YES! Weekly - August 11, 2021

SWEET DOUGH

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August 11-17, 2021 YES! WEEKLY

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ParticiPate in research Dr. Blair Wisco, a clinical psychologist at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, is currently recruiting participants for a research study. This research study examines emotional and physical reactions to memories of extremely stressful or traumatic experiences. In order to participate, you must be 18 years old or older and must be able to read and write in English. If you are interested in participating, first you will be asked to complete screening questions online or over the phone to see whether or not you are eligible for the study. If you are eligible, you will be invited to participate in the study, which involves five visits to Dr. Wisco’s lab on UNCG’s campus within two weeks. During the first lab visit (3 hours), you will be asked to complete an interview and fill out questionnaires about your emotions and life experiences. You will then wear a portable cardiac monitor under your clothes and to complete questionnaires on a tablet computer outside the lab on three separate days (30-minute set-up per day, plus time spent completing questionnaires). In the last lab visit (2 hours), you will be hooked up to a similar monitor in the lab and be asked to listen to audio-recorded scripts describing personal past experiences. If you participate in these procedures, you will be compensated $150 for your time. If you are interested in this research participation opportunity, please email copelab@uncg.edu to learn more and receive the screening questionnaire.

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AUGUST 11-17, 2021 VOLUME 17, NUMBER 32

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COMICS GALORE

Publisher CHARLES A. WOMACK III publisher@yesweekly.com

Like Captain American, Superman, and all the other heroes who temporarily “died,” the event that comic book fans call “Geek Christmas” is back and kicking ass. Saturday marks the 20th anniversary of International FREE COMIC BOOK DAY, although the 19th one wasn’t actually celebrated. It’s being held on August 14 instead of the traditional first Saturday in May for the same reason it didn’t happen last year.

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Having already been in the throes of planning, it didn’t take Thompson long to get SWEET DOUGH settled at 2758 NC-68 North in High Point. On any given day, the bakeshop will offer cupcakes, icebox cakes, pies, banana pudding, Rice Krispy treats, cookies, cobblers, milkshakes, and a full coffee bar.

5 This Thursday, the RiverRun International Film Festival will present a special free screening of award-winning filmmaker Stanley Nelson’s feature documentary BOSS: THE BLACK EXPERIENCE IN BUSINESS at Bookmarks (634 W. Fourth Street, Winston-Salem).

6 Over the past couple of months, the SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK of Northwest North Carolina has taken steps to expand its services, first by opening a satellite warehouse in Greensboro, then by breaking ground on a new hub facility in Winston-Salem. The two projects are coming none too soon for people in our area who go hungry every day. And just how bad is the food crisis?

7 Adapted from his short story El Pozo by executive producer Nicolas Gia-

cobone, who won an Oscar for the screenplay of Birdman (2014), JOHN AND THE HOLE marks the feature debut of director/ executive producer Pascual Sisto. It’s a well-made film, both strange and unconventional, but it’s also an unsatisfying one.

12 VICTORIA ‘VIKKI’ VASSAR, a local Winston-Salem artist, is strongly influenced

by German expressionism and artists like Ed Gorey, Mark Ryden, and pop art from the 1960s. “If it’s big, bold, simple, gothy, or just plain weird - I probably love it,” said Vassar.

13 African American software consultant, entrepreneur, and activist Ciandress Jackson recognized these issues as a woman in STEM very early on. Facing some of the same challenges and marginalization growing up, she became determined to alleviate the struggles for youth in her community.

14 Life keeps going for electro-folk artist ASHLEY VIRGINIA, who’ll celebrate her new album, “And Life Just Goes On Living,” Aug. 13 at Doodad Farm. “The birds still sing, the breeze still blows, and life just goes on living,” Virginia said of the impetus encircling her upcoming release.

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DISTRIBUTION JANICE GANTT ANDREW WOMACK We at YES! Weekly realize that the interest of our readers goes well beyond the boundaries of the Piedmont Triad. Therefore we are dedicated to informing and entertaining with thought-provoking, debate-spurring, in-depth investigative news stories and features of local, national and international scope, and opinion grounded in reason, as well as providing the most comprehensive entertainment and arts coverage in the Triad. YES! Weekly welcomes submissions of all kinds. Efforts will be made to return those with a self-addressed stamped envelope; however YES! Weekly assumes no responsibility for unsolicited submissions. YES! Weekly is published every Wednesday by Womack Newspapers, Inc. No portion may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher. First copy is free, all additional copies are $1.00. Copyright 2021 Womack Newspapers, Inc.

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[SPOTLIGHT]

SWEET DOUGH - BAKESHOP OPENS IN NORTH HIGH POINT

BY CHANEL DAVIS

Traci Thompson always knew she would be a baker. She didn’t know how or when it would come about, but she knew it would happen.

Thompson can’t think of a time where she was not baking and has fond memories of baking with her grandmother and mother when she was a little girl.

“It’s something that I fell in love with as a little girl,” she said.

It was something she would take with her as she traveled across the country with her husband, Ray, and their child.

While Ray’s job took them to new cities, it was her baking that brought in a little piece of home.

“This is home, but my husband’s job sent us to New York City and later Seattle,” she said. “Throughout that whole time, I baked for family and friends.”

A family death would cause the couple to re-evaluate their situation and eventually give Thompson the opportunity she’d dreamed of.

“My husband lost his dad, and because of COVID we couldn’t come from Seattle for the funeral,” she said. “My husband’s job pretty much asked him to work remotely, just like everyone else, we thought there is really no reason for us to be all the way across the country from our families, so we decided to come home, and then we decided to stay.”

A little over a year ago, Thompson and her husband were going about their daily routine when he asked her a life-changing question. He asked the stay-at-home mom what her “dream job” would be, and she responded with opening a bakery. A few months later, they stumbled upon a familiar location.

“We would go to work out, go to the juice shop, and we would go get avocado toast and juice,” she said. “One day she was gone, and it was due to COVID. She couldn’t survive it. And then we realized

this is it. This is the location that we want to get.”

Having already been in the throes of planning, it didn’t take Thompson long to get Sweet Dough settled at 2758 NC-68 North in High Point. On any given day, the bakeshop will offer cupcakes, icebox cakes, pies, banana pudding, Rice Krispy treats, cookies, cobblers, milkshakes, and a full coffee bar.

