heart’s Core based on the works of Irish poet W. B. Yeats. His book on the American storytelling revival, The Storytellers’ Journey, was published in 1999 by the University of Illinois Press. In addition he has released a cassette and three CDs of music and stories, alone and with his group Kiltartan Road. His most recent recording, Citternalia: Celtic Music for Cittern was honored with a “Homegrown CD Award” by Acoustic Guitar Magazine, which called the album “a watershed project-dazzling speed and precision.” After eleven years in Chicago, Illinois, doing folklore residencies with high school ESL and multilingual programs and performing regularly with some of America’s top Irish traditional musicians, he is proud to have been named Director of the Graduate Program in Storytelling at East Tennessee State University. Lee Bidgood is a musician and scholar, performing and researching musical styles ranging from Mennonite communal singing to bluegrass, old time, country, and early music. His dissertation is titled “Performing Americanness, Locating Identity: Bluegrass and Ethnography in the Czech Republic.” He received his PhD in 2010 from the Critical and Comparative Studies in Music program at the University of Virginia. Lee has performed on mandolin and fiddle with North Carolina bands the Steep Canyon Rangers and Big Fat Gap and studied viola da gamba with Brent Wissick. In the Czech Republic he has toured and recorded with Roll’s Boys
and performed with other bands including G-Runs and Roses and Reliéf. “Joseph and Lee will dazzle us with their Celtic and Old Time tunes. The jigs and reels will be great fun to dance to. We are all very lucky to have them in the area. Now and then, Joseph will drop by for a dance or to jam with the hired band for the night” adds Wiley. Sobol will have numerous CD recordings that will be offered to contra dance crowd. The dance will conclude at 5:30pm in plenty of time for dancers to change back over to football fans as the Super Bowl Game between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks kicks off at 6:40pm or attend a post-dance meal and social at the Vega’s Fiesta Restaurant at 1976 11-E Highway in Jonesborough. For more information, contact event organizer, David Wiley, at 423-534-8879 or visit www.historicjonesboroughdancesociety. org and the Historic Jonesborough Dance Society on FACEBOOK.
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January 27, 2015 • The Loafer, Page 7
Visit the Made in Tennessee:
Manufacturing Milestones Exhibition at the Museum of East Tennessee History
The exhibit, Made in Tennessee: Manufacturing Milestones, at the Museum of East Tennessee History through April 4, chronicles the history of manufacturing and manufacturers in Tennessee over the past two-and a-half centuries. A companion student K-12 curriculum has been developed and is available for teachers and students. As with all exhibitions and programs developed by the East Tennessee Historical Society and the Museum of East Tennessee History, Made in Tennessee features a “grassroots” approach, turning to communities and individuals across the state for help in identifying content and artifacts. The exhibition begins at the workstation of Knoxville Glove Company employee Margaret Newcomb, who personally sewed more than 10,800,000 industrial gloves from 1953-2013. Visitors are invited to “clock in and out”
using a time card and an authentic time clock and will enjoy more than 80 artifacts of iconic Tennessee products, from Jack Daniels to JFG coffee to an Alladdin/Stanley thermos to an employee-signed hood of a Volkswagen. The perimeter of the exhibit includes 20 “Did You Know?” facts about manufacturing in Tennessee, such as did you know that Mastercraft, the world’s largest producer of ski, wakeboard, and luxury performance power boats, built their first ski boat in a two-stall horse barn in Maryville in 1968? Visitors will encounter other surprising facts: Did you know that in 1810, there were 14,000 registered distillers in the state, producing some 25.5 million gallons a year? Intriguing is the fact that by 1980, the Marathon was the only car that had been produced completely in the state, yet by 2010, Tennessee was the “#1 state in car manufacturing strength.”
Following its run at the Museum of East Tennessee History, Knoxville, the exhibit will be made available to museums across the state through 2017. The goal of the exhibition and curriculum is to raise awareness of manufacturing’s role in America’s, and more specifically Tennessee’s, history through artifacts, print, photographs, video and graphics telling representative stories that highlight the emergence of different industries over time from 1760 to current and future. Supplementary programming, such as lectures, panels, and site tours, will afford the opportunity to engage Tennessee communities in dialogue about the current and future prospects of manufacturing. ALCOA Foundation is the presenting sponsor of this educationbased initiative with a grant of $50,000 that was given in honor of ALCOA Tennessee Operations 100th anniversary celebration and the announcement of its automotive expansion project on May 2, 2013. The Tennessee Valley Authority is also a sponsor of the exhibit. The Museum of East Tennessee History is open 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday; 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, Saturday; and 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm, Sunday. Museum Admission is $5.00 for adults, $4.00 for seniors, and FREE for children under 16. Each Sunday admission is FREE to all and ETHS members always receive FREE admission. The Museum is located in the East Tennessee History Center, 601 South Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37901. For more information about booking the exhibition, scheduling a school tour, or visiting the museum, call (865) 215-8824, email eths@eastTNhistory.org, or visit www.easttnhistory.org.
