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Volume 28 Issue #30
Publisher - Bill Williams • Editor/Graphic Arts Director - Don Sprinkle • Office Manager - Luci Tate Cover Design - Bill May • Photography - Mark Marquette Advertising - Dave Carter, Akey Kincaid, Terry Patterson Contributing Staff - Jim Kelly, Andy Ross, Ken Silvers, Mark Marquette Published by Tree Street Media, LLC., P.O. Box 3238, Johnson City, TN 37602 Phone: 423/283-4324 FAX - 423/283-4369 www.theloaferonline.com • info@theloaferonline.com e-mail: editorial@theloaferonline.com (editorial) adcopy@theloaferonline.com (advertising All advertisements are accepted and published by the publisher upon the representation that the agency and/or advertiser is authorized to publish the entire contents and subject matter thereof.The agency and/or advertiser will indemnify and save the publisher harmless from any loss of expense resulting from claims or suits based upon contents of any advertisement,including claims or suits for defamation,libel,right of privacy,plagiarism,and copyright infringement.
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Grayson Highlands Band w/ special guest Adam Steffey Saturday, July 5th at Carter Family Fold
Independence Day Celebration
at Freedom Hall Civic Center Pepsi-Beverages Company of Johnson City and the City of Johnson City will sponsor the 29th Annual Independence Day Fireworks Celebration on the grounds of Freedom Hall Civic Center. This year’s event will be held on Friday, July 4th, and everyone is invited to join in the festivities. There will not be a rain date for this event. The fireworks time could be delayed if there is inclement weather that evening. Visitors will be moved inside the Freedom Hall arena in the event of severe weather. Since several thousand attend the event each year, an early arrival is strongly encouraged. Come early and browse through our craft vendors and enjoy great food from area restaurants and civic organizations. Brinley Addington, Jimbo Whaley & Greenbrier, Twang Bangers and Jon Pardi perform throughout the evening beginning at 5:00 p.m. The fireworks begin at 9:55 p.m. For more information, visit http://pepsi-fireworks.com/
Border Bash & 4th of July Celebration in Cumberland Square Park
Josh Daniel & Mark Schimick Project
Set in Historic Downtown Bristol, Border Bash continues on Friday, July 4, 2014 in Cumberland Square Park. This Border Bash is part of Historic Downtown Bristol’s July 4th festivities, which include a host of events and activities: Border Bash starts with children’s activities, crafters, and concessions at 6pm. Live music begins at 7:00pm with Adam Faucett, followed up by Josh Daniel & Mark Schimick Project around 8:30pm. As always, Border Bash is free to the public! Fireworks start at 10:00 p.m. For more information visit www.believeinbristol.org or call (276) 645-0111 or (276) 644-9700.
Independence Day Celebration
Virginia.. Tina was featured on the debut release by guitar virtuoso Clay Jones - Mountain Tradition. She is married to Adam Steffey. They are parents to two beautiful twin boys – A.P. & Riley. A.P. & Riley’s first visit to a music venue was to the Fold, and we hope they’ll be coming to the show. An east Tennessee native, Adam Steffey found a place in the Tennessee-Virginia border area’s thriving bluegrass scene in short order, serving early stints with the Lonesome River Band (Dan Tyminski was his replacement there) and then helping to found the near legendary group, Dusty Miller, along with Barry Bales and guitarist Tim Stafford. The three jumped to the big time together when Alison Krauss recruited them into Union Station; and for nearly seven years, Steffey lived the life of a high profile musician as the band earned Grammy awards and IBMA trophies, toured extensively, made national TV appearances, and recorded albums that reached far beyond the core bluegrass audience. Yet by 1998, the restless side of Steffey’s spirit made itself felt when he left the group and, after helping
to lay plans for what later became Mountain Heart, joined the bluegrass gospel group The Isaccs – a setting in which he played a different role. During his years with Alison Krauss and Union Station, Adam became good friends with Dan Tyminski - thus leading to a slot as mandolin player for the Dan Tyminski Band. Adam is also an in-demand session player and has recorded with numerous artists from various genres. He has
received the mandolin player of the year award five times from the International Bluegrass Music Association, and is a Grammy award winner. Adam credits visits with his Grandpa to the Fold when he was a young man with sparking his interest in bluegrass. Susan Trianosky, Tina’s mother, is featured on acoustic bass, guitar, and vocals. She was a found-
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Have an event coming up?
in Downtown Kingsport
Come join the Independence Day celebration in downtown Kingsport! All the fun takes place on Broad Street. Bring the family and enjoy the food court from 5 to 10. Live concerts featuring This Mountain at 6 and Folk Soul Revival at 8. And of course the Fireworks starting at 9:45 synchronized to music on 98.5-WTFM. Come to Downtown Kingsport Friday, July 4th and celebrate Independence Day.
Saturday, July 5th, 2014, at 7:30 p.m., the Carter Family Fold in Hiltons, Virginia, will present a concert of old time music by the Grayson Highlands Band with special guest Adam Steffey. Admission to the concert is $10 for adults, $1 for children 6 to 11, under age 6 free. The Grayson Highlands Band, from the Jefferson, North Carolina area, plays a variety of old time music, ranging from rousing fiddle tunes to traditional songs and ballads. They are regulars at the Christmas in July Festival, the Albert Hash Festival, the Rugby Fall Festival, the Greater Lansing Area Festival, and the Wayne Henderson Festival. They have also been the guest band on the Gary Poe Live radio show several times, and have won numerous awards at regional fiddlers’ conventions. Tina Trianosky Steffey is a multitalented musician who plays the claw hammer banjo for the group. She also plays bass, guitar, and fiddle - and she is an award-winning flatfoot dancer. Tina has won first place in claw hammer banjo at many area contests, including the world’s largest - the Old Time Fiddlers’ Convention in Galax,
Email a press release and photos to:
Folk Soul Revival
editorial@theloaferonline.com
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Abingdon Main Street hosts second annual
Red, White and Beach Party
In celebration of Independence Day, Abingdon Main Street will host Red, White and Beach Party on Saturday, July 5. The concert, sponsored by the Abingdon Convention and Visitors Bureau and Bristol Virginia Utilities, will be held from 6 - 9 p.m., at the Abingdon Market Pavilion. Blackwater Rhythm and Blues band from Clarkton, NC, will perform beach music along with a little funk and
blues. The family-friendly event is free to the public. Food vendors and an adult beverage garden will be available. Attendees should bring blankets and chairs, feel free to dress in patriotic attire and have their dancing shoes on. For more information, call 276676-2282 or visit www.facebook/ abingdonmainstreet.
