Page 2 | The Loafer | September 1, 2015
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September 1, 2015 | The Loafer | Page 3
Volume 29 • Issue #39 Publisher Luci Tate
Abingdon Main Street
buskerFest
Editor Graphic Arts Director Don Sprinkle Office Manager Luci Tate Cover Design Bill May Advertising Dave Carter Terry Patterson Lori Howell Contributing Staff Jim Kelly Andy Ross Ken Silvers Mark Marquette Brian McManus Joshua Hicks Brian Bishop Nathan Cox Distribution Jerry Hanger Teresa Hanger 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 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 13 16 17 21
Abingdon Main Street - BuskerFest Fireworks at Bristol Dragway Auditions at local theatres Flying Pig Gallery is changing its name Comedy-Thriller at Barter “LOVE” Returns to Abingdon Hands On! September Events Live Storytelling Trey Hensley & Drivin’ Force at Carter Family Fold Arts Array presents “CITIZENFOUR” The Appleseed Collective at Music on the Square Rhythm of The Mountain Empire
music & fun 14 24
Spotlight - Great Music & Fun Times Crossword & Sudoku
columns & reviews 14 Batteries Not Included - The Results of my Exploratory Committee 18 Stargazer - Astrology vs Astronomy & the 13th Zodiac Sign 19 Skies This Week 20 Screen Scenes - “Ricki and the Flash” 22 Mountain Movers - The Jason Sabbides Interview 23 The Trivial Traveler -Stairway to History 25 Lock, Stock & Barrel - Pistol Caliber Carbines 26 Kelly’s Place - My (Infodoodled) Coloring Book
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Downtown Abingdon will be filled with weird and wonderful street artists for the
Main Street Busker Fest September 5th
This Labor Day weekend, the sidewalks of downtown Abingdon will be filled with weird, wonderful performing artists during a brand new festival. The Main Street Busker Fest is Saturday September 5th, presented by Abingdon Main Street and the Abingdon Music Experience. The daytime portion of the festival is family-friendly, and includes kids’ activities at the Imagination Station under the Barter Tent, and buskers performing from noon to 5:00pm on street corners and three anchor stages along Main Street. Then, from 8:00pm to 10:00pm, Abingdon Main Street will hold “Buskers After Dark”, an after party and fundraiser at the Abingdon Market Pavilion featuring a beer garden and performances from the best of the buskers. “Busking” is an age-old tradition in which artists play publicly for tips, performing on street corners or wherever a crowd gathers. Musicians, acrobats, magicians, stiltwalkers, living statues and more – street artists add character and fun to their communities. At the Main Street Busker Fest, visitors are encouraged to wander up and down Abingdon’s Main Street from noon to 5:00pm to stumble upon interesting and unusual acts. The festival is free, but visitors should plan to bring change so they can show appreciation to their favorite artists with a tip. Volunteers will be available to make change, and several ATMs are located on Main Street. Three anchor stages will offer space for larger acts like the Rosetta Sisters’ performing a fusion of acrobatics, balancing stunts, juggling, rolla bolla, comedy and other antics, or Jalopy Junction which brings an old-time vaudeville act to life with song and dance, aerial arts, and even some fire breathing. Anchor stages are located at the Abingdon City Park (across from the post office), the Sinking Springs Presbyterian Church parking lot at the corner of Pecan and Main Street, and Courthouse Hill. Food vendors will be located at the parking lot at the corner of Pecan and Main Street, offering carnival food. In addition, Abingdon restaurants are
For More Information, Visit www.mainstreetbuskerfest.com
open for lunch and dinner; a full listing can be found here: http://visitabingdonvirginia. com/dining/. The Imagination Station is presented by Paper Moon Studios and Barter Youth Academy and is open to all children and the young at heart. This free workshop takes place at the Barter Green, and includes puppetry crafts and improvisation activities. At the end of the workshop, kids will bring their puppetry show to Main Street, and try a little busking of their own! A small stage will also be set up for youth performers of all types. Children are encouraged to try their hands at busking; sign up available at the stage. At 8:00pm, Abingdon Main Street invites adults 21+ to Buskers After Dark, a fundraiser for the non-profit organization(ID required to enter, no exceptions). Buskers After Dark is a night of up-close and untamed performances, including a stage show and chance to mingle with the best buskers of the festival. Attendees are welcome to attend in costume, adding to the magic of the night. In keeping with the spirit of the festival, attendees are encouraged to bring a “tip” for Abingdon Main Street (a donation at the door). The Main Street Busker Fest is presented by Abingdon Main Street, a non-profit organization affiliated with the National Main Street program. Abingdon Music Experience is supported by the Town of Abingdon and the Abingdon Convention & Visitors Bureau. Details: The Imagination Station is open from 11:00am to 3:00pm at the Barter Tent. Buskers will perform from 12:00pm to 5:00pm along Main Street in downtown Abingdon. Buskers After Dark (21+ with valid ID) will be at the Abingdon Market Pavilion. Festival maps will be provided at the event; for a sneak peek at some of the artists performing, visit www.mainstreetbuskerfest.com. This event is sponsored in part by Eastman Credit Union, Ecological Energy Systems, the Gilliam Foundation and Walling Distributing. The lead media sponsor is Bristol Herald Courier, with supporting media sponsors Smoky Mountain Living and The Loafer.
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NFA Bringing Two Spectacular Nights of Pyrotechnics to Bristol Dragway - Sept. 11 & 12
While there were plenty of brilliant fireworks shows across the country during the Fourth of July, none will likely compare to the spectacular display coming to Bristol Dragway Sept. 11-12. The National Fireworks Association is bringing its week-long trade show to Thunder Valley along with more than 1,500 manufacturers, many of them from China, anxious to show off their latest and greatest fireworks creations. NFA members will conduct demonstrations at Bristol Dragway throughout the week leading up to the big shows that will be open to the public Sept. 11-12. Along with fireworks, the NFA will hold the largest 9/11 remembrance ceremony in the region, followed by two hours of fireworks on Friday, Sept. 11. Also that day, the NFA, in partnership with the Marsh Regional Blood Center, will hold a blood drive at Bristol Motor Speedway with the first 200 donors receiving a pass for both nights of fireworks. Prior to Saturday’s show United States military veterans will be recognized, followed by the Cam Starr Memorial Challenge, which will feature two firework clubs competing for the best show pre-
Photo by: Woody Woodruff sentation. The event will conclude with a grand presentation from Pyro Shows (La Follette, Tenn.). Cost to attend Friday and Saturday’s events is $10 each day per vehicle. A portion of the cost will benefit the Bristol Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities. Gates will open both nights at 6
p.m. and the show will start at 7:30 p.m. NFA Expo 2015 will be headquartered at Kingsport’s Marriott MeadowView Conference Resort & Convention Center. Jud Teague, Executive Director of the Kingsport Convention & Visitors Bureau feels having the group in the
area is extremely beneficial. “We are excited that the NFA has chosen Northeast Tennessee, and especially Kingsport, for its annual meeting,” he said. “We will be welcoming visitors from all over the U.S. and many international travelers as well. This convention will have a positive impact on our community and the area, and the displays at BMS will certainly be a special event. I hope many of our locals take advantage of this event.” Matt Bolas, Executive Director of the Bristol Convention and Visitors Bureau, is excited about having the Expo in Thunder Valley. “We’re thrilled that they chose this area for their convention,” he said, “and then to have these amazing fireworks displays at Bristol Dragway for two nights is something the community will truly enjoy and really be excited about. It’s also commendable that the NFA is recognizing our military and also having a 9/11 remembrance ceremony.” The NFA will kick off their week-long stay in the area with the NFA Golf Classic on Monday, Sept. 7 at Cattails at MeadowView. Benefits from the outing will benefit Susan G. Komen Tri-Cities.
For more information, contact: Bristol Convention and Visitors Bureau Lori Worley, 423-989-4858, lworley@bristolchamber.org or Kingsport Convention & Visitors Bureau Lara Potter, 423-392-8821, lpotter@ visitkingsport.com
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NST sets open auditions for Steel Magnolias, American Buffalo Sept. 1 & 2 The Northeast State Community College Department of Theater announces open auditions next week for two fall productions of the American theater classics Steel Magnolias and American Buffalo. Actors are invited to open auditions for both plays scheduled Sept. 1 and 2 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the Wellmont Regional Center for the Performing Arts (WRCPA) on the Blountville campus next to Tri-Cities Regional Airport. Auditions are open to all students, faculty, and community members ages 18 and up. Performers are asked to gather in the lobby of the WRCPA. All actors should be familiar with both stories and are asked to prepare a one-minute monologue to be read at the audition. Call backs for both plays will be made on Sept. 3 be-
tween 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Performers need to attend only one night of auditions. Concerned with a group of Southern ladies in a small-town beauty parlor, Steel Magnolias bounces between hilarious and touching – and in the end, deeply revealing of the strength and purposefulness which underlies the antic banter of its characters. The play is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc. Performers are requested to prepare a one-minute monologue (either dramatic or comedic) and be prepared to share their best Georgia/Mississippi accent. The production seeks to cast six female roles. Sides from the play will also be provided. Magnolias production dates are Oct. 29, 30, 31 and
Nov. 5, 6, 7 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 1 and 8 at 2:00 p.m. in the WRCPA Theater. The volatile drama of American Buffalo centers around a Chicago junk shop where three small time crooks plot the robbery of coin collection including a prized “buffalo nickel”. While the thieves fancy themselves high-end crooks, the reality of their endeavor propels them to a fate they never see coming. The play is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc. The play’s production dates are Nov. 19, 20, 21 at 7:30 p.m. in Auditorium (A202) of Northeast State at Blountville. For more information, visit www.northeaststate.edu/theatre or contact Northeast State Theater at 423.354.2479 or e-mail emsloan@NortheastState.edu.