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Carter Railroad Museum’s January Heritage Day focuses on the Northeast East Tennessee State University’s George L. Carter Railroad Museum will hold its January Heritage Day on Saturday, Jan. 31, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. “Yanks Go Railroading: the Northeastern Lines” will highlight famous railroad lines of the Northeastern region. At their height, these operations, with tens of thousands of employees and thousands of miles of track, were serious competitors
for luxury travel. Included were such legends as Broadway, Capital and 20th Century limited passenger trains westbound, while others were transporting passengers from the cold northeast to sunny southeastern vacation spots. In addition, freight traffic patterns permitted the rapid handling of dry goods and perishables from the west and south into the populous northeast. This diverse mix of traffic continues today with Norfolk Southern, CSX and Amtrak operations. Geoff Stunkard, the museum’s Heritage Day coordinator, says, “These companies set the stage for what is considered a golden age of
American railroading during the 20th century, with each carving out a niche in the overall transportation network. Whether it was
produce, products or people, they moved the nations’ goods and population. We look forward to showing some of the memorable
railroad lines from this time period on January 31.” Members of the Mountain Empire Model Railroaders (MEMRR) club and the George L. Carter Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society are coordinating the program. 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. The museum is in the process of creating a scale replica of the Tweetsie line in a 1,300-square-foot display hall. Visitors may view this work-in-progress exhibit. To learn more about the museum, visit http://johnsonsdepot.com/ glcarter/cartermuseum. For more information about Heritage Day, contact Dr. Fred Alsop, museum director, at 423-4396838 or alsopf@etsu.edu. For disability accommodations, call the ETSU Office of Disability Services at 423-439-8346.
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Concert Celebrates Music that Fueled the Civil Rights Movement As part of Northeast State’s Black History Month events, vocalist Jonathan Blanchard will present “Music that Fueled the Civil Rights Movement” at the Wellmont Regional Center for the Performing Arts on Feb. 2 at 7 p.m. Admission is free and open to all. Drawing on the songs of Billie Holiday, Mahalia Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Curtis Mayfield, Sly Stone, and Marvin Gaye, Blanchard presents iconic music that was an essential component of the movement. His performance captures the vitality and idealism necessary to fuel dangerous marches, sit-ins, picket lines, and freedom rides. Blanchard, in the tradition of great soul singers, creates music that allows his deep, soulfully rich voice to blend naturally with the times. He movingly conveys
poignant words and melodies to evoke feelings of love respect, hard times, and revolt. His voice of depth and richness draws comparisons to the likes of Paul Robeson, Isaac Hayes, and Barry White. Blanchard recently released his first studio album entitled “Freedom’s Soul…the REVOLUTION.” Recorded in Memphis and Atlanta, the album is a fusion of soul, funk, jazz, spirituals, hip-hop, and R&B. Blanchard’s artistic tastes were first forged in grade school. However, by the time he entered high school his artistic curiosity led him to sing in various choruses and to act in a number of theatre productions. He attended Tennessee State University, receiving bachelor’s and master’s degrees in commercial music and music education, respectively. While in college, he
learned to weave the various elements of his artistic nature into a magnetic style of delivery. His stage credits include roles in Your Arms Are Too Short to Box with God, A Westside Story, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Scipio, Do Lord Remember Me, and The Wiz. In addition, he’s done voice-over work for local and national concerns, appeared on Memphis’ WREG – Live at 9 program, and most recently been the featured singing artist on the PBS film Underground Railroad - Quilt Code for Georgia Public Broadcasting. Northeast State’s performing arts center is located adjacent to the Tri-Cities Regional Airport, 2425 Highway 75. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. For more information, call 423.279.7669 or www.jonathanblanchard.com.