Erisa Rei to Sing at The Acoustic Coffeehouse
Erisa Rei, a blues/roots singersongwriter, will be performing in Johnson City, TN, on Sunday, July 6, at The Acoustic Coffeehouse. This will be her second time performing at the venue, the previous time being in January 2012 when she had just released her full-length roots album, “Black Ball”. Since that time, she has charted #2 on the Roots Music Report’s Roots Rock Internet charts, won a Warner Bros. Showcase, and went on three
multi-day tours. In addition, Rei was signed to the label, Creative and Dreams Music Network, in October 2012, after being discovered by CEO, Fred Cannon, President Rose Drake, and label producer, Paul Buono, while performing at one of her gigs. Erisa Rei will be performing a solo acoustic set at The Acoustic Coffeehouse, where she will wow you with her vocal prowess. The gig starts at 8 p.m. There is no cover charge.
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A Great Disaster to Play the Down Home
Left to Right: Westley Harris, Zach Ross, T.J. West & Ethan Henley
Saturday the 5th is going to be a special night for an up and coming local band. A Great Disaster will be playing their first feature show at the Down Home. And, they’re anything but what their name implies. They’re actually a bewilderingly prolific group of musicians who contemplatively craft their compositions and perform it with passion. They have a catalog of over 60 songs which reflect a wide diversity of influences. These include Americana, Celtic, country, folk, indie, jazz, R&B, rock, and soul. And, these musicians are not only naturally gifted, but each is also a student or recent alumnus from ETSU’s music program. The group has also played as part of Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, The Blue Plum Festival, and recently, the Reevestock Music Festival, to name but a few substantive shows. Further, they’ve also been featured on WETS FM’s Studio One with Dave Carter. In addition to brilliant melodies, the
group also delves deep with its lyrical content. As member Westley Harris said of their songs, “Each one tells a story or describes something real and every musical decision is designed to get you to feel something.” The band has been around for about three years and it’s led by Zach Ross who sings and plays guitar and keyboards. T.J. West also plays guitar and his classical training adds intimacy to the intricacy. Harris provides further flair with his vivid and resonant violin styling and vocal contributions. The low end is delivered by a wonderfully talented bass player, Ethan Henley. And rounding out the group on drums is Justin Louthian with a carefully cultivated cadence. Advance tickets are a very reasonable $10 and it’s only $12 at the door. You can hear music from A Great Disaster at www. reverbnation.com/agreatdisaster and like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ AGreatDisaster For more information about this or other shows at the Down Home, go to http://downhome.com
Fall softball
registration starts July 1 Registration for the 2014 adult fall softball season will begin July 1. Leagues offered are: Men’s Open and Church, Women’s Open, and Coed Open and Church. Registrations will be accepted online at www.myjcparks. org or at the Winged Deer Park Athletic Tower weekdays from 8:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Registration fees are $300 plus $5 for each
non-Johnson City resident on the roster. Rosters and photo IDs of each player are due at time of registration. The season includes a 10-game schedule plus a single-elimination tournament. Entry deadline is Aug. 9, with league play starting the week of Aug. 18. For more information, contact the Athletic Office at 283-5822.
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Main Street Greeneville’s First Weekly Concert Thursday July 3rd
Lyrics on the Lawn 2014 Music Off Main Summer Concert Series begins Thursday, July 3 at 7:00 pm. The FREE concert will be held on the lawn of the Dickson-Williams Mansion in the heart of downtown Greeneville, Tennessee. Steven Hadjopoulos needed an outlet for his original music thus the band Yesterdaze Child was born. The band has a contemporary sound ranging from, “The Beatles” to “ZZ Top”, Southern Rock and Blues. Band members include Shannon, who started with piano and keyboards then in 2012 found herself a permanent member of the band where she plays Bass fulltime adding her own style musically as well as vocally. Rex, having shared the stage with artists
ranging from Johnny paycheck to Johnny VanZandt, also joined the band in 2012, with his unique style he fit in perfectly. Ed has been the drummer since 2010 working with Steven and his unique style of song writing the band seems to have found the perfect fit. www. yesterdazechild.com Nestled in the Tennessee Smoky Mountains, The Madisons left behind gritty city life to find something greener. Along the way, they brought a career filled with Texas roots music experiences. Their newest project, Greener, the band’s fourth collection of songs, blends American music forms (Country, Blues, Traditional, and Jazz) with varied instrumentation (Dobro, Theremin). Recorded oldschool style, rehearsed and played together live, the Madisons maintain a spontaneity and spark lacking in much modern music. Studio
veteran Lizzie Harrah’s production experience with acts such as ZZ Top and Timbuk3 help define Greener’s sound which ranges from sparse arrangements to electronic or full orchestral feels. The Madisons began in Texas seventeen years ago with original members Teri Greene, Lizzie Harrah, “Little” Stevie Wilson, and Denny “Cletus” Blakely, together on the live recording DRIVE. Ruel Russell, Lee Hamilton, and Rusty Stone later joined Teri and Lizzie, and the five-piece recorded Goodtime and Money and Do You Love Me. They performed at weekly appearances and headlined at major venues in Texas such as Balinese Room, Dan Electro’s Guitar Bar, Cosmos and Helios. The song “Sleepin’” was featured in an independent film and video. www. madisonsmusic.com Visit mainstreetgreeneville.org.
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The Beast roars
at Hot Nights, Cool Music July 7 Northeast State welcomes North Carolina hip-hop & jazz juggernaut The Beast to the Hot Nights, Cool Music Summer Concert Series next month. The band takes the stage on Monday, July 7 at 7 p.m. in the Regional Center for Performing Arts on the College’s main campus next to Tri-Cities Regional Airport. The performance is free and open to the public. Rebellious and refreshingly original, The Beast is one of the most imaginative bands to emerge from North Carolina’s burgeoning music scene. The Durhambased quartet fearlessly navigates worlds of hip hop and jazz with compelling lyrics, progressive compositions and a gripping live show. The Beast developed its sound at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where pianist Eric Hirsh, drummer Stephen Coffman, and bassist Peter Kimosh studied jazz, while emcee Pierce Freelon developed his lyricism in classrooms and music venues across campus. The quartet joined forces in 2007.