Theatre Bristol Announces Auditions for “Scrooge! The Musical” September 5th, 8th, 12th & by Appointment on the 13th Roles available for men, women and children in this favorite holiday musical
Theatre Bristol announces September audition dates and details for the December production of Scrooge! The Musical at the ARTspace theatre. Veteran and novice actors are invited to audition September 5th, 8th, and 12th, and by appointment on September 13th at Theatre Bristol, 512 State Street, Bristol, TN, for this timeless tale of Ebenezer Scrooge. Roles for men, women, and children are available, as well as opportunities with the production crew. “Perhaps one of the best-known modern adaptations of [A Christmas Carol] is the musical Scrooge! by Leslie Bricusse. The musical, made into a film in 1970… is traditional, and the stage show has enjoyed noted success in England, where it was hailed as “Sensational” and “Terrific” by BBC Radio 2; and in the Unites States, where it has become an established favorite of regional playhouses nationwide,” Breaking Character. In Bris-
tol, Scrooge! is a holiday tradition, popular by audiences over the years, featuring memorable songs “Thank You Very Much,” “A Better Life” and “A Christmas Carol.” Directing the show will be highly respected and talented actor/ director, Theatre Bristol veteran Glenn Patterson (Les Misérables, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Miracle on 34th Street). The audition will consist of singing, reading, and dancing. Actors are encouraged to bring a monologue of not more than two minutes and up to 24 measures of a song. Neither the monologue nor song need to be from Scrooge!, but the song should be from musical theatre. For those who do not have a prepared monologue or song, at the audition we will offer monologue options and will teach a song. For audition dates and times and additional important details, please visit www.theatrebristol.
org/audition. Anyone interested in being a part of the production crew may contact Theatre Bristol at info@ theatrebristol.org. Scrooge! The Musical is presented through special arrangement with and all authorized performance materials are supplied by SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. Founded in 1965, Theatre Bristol is the oldest continually running children’s theatre in northeast Tennessee and now celebrating its 50th season. Its Main Stage season consists of up to five productions. Some of its performances take place in the ARTspace, a multipurpose, black box theatre which seats up to 120. Theatre Bristol is entirely volunteer run and we invite you to get involved. For more information, visit the Theatre Bristol’s website or Facebook page, contact Theatre Bristol at 423-212-3625, or email info@theatrebristol.org.
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Flying Pig Gallery in Downtown Kingsport is changing its name to
Art in the Heart Gallery
After nearly a year, the art gallery in Downtown Kingsport at 246 Broad Street, known as The Flying Pig Gallery & Studios is making a change. Originally established to showcase Kingsport’s Carousel Project, in addition to local fine art, the gallery in Downtown Kingsport has taken on a new life and a new focus. The Kingsport Carousel and its famous flying pig
mascot are successfully launched and open to the public just down the street at 350 Clinchfield Street, adjacent to the Kingsport Farmer’s Market. Carousel gift items are available there during normal operating hours. The gallery at 246 Broad Street continues to flourish, and will now be known as the Art in the Heart Gallery. It will continue to
Upcoming schedule for ‘Art in the Heart Gallery’ (formerly known as Flying Pig Gallery & Studios): Sept
3 Reception 16 Class:
Spotlight Show: Gallery Artist Patti Lawrence Basketmaking with Joy Smith
Oct
1 Reception 3 Class: 10 Class:
Spotlight Show: Gallery Artist Basketmaking with Joy Smith Woodburning with Michele Howe
Nov
5
Reception
Spotlight Show: Women of the Palette
Dec
3
Reception
Spotlight Show: Places and Spaces of Tri Cities
On Going Children’s Classes Classes with Anne Thwaites More classes will be added. For more information and/or to register for classes at Art in the Heart Gallery call (423) 480-9702
offer excellent fine art for sale in supporting the work of our local artists. Classes for adults and children will be offered at Art in the Heart Gallery and all classes are open to the public. In addition, special shows and exhibitions will feature many of the local artists. Art in the Heart Gallery continues to promote art and artists from our region with over 40 artists represented in the gallery. Art in the Heart Gallery offers paintings in oil, watercolor, acrylic and pastel. You will find pottery by various artists as well as turned wood pieces, stained glass, mosaics and assemblage, as well as fabric creations, baskets and jewelry. For that perfect one of a kind gift, original artwork is the answer! Art in the Heart Gallery invites you to get engaged in the arts in Downtown Kingsport, a place of creative discovery. Art in the Heart Gallery is located at 246 Broad Street, in beautiful Downtown Kingsport. The gallery is open Wednesday & Thursday 11 am to 5 pm; Friday 11 am to 7 pm; and Saturday 11 am to 3 pm.
“Turnip the Beet” & “The Dancing Bears” highlight Labor Day Weekend Contra Dances in Jonesborough!
The Historic Jonesborough Dance Society will host the next Contra Dance of the season on Saturday September 5, 2015 at the Jonesborough Visitors Center at 117 Boone Street at 7:30 PM. The featured band is “Turnip the Beet” from Nashville. Susan Kevra will be calling the dance. Admission is $7, $5 for HJDS members and $5 for full time students. A special family package for members is now offered for a total of $15. Parents and all of their own children under age 18 can gain admission for one price. HJDS welcomes back all area college and high school students for this dance. Over the years, contra dance has attracted many area students who come to find that this style of dance is easy to learn, provides a smoke free, alcohol free atmosphere where one can
get a good amount of aerobic exercise and meet lots of cool people of all ages. Turnip the Beet is a dance band duo from Nashville, Tennessee. Rooted in the traditions of Southern Appalachia and local contra dances, Kelsey Wells and Jeremy Lekich combine fiddle, guitar, percussion, and the occasional banjo in an innovative and jubilant musical harvest. Joining Turnip the Beet on Sunday September 6th is The Dancing Bears with caller, Barbara Groh, from Asheville for a 12-hour Contrathon dance at the Pavilion at Serenity Knoll in Jonesborough, 542 Bacon Branch Road, Jonesborough. You can pre-register for this event at contrathonxviii.eventbrite.com. Cost is $25 for the day until 8/30. Then the admission goes
up to $35. Contrathon offers 9-1/2 hours of dance time spread out over 12 hours. Snacks are provided during the day. The Dancing Bears consists of Lew Gelfond on fiddle, Mark Langner on guitar, John Culp mandolin and banjo and Jeff Hersk on bass. Dress comfortably. Beyond proper shoes, there is no dress code. Most women choose to wear dresses or skirts and some men prefer to dance in kilts or long skirts as well. This is only because twirling in them is more fun and skirts are cooler and more comfortable than pants. For more information, contact David Wiley at 423-534-8879, or email to david@historicjonesboroughdancesociety.org. Also visit the Historic Jonesborough Dance Society on FACEBOOK.
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Highly Anticipated Comedy-Thriller Garners Extra Attention and Earns Extra Performances
High demand for an upcoming comedy-thriller has encouraged Barter Theatre to add 17 additional performances of the fall show, “I’ll Be Back Before Midnight.” Barter Theatre has recently received increased demand for more shows of “I’ll Be Back Before Midnight,” a comedy-thriller previously set to debut October 3. In response to patron feedback, the theatre has decided to move the show’s opening date up to accommodate more performances. “I’ll Be Back Before Midnight” is now set to begin at Barter Stage II on September 4. “I’ll Be Back Before Midnight,”
is the perfect show for the fall, and rapidly approaching Halloween season, with its unexpected twists and turns that will make the audience both scream and laugh. Barter Resident Actor Rick McVey, who will appear in “I’ll Be Back Before Midnight,” says, “You won’t know whether to laugh or scream, but I guarantee you will do both!” This action-packed production’s cast features several audience favorites including Holly Williams, Carrie Smith Lewis, Rick McVey and Michael Vine. Holly Williams, plays a leading role in “I’ll Be Back Before Midnight.” Williams’ character, Jan,
has just been released from a mental hospital, but she has made a full recovery. Jan’s husband Greg rents an old farmhouse in the country where Jan can recover, but from the moment she steps into the home, strange things start happening. Williams said, “The audience will keep guessing, is Jan experiencing a haunting, or is it her illness coming back? Are people plotting to kill her, or is her anxiety taking over? Or is she right?” “I’ll Be Back Before Midnight” is being directed by Mary Lucy Bivins, another celebrated audience favorite. Earlier this year, Bivins directed “Love, Sex, and the I.R.S.,” the sensational comedy that had audiences rolling with laughter. “I’ll Be Back Before Midnight” is made possible by Barter Theatre’s Board of Trustees. Barter Theatre, the nation’s longest running professional theatre, is funded in part by The National Endowment for the Arts and The Virginia Commission for the Arts. To purchase tickets to “I’ll Be Back Before Midnight,” visit the Barter Theatre box office, call 276-6283991 or visit bartertheatre.com. A promotional poster created for “I’ll Be Back Before Midnight” by Justin Slone
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“LOVE” Returns to Abingdon with Installation of New Public Art by Abingdon Main Street
Abingdon Main Street, the nonprofit organization dedicated to improving and promoting Abingdon’s downtown district, has unveiled a new permanent installation of the popular LOVE letters on the front lawn of the Martha Washington Inn & Spa. The letters are part of a statewide branding project from the Virginia Tourism Corporation, and funds for the project were raised by Abingdon Main Street with the assistance of the Town of Abingdon. Since 2013 the LOVE letters have been a popular photo backdrop for Abingdon’s residents and visitors. People are drawn to the LOVE letters and choose them as backdrops for special occasions such as engagements, family pictures, new baby pictures and memorable road trips. The LOVEworks program is a state-wide branding initiative designed to promote family-friendly vacation experiences in Virginia and the Virginia is for Lovers message.