“I knew that this is what I wanted to do from day one. When people tasted my stuff or they smelled my sweets, it brought a smile to their face,” Thompson declared. “You can’t be upset or you can’t be in a bad mood. I love to see that.”

The location hasn’t been open for long, less than three months, but Thompson said she sees a steady crowd and has plenty of helping hands. Her husband and family help out on nights and weekends, and she said that their friends are excited about their newly founded business venture.

“Everybody has been very supportive, and they’ve made it very easy for us,” she said.

Thompson said that depending on what day you come to the bakeshop “there may be something different than the day before.”

“We’re pretty much known for our cinnamon rolls and our sticky buns. They’re huge,” she said. “They are the size of your fist pretty much. It’s brioche bread so it’s not very sweet. It’s the topping that’s the sweet part so it kind of balances out, and it’s just delicious.”

Thompson said that she wants Sweet Dough to be a place of innovation and a one-stop-shop when it comes to picking up baked goods. She’s hoping to add a plant-based baker and breads to the menu in the future.

“I want to have a bunch of different items. I want to be innovative and have

seasonal things,” she emphasized. “You don’t have to go to one place for cupcakes and then go home and bake a pie or go to the store to pick up a pie from somewhere else.”

One thing she can guarantee customers is that she’s brought her travels back to the area but added her own twist.

“Some of my recipes come from my mom, and some come from things we liked when we lived in New York or Seattle. We had our favorites when we lived in those places, and so I brought some of those recipes back and put a southern twist on them,” a technique she perfected while living out of town to remind her home.

She also incorporates the recipes of her staff.

“They’ve brought recipes, and what they’ve brought to the table has sold really well. So they’ve put their spin on the menu, as well,” Thompson said. “They are like my family, and I want them to

have a part in this, as well.”

Thompson said while opening during a pandemic isn’t ideal, this was the right time for her, and it is still exciting. She says that while she hopes there is not another shutdown, she feels everyone is ready to get back out into the world.

“There is always that fear but you can’t really live in that fear. You’ve got to go for it. If it works that’s awesome and if it doesn’t that’s a lesson learned,” she said.

When it comes to operating her bakeshop, she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“It’s hard work, but it doesn’t feel like work at all. It’s fun. I’ve been so blessed with the employees that I’ve gotten.

Every single one of them is so good and so responsible. It’s fun.”

Sweet Dough, located at 2758 NC-68 North in High Point, is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday - Saturday, and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, visit sweetdoughbakeshop.com. !

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RiverRun gets down to business with Boss screening

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his Thursday, the RiverRun International Film Festival will present a special free screening of award-winning filmmaker Stanley Nelson’s feature Mark Burger documentary Boss: The Black Experience in Business at Contributor Bookmarks (634 W. Fourth Street, Winston-Salem).

The screening begins at 8 p.m. and will be preceded, at 7:30 p.m., by a discussion featuring Tiffany Waddell Tate, the CEO and founder of Career Maven Consulting, as well as a board member of Reach Women’s Network and a member of the advisory board of the Black Philanthropy Initiative of the Winston-Salem Foundation, and Richard L. Williams, the publisher and editor in chief of Black Business Ink, chairman and publisher of HBCU Matters, and founder and convener of the State of Black N.C. Conference.

The event is free and open to the public, but registration is encouraged. To register for this event, visit bookmarksnc.org/ Event/BOSS. The film examines how America is often defined by the history of business and entrepreneurship, yet the efforts and accomplishments of African-Americans in business are frequently overlooked. Boss is the film to rectify that oversight, exploring the resilience and resistance within the experience of African-Americans in business to thrive and survive, despite racial hostility and violence, economic exclusion, segregation, and discrimination.

“We are delighted to be presenting this ‘Film With Purpose’ screening in collaboration with Bookmarks and their summer ‘Book With Purpose’ program,” said RiverRun executive director Rob Davis. “When considering films, we thought of Stanley Nelson, a past RiverRun Master of Cinema honoree and a member of our advisory board. Boss is one of his acclaimed films and did not play at RiverRun due to timing issues of the festival, so we are pleased to share it in this program.”

Nelson, a Peabody Award and threetime Emmy Award winner, received the Master of Cinema award at the 2015 festival, where his award-winning documentary Black Panthers: VanWWW.YESWEEKLY.COM

Stanley Nelson with his RiverRun Master of Cinema Award guard of a Revolution was screened.

His other credits include The Murder of Emmett Till (2003), Sweet Honey in the Rock: Raise Your Voice (2005), Jonestown: The Life and Death of People’s Temple (2006), Freedom Riders (2010), and Freedom Summer (2014). In 2013, Nelson was awarded the National Humanities Medal by President Barack Obama.

“This film is a wonderful piece that explores the Black American experience in the business world, and we are especially pleased that Tiffany Tate and Richard Williams will be joining us to lead our pre-screening discussion,” said Davis.

“This promises to be an insightful evening centered around a great film.”

Attendees will be required to follow whatever safety protocols are in place.

At the current time, masks are optional unless unvaccinated.

RiverRun has another special event on tap for film fans: The Virtual Theater presentation of The Desiring, which was filmed entirely in Winston-Salem and won the Kirkpatrick Townsend Audience Choice Award at the 2021 festival.

Tickets are $12 (general admission) and $10 (students) and can be purchased here: https://www.goelevent.com/ RiverRun/e/DesiringThe. This contemporary drama, which was edited, produced, and directed by Byron Lamarque, and marks the feature debut of writer/producer/cinematographer and Winston-Salem native Graham Pritz-Bennett, stars Joseph Gray as a man whose seemingly perfect life comes unraveled when he discovers that his wife (Suzanne Lenz) is having an affair.

Initially dismayed, Richard soon

becomes increasingly obsessed with her infidelity, forcing him to confront demons of his past that have long lurked within him, and which threaten to consume him.

The Desiring will be available in RiverRun’s Virtual Theatre through August 20.

The 24th annual RiverRun Interna-

tional Film Festival is scheduled to take place April 21–April 30, 2022. The official RiverRun website is https://riverrunfilm. com/. !

See MARK BURGER’s reviews of current movies on Burgervideo.com. © 2021, Mark Burger.