The Beast’s debut EP, Belly, was released in 2008 and called “eclectic and intricate Hip-Hop shot through with soul and Afro-Cuban influences” The Independent. The 3-song project features inspired collaborations with vocalist YahZarah, guitarist Scott Sawyer and the Seed and Harvest Gospel Choir. Their 2010 album Freedom Suite won critical accolades and more than 10,000 downloads. With a series of EPs, The Beast has collaborated with jazz and
hip hop icons including 9th Wonder, Nnenna Freelon, and Geechi Suede. The group has set the standard for live hip hop and genrebending jazz in North Carolina. The Hot Nights, Cool Music series continues through summer with a variety of local, regional, and nationally known artists bringing music to the RCPA Theater stage. For more information about the concerts visit www. northeaststate.edu or contact 423.354.5169.
Back Roads Music Festival
Sept. 5th & 6th, Wise County Fair Grounds, Wise, VA Back Roads Music Festival incorporation with a visit Wise County Tourism Production; is pleased to announce the outdoor music event of this year BACK ROADS MUSIC FESTIVAL. Featured will be over 21 local, regional, and national bands including: Larry Cordle, and Lonesome Standard Time, Scott Miller w/ Rayna Gellert and Bryn Davies, Nick Stump, Bone Pony, Ras Alan & the Lions, Brett Ratliff & the Giant Roster Side Show, Mike Williams founder of B F Deal Records from Austin Texas, Brandon Maggard, If Birds Could Fly, Foddershock, Craigs Street Ramblers, Parts Department, Katie Did-it, Nobody Famous, Ron Short, Gene
Cole, Tadcaster, Neal Spears and Unit 31, and T-Bone. Master of Ceremonies is the world renowned poet and radio personality Wiley Quixote aka Jim Webb! Weekend pass including free camping with your car!! (no pets, no glass bottles). Cost is $ 50.00 if purchased before Sept 1st. If purchased at gate $60.00. Both prices include parking and camping. For all weekend. Limited RV access for additional cost. Larry Cordle and Mike Williams will be conducting singer/ songwriters workshop on Saturday! Please see website to sign up. Limited seating available for this event. Portion of proceeds from this
event will go towards reprinting the 2 CD set of coal mining music including 68 pages of liner notes entitled THE MUSIC OF COAL ( www.musicofcoal.com ). For more information on the Back roads Music Festival, and/or to purchase tickets & sign-up for workshops and see the complete line-up including videos of the bands please visit us at one of the following sites: www.backroadsmusicfestival.com, and find us on facebook at www.facebook.com/ backroadsmusicfestival, www. facebook.com/vipticketsllc. Food vendors are available. For questions or more information. Please contact Marlena Doka (606) 237-4482
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Johnson City Hosts
Local Talent Showcase
On July 5th, The Willow Tree Coffeehouse and Music Room located on Main Street in downtown Johnson City will host its first Folk All Stars Collective. The show features local favorites such as “The Rickshaw Roadshow” and “this mountain” to perform at the finale of the nearly day long mini-fest. Austin Barrett of The Rickshaw Roadshow is the mastermind behind the event, and plans for it to be the biggest downtown event of the year. “I spent my college career making friends with all of these amazing musicians, and I figured what better way to showcase all of the brilliance coming out of this area than one big blowout?” says Austin. “It was almost too easy to put these folks on a lineup together, and not just because they’re some of my best friends and colleagues, but because they’re wonderfully talented musi-
cians who see the same potential in a show like this as I do.” The collective is set to begin at 5pm and is expected to last late into the night with increasing loudness and energy from the stage. “I tried to set it up in such a way that people would want to stay, so the lineup starts with some smooth acoustic folk acts and eases its way into Rock n Roll as the sky gets dark” says Austin. Tickets for the event are being sold at The Willow Tree Coffeehouse and Music Room for $15 in the form of a wristband to allow for re-entry. If interested in the event, you are encouraged to look at the full lineup online and join the event on Facebook, where over 100 people have already RSVP’d. For those who love a full day of great music, and even those who like to have their coffee with a light folk background, this is an event to be remembered.
Youth Soccer
registration starts July 1 Johnson City Parks and Recreation will begin registration for youth soccer starting July 1. Ages 3-5 will be in a co-ed league. Boys and girls leagues are available for ages 6-7, 8-9, 10-11, 12-13, and 14-15. Registrations will be accepted online at www. myjcparks.org or at the Winged Deer Park Athletic Tower weekdays from 8:30 a.m.6:30 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8 a.m.noon. Registration is $25 for City residents and $30 for non-City residents. A late fee of
$20 will be added to registrations received after Aug. 10. Practices begin Aug. 16, with season play starting Sept. 6. Organizational meetings for anyone interested in serving as a volunteer coach or referee for the upcoming youth soccer season will be held July 21 at the Winged Deer Park Athletic Tower. Potential coaches will meet at 5:30 p.m.; potential refs will meet at 6:30 p.m. For more information, contact the Athletic Office at 283-5822.
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5 Questions with playwright Ron Osborne, whose hilarious new play, “Welcome Back to Ivy Gap”, is now playing at Barter Theatre 1. You grew up in St. Louis, which is not often considered “The South,” so where do your authentic southern characters and themes come? I’ve often been asked as a male, living in St. Louis (actually we live in a suburb of St. Louis), how are you able to capture the flavor of the south, particularly in the person of women? For starters, St. Louis isn’t as far north as many believe (the city is very near the latitude of Richmond, VA and Louisville, KY). What really helped
was marrying a girl from Mississippi whose family gave me great ideas for characters and situations. In fact, a number of the characters in my plays are named after members of my wife’s family. 2. You have a slightly unusual career path for a playwright. How did your career in promotion and advertising influence you? My first job out of college was working for McDonnell-Douglas Corp. in St. Louis. They produced commercial and military aircraft and my job was
as a technical writer. I wrote and produced films that detailed the company’s spacecraft, like the Mercury and Gemini, and aircraft like the F-4. I worked there for four years before moving to Maritz Inc. as a program director. At that time Maritz was the country’s largest sales motivation company, and my job was to promote the benefits of group travel. So I had the opportunity to write and produce skits that showed the benefits of group travel, plus I had to hire actors and design sets. When clients came to town, we’d show them the skits, they were very popular and very funny This is when I began thinking, maybe I could do this for myself, and I started writing my own plays.
