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table of contents whine line
4
- tom tomorrow
4
- in defense of newspapers
5
- insider
7
metro
8
- feature
14
- nytimes crossword
18
are you not entertained
19
20
- calendar
gold’s gym
25
the8
34
- sightings
37
- jenny is wright
38
- art45
39
- gourmet relay
40
- free will astrology
40
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Want to advertise in the Metro Spirit? Call 706-496-2535 or 706-373-3636 Writer Eric Johnson eric@themetrospirit.com
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Metro Spirit is a free newspaper published weekly on Thursday, 52 weeks a year. Editorial coverage includes local issues and news, arts, entertainment, people, places and events. In our paper appear views from across the political and social spectrum. The views do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher. Visit us at metrospirit.com.© 15 House, LLC. Owner/Publisher: Joe White. Legal: Phillip Scott Hibbard. Reproduction or use without permission is prohibited. One copy per person, please.
V. 22 | NO. 52
DERMATOLOGIST-AUGUSTA.COM METRO SPIRIT 8.18.11 3
whineLINE Honest Injun? Are you kidding? For a group that purports itself to be toward the left you certainly don’t mind throwing out racial slurs. I went out to eat at a family style restaurant and this woman came in dressed like she was there to slide around a pole for tips and you could see right through what little she was wearing. And I am tired of all these nasty young men wearing no underwear and their pants on the ground asking me if “I want it.” No I don’t “want it.” All I want is for you to pull your pants up and leave me the hell alone. For the guy looking for BBWs. Well my ex-wife is available. I don’t know about the “Beautiful” part but she certainly has the “Big” part down. When we got married she was a size 6. When we divorced she was a size 16. But I have warning for you; it ‘s going to cost you a lot of money. It nearly bankrupted me. Wayne Howard threw Rep Murphy and Smith overboard. This is a whine for your demeaning cartoon and Insider column about Brad Owens. We need more people like him in Augusta who are willing to speak out against the corrupt good-ole-boy politics around here. For the most part, Brad has been proven right on just about everything he crusaded against when he was active in the downtown scene. I hope he does come back to Augusta and run for office. I’m not educated enough to handle the weekly crossword puzzle, although I try. I’m pretty good at suduku, though. Can you include one in the paper?
4 METRO SPIRIT 8.18.11
About a year ago, the place by the farmer’s market, was busted for fencing stolen property. Was he prosecuted to the fullest or did he wrangle out of it? Do you lose your business license if you’re operating a crimnal enterprise? Could the Metro Spirit follow up on this? So Austin Rhodes spends his free time riding around with the yard Nazis, counting dope deals and code violations. This proves he’s no libertarian. Libertarians believe all drugs should be legal, and the government has no right to tell people what condition they keep their private property in. Funny how conservatives support libertarianism only as long as it’s consistent with conformist ideals. I was standing in the long line for the ladies’ doing the subtle peepee dance when my boyfriend walked by us into the men’s. After a few seconds, he opened the door and said, “It’s empty, all three stalls!” As I and several others in the line raced for the door, he almost caused us to not make it when he added, deadpan, “Remember to leave the seat up.” Deke, the multi millionaire who financially benefits from Surrey Center does not care if downtown Augusta fails because the shoppers will trade at Surrey Center! Deke has a win win situation. It is not healthy to have a multimillionaire Mayor representing struggling middle class Augustans’ who Deke refers to as “Jerry Springer people!” Looks like another corporation sticking to everyone. Congratulations beasley broadcasting for screwing everyone by taking 95 rock off the air.
whineline@themetrospirit.com
Brilliantly Pointless If LOLcats and Failbook don’t take up enough of your time, visit happyplace. com. There, and after clicking on the “lists” tab, you’ll find plenty of time suckers, such as “9 unintentionally sexual headlines that somehow made it to print” (the sports headlines are the best, such as “A-Rod goes deep, Wang hurt”). Another favorite? “The most hilariously effective signs supporting gay marriage.” They really are hilariously effective, especially the gay guy holding the sign that says “Would You Rather I Marry Your Daughter?”
WE RECOMMEND I was just in NYC -- hadn’t been there in a long while...being back in the Big Apple made me put on a big smile... Time to pack up my bags as I make a sad sigh...now I’m back in Augusta -- oh my dear God, WHY? The atheist minority doesn’t want us to pray. Now that politicians are campaigning for the 2012 elections, they are asking us to pray for this country. Whatever you think, whether conservative or liberal, Obama isn’t selling insurance or it’s slogan “You’re in good hands” with Congress. Prayers to God will never harm you. Voting for the wrong politician may. I live in a subdivision where the high school and elementary bus comes into my neighborhood. On the other hand, the middle school students have to walk up to Bel Air Rd., where there is no sidewalks and an increased amount of traffic. My concern is if two other buses come down, why not the middle school bus.
way in Libya instead of dumping us into a third active war. Bush not only put us squarely in front on those two wars, he is responsible for the ill-prepared way we jumped in with lack of protection for a lot of our warriors. How dare we have to individually buy body armor for the soldiers in combat? Hooray for the new managers obviously paying attention back on Saturday at the bus terminal. One made sure that a bus did not pull out just as a bus was coming in. And I have noticed last week that everyone seemed to be better timed as to the schedule. WTF Augusta are you so lame that the best rock, heck the only real rock station on the radio has now been subjugated by a crappy news-talk station... Augusta need to rise up and demand that they bring back 95 Rock from their exile on that low-watt transmitter and vanquish the news-talk to the depths of the AM dial where it belongs...
I realize starving and dying children should be helped but that is another area where other nations need to step up with some share of the cost. Like when Obama only got involved in a limited
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Since you’re reading this right now, we’ll go ahead and consider you part of the choir, but we’re going to preach to you just the same. Why? Because what we’ve got to say is important, both to us and to you, so power down your iPhone and give us a few minutes of your undivided attention. TMZ can wait. Why hate on TMZ? Because it’s easy, that’s why. Not because it’s the journalistic equivalent of crack, but because it gets a gazillion hits a day. It’s easy to pick on TMZ because so many of you seem to have a real need to have an up-to-the-minute accounting of Mel Gibson’s custody battle or the latest Katt Williams arrest, just like so many of you seem to care whether Toni Braxton is going to pose nude for Playboy. Or whether the world’s tallest supermodel is going to pose. Or Justin Bieber’s mom. When it comes down to it, we can pretty much thank Heff for the ondemand news cycle. Though once upon a time people did actually read the magazine for the articles, his patented celebrity nude photo shoot, that million-dollar offer Playboy makes to every flavor of the week (day… hour… minute…) is as old and wrinkly as Heff himself, yet each offer continues to makes news, no matter now marginal the starlet or minor the beauty or insignificant the scandal that offers them up to our collective curiosity. Playboy, a doddering old man in a rack full of hustlers, struggles to keep itself relevant by offering to pay these women, who have relevancy issues of their own, to take off their clothes, while other media outlets enable this behavior by dropping it in the media pipe so the rest of the world can light it up. And while there’s nothing wrong with dabbling in a little celebrity
gossip, it’s increasingly being mistaken for real news, because someone — and there are millions of someones out there — has chosen to package it and give it to us that way. Forget about the death of the evening news — the concept of news itself is dying off because everyone with a computer has something to say. Be honest — where do you get your news? Do you seek it out from traditional outlets or do you Google whatever topic tickles your fancy and let the algorithms decide where you should go? Or maybe you don’t seek it out at all. Maybe you just take what you can get from the Facebook news feed, that grab bag of sources that makes no distinction between the video of the stage collapsing at the Indiana State Fair or that puppy barking the alphabet. And if you yourself take the time to make the distinction, is it enough just to see it with your own two eyes, or should it, does it, require something more? Just because something’s gone viral doesn’t mean there’s any meaning there. And even if there is meaning, who’s there to help you understand it? Though we know this piece could be considered defensive or self important (I’m a doctor and I play one on TV), give it some thought. Without newspapers — ours or our competitors’ — filtering out the offers to pose, the bar for what’s considered news will only dip lower. Lower that threshold and everyone loses. For every hot Latino sideline reporter who finds herself in the middle of a sexual harassment suit with an NFL team — and gets an offer to pose — there are several serious issues that go unreported.
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D
INSI ER INSIDER@THEMETROSPIRIT.COM
Insider is an anonymous, opinion-based examination of the hidden details of Augusta politics and personalities.
The Battle of Right Said Fred The townfolk came for blood. The commission chambers were full at least 20 minutes before the meeting was supposed to start. “Please check your pitchforks and torches. Sir? Please?” What’s that? “Kill the wabbit, kill the wabbit…” Get ahold of yourself man. Say look! There’s Sean Frantom sitting in the front row left. First seat. Looking smashing in a blue blazer. Mental note: check his wall. Wait, look! There’s Lori Davis. Next to Butch Palmer. Pretty sure he was a villain in a Batman movie I remember from my misspent youth. Look at their tails a waggin’! Must be Eskala in the back talking about their pet project, A.C.A.V.E. Are they the idle rich? But how? They’re fighting over Harrisburg for god’s sake. By the time the meeting starts, the hall outside the commission chambers is full — full — of people. One of the elevators is broken. Panic starts to set in. Towering Inferno? No. that would be sure death. At least in the movie they could agree on wanting to survive. Forty-eight minutes after the meeting was supposed to begin the commissioners start filing in. All are dressed for the cameras. Even Joe Jackson was wearing a nice-looking shirt. Joey B has shoes on! Don’t these people sweat? They look vewy vewy sweepy. When you figure the legal meeting started at 4 p.m., you can understand why.
They sit down, vote on the closed-door meeting unanimously and then Mason blasts forth with his call to fire Right Said Fred. Lockett immediately seconds. Oh dear… slow down already… where’s my inhaler? Oh good… procedural stuff… talk about ruining the mood… Wait! Will Deke allow Alvin to speak? What if he doesn’t? Alvin. Must be a family name. I’m sure the Chipmunks were a hit when he was a kid. Remember to ask him about that. Mayor Deken lets Mason speaken. Now they’re hashing. Can we fire Fred? We want to fire Fred. Or we can put it on the agenda. Either way. Kill the wabbit…. what’s this? Alvin is reading a “Few Good Men” speech. Demi was hot back then. She still is come to think of it. Look into cryonics. “We
need six good men to do the right thing” kind of thing. Very inspiring. Now Deken is Beaten his gavel and pointing it around. He looks pissed at everything. Mint Julep would cure that ill. Maybe they all could use a pop. The kids in the hall cheered or jeered at something, I think that’s what he was mad at. How to know for sure? Hooray! Sounds an awful lot like “kill the bum” when you are in chambers. When the votes come down, people are a little stunned. “Same as always” says a black guy. “Same as always.” But Corey broke ranks and voted to keep Fred. So there is a little surprise among the black members of the audience. He is dressed particularly nice today. Hopefully he has a backup plan.
Will Clear Channel counter? The local Clear Channel cluster includes 96.3 Kiss FM, Power 107.7, WEKL Eagle 105.7, WBBQ 104.3 and Y102.3. That’s R&B, urban top 40, classic rock, adult contemporary and Top 40. Could Eagle begin adding current rock to its playlist? Chances are very slim that Y102.3 (a counter to HD 98.3) and WBBQ (a counter to Kicks 99) will change at all. While Kiss FM has a loyal fan base, the station’s billing isn’t what it should be. The last format change Clear Channel made was moving Eagle (classic rock) to 105.7 and rebranding 102.3 as a top 40 player. Could 96.3 KISS FM turn
to rock? Or could Eagle, left for dead at the top of the dial, find new life with a fresh new playlist? It all comes down to dollars and cents. Without 95 Rock, there is a key 18-34 male demographic not being served. While local advertisers shy away from them, regional and national dollars always seek them out. And what of rock shows are coming to Augusta? Over the past few years, practically every active rock band has come through the market. Without a radio station playing their music, that will certainly come to an end. Or, for local promoters, make things more expensive.
Now, and only now, do we get to pray and then say the pledge. A few people leave. (Before the prayer? Mark them down. Probably no lapel pins either.) We go through the regular commission stuff. Fred wanders in like always. He wanders to the front of the chamber. Plops down in his chair. Contemplates the ceiling. Checks his Blackberry. The usual. Ahhh, government work. He must have survived some shootouts in his policin’ days. He makes cucumbers look downright jumpy. Then there’s a vote to adjourn. Grady Smith takes the microphone, thinks very, very long about it, then seconds the motion. That Grady is central casting material. Write that down. May get into movies. Joey B. flew the coop before the vote. Beer:30. *sigh* So it’s over. Jerry is perturbed. Pissed is more like it. Can’t even get a plan together to fire this a-hole. And he still didn’t give the numbers we’ve been after. Come Monday, it ain’t gonna be all right for Fred. As Corey “I’m on a Boat!” leaves the chambers, Fred calls out, locks eyes and gives a meaningful “Thank you, Corey.” Wingman material. After the room has cleared, Fred sort of hangs around. Alvin is still talking. Fred walks by and extends his hand. Alvin gives a cold shake. Not like a bro hug. A cold shake. If this were the old west, they’d be way overdressed.
Rockers Denied 95 Rock met its maker last Wednesday, a shock to many fans around Augusta. Even radio Insiders were caught by surprise. As far as business goes, the station was a difficult (advertising) sell in conservative Augusta-Evanez. A part of the Beasley cluster of stations which includes BOB FM, HD 98.3 and Kicks 99, as well as WGAC, WCHZ was the red-headed stepchild. The official word is WGAC moved onto the FM dial to attract younger listeners. With the move down the dial to a very weak 93.1 FM signal, WCHZ’s days are certainly numbered. Speculation is rampant as to what moves are coming. V. 22 | NO. 52
Steve Hall, the Alabama music promoter who has been bringing rock to Augusta for years, says “I don’t think just because 95 Rock is gone people will abandon my shows. Those fans who have been coming out to support national acts didn’t move.” It’ll just not be as easy to get the word out. “The marketing window will have to be six weeks out as opposed to four. That is where the added expense comes in,” reports Hall. Stay tuned. More moves are sure to come.
METRO SPIRIT 8.18.11 7
metro Eric Johnson
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New Blood
For the first time in 20 years, Columbia County has a new administrator
Early in the Aug. 4 commission meeting, Columbia County Chairman Ron Cross briefly acknowledged what was, for commission observers, glaringly obvious: After 20 years with only one administrator, somebody else was sitting in Steve Szablewski’s chair. Three days earlier, on Aug. 1, Deputy Administrator Scott Johnson officially took over the job many felt he was being groomed for since he was first hired as the assistant to the county administrator in 2008, and though the appointment surprised few, Johnson says his rise to the top spot wasn’t as preordained as it’s always seemed. “There were no assurances that this was any sort of succession plan, but we all kind of understood that Steve had been working for many, many years and at some point in the future he would be retiring,” Johnson says, speaking in one of the smaller conference rooms in the commission offices on the second floor of Building B at the Government Center in Evans. “Columbia County is real good about planning and trying to get things in line.” While Johnson speaks of succession, the man he succeeded is working on some paperwork in the larger conference room the staff calls the Oval Office. It’s the place where the real work gets done, and it doesn’t really matter that Johnson is currently the administrator — until Szablewski leaves on Sept. 1, he gets the privileges. In fact, Johnson’s not just using the smaller conference room, he’s still using the smaller office as well. “I am the administrator right now, but I just couldn’t see moving Steve out of his office,” he says. Though everyone knew Szablewski’s retirement was on the horizon, no one knew exactly when it was going to happen. “It was kind of a joke at the office — some days we’d say if he came back tomorrow we’d be surprised, and other times, I really thought he’d be here for a few more years,” he says. “Quite honestly, for me and for the county, had he stayed around for another four or five years, it would have been fine
8 METRO SPIRIT 8.18.11
with me. He’s that kind of guy and he’s been that good a mentor to me.” Szablewski announced his intention to retire in June, and following county code, Johnson was nominated for the position by the chairman, then affirmed by the rest of the commission. Since then, the two, who have always worked closely together, have focused their efforts on a smooth transition, which causes Johnson to introduce his often-used duck analogy. “When you see a duck on a lake, it’s very tranquil and peaceful. That’s what it looks like on the surface, but he’s paddling like hell underneath,” he says. “And that’s what happens in Columbia County. We try to keep everything smooth and tranquil, but I’m paddling like hell underneath.” While that duck probably won’t ever make it onto the water towers or into the tourism literature, the analogy goes a long way toward explaining the Columbia County dynamic. It’s doubtful, for instance, that anyone would use that same duck analogy to describe Richmond County government. Unless, of course, it involved Daffy and Elmer Fudd. Johnson says he hears all the time how lucky Columbia County is to have so much money, but he says people need to understand that it’s not just luck. Like that duck swimming so tranquilly on the surface, there is a lot of unseen work involved. “We were planning for these lean times two or three years ago,” he says. “Even though we’ve lowered the millage rate the last two years, we’ve cut back to where we’re tightening our belts, too.” He points out that they’ve managed to tighten those belts without furloughs and that they’ve not just cut the budget, they’ve also underspent that budget, meaning they’ve ended up with a fund balance that they’ve passed off to the taxpayers in the form of more millage reductions. Johnson rose quickly though the ranks of the State Patrol, ending up as acting director of training. By that time he’d earned his masters degree V. 22 | NO. 52
in public administration and realized his talent and desire leaned toward the management, and while he loved the State Patrol, he was ready to engage a new challenge. “Leadership and management is leadership and management, whether you work for Krispy Kreme, the State Patrol, Columbia County or Coca Cola,” he says. Through his entire career with the State Patrol, in which he was hit by shrapnel at the Olympic Park bombing
– c a r e e r
and provided security for the G8 Summit in Savannah, he remained a Columbia County resident, which is why the initial job attracted him, in spite of its limited responsibilities. Even when he was deputy director of training at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth, the Harlem High School grad was a commuter, driving two hours each way every day for six years. “There’s just something special about this community,” he says. “It’s
big enough to have everything you need, but not so big you get lost in the numbers of it.” Because the deputy administrator’s position had several department heads reporting directly to him, people keep asking him how they’re going to distribute his old duties. “They,” of course, is pretty much him, and while he says he’s anxious to put his own stamp on things, he’s not going to start implementing wholesale changes during the first six months, which
the county considers a probationary period. One thing he wants to do, though, is get out into the community. “Everybody says they’re not a micromanager, but I’m really not a micromanager,” he says. “At the same time, I’m not asleep at the wheel. I want to get out in the community. I don’t want anybody to think I’m sitting up here in some office.”