The previous set of LOVE letters were made of wood and had to be removed after being damaged during the winter. The new LOVE letters are made of powdercoated steel, created by Steel Canvas Design in Abingdon, and are designed to last for many years. In homage to Abingdon’s original name of “Wolf Hills,” the new letters also feature a howling wolf inside the letter “O.” The LOVE letters are part of a larger, grant-funded project to cre-
ate a public art trail in downtown Abingdon. Funding was secured from Virginia Main Street, and matched with private donations and assistance from the Town of Abingdon. The public art trail will include existing sculptures in downtown Abingdon, and the recently installed art “wraps” of the electrical boxes along Abingdon’s Main Street. The next phase of the project, to be completed later this year, includes two two-dimensional metal sculptures by local artists
inspired by Abingdon’s past as “Wolf Hills.” Abingdon Main Street advocates for downtown businesses and plans projects and events in order to drive locals and visitors alike to the downtown district. Up next, the organization will present Main Street Busker Fest, a festival of street artists to be held in downtown Abingdon Saturday September 5th. For more information visit http://abingdonmainstreet.com/
Watauga Lake Triathlon
Swim~Bike~Run
Saturday Sept. 12, 2015 Come join the excitement!
This triathlon, which consists of swimming, running, and biking, is a fund raiser to help keep Watauga Lake the 3rd cleanest lake in the country and to ensure clean water throughout the world. Teams are welcomed to participate!! See the website for details and directions. http://www.wataugalaketriathlon.com/ This event lasts from 8AM until 12noon. Gather at Sugar Grove Baptist Church, directly across from Pioneer Landing Marina in Butler, Tn. to watch and participate in these races!
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Hands On!
September Calendar of Events All Month Long Traveling Exhibit,
13th Annual Papa Joe Smiddy Mountain Music Festival
Good food, good music and fun times are sure to be on hand for the 13th Annual Papa Joe Smiddy Mountain Music Festival! The event will begin at 5 PM, Sunday, September 6, 2015 at Natural Tunnel State Park in Duffield, VA. Bands include “Pea Pickin’ Hearts”, “ETSU Old Time Pride Band”, “UVA Wise Bluegrass Band”, “Dr. Joe Smiddy and Reedy Creek”, and the “ETSU Bluegrass Pride Band”. Tickets are $10 in advance, or $15 at the gate with no admission for children under 12. To purchase by phone, please call 276.940.2674. Ticket sale sites are Addington Oil in Weber City, Kingsport, Chamber of Commerce, Natural Tunnel State Park and UVA Wise Bookstore. See you there! For other upcoming events, please visit historicsullivan.com.
a “secret” ingredient. Then test out a variety of household items in our Soluble Separation Solution Our Body: Experiment. The Eastman DiscovThe Universe Within ery Lab will be open by announceExtended through Nov. 1st The world-renowned exhibi- ment periodically throughout tion, “Our Body: The Universe each day. Within” is a limited-time, artful presentation consisting of actual Monday, Sept. 7th Labor Day human bodies and organs. The display, which has been seen The museum is closed in recogniby millions in select cities, literally tion of Labor Day. goes “under the skin”, revealing the mysteries of the human anat- Tuesday, Sept. 15th - Sunday, omy. The bodies, specimens and Sept. 20th and Thursday, Sept, organs have been preserved using 24th - Sunday, Sept. 27th a process known as polymer im- Water Pollution Solution Get a firsthand look at what pregnation so they can be viewed happens to water in our environin a dignified, educational way. As guests enter the exhibit, ment with our 3-dimensional Enthey will have the opportunity viroScape in recognition of Polluto examine the human body as a tion Prevention Week. Learn what whole. Continuing throughout the “one drop of water in a bucket” exhibit, they will journey through means and then take it further each of the body’s major systems with a mock oil spill cleanup and seeing first hand how they func- a water filtration activity. Do you tion and relate to other systems have the water pollution solution? as they view actual human bodies The Eastman Discovery Lab will and specimens, see bones, blood be open by announcement perivessels, nerves, muscles, hearts, odically throughout each day. livers...all of the human organs. This extraordinary exhibition, Monday, Sept. 21 - Wednesappropriate for all ages, was de- day, Sept. 23rd signed to educate, enlighten, and Hands On! will be Closed for allow all who attend to under- Cleaning and Exhibit Maintenance stand the complexities of our bodies and has only been available in Wednesday, Sept. 16th, major cities within the U.S. and 9:30 am - noon abroad. It’s Electric Workshop Our Body: The Universe Within We’re getting amped up about and Hands On! Museum will have some electrifying experiments! separate entrances. Guests may You might short circuit from the choose to visit one or both. Hours fun of helping build a lemon batfor the exhibit are: Friday 9amtery, splitting water with electroly5pm,Saturday 9am-6pm, Sunday sis, and creating a human circuit 1pm-5pm. Other days by reservato light up a bulb! Then finish tion only. For ticket and other inout the workshop with a private formation, visit http://handsonshowing of our world-record museum.org . holding, bi-polar, musical Telsa coil! Cost $15 for members, $20 Tuesday, Sept. 1st for non-members. Ages 5-12. PaySunday, Sept. 13th ment is required with registration Sharpie Tie Dye byWednesday, September 2nd. To Discover the properties of sol- register, please call (423) 434-4263 ubility while making an artistic ext. 100, or email reservations@ masterpiece with Sharpie markers, handsonmuseum.org laboratory-grade filter paper, and
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Live Storytelling with Ellouise Schoettler
Artists aren’t always celebrated for their organizational skills. But Ellouise Schoettler runs her storytelling business rather like a military campaign—in a good way. She never enlisted, and she wasn’t an Army brat, but Schoettler did fight in a war, of sorts. When complimented on her attention to detail, she laughs. “That’s how I was trained for the League of Women Voters in doing a lot of work in the women’s movement in the 70’s,” she says. “And if you ever worked for the National Staff of the League of Women Voters, you don’t forget how they do things. It becomes part of your DNA.” Schoettler was studying to become an artist when she took her first women’s studies class. And in a sense, women’s studies sent her back around to performing. Having come from a long line of “good talkers” from North Carolina, it was a natural transition. A fixture on the Washington, D.C. performance scene, Schoettler regularly plays the Fringe Festival to great acclaim. As the International Storytelling Center’s upcoming teller in residence, Schoettler will share a week’s worth of stories. Her work ranges from deeply personal stories to tales about unsung heroes in history. All matinee shows are daily Tuesday through Saturday, September 8 – 12, in the Mary B. Martin Storytelling Hall. One of her most popular programs is a new story she calls “The Hello Girls,” a historical piece about women telephone operators who served their country during World War I. (Due to popular demand, she’ll perform this story twice, on Wednesday and Saturday.) She’ll also tell a light, but profound, story about her “forever home” at Arlington National Cemetery. Knowing she’ll be buried there someday, Schoettler, a Southerner through and through, makes an effort to “meet” her neighbors every time she visits the cemetery. That social impulse is evident in every area of her life. Nearing 80, Schoettler is one of the most social media savvy storytellers
on same-day dining at The Dining Room, Jonesborough General Store and Eatery, or Main Street Café. The International Storytelling Center’s Storytelling Live! series will bring a new performer to Jonesborough each week through the end of October. Information about this season’s performers, as well as a detailed schedule, is available at www.storytellingcenter.net. in the business, steadily building her fan base on Facebook and Twitter. (She’s also been blogging for a decade now.) Stop by the International Storytelling Center in downtown Jonesborough for one of her five matinees, which all begin at 2:00 p.m. sharp. Tickets for all performances are just $12 for adults and $11 for seniors, students, and children under 18. Walk-in seating is often available, but advance reservations are recommended since tickets are first come, first served. All ticket holders will save 10 percent
Storytelling Live! is supported by program sponsors CrestPoint Health and Eastman Credit Union, and media sponsors News 5-WCYB, FOX Tri-Cities, TriCities 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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The Results of my Exploratory Committee
I’m a simple man, with a simple life. I coach high school football for a living, I wake up at the same time each day, and I eat breakfast at the McDonald’s down the street from my house. It was a shock to me though on a recent Thursday. I was sitting in my regular booth, in the middle of my fourth McMuffin of the day. Some of the boys came around and joined me in the booth. They’re always welcome to. I have an open door policy, I’m there for any player who needs me. I like giving my homespun Texas wis-
dom to these boys who are still trying to figure out the world. “Coach, the fellas and I, well, we’ve been talking.” My lead player hesitated for a moment, I could tell that what he wanted to say was important, I offered my encouragement “Go on, son.” He looked at the other players, then back at me, “Coach, we’ve been thinking you ought to run for president.” I set my McMuffin down, took a sip of my coffee, then rubbed my chin. I sat in silent contemplation over the gravity of what my boys had just
told me. One person at a table over on the opposite side of where I was began to clap, they stood up slowly, then turned towards me. More people joined them, and soon the entire McDonald’s was full of applause. It seemed a good number of the town folk felt I should run. I wasn’t sure about it, so I asked my boys and the American History teacher to form an Exploratory Committee for me. The boys told me I needed to get on the Twitter, so I did. Then, the History teacher told me
I should start to send out some inflammatory tweets to get the media to notice me. “They eat that crap up” teacher said. I took my time to think about what I would tweet. I sat in a tub full of warm Gatorade, picked up my phone, and began a few messages to the world, hoping the media would notice. “Tiny Tim is a freeloader who deserved to die” was the first tweet I sent. “Canned Tomato Soup has wronged me in more ways than I can possibly count” was my next tweet. I picked up a few followers, so I set my phone down. Before I went to bed I tweeted “I will break you in a debate.” I woke up the next day to discover I had 1.2 million followers, and CBS wanted to interview me. We set up an interview at the field house, the day before the first game of the season. My boys and the team made it clear what I needed to say. “Look, Charlie. It’s clear to me
that the canned soup lobby has been running this Country for far too long. I don’t care if the ‘fashionistas’ in Washington like it or not, what we need is a straight shooter who can get the ball from one end to the other end! I know what to do with a ball!” The news crew stayed around to film me coaching that night’s game. I was hoping we’d win, I wanted to look like I was in control, that I could be a good leader. We won the game, and I was happy with how I looked on the TV. But the more I focused on my campaign, the less I focused on the game—and it started to show. We lost three games in a row, all to schools that should have been as easy to have picked off as that part of your nail that you just clipped that didn’t detach. The next game was the big Homecoming game against our bitter rivals. I was feeling ill at ease with my new found
fame, feeding twitter, and trying to come up with policy. Monday night after practice, I was sitting in my office in the field house, when the principal came in to speak with me. “You gotta quit your campaign, Coach” he said to me, always to the point. “I can’t” I told him, “My boys are depending too much on me. It means so much to them.” The principal was shaking his head “You’ve got it backwards, Coach. For the first time since I’ve known you, you’re wrong. You’ve gotta shift your focus from The White House, to The Field House! You need to win next week, and you let politics sort it self out.” I went home, climbed into a warm tub full of Vitamin Water, and cried. Why? Because I knew The Principal was right. The next day I announced that I was not seeking the White House, deleted my Twitter, and got back into focus on the game. You know what? We won that homecoming game, 48-1. My boys were proud of me, I was proud of myself, and I got a free McFlurry at the McDonald’s down the street from my house. I love being a coach. See you next week.