3. Women dominate the roles in your plays and, like the characters in “Welcome Back to Ivy Gap,” they feel like real people we know. How did you create these characters who seem so familiar to audiences? Yes, women are the featured characters in the majority of these plays because I find it easier to write in women’s voices. They’re more natural for me, perhaps because I’ve always been surrounded by more women than men. I draw inspiration from my three aunts, two daughters and wife’s strong, outspoken Southern family. Also, Southern folks are just more colorful and women – particularly Southern women – tend to speak more from the heart, in many cases in funnier terms. When you love to write comedy, that helps! 4. Your work is often built around religion. What makes religion, and Southern churches in
particular, so interesting to you? My love is writing poignant comedy with a message behind it, so I suppose I always knew that a church would work well as a setting for a play, after all that’s where folks gather which is one of the things you need as a basis of a play. Even better, a church functions as a home where you are accepted and nurtured. That came home to me in 2000 when one of my plays (SEEING STARS IN DIXIE) was selected for reading at the Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre in Mars Hill, NC. While there, I had the good fortune to spot a picturesque church nestled in a valley along side Highway 19. I remember looking over to my wife, telling her one day I’d write a play set at the church. Little did either of us know over the next fourteen years I’d write a trilogy based on that church and what I imagined happened there. 5. “Welcome Back to Ivy Gap”
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5 Questions - Continued from previous page
Carter Fold - Continued from page 5
is the sixth world premiere of your works at Barter Theatre, and Barter Theatre’s Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights was involved in your creation of “First Baptist of Ivy Gap,” as well as another of your plays.“My River, My Valley.” Can you talk about that relationship? I learned that Rick Rose, Barter’s producing artistic director, had initiated his Appalachian Festivals of Playwrights. I sent something I titled FIRST BAPTIST OF IVY GAP, learned that it had been selected for the festival where it was read and selected for a mini-production the following year. Following the close of the play, I met with Rick and the cast who continued to give me insight that helped in the final draft which was produced on the main stage during the summer of 2004. Thanks to Rick and wonderful Barter family, the first two in my “First Baptist” trilogy have been produced at hundreds of theatres throughout the U.S. and Canada. I’m grateful to have been one of the many lucky playwrights Rick Rose has nurtured during his tenure at Barter. Thank you, Rick!
ing member of the Appalachian Mountain Girls, an all-girl old time band, prior to joining the Grayson Highlands Band. Paul Trianosky, Susan’s husband, plays mandolin and sings lead and harmony. He has played with some well-known bluegrass bands, including the McPeak Brothers, Southern Rail, and Blue Plate Special, as well as having a number of original songs published and recorded by various artists. Jerry Smith, Susan’s father and Tina’s grandfather, is the leader of the band, playing guitar and acoustic bass. Jerry has been in the band 18 years, calling square dances and providing lead vocals and emcee work. Rhoda Kemp is an award-winning musician who plays acoustic bass with the Grayson Highlands Band. Rhoda has performed on banjo, autoharp, guitar, and vocals with a number of well-known regional bands including the Original Orchard Grass Band and the Clifton Family Band.
Don’t miss Ron Osborne’s “Welcome Back to Ivy Gap” now playing at Barter Theatre. Call 276-628-3991 for tickets and showtimes.
The band will be bringing along a fiddler, so you can be sure there will be lots of dance tunes. For some of the best old time music around, don’t miss the Grayson Highlands Band at the Carter Family Fold. Bring along your dancing shoes, and join us for an evening of fun-filled family entertainment by one of the best old time family bands you’ll ever see. For further information on the center, go to http://www.carterfamilyfold.org. To speak to a Fold staff member, call 276-594-0676.
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Stargazer - Continued from previous page
Big Bang Discovered 50 Years Ago It was big. And it went off with a bang. The Big Bang it’s called. No, not the successful television comedy show. This Big Bang is celebrating 50 years after its unusual discovery by two pioneering radio astronomers. Though the CBS sit-com The Big Bang Theory has been around 7 years and will continue for three more, it’s probably better understood than the real theory about
how the Universe began. The science talked about on the TV show is factual, but it does little to the understanding of the Big Bang that created all we know and will ever know. The “Creation” is an event described in the Christian Holy Bible, where God created the Universe and everything in it in six days, relaxing on the seventh. Genesis 1: 1-5, “In the beginning when God created the heavens and the Earth, the Earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said “Let there be light.” And there was light.” And, wow, was there ever light!
The Big Bang Theory states briefly: Just under 15 billion years ago (15,000 million) a singular point of space exploded with such violence that elementary particles of protons and neutrons were formed in less than one second, and the atoms needed in the Universe were created in the first three minutes of the following cool down period. It took 300,000 years for complex atoms to form, creat-
ing most of today’s 92 fundamental elements—from one-proton hydrogen to 92-proton uranium. When the Universe was in its first millions of years, stars formed out of gaseous matter, and in 150 million years were the first galaxies. And since the fireball of the Big Bang, the Universe was cooling down. The proof of this theory came when a weird looking radio telescope called the Horn Antenna in Homdel, in New Jersey detected a “background radiation” in every direction the instrument looked. The findings were released in May, 1964 by two pioneering radio astronomers, Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson. This was the “smoking gun” of the
instant it all began. Evenly distributed in the Universe was the slight warmth from the birthing explosion, instead of a temperature of nothing. Absolute zero is minus -454 degrees F., and right now, 14.85 billion years after the Big Bang the background temperature of outer space is a few degrees warmer at -459 degrees F. Decades before the discovery of the Big Bang event, astronomers
were puzzled over a finding revealed by astronomer Edwin Hubble. Using the largest telescope in the world, the 200-inch instrument at the Hale Observatory, Hubble discovered that every galaxy he measured was moving away from the next one. This expansion of the Universe called the Hubble Constant propelled him to world fame, and the theories began to take shape to explain a Universe expanding in every direction one looked. The Expansion Theory competed with the Steady State Theory, which stated that the Universe has existed as the same in every direction for all time. Its key ingredient is the need for new galaxies of stars to steadily replace those