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Police Blotter
Sunday, August 14, in Richmond County
of the
CENTURY A look back at the news the Metro Spirit was covering at the turn of the century
August 17, 2000 In the Metro Beat story, writer Stacey Eidson explained the difficulties of replacing notorious fire Chief Ronnie Few, who left the city with an expensive mess and no clear line of succession. Augusta-Richmond County should post a new advertisement for the vacant fire chief position. The ad should read: County seeks an individual who enjoys being investigated by the special grand jury, loves answering questions pertaining to the former fire chief’s actions, is not afraid to face the media on a daily basis and doesn’t care that the public’s opinion of the fire department has sunk to an all-time low. Few left behind questions concerning unpaid bills totaling at least $23,000 from the Southeastern Association of Fire Chiefs Conference, accusations that $4,000 from the convention’s bank account was diverted into a city account and a horrendous cellular phone bill accumulated by Few and his public information offer. Few left two deputy chiefs, Carl Scott and Mike Rogers, in his wake, and the commission had a difficult time deciding what to do with them. Two deputy chiefs, one vacant position equaled a big mess. “Neither of the two deputy chiefs meet the minimum qualifications for the (permanent) job,” County Administrator Randy Oliver told commissioners. “I think we need to look for a chief who has intimate knowledge of EMS services because I think that is going to be a critical issue.” Commissioner Lee Beard nominated Scott as interim fire chief. Commissioner Bill Kuhlke, after consulting with Oliver, nominated Rogers. Mayor Pro Tem Willie Mays implied that both commissioners were falling along racial lines, saying that it was, “unfair for the commission to make this appointment a ‘political fight.’” Commissioner Jerry Brigham decided to settle the matter by simply tabling the issue of selecting an interim fire chief. Later, in a story called ‘Flying the Frustrating Skies,’” Eidson examined the challenges of renovating Bush Field. She started with a V. 22 | NO. 52
descriptionofthemayor’sfirst-handfrustrations. None of these comments surprise Augusta Mayor Bob Young. “Today, flying on Delta is like being on a school bus, except without a monitor. It’s just chaotic.” One of the reasons Mayor Young thinks people are readily complaining about service at Augusta Regional Airport is because of a proposal by the Augusta Aviation Commission to expand the current airport terminal or build an entirely new facility. During the Aug. 10 meeting of the aviation commission, interim Airport Director Tim Weegar outlined three options the commission has for terminal expansion. First, the commission could stick with an original proposal to expand the current terminal at a cost of $25 million. By financing the project with a general airport revenue bond, the airport could independently fund the project by paying $1.1 million a year for the next 27 years. The second option would be to build a multi-level, multi-curbed terminal on the airport’s existing side. The estimated cost of that project would be $39.4 million. This option would require another funding source, presumably the city of Augusta, to contribute $1.7 million annually for 27 years. The last concept is the same multilevel, multi-curbed concept, but built in a different location. Many aviation commissioners believe that a midfield terminal, at a cost of $51.7 million, would be a better long-term investment for the airport. This concept would call for the city to pay $3 million a year for the next 27 years, or a lump sum of $27 million. But the airport does not escape contributing to the proposed expansions in options two and three. In both proposals the airport would be expected to pay $1.1 million per year. The commission did not officially select any of the three options at the meeting, but decided to simply suspend design work being done on the first $25 million proposal until the master plan of the airport is completed.
Now that is simply battery. At five past midnight at two separate locations, folks were assaulted. One with a TBall bat and one with a shovel. The TBall victim wants to prosecute (her boyfriend). The shovel to the head guy does not. At five past the stroke of midnight a boyfriend took to his girlfriend’s right thigh with a TBall bat. At forty four past the stroke of midnight, while on the scene at 1102 Broad Street, officers spotted a fight down the street at the Broad Street Bazaar. When the victim’s brother-in-law stepped in to help, he and his kin went through the window of the business. Cuts and blood. Assailant took off. At 3:13 in the a.m. at Cherry Tree Crossing. Ms. Davis and Mrs. Jackson (If you’re nasty) began trading blows over the fact that Ms. Davis was all up in Mrs. Jackson’s (if you’re nasty) grill. Ms. Davis fled on foot before officer arrived. Check the Huddle House (5’08”, 210). Then, at 9:30 in the morning, a boyfriend choked his lady with his right hand over her J.O.B. At 9:54 in the p.m., Tavon became upset about how much he had to drink, at which time he bit the complainant on the finger. An hour later at 11:01, two teenagers where sitting on car talking when a Ford pick-up drove by four times and on the last time fired seven or eight shots. One teen was hit twice in the arm and the car took one in the hood. Now on to burglary… the ol’ B&E. Midnight. Someone pried open front door and took the flat screen and the
DVD. Victim believes her ex-boyfriend is the perp. One minute past midnight. Green bean (6’5”/185) got into it with future victim of mailbox crime. When victim returned home, the future was nigh and there was his mailbox thrown through his front window. And his red bike that was in the house was now on the lawn. At 5:53 there was a calamity at Calamity Western Wear. Someone pried the back door open and stole a couple of computers. 1:30 in the afternoon, officers responded to the children’s education building at a local church. The door had been pried but nothing appeared missing. And criminal damage to property. At 2:50 at a local grocery store, a ’99 Chevrolet Tahoe had its tires slashed. Criminal trespass. 3 a.m. Julia was leaving mad. Victim thought she heard something. (it was actually Julia carving up her Toyota.) 9:30 a.m. Someone kicked in the backdoor of an 81-year-old lady’s house. Sunday afternoon, 1 p.m. Ex boyfriend came in her house and tore up letters he had sent. (Letters he had sent? In the mail? Who sends letters anymore?) After leaving, he broke off the passenger-side mirror and scratched the driver-side door. 4:06. Trucks and Tires. An officer observed footprints in the sand, a hole in the fence and nothing missing. 7:50 Sunday evening. Three colorcoordinated juveniles (one red shirt, one orange shirt and one black shirt, all with black pants) broke out the back window of a ’99 Ford Expedition. 9:29 p.m. On 8th Street, a Ms. Scott METRO SPIRIT 8.18.11 11
refused to leave a tobacco shop till the police were called. She was informed by the officer she was not welcome back. Terroristic Threats or Acts. 1:50 p.m. The suspect informed the complainant he was going to “kill her” because of late truck payment. Theft theft theft At 1 in the a.m., the complainant told
the officer he was in a bar on Broad Street when he ran into some old high school buddies. They invited him to go “smoke a joint” and “hook up with some girls.” Why sure! They lifted his cash. 11:30 at the Boat House. Complainant was working on the building when someone up and stole his Newports and phone.
7:36 in the evening. Hibachi restaurant on Washington Road. A pair of customers ate and drank up a tab over $50. The owner of the restaurant said the two were upset at the manager for some reason unkown to him. The diners stated, “Y’all can just call the cops on us, we leaving.” They then left. 9:38 Sunday evening. A guy maybe
named “Brad” stole 135 Percocet pills and nine Fentynal Patches. From a fellow who has cancer. FIRE!!! 5:39 Sunday evening, someone tried to burn down the probation office.
Reynolds Street all the way to LaneyWalker Boulevard. “It’s going to have new sidewalks, new lights, trees and handicapped ramps,” she said. “It will be very similar to the sidewalks we did on 10th Street.” Recently, the city agreed to match $100,000 of the $500,000 TE grant. The DDA contributed $150,000. The project, currently in the design phase, began in 2005 when the TE funds designated for the clean up of the depot property at 5th and Reynolds were unable to be used due to a change in the make up of the project. “That was when Harry Kitchens had just put a contract on the Watermark project,” Woodard said. “We were awarded the grant, but because the depot was going into private hands, we couldn’t use public money, so DOT transferred the depot money to the newly approved 9th Street project.”
The grant for the second phase allows the designers to go back and correct some things they were unable to include in the first phase due to a lack of funding, including the railroad crossing and the area in front of Dyess Park. “This money allows us to go back and complete the project,” Woodard said. “We felt it was important to go ahead and pick up these two areas because of the new Judicial Center.” The Judicial Center and the cluster of other major new projects along the road were prime reasons for the choice of location. “The reason we started with 9th Street a couple of years ago was because of the new library, the TEE Center and the new Judicial Center,” Woodard said. “Ninth Street is now going to become a gateway into downtown.” Even now, she said, it’s difficult to make a left from Ellis onto James
Brown Boulevard. “We felt like with these new projects, a new streetscape would really give it a much needed facelift,” she said. The first phase of sidewalk design has been designed and the environmental work has been completed. Design for the second phase will begin immediately. Woodard says the grant will go a long way toward sprucing up one of the city’s most important and historic streets. “It’s not pretty, and that’s why we looked at it,” she said. “We just considered all the SPLOST projects that are going on here — especially the three major ones — and that allowed us to partner with other entities.” Because anything involving the DOT is historically slow moving, progress might be slow, but Woodard said that completing the design phase will go a long way toward moving the project forward.
I Feel Good!
James Brown Boulevard to get makeover
Thanks to a special grant administered by the State Department of Transportation (DOT), James Brown Boulevard will be getting an extended facelift. Funding for the streetscape project comes from the Transportation Enhancement (TE) program, a federally funded program that allows the State Transportation Board to help local communities fund special enhancement projects. The key to this particular program is local quality. When State Transportation Board Member Bobby Parham announced the award, he singled out state Representatives Quincy Murphy and Wayne Howard for their efforts. According to Downtown Development Authority Executive Director Margaret Woodard, the $1.3 million project will have a dramatic impact on the aesthetics of James Brown Boulevard, stretching from
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Signal Bump
WGAC pushes 95Rock to lower frequency
95Rock’s Matt Stone (left) and Chuck Williams While news of local AM talk giant WGAC bumping 95Rock off its FM frequency shocked the local radio community, Beasley Broadcasting Market Manager Kent Dunn says it was simply a business move meant to capitalize on his broadcasting group’s assets. Beasely Broadcast Group, a Floridabased company, has 45 stations in 11 radio markets, including nine here in Augusta. “About 90 percent of everybody who listens to radio these days listens to it on the FM band,” he says. “The people who were listening to WGAC were having to seek it out because we weren’t on the FM band.” According to Dunn, it’s all about signal strength and the seek button. “We needed to be on the FM band so more people would sample the station,” he said. WGAC is home to local programming like Augusta’s Morning News with Harley Drew and the Austin Rhodes Show as well as a stable of mostly conservative syndicated talkradio personalities, including Neal Boortz, Rush Limbaugh and Michael Savage. Previously, the station had been simulcast on 93.1, the weaker signal that now hosts 95Rock. The swiftness of the change took many, particularly those at 95Rock, by surprise. “It’s very difficult to pre-announce something that’s going to affect people’s lives like this does,” he says. “It tends to be best to keep it secret while everybody who needs to is brought into the information. We’re affecting people’s careers and lives and it’s just not easy to pre-announce something like that.” Though Dunn remains positive about 95Rock’s position in the market, he V. 22 | NO. 52
admits the station was not performing as hoped, particularly the afternoon show. Consequently, host Jordan Zeh, who has become known recently for his well-publicized run-ins with local law enforcement, was released at the same time. “It’s the only rock station in town, so the options to listen to rock music locally are limited,” Dunn says. Obviously, the dedicated listeners will seek us out argument only goes so far, given the reasoning behind the move that displaced the station in the first place, but Dunn says that the station’s demographic helps balance the scales. “Of course, a lot of people have picked up on listening to it on streaming through the iPhone app,” he says. “That audience tends to be pretty technologically advanced. They’re more likely to listen to the station on a different source.” Therefore, he says they’re relying on that appetite for technology to make up for the loss in signal, though it’s unclear how the change will affect advertiser relationships and the promotions that are so vital to a rock station’s business model. When it comes to the station’s future, Dunn hints that he’s hopeful to find a way to improve the signal, though he fails to give any specifics. The move, he says, is not unusual, given the growing popularity of talk radio. “It’s one of the hottest formats in the country right now,” he says. “A lot of other markets have done the same thing we’re doing, and, in a lot of cases, what they’re doing is taking off a music station and putting all talk. It’s a common thing.”
METRO SPIRIT 8.18.11 13
Come Monday
Administrator Fred Russell has survived a lot, but come Monday‌
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Minutes after surviving a commission meeting many felt might be his last, Fred Russell was looking to the future. “We’ve still got a lot of stuff ahead of us,” he said after the meeting, which followed nearly two hours of closed-door legal meetings and a vote for his termination. “We’ve got tough decisions to continue to make. Obviously, some commissioners today moved on a decision and it’s time to move forward. We’ve got a lot of hard stuff to do.” That’s the kind of stuff administrators are supposed to say after they’ve run the gauntlet and survived, franksounding and diplomatic. But Russell takes that kind of stubborn defiance to a new level: In spite of the citywide uproar over the news that he authorized $350,000 worth of pay increases to 44 employees at a time when the average county employee has not received a pay increase in years while suffering through furloughs and increases in the cost of insurance, he refuses to admit he’s done anything wrong. He has the authority to give those raises, he says, and while most are saying he’s been evasive when questioned, Russell continues to maintain that he has been operating as instructed and that the pay raises should not have been a surprise. 706.737.2020 | 706.737.2025 fax | murphy.robinson@comcast.net Mon - Fri: 8:30-5:30 | Sat: 9-12 | 1571 Walton Way | Augusta
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“I think I’ve said regularly that other people will be compensated for additional duties,” he said after the meeting. While the backlash to the pay increases has seemingly grown by the hour, Russell did, in fact, tell commissioners that others were receiving additional compensation, though not as forcefully as they might have expected to hear it. At the committee meeting that served as the flashpoint for this particular crisis, Russell and Bill Lockett had a lengthy and testy exchange about the pay increases given to four division directors who had taken on additional duties. During the discussion, Lockett did not confine his questioning to the four division directors. Lockett: “There have been no other pay increases other than the 15 percent that you just mentioned?” Russell: “No sir, there have been other increases within the reorganization within the authority that was given me, but that was not the question that was asked in here. We were talking about the directors.” Lockett: “And we’re still talking about the directors.” Russell: “OK… But there have been others, sir. Just for the record. All within the authority that I have within the system now.” Lockett: “There have been other pay increases using the current personnel policies and procedures manual to other directors?” Russell: “No sir, these are the only directors that were impacted.” While he might have been forthright about the existence of additional increases, he certainly wasn’t forthcoming about the details, especially the financial impact, which negates nearly all of the savings he’s currently claiming the reorganization has achieved. As such, the commission was in no mood to split hairs. Somber and tense after the long legal meeting, at which commissioners discussed their frustrations with the pay increases and at least tentatively talked about plans for Russell’s replacement, they immediately tackled the question of Russell’s future when Mason, the first to publically call for his removal, made a motion to terminate. “Today is not just about Mr. Russell,” Mason said in prepared remarks. “It’s about the citizens and employees of Augusta-Richmond County in regards to what is right and what is fair. Today is also about a few good men, men who have the ability to affect real change with their decision here today. “The question is, do we have at least six good men in here today that are
willing to provide the leadership that this city so desperately deserves? The worst thing that could happen here today is for good men to do nothing.” In spite of impassioned plea, Mason’s motion failed 4-6, though it did so with a surprising twist. Matt Aitken, who typically votes along with the white commissioners, joined Mason, Locket and Hatney to vote for Russell’s termination, while Corey Johnson, who has been a solid part of the racial minority, sided with Bowles, Jackson, Brigham, Guilfoyle and Smith in voting no. After the meeting, Johnson defended his vote by saying that a no vote was not necessarily a vote in support of the administrator, but more of a concern over having a proper exit strategy. An obviously exasperated Brigham voiced similar unease. “Without a plan, no action,” he said. “Until there is a plan, there will be no vote as far as I’m concerned. I think the majority feels that way, too.” Noting that both Aitken and Johnson’s votes were unexpected, he made it clear that the 6-4 numbers might not be all that strong. “People change their minds,” he said. “Come Monday, people may change their minds again.” Other commissioners, who have obviously lost patience with Russell’s leadership style, also mentioned Monday’s committee meetings as being a potential time to revisit the issue. Earlier in the day, Mayor Pro Tem Joe Bowles expressed frustration at Russell’s unwillingness to be pinned down about the amount of savings generated by the reorganization, which was initially touted as $2 million but has been continually downgraded to the current $400,000 figure, though commissioners have yet to receive any hard numbers about the savings. He also said commissioners were starting to consider specific individuals to step in to fill the role, either shortterm or long-term. Bowles said he favored a short-term administrator who could shake things up without fear of repercussions, while others, like Bill Lockett, said they were apprehensive of the changes a shortterm administrator could make. In spite of his frustration, however, Bowles said after the meeting that he feared the potential fallout of moving forward without a plan. “A knee-jerk reaction, in my opinion, was not the way to do it,” he said. “We have some things we need to straighten out in our government and today wasn’t the time to do it.” Not surprisingly, Mason vowed to continue the fight to remove Russell. “It’s not over yet,” he said. “This was V. 22 | NO. 52
just the first go around. It didn’t work out today, but I brought it forward and I think the people want it to be brought forward. We’ve got 2,600 employees who are feeling the pain and we’ve got a city that has less than the right amount of confidence needed in Mr. Russell.” He said that in spite of the vote it was obvious commissioners lacked confidence as well. “I feel very comfortable that this was the right thing to do,” he said. “I feel very uncomfortable that we didn’t do the right thing today, because there’s no resolution.” Not only was there no resolution, there was no explanation of the raises, either. Brigham made a motion to adjourn the meeting before Russell could be requested to provide that information, a move Mason called evasive. “It kind of tells you that some commissioners don’t want to deal with the real issues,” he said, continuing that he didn’t buy the argument about needing to have a plan in place. “We’ve got two deputy administrators we’ve never had before in this government that we’re paying $270,000 for,” he said. “To say there’s not a plan, to my mind, kind of shows a lack of foresight on their part, because this was what was put in place by those six votes. They’re acting like they’re not comfortable with the structure they voted for, but it’s their structure.” For his part, Russell seems prepared to forge on to the bitter end, whenever it comes. And if the conspiracy theorists are right and the whole thing is just a plot to get himself fired so he can take the severance pay and trade in the Marble Palace Circus for a hammock and a bottle of beer, then he’s doing a good job of staying in character. “This is never an easy job, even on a good day, and when you start doing things that are tough, it makes it even harder,” he said. “That’s just the reality of it, and as one can already observe, I’m not afraid to make tough decisions.” Come Monday, though... If not this Monday, then soon.
