9
“Freedom Anthem” at LampLight Theatre
15
Arts In The Park Artists’ Deadline
...plus so much more
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July 21, 2015 | The Loafer | Page 3
Volume 29 • Issue #33
41st Carter Family Memorial Festival
Publisher Luci Tate Editor Graphic Arts Director Don Sprinkle Office Manager Luci Tate Cover Design Bill May Advertising Dave Carter Terry Patterson Lori Hughes Contributing Staff Jim Kelly Andy Ross Ken Silvers Mark Marquette Brian McManus Joshua Hicks Karie Grace Duncan Brian Bishop Nathan Cox Published by Pulse Publishing, 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.
Founder: Bill Williams
happenings 4 7 8 9 10 11 13 14 15 21 26
41st Carter Family Memorial Festival Luncheon to Celebrate Breast Cancer Survivors “Tread On This” Bristol Rhythm ‘15 Annouces Artist Day Schedules Unique Programs at Kingsport Ballet “Trilobite Treasures” at Natural History Mueum Ode to Love Robinella 11th Annual South Holston Lake Poker Run Dharma Teacher to speak about The Eightfold Path Polynesian Beach Party Megan Wells to Host Storytelling Live!
music & fun 16 28
Spotlight - Great Music & Fun Times Crossword & Sudoku
columns & reviews
12 Batteries Not Included - 1Up 18 Stargazer - Pluto Has Heart Of A Planet 19 Skies This Week 20 She Does It Herself - Fruit By The Foot 22 Mountain Movers - Tiger Brooks Interview 23 The Trivial Traveler - Welcome to the Jungle 24 Screen Scenes - “Minions” 27 Thoughts on Yesteryear - It Was 1941 29 Lock, Stock & Barrel - Pocket Pistol Showdown: Sig Sauer P238 30 Kelly’s Place - Screen Shots
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41st ANNUAL CARTER FESTIVAL July 31 & August 1, 2015
In 1960, the great music archivist Alan Lomax sounded the alarm that American consumerism was rapidly destroying the nation’s most unique musical traditions and replacing them with a sterile monoculture, or bland sameness. He ominously foretold Tomorrow … when the whole world is bored with automated mass-distributed video-music, our descendants will despise us for having thrown away the best of our culture. Lomax was right to worry. By 1960, American society was changing at a faster pace than ever before. Traditional music, often called the jewel of American culture, was considered passe’ and forgotten by the mainstream. 1960 was also the year that Cart-
er Family patriarch A.P. Carter passed away. Though the Carter Family are today frequently regarded as country music’s greatest stars, A.P. died in relative obscurity, running a grocery store in Maces Springs and wondering whether the world still cared about the musical traditions he had spent his life championing. He implored his youngest daughter, Janette, to do something to carry on the traditions of Appalachia so that future generations might know the beauty of mountain culture. Janette promised her father: Daddy, I’ll try. Honoring her father’s wish was no easy task. Janette was a working mother with three children to support. But she never forgot
her promise, and eventually she reopened A.P.’s grocery store as a venue for mountain music concerts and dances. In 1974, she organized what is today the Carter Family Memorial Music Festival. The first festival – then called the A.P. Carter Memorial Music Festival – featured appearances by two of the original Carter Family trio – Sara and Maybelle Carter. Many other Carter Family descendants were on hand for the first festival as well. Then Janette worked with her brother Joe and sister Gladys to open the Carter Family Fold. The Fold now showcases live music every Saturday night, and is proud to host the 41st Carter Family Memorial Music Festival on Friday, July 31st and Saturday, August 1st. The 41st annual festival gets started on Friday night with a headlining performance by the hugely popular Folk Soul Revival. A thoroughly modern band with a firm and genuine respect for their Appalachian roots, Folk Soul Revival will no doubt pack in a huge crowd anxious to hear exciting Americana music with some modern kick. On Saturday, the Fold proves that old time is still our time with two of the region’s most beloved old time mountain music acts – the Whitetop Mountain Band and the Mountain Park Old Time Band. Bluegrass fans
will also have cause to celebrate on Saturdaywith performances by Big Country Bluegrass and a special Troublesome Hollow reunion concert. Carter Family music enthusiasts will be treated to music as close to the original mountain ballads played by the first family of country music as it now gets. Ronnie Williams will be playing and singing in true Carter tradition and style on some of the original instruments they actually used and owned. Janette Carter lived long enough to see her father’s wishes come true. With over 40 years of history and tradition, the Carter Family Memorial Music Festival has earned a reputation as one of the true, must-see events of the year. Come on over to the Fold, have some delicious home-cooked Appalachian food, and join us on our famous dance floor. Don’t forget to stop by the old grocery store – now the Carter Family Museum – and A.P. Carter’s boyhood cabin – both lovingly restored and filled with rare artifacts. You and your family will see that, even in the face of an American culture that is changing faster than ever, the traditions of Appalachia are treasured now more than ever. The Carter Family Memorial Music Festival remains true to Janette Carter’s original vision: the festival still proudly boasts “good music and good food” while remaining affordable, family-friendly, and supportive of traditional mountain music and crafts. Leave your cares behind, and spend a weekend listening to some of the
most beautiful and heart-felt music God ever created. In addition to some of the best music and food the region has to offer, there will be lots of craft vendors on hand displaying and selling homemade mountain crafts and treasures. We will have a pickin’ tent set up for folks who want to jam. Join us for the 41st Carter Family Memorial Festival! The Carter Family Memorial Music Festival will be held at the Carter Family Fold in Hiltons, Virginia. The Carter Family Memorial Music Center now stands as a tribute to the love and devotion Janette Carter felt for her father, her amazing family, and the music they created. The very existence of the Carter Memorial Music Festival can be credited to a younger generation honoring the generation before it. Since shows began in 1974, the Carter Fold has earned a reputation as a place for music fans of all ages to congregate, including multiple generations of Carter descendants. Today, the Carter Family Fold is proudly managed by Janette’s daughter, Rita Jett Forrester, who works alongside other Carter descendants, volunteers from around the world, and a dedicated Board of Directors to ensure that the newest generation of young people will discover the wonders of our treasured mountain music.
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Festival .... Continued from previous page Janette presented shows of acoustic-only old-time and bluegrass music in the grocery her Dad ran in the 40s and 50s from August, 1974 (and later at the Carter Family Fold), until her death in January, 2006 – devoting the last 32 years of her life to the music center. Despite the fact that she never graduated from high school, Janette Carter established a nonprofit, rural arts organization and a museum. She oversaw the move and restoration of the A.P. Carter birthplace cabin and proudly watched as it opened to the public. Along the way, she won the NEA’s Bess Lomax Hawes National Heritage Award. NEA’s highest honor, the award paid tribute to her lifelong advocacy of the performance and preservation of Appalachian music. This year’s festival is dedicated to the memory three people who were much loved members of the Carter and Carter Fold families. They are Dixie Hall, Don Davis, and Raymond Shuler. Dixie and Don are examples of the Carter Family’s extended family of musicians. Tom T., Johnny Cash, Marty Stuart, Connie Smith, and Rodney Crowell are examples of the extended Carter Family in country music circles. Rock musicians like Nick Lowe and Howie Epstein are
also examples of musicians whose lives were changed by their connection to the Carter Family. Raymond was a part of the Fold’s family for many years – rarely missing a Saturday night performance. All three of these special people will be greatly missed by us. Dixie – along with her husband Tom T. Hall – spent many years helping to insure that the Carter Family Memorial Music Center would always be a reminder of the Carter Family and their phenomenal musical legacy. Serving as a board member of the center, Miss Dixie cooked, cleaned, planned construction projects, and did everything in her power to preserve the Carter’s musical legacy in the respectful and honorable manner the family was – and is – so deserving of. An adopted member of the family, Miss Dixie lived with Maybelle and her husband, Ezra when she first came to the U.S. from England. It was Maybelle who introduced her to Tom T. Their nearly 50–year marriage formed another link in the amazing extended musical family that the Carters nurtured and opened their arms and hearts to. Dixie’s husband, Tom T., generously contributed his talent and resources alongside his cherished wife. Thanks to him, many of Miss Dixie’s awards and
they moved to Mobile where Don hosted the Alabama Jubilee – a long-running live television show. He later returned to Nashville as songwriter Harlan Howard’s general manager. After that, he served as operations manager for Waylon Jennings. As an executive
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treasures grace the Fold stage. On Saturday nights, one of Tom T.’s touring guitars – a well-worn Ovation – sits on the stage as a lasting reminder of his love and respect for the family Miss Dixie called her own. He continues to do everything he can to support and honor the Carter Family Fold and everything it stands for. Miss Dixie was a part of the Carter Family from the time she came to America. Her last wish was to join them in the Unbroken Circle in Heaven. We know she did just that. Donald Stewart Davis passed away this spring in Gulf Shores,
Alabama. He was Anita Carter’s husband, and their children are Lorrie Davis Carter Bennett and John Christopher Davis (Jay). A professional steel guitarist, Davis moved to Nashville as a teenager and joined the Grand Ole Opry as a member of Pee Wee King’s Golden West Cowboys. At the time he joined the Opry at age 15, he was the youngest staff musician ever to work at the Opry. He recorded with such artists as George Morgan, Tex Ritter, Hank Williams Sr., Dinah Shore, Cowboy Copas, Minnie Pearl, and many others. After his marriage to Anita,
Page 6 | The Loafer | July 21, 2015
Police ask for citizen input; survey open through Aug. 14
Johnson City Police are calling on citizens to help them determine ways in which they can better serve our community. A short survey is available at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JCPDSurvey or on the City’s website, www.johnsoncitytn.gov (click on “JC Police Survey” under “Most Popular.” This survey is used to determine the public’s perception of safety and security as well as officers’ performance and attitudes. Results of the survey will be tied to training and planning to address community concerns
Festival .... Continued from previous page on Nashville’s famed Music Row, Davis was responsible for “pitching” numerous country hits to artists. He brought hits like Jackson, A Boy Named Sue, and One Piece at a Time to his famous brother-inlaw Johnny Cash. In 1997, Davis was elected to the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. There was always a special, close relationship between Janette, Anita, and their children. Lorrie came to live with Janette’s family in Virginia for several years, and Jay visits every year to this day. Jay served as best man at Rita’s wedding. Don loved to visit Virginia and cherished all of Anita’s family. Rita traveled to Mobile when he died and saw to it that the song he wanted was played at his funeral – Prop Me Up Beside the Jukebox if I Die. Don was one of the most unique and wonderful men in the world, and he brightened the lives of everyone who was blessed to know him and be loved by him. The festival is also dedicated to the memory of Raymond Shuler. Raymond rarely missed a Saturday night concert. He was, in fact, on his way to the Fold the day he died. A southern gentleman, he represented all that was good about Appalachia. A fine dancer, he greeted old friends and newcomers to the Fold with a warm, welcoming smile and a hug. Bands recall that he always requested his favorite song – Golden Slippers. The dance floor at the Fold isn’t quite the same without him on it. Miss Dixie, Don, and Raymond were all very special to us. Please keep their families in your prayers. We loved them very much, and we were blessed to have them as part of our Carter and Carter Fold families. Tickets are available at the gate only; all seats are festival seating. Tickets are $10 for adults on Friday, $20 for adults on Saturday, or both days $25 for adults. Children’s tickets (ages 6 to 11) are $5 a day; under age 6 free. Gates open at 3:00 p.m. Friday and at noon on Saturday. Music on the stage gets underway at 6:00 p.m. on Friday night and at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday afternoon. Carter Family music will open each set – Friday night, Saturday afternoon, and Saturday night. Friday’s performance by Folk Soul
Revival will feature them on two sets. Saturday’s performers will do single sets. The music begins at 6:00 p.m. Friday and lasts until 11:00 p.m. On Saturday, it begins at 3:00 p.m. and runs until 6:00 pm, with a supper break from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Saturdayevening’s performance starts at 7:00 p.m. and lasts until 11:00 p.m. Ticket gates and craft and outside food booths open at 3:00 p.m. on Friday and at noon on Saturday. A homemade quilt will be raffled off and given away during Saturday night’s performance. A special instrument created for the Fold by Johnny Gentry of the Mountain Park Old Time Band will be displayed. Tickets for a chance to win this special instrument will go on sale at the festival. Tickets will continue to be sold until next year’s festival as Johnny’s way of helping the Carter Fold’s fundraising efforts. The A.P. Carter Cabin Birthplace and the Carter Family Museum will be open from the time the gates open each day until 8:00 p.m. There will be lots of music and jamming on the grounds in addition to the scheduled performers inside the Carter Fold. Limited rough camping is available. If you’ve ever witnessed a Carter Family Memorial Festival at the Fold, you know you’re going to have a great time. However, if you’ve never been to one of the annual festivals or the Fold itself, we encourage you to stop on by, do some dancing, and enjoy our famous mountain hospitality. After only a few minutes, you will surely agree that the music and traditions of Appalachia are by no means fading away – they’re stronger than ever. If would like more information on the acts or the festival, please contact a Fold staff member at 276-594-0676 or Rita Forrester at 423-914-2700. If there is no immediate answer on 276-594-0676, please leave a message and we’ll call you back as soon as possible. During festival hours, it’s best to call 276-386-6054 (normally our show information line); it will be answered during the festival. You can also visit the Carter Fold website at www.carterfamilyfold.org.