that die in the billions of years of expansion so that the Universe remains uniform in all directions. Finding the tell-tale heat of an after glow from a violent beginning was just the start of a new branch of astrophysics dealing with cosmological constants and quantum mechanics. Changing the Universe forever were the scientists who accidentally discovered the cosmic background radiation of the Big Bang, Penzias and Wilson. And they were rewarded for their work they started in the 1940s with the 1978 Nobel Prize in physics. But the man who named the event “Big Bang” was also the scientist who publicly criticized it, Sir Fred Hoyle, well known to his generation as the English astronomy popularizer and science fiction author. Hoyle lived in the mid-20th Century, and took a hard stance against the Big Bang concept, expounding the “Steady State Theory.” This accounted for the expansion of the Universe as discovered by Hubble in the 1920s. As the Universe’s boundaries expanded, new galaxies replaced the old in the empty space, keeping a steady, even distribution of galaxies throughout the cosmos. On BBC Radio in March 1949, Hoyle first coined the phrase “Big Bang.” He said the phrase was a graphic image on the radio meant to provide a contrast to the “Steady State” theory. And the name stuck, creating easy headlines for a hard to understand concept. Several in the Big Bang camp took it as insulting, and gave Hoyle a hard time over it (some getting back at him for his radical science viewpoints). And they felt vindicated when the evidence for the “cosmic background radiation” of the Big Bang was discovered in 1964. Hoyle still rejected the theory, expounding his Steady
State hypothesis right to his death in 2001. Hoyle was a controversial scientists at Cambridge, often taking the opposite side of many issues including proclaiming the famous dinosaur skeleton of flying Archaeopteryx a fake; scoffing that petroleum comes from buried plant matter millions of years ago; and convinced that earthly disease are space borne—like the flu be-
coming prevalent during the low end of the Sun’s 11-year sunspot cycle. The science is incredible when you think about what happened in the first seconds of the Big Bang. For a brief fraction of a second everything went faster than the speed of light—we think! Scientists use particle accelerators like the Large Hadron Collider in Cern, Switzerland to recreate the first thousandths of seconds of the Big Bang. Discovery of particles that make atom parts called “Higgs Boson” are the new buzz words in physics as scientists try to understand how we went from nothing to something in the wink of an eye. If the Universe began with a Big
Bang, can it reach a point when it might expand to a barrier and stop? The Big Crunch Theory has the expanding Universe slowing down to a stop, than it begins a downhill event that is unstoppable. Galaxies are destroyed as they get closer to the center, with immense pressures eventually ripping apart atoms and subatomic particles. The Universe returns to nothing—from which it came. All this is tremendously complex for the human mind to wrap around. The laws of science are founded in provable math and physics, and these are the tools that astrophysist use to probe the Universe. Hundreds of books on the Big Bank have been written, including one by a well-known rock star. Rock Hall of Fame guitarist Brian May of Queen has a doctorate in astronomy from Imperial College, London, and has written “Bang!: The Complete History of the Universe” with the late British astronomer Sir Patrick Moore. Hailed as a book well-written for anyone to understand, “Bang!” is a must read for anyone interested in cosmology. There are lots of cosmic theories abounding, like the String Theory, the theories about Black Holes we are finding at the center of most galaxies, and the now proven theory about Dark Matter. Dark Matter is everywhere, but can’t be seen. In fact, astrono-
mers say Dark Matter makes up more than 90 per cent of the entire Universe. That means we are “seeing” just 10 per cent of what’s in the Universe! Just recently the presence of Dark Matter has been detected around colliding galax-
ies—but the concept is very complicated and is in the realm of quantum physics. What is going on in the cosmos appears to be universal in every direction, and the farther we look back in time with our telescopes the closer we are to the mysteries of the beginning. There are concepts of alternate universes, maybe even universes within universes. Understanding how gravity warps time is a big factor discovered by the great Albert Einstein that throws a monkey wrench in many cosmic models. And just how much does the Universe weigh? That’s a key unknown as to whether the Big Bang expansion turns into a Big Crunch climax. Cosmology in the 21st Century has just as many exotic concepts at the ancients of antiquity—humans trying to figure out where we are and where we are going. And the only way to understand that is to know where we’ve been…
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Skies This Week Celestial events in the skies for the week of July 1st - July 7th, 2014, as compiled for The Loafer by Mark D. Marquette. Heads will be looking up at fireworks all week during the celebration of America’s Independence from England 238 years ago. And looking south will be a string of four “stars” that parallel the horizon. The First Quarter Moon waltzes through the huge Zodiac constellation Virgo the Virgin and the small scales of Libra the Scales. Summer 2014 is kicking off in fine style, so look up at the stars and enjoy the sounds and sights of the night.
Tues. July 1
On this 1917 date in astronomy history, the 100-inch mirror for the Hooker Telescope on Mt. Wilson, California was delivered. For three decades it was the most important optical instrument pointed to the stars.
Wed. July 2
Look south at 11 pm and see left to right, red Antares in Scorpius, yellow planet Saturn in Libra, white Spica in Virgo and red Mars, also in Virgo.
Thurs. July 3
Happy 79th birthday to Apollo 17 moonwalker Harrison “Jack” Schmitt. The 12th and last man on the Moon in December 1972 with Gene Cernan, Schmitt parlayed the fame to a stint as US Senator from his home state of New Mexico.
the NASA craft as well as telescope on and orbiting the Earth; 2006 Space Shuttle Discovery STS-121 was launched on a construction mission to the International Space Station.
Sat. July 5
The Moon is at First Quarter, directly south when the Sun sets today at 8:11 pm. Any binoculars or small telescope will reveal the mountains, craters and ancient lava seas on the Moon. TIP: allow any telescope to cool down to the outside temperature, and start out using the lowest power (highest numbered eyepiece, like 25 mm).
Sun. July 6
Fri. July 4
Lots of fireworks in the skies on this date in history, including: 1054 AD an exploded star is seen in the daytime as a supernova in Taurus the Bull, and we see it today as the Crab Nebula; 1997 NASA’s Pathfinder spacecraft lands on Mars with the mini-rover Sojourner; 2005 a ballistic probe released by spacecraft Deep Impact slams into comet Temple 1, and the impact is recorded from
On this 1687 date in astronomy history, the great Isaac Newton published his breakthrough book of physic, “Principia.” The basic laws of nature—from the level of atoms to clusters of galaxies—were revealed and supported by the mathematics calculus Newton also invented. Most of us know an easy Newton Law: every action has an opposite and equal reaction.
Mon. July 7
On this 1998 date in space history, the first satellite was successfully launched from a submerged American submarine— a capability not often thought about in the advances of the space age. Russia also can launch a small satellite from its submarines patrolling the oceans of the world.