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METRO SPIRIT 8.18.11 17
GOOD TO GO
Tony Orbach and Janie Smulyan / Edited by Will Shortz
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DOWN 1 Substitute for forgotten words in a song 2 Pour thing? 3 Stops panicking 4 Valued 5 Prefix with -centric 6 “I can’t believe it!” 7 Holiday celebrated with bánh chung cakes
8 Asian title that’s an anagram of an English one 9 Unsettling last words 10 Two-time Oscar nominee Joan 11 Home to about 15% of the world’s population: Abbr. 12 W. Coast air hub 13 Fashion magazine 14 “2, 4, 6, 8 — Who do we appreciate?,” e.g. 15 ___ egg 16 Back 17 College-area local 18 What a chair should cover? 19 Cosmetics brand with the classic slogan “Because I’m worth it” 24 Swiss mix 29 Often-trimmed tree 32 Designed for two 33 Takes in 34 “___ out!” 36 Serpentine shape 37 “Beatles ’65” and others 38 Hanauma Bay locale 40 Antipollution mascot Woodsy ___ 41 AOL’s Web site, e.g. 42 Birth control option, briefly 44 Lacking a surrounding colonnade, as a temple 45 Ljubljana resident 49 Ready to be called 50 French meat 51 Active 53 Casino offering 54 Poetic “plenty” 55 Singer Aimee 58 Muffs 60 What a pajama party often is 61 It’s NW of Georgia 63 Sch. that plays Texas A&M 64 Memory: Prefix 66 Calendario unit 68 When tripled, et cetera 69 Musical number 70 “The Producers” character who sings “When You Got It, Flaunt It” 71 Mucho 72 Actor Rickman 73 K-12 79 “Broken Arrow” co-star Michael 81 Type in 83 Portrayal 84 Zeus’ disguise when fathering Helen of Troy 87 Blood-typing system 89 Modern party planning aids 90 Sports column 91 Go south, as sales 92 Scot’s “wee” 93 In excelsis ___ 94 Japanese “thanks” 95 Frequent, in verse 98 Stand on short feet 99 Straight 100 Eve who wrote “The Vagina Monlogues” 101 ___ egg 102 Beat it 103 Best in crash-test ratings 108 Order to a barista 109 “Zigeunerliebe” composer 112 “La Bohème” soprano 113 Key of Brahms’s Symphony No. 4: Abbr. 116 Eleven, to Héloïse 117 Edwardian expletive 119 Ones putting on a show, for short 121 They: Fr. 122 German rejection
previous week’s
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R.U.N.E ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED
Party On Since his 2005 debut with “Hicktown,” Macon, Ga., native Jason Aldean has had one goal: creating something new in country music without borrowing too heavily from other sources (or “ripping anybody else off,” as he puts it). “The great ones figure it out and are constantly evolving, and that's what makes 'em great," he explains. Aldean might be too humble to describe himself as great, but he is well on his way to figuring it out himself; he may be a country boy but he likes, and incorporates, all kinds of musical styles into his music. That includes dueting with American Idol Kelly Clarkson and rapping in “Dirt Road Anthem.” Fans apparently love his hybrid, since his last show at the JBA, on Feb. 20, 2010, sold out the same day tickets went on sale. Don’t miss his upcoming September show, tickets for which go on sale Friday, August 19, at 10 a.m.
Jason Aldean My Kinda Party Tour 2011 w/ Chris Young and Thompson Square James Brown Arena | Thursday, September 29 7:30 p.m. | $51.75 | 877-4AUGTIX
GEORGIALINATIX.COM
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calendar
The Savannah Riverkeeper’s 5th Annual Paddlefest on the Savannah River is Saturday, August 20, and includes a canoe and kayak race, a standup paddleboard competition, a homemade raft race and a free post-race party and farmers market at 11 a.m. Visit savannahriverkeeper.org/ paddlefest/
Arts
Art at Lunch: Confederate Faces in Color will be held Friday, August 19, at noon at the Morris Museum of Art. David Wynn Vaughan provides a detailed look at 50 hand-tinted photographs of Confederate soldiers drawn from his enormous private collection. Members, $10; non-members, $14. Lunch by Moe’s Southwest Grill. Call 706-724-7612 or visit themorris.org. Clay Class is Monday, August 22, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Aiken Center for the Arts. Participants will learn the skills needed to create pottery by hand-building and using the wheel with Myrna Spurrier. Open to adults and teens. Glaze, firing and 25 pounds of clay included. $150 per session. Call 803-6419094 or visit aikencenterforthearts.org. Day of Art, hosted by the North Augusta Artists Guild, is each Tuesday
20 METRO SPIRIT 8.18.11
from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Arts and Heritage Center and includes a group of artists painting in the center who will answer questions or allow visitors to join in. Call 803-441-4380 or visit artsandheritagecenter.com.
August. Visit skycityaugusta.com.
Exhibitions
Jane Popiel Exhibition shows at Sacred Heart Cultural Center through the month of August. Call 706-826-4700 or visit sacredheartaugusta.org.
Celebrating the Painters and Paintings of USCA, Alumni and Friends Opening Reception is Monday, August 22, from 6-8 p.m. in the Etherredge Center. The free event will feature past and current works of former students. Call 803-641-3307 or visit usca.edu. Jennifer Weaver White Photography Exhibit shows at Inner Bean in August. Call 706-414-6231. Lauryn Sprouse Art Exhibit shows at Sky City through the month of
No Nature, No Art, an exhibition by William Willis, shows at the Morris Museum of Art. Call 706-828-3867 or visit themorris.org.
Civil War Redux: Pinhole Photographs by Willie Anne Wright shows at the Morris Museum of Art. Call 706-828-3867 or visit themorris.org. Philip Juras: The Southern Frontier, landscapes inspired by Bartram’s travels, shows at the Morris Museum of Art. Call 706-724-7501 or visit themorris.org.
Music
Doc Easton performs smooth jazz as part of the Candlelight Jazz Series on Sunday, August 21, at 8 p.m. at the 8th Street Riverwalk Stage. Participants are invited to bring their own seating and picnic. $6. Call 706495-6238 or visit gardencityjazz.com. Savannah River Stringband performs at Hopelands Gardens in Aiken on Monday, August 22, at 7 p.m. Call 803-642-7630 or visit aiken.net/ hopelandsgarden.html.
Literary
Coloring Book Signing is Friday, August 19, at Gaartdensity Gallery downtown from 7-9 p.m. Each of the six artists who contributed — Jason Craig, Jay Jacobs, Rich Menger, Chris Murray, Leonard Zimmerman and Staci Swider — will be on hand to sign the coloring V. 22 | NO. 52
book, which includes themes such as Things That Float, A Bad Idea, A Promise I Won’t Keep and Getting Even, and appeals to both children and adults. Call 706-466-5166. Saffron Kelley Book Signing is Saturday, August 20, from 1:30-4:30 p.m. at the Headquarters Branch Library. Kelley is the author of “Kindly.” Call 706-821-2600 visit ecgrl.org. Coffee Club is Tuesday, August 23, at 9 a.m. and participants will be able to talk with Columbia County Librarian Mary Lin Maner at the Harlem Library. Call 706-556-9795 or visit ecgrl.org. Cameron McWhirter Book Signing is Thursday, August 25, at 7 p.m. at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church on Lumpkin Road. McWhirter is the author of “Red Summer: The Summer of 1919 and the Awakening of Black America,” which includes information on Joe Ruffin of Jenkins County, Georgia. Call 706798-1482. Brown Bag Book Club will meet Thursday, August 18, at 11:30 a.m. at the Columbia County Library to discuss “Roanoke” by Lee Miller. Call 706-8631946 or visit ecgrl.org. Harlem Library Book Club meets Thursday, August 18, at 4 p.m. to discuss “Dying for Chocolate” by Diane Mott Davidson. Call 706-556-9795 or visit ecgrl.org.
Theater
Auditions for “Eli’s Bethlehem Inn,” an Enopion Theatre Company musical dinner theater production, will be held at the Kroc Center now through Sept. 2 for the production, which will show in nine performances Nov. 18-Dec. 2. Parts are available for men and women 18 years and up. All auditions are by appointment only. Call 706-771-7777 or visit enopion.com.
Auditions for “The Crucible” are Thursday, August 18, at 7 p.m. at the Aiken Community Playhouse. Audition is open to middle- and high-school students. Roles include 10 males and 10 females. Call 803-648-1438 or visit aikencommunityplayhouse.com. “Tuesdays with Morrie,” a production of the Aiken Community Playhouse, shows Friday-Saturday, August 19-20, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, August 21, at 3 p.m. $12. Call 803648-1438 or visit acp1011.com. “Ruthless,” a production of Le Chat Noir, shows Friday-Saturday, August 19-20 at 8 p.m. Eight-year-old Tina Denmark knows she was born to play Pippi Longstocking and she will do anything to win the part in her school musical. Anything includes murdering the leading lady! $15-$30. Reservations required. Call 706-7223322 or visit lcnaugusta.com.
Flix
“Rio” shows Saturday, August 20, at 2 p.m. at the Headquarters Branch Library. Call 706-821-2600 or visit ecgrl.org. “Horse Feathers” shows Tuesday, August 23, at 6:30 p.m. at the Headquarters Branch Library. Call 706-821-2600 or visit ecgrl.org.
Special Events
from 5-8 p.m. Participants will sample three whites, three reds and cheese. $5 fee with a $3 rebate upon purchase of a featured wine. Call 803-279-9522 or visit wineworldsc.com. Beer Tasting, featuring 13 brews, is Friday, August 19, from 5-8 p.m. at Wine World in North Augusta. $5, with a $3 rebute upon purchase of six of the featured beers. Call 803-279-9522 or visit wineworldsc.com. Women’s Head 2 Toe Expo is Saturday, August 20, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Henry Brigham Community Center. Presented by Positive Women Taking Action, it includes information about domestic violence, workshops and guest speakers on women’s health, fitness, health screenings, hair show, vendors and more. $20, including continental breakfast, lunch and totebag with conference materials. Call 706-627-7184. Aiken Arts Alive — That’s Entertainment is on Saturday, August 20, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Aiken Center for the Arts and includes live entertainment from Porkchop Productions, South Boundary, Little Richard the Shetland Pony and ABATSU African Dancers and Drummers. The event will also include demonstrations and a reception for the center’s summer camps with complimentary refreshments. Call 803-641-9094 or visit aikencenterforthearts.org.
Young Professionals of Augusta Lunch and Learn will be Thursday, August 18, starting at 11:45 a.m. at Café 209. Participants will learn to build better business relationships, networking and other practices with officials from all three area chambers of commerce. $10. Open to those ages 21-40; Visit ypaugusta.com.
Back to School Dance Battle, sponsored by Terrell Academy, the James Brown Music Academy and Playdate Augusta, is Saturday, August 20, at 5 p.m. at the Kroc Center. $5 admission for observers; prizes for first place and runner up. For entry information and rules, call 706-736-6216 or visit chterrell. com or jamesbrownfamilyfdn.org.
Third Thursday Wine Tasting at Wine World will be Thursday, August 18,
Soul City Sirens versus Classic City Roller Girls is Sunday, August 21,
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Augusta Bulldog Club 2011 Season Kickoff Meeting with a tribute to Sonny Seiler and UGA is Thursday, August 25, with a reception and dinner at 5:30 p.m. and program at 6:30 p.m. at the Julian Smith Casino. Adults, $30; under 12, $15. Visit augustabulldogclub.org. WeeklyWineTastingsatVineyard Wine Market in Evans are each Friday from 4:30-6:30 p.m. and each Saturday from 1-6 p.m. Call 706-922-9463 or visit vine11.com. Saturday Market at the River, located at 8th Street Plaza, downtown Augusta, is each Saturday through Oct. 29, from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Visit theaugustamarket.com.
Health
SouthernCare CPR Classes are Friday, August 19, at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, August 23, at 2 p.m., and Wednesday, August 31, at 6 p.m. Pre-registration required. Call 803-643-9888. WeekendChildbirthPreparation Class is Friday, August 19, from 6:30-9:30 p.m. and Saturday, August 20, from 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Call 706-774-2825 or visit universityhealth.org. Le Leche League will meet
2800 WASHINGTON ROAD
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“Sculpting in Clay: Transformative Leadership in Shifting Times,” part of Georgia Health Sciences University’s new President’s Lecture Series, is Tuesday, August 23, at noon in the university’s Lee Auditorium and features President Ricardo Azziz. A Q&A session will follow the lecture and refreshments will be served. The series is open to faculty, students, residents, staff and the community. Visit georgiahealth.edu.
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Tuesday, August 23, at 7 p.m. at Inner Bean Café, Davis Road. Visit lllofga.org. Shepeard Community Blood Center Blood Drive is Wednesday, August 24, from 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. at Doctor’s Hospital. Call 706-737-4551 or visit shepeardblood.org for a complete list of blood drives. Weight Loss Seminar, hosted by Georgia Health Sciences University’s new Weight Loss Center, is Thursday, August 25, at 7 p.m. at GHSU’s Cancer Center. Free, but pre-registration required. Call 706-721-2609 or visit mcghealth.org/weightloss. Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson Disease Aquatics Class, sponsored by the CSRA Parkinson Support Group and The Family Y, is a group class designed specifically for ambulatory participants affected by Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson Disease. Held each Friday at noon at the Wilson Family Y indoor pool. Call Claudia Collins at 706-922-9664 or visit thefamilyy.org. Joint Efforts, an informational class about knee and hip pain causes and treatments sponsored by Trinity Hospital of Augusta, meets every Thursday at 11 a.m. at Augusta Orthopaedic Clinic. Call 706-481-7604 or visit trinityofaugusta.com.
Support
Blood Cancer/Stem Cell Support Group will meet Thursday, August 18, from 5:30-7 p.m. in the MCGHealth Cancer Center’s first floor community room. Call 706-721-1634 or visit mcghealth.org. YoungWomenwithBreastCancer meets Friday, August 19, at 12:30 p.m. at University Hospital. Call 706-774-4141 or visit universityhealth.org. Let’s Talk Cancer Support Group meets Tuesday, August 23, from 5:30-7 p.m. in MCGHealth’s Cancer Center’s first-floor community room. Call 706721-0550 or visit mcghealth.org. Parkinson’s Disease Support Group will meet Tuesday, August 23, at 6 p.m. at University Hospital. Call 706863-6355 or visit universityhealth.org.