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Breast Cancer Survivors and Forever Fighters To Celebrate at Susan G. Komen® Tri-Cities Luncheon The “Tickled Pink Survivor Celebration,” an honoring of Breast Cancer Survivors and Forever Fighters, will be held at the Holiday Inn in Johnson City, TN on Saturday, July 25, 2015 at 11:30 A.M. The affair will include lunch, door prizes, a photo booth, a lavish pink candy table, and a special gift for all survivors. Karen Mills, a cancer survivor and 21-year veteran in the humor business, will be the event’s key entertainment. Karen is a stand up comedian who has toured clubs, colleges, and theaters across the country. She can be heard daily on Sirius/ XM Laugh USA, Blue Collar Radio, iHeart Radio, and Pandora. Whether she is touring theaters with her comedy show or speaking at conferences, Karen is the master at finding the funny in everyday life. When she was diagnosed with cancer, Karen was determined to take on the disease with hope and humor and turn her pain into punch lines. In addition to the headlining entertainment, the Affiliate has some special surprises for their Survivors and Forever Fighters. Kayla Neikirk, Miss Johnson City 2015, will host the “Tickled Pink Survivor Celebration,” with an invocation and musical entertainment provided by a Tickled Pink favorite, photographer and vocalist, T.R. Dunn. With the Celebration around the corner excitement continues to spread throughout our Community. Katie Skelton, Komen’s Mission Director states, “The Komen Tri-Cities Tickled Pink Survivor Celebration has become an event area Survivors look forward to each year. The Celebration provides a time for Survivors and Forever Fighters to connect with others who have had experiences with breast cancer. Because of the event, many women are encouraged, and leave knowing they are not alone in the fight against the disease.” Advance tickets are $10 and are available for purchase now through July 22, 2015 by calling
the Susan G. Komen Tri-Cities Affiliate office at 423-765-9313 or by visiting their website at www.komentricities.org. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door. Event day tickets will be
$15 each. For more information on the “Tickled Pink Survivor Celebration” or The Komen Tri-Cities Affiliate, please visit www.komentricities.org.
About Susan G. Komen® and the Komen Tri-Cities Affiliate Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen and launched a global breast cancer movement. The Tri-Cities Affiliate of Komen is working to better the lives of those facing breast cancer in the local community joining more than 1 million breast cancer survivors and activists around the globe as part of the world’s largest and most progressive grassroots network fighting breast cancer. Since 2005, events and fundraisers, such as the Komen Tri-Cities Race for the Cure®, have enabled the TriCities Affiliate to invest more than $2.4 million dollars in community breast health programs in their 23-county service region of Northeast Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, and Western North Carolina. 75 percent of the net proceeds generated by the Affiliate stay in the Tri-Cities Affiliate’s 23-county region in VA, TN and NC. The remaining income funds the Susan G. Komen Scientific Research Grants Program that strives to identify and support the best science around the world.
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10 BIKES, Several Artists. Each Work Unique. Bikes to rotate in businesses Aug 1-Nov 7 2015
“TREAD ON THIS”
FIRST PHASE BIKE SILHOUETTE ART Project. TWO-phase juried public art projects: First phase: 10 Bike silhouette art projects produced and currently residing at Nelson Fine Art Center, Johnson City Second phase: Permanent Bike-inspired public art project for South Side Neighborhood (a.k.a. The Tree Streets) - production 2015 The bike silhouette art project a “temporary” juried work is the first phase of a two-phase public art project plan that has been produced and currently on display at Nelson Fine Art Center. Beginning in August 1 through November 7th, the bikes will individually rotate in 10 different Johnson City businesses. Upon completing the business rotation, the bikes will be auctioned off at the 7th Annual Artlandia: Arts and Crafts Show which will be held at Old South Restaurant and Events. The 10 bike art silhouettes, approximately 5.5’w x 3.3’h in size, are cut out of 3/4” treated plywood and produced by various local artists. Each bike has its own unique story.
The second phase, slated for 2015-2016, is a permanent bikeinspired public work of art designated for Veteran’s Park in South Side Neighborhood (a.k.a. The Tree Streets). “What’s encouraging about having a public work of art in this location is that it will be in a park next to South Side Elementary School where generations of children will be able to engage with it,” said organizer Virginia Buda. “The City of Johnson City’s Parks and Recreation Department, the city group that manages that property, has agreed to insure and maintain the piece. And, the Johnson City Public Arts Committee will provide guidance through the process,” said Buda. “The goal
is to a raise a total of $10,000, for this 2nd phase, which is dedicated solely for an artist fee. Currently $5,000 has already been raised,” said Buda. “I am still looking for either a $5,000 or 5 - $1,000 tax deductible donations to complete this goal,” added Buda. “Sponsorships of $1,000 or greater will have their name and/or businesses listed near the structure,” said Buda. “The bike art concept was chosen primarily because South Side Neighborhood (a.k.a. The Tree Streets) - a diverse Johnson City neighborhood - has one of the most active biking communities in the city. The bike serves as a reminder that we all have shared experiences, through biking, regardless of our unique cultural, racial, generational, economic and gender backgrounds,” concluded Buda. For more information about the Phase 1 and 2 of this project, please contact Virginia Buda at vbudadesigns@gmail.com, 423-833-8474.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artlandiajc Thanks to Lowe’s of Johnson City, Jonesborough, Elizabethton and Kingsport for donating materials for the bike silhouette art project. Those wanting to fiscally contribute for either phases of the project will receive a 501c3 tax deduction.
Artlandia is a grass roots developing arts organization that will serve the community in and outside of Johnson City through projects, events and programming. For more information about “Artlandia: Art, Culture, Community” and the two-phase public art bike projects, please visit facebook: artlandiajc.
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July 21, 2015 | The Loafer | Page 9
Bristol Rhythm ‘15 Announces Artist Day Schedules, New Late Night Bands • Single Day Wristbands Now On Sale
The 15th Annual Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion has released its 2015 Artist Day Schedule for fans anxious to learn on which day their favorite artist will play during the 3-day event. Headliners Steve Earle and The Dukes and Delbert McClinton will both perform on Sunday, Dr. Dog on Friday, and Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band will perform on Saturday in addition to the dozens of acts schedule to appear over the entirety of the weekend. Single Day Wristbands are also now available for purchase. The full schedule will be released in coming weeks. Friday Wristbands are $35, Saturday $45, and Sunday is $35. Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion and Holston River River Brewing Company are also proud to announce two new acts coming to the music festival as part of the Up Late at Holston River Brewing Company After Shows on Friday and Saturday, Septem-
ber 18 and 19. Hardy & The Hardknocks and Elliot Root join the collassal lineup as “off campus Alumni” of the three-day event; it’s all part of the premium camping package experience offered by Bristol Rhythm, Holston River Brewing Company and Thunder Mountain Campground. T. Hardy Morris & The Hardknocks will perform on Friday, Elliot Root on Saturday. Both concerts happen late night at 12:30 a.m. after the last notes are played at Bristol Rhythm each night. Tickets for Up Late at Holston River Brewing Company After Shows are $10 per show. “The late night experience at Holston River Brewing Company isn’t exclusive to campers,” said Leah Ross, executive director of the Birthplace of Country Music, the parent organization of Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion. “Late night concerts at the Brewery during the festival are open to anyone, and festival goers can take advan-
tage of the shuttles running to and from the brewery from the event.” Official 2015 Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion Poster Tees, designed by award-winning fantasy illustrator Charles Vess, are now available in heather red, mint, and black at The Museum Store at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum (520 Birthplace of Country Music Way, Bristol, VA) and online for $25. Find them, along with Posters, Shuttle passes, camping packages, After Shows tickets, Weekend and Single Day Wristbands, and Artist Day Schedule at www.BristolRhythm.com.
About T. Hardy & The Hardknocks
T. Hardy & The Hardknocks
T. Hardy Morris’s new album Hardy & The Hardknocks: Drownin On A Mountaintop is out now Dangerbird Records. The Athens, GA based songwriter, who also also lends his talent to Diamond Rugs and Dead Confederate, spent this past winter writing and recording the new album, the follow up to his critically acclaimed 2013 solo debut Audition Tapes. “If Audition Tapes was a high and lonesome mellow-roast with musical touchstones like Harvest era Neil and driving down a windy backroad alone,” writes Patterson Hood of Drive By Truckers, “Drownin On A Mountaintop blasts out of the garage like some high-octane muscle car full of friends, blasting Mott The Hoople on the way to the last-call dive bar.” www.t.hardymorris.com.