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Food Bank expanding to fight hunger

O

ver the past couple of months, the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina has taken steps to expand its services, first by Jim Longworth opening a satellite warehouse in Greensboro, then by Longworth breaking ground on at Large a new hub facility in Winston-Salem.

The two projects are coming none too soon for people in our area who go hungry every day. And just how bad is the food crisis?

According to Feeding America, over 1.4 million North Carolinians don’t have enough to eat, and 420,000 of them are children. We’re also one of the ten worst states for senior hunger. FoodShuttle. org reports that 32% of all seniors live in

or near poverty, and 18% struggle with hunger.

It’s no wonder that TruthOut.org ranks North Carolina as the 9th hungriest state in the nation. Fortunately, Second Harvest Food Bank is committed to waging war on hunger in our area.

“We provide the main support to the area food assistance networks, and we have over 430 programs that we support across 18 counties. We actually supply 81% of the food that food pantries, shelters, and other programs provide to our neighbors,” said Eric Aft, CEO. Eric was a guest on Triad Today back in April, and before we talked about the new expansion projects, I asked him to evaluate the effect of the pandemic on hunger.

Eric: Well, it was a great challenge before the pandemic, and then the hunger crisis spiked as we entered the pandemic. Early on the government programs helped, like unemployment and food stamp benefits, but we continued to see a tremendous need. To

give you an idea, pre-pandemic we were distributing about 38 tons of food out of our warehouse every day. We’re now at over 50 million tons of food per day. It’s amazing how the community has helped us, but it’s also very sad that, due to the economic impact of the pandemic, the need is so substantial.

Jim: What are you looking for over the next few months?

Eric: I think we’re going to be at this sustained level for quite a while. What keeps me up at night is when the moratoriums on rent and utility payments end, and when those bills come due for those families, they’re going to need additional assistance. We’re prepared to respond to that, but I worry for those families.

Jim: Tell me about your new facility.

Eric: Our goal is to get food where it is needed most, so we’ve opened a satellite facility in Greensboro. It will enable us to get more nutritious food to those who need assistance and support.

As you know, items that are kept in a

refrigerator or freezer are also the most expensive things for us to purchase, whether it be dairy, meats, or produce, and this will enable us to get more fresh food out to the eastern counties that we serve, but not impacting what we’re able to do here in Forsyth and to the west. We’ll also be able to extend nutrition education work that helps people understand how to use food to keep them healthy.

Meanwhile, the new hub facility in Winston-Salem will be up and running by the summer of 2022, allowing Second Harvest to put all of its operations, including refrigerator storage, under one roof. The hub will be located at Whitaker Park, formerly home to R.J. Reynolds manufacturing. To learn more about the food bank or to make a donation, visit www.secondharvestnwnc.org !

JIM LONGWORTH is the host of Triad Today, airing on Saturdays at 7:30 a.m. on ABC45 (cable channel 7) and Sundays at 11 a.m. on WMYV (cable channel 15).

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flicks

John and the Hole: Ditching the family — literally

A

dapted from his short story El Pozo by executive producer Nicolas Giacobone, who won an Oscar for the screenplay of BirdMark Burger man (2014), John and the Hole marks Contributor the feature debut of director/executive producer Pascual Sisto. It’s a well-made film, both strange and unconventional, but it’s also an unsatisfying one.

The perennially poker-faced Charlie Shotwell essays the title role of John, a sullen and withdrawn teenager who, for reasons known only to him, decides to drug his parents (Michael C. Hall and Jennifer Ehle) and older sister (Taissa Farmiga), then deposit them in an underground bunker nearby.

What might be a shocking twist is, like most everything here, handled in a quiet, low-key fashion. It’s conceivable that scrawny young John could drag his parents and sister all the way to the bunker, but how he deposited them there without injuring them is one of many nagging – and unanswered – questions that crop up with aggravating frequency throughout the film.

Another would be John’s motivation for this drastic action. Neither his parents

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nor his sister could be described in any way as inattentive or, on the other end of the scale, abusive. Indeed, if John and the Hole is meant to be some sort of black comedy about a dysfunctional family, there’s very little evidence depicted onscreen to support that observation.

Perhaps it’s meant to be some ironic allegory about adolescent angst. Perhaps it’s meant to represent repressed adolescent rage. Frankly, it’s difficult to know for sure, even after watching the film. Nothing is really resolved, nor even addressed, for that matter. One waits and hopes that the narrative is building toward something – anything – but there’s no pay-off, no final twist that would have brought things into a clearer focus. As a result, the film’s impact is muted throughout.

John and the Hole boasts a good (if mostly ill-used) cast, evocative cinematography by Paul Ozgur, and a fine score by first-timer Caterina Barbieri. Yet its attributes don’t amount to very much. Ambiguity is one thing, and Birdman certainly had its fair share of ambiguous touches – including a final scene that still confounds viewers – but this doesn’t even qualify as vague. The film’s symbolic touches tend not to symbolize much of anything.

– John and the Hole is currently playing at a/perture cinemas in Winston-Salem and is available everywhere you rent movies. !

See MARK BURGER’s reviews of current movies on Burgervideo.com. © 2021, Mark Burger.

SEPTEMBER 24TH GRACE POTTER HANNAH WICHLUND Gates Open: 6:00 pm

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leisure [NEWS OF THE WEIRD] SURPRISE!

Olympic equestrians competing in the jumping qualifier on Aug. 3 had to overcome a particularly spooky obstacle, the Associated Press reported.

The jumps and Chuck Shepherd barriers are decorated in Japanese themes, and next to No. 10 is a lifesize, crouching sumo wrestler that horses and riders approach from behind. “As you come around, you see a big guy’s (butt),” explained British rider Harry Charles.

Several of the horses in the competition pulled up before the jump, including Vancouver de Lanlore, ridden by Penelope Leprevost of France. Balking at an obstacle earns penalty points, affecting a team’s entry into the finals. “You know, horses don’t want to see a guy, like, looking intense next to a jump, looking like he’s ready to fight you,” said Teddy Vlock of Israel. But Scott Brash of Britain was nonchalant: “To be honest, you expect (flashy course designs) in the Olympic Games. If it was just plain old jumps, it’d be just like any other week.” UPDATE: On Aug. 6, the AP reported that the sumo wrestler was removed from the obstacle course, along with a nearby patch of cherry trees that riders thought might be spooking the horses.