Martinez 706.855.0010 4127 columbia rd
Augusta 706.736.1819 daniel village shopping center
22 METRO SPIRIT 8.18.11
A.W.A.K.E. (Alert, Well, and Keeping Energetic) Sleep Apnea Support Group meets Thursday, August 25, from 7-9 p.m. Pre-registration required. Call Penny Mehaffey at 706-721-0793 or visit mcghealth.org. Families Who Have Lost a Baby During Pregnancy, Childbirth or Early
Infancy Support Group is ongoing. For information and support following a pregnancy loss, call Sue Ellen Abney at 706-721-8299 or visit mcghealth.org. Moms Connection meets every Tuesday from 1-2 p.m. at 1225 Walton Way (the old Fairway Ford dealership), room 1010C. Preregistration required. Call 706-7219351 or visit mcghealth.org. Weight Loss Surgery Support Group meets each Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. in Suite 110 of Medical Office Building 2, 3624 J. Dewey Gray Circle, on the Doctors Hospital campus. Call 706-651-2229 or visit doctors-hospital.net.
Education
Getting Down to Business — Let’s Network, an event designed to allow business owners to connect, network and showcase their businesses, is Thursday, August 18, from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Augusta Marriott Hotel and Suites. Sponsored by the CSRA Business League. Pre-registration required. Call 706-722-0994. Computing for Beginners, a three-session course, will be offered on Fridays, August 19-September 2, at 10 a.m. at Diamond Lakes Branch Library. The course establishes basic computing vocabulary and introduces first-time users to the mouse, keyboard and Windows desktop. Free. Pre-registration required. Call 706-722-2432 or visit ecgrl.org. State Rep. Wayne Howard of District 121 will hold a public meeting at the Headquarters Branch Library on Saturday, August 20, from 5:30-9 p.m. to discuss proposed redistricting plans. Call 706-821-2600 or visit ecgrl.org. Business Finance Workshop, open to women, minority, disadvantaged and small business owners, is Monday, August 22, at 6 p.m. at the downtown branch of the Richmond County Public Library. Hosted by the Housing and Community Development Department of Augusta-Richmond County and the CSRA Business League, this is a free event, although pre-registration is required. Call 706-722-0994 or visit business-league.org. Introduction to Excel will be held Tuesday and Thursday, August 23 and 25, beginning at 10 a.m. at the Wallace Branch Library. Call 706-722-6275 or visit ecgrl.org. Microsoft Word I, a computertraining course, will be held Wednesday, August 24, at 10 a.m. with Microsoft Word II following at 2:30 p.m. at the
Headquarters Branch Library. Call 706821-2600 or visit ecgrl.org. Google: More Than a Search Engine, a four-session computer course, will be offered on Wednesdays, August 24-September 7, at the Diamond Lakes Branch Library. This course focuses on Google and the different services offered such as searching for maps, images and the web. Free. Pre-registration required. Call 706-722-2432 or visit ecgrl.org. Resume Writing is Thursday, August 25, from 10 a.m.-noon at the Headquarters Branch Library. Bring your resume and get tips from a trained instructor from the Department of Labor. Valid library card required. Call 706-821-2600 or visit ecgrl.org. E-Books and Georgia Download Destination will be held Thursday, August 25, at 10 a.m. at the Diamond Lakes Branch Library. Participants will learn how to setup a Georgia Download Destination account using their library card and learn the process of checking out and downloading eBooks and audio books. Call 706-7222432 or visit ecgrl.org. Internet Basics, a computertraining course, will be held Thursday, August 25, at 2:30 p.m. at the Headquarters Branch Library. Call 706821-2600 or visit ecgrl.org. GED Classes are held every Monday and Tuesday night at 6 p.m. at the Headquarters Branch Library. No pre-registration is required, but participants must have a valid PINES library card. Call 706-821-2600 or visit ecgrl.org. ESL Classes are held every Wednesday night at 6 p.m. at the Headquarters Branch Library. Preregistration required. Call 803-279-3363 or visit ecgrl.org. Saturday Historic Trolley Tour, every Saturday, begins at the Museum of History and tours historic downtown Augusta from 1-3:15 p.m. Reservations required. All seats are $12. 706-724-4067.
Sports-Outdoors
The Augusta GreenJackets play the Charleston Riverdogs ThursdaySaturday, August 18-20, at 7:05 p.m. and Sunday, August 22, at 5:35 p.m. They play the Kannapolis Intimidators Monday-Thursday, August 21-25, at 7:05 p.m. at Lake Olmstead Stadium. Tickets are $1$13. Call 706-922-WINS or visit greenjacketsbaseball.com. V. 22 | NO. 52
Paddlefest is Saturday, August 20. Participants can participate in races for stand-up paddleboards, kayaks and homemade rafts. All proceeds from the event will go to helping to protect and restore the Savannah River. Event will be followed up by lunch, awards ceremony and much more. Call 706-826-8991 or visit savannahriverkeeper.org. Hilltop Family Fun Day at Hilltop Riding Stables at Fort Gordon is Saturday, August 20, from 1:30-4 p.m. For families with kids ages 7 and older, parents pay half price for trail rides that begin at 1:30 and 3 p.m. Call 706-791-4864 or visit fortgordon.com. Back to the ’70s Celebration at Gordon Lanes Bowling Center at Fort Gordon is Sunday, August 21, from 1-10 p.m. and features 75 cent games, 75 cents shoe rental, 75 cent hot dogs and 75 cent sodas. Call 706-791-3446 or visit fortgordon.com. Lakeside Rideouts at Hilltop Riding Stables at Fort Gordon are each Sunday beginning at 1:30 p.m. on a first-come first-served basis. The ride, which begins at two, is a twohour guided ride to Wilkerson Lake. $45-$50. Call 706-791-4864 or visit fortgordon.com.
p.m. at the Larry Bray Memorial Pitch, 100 Wood Street. New players are welcome. Email arj6402@yahoo.com. Group Run begins each Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at Nacho Mama’s. Three- and four-mile routes are available for all ages and abilities of runners. Call 706-414-4059 or email jim@ enduranceconcepts.com. Hockey Skills & Drills is every Thursday from 6-8 p.m. at Augusta Ice Sports Center. $10-$15. Call 706-863-0061 or visit augustaicesports.com. Meet six artists, including Jason Craig, Jay Jacobs, Rich Menger, Chris Murray, Leonard Zimmerman and Staci Swider, and see their new coloring book on Friday, August 19, at Gaartdensity Gallery downtown from 7-9 p.m. They’ll even sign a copy for you. Call 706-466-5166.
4864 or visit fortgordon.com. Guided Trail Rides at Hilltop Riding Stables at Fort Gordon are available Saturdays at 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m., noon, 1:30 p.m., and 3 p.m.; Sundays at 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and noon; and Wednesday-Friday at 11 a.m. with reservations 24 hours in advance. All trail rides are on a first come, first served basis, and participants should arrive 30 minutes prior to the trail ride starting for sign in procedures. $23-$30. Call 706-791-
TAP • BALLET • JAZZ
Couch to 5K at the Wilson Family Y is registering now for the program which begins August 23. The six-week session is designed for runners and walkers, who will prepare for the Gasping Gobbler 5K on November 19. $15 per session for members; $25 for nonmembers. Visit thefamilyy.org. Augusta Rugby Football Club meets every Wednesday from 6:30-8:30
COME AND TALK TO US ABOUT AN ENRICHED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM!
Thursday Night Chain Reaction Ride begins at 6 p.m. each Thursday at Patriots Park in Grovetown. For intermediate to fast-paced cyclists, who average 25-32 miles. Participants should bring their own water and helmet. Call 706-855-2024 or visit chainreactionbicycles.net. Riverview Disc Golf League meets each Thursday at 6 p.m. at Riverview Park in North Augusta. $5 entry fee and $1 ace pool. Call 803-2158181 or visit augustadiscgolf.com. Road Bike Ride meets each Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Andy Jordan’s
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METRO SPIRIT 8.18.11 23
Bicycle Warehouse downtown for an approximately 25-mile ride at a moderate to fast pace. Front and rear lights, as well as a helmet, are required. Call 706-7246777 or visit andyjordans.com. Wheelchair Tennis Clinic, presented by the Walton Foundation for Independence, meets each Monday at 6 p.m. (weather permitting) at The Club at Rae’s Creek. Free and open to the public. Call 706-826-5809 or email alsalley@wrh.org. Augusta Canal Boat Tours lasting one hour are offered daily at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday Sunset Cruises, lasting three hours, are at 5 p.m. All tours include admission to the Augusta Canal Interpretive Center. Call 706-823-0440 or visit augustacanal.com.
Kids
ABCs of Success: Karate for Concentration Workshop is a free class at Premier Martial Arts in North Augusta for those ages 5-13. It is on Saturdays, August 20 and 27, at 10 a.m. Preregistration required. Call 803-640-8443. What Zoo Animal Are You? Story Time is Tuesday, August 23, at 10 a.m. Listen to stories about the zoo and make
an animal mask at the Headquarters Branch Library. Call 706-821-2600 or visit ecgrl.org. Craft Workshop: Summer Fun will be Thursday, August 25, at 11 a.m. at the Headquarters Branch Library. For ages 3-5. Call 706-821-2600 or visit ecgrl.org. How It’s Made, Homemade is Thursday, August 25, at 4 p.m. at the Columbia County Library. For ages 6-11. Pre-registration required. Call 706-4477657 or visit ecgrl.org. “Follow the Drinking Gourd” shows at the DuPont Planetarium in Aiken each Saturday in August at 8 p.m. Tickets are $4.50 for adults, $3.50 for senior citizens, $2.50 for 4K-12th grade students and $1 for USC-A students, faculty and staff. Call 803-641-3313 or visit usca.edu/rpsec/planetarium/. “Digistar Laser Fantasy” shows at the DuPont Planetarium in Aiken each Saturday in August at 9 p.m. Tickets are $5.50 for adults, $4.50 for senior citizens, $3.50 for 4K-12th grade students and $1 for USC-A students, faculty and staff. Call 803-641-3313 or visit usca.edu/rpsec/planetarium/.
Tootsie Roll Guessing Game goes on throughout the month of August at the Headquarters Branch Library. The winner will be announced Sept. 7. Call 706-821-2600 or visit ecgrl.org.
Wacky Wednesday Story Time is each Wednesday at 10 a.m. in the children’s department of Barnes and Noble in the Augusta Mall. Call 706-7370012 or visit bn.com.
Tae Kwon Do lessons are at the Wilson Family Y, Family Y of Augusta South and North Augusta throughout the month of August. Lessons are twice a week and for all skill levels, ages 5 and up. $35 per month for members; $55 per month for non-members. Register at any Family Y location or online at thefamilyy.org.
Homeschool Playgroup meets each Thursday at 10:30 a.m. at Creighton Park in North Augusta. Call 803-613-0484.
The Augusta Arsenal Soccer Club Junior Academy, for boys and girls ages 5-8, meets each Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at the Augusta Soccer Park. Call 706-854-0149 or visit augustasoccer.com. Toddler Time, free play for children ages 5 and under, is each Monday and Wednesday from 9:3011:30 a.m. at the H.O. Weeks Center in Aiken. Call 803-642-7631 or visit cityofaikensc.gov.
Hobbies
Augusta Archaeological Society Meeting is Thursday, August 18, at TBonz on Washington Road, with dinner at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting, featuring guest speaker Jim Knight, retired director of collections and curator of natural history at the South Carolina State Museum, beginning at 8 p.m. The public is welcome. Call 706-863-7964. If you would like to see your organization’s events listed in our calendar, please email Amy Christian at amy@themetrospirit.com. The deadline for each Thursday’s issue is the previous Friday at noon.
Ceramics Class, for ages 14 and up, meets Mondays at 9 a.m. or 6 p.m., Tuesdays at 6 p.m. and Wednesdays at 9 a.m. in the Weeks Ceramics Center. Call 803-642-7631 or visit cityofaikensc.gov.
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Omni Health and Fitness Members Welcome to the Gold’s Gym family! As a Gold’s Gym member, you will now have access to all four local Gold’s Gym locations in Aiken, North Augusta and Augusta. In addition to the four local facilities, Gold’s Gym members have travel privileges to all 750 locations worldwide. Additional membership benefits included in your current membership are as follows: • Unlimited tanning (Bobby Jones) • Unlimited guest privileges (Bobby Jones/Walton Way Extension) • Unlimited massage chair usage (Bobby Jones) • Introductory personal training consultation • 50 percent off cooler drinks (Bobby Jones) Over the next several months, Omni will be rebranded as Gold’s Gym. We look forward to getting to know all our new Gold’s Gym family members. For more information, please visit goldsgym.com and or stop by any one of the clubs. We always appreciate suggestions and feedback. Yours in Good Health! Shaun Smith Gold’s Gym Management Gold’s Story Welcome to Gold’s Gym — we are the original, the place where it all began. More than 45 years ago, Joe Gold opened a modest fitness center in Venice Beach, Calif., and began a tradition of commitment, passion and dedication that is now practiced at more than 600 locations across the globe.
Our gyms are built to help people realize their goals and find their inner strength. We combine the most diverse amenities in the industry with the best personal training to deliver the ultimate fitness experience. At Gold’s Gym you’ll find all of the latest cardio and strength training equipment, along with a dynamic group exercise program that includes classes such as yoga, group cycling, mixed martial arts, muscle endurance training and pilates. Most importantly, you’ll find an energetic, supportive environment full of all kinds of people who are committed to achieving their goals. Our global staff of personal trainers and group exercise instructors is the best in the business — period. Whether it is a mom looking to get in shape after having a child, a marathon runner training for his or her next race, or a Hollywood star training for their next action movie, we leverage over 45 years of fitness experience to create personalized fitness programs that help our members realize their potential. As our staff and members can tell you, when you put on a Gold’s Gym T-shirt, it means something special. You become part of a tradition of commitment and excellence that spans more than 30 countries, 40 states and has helped millions accomplish their dreams. Today more than ever, people are looking for strength. Whether it’s the strength to be a better parent, the strength to overcome diabetes, or the strength to be a better athlete, strength comes in many forms. At Gold’s Gym, we recognize that everyone has their own strength — our job for over 45 years has been to help them find it. Gold’s Gym... Know Your Own Strength.™
In This Issue... • Meet sisters and instructors Jennifer Beam and Ruthie McGhee, who both overcame physical limitations to inspire others • See why Premier Fitness PT’s Megan Bohlander says their facility is perfect for women just getting into, or just getting back to, taking care of themselves • Find out why instructor Amber Smith says group fitness classes such as RPM are great for any woman, no matter their shape or lifestyle • Take the healthy diet quiz and see how yours stacks up • Discover which food, and which habits to get rid of, in order to get a better night’s sleep
3
Sisters, Instructors and Survivors Jennifer Beam and Ruthie McGhee beat the odds Two sisters: One is 35; the other almost 40. One is legally blind; the other given a death sentence. Both, however, are beating the odds at Gold’s Gym in North Augusta. Admittedly, it took them a while. Jennifer Beam was diagnosed with Stargardt disease when she was 7, a disease that caused her eyesight to gradually diminish to the point of legal blindness. By 19, she weighed almost 200 pounds and had finally had enough. “I was just pushing out of the size 16 I was in,” Beam, now group fitness manager of Gold’s Gym in North Augusta, said of what finally prompted her to lose weight. “I was just eating too much and not caring at the time. I was young.” As for Ruthie McGhee, she was diagnosed with aplastic anemia, in which her bone marrow doesn’t replenish blood cells, in 1997. “I was 26 years old and just about to graduate from college,” she remembered. “Before the diagnosis, he [the doctor] said, ‘We think you have cancer. You’re going to have to go in the hospital tonight, you’re going to have to have a blood transfusion, your entire life is going to change and, at this point, we do not know how much longer you are going to live.’” “It was devastating,” she said. “Just to know that, in an instant, your life can change. Just like that it changed.” Aplastic anemia is not cancer, as Ruthie’s doctors first thought, but it is a disease that morphs into others. Ruthie’s, for instance, evolved into paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria. “Basically, whenever I have an infection or a cold or a stomach virus, I lose blood through my kidneys,” she explained. “Aplastic anemia can also turn into leukemia later on in life.” Ruthie said it took her a couple of years to really learn how to deal with the disease. “When you are told that you’re terminally ill and you don’t know if you are going to live much longer, you kind
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of look at your life and really think, ‘How can I be the healthiest, the most active person at my level’ and that’s exactly what I did. It didn’t happen overnight,” she said. “It took me a little while to get to that point, I would say a couple of years to finally muster up that strength. Patients can either be very depressed, which is perfectly acceptable, or they can choose to stand up and fight and that’s what I did.” Nearly 14 years later, Ruthie looks like every other person who visits the North Augusta location of Gold’s Gym, and she said much of the credit goes to her healthy lifestyle. “What keeps me alive, so to speak, is a drug therapy that I have to take intravenously. I have to have an IV every other week and if it wasn’t for that medicine I would be in bad shape,” she explained. “But it’s that along with
my exercise and my strive to really transform my body, myself, my mind and to encourage others to do the same thing.” Encouraging others is, in fact, the one thing both sisters say they enjoy most about their jobs. “I’ve been maintaining my weight for 16 years. I didn’t even get that heavy when I had my child, so it’s doable,” Jennifer said of what she likes to tell others new to fitness and exercise. “If I can do it, you can do it.” “That is really my ultimate goal is to challenge people and encourage them that if I can do it they can do it,” agreed Ruthie. “I let them know that they can do it, that they have to be the one that makes that lifestyle change and if they want it, they can achieve it right here at Gold’s Gym. That we are here to help them and we are here to encourage them
not only to have a better body, but to have a better mind, body and spirit.” Jennifer Beam teaches Body Pump Mondays and Fridays at 9 a.m. and Tuesdays at 6 p.m.; RPM Tuesdays at 9 a.m. and Thursdays at 6 p.m.; and alternates teaching CX-Worx with other instructors. Ruthie McGhee teaches BodyFlow (a combination of yoga, pilates and Tai Chi) Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5 p.m.; BodyPump Mondays at 5:30 p.m., Wednesdays at 9 a.m. and Thursdays at 6 p.m.; and CX-Worx on a rotating schedule with other instructors. For more information, call the North Augusta Gold’s Gym location at 803-2798900, visit at 101 Edgewood Drive, or visit goldsgym.com. If you’d like to contact Ruthie, email ruthie.mcghee@comcast.net.