Photo by Allen Cooley
Page 10, The Loafer • January 27, 2015
January Jams Continues! Thursday, January 29th
Mavis Staples with Cody Chestnutt She is, simply, a Legend For more than sixty years, from her early days with The Staples Singers to her recent 2013 Grammy Award, Mavis Staples has been a legend of the Gospel and Blues worlds. With her bold new album, One True Vine, the legendary vocalist adds a remarkable new chapter to an historic career. Staples is a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner, and a National Heritage Fellowship Award recipient. VH1 named her one of the 100 Greatest Women of Rock and Roll, and Rolling Stone listed her as one of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time. Cody Chestnutt is a soul troubadour whose frank, socially conscious ruminations on life continue to challenge popular notions of what modern soul music can look and sound like. A song from The Headphone Masterpiece was re-tooled as “The Seed 2.0” for the Roots’ seminal album Phrenology, exposing Cody’s music to a wider mainstream audience. The song was nominated for two moonman statuettes at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards, and his own album was nominated for the prestigious Shortlist Music Prize that same year. He opens with a rare, solo acousitc performance at the historic Barter Theatre. Doors open at 7:15 and the shows will start at 8pm. Ticket prices will vary for each show. Weekend and Series passes are available, as well as hotel packages. For more information and tickets call Barter Theatre Box Office at 276-628-3991 or go online at www.bartertheatre. com. A complete lineup of the 2015 Abingdon Music Experience series can be found online at www. abingdonmusicexperience.com
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Mapping the Cosmos comes to WKMA William King Museum of Art will open its doors to a group of 27 artists for its newest exhibition Mapping the Cosmos: Jan Hurt and a Constellation of Artists. The opening reception will be held on Thursday, February 5 from 6-8 p.m. This event is free and open to the public. Curator Jan Hurt and featured artists will be in attendance to speak about their work. This exhibition is modeled after Jan Hurt’s many collaborative exhibitions, in particular the Tarot Card Art exhibition held at the Starving Artist Café in the late 1990s. Mapping the Cosmos began with 13 hand-picked artists who each asked another artist to participate; one more artist was added to total 27. Artists were selected to represent a different section of the cosmos, some constellations and some planets, and
Ralph Slatton - Cosmic Kabuki
interpret their result in any media they chose. For more information on this exhibition or a complete listing of current and upcoming exhibitions, visit us on the web at www.williamkingmuseum.org. William King Museum of Art is located at 415 Academy Drive, off West Main Street or Russell Road, in Abingdon. The Museum features five exhibition galleries, artist studios and outdoor sculpture garden. Educational programs in the visual arts are offered year-round for both children and adults, and school audiences are served by in-house and outreach programs. Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, the William King Museum of Art is a partner of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, a member of the Virginia Association of Museums and is funded in part by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.
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NASA’s Darkest Week Has Silver Lining NASA’s darkest week in its history ends with the lessons learned orbiting Earth in the incredible International Space Station. Within a week, NASA and space watchers mourn the loss of 17 brave spaceflight pioneers. It’s just a coincidence that the sorrow of three American space fatalities is relived over such a short span of time. The mistakes causing the fatal disasters are well-known human blunders when looking with hindsight. Acknowledged and corrected, there always lurks another failure that will, someday, claim the lives of more space travelers. NASA’s first astronaut fatalities in a spacecraft occurred during rehearsals on the launch pad when Apollo 1 caught fire and killed three spacemen eventually bound for the Moon. That occurred on Jan. 27, 1967—48 years ago. Incredibly, 29 years have passed since the launch explosion of Shuttle Challenger claimed the lives of seven astronauts on Jan. 28th. The dead included the Teacher-InSpace winner Christa McAuliffe. The 1986 space disaster was one of those “Where were you when?” events of a generation. And the last NASA space fatality was 12 years ago on Feb. 1 when during reentry from a successful mission Space Shuttle Columbia was ripped apart over East Texas and Western Louisiana as it approached Kennedy Space Port for landing in Florida. Seven astronauts were killed, including Israel’s first astronaut and war hero Ilan Ramone. The Russian Space Program has claimed four lives in spacecraft during flight. A cosmonaut died when a parachute failed after reentry of Soyuz 1 in 1967, and three cosmonauts suffocated when a