FIXER-UPPER

Sara Weaver and her husband found their dream farmhouse in Skippack, Pennsylvania, and bought it in December in a bit of a rush. They decided to forgo an inspection, but they did note that the seller’s disclosure mentioned “bees in wall.” It wasn’t until the weather warmed, however, that the Weavers became aware of the extent of the bees.

When Allan Lattanzi, a beekeeper in the area, came to remove them in late July, he eventually ended up with 450,000 bees, comprising three colonies. CNN reported that the Weavers paid $12,000 for the removal, which involved taking slate tiles off the outside wall one by one. Lattanzi estimates the bees had been there for 35 years; he had been called to the residence once before but the owner at that time didn’t want to pay for the removal. When the Weavers took ownership, the house “was so dirty,” Weaver said, “and now that I’m thinking about it, I originally thought it was dirt on the windows that I cleaned but it was probably honey because there were drip marks.

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AUGUST 11-17, 2021

EXTREME MEASURES

In London, Ontario, a persnickety homeowner took matters into his own hands on July 30 when he ran his car into a neighbor who had been urinating on his lawn, BlogTO reported. The 38-year-old driver struck the victim, throwing him several meters and causing a gash on the back of his head. The driver was charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle causing bodily harm, which could get him 10 years in prison.

SIGN OF THE TIMES

Jesse Jones of Raleigh, North Carolina, has adapted some of his infamous Halloween decorations for a different purpose: He has erected a 13-foot skeleton in his front yard with a sign attached that reads, “Not Vaccinated See You Soon Idiots!” WRALTV reported that Jones also set up some tombstones with messages directed at vaccine deniers. He lost his mother-in-law to COVID-19 and hopes his display will get people to focus on the recommendations coming from the CDC.

BRIGHT IDEA

— Vahan Mikaelyan, a Russian mechanic and hot-rod enthusiast, has converted a VAZ-2106 Zhiguli car (also known as a Lada 1600) into what he calls the “Dragon” — a vehicle that shoots flames out its headlights, KOMO-TV News reported on Aug. 5. The shooting fire reaches about 20 feet. Mikaelyan said he will use the car in an upcoming race to set another car on fire. “Friends, you have seen the powerful fire my Dragon spits. Therefore, on 15th August, we will burn the losing car with the Dragon. Make your cars better! There is going to be a hot car battle,” Mikaelyan said.

— Toyota Motor Corp. publicly scolded the mayor of Nagoya, Japan, for “biting” an Olympic gold medal at an event celebrating medal-winner Miu Goto, a softball pitcher. On Aug. 4, Mayor Takashi Kawamura pulled down his mask and pretended to chomp on Goto’s medal for photos, Reuters reported, but social media objected: Some suggested Goto get a replacement medal because of the germs transferred. Toyota was sterner: “It is unfortunate that he was unable to feel admiration and respect for the athlete. And it is extremely regrettable that he was unable to give consideration to infection prevention,” a statement read.

A chastened Kawamura made a televised apology, saying he would “reflect on” his actions. !

© 2021 Chuck Shepherd. Universal Press Syndicate.

Send your weird news items with subject line WEIRD NEWS to WeirdNewsTips@amuniversal.com.

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Comics Galore: Free Comic Book Day strikes back

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ike Captain American, Superman, and all the other heroes who temporarily “died,” the event that comic book fans call “Geek Christmas” is back and kicking ass.

Ian McDowell Saturday marks the 20th anniversary of International Free Contributor Comic Book Day, although the 19th one wasn’t actually celebrated. It’s being held on August 14 instead of the traditional first Saturday in May for the same reason it didn’t happen last year.

“We were barely two years old when the shutdown hit,” said Daryl Cummings of Eastgate Comics at 204-C Eastchester Drive in High Point. “We’re actually inside an audio and electronics store, which was considered an essential service, so we were able to wait it out. March through May of 2020 was a dead zone, but we survived and had a big success with our first Triad Comic-Con in May 2021, a year after we reopened. We’re definitely looking forward to Saturday.”

So is Jermaine Exum, General Manager and “Lord Retail” of Acme Comics at 2150 Lawndale Drive in Greensboro.

“During the non-essential shutdown, we didn’t wring our hands or sit on them. We showed up to work every day, processed

mail orders, and tried to come up with as many ideas as we could. These included live sales on social media, where we would showcase an item of interest, and requested that folks actually call in for it, just like on the old Home Shopping Network, which was really fun. And people supported us through online ordering. One customer on a military base in Germany reached out because they wanted to help us by buying some graphic novels. Because of such responses, we didn’t have to lay anybody off and everyone was paid on time. The comics community, both within North Carolina and beyond, definitely showed up for us, and we’re very appreciative of that support.”

John Hitchcock, owner of Parts Unknown: The Comic Book Store at 906 Spring Garden Street in Greensboro also expressed gratitude for customer support.

“I got Governor Cooper’s recorded phone call in March 2020 saying we had to shut down for two weeks.

When I got home, News 2 was saying all businesses would be closed for seven weeks. That was one hell of a haul. But when they said we could open in the first week in May, we did, and our sales jumped right back and we’re doing a little bit better than we were pre-Pandemic.”

Parts Unknown owner John Hitchcock with 1978 classic Superman vs. Muhammad Ali

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Jermaine Exum at Acme Comics in Greensboro Daniel Poindexter, manager of Ssalefish Comics at 3232 Silas Creek Parkway in WinstonSalem, has also experienced that bounce-back and is excited about Saturday.

“We did not have a Free Comic Book Day when we reopened in May 2020, but rather what the industry dubbed Free Comic Book Summer. Each week for about two months, we received a small stack of books to give away. The idea was that releasing just a

Two fans shopping at Acme

few free titles a week would cut down on the crowds showing up. We put them out on a table in the center of the store, first come, first serve, and while it wasn’t a runaway hit, people seemed to appreciate some normalcy during the strangest period in our store’s history.”