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Take the First Step with Premier Fitness and Megan Bohlander Megan Bohlander has always been athletically inclined. From high school and college team sports to skiing and snowboarding, physical activity has always played a big part in her life. That was as true to her upbringing in Seymour, Ind., as it is today as co-owner of Premier Fitness PT inside Gold’s Gym’s Augusta locations. Bohlander, who is partners with Tony Dempsey, her boyfriend, says that her background and the way that the business is set up are just two of the factors that make women who are less athletically inclined more comfortable with their surroundings. “We just built the PT facility in the back and that gives clients the opportunity to go back there with a one-on-one trainer and not have to face everybody out front while they’re doing exercises,” she explained. “It keeps it a little quieter and a little more remote. We can do exercises one on one and you don’t have to worry about everybody else staring at you.” Premier’s privacy is important to many of their clients; just as important, however, is the expertise those new to physical activity receive. “I’ve heard multiple women say that it just feels better to have someone next to them,” she said, “and someone telling them that what they’re doing is what they’re supposed to be doing.” Megan says that getting someone over that fear enough to take the first step on the road to better health is her biggest challenge. Because unless fitness is a priority, something else will always come up. “Everybody’s got those points in which they feel that something comes up in life and life gets in the way and it’s just helping them realize that it’s really about taking a step for themselves and bettering their future,” she explained. “Whether
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it be correcting a situation they already have, a problem or an illness, or if it’s just preventing something down the road that involves their family history. So really that’s just the hardest part, helping someone realize that they do need to take some time for themselves and have some ‘me’ time in the gym.” The myth that hiring a personal trainer is a quick and easy way to empty your wallet certainly doesn’t help. But Megan says it’s just that: a myth. “We always build programs around people’s lifestyles and what kind of best fits their lifestyle,” she said. “We don’t have a set price structure. It varies as to what best suits your needs.” Getting someone to make that leap may be Megan’s greatest challenge, but she says seeing them do it is worth it. “The best reward is whenever you finally help someone make that decision and you see them a month or two later and they’re telling about all the things that they’re able to do now that they were never able to do,” she said. “Just how their overall health and energy level is completely different from where they were when they first sat down in front of you.” That will happen sooner that most people think, in part because of Premier’s Boot Camp, an hour-long class that blends cardio, strength training and plyometrics. It can also happen through the Fit to Be Gold contest starting Sept. 1, in which 12 candidates compete to get in shape for a $1,000 prize. “A lot of people want to win the thousand dollars, but really it is just about finally taking that step and knowing that you have a push and a motivation behind you to go ahead and make those changes,” Megan said. Whichever path someone chooses to take, that first step will lead to all sorts
of positives, mentally, physically and emotionally. “If you feel better about yourself, you’re going to feel better about the way you’re perceived and then your relationship’s going to get better,” Megan said of the effect better health has on couples’ relationships. “And I do have a lot of couples that come in and want to do it together so that their life is bettered
together and they know they’re pushing each other and they have each other behind them.” To visit Megan and Tony at Premier Fitness PT, call 706-396-4653 or 706-481-0502, visit the Gold’s Gym locations at 596 Bobby Jones Expressway or 3637 Walton Way Extension, or visit goldsgym.com.
Fitness Tip of the Month: Avoiding the Plateau Trainer Kenny Harvey motivates Stephanie Forbes during her workout session. One of the most common mistakes that people make when trying to get fit is searching for a routine. What I mean by routine is something they can follow 2-3 days a week when they come to the gym. The problem with a routine is that people become comfortable, therefore stuck in the routine. They get frustrated and wonder why they don’t see continued results. Look at it this way: When you go to the doctor and she puts you on antibiotics, she will say to take them for 7-10 days. The reason you do not stay on them longer is your body will become immune and therefore no longer receive the positive results from the antibiotic. It is the same principle when working out. If you continue to repeat the same exercises, your body becomes immune and you no longer see results. The key to seeing positive results is to shock your body. It is similar, for instance, to what you did at the beginning of your fitness journey when you finally took the step to start working out and your body was new to exercising. You accomplish shocking your body by changing the exercises, weights, sets, reps, range of motion and other factors of your workouts. A quick and easy shock is to change the way you pair your muscle groups together and the days in which you work them out. Next time you are in the gym, look for a Premier Fitness personal trainer and ask about how you can change your program and break through that plateau! Make it happen! Nutrition Tip Divide your plate and conquer your weight. Fill half of your plate with veggies or salad (watch those fatty dressings!). Fill the second half with lean protein and starch. One-quarter should be lean protein — fish, chicken or beef — grilled, baked or poached. And the last quarter should be starch — but watch the butter or oil. It’s easy to forget at home or in a restaurant. Tony Dempsey and Megan Bohlander Premier Fitness Personal Training
How Healthy Is Your Diet? Quickie quiz: How healthy is your diet? A. Extremely healthy. Even my Twinkies are grass-fed. B. Somewhat healthy. I no longer buy Five Guys Burgers. Now I only buy Four Guys Burgers. C. Not at all healthy. My dinner plate looks like Dick Cheney’s aorta.
Members Keep Instructor Amber Smith Going Amber Smith, an RPM and CXWorx instructor at Gold’s Gym in North Augusta and Aiken, knows that women have distinct needs when it comes to health and fitness, and she knows it first-hand. “I was seven weeks pregnant when I was certified [as an instructor] for the RPM class and did not know I was pregnant,” she said. “And RPM can be a very intense cardio burn. For me, my heartrate was up in the 80th-90th percentile when I was working out.” Amber will freely admit to being a competitive, driven person, but says the old wives’ tale about avoiding exercise while pregnant can largely be disregarded. “I would not let the exercise myth scare any woman away from working out,” she said. “Go at your own pace, consult with your doctor, but I would definitely, definitely, definitely encourage exercising while you are pregnant.” Amber said that, for her, the benefits were innumerable. “As a pregnant woman it’s very hard. You go through body changes where you feel huge and you feel like, ‘I don’t want to get out of bed, I don’t want to go and do this,’” She said. “And that’s one thing I enjoyed about being an instructor is that I had to do it. I had to get up on that bike and push myself and do it. And I’m glad I did because I never had any complications at all with my pregnancy, labor was a breeze and
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it almost increased that bond I had with the members because they were able to see me go through the pregnancy and now they see my little boy.” Whether it was while she was pregnant or now that she has a child, Amber said Gold’s Gym members are, and have always been, a highlight of being a fitness instructor. “Like today has been an absolutely horrible day; if anything could go wrong it went wrong, and I have looked forward to getting to my class tonight because I know I’m gonna walk in there and the bikes are going to be packed with smiling faces and it’s my second family and I get up there and we turn off the lights and everyone is the same,” she said. “We all draw from each other’s energy and it’s exciting and it’s fun and we sing together and we’re sitting there just sweating and there’s an energy in that drive and I look forward to it now and it makes my job easier because of the enjoyment that I do get out of it.” RPM is the Les Mills spinning class that first got Amber into the fitness instruction business. The North Augusta Gold’s Gym location has approximately 40 stationary bikes in its RPM room and, on those bikes, members use a resistance knob to switch between mountains and hills (the more difficult it is to push the pedals means more of a strength training workout) and flat surfaces (high turnover — sprinting — means participants get more of a cardio workout).
And while that might be her first love, Amber says she also enjoys the new CX-Worx class she teaches. A 30-minute core-based class, Amber explained that participants also work their abs, glutes, hips, back and hamstrings. “Just like with every Les Mills program, there are lower options, middle options and advanced options,” she said. “So you are always able to come in at any level and challenge yourself.” Whatever class members choose to take, and regardless of what unique issues they might be dealing with, Amber says there is one very important rule that everyone should remember. “That’s the biggest thing you can do in any class that you take is to not feel like you’re competing with the person next to you but to really listen to your body and become in tune with your body,” she said. “Learn not only what your limitations are, but also learn your potential so that you can push yourself to your potential.” Amber teaches RPM classes on Mondays and Wednesdays at 6 p.m. at the North Augusta Gold’s Gym location and at the Aiken location Fridays at 8:30 a.m. She teaches CX-Worx in North Augusta on Tuesdays at 10 a.m. For more information, call the North Augusta location at 803279-8900, the Aiken location at 803-6484653 or visit goldsgym.com.
Consumer Reports recently asked more than 1,200 people the same question, and 90 percent ranked their diet somewhere between “somewhat” and “extremely” healthy. (Which sounds promising, until you realize that 90 percent of Americans also rank themselves as “above average” drivers!) In truth, most of us believe we’re eating healthier than we are. Being truly aware of what we eat is one of the biggest challenges we face, especially in a culture that thinks a “value meal” is one in which we pay more hard-earned cash for more empty, fat-generating calories. In fact, additional empty calories are the curse of would-be healthy eating. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that between 1977 and 1996, the average soft drink grew by 34 percent, the average cheeseburger increased by 39 percent, and the average salty snack expanded by a full 70 percent. Restaurants, to justify higher prices, have spent years adding increasingly more food to our plates. We stuff our bellies, and they stuff their wallets. They become fat cats, and try to turn us into fatsos. And even healthy-sounding restaurant foods often harbor hundreds — if not thousands — of hidden calories from sugar, butter, cream and oil. If there’s an opportunity to make something sweeter or richer, restaurants take it. That’s how an innocuous-sounding item like a Chicken & Spinach Salad, which you’ll find on IHOP’s menu, packs in 1,600 calories and 118 grams of fat. Fortunately, over the past few years, things have started to improve. Since 2008, “Eat This, Not That!” has been holding restaurants accountable by publishing their most egregious items and calling them out for nefarious practices. And a lot of them have responded by adding new, healthier options to their menus — foods that are just as filling, just as tasty, but a heck of a lot healthier. That’s how you can strip away 10, 20, 30 pounds or more just by sampling the best new foods from your favorite restaurants. One more thing: Canadian researchers found that receiving daily nutrition and weight loss advice will keep your diet extremely healthy — and your belly slim.
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Banning Bedtime Blues You’ve done all the obvious stuff — cut out late-night caffeine, made sure your bedroom is dark and cozy, avoided scary movies or struggling with your to-do list right before bed. So why are you still tossing and turning? “Certain habits you’re unaware of could be sabotaging your sleep,” says Kristen L. Knutson, Ph.D., assistant professor and sleep specialist at the University of Chicago’s Department of Medicine. And, as you may know, lack of shut-eye doesn’t just leave you foggy the next day: Chronic, long-term insufficient sleep ups your odds of diabetes, depression, cardiovascular disease, even weight gain. So what to do? Try these unexpected tweaks and wake up feeling incredibly well rested. Halt Your Afternoon Habit It’s a no-brainer that drinking coffee or tea right before you hit the sack won’t do you any sleep favors. But you also need to watch your afternoon drinks, says Joan Salge Blake, R.D., a clinical associate professor at Boston University. Love your 4 p.m. peach tea? It’s got caffeine, and so do some flavored waters and even orange sodas, Blake warns. Check the labels on your favorite midday drinks — any that boast energy-boosting benefits are likely culprits. Then, if possible, stop sipping them by 2 p.m., so there’s time for their effects to wear off. Naturally, coffee drinks pack a real wallop, so stay away from them after lunch. Choose Sleep Superfoods While it’s important to avoid a big, heavy meal right before bed (a full stomach will disturb your sleep), some foods may actually help you snooze, Blake says. If you’ve had a few nights of restless sleep, make a light whole-wheat-pasta dish with fresh vegetables, a little diced chicken breast, tomato sauce and a sprinkle of Parmesan for dinner. This meal contains a snooze-friendly combination of protein and tryptophan, an amino acid that converts to sleep-promoting serotonin in the body. If your stomach’s growling late at night, try a small bowl of cottage cheese with banana slices, another dish that serves up tryptophan. Other combos of healthy carbs and protein, such as milk and graham crackers or yogurt sprinkled with cereal, will also do the trick. Sip Wine Sooner Even though a nightcap may help you relax and fall asleep faster, it’ll make the second half of your sleep cycle restless and unsatisfying. Alcohol decreases
deep sleep and increases arousals from sleep, says John E. Brown, M.D., an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Maryland. If you like a glass of wine in the evening, have it with dinner — around 6 p.m. rather than 11 — and drink in moderation, so it’ll wear off by the time you lie down. Take an Early Soak Like to unwind in the tub before you snooze? Surprisingly, a hot bath might make it harder for you to drift off. Doing anything that raises your body temperature too close to bedtime may actually hinder you from falling asleep, because your body needs to cool to a certain temperature in order to reach a sound slumber, says J. Todd Arnedt, Ph.D., director of the University of Michigan Behavioral Sleep Medicine Program. That doesn’t mean you can’t soak after a rough day — but do it when you get home from work, not right before turning in. Stretch for Sleep Getting in a little gentle, restorative yoga before you go to bed can help put your mind at ease, steady your breath and reduce muscle tension without revving up your heart. Try this restful Reclined Butterfly pose from Tanya Boulton, managing teacher at Pure Yoga East in New York City: Lie on your back with the soles of your feet together and your knees bent and dropping toward the floor. Place your arms, palms up, by your sides, keeping your shoulders back and your chest open. Close your eyes and inhale through your nose while slowly counting to four, then exhale while counting back down to one. Continue for 10 minutes, or as long as it takes you to feel fully relaxed. Set the Mood for Slumber Keeping your room dark while you sleep is a great start, but bringing the lights down before bed is also important. “Bright light too close to bedtime can make it hard to fall asleep,” Arnedt says. That’s because dimness signals the biological clock that it’s time to wind down, while bright light says “daytime!” Swap out überbright bedroom bulbs for low-watt ones, or install a dimmer switch and keep it low. Like to read in bed? Do it in the lowest light that’s still comfortable for your eyes. Ban Your Smartphone Need to send out one last email before you “officially” turn in? Not so fast. Typing in bed can wind you up, so when you do unplug, it will be harder to fall asleep, Knutson says.
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V. 22 | NO. 52
METRO SPIRIT 8.18.11 33
THE
8
BOX TOPS
“Planet of the Apes” beats out “The Help”? How in the name of Oprah is that even possible? RANK TITLE
WEEKEND GROSS TOTAL GROSS
WEEK #
LAST WEEK
1
RISE OF THE PLANET...