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Trey Hensley & Drivin’ Force
September 1, 2015 | The Loafer | Page 13
at Carter Family Fold
Saturday, September 5th, 2015, at 7:30 p.m. the Carter Family Fold in Hiltons, Virginia, will present a concert of bluegrass music by Trey Hensley & Drivin’ Force. Admission to the concert is $10 for adults, $1 for children 6 to 11, under age 6 free. Keeping true to the roots of country music is not only a lovely sentiment of nostalgia, but a necessity for the growth of an artist . . . and staying true to the roots just comes naturally for Trey Hensley. After picking up a guitar at the age of 10, he quickly took the bluegrass world by storm – even performing on the Grand Ole Opry when he was 11. Through the years, Trey has had the opportunity to perform with the likes of Marty Stuart, Earl Scurggs, Johnny and June Carter Cash, Charlie Daniels, Steve Wariner, the Oak Ridge Boys, Ricky Skaggs, Blue Highway, J.D. Crowe, and many others. Trey has opened shows
for Marty Stuart, President George W. Bush, former First Lady Laura Bush, Dick Cheney, Charlie Daniels, Peter Frampton, Alabama front-man Randy Owen, Sara Evans, and others. In the fall of 2012, Trey had the opportunity to sing a “scratch vocal” on a song in the studio for legendary bluegrass super group Blue Highway. The group ended up liking the vocal so much that they left Trey’s vocal on the finished product. The album, titled “The Game,” was released January, 2014, with Trey Hensley as a special guest on the song “My Last Day in the Mine.” In reference to Trey’s vocal on the song, Tim Stafford of Blue Highway said, “It’s one take, live from the control room. That tells you how good this guy is!” In the summer of 2013, Trey relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, and started playing on a regular basis with IBMA’s 15-time “Dobro Player of the Year,” Rob Ickes. In the fall of 2013, Trey and Rob decided to go work on a duo album together. The outcome of those recording sessions turned into a new album titled “Before the Sun Goes Down,” released in January, 2015. The duo has recently been signed to Compass Records in Nashville, Tennessee and will start working on the second album sometime in 2015. “Before the Sun Goes Down” features new material from Trey, Bobby Starnes, and Barry Ricks as well as a few standard covers from artists as diverse
Hensley .....
continued on page 16
Historic Jonesborough Gears Up for Sept. 5 Town-Wide Yard Sale
Jonesborough welcomes the public to its annual fall town-wide yard sale on Sat., Sept. 5 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. The yard sale is a fundraising effort to assist with the Jonesborough Area Merchants & Services Assoc. Spaces are 10 x 10 and will cost $15 for a single, $25 for two and $30 for three. Reservations are required. The sale will take place along the sidewalks throughout the Historic District. Other shops and restaurants along Jonesborough’s Main Street will be participating in the event with a variety of bargains. For more information on the yard sale or to participate, contact Jeff Gurley at 423-913-2663 or visit www.visitjonesborough.com.
Page 14 | The Loafer | September 1, 2015
at Birthplace of Country Music Museum LOVELY GOODBYE at Capone’s
ACOUSTIC REACTION
JASON LLOYD & FRIENDS
(Rockin’ Boogie Blues) 7pm at Sonny’s Marina & Cafe
8pm at The Down Home
YARN
at Sleepy Owl Brewery
TUESDAY - Sept. 1 at Biggies Clam Bar
8pm at The Willow Tree Coffeehouse & Music Room
CATFISH FRYE BAND NATHAN KALISH
SOUTHERN SOUND
at Holiday Inn (Exit 7)
MALCOLM HALCOMBE JOHNSON CITY ZINE FEST at The Willow Tree Coffeehouse & Music Room 8pm
AARON JACKSON BAND at Capone’s
JOSEPH HUBER
(Classic Country & Southern Rock) 8pm at Wagon Wheel
THE PLATE SCRAPERS
at Bristol VFW Post 6975
(Rockin’ Boogie Blues) 7pm at Painter Creek Marina
6:30pm at Kickin’ Back Kings Alley
(Classic Country & Southern Rock) 8pm at Castlewood Eagles
8pm at Sleepy Owl Brewery at Acoustic Coffeehouse
WEDNESDAY - Sept. 2 PLAN Z (Rock) at O’Mainnin’s Pub 10pm
MARK LARKINS
CAMERON TATE BETH SNAPP
THE ROUGH & TUMBLE
SOUTHERN COUNTRYMEN BAND (Country) at The Outdoorsman SHOOTER (Country, Classic Rock,
MIKE PRESLAR
LIVE MUSIC
at Down Home
at Acoustic Coffeehouse
THURSDAY - Sept. 3
JAZZ at Wellington’s - Carnegie Hotel THE DUO TONES at Biggie’s Clam Bar
JB 5 N DIME
at Bristol’s Full Moon Jam SHAWN HAGAN (Folk) 10pm at O’Mainnin’s Pub
THE JONES BOYS at Quaker Steak & Lube
Oldies) 7pm at State Line Bar & Grill
at Bone Fire Smokehouse
THE APPLESEED COLLECTIVE 7pm at Music on the Square Jonesborough
ROADTRIPP
at Country Club Bar & Grill
CHRISTOPHER PAUL STELLING 8pm at The Willow Tree Coffeehouse & Music Room
THE JONES BOYS
7pm at Marker “2” Grill
CATFISH FRYE BAND SOUTHERN SOUND TREY HENSLEY & DRIVIN’ FORCE at Carter Family Fold
ROADTRIPP
at Country Club Bar & Grill
BELOW 7
at The Italian Rose
LIVE MUSIC
at Bone Fire Smokehouse
MICHAEL MCFARLAND
at Acoustic Coffeehouse
SUNDAY - Sept. 6 IVY ROAD
at Marker “2” Grill
MARSHALL BALLEW
SANDERS DAVIS
SATURDAY - Sept. 5
CAMERON SUTPHIN STRANGLE DARLINGS
ONE GOOD THING
PAPA JOE SMIDDY MTN MUSIC FESTIVAL
RETROVILLE
BARNYARD STOMPERS
at Bone Fire Smokehouse
at The Acoustic Coffeehouse
FRIDAY - Sept. 4
JAS PATRICK FOLKROLLN DEREK ASTLES at Acoustic Coffeehouse
ROY BOOK BINDER
7pm at Sonny’s Marina & Cafe 7pm at Marker “2” Grill ACOUSTIFRIED (Country) at Cardinal Cove - Cherokee Lake
SOUTHERN COUNTRYMEN BAND 7pm at Saltville Days NIGHTSHIFT
BILLY CRAWFORD BAND
(Country, Southern Rock, Oldies) 7pm at Buffalo Ruritan Club SHOOTER (Country, Classic Rock, Oldies) 7pm at Bristol Show Palace
RUSSELL MOORE & IIIrd TYME
at Quaker Steak & Lube
8pm at Down Home NIGHTSHIFT (Country, Southern Rock, Oldies) 7pm at Raytheon Park at Quaker Steak & Lube
JIMI D.
at Bone Fire Smokehouse
5pm at Natural Tunnel State Park at Acoustic Coffeehouse
MONDAY - Sept. 7 BLUEGRASS JAM
at Hardee’s (Boones Creek)
TOMMY SHORT
at Bristol VFW Post 6975
STEVE & RUTH SMITH CAROLINA BLUE 7pm at Bristol’s Pickin’ Porch
KARAOKE TUESDAY
KaraokeAt Numan’s - JCTN ***********************
WEDNESDAY
Karaoke w/ Southern Sounds Karaoke at American Legion 8pm Karaoke At Bristol VFW - BTN Turn the Page Karaoke At VFW Post 2108 - JCTN ***********************
THURSDAY
Karaoke At Numan’s - JCTN Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Electric Cowboy - JCTN Karaoke w/ Southern Sounds Karaoke at Macadoo’s 8pm Karaoke At Holiday Inn - JCTN Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment At Everette’s Bar & Grille - JCTN ***********************
FRIDAY
KaraokeAt Bristol VFW - BTN Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertaiment at Rainbow Asian Cuisine - JCTN Karaoke w/ Southern Sounds Karaoke at Sportsman’s Bar & Grill 9pm Karaoke w/ Reverb Karaoke at The Cottage 8:30 pm Turn the Page Karaoke at VFW Post 2108 - JCTN Karaoke At Elizabethton VFW Karaoke w/ DJ Marques At Holiday Inn (Exit 7) - BVA Karaoke At Numan’s - JCTN ***********************
SATURDAY
Turn the Page Karaoke at VFW Post 2108 - JCTN Karaoke At Numan’s - JCTN ***********************
SUNDAY
Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Mellow Mushroom - JC TN Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment At Everette’s Bar & Grille - JCTN ***********************
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September 1, 2015 | The Loafer | Page 15
The Rough & Tumble The Down Home Wednesday, Sept. 2
The Rough & Tumble used to say they were from Nashville, Tennessee. That was before five months ago when members Mallory Graham and Scott Tyler sold everything, paid their last month’s rent, bought a camper, and took to the road full time. On Wednesday, September 2, 2015, they will be rolling into Johnson City to play the Down Home at 8pm for only $5 a ticket. The Rough & Tumble, along with their 97 pound dog, Butter, have been touring the country for more than four years, The folk-americana, close-harmony duo have been known to vary their instruments from classic acoustic guitar and harmonica to melodicas and homemade shakers made from wine bottles, all set to their original songwriting that has been described as “quirky, haunting, and deliberate.” With three EP’s under their belt, a double album called The Rough & Tumble’s Holiday Awareness Campaign-- which highlights the unappreciated holidays in an ambitious songwriting feat--, and a short film soundtrack underway, The Rough & Tumble have kept busy on and off the road. You can find The Rough & Tumble before their Down Home appearance on September 2nd at www.theroughandtumble.com, with their music also available on iTunes and Spotify.