The idea of Free Comic Book Day was first suggested by California-based retailer and event promoter Joe Field in August 2001, when the industry was finally recovering from its disastrous 1993 crash and Marvel’s 1996 bankruptcy. Noting the success of the previous year’s X-Men movie, Field suggested that the industry follow the example of Baskin-Robbins Free Scoop Night. The idea was widely hailed, and Jim Valentino, co-founder of Image Comics, suggested that the first FCBD coincide with the opening weekend of 2002’s Spider-Man. Over 2,000 stores participated in the inaugural Free Comic Book Day by giving away more than 2 million comic books from four publishers. The next year, 29 publishers participated. What began as a national marketing push spread to Europe, Asia, and Australia, and in 2015, 2,340 retailers ordered 5.6 million comic books to give away to customers of all ages.

“I prefer to call it International Free Comic Book Day,” said Acme’s Exum, who then described how the promotion works. “Each year publishers produce special edition books for the event, so it’s not the same ones that are on the shelf and not the same ones as in previous years. The titles are made specifically for that date, and stores buy them and give them out for free. Not all stores partici-

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Stephen Mayer at Ssalefish Greensboro with classic Fantastic Four issues that introduced the Black Panther and Galactus pate in this, there’s nothing mandatory.”

Both Exum, who became manager at Acme on Lawndale in 1998; and Hitchcock, who worked at Acme in its original Elm Street location that opened in 1982 and then founded Parts Unknown in 1989, have been part of Free Comic Book Day since its beginning.

“That first year, it was not a big deal,” said Hitchcock, “but the people who did come in were really excited. Within a couple of years, it was huge. A van would pull up and the door would open and eight kids would come tumbling out and run in for their comics. Then they’d pile back in and you’d hear the driver say ‘Okay, we’re going to the next one. People soon realized that it gave parents a free thing to do with their kids, and it could get them started reading.”

Not everything that Hitchcock gave away were the books that publishers sent him. “One year, this little girl came in with her dad. She could barely clear the counter, and I said, “yes, ma’am, can I help you?” and she said, “I want Snoopy!”

I’d recently bought a used Peanuts hardcover collection full of Snoopy as the Red Baron. So, I said ‘As it just so happens, I’ve got a Snoopy, and it’s just for you.’ I’d been waiting for the perfect person to give it to, and when her eyes got big, I knew I’d found it.”

“Getting kids reading is so important,” said Eastgate’s Cummings. “It’s great that there are comics out there for people in their twenties and thirties like me and [Eastgate owner] Fred [Wright], but gateway comics are fundamental.”

“That’s why I love this new Sergio WWW.YESWEEKLY.COM

Aragonés Groo Meets Edgar Rice Burroughs Tarzan,” said Hitchcock. “It may be my favorite new book in the store. Like almost everything Sergio does, it’s hilarious for all ages, and you don’t need to know who either Groo or Tarzan are to love it.”

It’s the latest work from 83-year-old Spanish/Mexican maestro Sergio Aragonés, who first became known in the U.S. in the 1960s via for his “marginals” and “drawn-out dramas” in Mad magazine, and who not only Hitchcock but many industry professionals consider the world’s greatest living cartoonist. Aragonés created the humorous barbarian comic book Groo the Wanderer in 1982 and has chronicled his adventures for a variety of publishers ever since. As with 2014’s Groo vs. Conan, the new book is a four-issue miniseries collaboration with Tom Yeates, currently acclaimed for his work on the Sunday Prince Valiant strip, which deliberately mixes Aragonés’ “cartoony” style with Yeats’ “serious” one.

Jay Ewing, who manages the Greensboro Ssalefish Comics at 1622 Stanley Road (there’s also one in Concord) also has a current favorite that’s creator rather than corporate-owned.

“I recommend Once and Future from writer Kieron Gillen and artist Dan Mora at BOOM! Studios. It’s a fun spin on the Arthurian legend and is probably the only comic with an elderly woman as the hero.”

Poindexter of the Winston Ssalefish still follows one of the two superhero titles that first got him addicted as a kid. “The first was Batman, but the second, Marvel’s Daredevil, in its current run by writer and artist Chip Zdarsky, is genuinely one of

the best books on the shelves right now.”

Acme’s Exum is also reading the adventures of a classic superhero and said he was shocked when he realized it’s written by a former cast member of a TV show he used to watch with his mother. “It blew my mind when I realized that Geoff Thorne, the novelist, and screenwriter currently doing great work on DC’s Green Lantern, is the same person as actor Geoffrey Thorne, who played Officer Wilson Sweet on In the Heat of the Night from 1988 to 1993!”

Exum said he also got a big surprise when viewing the movie Suicide Squad, which among other things is a gonzo celebration of really obscure b-list comic book characters from his childhood. “As someone who grew up with these really obscure deep-cut characters, seeing King Shark and the Polka-Dot Man accepted by audiences of a major motion picture creates this moment where 12-year-old me and current-me collide, and it’s just weird.”

But he’s also happy that the art form is now so widely accepted. “Our customers include doctors, educators, and lawyers.”

Both Exum and Hitchcock talked about having customers in their thirties who’ve been coming in since they were kids, and are now bringing in their kids. “And now, their grandchildren,” said Hitchcock.

While I was at Acme, I spoke to custom-

ers Taleisha Bowen and Ben Gulley, a married couple who’ve bought comics at Acme for years, but on Saturday, were shopping for their seven-year-old daughter Allegra.

“She loves Star Wars, she loves the animated DC Super Hero Girls on Netflix, she loves Into the Spiderverse,” said Bowen.

“Basically, you can throw a rock in this store and hit something that she likes,” added Gulley. “We had some time while waiting for a table at Hopps,” said Browne, “and we figured we’d come in and see what is ageappropriate for her.” !

IAN MCDOWELL is the author of two published novels, numerous anthologized short stories, and a whole lot of nonfiction and journalism, some of which he’s proud of and none of which he’s ashamed of.

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go?

For more information about what they’re doing for Free Comic Book Day, visit the websites for Acme Comics, Eastgate Comics, Parts Unknown, and Ssalefish of Greensboro and Winston-Salem.