$27,832,307
$105,208,226
2
1
2
THE HELP
$26,044,590
$35,918,416
1
-
3
FINAL DESTINATION 5
$18,031,396
$18,031,396
1
-
4
THE SMURFS
$13,733,081
$101,778,741
3
2
5
30 MINUTES OR LESS
$13,330,118
$13,330,118
1
-
“30 Minutes or Less” Sam Eifling This mostly funny dark comedy comes from even darker true events Remember when Domino’s had that catchy 30-minutes-or-less guarantee, but it backfired because drivers sped right into accidents trying to make that deadline? The opening moments of “30 Minutes or Less,” a frantic and mostly fun heist comedy, reminds America why that was such a terrible idea. Jesse Eisenberg, far from his role as Facebook billionaire Mark Zuckerberg, is a pizza delivery guy named Nick getting every last horse’s power out of a cruddy Ford on the way to handing two conniving teens their barely-late pizza for free. It amounts to a one-car car chase, and it’s important, even though it depicts a scenario that led to real tragedy, because it establishes Nick as a clever, downtrodden speed demon. This will become more relevant later when two lowlifes named Dwayne (Danny McBride) and Travis (Nick Swardson) kidnap him on a pizza delivery, rig a bomb to his torso and force him to rob a bank for them. As crappy as Nick’s life seems at the outset, it will only get worse. Now, remember the pizza delivery guy in Pennsylvania who died when he
was rigged with a bomb and forced to rob a bank? That was back in 2003, and the man’s name was Brian Wells; if you go Web-spelunking, look for the Wired story about that awful case, which ended with the bomb killing Wells. If you know nothing about this case, then the setup for “30 Minutes” will seem fresh and darkly funny. But now you do, and you’ll be forced to watch an otherwise amusing comedy knowing that it’s based on true, disturbing events. Tainted though they are, the laughs that follow owe mostly to casting and chemistry. The panicky, put-upon Nick is a great foil both for his best friend Chet (Aziz Ansari) and for the sinister burnout Dwayne. You can either take McBride or leave him — he’s too distinct and too raw to waffle over — but if you’re a McBride fan, you’ll appreciate him in this role, as vulgar and entitled as Kenny Powers minus the talent or any redeeming sentiment whatsoever, so angry at his lotterywinning ex-Marine father (Fred Ward) that he’s willing to pay an assassin to whack the old man. (“Eastbound & Down” fans will also recognize Michael
Peña, who’s equally ferocious and tart here as the assassin.) Both Aziz and McBride thrive, in very different ways, on the humor of the literal, explaining their every emotion and thought with such immediacy and in such detail that their openness takes on its own deeper grades of irony. They’re both comedians for their time; putting them in the same cast only highlights their unlikely similarities. But don’t get too attached: The running time of “30 Minutes” is barely over that at 83 minutes, a brevity usually reserved for movies the studios expect to, uh, bomb. It’s a brisk run, though, constant action and dialogue that barely
takes a breath. Director Reuben Fleischer (“Zombieland”) brings the sensibility of his “Funny or Die” Web shorts to the pacing; there’s no time for silence or reflection. The pizza is due now. The bomb is ticking. The movie is over. Stick around for the end credits, by the way, but don’t worry about coming in after the show is supposed to start: There’s a criminal number of previews before this one, meaning you can actually arrive really, really late and still be just fine.
MOVIE REVIEW 34 METRO SPIRIT 8.18.11
V. 22 | NO. 52
THE8ERS The Big Mo August 19-20 Main Field: The Smurfs (PG) and Spy Kids All the Time in the World (PG) ; Screen 2: Final Destination 5 (R) and Fright Nigh (R); Screen 3: Rise of the Planet of the Apes (PG-13) and Conan the Barbarian (R). Gates open at 7 p.m.; shows begin at 8:30 p.m. (approximately)
Masters 7 Cinemas August 19 Larry Crowne (PG-13) 7:45, 10:15; Monte Carlo (PG) 1, 4; A Better Life (PG-13) 7, 9:30; Green Lantern (PG13) 1:30, 4:15, 7:15, 10; Mr. Popper’s Penguins (PG) 12:30, 3, 5:15; The Hangover Part II (R) 7:30, 10:15; Kung Fu Panda 2 (PG) 12:30, 2:45, 5; Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (PG-13) 12:45, 3:45, 6:45, 9:45; Bridesmaids (R) 1:15, 4:15, 7, 9:45; Insidious (PG-13) 1:45, 4:30, 7:15; 10 August 20 Larry Crowne (PG-13) 7:45, 10:15; Monte Carlo (PG) 4; A Better Life (PG-13) 7, 9:30; Green Lantern (PG-13) 4:15, 7:15, 10; Mr. Popper’s Penguins (PG) 5:15; The Hangover Part II (R) 7:30, 10:15; Kung Fu Panda 2 (PG) 5; Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (PG-13) 3:45, 6:45, 9:45; Bridesmaids (R) 4:15, 7, 9:45; Insidious (PG-13) 4:30, 7:15; 10
Evans Cinemas August 19 Conan the Barbarian (R) 4:10, 7:10, 9:55; Fright Night (R) 4:20, 7:20, 10; One Day (PG-13) 2:30, 5, 7:30, 10; Spy Kids: All the Time in the World (PG) 3, 5:20, 7:35, 9:50; 30 Minutes or Less (R) 3:10, 5:30, 7:50, 10; Final Destination 5 (R) 2:50, 4:50, 7:40, 9:20, 10; Glee the 3D Concert Movie (PG) 2:40, 7:05; The Help (PG-13) 4:30, 8; The Change-Up (R) 5:10; Rise of the Planet of the Apes (PG-13) 4:40, 7:25, 9:55; Cowboys & Aliens (PG-13) 3:45, 6:45, 9:35; Crazy, Stupid, Love. (PG-13) 4, 7, 9:50; The Smurfs (PG) 4:50, 7:15, 9:30; Captain America: The First Avenger (PG-13)
3:50, 6:50, 9:45; Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (PG-13) 3:40, 6:40, 9:40 August 20 Conan the Barbarian (R) 1:10, 4:10, 7:10, 9:55; Fright Night (R) 1:20, 4:20, 7:20, 10; One Day (PG-13) noon, 2:30, 5, 7:30, 10; Spy Kids: All the Time in the World (PG) 12:15, 3, 5:20, 7:35, 9:50; 30 Minutes or Less (R) 12:25, 3:10, 5:30, 7:50, 10; Final Destination 5 (R) 12:10, 2:50, 4:50, 7:40, 9:20, 10; Glee the 3D Concert Movie (PG) 2:40, 7:05; The Help (PG-13) 1, 4:30, 8; The Change-Up (R) 12:20, 5:10; Rise of the Planet of the Apes (PG-13) noon, 2:20, 4:40, 7:25, 9:55; Cowboys & Aliens (PG-13) 12:45, 3:45, 6:45, 9:35; Crazy, Stupid, Love. (PG-13) 12:30, 4, 7, 9:50; The Smurfs (PG) 12:05, 2:15, 4:50, 7:15, 9:30; Captain America: The First Avenger (PG-13) 12:50, 3:50, 6:50, 9:45; Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (PG-13) 12:40, 3:40, 6:40, 9:40
Regal Exchange 20 August 19-20 Conan the Barbarian (R) 12:10, 12:40, 4, 4:30, 7:10, 7:40, 9:50, 10:20, 12:30; Fright Night (R) 12:20, 12:50, 4:10, 4:40, 7:20, 7:50, 10, 10:30, 12:30; One Day (PG-13) 1, 4:05, 7:15, 10:05; Spy Kids: All the Time in the World (PG) noon, 2:15, 4:30, 7:05, 9:20, 11:35; Final Destination 5 (R) 12:35, 1:05, 4:15, 4:45, 7, 7:30, 8, 9:15, 9:50, 10:25, 11:30, 12:10; 30 Minutes or Less (R) 12:55, 4:25, 7:45, 10:05, 10:35, 12:15; Glee the 3D Concert Movie (PG) 1:15, 3:55, 7:55, 10:10, 12:20; The Help (PG-13) 12:15, 12:45, 3:50, 4:20, 7:05, 7:35, 10:15, 10:45; Rise of the Planet of the Apes (PG-13) 12:25, 12:55, 4:20, 4:50, 7:25, 7:55, 9:55, 10:25, 12:25; Crazy, Stupid, Love. (PG-13) 9:55; The Smurfs (PG) 12:05, 12:35, 2:35, 3:05, 5:05, 5:35, 7:35, 8:05, 10:35; Captain America: The First Avenger (PG-13) 1:15, 4:55, 7:50, 10:40; Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (PG-13) noon, 12:30, 3:30, 4, 7; Transformers: Dark of the Moon (PG-13) 1:10, 4:35, 8:10, 11:45
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Opening Friday, August 19 Drama “One Day,” rated PG-13, starring Anne Hathaway, Jim Sturgess. This movie adaptation of this much-loved romance novel is perhaps best known for the uproar over the casting of Anne Hathaway as Em, one half of the on-again, off-again couple that the movie revisits over the years. She’s too pretty? Tell that those those who call her Horseface. “Conan the Barbarian,” rated R, starring Jason Momoa, Ron Perlman, Rose McGowan. It couldn’t be any worse than the one Arnold made, could it?
Horror “Fright Night,” rated R, starring Colin Farrell, Anton Yelchin, Toni Collette, Imogen Poots. It’s about vampires… and that girl’s last name is Poots.
Family “Spy Kids: All the Time in the World in 4D,” rated PG, starring Jessica Alba, Jeremy Piven, Joel McHale. Director Robert Rodriguez returns to this family friendly franchise. After the horrid mess that was Spy Kids 3, we thought he’d been banned. On the upside, Joel McHale is in it.
ROUXSCATERING.COM D N E M M O C E R E W “Hot Fuzz” Everyone who knows the names Simon Pegg and Nick Frost seems to prefer “Shaun of the Dead,” their 2004 gross-out comedy about zombies. Our money, however, is on their 2007 follow-up, which manages to skewer Hollywood buddy cop movies without just simply becoming a bunch of bad jokes strung together with no-name actors cast to look like the ones in the more famous version. (“Scary Movie,” anyone?) This movie actually has a plot, and a pretty good one, too. So while you’re laughing at all the references, you really do want to find out who’s killing all the townfolk in Sandford, England, where London police officer Nicholas Angel has been banished for being too good at his job. The death that got to us the most? The newspaper reporter who is killed, as it turns out, for not being a good enough copy editor. Ouch. — MS
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sightings
Michael Johnson
mejphoto.photoreflect.com
Mel Raasch, Leslie Beck and Lori Mayfield at Bar West Martini Lounge.
Heather Carlson, Maria Lavarnway and Jennifer Cheek at Bar West Martini Lounge.
Lynnsey Coyne, Kyle Joyce and Danielle Meador at the Usual Place.
sightings
Maegen Wilkie, Ashley Wilkie and Mary Capers at Surrey Tavern.
Taylor Hensley, Amanda Collins and Brandon Ford at the Vue.
sightings
James and Angie Baldwin with Charity and Jesse Newsome at The Country Club.
Shannon Whitwell, Ginny Murray, Katy Ledford and Beth Blalock at Le Chat Noir.
Our OYSTERS are the Best Ever!
Cabriel Locklear, Brittany Roark, Ashley Taylor Stokes and Sarah Smith at Shannon’s.
Michael Johnson
mejphoto.photoreflect.com
Lindsey Wetherbee, singer-songwriter Rhett Akins and Dallas Livingston at Coyote’s.
Happy Hour MON-FRI 4:30 p.m. - 7 p.m. Food & Drink Specials
SURREY CENTER ON HIGHLAND AVE. — THE FRENCHMARKETGRILLE.COM — 707.737.4865 V. 22 | NO. 52
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A friend of mine recently had a baby in a big Midwestern city and was looking for a mom group to hang with. She found one, and while she thought the Hip Mamas name was a little, well, pretentious, she filled out the brief questionnaire required to join. The Hip Mamas wanted to know basic things, like Corey’s interests and what they like to do in their spare time. Not thinking it was a big deal, she used silly answers, saying that she drank Dr. Pepper a lot and fed her daughter nothing but Oreos while watching TV. It was riddled with sarcasm. Little did she know being funny isn’t a requirement to join and apparently isn’t even allowed. Interestingly enough, the response was laughable. Corey was told that Hip Mamas just might not be a good fit for her. Leesa*, the group organizer, did say that Corey could re-apply, even using the same answers, and would be reconsidered. She also told her that while the group didn’t have any real food snobs in it, there were a few that went to culinary school and others who ate organic food and shopped farmer’s markets. Clearly, as Leesa was so kind to point out, Corey could certainly eat whatever she desired, but there wouldn’t be anyone in the group to enjoy the junk with her. Apparently none of them watch any TV either. Leesa tells Corey that there wouldn’t be anyone who shared her interests or parenting style. REJECTED. Now, before I go any further, there will be people out there who scream HYPOCRITE, saying that I’m only doing the same thing Leesa did by talking about her and criticizing what she did. But this was hurtful (and funny!).
This lady (who, FYI, has big bushy hairy armpits) had the nerve to blatantly criticize another woman, a new mother. Anyone who’s had a child knows that moms are never sure of what they’re doing. Ever. I’m sure even after The Kids grown and gone I’ll question some of my decisions. So why are we, as women, so hard on each other? Why do you have to point out that your kid was breastfed until she were 15 and is superior to mine? So what if my kids had donuts for breakfast this summer? Aren’t we all trying to do the same thing here? We should be sharing tips on bedtime routines, finding the right nanny, carpooling (boy, do I have some suggestions) and what to cook for dinner. At the outlet mall near Hilton Head, I was watching The Girl try on clothes. She paused, turning sideways and looked in the mirror. “Look at my fat belly,” she said, sucking in. My heart sank. She is five. Although she will, I don’t want her having to worry about her body like that. We beat ourselves up over five pounds gained, finding extra gray hairs or that extra wrinkle on our forehead. It makes perfect sense to me. You live yours, I’ll live mine. Somewhere in the middle we can go to dinner together, have play dates and most importantly drink wine. In the meantime, shut your pie-hole. We’re all doing our best. Oh, and shave your pits. Hey Leesa, roll that up in your cloth diaper and smoke it. Jenny Wright lives in Summerville with her husband, who she calls The Man, and two kids, who she affectionately calls The Boy and The Girl. She enjoys taking photos, cooking and playing tennis. V. 22 | NO. 52
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gourmet R
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Gourmet Relay is a weekly column in which local cooks share a recipe with Metro Spirit readers, then pass the tongs off to another cook of their choosing, who will be featured the following week. Pam Dunham grew up in Hope Mills, N.C., and moved to Augusta in September of 1986. “Being a military family we moved here from Germany to Ft. Gordon,” she explained. Mother to sons Billy and Steven and mother-in-law to Lorie, Pam, recently engaged, is in the middle of planning her May, 2012, wedding to her fiancé John. When she not doing that or working as an orthodontic assistant at Holland Maness Orthodontics, she likes to sing with her praise team at Wesley UMC, read, sip margaritas, go to the beach and spend time with her “babies,” daschund Skyler and lab Kinzy.
free will Rob Brezsny
a s t r o l o g y freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com
Pam Dunham
Cheddar Garlic Chicken 1/2 cup butter 4 cloves garlic, minced 3/4 cup dry bread crumbs 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese 1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese 1/4 tsp. dried parsley 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 1/8 tsp. salt 8 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves pounded thin Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat and cook the garlic until tender, about five minutes. In a shallow bowl, mix the bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, Cheddar cheese, parsley, oregano, pepper and salt. Dip each chicken breast in the garlic butter to coat, then press into the bread-crumb mixture. Arrange the coated chicken breasts in a 9x13-inch baking dish. Drizzle with any remaining butter and top with any remaining breadcrumb mixture. Bake 30 minutes in the preheated oven or until chicken is no longer pink and juices run clear.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)
Science writer K.C. Cole said, “How would you hold 100 tons of water in thin air with no visible means of support?” Here’s her answer: “Build a cloud.” Materialize a phenomenon that may appear to be laughably impossible. It won’t necessarily be fast and easy, but you wouldn’t want it to be. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
“One of your horoscopes gave me a kick in the butt that propelled me free of a trap I had stupidly agreed to stay stuck in. I also have to tell you to go to hell, because no one, including me, likes hearing the awful, embarrassing truth. Love and hate, Virgo.” Dear Virgo: It’s good to hear you’re able to appreciate the gifts of paradox. Let’s hope that will keep you creatively humble as you slip into a building phase when your ego may be understandably prone to a bit of inflation. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
Newsweek reported that, every year since the 1960s, the Niger Delta has been slammed with a spill as extensive as the Exxon Valdez. Make it your passion to uncover injustices you’ve been unaware of. You’ll be amazed at how much this buoys your spirits. You’ll get extra credit if you actually take action to address the unfairness. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
In “Fantasy World,” the lead singer of the band Pissed Jeans imagines himself in his happy place. “Sitting near piles of clothes and drinking a soda/with a slice of pizza in my fantasy world.” He’s content with the familiar. Follow his lead as you imagine and create your own fantasy world this week. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
The highest unclimbed mountain in the world is Gangkhar Puensum in Bhutan. Local authorities are keen on preventing the environmental degradation that has occurred on popular peaks like Mt. Everest, where climbers have left lots of trash. What’s your equivalent? You now have the potential to make tangible progress toward that goal. There are no rules or laws preventing you. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
“Mommy, are scientists real?” “Yes, son, they are,” she replied. “Do they make stuff that is dangerous?” “Sometimes they
40 METRO SPIRIT 8.18.11
do,” said the mom. “Then I want to be one when I grow up,” concluded the boy. You’ll be in the mood to brainstorm about what you might like to evolve into. It’s time to dream really big and really free. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
“I got expelled from college for cheating during my metaphysics final,” joked Woody Allen. “I got caught looking into the soul of the guy next to me.” Gaze into the souls of those around you. Escape your own inner world and survey the raw truths and deep feelings that other people hold dear. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)
“I have no doubt that in reality the future will be vastly more surprising than anything I can imagine,” said geneticist J.B.S. Haldane. The future is not set in stone, but is totally up for grabs. The sooner you make that an everyday reminder, the more aggressive you’ll become about creating the life you want. ARIES (March 21-April 19)
Time magazine asked Pulitzer Prizewinning historian David McCullough why he started writing a biography of Pablo Picasso but never finished it. McCullough said it was because the famous artist turned out to be boring. Be the anti-Picasso; put the emphasis on the quality of your adventures more than on what you produce. TAURUS (April 20-May 20)
“Let’s celebrate the first time you cried naked in someone else’s bed,” is a message on an e-card. Revisiting the epiphanies of yesteryear will help put you in the right frame of mind (and heart) to conjure up a fresh batch. GEMINI (May 21-June 20)
According to poet Gary Snyder, California’s Yana Indians said that the gods are waiting for such a time when human beings will “reform themselves and become ‘real people’ that spirits might want to associate with once again.” You now have that power. CANCER (June 21-July 22)
No matter how inclined you might be to opt for excessive self-sufficiency, keep trying to reach out and touch those who are touchable, even if they’re barely so. You need what people have to offer you, even if it’s sloppy, wimpy or kooky.