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 Buffalo Ruritan 200 Willowbrook Dr. Bluff City 423/391-7382 Capone’s 227 E Main St Johnson City 423/928-2295 Carter Family Fold 3449 A. P. Carter Hwy Hiltons Va 276/594-0676 Castlewood Eagles Castlewood VA • 276/ 762-9837 Country Club Bar & Grill 3080 W State St Bristol 423/844-0400 David Thompson’s Produce 251 Highway 107 Jonesborough 423/913-8123 Down Home 300 W. Main St. Johnson City 423/929-9822 Holiday Inn (Exit 7) 3005 Linden Dr Bristol Va 276/466-4100 The Italian Rose • Marion VA Kickin’ Back at King’s Alley 156 E. Jackson St. Gate City VA 276/386-3831
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 Paramount Center for the Arts 516 State St. Bristol TN 423/ 274-8920 Quaker Steak & Lube 629 State St Bristol VA • 276/644-9647 Raytheon Park • Bluff City TN Show Palace 14364 Lee Hwy Bristol Va 276/494-6610 Sleepy Owl Brewery 151 E. Main St. Kingsport 423/390-8476 Sonny’s Marina & Café 109 One St. Gray TN 423/283-4014 State Line Bar & Grill 644 State Street Bristol 423/652-0792 Wagon Wheel 405 Cherokee St. Kingsport TN 423/ 247-5557 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 Winged Deer Park 4137 Bristol Hwy Johnson City 423/ 283-5816
Page 16 | The Loafer | September 1, 2015
Arts Array presents
man who turned out to be Edward Snowden. She brought her camera with her. The resulting film is history unfolding before our eyes. The Arts Array Film Series is part of the comprehensive cultural outreach program of Virginia Highlands Community College. The series is co-sponsored by the Abingdon Cinemall, the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center, Emory& Henry College, and King University. Admission to the films is free for the faculties and students at the supporting institutions. Members of the general community may attend for $7.75. For a brochure on the series or more information, please contact Tommy Bryant at 276-739-2451 or email him at tbryant@vhcc.edu
started receiving anonymous encrypted e-mails from “CITIZENFOUR,” who claimed to have evidence of illegal covert surveillance programs run by the NSA in collaboration with other inteland Tuesdays at 4 p.m. and again ligence agencies worldwide. Five at 7:30 pm. months later, she and reporters Glenn Greenwald and Ewen MaCITIZENFOUR cAskill flew to Hong Kong for the (September 7 and 8) In January 2013, Laura Poitras first of many meetings with the
“CITIZENFOUR”
The Arts Array Film Series presented by Virginia Highlands Community College is in its 45th year. All films are presented at the Abingdon Cinemall on Mondays
Hensley ..... continued from page 13 as Jimmy Martin, Merle Haggard, Bob Wills, and Stevie Ray Vaughn. Marty Stuart recently said this about Trey: “I first met Trey Hensley at a concert in East Tennessee when his guitar was almost bigger than he was. He played me his version of “Jimmy Brown the Newsboy” by the Carter Family that night, and I instantly became his fan. As a musician, singer, and songwriter, I’ve watched him evolve since that first meeting – but the one thing that has never changed is Trey’s authenticity. It’s on of his God-given virtues. In the ever changing world of country music, it’s comforting to know that the real deal still exists. I’m counting on Trey to keep the voice of the mountains alive because mountain boys always have something to say that’s worthy of a listen.” With a guitar in his hands, his talent expands beyond his young age. This guitar aficionado will blow your mind. His own style of picking – whether on his Telecaster or acoustic – bears the influence of some of his guitar heroes. You’ll hear traces of James Burton, Marty Stuart, Buck Owens, Ricky Skaggs, Doc Watson, and Tony Rice. Trey’s talent and stage presence are indicative of a performer far beyond his young age. His tremendous talent and his down home humility impress everyone he meets. You won’t hear better guitar picking anywhere, and his vocals are every bit as spell-bind-
ing as his playing. If you aren’t a fan of Trey’s already, you will be when you hear him. For a night of some of the best bluegrass and traditional country music you can imagine, don’t miss Trey Hensley and Drivin’ Force at the Carter Family Fold! Trey grew up playing on the Carter Fold stage, and it feels like part of our family is coming home when he performs there. The Fold takes such tremendous pride in bringing him back to our stage. If you need more information on Trey, go to http://treyhensley.com/. Carter Family Memorial Music Center, Incorporated, is a nonprofit, rural arts organization established to preserve traditional, acoustic, mountain music. For further information on the center, go to http://www.carterfamilyfold. org. Shows from the Carter Family Fold can be accessed on the internet at http://www.carterfoldshow.com. Carter Music Center is part of the Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail. You can visit the Crooked Road Music Trail site at http://thecrookedroad.org. Partial funding for programs at the center is provided by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. For recorded information on shows coming up at the Fold, call 276-386-6054. The Fold is on Facebook – page Carter Fold – and Twitter – Twitter @carterfoldinfo. To speak to a Fold staff member, call 276-594-0676.
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Coming live, from Ann Arbor:
September 1, 2015 | The Loafer | Page 17
THE APPLESEED COLLECTIVE “The dictionary defines Americana as, ‘things associated with the culture and history of America, especially the United States.’ Well if that is the case then The Appleseed Collective is real Americana. I figured out sort of a mathematical equation last night- it’s like Satch plus Django plus Joplin plus Bob Wills plus a little Bill Monroe, but the sum is actually greater than the parts.” So said Jason Marck of WBEZ Chicago’s Morning Shift, introducing the band for a live segment in November 2014. The Local Show: Friday, Sept 4: Music on the Square, 101 E. Main St., Jonesborough Doors at 5; band plays at 7 pm No Americana sound could ring so true without miles of highway to back it up, and The Appleseed Collective certainly has that- 2014 has seen them travel coast to coast in support of their two studio albums, Baby to Beast (2012) and Young Love (January 2014). According to Aarik Danielsen of the
Columbia Daily Tribune, “Young Love sweeps out the various corners of American music, taking a long look at both the sublime and the strange. The group explores both dark and light in a way that other string-band revivalists haven’t touched.” Formed in 2010, The Appleseed Collective has become a force of nature powered by their local community and developed by a strong sense of do-it-yourself drive. In an age of corporations and climate change, the band’s commitment to buying & selling local, eating from gardens, and being their own bosses has led to the kind of success that feels simply organic. Each part of the Collective comes together to form an amalgam of complementary and contrasting elements. With a Motown session musician for a father, guitarist Andrew Brown was exposed to pre-World War II jazz on a trip to New Orleans. Shortly afterwards a chance meeting introduced him to
Brandon Smith, violinist, mandolinist and improvisatory magician who grew up playing old time fiddle music. Vince Russo, multipercussionist and van-packing savant, blends influences of funk, jazz and rock n’ roll on the washboard. Eric Dawe comes from a background of choral singing and studies in Indian classical music and provides the bottom end on the upright bass. The whole band sings in harmony. The band’s latest release is a live album recorded in one night at world-renowned venue, The Ark in their hometown of Ann Arbor MI. On Live At The Ark (December 2014) the energy is palpable, the crowd ready to receive, and the band primed to deliver. With a mix of new and old material, as well as a few specially requested covers, Appleseed does just that. The album balances barn burners, old soul jazz, and sparse mood pieces, all suspended above a room hungry for more. It’s a dar-
ing spectacle but it pays off- the album feels at once electric and intimate, glamorous and genuine, or as Joshua Pickard at Beats Per Minute put it, “music best served alongside a roaring campfire but that also has the ability to challenge the rafters of any grand arena.” The Appleseed Collective is not a bluegrass band. It’s not The Hot Club of Paris. It’s not a ragtime cover band. The Appleseed Collective represents Americana music rooted in traditions from all over the world and from every decade, creating a live experience that welcomes every soul and is impossible to replicate. “Tearing it up is not something
that immediately comes to mind when referring to acoustic Americana-based music (the Appleseed Collective actually describes its music as “Americana folk jazz”), but moments later the band took the stage and proceeded, in fact, to tear it up...The Appleseed Collective is young, talented, full of energy, and playing a type of music that is hardly in abundance in southeast Michigan.” - ArborWeb “The Appleseed Collective are redefining the possibilities of the folk aesthetic, with dashes of gypsy and dixie.” - Deep Cutz www.theappleseedcollective.com www.facebook.com/theappleseedcollective www.twitter.com/theappleseedco
Page 18 | The Loafer | September 1, 2015
Astrology vs Astronomy and the 13th Sign of The Zodiac Those of us stargazers who seriously study the night sky full of stars are constantly being mistaken for those who dig horoscopes and signs of the Zodiac. It’s amateur astronomer, not astrologer, please! I’m less sensitive than I used be in my many decades fiddling with telescopes. And proud to be one of the two million or so serious stargazers world-wide who crane their necks at telescopes in pursuit of cosmic wonders. Often mistaken for astronomy’s illegitimate cousin astrology, I’ve never given a horoscope based on your Zodiac signs, but can show you in an hour on a good clear night a dozen or so galaxies, nebula, star clusters and double stars. I first owned a telescope at age 8 and began probing the Moon and bright planets. After five decades of star maps, monthly magazine and book after book after book on the subject of astronomy, I often ask the question: “How can somebody know so much about something and still be called an amateur?” It’s a paradox, because people are always curious about what’s up in the sky, and often ask me about what they are seeing. And I can usually tell them which planet, what star or perhaps which satellite they saw. Everyone is curious about the night sky, yet few take time to learn the constellations. And inevitably, the question about astrology vs. astronomy comes up. No doubt, the first serious stargazers noticed a rhythm in the night sky about the Moon and five naked eye stars called wanderers, or in Greek, “planets.” The Moon and these planets always stayed within a narrow boundary of star
patterns that were chopped up into skeletons of zoo creatures and called the Zodiac, with Libra the Scales as an exception. There were 12 traditional constellations of the Zodiac, and the ancient Babylonian stargazers of 5,000 years ago began to connect events in their daily lives with the appearance of certain star patterns and planets. Like the brightest star Sirius in the morning twilight when the Nile River flooded in Egypt. Sometimes the five planets, given names of gods that matched the personality of their color, were seen in certain Zodiac star patterns when good and bad things happened in the lives of Kings, Queens and noblemen. The implied connection between the stars and man’s affairs on Earth began as an entertaining coinci-
dence, and grew into ways that royal stargazers could profit with a luxurious lifestyle. And astrology was born. Man great astronomers in history were also astrologers who charted horoscopes for their superiors who paid them well. Included are the great Ptolemy, father of astronomy; the greatest naked eye observer
and recorder, Tycho Brahe; and the great mathematician Johannes Kepler. Even the great Isaac Newton dabbled in astrology, but his real obsession was alchemy and trying to turn things into gold. But these minds of science also realized a great flaw in astrology—that a 13 constellation was contained within the stellar circus of animals and the balance beam. Lodged between Scorpius and Sagittarius in our summer Milky Way looking south are the giant feat of an ancient hero who is wrestling snakes—Ophiuchus. Pronounced “o-FEE-U-kus,” the faint stars are the 11th largest pattern of the 88 constellations in the night sky, and one of the oldest talked about by ancient stargazers. Actually occupying the area of sky in the summer that familiar Orion is seen in the winter, Ophiuchus is huge, yet indistinct with no bright stars like the mighty hunter. Yet to an amateur astronomy and his backyard telescope, the serpent slayer is a treasure trove of seven globular clusters orbiting our Galaxy and several interesting multiple star systems. While an exciting constellation to amateur astronomers, astrologers ignore Ophiuchus, tending to blend its stars with those of Scorpius to its right and Sagittarius to its left. But this just points out one fallacy of astrology—the fact that the Sun is always in Ophiuchus more days than in Scorpius. Astrology applied to the individual centers around when you born, and where the Sun was among the Zodiac constellations on that day.