Page 10 | The Loafer | July 21, 2015
Unique Programs at Kingsport Ballet are an Asset to Our Region
Kingsport Ballet’s summer intensive 2015 features professional instruction for students in four levels, including ballet, pointe and partnering, contemporary, modern, historical, yoga and nutrition. Unique to Kingsport Ballet is the partnering instruction for advanced students, which allows upper level students to receive oneon-one ballet partnering instruction by professional male guest artists and KB faculty. Most summer programs are either two large to accommodate such personalized instruction, or are too small to be able to warrant such high-level instruction. A ballet student typically studies ballet multiple times per week progressing to dancing on pointe for many years before she is ready to learn the fine points of jumps, turns and intricate coordination required in partner dancing, usually reserved for soloists and principals. “At Kingsport Ballet we believe in preparing our dancers with the best possible instruction, so that those who choose to become professionals are able to seamlessly enter that world having had the right training,” explains artistic director, Valeria Sinyavskaya. “We choose our faculty carefully to ensure that all students get great instruction, useful corrections, and can make significant improvement during our summer intensives,” she says. “This is also what makes our ballet productions very high-level.” The company provided three male professional instructors for
partnering classes, ballet technique, contemporary choreography. Andy Velladon, Assistant Ballet Master for Dance Alive National Ballet, Sasha Vykhrest, Ballet Master at Columbia Classical Ballet Company and School and Vadim Burciu, Instructor at Kingsport Ballet. Bertina Dew, Executive Director of Kingsport Ballet further explains that some of the students complete KB’s three week workshop and still choose to attend major programs around the United States. This year several students have been accepted to attend outside workshops at programs such as Bolshoi Academy and Gelsey Kirkland Academy in New York. These quality programs, while considered some of the best summer training schools in the country can be very expensive and are still not able to provide the personalized instruction that has come to be expected at Kingsport Ballet. “We are pleased to provide such a great value to area dancers, and excellent training opportunities here in East Tennessee,” says Ms. Dew. Dobyns Bennett Color Guard – Kingsport Ballet has partnered with the DB Color Guard for Technique and Conditioning Camp. Over 40 students get professional instruction in dance technique, strength and conditioning, musicality and yoga. Valeria Sinyavskaya, Vadim Burciu and Jessica Barrett are among the Kingsport Ballet faculty providing daily instruction during the camp. “The Dobyns- Bennett Guard and staff are very excited for
the opportunity to have had dance class at the Kingsport Ballet during their colorguard camp. The instructors and instruction are world class and supportive of every student regardless of dance background. They have been very attentive to the needs of the students. I am very excited for future opportunities to work with the Kingsport Ballet and their staff.” – Tom Padgett, Assistant Band Director, Dobyns Bennett High School.the President Ballet “Curriculum” versus “Recreational” - The company has typically offered some classes for students who want to take ballet very part-time, but in Fall 2015, families at Kingsport Ballet will have more distinct options to follow a “curriculum” track which progresses instruction through a pre- professional path (whether or not they intend to dance professionally) and a “recreational” track which offers the same great instruction Kingsport Ballet is known for but at a lighter pace. “Classical ballet training of this kind instills tremendous values and life skills that students take with them wherever they go and can apply to whatever they do in life. Lessons in commitment and perseverance, follow-through and a high work ethic are things we are proud to impart to those who partake of our offerings,” says Bertina Dew. Other programs at Kingsport Ballet: July Ballet Classes or Private Lessons: For intemediate to advanced students. Keep up your skills through the summer. Prices vary. Take by the class, by the week or by the month during July. Instructor: Vadim Burciu Jumps and Turns/Technique Class: For middle and high school students involved in dance teams, flag teams and cheerleading. Improve dance technique. Taught by professional instructors. Starts in Fall 2015. Adult Fitness Classes (ongoing): Yoga, Pilates, Adult Ballet (summer offerings) Mommy and Me: Once a week for toddlers and their mommies: Begins Thursday, July 9th – 9:30am. $25 Registration for Fall Classes: Aug 3-15. First day of classes: August 17
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‘Trilobite Treasures’ to be showcased at Natural History Museum in Gray
“Trilobite Treasures: Arthropods of the Ancient Seas,” an exhibit featuring more than 200 actual trilobite specimens and artifacts, will be on display from July 24-Nov. 11 at the East Tennessee State University and General Shale Natural History Museum and Visitor Center at the Gray Fossil Site. Arthropods are invertebrate animals, such as insects, spiders and crustaceans, and the trilobites were ancient sea creatures that lived, thrived and became extinct long before the age of dinosaurs in the ancient Paleozoic period. “Trilobite Treasures” contains fossils from the Middle Cambrian period, some 530 million years ago, to the Mississippian (Carboniferous) period of about 320 million years ago. Through actual specimens, text panels and hands-on displays, the exhibit tells the story of the discovery, history, research and preparation of these ancient fossils from around the world and the United States. Once, these creatures actually crawled along the large, inland sea that once covered what is now the state of Michigan. In addition to the fossils, preparation tools and techniques will be displayed and highlighted, along with unique artifacts. “Trilobite Treasures: Arthropods of the Ancient Seas” is organized by Joseph J. Kchodl, an award-winning paleontologist also known as “PaleoJoe.” He is also a storyteller and the author of several children’s
books, including “Hidden Dinosaurs” and the titles in the “PaleoJoe’s Dinosaur Detective Club” and “Dinosaur Cove” series. “We are pleased to be able to host this exhibit,” said Dr. Blaine Schubert, museum director and associate professor in the Department of Geosciences. “Trilobites are fascinating because of their age, because they are used as an index fossil, and because of their extreme prevalence and preservation. This
exhibit is exciting because of the volume of trilobites that have been curated to be a part of the display.” The Natural History Museum is open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. TuesdaySaturday and is located 1.8 miles off Exit 13 on Interstate 26. For more information, call 866202-6223 or visit the museum at www.etsu.edu/naturalhistorymuseum. For disability accommodations, call the ETSU Office of Disability Services at 423-439-8346.
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1Up
I’ve been thinking about video games a lot lately. There’s a couple of reasons why, and I’ll get to those in a moment. First all, I don’t really think of myself as the most hardcore gamer in the world. I’m more of a casual gamer. So I’m not as dyed in the wool as other friends I have. Still, Video games were a huge part of my childhood, not just mine, but those of my generation as well. If there is one company that is synonymous with the memories of playing those games of my—and most in my generation’s youth— it’s Nintendo. Thoughts of Nintendo and the warm connection I have to that company goes back to last Thurs-
day. The Ross Family is gearing up for a big ole yard sale, and the family basement—which is full of as much weird junk and what nots going back twenty plus years or so—is being sorted, cleared, and purged in a way that has been long overdue. I do not care to mention how many boxes of books and things of mine have been found. I can be painfully sentimental, so sometimes doing these purges takes a lot of thinking on my part. In the back deep dark recesses of the basement there were two popcorn tins, the kind that someone gives you at Christmas, filled with three types of popcorn. Both tins had the same brand sticker on
the lid, both were covered in cobwebs, and one was a Mighty Morphin Power Rangers tin. This gives us an idea of how long those tins have been around My first thought was “Oh no, I hope there isn’t any food inside of these.” After cleaning off the debris of time gone by, I tried to open the Power Rangers tin. The lid was stuck, and I had to get a screw driver to help me get it started. Inside the tin were shining examples of 1995. A lot of Batman action figures, a handful of pogs, and in the bottom of it all, was a big block of plastic that was a very familiar color of grey. It was my Nintendo Game Boy, the one I had since I
was 7, and the one that I had sworn was given away when my folks bought me the upgraded Game Boy Color in the late 90s. My jaw dropped. My mind began to flood with memories of sitting in the den in what seemed to be a giant sized arm chair, lamp light shining from above, playing games on that Game Boy. More shocking, was that in the back of the Game Boy were batteries, 20 year old batteries that hadn’t leaked or corroded. I knew where all my Game Boy games were, I dashed over to the storage tub that held them and my Super Nintendo games, I reached for the first Game Boy game I could grab—and it was “Tetris.” Off to where the batteries are stored, I then put four fresh batteries inside, popped “Tetris” into the back, and the Game Boy fired right back up. A few lines on the screen, but perfectly playable. It was lovely and beautiful moment. Then sad news came over the weekend after I found my old Game Boy. Satoru Iwata, the President and CEO of Nintendo had died suddenly at the age of 55, complications from a bile duct tumor. It was a shock. Granted, I have friends who could speak at volumes far better than I about the man, but Satoru Iwata was everything a good CEO should be. His background was in programming and game design before he entered the corporate side of Nintendo. As Nintendo lost money over lackluster sales of the Wii U— a system I have and really like—Iwata took a 50% cut in pay. I don’t think a Western CEO would do that. I’d like to be proven wrong. In a speech in 2005, Iwata said “On my business card, I am a corporate president. In my mind, I am a game developer. But in my heart, I am a gamer.” From seeing his Nintendo Direct videos, he genuinely loved what he did, and bringing it to the world. You can argue against video games if you like, but one thing I’ve loved about Nintendo is their belief that video games are for everyone. My mother’s father passed away when I was 7. He loved technology and one of my favorite memories I have of him is him playing “Duck Hunt” on my Nintendo Entertainment System. My grandfather was also a hunter, and the huge smile of delight that came across his face as he played the game is something I shall never forget. Laughing with
glee each time he pulled the trigger and got a duck. It may not sound like anything to the kids who have been brought up in the Playstation and Xbox era, but the idea that you could aim a toy gun at a TV, pull the trigger, and it register as a hit was absolutely mind blowing in the late 80s. If you’ve played “Duck Hunt” you know that when you pull the trigger on the Nintendo Zapper, it makes a “springy-click” sound. You may also know, that the Zapper doesn’t work on a flatscreen. The technology doesn’t allow the sensor in the gun to register. This is why ever since Nintendo introduced the virtual console for the playing of their classic games on the Wii, that people have been asking for a re-release of “Duck Hunt.” It finally happened last year, on Christmas Day 2014, when “Duck Hunt” was released for the virtual console on Wii U. I was so excited to download the game and play it again, I was full of joy even before I played it for the first time in years. As I played I noticed a little extra touch that the folks at Nintendo programmed into the Virtual Console version that was the cherry on top. Every time you press the trigger on the Wii Remote, that oh so memorable “springy-click” comes from the tiny speaker inside the Wii Remote. A perfect touch that made me think of that smile on my Grandfather’s face, when I was given an NES as a Christmas gift in 1989. That’s what I think about when I think of video games. Not arguments over violence or anything of that nature. I think about how they can connect us all together, and bring up warm thoughts in the back of our minds. Let’s face it, even if you’ve never played a video game in your life, you know who Mario and Luigi are. That’s why it seemed even so fitting that the day after Satoru Iwata passed, a rainbow appeared over Nintendo headquarters in Japan. A cosmic nod to the Rainbow Road track in the “Mario Kart” franchise, and a fitting nod to a good man who left this earth far too soon. It’s what inspired the tribute art, “Satoru’s Rainbow,” by my crazy talented friend Daniel Leach, that I’ve asked The Loafer to run along side this week’s column. Anyone for a round of Wii Golf? See you next week
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Ode to Love Robinella
July 21, 2015 | The Loafer | Page 13
The Jazz/Country Chartreuse Returns to Bristol
The Birthplace of Country Music is proud to host the return of Robinella in concert at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum on Saturday, July 25 at 7:00 p.m. For more than a decade Robinella has captivated audiences with her silken vocals and country/jazz style. She has been invited to perform at Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion on a number of occasions, her most recent appearance was as part of the All-Star Carter/Rodgers Revival where she was cast among an amazing ensemble of performers such as John Oates, Darrell Scott, Carrie Rodriguez, Dale Ann Bradley, Michelle Malone, Langhorne Slim, and her former husband and bandmate Cruz Contreras. The Bristol show is a rare opportunity to see the singer/songwriter outside of her hometown of Knoxville where she maintains monthly
first Sunday gigs at Barley’s Tap Room. These days Robinella keeps her touring schedule light in order to concentrate on her family and writing new music. In fact, she is working on a new album and will be introducing those songs to Bristol audiences upon her return to the birthplace of country music. Bryn Davies, who has performed with Jack White, Tony Rice, Justin Townes Earle, and Guy Clark will be among Robinella’s ensemble along with vintage jazz/swing guitarist Devan Jones and percussionist Hunter Deacon. Tickets to see Robinella in the Performance Theater at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum are $25. There will be a cash bar at the show. For more information and to order tickets visitwww. BirthplaceofCountryMusic.org.
