november 13, 2012

, The Loafer • November 13, 2012

www.theloaferonline.com November 13, 2012 • The Loafer,

Volume 26Issue #49

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www.theloaferonline.com • [email protected]: [email protected] (editorial)

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The Milligan College Jazz Ensemble and ETSU Bluegrass Band hosts concert “Jazz Meets Bluegrass,” Monday, Nov. 19, at 7:30 p.m. in Mary B. Martin Auditorium located in Seeger Memorial Chapel. The Milligan Jazz Ensemble

and The ETSU Bluegrass Band join together to produce a unique combination of musical styles. The concert is free and open to the public, but donations are accepted and appreciated to !"#"$%&'!(&)'*"+,-&."#&/0“Jazz and bluegrass have a lot

more in common than people

might realize,” said Rick Simerly, associate professor of music at Milligan. “The collaboration of these two groups will present a unique concert for this area. Both are great examples of true American music that contain an important element of improvisation.” The Jazz Ensemble is directed

by Simerly, who teaches a variety of music courses and leads the jazz studies emphasis in the music area at Milligan. He has toured with the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra and performed with such

entertainers as Frank Sinatra Jr., Bob Hope, Red Skelton, Lou Rawls, Gladys Knight, the O’Jays, the Commodores, the Temptations, the Four Tops and many others. He has produced numerous recordings and two solo jazz CDs. He regularly performs clinics and concerts throughout the United States and is a veteran instructor at the Jamey Aebersold Summer

Jazz Workshops.The Milligan Jazz Ensemble

is comprised of students and adults from throughout the region. The band serves the dual role of a college ensemble and a community jazz band. It has had several performances including opening for the Ellis Marsalis Quartet at the Grove Park Jazz Festival; debuting the original Milligan musical, “The Gospel According to Jazz;” performing Duke Ellington’s “Nutcracker Suite” with the Johnson City Symphony; and presenting Dr. John Cooper’s original composition, “The Baeker Jazz Worship Service.” “Rick Simerly is known by so

many music lovers in the Tri‐Cities area and beyond for his work with many great jazz acts including the Tommy Dorsey orchestra,” said Daniel Boner, director of bluegrass at ETSU. “Milligan College has an invaluable resource, and I’m excited about the opportunity to trade some ‘notes’ with Rick on Nov. 19.”Boner also has an impressive

list of musical credits. He has performed at St. Peter’s Basilica, NATO Headquarters, the Smithsonian National Folklife Festival, the Grand Ole Opry and The White House. His music can be heard on more

than 50 recordings, including a solo album titled “The Gospel Way” and his production of David Grindstaff’s “Here and Now,” which featured a number of International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) and Grammy Award‐winning artists. Boner has performed onstage with many bluegrass and Grand Ole Opry stars including Ralph Stanley, Jesse McReynolds, Alison Krauss, Rhonda Vincent, Ricky Skaggs and the late Porter Wagoner.The ETSU Bluegrass Band

stems from the Bluegrass, Old Time and Country Music Studies at the university. It is the oldest established program of its kind at any four‐year institution. This unique program has thrived on the philosophies of preserving the musical traditions rooted in Appalachian culture, while at the same time encouraging creativity and development of prevailing styles.!"#$%&'()*+,(-%-./-%-.,%/0+*,(&,%

will leave Seeger Chapel with a good understanding of how jazz and bluegrass share some common ancestry,” Boner said. For more information, call the 1%22%3,#' 4(22"3"' .5/%6' (7$%6"'at 423.461.8723 or the ETSU !25"3-,//' *"+,-&."#&' (7$%6"' ,&'423.439.8582.

A PREMIER CHRISTIAN LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGEMilligan offers traditional undergraduate programs in over 30 majors plus graduate and professional studies. To learn more, visit www.milligan.edu.