Of course, the bright Sun is washing out the stars in the daytime, but even ancient stargazers could figure out the predictable path of the Sun and where it was among the daytime stars. That constellation became the most important “sign of the Zodiac” for an individual at birth, and with other facts of where the planets and Moon were at that moment, a horoscope was devised that predicted a person’s fate and destiny. The problem is the Sun in real life is rarely where astrology says it is. Not only the 13th constellation Ophiuchus messes things up, but the Gregorian Calendar we use was decreed in 1582. Because the solstices and equinoxes were slipping back three days every 400 years, a 10 day correction was needed to keep Religious holidays in sync with the calendar time, particularly Easter. Pope Gregory XIII tossed out 10 days in 1582 to correct for the sliding calendar since Roman times, but astrology never adapted their charts and predictions to the Gregorian Calendar reform. This has left the Sun signs out of whack for the past five centuries. Also, your true astrological birth sign might be different than the one you believe. The Zodiac constellations are not uniform in size across the sky. Some like Cancer are small while others like Virgo cover a lot of the sky. So, your “sign” isn’t true to where the Sun actually is. Astrology wants you to think the Sun remains in the Zodiac sign for 30 days from the 21st of the month to the next 21st. But that’s not true. And here’s the proof, where the Sun was and for how many days in 2015: Capricornus Jan. 20-Feb. 16 (26 days), Aquarius Feb. 17-March 10, (29 days), Pisces March 11-April 17 (37 days), Aries April 18-May 12 (24 days), Taurus May 13-June 20 (37 days), Gemini June 21-July 19 (28 days), Cancer July 20-Aug. 9 (20 days), Leo Aug. 10-Sept. 15 (36 days), Virgo Sept. 16-Oct. 19 (33 days), Libra Oct. 20-Nov. 21 (32 days), Scorpius Nov. 22-28 (6 days), Ophiuchus Nov. 29-Dec. 17 (18 days), Sagittarius Dec. 18-Jan. 19 (32 days). That’s a far cry from 30 some days in each Zodiac house, ignoring the mighty Ophiuchus! So next time you want to ask an amateur astronomer what their sign is, well, be prepared to get more than just a horoscope.
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September 1, 2015 | The Loafer | Page 19
Celestial events in the skies for the week of Sept. 1st - Sept. 7th, 2015 as compiled for The Loafer by Mark D. Marquette. The Moon moves into the after-midnight scene, returning the Milky Way to its glory spanning overhead from north to south. Planet Saturn is making its final call for the year in the southwest, ahead of Scorpius sprawling across the horizon with Ophiuchus above and Sagittarius to its left.
Tues. Sept. 1
On this 1979 date in space history, NASA’s Pioneer 11 give mankind its first close-up views of Saturn and its amazing ring system. The first photos were crude by today’s standards, but 36 years ago the images of the vinyl recordlike grooves in the rings were astounding and a scientific bonanza. Pioneer 11 continued past Saturn to report on the Sun’s effects and the environment of the outer regions of our Solar System, ceasing to work in November 1995 after more than 22 years powered by nuclear fuel. Now 8 billion miles from the Sun on an endless journey that will bring it by another star in the summertime constellation Aquila the Eagle in maybe 4 million years, Pioneer 11 has a golden plaque attached describing our Solar System and earthlings for any aliens to decipher.
Wed. Sept. 2
Directly south at dark is the 13th constellation of the Zodiac, Ophiuchus. A huge star pattern with no bright stars, the man with the strange name Ophiuchus dips his foot between Scorpius and Sagittarius. He is officially the serpentbearer, but may have done more than just handle snakes to get immortality in the stars. Ophiuchus (pronounced oh-FEW-kus) could also be the mythical Greek doctor Aesculapius of the ship Argo, unseen below the horizon.
Thurs. Sept. 3
On this 1976 date in space history, Viking 2 landed on Mars, following its sister spaceship Viking 1 in July. The stationary landers were deployed from the Viking Orbiters, and were equipped with
a small chemical laboratory to try and detect life. Gases from the Martian soil were attributed to a chemical reaction and not life, but nearly 40 years later the data is still debated as to whether Viking 2 discovered signs of life.
Fri. Sept. 4
Early morning risers (or insomniacs) can take a peak outside and see star patterns that will take over our evenings this Winter. At 5 am, Orion is well over the eastern tions. Deneb is the tail of Cygnus horizon with Taurus above it and the Swan, Vega is the top of Lyra Gemini to the left. the Harp, and Altair is the beak of Aquila the Eagle. Sat. Sept. 5 Moon is at Last Quarter, rising Mon. Sept. 7 after at 15 minutes after midnight, Cygnus is also called the Norththe moonlight is not a factor in our ern Cross as its main stars form enjoying the Milky Way and sum- that asterism within the constellamer constellations. tion, with Deneb at the top. Another famous asterism, the Big Sun. Sept. 6 Straddling our arm of the Gal- Dipper, is low in the northwest, axy are three stars that make up scrapping along the horizon as the a giant triangle, Deneb, Vega and night wears no—but never quite Altair of three different constella- setting.
Page 20 | The Loafer | September 1, 2015
IN THEATRES NOW Box Office Top 10
In Theaters Now
Straight Outta Compton (2015)
“Ricki and the Flash” We might as well address Meryl Streep the First Lady of Cinema as the three-time Academy Award winner has portrayed every type of character imaginable, from a fashion diva (“The Devil Wears Prada”) to a former British Prime Minister (“The Iron Lady”). The actress adds another unique character to her film catalog in the form of a rock star wanna-be named Ricki Rendazzo in the new film “Ricki and the Flash”. Ricki’s real name is actually Linda, and she was once married to a man named Pete (Kevin Kline), of whom she abandoned in the 1980’s by moving to Los Angeles to become a rock star. Linda also left her three children behind, and with only one album to show for her efforts, plus years of trying to become famous, is reduced to playing in a dive bar in L.A. She is playing as the house band of a small bar, along with other older musicians, including her love interest Greg (Rick Springfield!). Ricki also works a side job as a supermarket cashier to make ends meet. Meanwhile, back in her hometown of Indianapolis, her estranged daughter Julie (Mamie Gummer) has attempted suicide due to her husband leaving her. The failed action results in Greg contacting his ex-wife to visit their daughter in help pull her out of her funk. When Ricki arrives in Indianapolis, she is greeting politely enough by Greg, but her now adult kids have little respect for her. Of course, she arrives in full rock singer mode, as she lives up to the persona she has had for years. The clash between Ricki and her children is not pleasant, but the estranged Mom makes every effort to at least bring her daughter back to life. In addition
The group NWA emerges from the mean streets of Compton in Los Angeles, California, in the mid-1980s and revolutionizes Hip Hop culture with their music and tales about life in the hood.
Mission: ImpossibleRogue Nation (2015)
Ethan and team take on their most impossible mission yet, eradicating the Syndicate - an International rogue organization as highly skilled as they are, committed to destroying the IMF.
Sinister 2 (2015)
A young mother and her twin sons move into a rural house that’s marked for death.
Hitman: Agent 47 (2015)
An assassin teams up with a woman to help her find her father and uncover the mysteries of her ancestry.
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015)
In the early 1960s, CIA agent Napoleon Solo and KGB operative Illya Kuryakin participate in a joint mission against a mysterious criminal organization, which is working to proliferate nuclear weapons.