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Calverts
Looking for something cool? Try the gazpacho with avocado and crab. And yes, it’s supposed to be served cold. 5 O’Clock Bistro King's Way's secret gem
Club Argos
Thursday During Sasha’s Show, the first five people to see Sasha before 10 p.m. can perform. You know you want to.
Bistro 491 fancy food with a sense of humor Calvert’s Restaurant old school Continental Club Argos LGBT Crums on Central live jazz on weekends French Market Grille New Orleans in the Garden City
Crums on Central
Helga’s med student heaven
Thursday Pizza (cheese) and a Pitcher (Yuengling) for $15. Can’t beat it.
Polka Dot Pig unique atmosphere & unique bar Sheehan’s Irish Pub the nicest pub ever Surrey Tavern the original neighborhood bar
Pizza Joint
Tako Sushi Asian / Mexican fusion
The Tree Hugger pizza will make you seriously consider becoming a vegetarian.
The Vue upscale dance club w/ occasional bands Verandah Grill at the Partridge Inn Augusta’s best balcony Augsburg Haus Traditional Bavarian Cuisine Cue n’ Brew pool hall Laura’s Backyard Tavern Laura’s house
Pickles
A 3/4 pound burger with a fried egg on top? Sounds like heaven.
Mai Thai Authentic Thai Experience Mellow Mushroom plus full bar
Tavern at the Bean
Pizza Joint Beer Me Tuesday
Thursday Three tacos and a beer for $5.
Pickles locally owned restaurant in ColCo Rhinehart’s backyard seafood The Tavern at the Bean discreet, top shelf Sidetrack Bar & Grill by the railroad tracks Tako Sushi Asian / Mexican Fusion
THE HILL
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Manuel’s Bread Cafe - locally sourced bistro
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The Highlander - real Bristish pub
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Augusta Canal - music on the water
Mellow Mushroom
Sweet Lou’s Crab Shack - Broad & 13th
Trivia Tuesday, beer and pretzels. Mmmmm…
Tropicabana - salsa. no chips. Pizza Joint - 40 beers on tap and slices Mellow Mushroom - plus full bar
13T H ST
Frog Hollow Tavern - upscale restaurant & bar / locally sourced
Frog Hollow
Tuesday, August 23 Tickets are going fast for the Summer Celebration Dinner, which includes Titan Farms peaches in every course, Caw Caw Creek pork, local cheeses and wine parings. $75 per person.
Sky City - large music venue Firehouse - proud downtown dive
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1102 - block deep restaurant & bar
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Metro Coffee House - coffee, beer, liquor, people
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Soultry Sounds - jazz club Wicked Wasabi - authentic Japanese Soy Noodle - Asian sensation Blue Sky Kitchen - new parents New Moon Cafe - ecclectic grindhouse
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A whole roster of new beers, including Sweetwater Motorboat. Save room for their new ice cream Kief’s Thunder, browned butter, apple cider, toffee and butterscotch.
Bee’s Knees - small plates Rooster’s Beak - tacqueria w/ great ice cream Soul Bar - pure funk Playground - rock-n-roll
Stillwater Taproom
Stillwater Taproom - blugrass before bluegrass was cool Casa Blanca - JB White’s storefront
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Nacho Mama’s - rolling ‘em fat
Friday, August 19 Betsy Franck
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Wheels - cool & on the corner The Loft - liquor with attitude Bar on Broad - contemporary South Beach vibe Club Rehab - upscale sportsbar Joe’s Underground - live music underneath Broad St. Imperial Theatre - old majestic with a kickin’ sign
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Riverfront Stage
Sunday, August 21 Doc Easton Smooth Jazz Don’t miss Candlelight Jazz, which ends next Sunday with quietSTORM.
1102
Business in the front, party in the back.
Cafe 209
Best meat and three in the city. Be prepared to nap under your desk afterwards.
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Wheels
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Tipsy McStumbles - confess later
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Riverfront Stage - candle light jazz series
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Fox’s Lair - coolest bar in America
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Sector 7G - laundromat turned landmark Eagle’s Nest - best view downtown Blue Horse Bistro - jazz tapas The Sports Center - old school pool hall and burgers Luigi’s - Augusta institution Beamie’s Restuarant & Oyster Bar - taste of the beach downtown The Boll Weevil - great food and the best desserts Cotton Patch - eat, drink, be happy Mi Rancho - chips & salsa on the Savannah 209 Restaurant & Lounge - soul food & lounge
La Maison on Telfair - fine dining & tapas
The Joker Lounge girls dancing nightly Fantasy Showgirls girls dancing nightly Discoteque girls dancing nightly
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La Maison
Escape the hot weather with an all-cold menu of white wine, buffalo mozzarella salad and raw oysters.
Luigi’s
Friday Start the weekend off early with lunch here, the only day they serve it.
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Bar West
What to have… a Key Lime Martini or a Strawberry Mojito? Why not one of each?
Allie Katz good cheap drinks Bar West martini lounge Cadillacs cozy neighborhood spot
French Market Grille West
Cadwallader’s Cafe Italian flair Carolina Ale House sports themed restuarant / feat. outdoor covered bar
Doc Easton Friday, August 19
Country Club dance hall and saloon Cue & Brew great burgers
Limelite Café
Doubletree Hotel popular restuarant
Saturday Trivia Know your stuff and you could win a $75, $50 or $25 bar tab.
French Market Grille West NOLA in the Garden City Hooters hooters Limelite Cafe extensive beer selection Malibu Jacks beach themed restaurant & bar
Prime 1079 Steakhouse
Mi Rancho chips & salsa on the Savannah
This upscale steakhouse with a southern feel just started tableside salad service.
Prime 1079 Steakhouse in the Sheraton
Rhinehart’s
Rack & Grill true pool hall
Tuesday Snow crab legs for $8.99 a pound and Tequila Sunrises for $1.99.
Rae’s Coastal Cafe worth finding Rhinehart’s backyard seafood Robbie’s Sports Bar true pool hall Shannon’s old lounge / new look Somewhere In Augusta sports bar & grill TakoSushi Asian / Mexican Fusion TGI Friday’s How many pieces of flair do you have?
Coyote’s
Roadrunner
The perfect place to grab dinner before the Amy Taylor show.
Wild Wings Cafe live music 7 nights a week
Amy Taylor Thursday, August 18
Coyote’s great live music & DJs Road Runner Cafe in front of Coyote’s Villa Europa German / Italian /International favorites since 1974
THE HILL
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Thursday, August 18 Live Music
Coyote’s Amy Taylor French Market Grille West Doc Easton Joe’s Underground The Jeremy Graham Band Malibu Jack’s Marilyn Adcock One Hundred Laurens Kenny George Rose Hill Stables Preston & Weston Sky City M-Tank Benefit w/ Romance Languages, Mann Ray, Matthew Buzzell Surrey Tavern Sibling String Wild Wing Roshambeux The Willcox Four Cats in the Doghouse What’s Tonight?
Cadillac’s Karaoke Casa Blanca Thursday Tango Club Argos Karaoke Club Rehab Candy Stripers Cabaret Cocktails Lounge Karaoke Fishbowl Lounge Karaoke Fox’s Lair Soup, Suds & Conversations Helga’s Pub & Grille Trivia Mi Rancho (Downtown) Karaoke Mi Rancho (Evans) Karaoke Pizza Joint, Evans DJ Kris Fisher The Playground Open Mic with Brandy Somewhere in Augusta Karaoke with Charles Soul Bar Boom Box Villa Europa Karaoke with Just Ben Wooden Barrel ’80s Night Karaoke Friday, August 19 Live Music
Cotton Patch Ray Piazola Country Club Jared Ashley Band Coyote’s Southside of the Tracks
Doubletree Hotel 3 Sides of Jazz Fox’s Lair Chuck Holt French Market Grille West Doc Easton Joe’s Underground Mama Says Malibu Jack’s Preston and Weston One Hundred Laurens John Kolbeck P.I. Bar and Grill A Step Up Polo Tavern Robbie Ducey Band Sky City Lexie’s Legacy w/ G-City Rockers, Panic Manor, Josh Pierce, The Radar Cinema, She ‘N She Stillwater Tap Room Betsy Franck Surrey Tavern The Unmentionables The Thomson Depot The Packway Handle Band Wild Wing Tokyo Joe The Willcox Kenny George What’s Tonight?
Cadillac’s DJ Tim Club Argos Variety Show Club Rehab DJ C4 Cocktails Lounge Grown-Up Fridays with DJ Cork and Bull Pub Karaoke Fishbowl Lounge Karaoke Iron Horse Bar & Grill Karaoke Mi Rancho (Downtown) Karaoke with Ryan Moseley Mi Rancho (Washington Road) Karaoke with Jeff Barnes Mi Rancho (Clearwater) Three J’s Karaoke Ms. Carolyn’s Karaoke Palmetto Tavern DJ Tim Rebeck’s Hideaway Open Mic Roadrunner Cafe Karaoke Somewhere in Augusta Footloose Dance Party
Tickets to to October 1 appearance of Ira Glass at ASU’s Maxwell Theatre are going fast. Get yours at westoboufestival.com. V. 22 | NO. 52
AUGUSTA
TEK
Those Darned Girl Scouts! Greg Baker Several great nuggets of tech news occurred recently, so here’s a sample to help clear your palate of all the economic-political junk that seems to be everywhere. Happy Birthday, Internet! Last week was the 20th anniversary of the first publication on the World Wide Web. The first web page was published on a CERN server in the Swiss Alps, and it provided technical details on how to create a web page and how to search the Web for information (without using Google). No report was provided on whether Al Gore participated in the celebration. Innovative Communist. North Korea appears to be raising money by unleashing an army of hackers on South Korea’s gaming community. The scheme is pretty straightforward. First, hack the servers to artificially accumulate gaming points. Second, sell the points to other gamers looking to add features to their avatars. South Korean police state that a squad of about 30 hackers made $6 million over the past two years. And just like that, we have a new group of individuals who sponsor international terrorism — lazy gamers who don’t earn their points! Girl Scout Android Hacking Badge. DefCon, the annual hacker conference, added a session for 8- to 16-year-olds called DefCon Kids Village. A 10-year old Girl Scout, code name CyFi, presented a zero-day smart phone exploit that allows the user to fast forward actions in an unnamed social game. After the presentation, they all went to see “The Smurfs.” Anonymous in the News. First, Anonymous attacks Syria’s Ministry of Defense website to protest human rights abuses. In response, the Syrian Electronic Army goes after Anonymous by taking down AnonPlus. Next, Anonymous threatens to destroy Facebook on Nov. 5 for spying on users and cooperating with authoritarian governments. Not to be outdone, the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) cuts off cell phone service to passengers in a pre-emptive strike against protesters of a fatal police shooting last month. Of course, Anonymous hacks BART and posts BART users’ information to Twitter. London Burning. Just like Facebook brought down Mubarak, Blackberry Messenger appears to be the communication medium of choice used by London rioters. RIM is providing support to identify and track down the rioters, and many rioters have been rounded up. (BTW — RIM’s website… yes, hacked.) In other developments, the prime minister is publically advocating social media bans in the interest of public safety. Scotland Yard confirms the use of facial recognition technology to identify rioters. And finally, an independent group of online vigilantes is also using facial recognition to identify looters who appear in online photos. End of the World. Solar storms erupted this week, and officials cautioned users of electronic equipment to prepare for possible disruptions of service. This storm is the largest in over four years, but Earth should escape the full force of the eruption due to the position of the Earth relative to the eruption. More large eruptions are expected as the sun enters the active phase of its 11-year solar cycle. Scientists say the worst storms will occur during 2013. However, since the end of the world is expected on Dec. 21, 2012, solar events in 2013 are not anticipated to create a significantly impact. Google vs. Apple. Google buys Motorola Mobile for $12 billion. It’s now Google and Apple in a battle for world domination. Stay tuned…
Gregory A. Baker, Ph.D., is vice president and chief rocket scientist for CMA, which provides information technology services to CSRA businesses and nonprofits. METRO SPIRIT 8.18.11 45
Soul Bar Disco Hell Tropicabana Latin Friday Wooden Barrel Karaoke Contest Saturday, August 20 Live Music
The Acoustic Coffeehouse Open Acoustic Jam Session with Eryn Eubanks and the Family Fold Blue Sky Kitchen Joel Cruz, Travis Shaw The Cotton Patch Old Man Crazy Country Club Thomas Tillman Coyote’s Mama Says Joe’s Underground Mike & Nate Malibu Jack’s Tony Williams Express P.I. Bar and Grill Not Gaddy Polo Tavern Jim Fisher Band Sector 7G Artemia, Awaken, Ganja, Rooftop Harbor, My Brother’s Keeper Sky City The Heap Somewhere in Augusta Daniel Johnson Band Surrey Tavern Funk You Wild Wing Tokyo Joe
What’s Tonight?
Applebee’s (Evans) Trivia Club Argos Karaoke Club Rehab Jenn’s Crazy Karaoke Malibu Jack’s Trivia with Mike Thomas Mi Rancho (Downtown) Karaoke with Danny Haywood Somewhere In Augusta Poker Tourney Wild Wing Trivia and Karaoke
Sunday, August 21 Live Music
8th Street Riverfront Stage Candlelight Jazz w/ Doc Easton Smooth Jazz Iron Horse Bar & Grill Tommy O.D. and The Survivors P.I. Bar and Grill Live Music Wild Wing Jason Marcum What’s Tonight?
Caribbean Soul Love Jones Sundays Malibu Jack’s Karaoke with Denny Mi Rancho (Downtown) Karaoke Mi Rancho (Washington Road) Karaoke, Salsa Dancing Somewhere in Augusta Soul City Sirens After-Bout Party Monday, August 22 Live Music
Hopelands Gardens Savannah River String Band Soul Bar Metal Monday
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Josh Ruffin is a published journalist and poet, who just received his MFA from Georgia College & State University. He was once the most un-intimidating bouncer at Soul Bar.
Metalcast: Oh the Horror
Tuesday, August 23 Live Music
Blue Horse Bistro Tim Sanders Fox’s Lair John Fisher Wild Wing TJ Mimbs The Willcox Hal Shreck What’s Tonight?
Club Argos Karaoke Club Rehab Jenn’s Crazy Karaoke Fishbowl Lounge Dart League Islands Bar & Lounge DJ Fred Nice Malibu Jack’s Karaoke with Denny Somewhere in Augusta Trivia with Charles
What’s Tonight?
Cadillac’s DJ Rana Club Argos Variety Show Club Rehab DJ C4 Cocktails Lounge Latin Night Fishbowl Lounge Karaoke Fox’s Lair Karaoke Helga’s Pub & Grille Trivia The Loft Karaoke Mi Rancho (Downtown) Karaoke with Rockin Rob Mi Rancho (Clearwater) Karaoke with Danny Haywood Mi Rancho (Washington Road) Karaoke Ms. Carolyn’s Karaoke One Hundred Laurens DJ Kenny Ray The Playground DJ Fugi Tropicabana Salsa Saturday Wooden Barrel Kamikaze Karaoke
the download Josh Ruffin
Wednesday, August 24 Live Music
209 on the River Smooth Grooves Joe’s Underground Sibling String Malibu Jack’s Marilyn Adcock Wild Wing Granny’s Gin The Willcox Hal Shreck What’s Tonight?