Daisi Rain to headline next week’s lakeside concert
Daisi Rain will take the stage Thursday, July 23 for the third installment of this year’s Lakeside Concert Series at Winged Deer Park. Daisi Rain is an East Tennessee-based country-pop band established in 2004 by siblings Cameron, Donovan and Amelia Brown. They have earned credibility opening for major Nashville artists like Jerrod Niemann, Ashton Shepherd, Craig Campbell, and Easton Corbin. The band has been working under the consultation of Grammy Award winner Linda Davis. This concert takes place from 7-9
p.m., and admission is free. Bring your lawn chairs, picnic basket, and your dancing shoes. Winged Deer Park is located at 4137 Bristol Highway, and the lakefront Goulding Amphitheatre is off Carroll Creek Road. For more information, call (423)283-5815, or email jcparksinfo@johnsoncitytn. org. This year’s Lakeside Concert Series is sponsored by Bristol Broadcasting, Johnson City Parks and Recreation, Mountain States Health Alliance, and the News and Neighbor.
Start Smart Football starts July 27
Memorial Park Community Center, 510 Bert St., will offer Start Smart Football, a National Alliance for Youth Sports program, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. on Mondays, July 27-Aug. 31. The program, instructed by Parks and Recreation staff, will teach children ages 5-7 the basic skills necessary to play traditional football. Parents and guardians are required to be involved one-on-one with their child during the instruction. Registration is open through July 27 at www.johnsoncitytn.org/parksrec. Program fee is $25 for City residents and $30 for non-City residents. Each child will receive a Start Smart T-shirt. Participants should wear appropriate athletic clothing, tennis shoes (no cleats), and bring a water bottle. Space is limited to first 30 participants. Please call 434-5749 for more information.
Page 14 | The Loafer | July 21, 2015
11th Annual South Holston Lake Poker Run & Live Auction
To Benefit Speedway Children’s Charities - $1,000 Purse For the eleventh straight year, on Saturday, July 25, Laurel Marina & Yacht Club will host the South Holston Lake, Speedway Children’s Charities On Water Poker Run. The event, which has grown steadily every year, has raised over $100,000 for the Bristol Motor Speedway based charity. “Last year we raised nearly $18,650 for Speedway Children’s Charities and this year again hope to top that as we have nearly every year. It is heartwarming to know that our love for boating will be the driving force behind making a transformation in the lives of area children,” said Dale Thomas, President and CEO of Laurel Marina & Yacht Club. The event begins promptly at 3pm at Laurel Marina & Yacht Club, 191 Shady Ford Road, Bristol, TN. Anyone with a boat can participate. Cost for participation is a suggested donation of $35, and a $1,000 cash purse will be awarded to the winning hand. All together, prizes will be awarded for the top four hands of the event. Participants will be given clues to find four dealer boats on South Holston Lake. At each stop, players will be dealt one card. They will receive the fifth and final card upon arrival back at Laurel Marina. Winners will be announced at the conclusion of the run and a live auction will commence at 6pm featuring donated items from local and regional businesses including Bristol Motor Speedway race tickets, grills, water toys, boating accessories, gift certificates and more. All proceeds from both the poker run and live auction will go to Speedway Children’s Charities. Speedway Children’s Charities provides funding for hundreds of non-profit organizations throughout the nation that meet the direct needs of children. With priorities set locally, proceeds from the South Holston Lake Poker Run event will directly enrich the lives of children in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. For additional information about the 11th Annual South Holston Lake Poker Run and Live Auction, call the marina at 423-878-3721.
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Renowned Dharma Teacher To Speak About The Eightfold Path
The public is invited to hear a free talk on the Eightfold Path (the founding principle of Buddhism) at the Appalachian Dharma & Meditation Center (ADMC) in Johnson City Friday, July 31 beginning at 7 pm. This informal discussion is presented by Dr. Lucinda Green, an engaging lecturer, educator, author and psychologist. Dr. Green is a nationally renowned expert in the fields of mind/body integrative psychotherapy, complementary medicine and spiritual growth. She lectures all over the United States and Europe. The Eightfold Path is Buddha’s blueprint to discover lasting happiness and freedom from suffering. The talk will be a lively rendition of this age-old, tried and true teaching that shows us how to walk the talk with wisdom, understanding and compassion. Dr. Green is also scheduled give a workshop on “Spiritual Cartography” at Shakti in the Mountains from 9 am to noon on Saturday, class at Holston Valley Unitarian August 1. This is an experiential required. On Sunday, August 2, from 9:30- Universalist Church,136 Bob Jobe workshop designed to give participants an opportunity to reflect 10:30 p.m, teach at the religious Road, Gray. Free. on their spiritual journey. She will conclude her TriCities speaking rounds at the religious education class at Holston Valley Unitarian Universalist Church in Gray 9:30 Sunday, August 1. Trained in Gestalt, psychosynthesis, educational learning styles, whole-brained integration, specialized kinesiology and Buddhist meditation (Vipassana), Dr. Green specializes in diverse mind/body approaches to learning. For more information about Dr. Green visit www.lucindagreenphd.com and www.rockymountaininsight.org. ADMC is a non-profit center for mindfulness and meditation studies. It is located at 108 West 10th Ave., Suite 3 (downstairs), Johnson City, TN. For more information go to www.dharma4et.org. On Friday, July 31, 7 - 9 pmDr. Green’s talk on the Eightfold Path at Appalachian Dharma & Meditation Center, 108 W. 10th Ave, Suite 3,Johnson City. Free. On Saturday, August 1, 9-noon, Dr. Green’s “Spiritual Cartography” workshop at Shakti in the Mountains, 409 E. Unaka Ave, Johnson City. Registration & fee
July 21, 2015 | The Loafer | Page 15
Page 16 | The Loafer | July 21, 2015
TUESDAY - July 21
JASON LLYOD & FRIENDS at Biggies Clam Bar
OPEN MIC w/ DAN HERRELL
6pm at Sonny’s Marina & Cafe
OPEN MIC
at Acoustic Coffeehouse
WEDNESDAY - July 22 JEFF SHAYNE
6pm at Sonny’s Cafe
THE DUO TONES
FRIDAY - July 24
LIVE MUSIC
JOE CAT / FOLKNROLLN DEREK ASTLES
VALLEY GRASS
at Acoustic Coffeehouse
HIDDEN VALLEY BAND
at Holiday Inn (Exit 7)
7pm at Sonny’s Marina & Cafe
CATFISH FRYE BAND JAKE GILLENWATER
THIS MOUNTAIN
(Rockin’ Boogie Blues)
6:30pm at Kickin’ Back Kings Alley
ACOUSTIFRIED (Country)
at Holston River Brewing Co.