American Ultra (2015)
A stoner - who is in fact a government agent - is marked as a liability and targeted for extermination. But he’s too well-trained and too high for them to handle.
The Gift (2015)
A young married couple’s lives are thrown into a harrowing tailspin when an acquaintance from the husband’s past brings mysterious gifts and a horrifying secret to light after more than 20 years.
Ant-Man (2015)
Armed with a super-suit with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, cat burglar Scott Lang must embrace his inner hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym, plan and pull off a heist that will save the world.
Minions (2015)
Minions Stuart, Kevin and Bob are recruited by Scarlett Overkill, a super-villain who, alongside her inventor husband Herb, hatches a plot to take over the world.
Fantastic Four (2015)
Four young outsiders teleport to an alternate and dangerous universe which alters their physical form in shocking ways. The four must learn to harness their new abilities and work together to save Earth from a former friend turned enemy.
Source: IMDb.com • (08/29/2015)
to issues with her kids, Ricki also has a conflict with Greg’s wife Maureen (Audra McDonald) that is most unpleasant. After helping her daughter as best she can, Ricki returns to L.A., but is later invited to attend her son’s upcoming wedding. Will Ricki return to Indianapolis and make amends with all her children and Maureen? I’m
sure you can figure out the answer to that question. As I was watching Ms Streep and company, I kept wondering why Meryl made this movie. Was it because she wanted to make a film where she gets to play guitar? Was it a pure vanity project? I’m still not sure. Meryl, as usual, is wonderful in the film, and plays a
rock musician with ease. Plus, she gets to play guitar on stage with Rick Springfield! The whole jest of the movie concerns choosing music over family, and the resulting consequences. The supporting cast is fine, with Gummer holding her own acting beside Streep. While the film is pleasant enough, and the music is enjoyable, the
plot comes off as a lost Hallmark television movie, and Meryl appears to be slumming. “Ricki and the Flash” has plenty of star power, but the film still manages to hit a sour note or two.
Rated: PG-13
C+
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“Rhythms Of The Mountain Empire”
September 1, 2015 | The Loafer | Page 21
A Ten Part Original Series About Local Music, Supported by Tri-City Communities & Adoring Fans
Heroes To So Many and The Voice of Our Time..! Written by William Camelot “Future generations may write novels about them, place their lyrics in “Iambic Pentameter”, but for now, set in the present day, we will do our very best to film them not just as talented musicians and vital contributors to our communities, but “Heroes” to so many and the “Voice” of our Time..!” W.C. THE NEW TROUBADOURS... These brave warriors of the local music scene are the “Troubadours” of a New Age. They work hard each week preparing new music, rehearsing and getting ready to step out on that stage to adoring fans..! Some of them will tour locally or regionally, produce a music video of original lyrics, perhaps even make it to Nashville with a recording contract in their pocket...But in the meantime they play the restaurants & pubs in the Tri and work tirelessly for “That Break”; but more importantly they play their hearts out “Because They Love Doing What They Do”...! We actively promote the musicians that will participate in this original series about local music… Toward that end, we would like to begin to introduce you to the musicians/bands that will be both entertainer and actors in the 10 part original series. Each of them will have their own segment and help us to tell the story about the
local musical journey and where it might lead or perhaps has lead them already..! Musician, Songwriter, Entrepreneur… Spokesperson for “Rhythms of the Mountain Empire”: Someone in need; Taylor is there..! Taylor Barker
Nashville recording artist, new album release, Nascar track tour coming year, new CMT video... Brad Puckett
rhythmsofthemountainempire.com facebook.com/rhythmsofthemountainempire williamcamelot@mymorningcoffee.tv
Jonesborough to Host Free Labor Day Concert Sept. 7 Enjoy one of the last days of summer with a free Labor Day Concert on Monday, Sept. 7 at the Visitor Center in Historic Jonesborough featuring the Johnson City Community Concert Band beginning at 6 p.m. The Johnson City Community Concert Band is an all-volunteer, non-profit, concert band whose members are from all over Northeast Tennessee. The band is made up of approximately 60 members who have a diverse background in music, from professional band directors to non-music professionals of all ages The band was originally formed with the goal of performing for community events and providing adult citizens of Northeast Tennessee an opportunity to practice and perform music as a community service. For more information visit jonesboroughtn.org or call 423.753.1010.
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The Jason Sabbides Interview Here is a soldier we can be proud of. Jason Sabbides is not originally from the mountain region we all call home. But he is picking up a huge burden in his 65 pound military style ruck sack and moving it to raise awareness for soldiers suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. His work with Warriors Canvas and now the first annual Ruck & Roll event are a perfect example of how to be a mover and a shaker by giving back in our community. Brian: Jason, you are very involved in the community and lots of people already know you. For
those who are reading and asking themselves, “who is this Sabbides guy?” give us a background of where you grew up, what lead you into the military and how in the world did you end up in the Tri Cities? Jason: I was born and raised in Springfield, Ma. I joined the military right out of high school looking for college assistance and wanting to get out of a very bad area. After I got out of the military in 2004 I started to go to school at Morganton, NC. Finally receiving my Bachelors in Fine Arts from the University of North Carolina Asheville, and then attending ETSU to receive my Masters of Fine Arts. I moved to Johnson City and the Tri Cities area in 2010, which is also when I met my beautiful wife Jessica Sabbides and fell in love. We decided to make a stand here, and both agreed you can’t find a better landscape or people anywhere in this great nation. Brian: Now, everybody who serves in the military deserves rec-
ognition and a big “THANK YOU” from all of us, so thank you sincerely for serving. Tell our readers about where you went, what you saw and as much about your military experience as you are willing to. Jason: Like I was saying I joined right out of high school, I was an Infantryman. Right out of the gate I was sent to the DMZ separating North and South Korea and served with 1/506 Infantry, and then to the middle east with 1/187 Infantry Rakkasans. A total of 6 years in service Brian: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is really a passion of yours, why be so involved? Jason: As a combat arms MOS you see a lot of crap, I know I did, and I know I have residual trauma based on this, as well as TBI. PTSD and TBI are a big problem for returning Veterans, severe depression, anxiety, anger, loss of purpose, loss of memory, and so on. These symptoms can lead to issues in the home, issues in the
world, and sometimes end up with the Veteran committing suicide. I was there, I went down that rabbit hole a couple of times, and I want to reach out and possibly save a Veterans life. So that is why we created The Warriors Canvas & Veterans Art Center. I know the struggles, I know the pain, and I want to help. Brian: Warriors Canvas in downtown Johnson City means the world to so many Veterans with PTSD. There is a great deal about that which just can’t be put into words. Please tell us about some of the great things that are happening there? Jason: The Warriors Canvas & Veterans Art Center is designed to bring a safe haven to veterans of all services. We aim to bring the camaraderie & purpose back in the lives of Veterans. We provide free Art Classes with all the supplies included to Veterans, Painting, Pottery, Printmaking, Photoshop, Drawing, and Photography. We also have a gallery that only displays Veteran art work. We have an open studio if Veterans just
want to come hang out. Not only do we have art classes but we also have Smart Recovery Classes to help with Addiction, AccuDetox to help with cleansing the body, Resume building workshops, once a month starting Oct 22 we honor our Female Veterans with a dinner, and the male Veterans cook, we also do physical training for Veterans every Friday morning with a Ruck Sack march starting at 830. We are also creating one of the premier sports events in the Tri Cities to honor Veterans called The Northeast Tennessee Veterans’ Ruck & Roll. Brian: I first became aware of who you are when I ran this year’s 25th annual Crazy Eights Race in Kingsport. I finished and then saw this wild man with a huge military ruck sack and an American flag coming in to cross the finish line. I stopped to shout encouragement, clap and whistle to the horror of my young and very embarrassed children. I didn’t know who you were, what you were doing or why. But you had my respect. The First Annual Ruck & Roll is coming up. What is it? And how can the community contact you to get involved and show respect for our American Veterans? Jason: The Northeast Tennessee Veterans Ruck & Roll will be an annual event held for the Tri-Cities on the 1st Saturday after Veterans day, Nov 14th. This event will honor our nations Veterans from past to present with a physical endurance race. We will have a couple of events so that everyone can participate no matter their skill level, a 1 mile fun march, 5k, 10k, and a half marathon Run, Walk, and a 35lb Ruck sack march. This will begin at the Johnson City Veterans Memorial, and also end there. We have some amazing sponsors come forward to help, Marsh Blood Center, Tri-Cities Military Affairs Council, The D.A.V. Chapter 39, and the Visiting Angels. We still need sponsors and if anyone would like to help they can call me directly at 483-9277. Our registration for this event is live and anyone wanting to sign up can do so at https://www. active.com just type in the search bar “veteran” and we should pop up. Also you can register at www. warriorcanvas.org directly from the home page, or visit our Face Book Page Northeast Tennessee Veterans Ruck & Roll.