valve opened during the reentry of Soyuz 11 in 1971. But they’ve had their share of close calls, including a 1997 fire on their space station Mir. The newest player in human space flight, China, has safely launched 10 “taikonauts” on five spaceflights, including two women. Their small space station was occupied twice, and the world awaits the next Chinese space mission as they have boasted of going to the Moon. The American disasters could have been avoided and no doubt adversely affected those who were in charge: • The Apollo 1 fire occurred on the launch pad during a routine test. Bare wires created a spark that ignited the 100 per cent oxygen cabin, creating a fire that suffocated Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee. They died trying to open the hatch that normally took five minutes to do. Among the hundreds of changes to the Apollo spacecraft, the new hatch could be opened in less than 30 seconds. • Challenger was doomed at liftoff when an O-ring seal broke on one of the segments of the right solid rocket booster, sending out flames like a blow touch that blew up the fuel tank just 70 seconds into launch as America watched on television. Freezing temperatures compromised the integrity of the rubber O-ring causing concern from technicians, but launch officials proceeded with the 9 am blastoff with a fatal outcome, just the 25 Space Shuttle flight overall. The other astronauts who gave their live on the 25th Shuttle launch were Commander Dick Scobee, pilot Mike Smith and mission specialists Christa McAuliffe, Judy Resnick, Ellison Onizuka,
Ron McNair and Gregory Jarvis. • Columbia was also doomed at liftoff when a suitcase-size chunk of insulation flaked off the huge, orange external fuel tank, busting a hole in the left wing. The damage was suspected by some technicians but not confirmed by orbiting spy satellites, though a request was made. And astronauts on board couldn’t see the wings out their windows. The 17-day science mission—planned without any spacewalks which might have seen the damage—was perfect. That is until the fiery reentry penetrated the fist-size hole in the wing, starting the break-up of the Shuttle over California at the supersonic speed of 5,000-plus mph just minutes before landing. The astronauts who perished were Rick D. Husband, William McCool, Michael P. Anderson, David M. Brown, Kalpana Chawla, Lau-
rel B. Clark, and Ilan Ramon. After 54 years of spaceflight, that probably isn’t too bad of a track record. All counted the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo flights total 30 space flights. Add the 135 Shuttle flights and that makes for 165 American blast offs, and only two failures. That is just a 1.2 per cent failure rate, not bad for the most complicated machines ever made by man. There have been several astronaut deaths in NASA aircraft, and even car wrecks. There is also a short list of technicians who died in accidents at NASA facilities. What is incredible is that more people haven’t died in the construction of the International Space Station. Taking 12 years to build and taking 35 Space Shuttle missions, a couple dozen Soyuz flights and another dozen unmanned ferry spacecraft, there
have been no mishaps. And the more than 150 spacewalks necessary to put it all together have also been error free. As of Feb. 1. 2015, there have been 538 people who have orbited Earth. The total time spent in space by humans is more than 125 years! Add to the safety record the more than 300 spacewalks and 12 men walking on the Moon and it’s clear that all the intensive training and heavily tested spacecrafts have paid off in conquering outer space. Astronauts and cosmonauts are not heroes anymore. It’s the human side of astronauts that have given them their new anonymity. And in many ways, an astronaut is just a cool job, like an airline pilot or a boat captain.
Stargazer .....
Continued on page 17
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January 27, 2015 • The Loafer, Page 15
Celestial events in the skies for the week of Jan. 27th - Feb. 2nd, 2015 as compiled for The Loafer by Mark D. Marquette. 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, also known as the Seven Little Sisters. But the show stealer of the night is the second most recognized star pattern in the sky (next to the Big Dipper), Orion the Hunter. The three diagonal of stars that make up his belt are unmistakable, and dandling from the belt are the three stars of the sword, with the middle one being the Great Nebula, easily seen in binoculars. Above Orion is Taurus the Bull, and to its left is Gemini the Twins. And the Moon is at First Quarter on Tuesday and waxing to Full Moon next week.
Tues. Jan. 27
On this 1967 date in space history, three astronauts were killed during a fire inside their Apollo 1 spacecraft while conducting tests on the launch pad. Killed when a spark ignited the pure oxygen atmosphere inside the spacecraft was rookie Roger Chaffee and space veterans Gus Grissom and Ed White, both tapped as future moonwalkers. The tragedy derailed America’s Moon program for 18 months, but by July 1969 two men were walking on the Moon.
Wed. Jan. 28
Another space horror on this date in 1986 when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded 70 seconds after launch. Dead were 7 astronauts, including the first true civilian, teacher in space Christa McAuliffe.
Thurs. Jan. 29
The Winter Triangle is a fixture all night with three bright stars: red Betelgeuse in Orion to the right, Sirius in the Big Dog to the south and Procyon in the Little Dog to the top left. Watch them sail across the night at the clock moves on.
Fri. Jan. 30
By 8 pm the planet Jupiter is far enough above the eastern horizon to make it a “wow” factor in the sky. Brighter than Sirius to the far right, Jupiter will dominate the night the rest of the Winter into the Spring. Even in steady binoculars there is a hint of its giant globe and you can see several of its four brightest moons.
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 in-
struments to record the energized Van Allen belts circling Earth.
Sun. Feb. 1
On this 2003 date in space history, Space Shuttle Columbia was destroyed during reentry over Texas, just two minutes from landing at Cape Kennedy, Florida and completing a 17-day science mission. The seven astronauts lost their lives.
Mon. Feb. 2
On this 1966 date in space history, the Soviet Union safely landed the ball-shaped Luna 9 on the Moon. Luna 9 bounced several times, and then activated cameras to show earthlings the first view of an alien landscape.