Milligan College Jazz Ensemble and East Tennessee State University

Bluegrass Band

Monday, Nov. 19, at 7:30 p.m. Mary B. Martin Auditorium, Seeger Memorial Chapel

The Milligan Jazz Ensemble and The ETSU Bluegrass Band will join together to produce a unique combination of musical styles. The concert is free and open to the public, but donations will be accepted to benefit both departments.

For more information, vist www.milligan.edu/arts or call the Milligan College music office at 423.461.8723 or the ETSU bluegrass department office at 423.439.8582.



Bluegrass Band




Concert Features Combined Talent of Milligan and ETSU Musicians

Monday, Nov. 19, at 7:30 p.m



Bluegrass Band





In this day and age, it’s not unusual to see all sorts of collaborations between seemingly disparate musical genres. Go online and you’re 2%,!2"' &(' $%#*'8(5-' 7,9(-%&"',-&%/&'sampling or being sampled by any number of other performers.On November 19th, Milligan

College will be hosting a live mash‐up of sorts – the Milligan Jazz Ensemble is putting on a live performance with the ETSU Bluegrass Pride Band. This is the $%-/&' &%."' &)"' &:(' 3-(5+/' ),9"'appeared on the same bill, much less sharing the stage.

What sounds like an odd +,%-%#3',&'$%-/&'.,8'#(&'!"'/('(5&'of the ordinary, after all. Jazz and bluegrass share a lot of stylistic common ground, and in fact many musicians over the years have straddled the line between traditional appalachian music and various forms of jazz.

Musicians like Bela Fleck and Chris Thile have demonstrated that the two styles of music are quite compatible, and a large part of this comes from the fact that they have many of the same roots. Both jazz and bluegrass have evolved to their current states from the traditional acoustic music scenes of the early 20th century.According to Boner, the

main separation between the two genres is the amount of structure found in the music – where bluegrass relies almost entirely on the performers’ improvisation, jazz features a more structured approach with certain spaces reserved for improvisation incorporated into the music.The concert will feature each

band performing some pieces from their respective genres, as well as collaboration between Simerly and Boner. What promises to be the highlight of the show, though, is a set of tunes

performed together by the two ensembles. All of this music is art, and all

'1% -.,2,% 3*,&,2% &/(% )*-% -'4,-.,567 said Simerly, and it certainly sounds like that’s the case. Both professors expressed a great *",2'(7'6(#$%*"#6"'&),&'1(#*,8;/'concert will open people’s eyes or, more accurately, their ears to

a new way of looking at music. As more and more people are

,!2"' &(' *-,:' %#$25"#6"' 7-(.'increasingly diverse sources, one could argue that the musical world we live in is getting smaller and smaller. The lines between genres are blurring and, if there’s any question as to what lies ahead, Monday night’s concert is sure to provide some answers.The concert takes place on

Monday, November 19th at 7:30 p.m. in Seeger Memorial Chapel, on the campus of Milligan College. It is a free community event, but donations will be accepted at the door and all +-(6""*/' :%22' 3(' &(' !"#"$%&' &)"'featured music departments.



Bluegrass Band




!e Loafer Magazine’s Carter Giegerich talks with Rick Simerly the Director of the Milligan Jazz Ensemble, and Dan Boner, ETSU director of Bluegrass, Country and Old-time Music to

share the ideas behind the collaboration.

“I think it’s sort of a unique concept,” said Rick Simerly, director of the jazz ensemble. “You get a taste of both groups, and you can cross the bridge between the two genres of music.”

“There are a lot of ties to jazz in bluegrass,” said Dan Boner, ETSU’s director of Bluegrass,

Country and Old-time Music. “Even [fiddle

player] Kenny Baker said it was just ‘hillbilly jazz.’”


Help NE State Community College pick a mascot! The school is seeking a visual symbol that demonstrates college pride and provides a memorable, unique, and appropriate public

identity. The mascot may take the form of a logo, person, live animal, inanimate object, or a costumed character. The mascot’s job description is still evolving; however, it will most likely serve as a goodwill

ambassador and/or as a marketing tool that will embody the spirit of Northeast State. I t’s the College’s hope that through a mascot, every student, alum, friend, and supporter will cultivate a strengthened

connection to Northeast State’s mission, values, and commitment to building a college‐going culture. To help Northeast State make history, visit http://apps.northeaststate.edu/survey/mascot/ and make a suggestion.