For more information about the international event, including this year’s free comics, visit freecomicbookday.com Acme Comics: www.acmecomics.com Eastgate Comics: www.eastgate-comics.business.site Parts Unknown: www.facebook.com/PartsUnknownComics Ssalefish: www.ssalefish.net

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That Blonde girl Vikki and her Works Victoria ‘Vikki’ Vassar, a local WinstonSalem artist, is strongly influenced

by German expressionism and artists like Ed Gorey, Mark Ryden, and pop art from the 1960s. “If it’s big, bold, simple, Naima Said gothy, or just plain weird - I probably love it,” said Vassar.

Contributor The artist primarily works in pen, ink, and digital, but used to do sports photojournalism back in her hometown and will do photography, on occasion. She most recently had a photo published in MAKE Magazine that she took of her friend Clark Whittington, who runs the ART-O-MAT projects.

“My love for art started at such a young age. Before my grandmother died when I was 3, she gave me a notebook, which I recently found from the ’80s, and in the mornings as she was sipping on her coffee, I would scribble at the kitchen table. She would help me turn my scribbles into

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something more. It was neat to me,” said Vassar. “I do this same method with my children, even though they are way too old for this.”

Vassar’s carried her passion for art with her through her day-to-day activities and began admiring the city that surrounds her.

“Every day on my way to work, I would pass by an abandoned bus parked at the old bus station on Trade Street. After questioning it, I did my own research to find out more about the mysterious bus,” said Vassar. “I learned it was an old bus company in Winston-Salem that used to run for minorities.

It is one of a few still standing, so I decided to sketch up a drawing and digitize it in honor of the bus and the message it served for the time, even though many people in the area aren’t aware of its existence.”

As Vassar engulfed herself in the town’s history, she broadened that horizon to the people of the town. “One of the most special pieces I have done is on Trade Street, where I recently drew on a tower filled with art on 6th Street. On top, there is a portrait of a guy holding a cup of coffee eyeballing you down the street towards the Silver Moon Saloon. That is my friend James Douglas who bartends at the Moon and is

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known quite well in the area. I was able to get that up through the organization Art for Art’s Sake. I am on their list of artists,” said Vassar.

The idea for the mural came about when Vassar took the original photo of Douglas one night when they were hanging out downtown. While she was in front, he was behind her shoulders when she snapped the photo. “I didn’t tell him at first about my plan, I wanted it to be a surprise, so I had to talk to my friend Stewart Knight, who headed the tower project for AFAS, to see if there was a chance I could get the mural put up to where it’s facing the Silver Moon Saloon, so James can see it when he gets off of work,” said Vassar. “One night when James got off of work, I took him up the street to see the completed mural, and when he saw it he was mortified. It looks as if he is judging everyone that comes in and out of the Moon, it is phenomenal.”

Vassar then began connecting with other artists in the city such as Jeff Beck and started participating in galleries around the Triad. “My first gallery participation was in a Delurk Kitchen Sink art show several years ago, while my first gallery show painting was in Greensboro with Jeff Beck’s ‘No Blank Walls’ pop-up show in this abandoned garage on Elm Street. Jeff and I were both at the Winston Junction Market show where we live painted together,” shared Vassar.

Recently, Vassar has focused more on getting pieces into peoples’ homes, believing art should be obtainable to everyone. “People like to decorate, as they should, and I don’t think art should be out of budget for anyone who wants to make their spaces more personalized,” said Vassar. “Another reason I am mainly focusing on individual work is that I have a little bit of an issue getting in with the city since I technically don’t live in Winston but just

outside the city limits. The city has been pushing to support and make an effort to pull in more local artists, which is awesome, even though I am excluded since my address is not a Winston-Salem address.”

In the past, Winston-Salem has received backlash for bringing in artists from other states to do mural work when there are several talented artists in their backyard.

“Winston-Salem is honestly one of the most intricately woven art communities I’ve ever seen in my life,” she shared.

Vassar has plans for the upcoming months on new individual projects that range from creating sun catchers to unique sculpture pieces.

“A few weeks ago, I finished one individual art piece based on a sculpture I created and displayed in my living room. It is of a real cat skull I dug up at my parents’ house and placed on top of a mannequin arm. After a quick sketch, I transferred it to digital art in order to add accent pieces that only exemplify the message I am trying to convey. Efficiency is something I am really into, if I can take a piece and digitize it, I will,” said Vassar.

After delving into the world of folklore, she became obsessed with rabbits. “I did a few sketches, and printed out the rabbit images on plywood material, created some holes, and attached it to other pieces of glass I got from Camel City glass. I also just bought some blankets and am planning to create a cement blanket, attach a large skull I found that fits my head, and add some material to manipulate shoulders for a humanoid frame in order to create a grim reaper sculpture for the hell of it,” shared Vassar.

The creative said that anyone could be an artist as long as they find “the right medium that pleases” them but warns of letting your craft stress you out.

“Which means I do it when I have time too, and when I feel like it. Artistic burnout is a real issue, everyone goes through it, and I have seen artists try to push through it. Take a break, take a breather, and relax,” Vassar said. !

NAIMA SAID is a 22 year old UNCG theatre graduate and host of Heeere’sNeeNee Horror Movie Podcast.

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Support Victoria Vassar’s art by visiting her website, www.thatblondegirlvikki.bigcartel.com, and following her online.

Instagram: www.instagram.com/thatblondegirlvikki Facebook: www.facebook.com/thatblondegirlvikki/ T-Shirts: www.houseofrodan.com/collections/ vendors?q=thatblondegirlvikki Email Victoria Vassar: vvassar@gmail.com

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Victorious: Nonprofit focuses on molding STEM students

BY HABIN HWANG In a graduating class of 100 students holding STEM majors, you’d expect to see approximately 62 white graduates striding towards the podium to accept their bachelor’s degrees. With around 24 Asian students in their wake, the remaining population would be made up of approximately six African American students, four Latinx students, and four students who identify as Native American, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander.

As disproportionate as these numbers may seem, the number of students who will make it to join the top US tech firms are even more appalling. With only about 3 percent of African American and Latinx employees reaching this level of accreditation, many aspiring STEM majors from these underrepresented communities face the struggle of feeling unseen in their fields or lacking mentors of their own ethnicity. Additionally, beset with opportunity disparities, a lack of equitable access to the same resources, and a frequent absence of encouragement from educators, African American and Latinx youth pursuing futures in STEM are forced to dance a cruel tango through the many hurdles in their field.