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www.theloaferonline.com Summer is the time of sultry nights, thunderstorms, sand and surf, and summer blockbusters invading your local theater. Most movie fans look forward to the big budget “event” films Hollywood unleashes every year when the temperatures rise. The film considered by film historians to have started the blockbuster trend was “Jaws”, released in the summer of 1975. I remember seeing the film in Waycross, GA, and will never forget the moments I jumped in my seat at the proceedings on the big screen. I also recall seeing “Star Wars” for the first time on the big screen and being blown away by the special effects as the adventures of Luke Skywalker unraveled before me. Various years have brought new blockbuster films to theaters with every type of film from “Jurassic Park” to “The Dark Knight” making our summers eventful. This summer has already seen its share of blockbusters with more on the way. Movie fans should be excited for “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” (July 11th), “Hercules”(July 25th), “Guardians
of the Galaxy”(August 1st), “Teenage Mutant Turtles”(August 8th), and “The Expendables 3” (August 15th), as potential summer blockbusters. Of course there are smaller films that may be surprise hits as well because the taste of the movie going public can be fickle. I would love to present some potential future summer movies for Hollywood to consider. The films I have devised have the potential to set box office records. So please bare with me as I plant tongue firmly in cheek and present my film ideas. “Batman in Jurassic Park”-Just imagine the Dark Knight and the batmobile running wild against TRex and company. “Aliens vs Star Trek”- Captain Kirk and his crew beam down to a plant inhabited by the vicious beasts and a face huger is brought on board the Enterprise. “James Bond meets Charlie’s Angels”- This team up would feature the British agent with the American detectives as they save the world and look good doing so. “The Avengers vs Godzilla”- The battle to end all battles, but even with the Hulk and Thor on board,
Godzilla would stomp to victory, but it would be fun to watch. “Harry Potter in the land of the Hobbits”- Combining two of the most popular franchises of all time is given, plus the Hobbits could learn how to use wands. “Despicable Me, I’m Frozen”- Combine two of the most popular animated films and you could have the Minions sliding on ice with the snowman Olaf. “Jason Bourne is Fast and Furious”- Matt Damon returns in the role of Jason, and joins forces with the FF crew for an ultimate race around several European cities. “Superman vs the Galactic Empire”- Superman finds himself in a galaxy far, far away and in the path of Darth Vader. Heat vision vs light sabers. Finally, the following title needs no explanation: “Jaws invades the Blue Lagoon”. As you have seen, my ideas open up an all new portal for Hollywood to explore and make billions. Alas, my fantasy films will never see the light of day, unless created with action figures on YouTube. Until then, have fun at the movies this summer!
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Historic Jonesborough Dance Society welcomes
Asheville band “Celador” for a “Day of Dance”!
The Historic Jonesborough Dance Society will present a “Day of Dance” during the annual Jonesborough Days Celebration on Saturday July 5th at the Historic Jonesborough Visitors Center, 117 Boone Street. The featured band is “Celador” from Asheville, NC. Admission to each contra dance session is $7 per person, $5 for HJDS members and full time students. An entire family can gain admission for only $15. No Partner is necessary. All dances are taught by the caller. All dances are smoke, alcohol and fragrance free. Event organizer, David Wiley states “Being a part of Jonesborough Days gives us a chance to showcase our dance program to everyone in the region. Our dancers come to enjoy the traditional music and dance, get some exercise and to be a part of a dance community that is intergenerational and family oriented. Now in our ninth year in Jonesborough, we have produced over 250 dance events that are open to all comers” The Day of Dance will begin at noon with a two-hour waltz workshop taught by Asheville’s Scott Baxla. “Along with contra dance, we also do country waltz which is different from ballroom style” adds Wiley. “At each contra dance, there is usually a waltz at intermission. Many of our dancers are requesting this workshop
to improve their skills. Scott is an excellent teacher who will begin with the basics and flow into intermediate waltz steps as the class goes on”. The cost of the workshop is $5. Celador is two musicians who are very passionate about all things contra, love dancing almost as much as playing, feed off the energy, connection, and enthusiasm of the dance, relish the feel of the music - the building crescendo, the abrupt transition, the smooth sensual flow - add to that a bit of electronic wizardry, a touch of eccentric instrumentation, a heaping handful of eclectic musical selection, a generous dash of unusual arranging and you have a big sound, high energy, good time. Born and raised in New Orleans, Gretchen Caverly has a deep love for all kinds of music, especially music that makes people dance. She has been playing the violin since her parents put her in classical violin lessons at age seven, but it didn’t take long before she migrated towards folk music. She fell in love with contra dance as a student at Warren Wilson College, and loves playing contra dance tunes. She combines her love of contra dancing and her eclectic musical tastes to make engaging dance music. She also enjoys figuring how to fix machines, wearing elaborate costumes, and making biscuits.
David Hayes has been driven by music all his life, but only recently began to seriously entertain the idea of actually doing what he loves. Introduced to music through piano lessons and choir, and later trumpet, the instruments he plays today are things with frets and strings. All were self-taught and are a work in progress. When not playing or dancing, he enjoys hiking, swimming, gardening, sailing, splitting firewood, cooking, traveling, exploring other cultures, and catching babies. He is a physician and a passionate home birth advocate. Celador toured the country for the first four months of 2014 playing for contra dances in forty cities. Their music style is a little old, a little new and a little different but a whole lotta fun! They will perform on July 5th for contra dances from 3:00-6:00pm and 7:00-10:00pm in addition to an hour of waltz music from 2:003:00pm after the waltz workshop. Callers for the contra dance will be Connie Carringer from Durham, NC and Dean Snipes from Charlotte, NC. Both callers are experienced at leading both beginners and skilled contra dancers. For more information, contact event organizer, David Wiley at 423-534-8879 or follow the Historic Jonesborough Dance Society on Facebook.