Mars Hill College’s Bailey Mountain Cloggers grab 20th national championship at the American Clogging Hall of Fame National Competition in Maggie Valley. It was the Smooth Routine that brought home the highest award of the competition. BMC also won four overall titles in the following categories: Smooth Mountain Square Dance, Moving

Contemporary Line, Props Exhibition (the men of BMC, also known as Off Sync), and Artistic Expression. In addition to the team awards, several team members took individual

awards. Senior Heather Boyd won 1st Place Contemporary Female Solos and senior Lee Revis was inducted into the ACHF All‐American Team and

Continued on page 7

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won 2nd Place in Traditional Male Solos. Senior C.J. Tate won 3rd Place in Traditional Male Solos and 3rd Place Buck and Wing Duet with sophomore Ann Marie Knight. BMC Director Danielle Plimpton said she was proud of the unique tradition that the Bailey Mountain Cloggers bring to Mars Hill College.

Do not argue with the Northeast State Debate Team! The NE State Community College Debate Team competed in the 2012 Smoky Mountain Parliamentary Debate Tournament and walked away with several awards including the 1st place Team Award for the tournament. NE State competed with 16 teams and 28 fellow debaters. The NE State Debate Team of Britny Fox, Nicole Neilson, Jose Martin, Anne Rowell, and Rocky Graybeal represented the College. The event was held using the Parliamentary debate format modeled after the Parliamentary debates in England. In this format teams

receive the topic 20 minutes before the start of the round. The debaters argued topics such as the right to regulate soda size, creating a UN standing army, and the size of government.

Lisa Hall will be signing her Cutie Pies Chronicles on Friday, November 16 from 10:00am-2:00 p.m. @ Lake Pointe Gifts

Holiday Open House. This series of books depicts life in a tiny Virginia town where Marlene’s pies and hot gossip are always on the menu! Lake Pointe Gifts 1567 N. Eastman Rd., Suite 6 Kingsport 423‐765‐9138

Library Program:“Learn to Crochet” Jonesborough Library Monday, November 26, 4:30– 6:00 p.m. Never held a crochet hook? Always wanted to learn a handcraft? Have we got a workshop for you!! On Monday, November 26 at 4:30 p.m., Jonesborough’s own Deb Burger will conduct a beginner’s crochet class. Deb is the author of Crochet 101: hot off the presses and available at the Jonesborough Library. Deb learned to crochet from her grandmother at age 12. She has been teaching crochet for the past 20 years through Girl Scouting, various community centers, summer camps, yarn shops, and the John C. Campbell Folk School. She has written articles and patterns for Interweave Crochet magazine

and the e‐zines Crochet Insider and Crochet Uncut. Deb will provide all the materials needed for the workshop. This program is free and open to the public. Space is limited and registration is required. To register, please call the Jonesborough Library at 753‐1800.

Christmas Bazaar St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Saturday November 17th 9am-2pm. Holiday Crafts, Gifts & Décor. Luncheon 11:30‐1:30pm. 161 E. Ravine Rd, Kingsport (at the corner of Watauga & Ravine). Holiday Home & Garden Décor, Needles Gifts, Nativity scenes, Advent Calendars, Papers, Bake Sale, Xmas Wreaths & Ornaments, Pet‐a‐Palooza, Kids & Mens gifts. Sunday Worship‐ 8:00 am & 10:15 am. Portions (7'<-(6""*/'&('="#"$%&0''>%/%&'www.saint‐pauls.org

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Debate Team members Rocky Graybeal and Anne Rowell took 1st Place Team Award in the Smokey Mountain Parliamentary Debate Tournament.