COAL CREEK w/ BIG DON
KEVIN SCHLERETH w/ KEPT ON HOLD FAMILY BAND at Acoustic Coffeehouse
THURSDAY - July 23 JAZZ at Wellington’s - Carnegie Hotel THE DUO TONES
at Lyrics on the Lawn (Greeneville)
DAISI RAIN
7pm at Winged Deer ParkSOUTH-
ERN BREEZE
at Carter Family Fold
SUNDOWN BAND (Country) at David Thompson’s Produce COAL CREEK w/ Big DON
Rock, Oldies) - 7pm at Lion’s Club
BLUESMAN
at Elizabethton Elk’s Club
SOUTHERN REBELLION
8pm at The Willow Tree Coffeehouse & Music Room
POWELL AMERICANGONZOS
NIGHTSHIFT (Country, Southern RAMBLING ROSE NIKKI TALLEY
JOHNSONS DEPOT
BAKERSFIELD (Country)
STEVIE BARR & THE MASTERTONES
at Country Club Bar & Grill
at Quaker Steak & Lube 6pm
Thursday Jams 7pm at Abingdon Market Pavilion
8pm at The Willow Tree Coffeehouse & Music Room
SHOOTER
ASYLUM SUITE
CEREUS BRIGHT EARTH BY TRAIN
at Johnson City Moose Lodge
at Bone Fire Smokehouse
at Biggie’s Clam Bar
SHOOTER (Country, Classic Rock, Oldies)
JAMES BRASHEARS SOUTHERN COUNTRYMEN BAND (Country)
at The Family Barn
at O’Mainnin’s Pub
PLAN Z (Rock)
ACOUSTIFRIED (Country)
at Laurel Marina
7pm at The Willow Tree Coffeehouse & Music Room
OPEN MIC
at the Family Barn
CROCODILE SMILE
CHRIS STALCUP & THE GRANGE at O’Mainnin’s Pub JAMEN DENTON & DEREK BOARDWINE
at Marker “2” Grill
at Biggie’s Clam Bar
7pm at Marker “2” Grill at Biggie’s Clam Bar
SATURDAY - July 25 THE JONES BOYS
7pm at Sonny’s Marina & Cafe
LAWSONGARRETT 9pm at Triple B Brewery
CATFISH FRYE BAND
(Country, Classic Rock, Oldies) - 7pm at The Show Palace
at Country Club Bar & Grill at Bone Fire Smokehouse at Woodstone Deli
at Acoustic Coffeehouse
SUNDAY - July 26 REX GIBSON
5pm at Sonny’s Marina & Cafe
IVY ROAD
at Marker “2” Grill
CIRCUS MUTT
at Bone Fire Smokehouse
CANCERLLIERI
at Acoustic Coffeehouse
7pm at Marker “2” Grill
(Rockin’ Boogie Blues) 7pm at Marker “2” Grill
MONDAY - July 27
at Bone Fire Smokehouse
at O’Mainnin’s Pub
at Hardee’s (Boones Creek)
MARSHALL BALLEW EMILY BARNES
at The Acoustic Coffeehouse
HUNDRED ACRES RETROVILLE
3pm at Smith Brothers Harley Davidson
BLUEGRASS JAM OPEN MIC
at Acoustic Coffeehouse
KARAOKE TUESDAY
Karaoke At Numan’s - Johnson City TN ***********************
WEDNESDAY
Karaoke At Bristol VFW - Bristol TN Turn the Page Karaoke At VFW Post 2108 - JC ***********************
THURSDAY
Karaoke At Numan’s - Johnson City TN Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Electric Cowboy - JC Karaoke At Holiday Inn - JC Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment At Everette’s Bar & Grille - JC ***********************
FRIDAY
Karaoke At Bristol VFW - Bristol TN Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertaiment at Rainbow Asian Cuisine - JC Karaoke w/ Reverb Karaoke at The Cottage 8:30 pm Turn the Page Karaoke at VFW Post 2108 - JC Karaoke At Elizabethton VFW Elizabethton TN Karaoke w/ DJ Marques At Holiday Inn (Exit 7) - Bristol VA Karaoke At Numan’s - Johnson City TN ***********************
SATURDAY
Turn the Page Karaoke at VFW Post 2108 - Johnson City TN Karaoke At Numan’s - Johnson City TN ***********************
SUNDAY
Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Mellow Mushroom - JC Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment At Everette’s Bar & Grille -JC ***********************
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July 21, 2015 | The Loafer | Page 17
Cancellieri (singer-songwriter, folk, traditional, bluegrass)
Acoustic Coffeehouse 8pm | Sunday, July 26 Nationally touring singer songwriter Ryan Hutchens releases new music and plays shows under the name of his band, Cancellieri. Ryan is a self managed musician, but works in close partnership with a mixed media management company in Columbia South Carolina called Post Echo. Cancellieri played over three hundred shows while touring around the US since the fall of 2013, and will be taking the music to Europe during August and September of 2015. As a solo act, Ryan performs for and interacts with crowds with an energy and openness that stems from his musical roots as a street performer, reminiscent of touring songwriters like Langhorne Slim and Brett Dennen. When the band plays together, Ryan’s songs can grow into the powerful folk rock experience they were created to be, achieving a sound often compared to artists like Cass McCombs and Band of Horses. Ryan has worked with Post Echo to release three EPs, one full length album, and a collection of live recordings and demo tracks over his first three years as a working artist. Each release has taken Cancellieri in a slightly new direction as Ryan’s musical experience and circumstances changed; however, the heart of Cancellieri still remains in creating songs that can be honestly and beautifully expressed in a live performance. Official website is www.cancellierimusic.com
Spotlight Directory Acoustic Coffeehouse 415 W Walnut St. Johnson City 423/434.9872 Biggies Clam Bar 417 W Stone Dr Kingsport 423/765-9633 Bone Fire Smokehouse at the Hardware 260 W Main St Abingdon Va 276/623-0037 Bristol’s Pickin’ Porch 620 State St Bristol 423/573-2262 Carter Family Fold 3449 A. P. Carter Hwy Hiltons Va 276/594-0676 Country Club Bar & Grill 3080 W State St Bristol 423/844-0400 David Thompson’s Produce 251 Highway 107 Jonesborough 423/913-8123 Elizabethton Moose Lodge 288 Lovers Lane Elizabethton 423/542-5454 Family Barn 1718 US Highway 19 Hansonville VA Holiday Inn (Exit 7) 3005 Linden Dr Bristol Va 276/466-4100
Holston River Brewing Company 2621 Volunteer Pkwy Bristol TN Kickin’ Back at King’s Alley 156 E. Jackson St. Gate City VA 276/386-3831 Laurel Marina 191 Shady Ford Rd. Bristol 423/ 878-3721 Marker “2’ Grill at Lakeview Marina 474 Lakeside Dock, Kingsport 423/323-4665 O’Mainnin’s Pub 712 State St Bristol 423/844-0049 The Outdoorsman 4535 Highway 11W Kingsport Quaker Steak & Lube 629 State St Bristol VA 276/644-9647 Show Palace 14364 Lee Hwy Bristol Va 276/494-6610 Smith Brothers Harley Davidson 3518 Bristol Hwy. Johnson City 423/283-0422 Sonny’s Marina & Café 109 One St. Gray TN 423/283-4014 Triple B Brewery 935 Wilcox Ct. #105 Kingsport 423/963-3609 Wellington’s Restaurant Carnegie Hotel 1216 W State of Franklin Rd Johnson City 423/979-6400 The Willow Tree Coffeehouse & Music Room 216 E Main St Johnson City
Page 18 | The Loafer | July 21, 2015
Pluto Has Heart Of A Planet
Pluto is now a Solar System body with the heart of a planet. After the successful flyby of the distant world last July 14, 2015, NASA spacecraft New Horizons sent back the iconic image that will for decades define what this former planet looks like. The photo that says “Pluto” is of a hemisphere dominated by a heart-shaped area between dark regions of frozen methane and lumpy ice mountains. Eerily, no craters are seen as the surface geology is rolling and wrinkled in abstract patterns. After its discovery 85 years ago as a speck of light roving in the cold depths of the Solar System 4 billion miles away, Pluto finally has a face. And that dominating heartshaped region that was first seen by New Horizons 60 million miles away has been informally named Tombaugh Regio after the discoverer of Pluto in 1930. With the first close-up images showing a chaotic terrain and
smooth areas void of craters, Pluto has a distinct personality among the other major bodies of the Solar System. And some charisma as well, just like its popular discoverer Clyde Tombaugh. The world took note of the announcement of “Planet X” on Feb. 20, 1930, and once again global awareness recognized the accomplishments of the little, grand piano-sized spacecraft New Horizons. The journey took 9 years at 30,000 miles per hour to track down and intercept Pluto, climaxing a 3 billion mile trip that continues into the depths of the Kuiper Belt—an unexplored region of Pluto-sized and smaller icy objects. The technology of 2015 allowed a unique sharing of the Pluto event as the mission engineers revealed nearly instantaneously the images they received. Those planetary scientist and mission engineers are at the New Horizons headquarters at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab in Laurel, Maryland. APL built
and manages New Horizons under the NASA space science directive. The APL team’s initial assessment of the images of Pluto and its moon Charon it they are a “game changer” in the theories of the outer Solar System. Why? Because both Pluto and Charon show few craters, showing some unknown process is going on that is renewing the surface with frozen ice and methane at -340 F. below zero. What keeps these small bodies looking so young—maybe just 100 million years old surfaces—when they are super cold and so far away from the Sun? This is just one question of many about two different worlds—Pluto is rock and ice with a methane atmosphere while Charon is complex ball of ice covered in geology unique in the Solar System. Social media was abuzz with the Pluto events in the days leading up to the 8 minutes of closest approach on July 14th at less than 8,000 miles above the surface. Twitter and Facebook had the up-to-the minute highlights when photos were released every day of the encounter. Tweets portrayed from the New Horizon’s spacecraft itself gave a blow-by-blow of exactly what the spacecraft should be doing with its suite of seven scientific instruments. The fun began weeks out when the first images of Pluto and its large moon Charon were put together to show a short movie of the orbital ballet between the two. The pair act as a “binary planet,” with hemispheres locked toward each other and the orbital gravitational center outside the surface of Pluto. That means as Pluto rotates every 6.5 earth days, Charon also makes one trip around Pluto in 6.5 earth days from its rather close distance of 12,500 miles.
The discoveries will keep coming for at least a year as New Horizons will take that long to completely download all the data taken during the brief flyby. This is because of the logistics involved in capturing the signal as it travels 9 hours and four billion miles. The large files stored on board New Horizon will be sent when the Earth alignment is right for the half-dozen giant receiving antennas around the world capable of handling interplanetary signals. The Internet traffic to NASA and other websites like Planetary Society, Space.com and Astronomy. com saw a spike in activity as the general public tuned in to satisfy their curiosity. I even watched the live NASA press conference July 15th on my Smart Phone and saw the first close-up surface images— even zooming in on the awesome Pluto landscape! That’s a far cry from 50 years earlier when I first
ter of Clyde Tombaugh. Alden and Annette were visibly moved when mission head Alan Stern announced the informal name of the large heart-shaped plains in honor of their dad. The story of the search of Planet X and Tombaugh is a good one, and several books are available online or at libraries. Tombaugh’s legacy is sure to live on with the spacecraft New Horizons—there are nine objects stuck on the interplanetary robot by the APL team who built it—and they didn’t tell anyone until two years after launch. Those nine items include: 1. A small container of his remains with the inscription: “Interned herein are remains of American Clyde W. Tombaugh, discoverer of Pluto and the Solar System’s ‘third zone.” Adelle and Muron’s boy, Patricia’s husband, Annette and Alden’s father, astronomer, teacher, punster and friend: Clyde
saw the blurry Mariner IV images of a cratered Mars in a my hometown newspaper. But the 2015 media frenzy over Pluto was nothing like the millions of “hits” that crashed the NASA website in 1995 when the toy-sized rover Sojourner was scurrying about Mars. That’s because all the interest was spread over more outlets, as well as all kinds of computer platforms from laptops to smart pads to Smart Phones. The first science from New Horizons showed Pluto to be a few miles bitter than thought, 1,422 miles or two-thirds the size of our Moon. Also awaiting data transmissions during the next year will be the only close-up images of Pluto’s five known moons: partner Charon and the four that revolve them, Hydra, Nix, Styx and Kerberos. Among the couple hundred media and space advocates at the July 15th press conference with the APL team were the son and daugh-
W. Tombaugh (1906-1997); 2. My name and some 434,000 other people on a CD disk from the “Send your name to Pluto” campaign. So I’m along for ride…as well as my name is also on CDs that have made it to the surface of Mars, a comet and an asteroid. 3. A CD with photos of the New Horizon team and spacecraft construction. 4 & 5. A Florida and Maryland state quarters, from where the space probe was launched and where it was built and managed. 6. A piece of the Space Ship One with the explanation of its flight in 2004 as Earth’s first privately funded and public made manned spacecraft. 7 & 8. Two sizes of the American Flag. 9) To commemorate 9 planets…The 1991, 29-cent, First Class U.S. stamp proclaiming “Pluto: Not Yet Explored.” I hope a new postage stamp will be issued bearing the proclamation: “Pluto: Explored 2015…and yes, it’s a planet!”
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July 21, 2015 | The Loafer | Page 19
Celestial events in the skies for the week of July 21 - July 27, 2015 as compiled for The Loafer by Mark D. Marquette. The Moon will be First Quarter this weekend, waxing to full phase next week. The setting Moon will take its light below the western horizon by midnight, leaving a night of summer stars. Campers can spend some stargazing time away from the campfire and see the Summer Triangle stars of Deneb, Vega and Altair straddling the “river of stars” that is a long arm of our own Milky Way Galaxy. Planet Saturn is directly south at dark in Scorpius, the Moon moving toward the ringed planet for a meeting on Sunday.