Club Argos Santoni’s Satin Dolls Club Rehab Jenn’s Crazy Karaoke Cocktails Lounge Augusta’s Got Talent The Cotton Patch Trivia and Tunes with Cliff Bennett Laura’s Backyard Tavern Karaoke The Loft Karaoke Mi Rancho (Downtown) Karaoke Mi Rancho (Washington Road) Karaoke with Rockin’ Rob The Place on Broad Jazz DJ The Playground Krazy Karaoke Polo Tavern Karaoke with Tom Mitchell Somewhere In Augusta Comedy with Grandma Lee and Danny Niblock Upcoming Corey Smith Jessye Norman Amphitheatre September 1 Smooth Music Festival with Boney James and Rachelle Ferrell Bell Auditorium September 2 Drowning Pool, Burn Halo, Echoes the Fall Coyote’s September 3 Roseanne Cash, Blue Rodeo Old Academy of Richmond County September 30 Langhorne Slim, The Law Sky City October 1 Ira Glass ASU’s Maxwell Theatre October 1 Leon Redbone Jabez S. Hardin Performing Arts Center October 2
Metalcast: “International Special” Look, I know there’s a large contingent of metalheads striving to bring some mainstream acceptance to both the music they love and the coverage/discussion of it. And I get it. Much as I love these bands, names like Agoraphobic Nosebleed and Anal C*nt — RIP Seth Putnam — don’t semantically lay out the welcome mat (well, Skullf*cking Armageddon does, but it’ll be the last thing you ever step on). But can someone please, please start up a metal podcast that discusses the music with both passion and knowledge, and still maintains some semblance of testicular fortitude? I mean, I really want to like something called Ragnarok Radio (I know, holy sh*t, right?), but when your homepage graphic is so stupidly massive it gobbles more bandwidth than Michelle Bachmann’s eyes do babies’ souls, well, I just can’t get behind you. And so we’re left with something like the London-based Metalcast, essentially a playlist interspersed with the quasi-topical ramblings of a host who sounds like he’s auditioning for the Royal Caribbean’s production of Spamalot! and fresh from donating plasma, sperm and brain cells. Usually I’m a sucker for the UK, but the last time I was this infuriated by something British, Guy Ritchie married a witch-shaped sack of albino jerky for the record sale residuals. He pronounces “Argentina” like Larry the Cable Guy mocking a British radio host pronouncing “Argentina.” Oh yeah, this is an “international special,” so they play some songs by bands performing in their native languages, but you couldn’t find worse representatives for these respective nations. Blaze Bayley? A used condom is a better bottle opener than Blaze Bayley is an example of an English musician. Visit metalcastshow.com. Horror, Etc.: Episode 202 — “Game of Thrones” I don’t know much about “Game of Thrones,” but I was curious, so I did some digging. What I found was an undiluted stream of mainlined awesome. Per Wikipedia: The cable television series closely follows the multiple storylines of the A Song of Ice and Fire series, and author Martin has stated that the show’s pilot script was very faithful to his work. Set in the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, where “summers span decades and winters can last a lifetime,” “Game of Thrones” chronicles the violent dynastic struggles among the kingdom’s noble families for control of the Iron Throne; as the series opens, additional threats from the snow and ice covered region north of Westeros and from the eastern continent across a narrow sea are simultaneously beginning to rise. I bolded the book title, if only to suggest that someone start a metal podcast with that name. It’s been referred to as “‘Lord of the Rings’ meets ‘The Sopranos’” and my palms got hairier from typing this sentence. There’s pagan rites, child murder, incest and endless winters — it’s like someone ran Immortal’s “Sons of Northern Darkness” album and a truckload of Quaaludes through filmmaking software until it forgot its name and learned to hate. Main characters include Theon Greyjoy, Sandor “The Hound” Clegane, and Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish, Master of Coin. I mean… damn. In any case, the Horror Etc. guys do a pretty bang-up job of dissecting their subject matter, without dropping too much in the way of spoilers. The discussion is knowledgeable, engaging and refreshingly devoid of Nerdspeak. Now that I think about it, it may be best if I don’t actually watch “Game of Thrones.” Reading the Wikipedia entry and listening to this podcast have changed me. I… hunger. Visit horroretc.com.
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V. 22 | NO. 52
METRO SPIRIT 8.18.11 47
earDRUM The Shifting Landscape... Change Is Painful, Folks
Jordan Zeh The Beasley Broadcasting Group is big business, operating 45 stations nationwide and reaching 4.7 million listeners weekly according to their website. The operative term in that statement is big business. That’s why it came as no surprise to me last week when they moved their active rock station 95Rock down to their 93.1 frequency and began simulcasting WGAC News/ Talk Radio at 95.1. This strikes me as a purely bottomline sort of decision, as GAC appears to be the cash cow for Beasley in this market. Along with this move, word has come down that afternoon shock jock Jordan Zeh was relieved of his contract with other personnel “TBD” according to a press release by Beasley. The transmitter for the 93.1, by all accounts, has a weaker signal than 95Rock’s previous home. I’ve seen numerous complaints on Facebook and other public forums that the signal was poor and static-drenched. Now I could be mistaken, but it would appear that the writing is on the wall for 95Rock. But let’s face it, “active rock” is a bit of a niche format and all the press I’ve read lately on subject says that rock radio has been on the ropes for some time now. This can possibly be attributed at least in part to the broad variety of ways in which people are now able to obtain and listen to music. I flatly refuse to buy into claims that rock is dead (I’m stubborn that way). In the face of all these changes being effected by Beasley, backlash is inevitable. And when you piss off rockers, expect it to be loaded with an extra bucketful of vitriol. Since the frequency switch
48 METRO SPIRIT 8.18.11
was made last week, Facebook has been burning up with the anger of hundreds of rock music fans, many stating that they’ve called the company headquarters to complain and others just sort of blindly spitting expletives. While I feel the pain of those just exploding with righteous indignation because they can’t hear Nickelback over the free airwaves without static, I fear that their complaints will be allowed to die down without acknowledgement. It’s naive to believe otherwise. Because folks, let’s face it... the almighty dollar rules everything around us. I don’t begrudge Beasley this move at all personally. They are running a business and the point of being in business is to turn a profit. That’s not evil, that’s the American way. That said, I sincerely hope that 95Rock is not allowed to wither on the vine. While Lex and Terry and Godsmack are not my brand of entertainment, the station is clearly loved by a segment of our population. Also I think the station and their on-air personalities did alot of good for the area, from sponsoring some of bigger concerts in the area to canned food drive they did each year. And if we lose 95Rock, variety on the public airwaves will take a hit. Frankly, there is not much variety as it is now. So I say to Beasley… “Have a heart and don’t the rock ‘n’ roll die.” To catch up on what else is happening in area music, listen to the podcast I co-host with John Stoney Cannon at confederationofloudness.com. See y’all at the rock show, Stak V. 22 | NO. 52
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What About Rock? Matt Stone - can be heard weekdays from 2-6 p.m. on 95 Rock.
LIVE & LOCAL 8.18 - Ros
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the line-up 8.18 Thursday Roshambeux 8.19 Friday Night Rocks Tokyo Joe 8.20 Saturday Music with Radio Cult 8.21 Sunday Blue Jeans Brunch 11am-3pm Jason Marcum Washington Road just past I-20 • 706-364-WILD (9453) w w w. w i l d w i n g c a f e . c o m 50 METRO SPIRIT 8.18.11
The Decemberists Can I send out one complaint? I think so; this is my column. Hey James Brown Arena: Can we get a rock show? What about an alternative band from the ’90s? Someone you know will pack it out and prove that rock music is still allowed to be played to “11”. Here are my recommendations, just to name a few: Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden (yes, they are back touring), Stone Temple Pilots or even Tool. I understand that we need to have 20 country concerts in one year, hopefully you caught my sarcasm there, but how about we slide in one for the rock kids? If you can pull off The Black Keys I will make love to you. 3 Doors Down just released a new album. My first question: why? Knock it off. Jay-Z and Kanye West collaborated on their long-awaited and highly anticipated album “Watch the Throne.” That album couldn’t be filled with more ego-driven lyrics. I thought Jay-Z retired three years ago. Side note: I haven’t listened to it. Two thumbs up goes out to Bon Iver and The Decemberists. Let the downloading commence. Sometimes I worry about the music industry. Way too much pop and bubblegum crap out there that is tainting our music charts. Haha, I said “taint.” When more people know who Rebecca Black is than Arcade Fire we
The Black Keys
have entered a sad world. But we did win a battle this past weekend with the bombing of the movie “Glee The 3D Concert Movie.” The movie grossed $5.7 million and didn’t even crack the top 10. Ahhh, I feel better now. Unfortunately, I doubt that Dave Matthews Band will ever come to Augusta. In a dream world we would have them play a clear fall night at the amphitheatre. But again, that’s a dream world. So do the next best thing: Mark your calendars and go see the Dave Matthew’s Tribute Band at Surrey Tavern, Friday, Aug. 26. Just close your eyes and picture it’s Dave. Hey, you even get a free koozie for showing up, and everyone loves koozies. Shows this weekend that I plan on catching and you should too: “Jamming for Marbles” featuring L.i.E., Stillview and Madigan at the Playground, Friday, Aug. 19. Also on Friday night is the 2011 Lexie’s Legacy Memorial Concert at Sky City. Great bands for a great cause and it’s only $5 at the door. The best thing about heading to downtown Augusta: bar hopping. The best thing was Anthony, that guy who sells hotdogs on the sidewalk for late-night drunks. Anthony, where did you go?!?! You have a band you want me to check out? What am I missing? Email matt@themetrospirit.com.
Kanye West V. 22 | NO. 52
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Matt Lane is host of The Weekend Rundown which airs from 10 a.m.-noon Saturdays on News-TalkSports 1630 AM. He can be reached at mattlane28@gmail.com.
Ball
Matt Lane
Football in Its Purest Form… This Week Well it’s here. Can you feel it? It makes perfect sense that football in its purest form is the first to begin action out on the gridiron. Our hometown heroes burst through their oversized banners each week, not for the chance to renegotiate some multi-million dollar contract, but for the pride of the school on the front of the jersey. Or maybe it’s to garner the attention of a certain girl who sits two rows behind them in fourth period history. That was always my motivation, anyway. What we’re going to do in this space over the next several months is give appropriate exposure to these local athletes. There will be a roundup of major highlights each week, Metro’s three games to watch and the Metro Top 6. We’ll get you a full roundup after this week’s abbreviated slate of games. So, for now, onto the three to watch.
Harlem at Lincoln County Friday, August 19, 7:30 p.m So far, not so good at Harlem. In a season that already found the Bulldogs replacing their entire offensive and defensive lines, they’ve also had to scratch their starting quarterback, Trey Price, who tore his ACL in the first practice. But Harlem is not the only team in this matchup dealing with attrition; Lincoln County lost a good chunk of players off of last year’s talented team as well. Both teams are looking for answers to major questions in this one.
Grovetown at Greenbrier Thursday, August 18, 7 p.m. Comcast 380 Knology/Atlantic Broadband 246 The Warriors lost a close one against the Wolfpack last year (16-20), and look to get their first win for Coach Rodney Holder against his former school. The Warriors lose talented playmakers Xavier Crain and D.J. Tyson, but return Jamal Cummings, who had 10 TDs last year as a sophomore.
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Williston-Elko at Strom Thurmond Friday, August 19, 7:30 p.m. An excellent matchup of two very potent offenses. South Carolina commitment Kendric Salley and big-time wide receiver Rokeem Williams take their 1-2 punch to Johnston to face Raleigh Yeldell, Darius Hammond and the Rebels.
The Metro 6
• • • • • •
Washington County Thomson Burke County North Augusta Butler Lakeside
V. 22 | NO. 52
!
advice goddess Amy Alkon
Piece Treaty Recently, you published a letter from a married man complaining about his wife’s letting their two young children sleep in their marital bed with them. They’d gone from being a couple who didn’t have much sex to a nearly sexless one. You seemed to suggest that the guy bargain for sex from his wife: “Talk about how much sex you’d like, and how much she’s willing to provide, and work out a compromise.” My question is, “Why bother?” Since they’re married, it’s unlikely he’s a sex object or love object to her. It seems more likely that he’s just a trapped meal ticket. If that’s the case, he should get his wife to sign an okay for extramarital activity. Life is too short to put up with people who don’t appreciate you. — Take My Advice The extramarital sex treaty. Brilliant. A man need only ask his wife to sign on the dotted line, and she’ll start rummaging through her purse for her favorite pen. Before long, he’ll be stumbling through the door all skanko at 11:30 p.m., and she’ll look up from her Sudoku and chirp, “Did you have a nice night with the hookers, dear?” Yes, life is too short to put up with someone who doesn’t appreciate you — until you and that someone say to each other, “Wouldn’t it be totally cute if we made little people who look just like us?!” Divorce eats children and only seems to be the step to take if the parents’ marriage is chronically and intensely ugly. In reviewing the body of research on divorce, Dr. Paul R. Amato found that children of divorced parents “score lower… on measures of academic success, conduct, psychological adjustment, self-concept, social competence and long-term health.” On the bright side, they’re usually able to play their
parents against each other so they can get more sugary snacks and much cooler toys. Of course, on a pure fairness level, you don’t get to be married to somebody and be all “I’m retiring from sexual activity” — not unless you answer “That’s nice, dear” to your spouse’s “I’m just running over to borrow a cup of sex from the lady next door.” Fairness aside, sending the husband out to shop elsewhere for nookie is a bad idea. Sex between people in a relationship isn’t just a day in naked Disneyland but a way they cleave to each other emotionally and even biochemically and maintain a relationship that goes deeper than a roommate situation with a lifetime lease. Was I suggesting that they haggle over sex like it’s a scarf in a bazaar? Well, yes, but it sounds better when you call it “coming to a marital compromise.” By talking about how often he’d like to have sex and how often she’s willing to put out, they may stem the resentment that builds up when needs go ignored and find out whether there’s anything she needs that he isn’t providing. I wrote recently about Dr. Rosemary Basson’s breakthrough work on female sexual desire — how women in long-term relationships sometimes have to start fooling around for desire to come. Even if these two don’t know that, if they start scheduling sex dates, they’re likely to find out. In the process, they should develop conflict resolution skills beyond simply refusing to put up with anyone who doesn’t appreciate them. That idea’s great in concept, but take it to its inevitable conclusion and, well, who’s going to take care of the millions of children who get dropped off at the fire station with a bag lunch and a note?
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©2011, Amy Alkon, all rights reserved. Got a problem? Write Amy Alkon, 171 Pier Ave, #280, Santa Monica, CA 90405, or email adviceamy@aol.com. Also visit advicegoddess.com and read Amy Alkon’s book: “I See Rude People: One Woman’s Battle to Beat Some Manners Into Impolite Society” (McGraw-Hill, $16.95).
Open Late Every Tuesday V. 22 | NO. 52
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austin R
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The views expressed are the opinions of Austin Rhodes and do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher.
S
“...Tell Him We Said Hello!” Over the course of the last few weeks, I have had several friends of Fred Russell contact me with the request that I talk to him, privately, off the air, to understand “his side of the story” in the still unfolding pay raise scandal that has put him in the crosshairs of virtually every elected official in Augusta, Georgia. Sorry, I have no interest in such a private conversation. He lost me years ago when his lack of documentation on the many job-related shortcomings of then Public Works Director Teresa Smith led to a horrific meltdown on the commission. Fred did not have the courage to do his damn job, and either demote the incompetent manager and get her out of a supervisory role, or fire her outright. Thanks to his failure to officially chronicle her many, many failings in her personnel file, the commotion caused over her eventual departure via termination was
nasty, and, of course, the race card was pulled and played repeatedly. Any of the critics who called her leadership into question were called “racists” (if they were white) or “Uncle Toms” (if they were black). It was arguably one of the lowest points in recent municipal history, and resulted in the commission being forced to give Smith a year’s salary as a lawsuit settlement. They should have taken every dime of that out of Russell’s backside. Time and the incredibly successful track record of her successor, Abie Ladson, have shown and proven most all of the complaints about Smith were on the mark, and the concerns of racism pure fantasy. In fact, the promotion of Abie Ladson (who just happens to be black) may ironically be the crowning achievement of Russell’s run as city administrator. Pardon me, though, if I don’t bubble over with too much enthusiasm about this, because while
Russell’s hire cleaned up a big mess, it is a mess that would not have existed in the first place had he done his aforementioned “damn job” in the first place. So no... I have no desire to hear Russell’s perverted logic as he attempts to rationalize giving retroactive pay raises to some employees (at last count maybe 50 employees to the tune of over $350k), while others are being furloughed, and facing increased duties at the same time. My wife is a Columbia County school teacher, and though she has been “furloughed” several days the last few years, if you think her workload has lessened, I have some oceanfront property in Beech Island you are gonna love. In the private sector, we call a “furlough” a reduction in pay. As far as getting “days off” at the same time... forget about it. And yep, many of us (including me) have endured those over the last few years, not through any fault of our own, but because we chose to accept that rather than see colleagues laid off completely. The point being, you are going to get little sympathy, particularly for wellsalaried management types, having
to accept more work for the same pay while so many others are being s*** canned outright. There are folks that would take that deal in a heartbeat; I can see their protest signs now: “Will be overworked for food!” If Fred Russell knew he had the authority to give these raises, and there is no doubt that he did, his lack of common sense in making the move without prepared documents in hand showing the rationale and math involved is beyond the pale. But he did have the right to give the raises, which brings us now to a sticky wicket: Does the commission have the authority to rescind them? That is a question being asked all over the Marble Palace, and you can bet your sweet bippy that if it is legal to do it, it will be done. That question was the crux of the commission’s closed-door legal meeting Tuesday. One commissioner was said to have told Russell to go straight to former county attorney Bob Daniel and get his opinion on the matter. When Russell reminded him that Daniel was dead, the commissioner said, “I know... tell him we said hello.”
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