AN EVENING WITH DARRELL SCOTTSaturday, Nov. 17th at 7:30pmDarrell Scott is a Grammy‐nominated performer and recording artist, a highly demanded multi‐instrumentalist (he plays 13 instruments!), and

an ASCAP songwriter of the year. Throughout 2012, Darrell will be touring in support of his new CD “Long Ride Home.” When not on tour with his own shows, Darrell plays in Robert Plant’s Band of Joy. Tickets: $20 In Advance, $25 Day of Show

THE MERLE WARREN DICKERT MEMORIAL CONCERTSunday, Nov. 18th at 3:00pmPlease join the Paramount Foundation Board of Directors and Staff as the life of Merle W. Dickert is celebrated from the stage that she loved the most, the Paramount. An array of music and entertainment from Merle’s list of favorites will be performed. Admission is by donation.

MARK TWAIN AT‐LARGEPARAMOUNT SEASON SHOW!Sonday, Nov. 19th at 7:30pmA one‐man theatrical tour de force, that seemingly channels the seventy‐plus year old Samuel Clemens one stormy night from )%/')(."'6,22"*'?&(-.$%"2*'%#'

Connecticut. Racing in from thunderous rains, Clemens (a.k.a Mark Twain) invites the audience, his imaginary, captured guests, into his private study for an intimate face to face 6(#9"-/,&%(#'$%22"*':%&)'/&(-%"/'and anecdotes taken directly from the literary pages. You’ll believe that you’ve actually spent the evening with the real Mark Twain! Tickets: $24 Adult; $22 Seniors; $15.50 Students; $20.50 Group of 6 or more.

Upcoming Events at Paramount


Symphony of the Mountains will perform their annual Holiday Concert at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 1st at the Toy F. Reid Employee Center in Kingsport. The concert will then travel to the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon, VA on Sunday, December 2, 2012 at 3:00 p.m. This annual event is always a family favorite featuring Christmas carols we all know and love. This year the Holiday Concerts will feature performances

by Voices of the Mountains, the Mountain Empire Children’s 4)(-,2'@6,*".8A'B%#3/+(-&'=,22"&',#*A'7(-'&)"'$%-/&, Mountain Mission School Choir from Grundy, VA. Soloists will include Anna Gamble, Ken Denmark and a special narration by Richard Rose.The concert is sure to get you in the holiday spirit with both

traditional and new selections such as “White Christmas,” Schubert’s “Ave Maria,” Vaughn Williams’ “Fantasia on Christmas Carols,” “O Holy Night” and “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.” A very special guest with a long white beard is expected to visit.“This is the perfect opportunity to start the holidays off

8*-.% /% 23*5*-9)*::,+% &'(&,5-7% 2/*+% ;<$3.'(<% '1% -.,%='0(-/*(2%Conductor Cornelia Laemmli Orth. “We have crafted a concert that will create new memories and renew old ones.”Tickets are on sale now by calling Symphony of the

1(5#&,%#/'=(C'D7$%6"',&'EFGHI'HJGKLFGH'(-'9%/%&%#3'&)".'(#'the web at www.SymphonyOfTheMountains.org. As always, students are admitted free of charge pending availability.

Annual Holiday Concert Coming To Kingsport and Abingdon

Santa, Christmas Carols and Snow Flurries Abound


Award-winning author, Donna Gayle Akers, publishes a new book, Forgo!en Tales of Abingdon, Virginia and Holston River Valley, to accompany her 9 other regional history books. An 8th generation descendent of early Washington County settlers, Donna grew up near White’s Mill surrounded by family stories and relishes “livening up” history for readers.

The newest book invites the reader to walk lost paths through Abingdon and the region, with six oral history interviews with older residents, historic newspaper articles and advertisements, Civil War letters from her Russell County ancestors, ghost stories, and

legends. The reader will learn of Civil War hardships, Abingdon’s growth, agricultural changes, old ways of tobacco farming, crimes, $%-"/A'&)"'+(2%('"+%*".%6A',#*'other interesting stories through newspaper articles ranging back to 1840s to 1950s which are included.