Tues. July 21
On this 1976 date in space history, the first photos from the surface of Mars were being sent back to Earth from the Viking 1 lander, which touched down the day before, July 20, also the historic 1969 date when Apollo 11 landed on the Moon.
Wed. July 22
You have from deep twilight at 9 pm until they set behind the western landscape after 9:30 pm to catch Venus and Jupiter with Leo’s star Regulus. But that half-hour can be a beautiful sight and appropriate climax to the spectacular conjunction that was witnessed a month ago.
Thurs. July 23
On this 1972 date in space history, NASA launched Landsat 1, the first satellite devoted to monitoring plant life around the world, from wheat to Pine forests. Today, a dozen satellites keep track of Earth resources on land and in the sea as well as the health of our atmosphere.
Fri. July 24
The Moon is at First Quarter today, standing majestically in the south as twilight snuffs out the day. Take time to reflect that on this 1969 date in space history, Apollo 11 returned from the Moon with 48 pounds of rocks and lunar soil, splashing down in the Pacific and welcomed home on the USS Hornet aircraft carrier by President Richard Nixon. It took Amer-
ica just 9 years to go from the first suborbital flight of Alan Shepard to the historic footsteps by Neil Armstrong on the Moon.
Sun. July 26
The Moon is to the right of Saturn and above the red star Antares, the heart of Scorpius. If you have a telescope, spend some time Sat. July 25 On this 1984 date in space his- roaming between the Moon, the tory Russian Svetlana Savitskaya rings and bright areas of the Milky became the first woman to walk Way. in space outside the Mir Space Sta- Mon. July 27 tion. Kathleen Sullivan was the On this 1972 date in space hisfirst American woman to space tory, Apollo 15 was half-way to walk. To date, 59 women blasted the Moon after a launch July 26th. off to orbit Earth. Forty-five of In the belly of the Lunar Module those females have been NASA lander was the first car on an alien astronauts, and only four Rus- world, the Lunar Rover. Destinasian. The rest of the ladies have tion on the Moon was an ancient been from China, Japan, Canada, lava river called Hadley Rille, France, India, North Korea and where moonship Falcon landed Italy. July 30, 1971.
Page 20 | The Loafer | July 21, 2015
Fruit By The Foot
Fruit By The Foot is a delicious and low calorie snack that I’ve been eating since before I could spell fruit. It’s got everything I look for in a snack: quick, portable, and healthy (or so the packaging claims). Of course, when I was running around with sneakers and a lunch box, I didn’t really care what my snacks were made of. I just wanted to unroll something colorful and get it all stuck in my teeth. These days, I have a habit of reading and decoding the ingredients on the back of every box in the grocery store. The truth is there is no real nu-
tritional value in Fruit By The Foot because it’s made with fruit from concentrate instead of dehydrated fruit which retains all of it’s nutrients. That fact alone wouldn’t stop me from eating tiny treat. The List of hydrogenated oils, plastic byproducts, and possible carcinogens contained in the ingredients however would stop me. I’m not really a health nut but there’s a really simple way to make your own very similar, healthy fruit snack called fruit leather. So, I tested out three different recipes that can be altered by you at home to create any flavor you desire.
Start by preheating your oven to 175. My favorite flavor of any fruit snack is strawberry. To prep for the strawberry fruit leather, I destemmed about two cups of fresh strawberries. Adding in one packet of Splenda, I pureed my strawberries in a blender. Any food processor will do the job. To prepare the blueberry flavor, I washed and pureed a cup and a half of blueberries with one packet of Splenda. I also created a banana flavor by pureeing three quarters of a banana, a packet of Splenda, and two
slices of a peeled apple in order to give it a thicker texture. Next, I used each of these mixtures to coat a cookie sheet covered in parchment paper. Using a flat spatula, I spread the mixtures until they were each about an eighth of an inch thick. After I placed them all in the oven, they took about three hours to dehydrate. Some mixtures take longer than others depending on the oven and the thickness of the mixture. Because fruit dehydrates at such a low temperature, the
mixtures are cool enough to touch while in the oven to test the texture. Cut and lay out lengths of wax paper that are about an inch longer than the cookie sheets. Flip your cookie sheets over onto the wax paper. Peel the parchment paper off of your fruit leather. You can use scissors or a pizza cutter to cut strips on the leather and wax paper. Once all my strips were cut, I was ready to roll and my fruit leather was ready to eat.
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Crumbly House Announces The Polynesian Beach Party 2015
Aloha! Flickering Tiki torches, the ambience of the tropics, Bermuda shorts, island floral dresses, and Polynesian fare create the soiree’ known as The Crumley House Polynesian Beach Party. The Crumley House Polynesian Beach Party 2015 will be held at 6 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 8, on the Crumley House grounds. This popular event provides an evening of celebration, community, generosity and fun, all the while supporting the region’s only private facility of its kind. “No details will be spared at the island-paradise event to benefit brain injured patients and families. The Crumley House Polynesian Beach Party is our largest fundraiser of the year,” said Odie Major, Chairman of The Crumley House Board. “The Polynesian-style dinner will be a fusion of tropical island flavors and local foods guaranteed to help in the escape to the tropics. A large part of the evening will be the opportunity to bid on Tiki Treasures and other items in
the Polynesian silent auction and then later in the live auction. All proceeds benefit The Crumley House. Topping off the event will be dancing, laughter and just plain fun! Participants just might see a Hula or two as the Polynesian celebration continues with DJ Robbie Britton.” An extra added bonus to the event is the opportunity to view the Powell Family’s Old Barn and Tractor Barn, located behind the Crumley House from 4 to 5 p.m. Completely renovated by Powell Farms, visitors may take a step back in time as they view 61 completely restored Letter Tractors (Cubs to Super M) dating from 1937 to 1960. Doors open for bidding on the Tiki Treasures at 5:00 pm. The innovative Crumley House story began when Lori Beth Ford, a beautiful and vibrant 14-year old, was involved in a tragic automobile accident. That day changed the lives of Lori and her mother, June Barrrett, forever. Through Lori
Beth’s recovery process, June discovered that there was no place in the region to support the transition between acute rehabilitation, community re-entry, and independent living. After years of work raising awareness and educating medical professionals and members of the general population on the need for these services, June Barrett opened the Crumley House Brain Injury Rehabilitation Center in the summer of 1992. Today, the Crumley House offers day and residential programs to increase cognitive learning, physical agility, and life skills. The program is the only one of its kind in the Southeastern region of the United States and has served over 3,000 brain injury survivors and their
July 21, 2015 | The Loafer | Page 21
families. Individual tickets are $100 each, and various sponsorship levels are also available. All proceeds will support brain injury survivors at the Crumley House Brain Injury Rehabilitation Center (www.crumleyhouse.com) in Limestone, TN. Anyone interested in attending is encouraged to purchase tickets early - as they sell out quickly! Thank you to our Event Sponsor, Dermatology Associates, and
our Entertainment Sponsor, Mountain States Health Alliance. Other sponsors include Scott and Nikki Niswonger and Roadrunner Markets. For information on tickets or programs and services offered through The Crumley House, please contact Michelle Ferguson at the Crumley House at 423-257-3644, ext. 7. You may also visit their website at www.crumleyhouse.com or “Like” them on Facebook.
Page 22 | The Loafer | July 21, 2015
Tiger Brooks Interview
There is a Tiger on the loose in Tennessee! This one is more dangerous to fried chicken and tater salad than people so we can all relax. Tiger Brooks is a local pastor and he is from an iconic Kingsport family that is pretty much known by anyone who has been here for more than 10-15 years. I grew up playing basketball against Tiger (he was much bigger and better than me) and I have always had great respect for him on and off the court. This is a man the community can truly be proud of. Brian: Hey Tiger, thanks for taking time to let our readers get to know you a little better and talk about your roots! Of course, your family name and history is where I want this whole thing to start. Your name sums it up, and I believe that is how your dad meant for it to be. Talk a little about your family’s history here, why Tiger? Tiger: My father, Tom Brooks, was born and raised in the Cloud Creek area of Hawkins County near Rogersville and after serving two years in the Army right after WW2, he settled in Kingsport. My
mother was born and raised in Southwest Virginia, just over the line in East Carter’s Valley. After high school she settled in Kingsport. They met and married in 1954. My dad worked in several different jobs before taking a job driving a tank wagon and hauling fuel oil for what was then the Smith Oil Co. In the early’60s, Esso (later known as Exxon) wanted to establish some service stations in this market and were looking for po-
tential owner/operators. My dad jumped at the chance and opened up Tom Brooks Esso in 1964 on West Stone Drive, right next to the bridge over Lynn Garden Drive. Three years later, he opened the second location on East Stone Drive. Esso changed their branding in the United States in the late ‘60s and became Exxon.
Movers ....
Continued on page 25
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July 21, 2015 | The Loafer | Page 23
Welcome to the Jungle Oh, and of course there’s the water park. I’ve never actually availed myself of this particular amenity, but the kids sure seem to enjoy it. This place is growing all the time too -- certainly helped along by exposure on Good Moring America, The Food Network, and Modern Marvels. Who knows what new mind-boggling attractions you’ll find if you make it up that way. Just be sure to bring along a shopping list and your swimsuit. Of course, if you forget the latter, it’ll be okay - I bet you can buy one there.
Here’s a question for you: Where can you find -- all in one spot -- an enormous grocery store, a water park, a monorail, the biggest selection of beers and wines from around the world you’ve ever seen, a cooking school, a strip mall, and an animatronic lion that sings Elvis songs? Jungle Jim’s International Market, outside of Cincinnati, Ohio -- that’s where. I can’t even begin to describe how massive (and utterly overstimulating) this place is, but let me give it a shot. Think of a supermarket encompassing 300,000 square feet of floor space (that’s 6.5 acres) with well over 180,000 different items in stock, many of which are extremely hard to find elsewhere. TAB Cola? They’ve got it. Boo-Berry Cereal? Look no further. Haggis? If you must, I’m sure you can find it there. A little background now: the behemoth that is Jungle Jim’s was started by Jim Bonominio as an humble produce stand back in
1971. Located in Fairfield, Ohio, about a 45 minute drive from downtown Cincinnati, it attracts some 82,000 visitors per week. And we’re not just talking about folks from southwest Ohio either. The vast selection in the store, including 60,000 international items, draws shoppers from many nearby states -- and further. I’ve been known to drive WAY out of my way for a Turducken, or a six-pack of Snake River Lager (brewed in Jackson, Wyoming -check it out). What really makes a simple grocery run into an all out assault on the senses though, is the presentation. Aside from the monorail mentioned above, you can find bathroom entrances made to look like porto-potties, various sections done up with regional décor like at Epcot, and an actual fire truck amongst the myriad of hot sauces. Once when I was there, I even found a Mariachi band playing for tips in the Mexican food section.