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Arts Array presents
“The Homesman”
The Arts Array Film Series presented by Virginia Highlands Community College is in its 44th year. All films are presented at the Abingdon Cinemall on Mondays and Tuesdays at 4 p.m. and again at 7:30 pm. The Homesman (February 2 and 3) When three women living on the edge of the American frontier are driven mad by harsh pioneer life, the task of saving them falls to the pious, independent-minded Mary Bee Cuddy (Hilary Swank). Transporting the women by covered wagon to Iowa, she soon realizes just how daunting the journey will be, and employs a low-life drifter, George Briggs (Tommy Lee Jones), to join her. The unlikely pair and the three women (Grace Gummer, Miranda Otto, Sonja Richter) head east. The Arts Array Film Series is part of the comprehensive cultural outreach program of Virginia Highlands Community College. The series is co-sponsored by the Abingdon Cinemall, the Southwest Virginia Higher Education
Center, Emory& Henry College, and King University. Admission to the films is free for the faculties and students at the supporting institutions. Members of the general community may attend for $7.75. For a brochure on the series or more information, please contact Tommy Bryant at 276-739-2451 or email him at tbryant@vhcc.edu.
Josh Brophy at Acoustic Coffeehouse
The East Tennessee Master Gardeners Class of 2014 will present Vegetable Gardening 101: Family Fun, Healthy Foods on Saturday, February 7,2015 at the First Presbyterian
Church in Kingsport. The workshop is designedfor new vegetable gardeners in East Tennessee but will offer learning opportunities for everyone. The workshop will include an opening session by Dr. Natalie Bumgarner, the University of Tennessee Residential andConsumer Extension Specialist followed by sessions on raised bed gardening, gardening in small spaces and growing super vegetables. The workshop will run from 8:30-12:30. Participants are invited to view the Harvest of Hope Gardens after the workshop. Space is limited to 120 participants, so early registration is encouraged. Those who register early will automatically be entered to win door prizes (must be present to win). To registercontact RLnetmga@charter.net or call Robert at 276.492.1722 or Dave at 423.929.2233. Come grow with us!
a smoky lounge in south St. Louis, where he obliges requests for traditional piano bar fare with a folky, Americana twist. The “Tin Pan Alley” influence of such a setting has crept into his original material with “a wry sentimentality that shows a songwriter playing with established forms.” Drawing inspiration from artists like Tom Waits and Gram Parsons, he explores lyrical themes like interpersonal isolation, nightmares, Following the release of his de- mental instability, and unfortubut EP, Dover, pianist an singer- nate allergens. In his live performance, Brophy songwriter Josh Brophy is setting off hits winter on a tour of taverns, uses a loop station to build layers cafes, saloons, diners, and coffee- of piano chords, vocal harmonies, houses. Originally hailing from and percussion lines, creating a Alaska, he is now based in St. Lou- “one man band” effect. Catch him is, Missouri, where he’s been per- at the Acoustic Coffeehouse in Johnson City, on Friday, January forming locally for several years. Brophy plays twice a week at 30th at 8pm.
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January 27, 2015 • The Loafer, Page 17
Stargazer ..... Continued from page 14
Americans knew the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo astronauts by name. Their missions, and sometimes their families, frequently appeared in newspaper and magazine stories. Astronauts stopped being heroes when the Apollo 13 crew returned to Earth from their near-death disaster on the way to the Moon in
April 1970. The Hollywood movie “Apollo 13” accurately portrayed the drama after the crippling explosion on the way to the Moon and made astronauts Jim Lovell, Fred Haise and Jack Swigert household names to movie lovers. For the tremendous risk of space travel, astronauts aren’t paid as well as you might think. The pay-
check of an astronaut is on par with that of other civil servants like firemen and policemen. Many cash in on their fame after retirement—everybody loves hanging out with an astronaut! At the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida is the giant mirror Memorial Wall to the fallen heroes of space travel. Their names are etched and illuminated for remembrance of the eternal light that shines on the manned space program. Throughout America, public school buildings have been named for Grissom, McAuliffe and most of the other astronauts who’ve given their lives to push the envelope of manned space exploration. NASA and Russia have been good at minimizing fatalities and
injuries during half a Century of human space flight. The manned hours in space has been accumulated to into experience that has been used to build the amazing International Space Station. The ISS, built over 12 years beginning in 1998 with more than 50 separate manned Shuttle and Soyuz rocket launches, has been a completed space laboratory for 5 years. Making 17 orbits of the Earth every day, the space laboratory has united 16 nations of the world in a goal that took diplomatic cooperation as well as coordination in space construction. And keeping ISS alive and well are men and women who have trained for years to spend three to six months in outer space, per-
forming important science. Six people make up the three Expedition crews a year rotated out three at a time by the Russian’s Soyuz spaceship. In March 2015, an American and Russian be launched to spend a full year on the ISS, and the world will get to know space veterans Scott Kelly and Mikhail Kornienko on their long mission. With six people doing their jobs in relative anonymity, all is well aboard the ISS. But the next moment something goes awry, that is when you’ll know another astronaut or cosmonaut by face and name. Let’s hope there isn’t a fatality involved.