Signings include Friday‐Sunday, November 16‐18 Coomes Center Christmas craft show; Saturday, November 24th 11‐1 White’s Mill Mercantile and 2 pm‐4 pm Abingdon Mercantile & Frame Gallery; Friday, December 7th 2‐4 pm Historical Society of Washington County; and Saturday, December 15th Bristol Public Library with the Appalachian Authors Guild Book Fair. For information / order books www.donnaakers.com, [email protected].

The Drawlstrings is a folk garage indie band at Acoustic Co!eehouse Nov23rd. The Drawlstrings is a folk garage indie explosion based in Boone, NC. comprised of Jimmy Kerr, Liam Carey, William Harvey Trout, & Nathan Hicks. The group formed in 2008 and through the last few years has developed a unique and ferocious blend of sounds. Jimmy and Liam are senor members Nathan Hicks joined the band as the drummer. Summer 2012. Coming from several different musical backgrounds and different

bands the four have been able to make something new and exciting. With a combination of garage rock ferocity and a heavy lean on carefully crafted songwriting, The Drawlstrings have a sound all their own.Photo below:Jimmy Ker (far left)Nathan Hicks (middle left)Liam Carey (middle right)William Harvey Trout (far right)

Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area announces 1st Lamplight Christmas/Holiday

Arts, Galleries and Film

Continued on page 11


Wreath Exhibit. Throughout December, the Watauga Valley Art League will show their member’s artwork. We will +2,6"'2,.+'+(/&/':%&)'$2%6M"-%#3'lights and hanging wreaths throughout the building. The wreaths will be created and designed by area civic groups, schools, and community various organizations. Wreathes can be made from grapevine, on wire & various purchased 7(-./A',-&%$%6%,2'+2,#&'.,&"-%,2A'Christmas and holiday ornaments, pine cones, ribbons,

or anything that creates beauty and will hold its form indoors, but please do not use live 3-""#"-80''N(5-'$%#%/)"*':-",&)'should be approximately 24” in diameter and also have a something on the back to hang it from, in addition to a 4 x 5 6,-*'&),&'%*"#&%$%"/'&)"'.,M"-E/I'of the wreath. Wreathes need to be delivered by Tuesday, November 27. The show closes January 4, 2013. For information call 423‐543‐5808, ask for Ms. Johnnie Pilk.

Chris Young performs at Viking Hall Friday, November 16, with special guests Thomas Rhett and Joanna Smith. The honky‐tonk school of hard knocks is where country artist Chris Young received his PhD. Countless hours honing his craft at writers nights in

Nashville paid off with a record deal and a debut on RCA’s record label. The last four singles Chris Young released have all hit #1 on the charts, including “Tomorrow” and the smash hit “Gettin’ You Home,” a song that earned him )%/'$%-/&'O-,..8'#(.%#,&%(#0''All signs are pointing skyward as NEON debuts at # 4 on the all genre Billboard Top 200 chart. For more information or to order tickets, call the Box D7$%6"'FGHKPQFKRSLL'9%/%&':::0vikinghall.com.

“A Silver Lining” Thanksgiving The Southwest Virginia Museum Historical

State Park Saturday, November 24th, 11am. Join Adri Trigiani as she celebrates the holiday weekend with her fans in Big Stone Gap and across the region!

Participants can meet Adri, and receive an autographed gift copy of her latest book, The Shoemaker’s Wife, and tour the Museum’s Festival of




Trees, which features over 80 .,3#%$%6"#&')(2%*,8'*%/+2,8/0'Adri, as well as special guest Phil Timp, will speak at the event. Adri’s good friend Greg Kress will also be assisting with the event. Tickets are free and limited in number. Individuals are limited to three tickets per person. Ticket holders are asked to bring their ticket along with a canned good to receive admission to the Museum on the day of the event. This event is a special celebration )(/&"*'!8'@*-%'&('!"#"$%&'@T?'(Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). Canned goods will be donated to the Big Stone Gap Food Bank.For tickets, 276‐523‐1322 or stop by the Museum.