Page 24 | The Loafer | July 21, 2015
In Theaters Now
Box Office Top 10 Minions (2015)
Minions Stuart, Kevin and Bob are recruited by Scarlet Overkill, a super-villain who, alongside her inventor husband Herb, hatches a plot to take over the world.
“Minions” The little yellow guys who speak gibberish from the “Despicable Me” movies are on the big screen starring in their own movie aptly titled “Minions”. When the pilllike creatures first appeared on the big screen, they stole every scene they were in the the “Despicable” movies, and became pop culture icons. Not missing a beat, Hollywood unleashed the wee guys in their own story, and a hit was the result. The plot of the movie reveals how the Minions came to be eons ago, and how they have only one purpose: to serve villainous masters. The minions serve various “masters” through time, including everything from a T-Rex to an Egyptian pharaoh. The film eventually stops in the year 1968 as three of the Minions, Stuart, Bob and Kevin find themselves in New York City, after leaving the other Minions to find a new master to serve. While in NYC, they learn of a super-villain convention about to be held in Orlando, Florida, and soon head for the sunshine state. The main attraction at the convention is Scarlet Overkill (voiced by Sandra Bullock), and no sooner than you can say banana (a food beloved by the Minions), Kevin, Bob and Stuart are working for the first female super-villain. Scarlet has a plan for the Minions after she transports them to London that goes all the way to Queen Elizabeth. Of course, all does not go well with Scarlet’s plan, and soon chaos is unleashed by the yellow guys. For a language that no one can understand, the Minions sure do spout some clever and humorous dialogue. Every now and then you can understand a word here and there. The whimsical creatures are a riot to watch, and their interactions with humans
Jurassic World (2015)
Magic Mike XXL (2015)
Three years after Mike bowed out of the stripper life at the top of his game, he and the remaining Kings of Tampa hit the road to Myrtle Beach to put on one last blow-out performance.
A new theme park is built on the original site of Jurassic Park. Everything is going well until the park’s newest attraction--a genetically modified giant stealth killing machine--escapes containment and goes on a killing spree.
Ted 2 (2015)
Inside Out (2015)
A dying real estate mogul transfers his consciousness into a healthy young body, but soon finds that neither the procedure nor the company that performed it are quite what they seem.
After young Riley is uprooted from her Midwest life and moved to San Francisco, her emotions Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness - conflict on how best to navigate a new city, house, and school.
Terminator Genisys (2015)
John Connor sends Kyle Reese back in time to protect Sarah Connor, but when he arrives in 1984, nothing is as he expected it to be.
The Gallows (2015)
20 years after a horrific accident during a small town school play, students at the school resurrect the failed show in a misguided attempt to honor the anniversary of the tragedy - but soon discover that some things are better left alone.
Newlywed couple Ted and Tami-Lynn want to have a baby, but in order to qualify to be a parent, Ted will have to prove he’s a person in a court of law.
Self/less (2015)
Bahubali: The Beginning (2015)
A dispute between brothers spans across two generations. This is the part 1 of 2 part period drama. Part 1 shows the brothers Baahubali and Bhallaladeva fight for their thrown to Mahishmathi Kingdom.
Max (2015)
A dog that helped US Marines in Afghanistan returns to the U.S. and is adopted by his handler’s family after suffering a traumatic experience.
Source: IMDb.com • (7/18/2015)
are hilarious. Bullock really owns her role as the voice of Scarlet, and must have had a blast recording her part. Also on hand is the star of “Mad Men” Jon Hamm as Scarlet’s daffy husband Herb. The movie is a blast in the 3D format, and is the way I recommend you see the film. A word of warning: stay until the end of the credits, as
there are some really fun moments with the Minions and their costars. For a really enjoyable time at the cinema, join the Minions on their quest to find their eventual master. Banana!
Rated: PG
A-
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Movers .... Continued from page 22
When I was born in 1970, the Exxon slogan, “Put A Tiger In Your Tank,” was very popular. Everyone had the tiger tails hanging out of their gas tank lids. So when my mother was pregnant with me, being the joker that she is, she would tell everyone, “Tom put a tiger in my tank!” From that time forward, my nickname became Tiger. Brian: Somehow, someway, you fell in love with broadcasting. How old were you when the bug bit you and tell us how that path progressed over the years. Tiger: I always loved doing things with my voice. I loved impressionists like Rich Little and I had a knack for being able to imitate celebrities as well as family members and friends. I was naturally drawn to the radio broadcasters and sports broadcasters because of the quality of their voices. I worked for my dad in the service station business for 20 years, and I would write the copy and record our radio advertising spots. That led to being invited to be a part of the WKIN Dobyns-Bennett Indian football broadcasting crew. I did that for several years. When
88.3fm, WCQR, came on the air, I was ecstatic because this area really needed a strong Christian radio presence. God opened the door for me to interview with them and they hired me as a part-time onair personality in 2001. I’ve been blessed to serve WCQR in various capacities for 14 years and counting. This fall, I have been given the opportunity to do some sports broadcasting again, but it’s too early to get into the details of that right now, so I will just leave you with that teaser. Brian: And somewhere along the way, you felt the call into Christian ministry. Was that your whole life? Or do you remember what made you aware of that calling? Tiger: That’s an interesting question. I confessed Jesus as my Lord the day before my 17th birthday. A few years later, I knew God was calling me into full time ministry, but I had the idea that I wanted to do it on my terms. After all, business owners make more money than ministers, so I was trying to work my way into a deal where I could run Tom
July 21, 2015 | The Loafer | Page 25 Brooks Exxon and do ministry on the side. God, however, has ways of getting our attention and I was miserable trying to do it my way. I finally surrendered to the call (a very fitting way to describe what happened) in 2000. I became Minister of Youth and Children at Calvary Baptist Church in Kingsport, the church in which I was raised. Later, in 2008, God called me to Indian Springs Baptist as Minister to Students. In 2011, Indian Springs merged with Glenwood Baptist and I moved into the position of Campus Pastor of what became the Glenwood Campus of Indian Springs Baptist Church. Brian: And, this is extraordinary, you recently posted tons of pictures to social media from Asia. You are not a little guy and I have to say I got a kick out of seeing you try to blend in while towering over everyone in sight. But you were there for a purpose much bigger than your size difference. Why did you go Asia? Tiger: God has called all of us, as Christians, to make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20). We have the responsibility to take the gospel
“even to the remotest part of the earth” according to Acts 1:8. Each local church needs a strategy and a vision that fulfills those obligations. At ISBC, we were blessed with close family members who went to serve as missionaries with the International Mission Board (IMB) of the Southern Baptist Convention. They serve in an area of South Asia. I can’t tell you precisely where they serve because of the dangers facing the work of Christ in those areas. I was part of a team that went to see how our church might be able to support the work going on there. It was truly an amazing, eye-opening experience. I got a lot of strange looks because of my size. I even had one man ask me about professional wrestling because he watched WWE on television and wanted to know more about it. I told him I would relate everything I know about “rasslin’” if he would also allow me to share a story much greater and he agreed. That led to me being able to share with him about the love of Jesus. God works in mysterious ways! Brian: As always, a pleasure
to be in touch with you Tiger. Tell folks where and when you hold church here in North America. Tiger: Thanks, Brian! I’m honored that you would want to speak with me. At Indian Springs Baptist, we are one church in two locations, cultivating eternal relationships. You can find me at the Glenwood Campus at 2601 East Center Street in Kingsport. We have services on Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., as well as, Bible Study at 10:00 a.m. If you are in the Eastern part of Sullivan County, you can attend our Hill Road Campus at the end of Hill Road just off Memorial Boulevard (Highway 126). Their services begin at 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. with corresponding Bible Study hours also. You can always find more information online at www.isbc.org. Brian: Tiger Brooks, moving mountains to make a difference here and abroad. Just one more person who proves that growing up in the mountains around here, equips you to move mountains for people around the world. God bless my friend.
Page 26 | The Loafer | July 21, 2015
Megan Wells to Host Storytelling Live!
Tours of Jonesborough’s Historic Cemeteries Now Available
The Heritage Alliance is excited to offer a weekly tour in the Old Jonesborough Cemetery. Available at 2 p.m. every Saturdaythrough October 31, these tours will include the history of Rocky Hill and College Hill, 1800s burial customs, the lives of the people who are buried there and so much more. Tickets are $5 per person and can be purchased at the Chester Inn Museum Wednesday through Saturday. You’ll meet your Guide at the top of East Main Street in the Old Jonesborough Cemetery. Proceeds from the tour will help fund the ongoing preservation and maintenance of the cemeteries. Combo tickets for $8 per person are available when you purchase both a Town Walking Tour and Cemetery Tour ticket. For more information on the tours, or to schedule a tour for a larger group or another day, please contact the Heritage Alliance at423.753.9580
The International Storytelling Center’s next performer for its popular Teller-in-Residence series will be Megan Wells, a Chicago-area storyteller who has performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Oriental Institute. During her residency, July 28 – August 1, Wells will host daily matinees in the Mary B. Martin Storytelling Hall. Performances run Tuesday through Saturday at 2:00 p.m. sharp, and tickets are just $12 for adults and $11 for seniors, students, and children under 18. Growing up in a land where “the biggest birds [she] knew were made of steel and wind”—that’s beneath O’Hare Airport, if you’re not feeling poetic—Wells was unaware of the storytelling revolution taking place just 600 miles away in Jonesborough, Tennessee. But after attending the National Storytelling Festival in 1992, she was a whole-hearted convert, switching from her career in theater to full-time telling. “Storytelling is participatory in a way that’s unique,” she says. “When you watch a film, you’re experiencing someone else’s imagination. Theater and dance are the same. Storytelling involves your own imagination.” That imagination, she thinks, is not just a source of entertainment; it holds the key to human progress. “I truly believe that humanity evolves through our imagination,” she explains. “What we imagine, we become. And so the gift of the storyteller is how we feed, nourish, and serve the imagination. It’s our job. “You can say it’s a mission for me,” she adds. During her weeklong residency, Wells will share a whole host of traditional folk tales, personal stories, literary stories (like Sherlock Holmes), and myths. The latter category includes some of her favorite pieces, even though the research they require is so intense that she refers to them as mini PhD projects. For each story, she pores over different versions of the myth itself, as well as cultural history for context. “Myths take time,” she explains. “At first, they look like museum
pieces—sort of like coming up to King Tut’s tomb. There’s the distance of shifted time and history and generations, so they look old and ancient.” But as Wells works, something in the story begins to open up to her. “They’re deeply universal,” she says, “and deeply resonant. They describe the way human beings have fought and loved, and still fight and love.” Reservations for all performances are highly recommended, and all ticket holders will save 10 percent on same-day dining at The Dining Room, Jonesborough General Store and Eatery, or Main Street Café. Season passes that offer nearly half off the price of regular admission are still available while supplies last. Information about this season’s performers, as well as a detailed schedule, is available at www. storytellingcenter.net. Storytelling Live! is supported by program sponsors CrestPoint Health and Eastman Credit Union, and media sponsors News 5-WCYB, FOX TriCities, Tri-Cities CW, Johnson City Press, Kingsport Times-News, Herald & Tribune, Cumulus Media and Foster Signs. Additional funding comes from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Tennessee Arts Commission, the Niswonger Foundation, and the Arts Fund of East Tennessee Foundation. The International Storytelling Center is open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. For more information about Storytelling Live! or to make a group reservation, call (800) 952-8392 ext. 222 or (423) 913-1276.