Ticket prices for daddy-daughter dance go up Jan. 31 – get yours now! There is still time to purchase discounted tickets for the My Little Valentine daddy-daughter dance that will be held at Memorial Park Community Center, 510 Bert St., on Saturday, Feb. 7 from 6-8 p.m. Tickets will be $10 per person through Jan. 30. Tickets purchased Jan. 31-Feb. 6 will be $20 per person. No tickets will be sold at the door. Light refreshments will be served at the event, and dress is semi-formal. Commemorative photo packages are available for $15. Tickets and photo vouchers may be purchased at www.myjcparks. org/parksrec or at Memorial Park Community Center. For more information, please contact Memorial Park Community Center at (423)434-5749.
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Auditions set for ‘The Addams Family’ at VHCC Community members are invited to audition for an acting or singing role in Virginia Highlands Community College’s spring theater production of “The Addams Family.” Auditions will be held Thursday, Jan. 29, at 7 p.m. in the Keyser-Aday Theatre on the VHCC campus just off Exit 14 of Inter-
state 81. Acting roles are available for six men and four women. Five male and five female chorus members are also needed. Auditioning actors will be asked to read from a script that will be provided Thursday evening. Those who would like to audition for the chorus should provide sheet music from a musical play
and limit their audition to about two minutes. The play will be performed on the VHCC campus on Thursday, April 16, through Sunday, April 19. For additional information about auditions, please contact Dona Lee at dlee@vhcc.edu or Mary Munsey at mmunsey@vhcc.edu.
Open auditions for The Laramie Project set Jan. 27 & 28 The Northeast State Community College Department of Theater announces open auditions next week for its spring production of The Laramie Project. Actors are invited to two open auditions scheduled Jan. 27 & 28 scheduled from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the Wellmont Regional Center for
the Performing Arts (WRCPA) on the main campus 2425 Highway 75, adjacent to Tri-Cities Regional Airport in Blountville. The play is being presented by special arrangement with Dramatis Play Service, Inc. Written by Moisés Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project, The Laramie Project tells the story of the 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard outside Laramie, Wyoming, and how local residents dealt with a hate crime happening in their town. Shepard, a 21-year-old gay student registered at the University of Wyoming, was tied to a cattle fence, beaten severely, robbed, and left to die on a bitterly cold night. Two local men were charged and convicted of the crime. The Laramie Project is a
deeply moving theatrical experience that explores both the savage darkness and extraordinary compassion of humanity. The production contains mature subject matter that may not be suitable for all audiences. Performers are asked to gather in the lobby of the WRCPA Theater. All actors should be familiar with the story and are asked to prepare a one-minute monologue to be read at the audition. Call backs will be made on Jan. 29 between 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Production dates are March 19-22 and March 26-29. For more information, contact Northeast State Theater at 423.354.2479 or e-mail emsloan@ NortheastState.edu.
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“Paddington” For years “fake” animals have been “acting” with humans on the big screen. From puppets to CGI creatures, we have seen all types of such interactions to varying degrees of success. The latest CGI created animal is a bear starring in the new film “Paddington”. The character of Paddington Bear first appeared in a 1958 British children’s book, and has hit theaters in a live action story. The British comedy is directed by Paul King and tells the origin story of the beloved character. The story begins in the darkest jungles of Peru, where an explorer discovers a family of semi-intelligent bears. Surprisingly, the explorer discovers the bears can learn English and have an appetite for marmalade. As the explorer leaves Peru, he tells the bears they are welcome in his home if they ever visit London. After a natural disaster hits the jungle, one of the three bears the explorer met, meets with an untimely end, forcing the lone elder bear to send the younger bear to London via cargo ship. When the young bear reaches London to find a home, he is briefly taken in by the Brown family, headed by Henry (Hugh Bonneville of “Downton Abbey”!). While Henry is less-than-enthused by his house guest, Mrs. Brown (Sally Hawkins) is happy to have the furry one on hand. Of course, in the beginning, Paddington (the name given to him by the Browns) is causing havoc in the house to the point of being ejected. Meanwhile, Paddington begins a search for the explorer who came to Peru years ago, he is being pursued by bad girl Millicent Clyde (Nicole Kidman), who has underhanded plans for the furry one. As the Brown family fall in love with Paddington, they realize they must keep him safe from
the hands of Millicent and have quite the adventure in doing so. I had low expectations for this film, so I was pleasantly surprised how much fun I had watching the adventures of the famous bear. The film is very British in tone and the humor is sharp and witty. The effects are a wonder, but in this age of cinema we should only expect the best. The actors are all in top form, and Kidman makes a wonderful villain. The actress needs to do an evil princess in a film sometime soon. It’s also refreshing to see Bonneville
away from his stiff character from “Downton Abbey” and have a chance to cut loose. Overall, “Paddington” is a charming movie both kids and adults can appreciate. Hopefully the famous bear will have many more big screen adventures to delight audiences.