Grandfather Reveals Cultural History Museum on the second "oor of the two-year-old Top Shop displays designers’ renderings depicting the future Grandfather Mountain Cultural History Museum. “The new museum will help tell the whole story of Grandfather Mountain 2*(&,%.0$/(%>,*(42%)*52-%&/$,%here,” said Jesse Pope, director of the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation. “There will be 11 separate exhibits in the space, telling the story of the Mountain from the time of the Native Americans to the way people enjoy it today.” Grandfather Mountain has

been a destination for over 11,000 years back to when the indigenous populations of the area would embark on hunting and spiritual expeditions to Grandfather’s mile‐high peaks. It has since served as a world‐class hang gliding location, hot spot for the study of rare and endangered plant and animal species and an exciting



Designers’ renderings are now in place on the second ):''5%'1%?5/(+1/-.,5%='0(-/*(#2%@'3%;.'3%>0*:+*(4%detailing the planned Culture History Museum. There are 11 exhibits planned that will tell the story of Grandfather Mountain from the human perspective. (Photo by Taylor Adams)

One of the Cultural History Museum renderings on the 2,&'(+%):''5%'1%?5/(+1/-.,5%

Mountain’s Top Shop. Some of the planned exhibits focus on the creation of the attraction, special events, famous visitors and the

future of the Mountain. (Photo by Taylor Adams)


destination for millions of curious explorers from across the world.

Silent Auction to Bene#t For Pete’s Sake Animal Rescue. The artists of the 606 State Street Gallery in Bristol are hoping their works of art will inspire others to support the Rescue serving the region. Nearly three dozen artists of the 606 Gallery have donated animal‐related pieces and original works for a silent auction to raise funds for the animal rescue group. The silent auction runs through November 24. Each piece of art will have a minimum bid

posted along with a “take it with you price.” Bidding ends November 24 at 5:00 pm. The high bidder for each piece will be contacted within the following week. Monies raised are split between the Animal Rescue and the Gallery. All works may be viewed, and bids placed, at the 606 State Street Gallery. For Pete’s Sake Rescue strives to minimize euthanasia at local kill shelters by placing highly adoptable animals into loving “furever” homes. Visit 606statestreetgallery.com, & forpetessakerescue.info

Painting classes for kids at Appalachian Arts Center by master watercolor artist and

mural painter Ellen Elmes. Children enrolled in M%#*"-3,-&"#K'$%7&)'grade. The classes are held on Thursday afternoons from 4:00 ‐6:00 p.m; beginning November 15th, 29th & December 6th. Tuition $50.00 for a 3 class session. Some scholarships are available. All

painting supplies are provided; participants please bring a smock or old shirt to cover their clothes. To register: call 276.596.9188 . Space is limited &('&:"29"'6)%2*-"#A''$%-/&K6(."A'$%-/&K/"-9"*'!,/%/0'@++,2,6)%,#'Arts Center, a part of Southwest Virginia Community College, is located on Rt. 19 in the ‘Old Archie Helton Store’ ‐ 2.5 miles south of Claypool Hill.

“Andy and the Beats” Thursday, November 15th, 2012 at 7pmA'U)"'B%#3/+(-&'D7$%6"'of Cultural Arts will present a performance of an original

play by Andy Rogers featuring a brand new Tri‐Cities cast! Public Evening Performance at the Renaissance Theatre, Kingsport Renaissance Center. $12 General Admission (with $2 from each ticket going directly to JDRF). Andy Rogers is a graduate of The University of Tennessee where he attained a B.S. in Biochemistry, Molecular,

and Cellular Biology with a minor in Theatre Arts. He is the creator of “Andy and the Beats,” a combined arts and science project turned into type 1 diabetic advocacy platform to educate the community at large about the social of physiological ailments of living with this disease.