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Beloved Storyteller
Andy Hall begins his 7th season
Ed Stivender
in Liberty! portraying John Carter
to Perform in Jonesborough Ed Stivender, one of the world’s foremost experts on Jack tales, will be the next storyteller in residence for Jonesborough’s Storytelling Live! series. From July 8 – 12, Tuesday through Saturday, he’ll offer regular matinees in the Mary B. Martin Storytelling Hall. Scheduled for 2:00 p.m. daily, each performance will include a wide selection of folk tales, fairy tales, and personal stories, with Stivender accompanying himself on banjo and harmonica. Stivender, who is best known for his fractured fairy tales and improv work, may seem at first like an unlikely champion of Jack tales. Popularized by storytelling icon Ray Hicks, the genre is usually considered a Southern specialty. But Jack has a much farther reach than most people realize. “There was
a Norwegian version of a Jack tale in a fairy tale book that my mother used to read to me, so I had it in my earliest memory of storytelling,” Stivender says. “Then I discovered it later in my storytelling career.” Recently, Stivender took a break from his busy performance schedule to talk about his work at an academic conference. “They invited me to present on Jack tales—where they come from, why they’re so popular, and what my experience with modernizing them is,” he says. “One of the fascinating things about the research was when I started looking up scholarly articles about Jack, I found my name coming up. So it was great fun to present a workshop in which I was quoting people who were quoting me.” In addition to his afternoon performances, for one night only, Thursday, July 10, at 7:30 p.m., Stivender
will host “Once Upon A Planet,” an exclusive collection of folk tales and literary pieces from around the world. The concert will feature stories from places like Armenia, the United Kingdom, and France. Tickets for the special concert are only $15, and all ticket holders will save 10 percent on same-day dining at The Olde Courthouse Diner, The Dining Room, Jonesborough General Store and Eatery, or Main Street Café. Advance purchase is strongly recommended. On the storytelling circuit, Stivender is celebrated for the way he cleverly folds suggestions from his audience into his work. During his residency, he plans to close each performance with an improv piece. “In the process of telling a story, oftentimes an audience will goad me into making changes on the spot,” he
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says. “Then the next time I tell the story, the changes will be part of it. Sometimes people even give me suggestions after the show. It’s part of the great fun in storytelling with an audience. It helps me develop my material.” Tickets for all matinees are just $12 for adults and $11 for seniors, students, and children under 18. Season passes that offer savings of 44 percent
will be available while supplies last. Information about all TIR performers, as well as a detailed schedule for 2014, is available at www.storytellingcenter.net. The International Storytelling Center is open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. For more information about Storytelling Live! or to make a group reservation, call (800) 952-8392 ext. 222 or (423) 913-1276.
Andy Hall is certainly not a stranger to the outdoor drama, Liberty!, at Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area. The upcoming 2014 season will mark his seventh year as part of the cast of Tennessee’s Official Outdoor Drama. “I joined the cast in 2008 with the intentions of being a walk on,” Andy remarks, “but the first night I was there, the director looked at me and said, ‘you would make a good Isaac Shelby,’ thus my idea of trying things out without a speaking role changed dramatically!” Of course, he survived with flying colors, and now, the drama has become a big part of his life. In addition to playing Isaac Shelby, Andy portrayed Robert Young from 2009 to 2013 and now is thrilled to be honored with the lead role of John Carter for this summer season. In addition to his role in the play, Andy has been a member of the Liberty Singers, organizes the cast’s participation in local 4th of July and Christmas parades, and serves on the executive board of Friends of Sycamore Shoals. Portraying John Carter, a strong leader in the Watauga Settlement, is by no means small beans. Throughout the production of the play, Carter’s role carries most of the story from scene to scene. “I
am excited and honored to have the opportunity to portray John Carter,” Andy states, “He played such a major role in the history of this region. It is important to me to bring a fresh and exciting approach to the role. If our audience leaves each night with a renewed appreciation of our history, I will feel that myself and the entire cast have accomplished a very important task.” John Carter and his family came to the Watauga Old Fields in 1772 and he quickly became involved in the settlement that was now his home. With a strong need for law and order on the frontier, the Watauga Association was formed, and John Carter became chair of the new court. He also served as the commander of Fort Watauga during the Cherokee attack of the fort in July of 1776. Other leadership roles included acting as the ‘entry taker’ for the Watauga settlement, chairing the ommittee of Safety, and serving in the North Carolina General Assembly during the Revolutionary War. By 1775, he began construction of a beautiful two story home, with garret and basement, near the banks of the Watauga River. The Carter Mansion reflects the lifestyle of an affluent frontier family as is evidenced by the architectural detail throughout, intricate carving and landscape paintings over the fireplaces, and fine marbleizing techniques on the 2nd level. This home miraculously survived and is considered the oldest standing frame house in the state of Tennessee. It is now a satellite of Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area. The stories of the sacrifices and lives of our ancestors prior to and during the American Revolution are of great importance to the understanding of the early formative years of our nation. Outdoor drama is one of many ways we bring history to life and Andy Hall’s commitment to Liberty! is evidenced as he says, “Liberty is very important to me. I feel that that we must continue to tell our story
so everyone will know the importance of where they are from and will understand the importance of continuing to tell this story for many years to come.” His feelings truly reflect those of our all-volunteer Liberty! cast who share their time, asking nothing in return, “I enjoy telling this story with people who I call family. The cast and crew are one big happy family. We each have a love for history and put so much into each role that we play and we truly morph into that particular character and we come together to tell this incredible story each night,” Andy and his wife Tammy have two children and their hope is that they will also love history and grow up proud of their home and the people who fought for our first freedoms from Great Britain in the late 18th century. Andy credits his inspiration to his middle school teacher, David Shankle, who “always mesmerized me as he taught Tennessee History. I imagined what life would have been like back during those times. He made it so interesting and would always bring out new things that would always garner my interest in history. He truly shares the same love for history as I do.” I believe it would be fair to say that Andy Hall’s enthusiasm and love for our history is the inspiration for not only his own children, but the several thousand guests who come to see Liberty! at Sycamore Shoals each July. We hope you will plan to join us for the 2014 production and take in the excitement and inspiration of these nationally significant stories, presented near the banks of the Watauga River in Elizabethton, Tennessee. Liberty! opens its 36th season on Thursday, July 10th at 7:30 pm. and runs Thursdays-Saturdays, July 10- 12, 17 – 19, and 24 -26, in the Fort Watauga Amphitheater at Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area in Elizabethton. Performances begin nightly at 7:30. For more information, please call the park at (423) 543-5808
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The Grill Master On that hot Fourth of July I was thankful for two things. That indoor air condition exists, and that my iPad was fully charged. It’s not that I plan on going to family functions wanting to be anti-social, it’s that after Aunt Suzie has talked in depth about the latest inflammations on her body, you too would be begging of the sweet release of death. As I sat in one of the spare bedrooms, hiding away from everyone until there was food to be had, someone went looking for me. I was being summoned for food, not the eating aspect, but the cooking aspect. Something was wrong with the Uncle Reeve’s “Char-Master 9000” and I was being called to duty. Uncle Reeve had long thought of himself as the “Grill King” of the family, he had an old “Kiss the Cook” apron that was so old, so worn, the material had become so thin that Victoria’s Secret could be designing their upcoming Fall line around it. The “Char-Master 9000” was an old grill but Uncle Reeve had kept it in great condition, it was his pride and joy. The Char-Master was one of the first grills that could use both charcoal and gas, I’m pretty sure at one point it had a diesel tank on it too. But it seems that nothing was working quite right this day, Uncle Reeve had bought a fresh tank of propane for the grill the night before, yet the burners were not igniting. In my capacity as a generally decent all around moderate handy man, I did what any other man in my situation would do. I walked around the grill twice, and said “hmmm” a lot. I began to slowly move my eyes over all the connections on the grill, from tank to tube, tube to the burners. I tested the ignite switch, and it was still
sparking. I lifted the grates off the grill, and look a good while, that is where I found it. The connection tube from the tank to the burners was loose. I fixed the situation using my brain at its MacGuyver best, with a combination of foil and duct tape. After telling Uncle Reeve that I had fixed everything, Uncle Reeve then told me that he would actually prefer it if I took over grilling duties this year. Who am I to deny a man in a frail “Kiss the Cook” apron? So I stood there on the deck, sun beating down around me, apron-less, while I fixed burgers and hot dogs till my arms fell
off. Everyone wanted them in different degrees of doneness. Ranging from medium rare to “charred to the point I’m not entirely sure what I’m eating anymore.” It took two hours of cooking before everyone was happy, then I was finally able to stop and eat something for myself. Uncle Reeve decided he had found his second wind, and gave us all an important lecture on fireworks safety. All while swigging occasionally from a can of Pabst Blue Ribbon. Fire and beer, it was pretty gal durn American. Happy 4th y’all. See you next week.