Rated PG
B+
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Plastic Wonderment, Soon Forgotten In a nasal monotone voice, the four year old walked up to me and said “Anmy, will you put together my Frozen Elsa Play Set Castle?” It was during the clean up of said child’s birthday party at my aunt’s house. Ripped shreds of Frozen wrapping paper littered the floor. Disney had made a profit. I, being the kind and lovely human person I am, agreed to put together the play set. I had no choice, as all of my family were glaring over at me with a warm look, but a look that also said “You’re the only one you can put this crap together, we did our time when you were a kid.” The box the play set came in stood about three and a half feet tall, and around half a foot wide. Easily it was the largest gift the party, I picked the box up and took it to the four year old’s bedroom before I began to unbox all the stuffs inside it. Carefully cutting through all the tape and glue used to seal the box with a pocket knife, I looked inside to see its contents. Glancing it over, I then commenced with the traditional “dumping it all out in the floor and seeing what we got” method. Nearly everything came in a plastic bag, sorted by size and odds of loosing the part. Naturally, there was the typical set of stickers, and a sheet of instructions that promised ease of assembly. The four year old came running into the room “Is it ready yet?” she asked in her distinct vocal tone. “No, I’ve only just started. I’ll let you know when it’s finished” I said, and she bounced out of her room. I began to sort all the various bits and pieces on the floor. Tiny things that were designed to get lost were placed in a cup on top of a kiddy chair to my right. All the other things I sorted from large to small in a fan like spread
in front of me. Not looking at the instructions, I grabbed two large pieces that seemed to go together and snapped them together. I paused and thought “Maybe I should have read the instructions?” I looked, and I had done the right thing. Following along with the instructions, I returned to putting the ice castle play set together. I had all of five minutes worth of peace and quiet when one of the persons responsible for buying the gift sauntered into the room. In their thick Southern drawl, their voice boom “I just want you to take a good look at all of that, and tell me how much you’d think it’ded cost.” I really didn’t care how much the damn thing cost, I just wanted to get the job done so I could go home and play Jeopardy on my Nintendo (party all day, party all night). Trying to be polite, but wanting to be left alone, I kept eye contact to a minimum and said “Oh, I dunno. Maybe $80?” The reaction was loud and obnoxious. “Ha! Pah-ha! HAAAAAA!!!” came from the plastic play set investor, “I wish it t’was only that much. Why don’t you DOUBLE THAT! THEN you’ll be CLOSE!” The amount of range and anger tinged right beneath their words was enough to momentarily cause
me to fear for my life. After making sure I understood the gravity of the price range, I was left alone. Putting the rest of the set together was mostly a matter of time. My slight OCD making sure that all the lines were even did cause me to take part of the set apart again, then put it back together. With all being said and done, it took about an hour to get the play set finished. I made my announcement that it was finished, as the happy four year old came bouncing into the room, so did the one who bought it. The four year old was happy, the elder was angry and upset. The finished set stands around two feet tall, the elder was not pleased with that. “That’s it! I spent $200 on something that small!? I thought it was going to be around four feet tall!” I shot the elder a glare, and got the hell out of Dodge. My back was sore from being slumped over in the floor putting the damn thing together. I went home, got into bed, and quickly forgot about it all. I’m pleased to say the four year old is still playing with the play set, happy and super content to be in Frozen-land 24/7. I suppose if I can tackle these play sets with relative ease, I should look into getting a new career as a Professional Ikea Furniture Assembler. See you next week.