The annual Big Fall Show at ETSU, will be held Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 17‐18. Performances in the D.P. Culp University Center’s Martha Street Culp Auditorium begin at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $10 for all seats.Dr. Zachary Marshall, visiting

assistant professor of music and a 10BucsWorth alumnus, takes on the directorship of the show. Beverly Wiginton, director of the ETSU Child Study Center, returns as choreographer.The all‐male

vocal group 1 0 B u c s W o r t h presents gospel numbers, many of which have been made popular by the Gaither Vocal Band. The group also performs a selection from such artists as The Temptations, Billy

Joel and Maroon 5.Past appearances by

10BucsWorth have included performances at conventions of the American Choral Directors Association, Tennessee Music Educators Association and Intercollegiate Men’s Choruses, and at the White House in Washington, D.C. In addition, the group has taken concert tours of Austria, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Venezuela and Costa Rica.10BucsWorth members are

Nick Monroe, Athens; Caleb Smith, Chattanooga; John Bell, Jefferson City; Zach Ross, Johnson City; Paka Cordeiro, Limestone; John Overholt, Newport; Sean Johnson, Telford; Jacob Britt, Clyde, N.C.; David Godsey, Bristol, Va.; and Seth O’Kegley, King George, Va. Their accompanist is Matthew Brickey, Kingsport.Joining 10BucsWorth in

the concert is the established women’s ensemble, 10 Times a Lady. They will perform popular songs as “Respect,” “O Happy Day” and “Love Story,” as well

Big Fall Show Features 10BucsWorth, 10 Times a

Lady ensemblesNovember 17th and 18th



as a medley from the musical “Mamma Mia” and numbers from Celtic Woman.10 Times a Lady kept an

active performance schedule highlighted by a concert appearance at The Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City. The group regularly performs at area churches and

for functions on and around the ETSU campus. In March 2013, the group will travel to London 7(-'%&/'$%-/&'%#&"-#,&%(#,2'6(#6"-&'tour.Members are Sarah Wallace,

Clarksville; McKenzie Gentry and Kelsey Stubbs, Cookeville; Makayla Neas and Mackenzie Payne, Greeneville; Kelsey Snapp, Johnson City; Christina Bailey, Kingsport; Morgan

Tingle, Waynesville, N.C.; Leah Cassanego, Weaverville, N.C.; and Jessica Abdelnour, Barquisimeto, Venezuela. Their accompanist is Dr. Jennifer Marshall, originally of Newberry, S.C.ETSU music faculty members

Karen Smith, mezzo‐soprano, and Alan Stevens, tenor, appear with the two groups during the $%#,2'/"&'(7'/(#3/0''?.%&)A'*%-"6&(-'of the ETSU Opera Workshop, will sing “What I Did for Love” from “A Chorus Line.” Stevens, the acting director of the ETSU Chorale, will perform “Being Alive” from Stephen Sondheim’s “Company.” O’Kegley and Overholt will be featured in &)"' /)(:;/' $%#,2' #5.!"-/' ,/' %&'concludes with songs from the musicals of Frank Loesser.Advance tickets for both

performances are available from 10BucsWorth and 10 Times a Lady members or by calling the ETSU Department of Music at (423) 439‐4270. Tickets are also available at the door. Persons with disabilities who need special assistance or seating may call the number above to make arrangements.



A modern adaptation of one of William Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies is taking the stage at ETSU Thursday‐Saturday, Nov. 15‐17, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 18, at 2 p.m. at located on the lower level of Gilbreath Hall.