“The challenges I [face] due to my identity as a woman of color are deep and often difficult to articulate,” stated Adun Akinola, the first female African American valedictorian at the Early College of Forsyth County. “From the beginning of my educational career until the end of middle school (what some may call one’s formative years), I was in a predominantly white, and rather microaggressive environment.”

African American software consultant, entrepreneur, and activist Ciandress Jackson recognized these issues as a woman in STEM very early on. Facing some of the same challenges and marginalization growing up, she became determined to alleviate the struggles for youth in her community.

“I initially struggled with confidence in my role as a consultant,” Jackson stated.

“As a consultant, you serve in a leadership capacity, and are deemed a trusted advisor for your clients, but it can be challenging to be that trusted advisor when your client doesn’t perceive you as such.”

In February 2020, she founded the Be Great Foundation in Greensboro with the mission to not only encourage, but also provide opportunities and education for underrepresented and marginalized youth interested in a future within STEM. Not only teaching children how to build a successful career with their interests, but to WWW.YESWEEKLY.COM

sustain and grow their wealth throughout their lives, Jackson held the goal of coaching many low-income families to build generational and sustainable wealth.

“I remember sitting around with my friends the week after graduating from what was at the time the #1 public university in the nation; all of us jobless,” Jackson commented. “All of us [were] aimless about what we actually wanted to do or what possibilities even existed for us from a career standpoint. I think that ‘career purgatory’ is where many minority kids find themselves as they matriculate into adulthood. I started [the] Be Great Foundation so that kids can gain exposure and have options by knowing about all of the interesting paths they can pursue with things they are already doing or interested in.”

For over a year, the Be Great Foundation has served the Triad’s underserved youth by providing programs geared toward marginalized minorities of all ages. One of these programs includes the Appy KIDS Creative Bootcamp; a 6-week virtual camp aimed at children ages 10 through 13. Giving children the opportunity to learn about app design and encouraging them to prototype their own app to present to an audience of their parents and peers, this boot camp became an empowering event for many youth. For children interested in game design, the Roblox Game Bootcamp allows participants to design and launch their own playable game. The MENT Collaborative, a program with a rolling admissions system, is aimed at students and young professionals, continuously providing the opportunity for them to receive target support for various careers in Technology and Engineering. MENT also offers certification support programs, where students ages 18-25 can obtain a Technology Certification through the foundation. This fall, the Be Great Foundation embarks on launching their signature fundraiser event— the Victory Lap 5K. Scheduled to be held on Saturday, Aug. 14 at Country Park, the Victory Lap 5K was inspired by rapper and Urban STEM Advocate Nipsey Hussle. Featuring a five-kilometer run, the Hussle & Motivate Marketplace, food trucks, and a plethora of seminars, all proceeds of this event will go to benefitting local STEM students wanting to attend the many programs mentioned above. Some of the seminars include “Business and Entrepreneurship 101,” with A&T Professor Antwon Forman, and “Getting Started with Real Estate investing,” with PCA Investment Advisors.

Though admission is free, there is a cost to run in the 5K. As a nonprofit organiza-

tion, the Be Great Foundation relies on donations to sustain its programs and opportunities made available for local underrepresented minorities.

“With Victory Lap 5K, we hope to, of course, raise enough funds to send at least 25 kids from the community to a best in breed virtual STEM camp with our partner iDTech,” Jackson envisions. “We also hope to stir interest in technology among our target service population and show kids

and their parents that STEM education presents a whole world of possibilities that can lead to an exciting future in a career that they love.”

For more information on the Be Great Foundation, visit https://www.thebegreatfoundation.org. !

HABIN HWANG is a 17-year-old Guilford County Schools Early College student at Guilford College.

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HEAR IT!

Music for the soul: Virginia releases new album

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ife keeps going for electrofolk artist Ashley Virginia, who’ll celebrate her new album, “And Life Just Goes On Living,” Aug. 13 at Doodad Farm.

Katei Cranford “The birds still sing, the breeze still blows, Contributor and life just goes on living,” Virginia said of the impetus encircling her upcoming release.

Playing like a diary on the heels of a major diagnosis—including Major Depressive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Complex-PTSD—the album, for Virginia, “has been my journey of healing through that trauma and pain.”

A classically trained multi-instrumentalist, Virginia’s musical journey began early.

“I’ve been singing since I could speak,” she said, “music has always been a huge part of my life.” Piano lessons began at age five, picking up stringed instruments and songwriting as a teenager.

“The best thing it gave me was a good network of talented and kind people,” Virginia said of her time at UNC-G, where she received a Double Bachelors in Vocal Music Performance and Arts Administration in 2019. “I took a songwriting class with Mark Dillon and that was great,” she added.

Dillon appears on the record, along with Kevin Beardley and Ricky Perez (Virginia’s drummer, partner, and co-producer).

Engaging the recording process entirely from their home, Virginia credits audio workshops, hosted by electro-artist Quilla, for instilling the confidence necessary for a “front seat approach” to the album’s production. “I was able to really take ownership of its direction,” she noted of the process, which employed effects from the Abbey Road Plugin Collection to mix

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and master digitized versions of songs she recorded through an analog tape machine.

“Essentially, you can digitally imitate equipment and acoustics from Abbey Road Studios,” she explained of the technique that adds a sense of timelessness, matching the vintage polish already exuded in her style.

With hazy hue artwork, tinted glasses and feathered hair, Virginia is—by no surprise—a big fan of classic FM-rock staples like the Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, and ABBA. “The art we consume naturally influences us, whether it be conscious or unconscious,” she noted, also referencing contemporary artists like Lucy Dacus and Big Thief.

“I had been listening to Crumb while writing ‘What’s On the Way,’” she explained of the single, which provides a “nugget of wisdom peppered among the reflections, laments, and sad girl bops.” Balancing a grinding work ethic with the anxiety it brings, the song’s title came from the advice of friends. “They told me: ‘What’s on the way is already coming,’” she said. “I turned the line into a song as a reminder to myself to just be.”