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Self-Destructing Books and Thirty-Six Questions: A few Odds and Ends
Sometimes I don’t have enough stuff for an entire column so I create these “odds and ends” pieces that include things that may or may not fit together. So, let’s see what happens when we combine James Patterson with a pre-Valentine’s Day quiz. Should be interesting. Occasionally I read about something I suspect has lots of cultural significance, although I may not know exactly what it might be at the time. And this is one of those things. A recent article in The Guardian by Lindsay Irvine caught my attention. It has to do with zillionaire author James Patterson offering a special edition of his latest book PRIVATE VEGAS to his fans. In the event you are thinking about taking him up on his offer, think again. This one-of-a-kind novel carries a $300,000 price tag. No, I didn’t add too many zeroes. We’re talking about Three Hundred Thousand dollars!! Wonder if Mr. Patterson will accept Mastercard and Visa for this transaction? I’m guessing he might want cash instead. According to Ms. Irvine, Patterson is offering this book as bait for some of his more well-off fans. Extremely well-off fans, that is. Ones who consider several hundred thousand dollars as piggy-bank money. And people who don’t mind seeing their
investment destroyed twenty-four hours after their purchase. Yes, that’s right—the lucky buyer of the book doesn’t get to hang on to it for very long and should plan on reading it at breakneck speed. Once the book is opened, a timer is activated and PRIVATE VEGAS will be blown to pieces one day later. Hopefully the reader won’t be killed in the process. But, wait, there’s more. To give the buyer something to show for his or her extravagance, Patterson is including with the purchase price a five-course dinner with him and, for some very strange reason, a pair of 14-carat gold binoculars; maybe these gold-encrusted spyglasses are included so the lucky reader can view his or her book’s destruction from a safe distance. Of course, social media will be awash with pictures of the book before its explosive demise, so it’s likely the book will still exist for as long as Facebook and Instagram exist. And what does all this mean? Probably nothing more than our realization that the very rich must also be the very bored. Let’s face it—when you have enough money to satisfy your most sublime and despicable desires at the same time, buying a book that explodes twenty-four hours after being opened probably qualifies as a sensible pur-
chase indeed. Or at least one that is a little different than what is generally expected (i.e yet another yacht, a fleet of jets, or Bentleys for every member of the family). Another significance to all this probably lies in the nature of popular culture as a clue to what our lives have become in this century—endlessly fascinating yet also endlessly trivial. Amid all the constant sensory and cognitive stimulants that bombard us every second, we are still tormented by the Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO). Our next item has to do with falling in love by filling out a questionnaire—just in time for the upcoming Valentine’s Day festivities. Seems as if an infamous questionnaire devised by Psychologist Arthur Aron in 1997 has resurfaced as the perfect way to determine who will be your Valentine this year. I learned about this questionnaire from Claire Cohen, whose recent article about it appeared in The Telegraph. These thirty-six questions supposedly can make you “fall in love with anyone.” A very scary though, isn’t it? But we are a data-driven society and it only makes sense that there are those who believe love and desire can be reduced to a list of questions that can then be analyzed in a pretty loveless manner. I guess love and its somewhat more interesting twin lust are most understandable when submitted to statistical analysis. Of course, that’s the so-called “logic” behind the proliferation of countless online dating sites that use cold statistics to produce some hot results. If this kind of thing interests you, I suggest you read the very fascinating new book by OkCupid co.-founder Christian Rudder, DATACLYSM: WHO WE ARE (WHEN WE THINK NO ONE’S LOOKING). I couldn’t resist answering the thirty-six magical questions, al-
though I am a very happily married man who is very content with the Valentine I’ve had the pleasure of knowing for the past twenty-five years. Following are a selection of the questions with my quite honest answers in parentheses (proving how no one would want me to fill out such a questionnaire—and I shudder to think who I would be paired with): “What would constitute a ‘perfect’ day for you?” (One in which I never had to answer asinine questions like this one) “Do you have a secret hunch about how you will die?” (Yes, when I stop breathing). “If a crystal ball could tell you the truth about yourself, your life, the future or anything else, what would you want to know?” (Why someone can’t invent grass that only grows to one inch and then stops) “Complete this sentence: ‘I wish I had someone with whom I could share__” (A frosty glass of egg nog) “Tell your partner something that you like about them already” (You have exquisite elbows) “If you were going to become a close friend with your partner, please share what would be important for him or her to know” (The capitals of all 50 states and the
names of the members of the original Jefferson Airplane). I could go on and on, but you get the point. After indulging in this useless exercise, I thought up some questions of my own, so go ahead and answer them to the best of your ability: “Have you ever lied to an animal? Explain in detail” “Have you ever dreamed of being a character in a film noir movie? If so, which one?” “Have you ever wanted to break into the homes of the members of Duck Dynasty and shave their beards while they are asleep?” “Do you harbor secret desires to be one of the losers on ‘American Idol’”? “What is the first word that comes to mind when you see a Komodo Dragon”? Now these are the questions that will go a long way toward determining who you want to spend the rest of your life with (or for at least the next fifteen minutes, which ever comes first). With all that said, I will bring this column to a merciful end. See you next week. In the meantime, stay clear of expensive exploding books.
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