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July 21, 2015 | The Loafer | Page 27
It Was 1941 It was 1941. World War II was gathering horrifying momentum. But the true horrors were only beginning. For the Axis powers, their two greatest blunders of the war—Germany’s one-on-one assault of a semi-neutral Russia and Japan’s assault on a neutral United States—were about to unfold. Their decline and defeat was now inevitable. But there was one seemingly simple act of coordination between them that could have permanently turned the tide; indeed; it probably would have won them the war. In June, the German VI army launched the greatest ground force invasion in military history, Operation Barbarossa, sending a 4 million man army storming on a 1,700 mile front across an utterly unprepared Russia. The German war machine easily butchered its way across an unprotected landscape. By December, the Germans were on the doorsteps of Moscow, but winter and a hardy Russian resolve had stalled the momentum. Russia, nearing defeat, now had the chance it so desperately needed to re-arm itself. On the eastern side of Russia was the empire of Japan, proven to this point to be as equally unstoppable as its German ally. Stalin so greatly mistrusted the Japanese that he had moved the bulk of his Russian army from the west to defend against them, rather than believe that there was any threat of a German invasion; thus, contributing to the initial successes of Operation Barbarossa. But once the campaign had begun, Stalin’s troops had to be recalled to defend the western front, leaving Russia’s back door open and relatively undefended. So why then did Japan not pounce? Russia couldn’t yet have fought a war on two fronts. She was reeling and without economic means. But was coordination between Germany and Japan ever discussed? It seems absurd to think not. We may never know the answer, of course, but a simultaneous effort on the part of the Germans and Japanese, at almost any point during the Russian campaign, would likely have erased Russia from modern-day world maps. Instead, in that same December, the Japanese made the puzzling decision to bomb Pearl Harbor, inviting an economic juggernaut, the United States of America, into
the war. Defeat was now imminent. Over the course of the next 3 years, the Americans would help to open opposing fronts against Germany, Japan and Italy, and feed the Russians and English a constant stream of muchneeded war goods. The facts are that Japan was mostly concerned with domination of the Pacific region, the destruction of China, and it made its moves based on its need for resources, specifically oil. And the Germans, though allied to them, thought themselves invincible and looked upon the Japanese as a primitive, diminutive, inferior race. But the necessity and the reward of their missed opportunity seems unmistakably clear. Without the opposing front that Russia provided the Allies against Germany, D-Day might not have succeeded. And then, with Germany’s economic wealth diverted back to scientific war research, who wins the race to develop the first atomic bomb?
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July 21, 2015 | The Loafer | Page 29
Pocket Pistol Showdown: Sig Sauer P238
Last week we looked at the KelTec P-3AT, this week I have the great pleasure of introducing you to the Sig Sauer P238. Now if you were to ask me what I thought Sig Sauer’s greatest attribute is, I would have to say showing off, because that’s exactly what they’ve done with the P238. Available in 22 different styles varying from my personal favorite the P238 ESR which has rosewood grips and laser engraved inlay. To the rainbow which I can only describe as metallic rainbow colored also with rosewood grips. Now for the sake of this article I’ve decided to go with the P238 Nitron which is the closest thing to a “Base Model” the P238 comes in. Unlike the Taurus TCP, Ruger LCP, and Kel-Tec P-3At the P238 is designed after the 1911 platform. This means the P238 boasts an all steel frame, beavertail, and external hammer. The sights are also worth noting on the P238 as they are removable, and adjustable for windage, and also available in night sights. You might notice from the specs that the weight of theP238 is substantially higher than the others we’ve looked at. This is due to the P238’s all steel construction. Believe it or not this extra weight is a good thing. Granted if you’re a Law Enforcement Officer every ounce you have to carry counts, but this weight ads to the recoil control and accuracy of the gun. It also makes it more durable. Even with the solid steel construction the P238 still weighs less than a pound. If you’ve ever owned or know someone who has owned a Sig Sauer than you know the quality and workmanship that go into every gun they make. No offense to the guns we’ve featured so far but it’s like going from a Sebring to
a Corvette. That being said Corvettes cost quite a bit more than Sebrings, likewise the Sig Sauer P238 costs nearly twice what the Taurus TCP does. My favorite part of the P238 is the hammer, I love having an external hammer on my handguns. I also love the fact that there are so many design options for this gun. The Scorpion for example with a matte desert finish and real wood grip might be the perfect backup for our men and women serving overseas, whereas the Nightmare might be a classy option for a Law Enforcement Backup, or the Nitron for concealed carry with it’s all black hardware and finish. If you’re on a budget the P238 might not be for you, but if you find yourself with $650.00 and want the top of the line than the Sig Sauer P238 is the pocket pistol for you. If I were to cover every pocket pistol out there I would have to change my column title from “Lock, Stock, and Barrel” to “Pocket Pistol Showdown”. However, here are some other great pocket pistols that didn’t make it into this series: The Berretta Nano, Smith & Wesson Bodyguard, Colt Mustang, Glock 42, Kahr P380, Kimber Solo, and Walther CCP. hope you enjoyed this series, and as always if you have any questions or concerns please feel free to email me. I look forward to your feedback. http://www.sigsauer.com/CatalogProductDetails/p238-nitron.aspx Caliber: .380 ACP (9mm short) • Action Type: SAO Trigger Pull DA: N/A • Trigger Pull SA: 7.5-8.5 lbs Overall Length: 5.5 in • Overall Height: 3.9 in Overall Width: 1.1 in • Barrel Length: 2.7 in Sight Radius: 3.8 in • Weight w/Mag: 15.2 oz Mag Capacity: 6 Rounds • Sights: Contrast or SIGLITE Night Sights Grips: Fluted Polymer Grips • Frame Finish: Black Hard Coat Anodized Slide Finish: Nitron • Accessory Rail: No Features: Beavertail style frame, fluted grips MSRP: $679.00 • CA Compliant: No • MA Compliant: Yes
Page 30 | The Loafer | July 21, 2015 Virginia Woolf.” While we don’t need a lot of deep-reading to zip through our emails, we can’t use the same technique while reading ULYSSES. And this begs the question—how many people understand ULYSSES regardless of which reading technique they use? A very understandable argument for reading a printed book is that “the tactile feedback of paper may help people process certain information when they read, and this may be lost when we move to digital texts.” In addition, we have a very visual indication of how much more we have left to read This summer I have so far writ- from a traditional printed page id technological change) by San when we hold a paper book in our ten two columns about reading. tends to promote “linear” read- Jose University researcher Zim- hands, but no such sense when we This was not according to a pre- ing while information on a digital ing Liu, who concludes that “The read from our Kindles—even if we conceived plan, but came about screen is “non-linear.” Further, screen-based reading behavior is glance at the pages-left indicator because of what seems to be a when we read a printed book characterized by more time spent on the screen. As you can probably guess from renewed interest in the perennial (the kind with actual pages we on browsing and scanning, keytopic regarding the fate of reading can turn), our attention to detail word spotting, one-time reading, what you’ve read so far (regardin a digital world. Almost every (plot, sentence structure, symbol- non-linear reading, and reading less of whether you’re reading this day I encounter someone either ism, etc.) tends to be heightened, more selectively.” In other words, fresh from the newsstand or in its in person or online who insists whereas that focus is lost when we “we’ve adapted our reading to fit online version) is that Sneed is tryon making this debate an “either/ or” proposition. “Either” you read something from a printed page (the “old fashioned” way) “Or” you read it from a digital screen. This is, of course, a no-win kind of attitude because it leads nowhere. Doesn’t it make more sense to simply say that “We can read from both printed and digital screens”? If only our politicians could see the wisdom in this. Why can’t we find both liberal and conservative solutions to the same problem? Why does it have to be one or the other? Or perhaps neither? We’ll need to save the answer for another column. A very convenient summary of the “either-or” argument about printed and digital screens comes from the July 8 edition of FastCompany. Titled “Everything Science Knows About Reading On Screens,” and written by Annie Sneed, this column informs us that scan our digital screens. Sounds our screens.” That doesn’t sound ing her best to convince us that the we need to evaluate print and digi- pretty commonsense to me. And very surprising to me, but it is a printed page is superior to the ontal reading from different perspec- then there is the question of what point very few of us stop to con- line or e-text experience. Although tives rather than condemning one type of genre we are reading—al- sider—guess we are too busy with she does point out that “it may be and praising the other. After all, though FIFTY SHADES OF GREY our screen-watching to notice. that both print and screen have we had better get used to digital certainly draws our attention to Another aspect of multiple unique advantages, and we’ll reading because with the arrival human anatomy, the difference be- screen reading is that we lose much need to be able to read equally of the much-touted (and damned) tween reading this and a standard of our ability to engage in “deep- well on both,” she concludes that “Internet of Things,” screens will anatomy and physiology textbook reading” when we read online or when it’s all said and done you soon be everywhere we look. For is quite different (although both from an e-reader. Sneed reminds should once in while “forget your instance, I was able to watch a vid- presentations make sex appear us that “nonlinear reading might smartphone and computer [and] eo the other day while I pumped rather dull, boring, and “texbook- especially hurt what researchers sit down, and read a book.” Note my gas—I surmised this was a ish”). call ‘deep-reading’—our in-depth that she implies “book” means the clever trick to divert my attention Sneed quotes a 2005 study reading of text that requires in- printed kind. so I would overfill my tank. (which seems like something out tense focus to fully understand it, I think it’s time we revise According to Sneed, reading of the stone age in this age of rap- like the works of James Joyce or our thinking about what read-
Screen Shots
ing means and what we are supposed to derive from engaging in this activity. Those who argue that reading from a screen is more distractive than reading from a printed page fail to understand that distractions are everywhere. I am often distracted while reading books—and I read lots of them. But, sometimes what might appear to be distraction can often mean greater focus. For instance, while I was reading a “real” book last week about modern art that ironically contained very few illustrations, I was finding examples cited in the text from Google Images; I was creating my own e-text, as it were. Rather than being distracting, my combining the two mediums heightened my interest in the book. And this image—of me reading the words on a printed page while looking at art on a digital screen—is perhaps the appropriate way to envision the world we live in. And I’m not talk-
ing about multitasking—something that appears to be a myth— but a very practical way to merge the worlds of analog and digital. Coexistence is thus preferable to conflict. So, I will continue to read “real” books while simultaneously referencing my iPad or smartphone. You, of course, should do the same, and if you want to watch a movie while pumping your gas, be my guest. See you next week.
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