Highlighting the need to focus on mental health, Virginia reckons the universal nature internal issues can carry. “Certain issues can be considered symptoms of systemic failures,” she noted, pointing to Reflections, a “deeply personal” track (written while listening to “Mother” by John Lennon.) Wrestling with ideas of love, fear, and trust, the song carries messages applicable on a larger scale. “As a general society, if we all had the love and security we needed, there wouldn’t be as many external issues to reflect upon,” she said. “We don’t take care of our people—there are a lot of hurting people, and hurting people tend to hurt other people.”

Virginia sees such personal songs as

opportunities to “talk about larger issues plaguing American society,” she said—a notion encapsulated in the track “Invisible Hand,” which explores the myth of the American Dream in the face of resistance and injustice; and samples from a recording she made while being tear-gassed during the summer protests of 2020.

“It doesn’t feel real to talk about,” she said of the experience, “but it is real. It happened—in America, ‘the land of the free.’” And while injustice breeds oppression, it can also inspire community. Justin “Demeanor” Harrington, co-founder of the Haus of Lacks (a collective borne from the protests) will perform at Virginia’s album release show. “I’m super psyched to have him open,” she said. “We might even do a song together, but you’ll have to come see to find out!”

An all-ages affair, the upcoming show will be outside at Doodad Farm. “I’m psyched to play in the ways that are most safe,” Virginia explained. “Plus, Doodad is grassroots and community-run, and my album is too in a lot of ways,” she added, pointing to her Kickstarter funding. “Its release wouldn’t be possible without my community.”

As life goes on living, Virginia keeps on working. “I love sharing my music with the world,” she said—having already written her next album, with plans to record in the fall. She’s got upcoming show dates sprinkled around the state, and she’ll spend each Thursday in October at Wahoo’s as part of a Pink Floyd cover series with Sweet Dream.

But first, Ashley Virginia celebrates the release of “And Life Just Goes On Living,” with Demeanor, on Aug. 13 at Doodad Farm. !

KATEI CRANFORD is a Triad music nerd who hosts “Katei’s Thursday Tour Report” on WUAG 103.1fm.

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last call

[THE ADVICE GODDESS] love • sex • dating • marriage • questions

HOLLOW SHELDON

Call me oldfashioned, but I find humility attractive, and I’m disturbed by the lack of it in a guy I’ve been dating.

He seems to need to keep telling me Amy Alkon how desirable he is, like by mentioning Advice he dated some InsGoddess tagram model and saying, “I’m used to being the smartest guy in the room,” when he initially lied about going to a top-tier university and had actually failed out of community college. I find his lack of humility to be a big turnoff, but my friends keep telling me not to be stupid: He’s a sweet, considerate good guy, who seems to love me. —Disturbed The guy probably figures there’s a reasonable explanation for why you’re with him, like still-lingering impairment from a concussion you got walking into a pole while texting or a rogue amoeba screwing with your brain function.

Though you’re getting icked out by what you see as a lack of humility — a guy preoccupied with his own greatness and shoving it at you — consider the sorts of things that require his type of hard sell: for example, cricketburger sliders — as opposed to the bacon cheeseburger variety.

You might also consider that the way most people see humility — as not being

a showoff, downplaying and even denying one’s talents and accomplishments — seems to be off-base. Though humility has become a hot topic of study, an evidence-based definition of humility remained elusive. Researchers have merely described the ways humble people tend to think and behave. For example, according to clinical psychologist June Tangney, humble people have an accurate view of themselves (“not an underassessment,” but a realistic one). They’re willing to acknowledge mistakes, gaps in their knowledge, and their limitations. And they’re open to “new ideas, to contradictory information, and also to advice.”

Social psychologist Mark Leary observes that this description of humble people “is probably correct on average.” But it falls short of identifying the “fundamental nature of humility.” Hoping to drill down to a definition, Leary and his grad student, Chloe C. Banker, ran two studies. Their findings support his hypothesis on how humility should be defined: “Humility is characterized by the belief that, no matter how great one’s accomplishments or positive characteristics,” they don’t entitle one to special treatment.

Say there’s a famous actor with more Oscars than he has cousins. If humility is one of his character traits, he won’t see his acting accomplishments as a reason he should be treated specially “overall, as a person,” Leary explains. “Overall, as a person” means that, outside the acting domain, he doesn’t feel entitled to be treated differently — better than other people — unlike the sort of pompous power lord who demands a seat on an

overbooked plane with “Do you know who I am?!” Answer: “Yes, sir. You’re a tiny little man with an ego bloated like a dead body that’s been floating in the East River for days.”

This brief tour of the research on humility should tell you that the problem with your man probably isn’t a lack of it.

Chances are insecurity is the actual issue: his feeling not enough for you or, more problematically, being not enough for you. If it’s the latter — if you’re actually much higher in “mate value” — the problem may not be fixable.

There’s a term, “positive assortative mating,” describing similar individuals being drawn to each other. Say a woman’s what we call a “10” — gorgeous and also kind, intelligent, and charismatic (basically, a major catch). The 10 and a man who’s a 9.5 (or even an 8) have a chance of making it as partners, but a 10 and a 6 likely have poor prospects. Ultimately, when the shine wears off the relationship, the partner with much higher mate value will start to see the other like a couch that looks shabby in the afternoon sunlight.

But say you’re a 9 and the guy simply

feels like a 5 — but is really an, oh, 8.7, or even a 9.5. If that’s the case, you can help him bridge the gap between who he is and how he feels. Research on the “dependency paradox” by psychologist Brooke C. Feeney suggests that in a relationship, when the more emotionally secure partner shows their insecure partner a lot of affection — like through frequent texts, touch, and conversation — it allows the insecure partner to relax and stop clinging.

Feeney’s research is about loving dependence leading to independence, meaning it doesn’t directly apply to your situation, the constant Cirque du So Look At Me Now! Chances are you’ll eventually have to (gently) tell the guy there’s no need for this, lest he keep working overtime to dazzle you out of noticing that the pet name that suits him best is probably “sinkhole.” !

GOT A PROBLEM? Write Amy Alkon, 171 Pier Ave., #280, Santa Monica, CA 90405, or email AdviceAmy@ aol.com (www.advicegoddess.com). Follow her on Twitter @amyalkon. Order her latest “science-help” book, Unf*ckology: A Field Guide to Living with Guts and Confidence. ©2021 Amy Alkon. Distributed by Creators.Com.

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