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Stairway to History Among the many exciting sights and sounds of tourist-friendly Manhattan, with its towering skyscrapers, world-class dining, and attractions sure to fill all who visit with awe, can be found another, very different sort of curiosity that, to fans of the game of baseball, is the last remnant of a bygone era. It’s a rusting, dilapidated staircase, strewn with trash, that looks like a death trap for anyone foolish enough to attempt climbing it. It is also the last remaining evidence that in that spot once stood a massive stadium, which for threequarters of a century, saw play out some of the most memorable moments in baseball history, eliciting both cheers and tears from the millions who came to witness. The stadium’s unique position, nestled up against a steep incline known as Coogan’s Bluff, allowed partial views of the playing field for those without tickets, who could simply look down from above. The Polo Grounds, as it was known, was originally constructed in 1883 as a multipurpose stadium in the (as yet still suburban) neighborhood of Washington Heights in upper Manhattan. Fires and other calamities led to numerous renovations and outright reconstructions, with the final version opening in 1911, now singularly dedicated to the game of baseball. From then, until 1957, it served as home to the National League’s New York Giants (forerunner of todays San Francisco Giants). Over the years, it hosted many revered hall of famers from Christy Matthewson to Willie Mays. Even the great Babe Ruth called the stadium home for a time. The Polo Grounds was also the site of the famous ‘Shot Heard ‘Round the World’, widely considered the most famous homerun,
and all-around moment, in baseball history. By 1957 though, the Polo Grounds was badly outdated and in a severe state of disrepair. Rather than build the Giants a new home, which was deemed vastly too expensive, given the declining attendance figures (attributed to white flight toward the suburbs, away from inner cities), the team was permitted to relocate to San Francisco, California, breaking the hearts of countless New Yorkers. With the real estate far too valuable to house a crumbling, unused behemoth of a stadium, the Polo Grounds was eventually razed in 1964. At least, for the most part. You see, back in 1913, the Giants’ ownership, frustrated with those fans who chose to simply watch the game from atop Coogan’s Bluff without paying their way, decided to erect a staircase running from the top of the hill down to a ticket booth below, in hopes that some might be so moved to make their way down and buy tickets to enter the game properly. Upon comple-
tion, it was named the “John T. Brush Stairway” after the Giants’ owner, who had passed away the previous year. And there it remains to this day. You see, although the Polo Grounds are no more, Coogan’s Bluff remains as a steep, treacherous incline, much more easily ascended with the aid of a flight of stairs. Although, as I implied above, in attempting to use these stairs for their intended purpose, one is certainly taking his life into his own hands. I, myself, gingerly climbed just far up enough to get a decent picture or two, then immediately scurried back down, thanking my creator all the way. Fortunately for those of us routinely crippled by overwhelming bouts of nostalgia, the stairway has been granted status among the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and $950,000 has been set aside for its complete restoration. If and when that comes to pass, I will certainly be off to New York to have a look. So maybe I’ll be back with an update sometime.
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Pistol Caliber Carbines
Today we’re going to discuss the pros and cons of pistol caliber carbines as well as look at two of the most popular models. First things first, what is a pistol caliber carbine? Well, it is a short rifle that shoots calibers traditionally reserved for handguns, like the 9mm Luger, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP. The first pistol caliber carbine, the Thompson submachine gun or “Tommy Gun” as it’s come to be called was invented in 1918. Although originally fully automatic, therefore justifying it’s designation as a submachine gun, modern reproductions of the Thompson are semiautomatic, placing them in the realm of pistol caliber carbines. Many carbines have come and gone since then, but they haven’t gone extinct, “why?” You might ask. The answer is that as impressive as the AR-platform is, it isn’t suited for all applications, specifically home defense. This is because the .223 rifle round is too powerful and can easily penetrate interior walls. On the contrary pistol caliber carbines offer the comfort and control of a rifle with the ability to utilize hollow point or home defense ammo that is designed to fragment upon impact with a wall. The only real downside to pistol caliber carbines is that some models are limited to ten rounds, which in the hands of a skilled shooter should be plenty. However, in the hands of a beginner or novice this limited capacity could be problematic. The first carbine we will look at is the HiPoint 995TS which is a 9mm Luger Carbine. Hi-Point has both good and bad reputations, one saying I hear a lot is “They’re tough as nails, but ugly as sin”. Sure they’re not going to be winning any beauty contests any time soon, but they’re dependable, and come with an unconditional lifetime warranty. I actually owned an original 995 and threaded the charging handle on the wrong side of the receiver, destroying the handle and sleeve. I
called High Point, explained what happened, and within 5 days I had the parts I needed to fix it. The new 995TS is light-years ahead of the old 995 I had. They now come with a redesigned stock with accessory rails, and a recoil-absorbing buttplate system. Although they come from the factory with ten round magazines, aftermarket 15 round magazines are available. This carbine weighs in at 6.25 pounds but is very well balanced. The MSRP on this carbine is a very affordable $297.00 other accessory packages are available such as lasers and optics. The second carbine is the Kel-Tec Sub 2000 also chambered in 9mm Luger. This gun is shaped a bit more like a traditional rifle, but still isn’t likely to win any beauty contests. The Sub 2000 has to design advantages over the 995TS. The first is that the Sub 2000 accepts Glock 17 magazines. This means a greater magazine capacity as there is a 33 round Glock 17 magazine available. The second advantage is that this gun, like most Kel-Tec rifles is designed for portability. It folds in half for easy transport, perfect for a hiking pack, or even concealment around the house. The unloaded weight of the Sub 2000 is also an incredible 4.25lbs. However these innovations come with a price, the MSRP on this carbine is $500. It also lacks the ability to accessorize like the 995TS. I hope you found this article informative, as always if you have any questions or concerns please feel free to email me, I look forward to your feedback. Sources: https://www.keltecweapons.com/ourguns/sub-2000/rifle/ http://www.hi-pointfirearms.com/HiPoint-carbines/9MM_carbine.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thompson_ submachine_gun
Page 26 | The Loafer | September 1, 2015 dle with confidence and with the knowledge that doodling enables us to retain more information and to present that information in countless creative ways. For instance, I have learned from this book that doodles can be classified in twelve categories: typography, fonts, word pictures, captions, connectors, separators, frames, bullets, shadows, shading, faces, and figures. Each of these types of doodles can be useful in summarizing and capturing information that goes beyond merely writing down words or pecking on a keyboard. In fact, studies have preschool set. So Ms. Basford and shown that drawing pictures is her publisher were surprised to better than writing words when learn that there was a robust—and it comes to comprehension and lucrative—market for coloring making connections between books aimed at grown-ups.” what we’re learning and the “real According to Alter, one explaworld.” When we doodle we are nation of why coloring books have learning to think about our world become such a sensation for toin new and often more productive day’s adults is because these books ways. And I’m sure the same can be said about coloring as well. Of course, we can combine the two This Space To Color & Doodle activities—why not use a variety of colored pens and pencils to add excitement to our doodles? I have applied Brown’s advice to some of the classes I teach. For instance, I got some pretty interesting reactions when I told the students in one of my classes that they were forbidden to write anything down during one session. Instead they had to doodle their notes. By the time the class was over, I had unleashed a torrent of creativity and had learned more from my students than I usually do—reinforcing the answer I generally give when asked what I do (rather than replying “I am a teacher,” I say “I am a learner”). Doodling (like coloring) is indeed a liberating—and refreshingly subversive—experience. Why can’t we replace standardized testing with creative doodling? And why can’t doodling be an integral ingredient in the Common Core? I hope you will take some time to engage in coloring and doodling this week. You might be surprised by the results. provide an “analog” alternative to and even disrespectful, Brown Maybe I should have presented life on our multiple digital screens. calls an essential way to make us a doodled rather than word proColoring is not only creative, but more creative and thoughtful. Her cessed column this week. Or, even it also gives us something a little book is chock full of examples and better, an Infodoodle (see Chapters more tactile to touch than our guidelines to help make us more Four and Five in Brown’s book). glossy screens. And anything that productive doodlers. Just remember: There is no such puts us in touch with our selves I’m sure most of us have doo- thing as a mindless doodle. that existed before standardized dled, but generally when we do See you next week. testing squashed creativity is a we are made to feel guilty. Now, good thing indeed. with Brown’s help, we can doo-
My (Infodoodled) Coloring Book
The soundtrack for this column is “My Coloring Book,” written by Fred Ebb and John Kander, the duo who also wrote the theatrical hits, “Cabaret,” and “New York, New York.” Their song became a hit for Barbra Streisand, Sandy Stewart, and Kitty Kalen in 1962 and has been recorded by several artists since then, including Aretha Franklin and Dusty Springfield (my favorite version, from 1964, and readily available on YouTube). Not one of the more cheery songs ever written, but featuring a gorgeous melody, “My Coloring Book” tells the tale of a romance gone bad, and in true early sixties fashion, is all about how a woman’s identity is defined by her man. “These are the eyes that watched him as he walked away . . . .Color them gray,” begins the first verse, ending with “This is the man, the one I depended upon . . Color him gone.” Could it be that getting rid of this jerk was the best thing that ever happened to this dependent young woman? In any event, you might want to listen to it while reading this column. If you’ve been in a bookstore lately you might have noticed a section of coloring books for adults—don’t worry, I am not referring to coloring books with adult themes, but coloring books that allow adults to partake in an activity that has generally been seen as one we abandon when we are no longer children. According to a column written by Molly Schoemann-Mann for Barnes and Noble, the “uniquely pleasurable and absorbing activity of coloring is being rediscovered (and discovered) by artists of every age, thanks to the rising popularity of sophisticated coloring books, drawn by talented ink artists.” With titles like “Secret Garden: An
Inky Treasure Hunt and Coloring Book,” “Animal Kingdom: Color Me, Draw Me,” “Color Me Happy,” “Creative Coloring Inspirations: Art Activity Pages To Relax And Enjoy,” and “Posh Coloring Book: Pretty Designs For Fun & Relaxation,” these books give us many reasons to be creative and
Use
even to color outside the lines (something I always did with coloring books). In a New York Times piece by Alexandra Alter, who focuses on Johanna Basford’s 2013 book “Secret Garden,” we learn that “Like Play Doh, jungle gyms and nursery rhymes, coloring books have always seemed best suited for the
Closely allied to this adult coloring book renaissance is something I find even more intriguing. And that’s what creativity enthusiast Sunni Brown calls the “doodle revolution.” In her mind-altering and inspiring book THE DOODLE REVOLUTION: UNLOCK THE POWER TO THINK DIFFERENTLY (2014) Brown unravels the common assumption that doodling indicates distraction and timewasting by stating that “I don’t believe that doodlers are unfocused. I don’t believe that doodlers are monkeying around, nor do I believe that they’re wasting time. Stated with crystal clarity: There is no such thing as a mindless doodle.” Backed by copious research and many testimonials, Brown’s book concludes that doodling is “making spontaneous marks (with your mind and body) to help yourself think.” In other words, what others might call frivolous
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