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Celebrate your freedom this week at a soon-to-be-obsolete (?) Hotel Business Center
I recently returned from a conference trip to Chattanooga, where I stayed in a very nicely-appointed Embassy Suites hotel. While there, I never once saw Rock City, although I did see lots of Rock City memorabilia, including a neat Rock City birdhouse. However, I did eat a couple of Moon Pies in honor of Chattanooga being their city of origin—interestingly enough, these two were strategically placed on my pillow by a very attentive and no doubt underappreciated hotel staff member. But I must say I never once used the hotel’s business center, although I walked past it several times on my way to the parking lot. And it probably comes as no surprise that I never saw anyone in there using the printer or the somewhat antiquated (i.e. more than one year old) Dell desk top. That’s right, the Embassy Suites business center, like most hotel business centers I suppose, was the loneliest room in the hotel—although I can’t prove this, because there are usually some pretty lonely people to be found in hotel rooms. If only Edward Hopper were still around to capture the stark essence of a hotel business center. According to some articles I’ve been reading since I returned from my trip, hotel business centers function as museums that reveal some very important cultural shifts in today’s society. As Joel Stein, one of my favorite columnists, writes in the current issue of Time magazine, “I’m sure business centers were once nests of activity, with drunken salespeople Xeroxing their butts and then doing something with the images that I can’t figure out since it was before social media. But now the centers have become tiny, dark and empty due to the fact that people carry computers with them in their pockets.” Other than printing or the occasional butt-
shot, most travelers today have no need for a business center, given the fact that their smart phones are themselves miniature versions of the once-essential hotel business center. And if guests want to feel as if they are in a business center, most new or newly-renovated hotels have made one corner of their rooms look like a business center, with armchairs being replaced by rolling desk chairs and desks equipped with multiple outlets and larger work surfaces. Still, no printer is in sight, but maybe that will change with next year’s facelift. Some hotels, like Tokyo’s Peninsula, have already installed fax machines and printers in some of their guest rooms. Forget the towels—I’m already wondering how to stuff a printer into a piece of luggage. In 2011, Julie Weed’s New York
Times Business Day blog, “Farewell To The Business Center,” informed us that “Gone are the days of the big separate room, often windowless, with a line of computers and printers. Instead, hotels across the price spectrum are increasingly shrinking their business centers or transforming them from quiet work spaces to lounge and meeting areas. Some are turning sections of their lobbies into de facto business centers, while others are improving work spaces in guest rooms.” Joel Stein wonders if business centers are still maintained in order for hotels to receive higher ratings, but apparently this is not the case. How many times have you passed on a hotel reservation when you discovered it didn’t include a business center in its list of amenities? While exercise centers are a must on most
lists, the business center is not. Some hotels, like Mandarin Oriental, might still maintain a nearlyalways-empty business center, but also employ “tech butlers” to insure their guests are supplied with spare cords and chargers and other mobile necessities. So, you can now go to the main desk for a spare toothbrush and a flash drive or charger. Some hotels, like a new Atlanta Holiday Inn, have, according to the aforementioned Julie Weed report, “removed the business center (and) introduced ‘The Hub’ to test the concept of a lobby that also acts as a business center, living room and place to eat.” Verchele Wiggins, Holiday Inn’s President of Global Brand Management, observes that “Travelers are multitasking all the time” and in need of versatile and convenient places
to indulge their mobile fantasies— a sterile and windowless business center just doesn’t appeal to this new breed of hotel guest. A new concept called an “eBar allows business people to meet over cocktails, surrounded by library shelves.” Wonder if the books contained on these shelves are real or just decorative facades? According to Wiggins, most business people don’t head for the books but for the Wii game consoles that have been installed in the eBar beside the bookcases. In a recent USA Today piece written by Nancy Trejos, most travelers don’t favor getting rid of business centers. Jeff Pearce, the owner of a wastewater service company, admits that while he doesn’t use a business center that often, “When I need something, I absolutely need it and do not want to go to Kinko’s.” That’s probably why a poll taken in 2012 found that 88% of hotels still have a business center, although that number might have declined somewhat in the past two years. In an effort to satisfy guests like Pearce who use business centers primarily as printing stations, some hotels have incorporated the ability to print documents from guest rooms directly to the hotel desk. How convenient—and private—is this? In my estimation, not very. Wouldn’t it be easier to travel with a small portable printer? We do indeed live in interesting times, and the next time you travel pay careful attention to business centers. Are they on the verge of being replaced by eBars or will they continue their lonely existence for a while longer? Should we expect to see a new reality show called “Hotel Business Center”? Sounds like a promising concept to me, and certainly more interesting than most reality fare. See you next week, but probably not in a business center.
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