Set in present day, “Caesar 2012” tells the story of a group of conspirators – some motivated by a love of their country and others by spiteful intentions – and their assassination plot against Roman dictator Julius Caesar. “In this version there

are no togas, sandals or chariots,” said Herb Parker, ETSU associate professor who also wrote the adaptation. “Instead, the viewer 8*::% )*(+% ):/-% 2&5,,(%televisions, laptops, cell phones, business suits and automatic weapons. “In this version the Soothsayer is an opinionated radio personality and the character of Cassius is now a head‐strong, ambitious female politician in the midst of a tempestuous affair with the noble Brutus. But what are constant are Shakespeare’s words and the famous speeches, all still intact. This version does not seek to re‐write Shakespeare,

but rather it hopes to make it clear just how close his world is to ours of today.” Parker is directing “Caesar

2012,” which features Hunter Roberts as Julius Caesar, Josh Holley as Marcus Brutus, Grey Erin Renee as Cassius, Jeremiah Bales as Mark Antony, and Clayton Van Huss as the Soothsayer, along with Brock Cooley, Trenton Fines, Zach Starnes, Charles Schill, Travis Welch, Justin Aubon, Everett Tarleton, Jordan Mullins, Myasha Dunham, Jessica Womack, and Lauren Stephens. ETSU’s Delbert Hall is set designer, and Melissa Shafer is the lighting designer.Tickets are $7 for students and

$15 for general admission and can be reserved by calling (423) 439‐7576 or emailing [email protected]. Those needing to request special accommodations for persons with disabilities should call that same number.

“Caesar 2012”Bud Frank Theatre

Nov. 15-17

www.theloaferonline.com T4B(/#()*dPK*WVdW*0*A'(*74._()K*!.;(*dU

It’s Christmas time again and the Appalachian Express Chorus is ready to entertain you with one of their best Christmas shows ever entitled “A Merry Little Christmas”. Since 1968, the Appalachian Express Chorus has been entertaining audiences with the sounds of beautiful four part harmony. The men who comprise the Appalachian Express come from all areas of the greater Tri‐

Cities, and their talents have allowed the Chorus to become one of the most respected singing organizations in the region. The Appalachian Express is part of the NE Tennessee Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society, and has been directed by Tony Bowman since 1982. The Chorus entertains through annual shows, such as FUNFEST (a week of celebration in Kingsport), and performs for other civic groups and churches. They have also performed at the Lincoln Theater in Marion, Virginia, the Paramount Center for the Arts in Bristol, Tennessee, and the prestigious Niswonger Performing Arts Center in Greeneville, Tennessee. This years

Christmas show schedule is listed below. So come on out with the family and start the holiday season with Christmas carols like you have never heard and will long remember.. For information about performances or tickets, call the Appalachian Express Hotline at 423‐384‐9992 or visit our website at www.appalachianexpresschorus.org

Appalachian Express Chorus Presents“A Merry Little

Christmas”

Dec 8th‐‐ Dobyns Bennett H.S. Kingsport 2pmDec 13th‐‐ Millenniun Centre Johnson City 7pm

Dec 15th ‐‐ Paramount Center for the Arts Bristol 7pm


!!!"classmateli+e"comThe Loafer celebrates achievement in the community. We connected with Colin Lokey, the President of Classmate !"# $%&# "'!# ()*!# +%,-+./&#Classmate and the three young men who collaborated to create it.

How Classmate Originated & DevelopedThe idea for Classmate came

from a desire to create an intuitive and more engaging learning management system (LMS) for colleges and universities. Learning management systems are the online tools teachers use to share course materials with students and that students use to electronically submit assignments. In our experience, these systems have fallen short of their potential in terms of the extent to which they leverage technology to make the user experience rewarding ,#*' "#V(8,!2"0' ?+"6%$%6,228A' :"'wanted to incorporate social networking into the LMS in an attempt to recreate the engaging experience offered by Facebook and Twitter. Learning is a social activity and the classroom is a social construct, so if you, as an LMS company, fail to fully leverage social networking when you build your product then you will fail to recreate the physical classroom. The original inspiration for Classmate came from a desire to create what we call a social learning management system or, SLMS. As we began to think about

how we could make our product

unique; we came up with a two‐ part solution: First, while some other LMS

products were integrating social networking features, there seemed to be a generalized reluctance to fully embrace social. As such, we developed Classmate to be every bit as much a social network as an LMS. Second, we looked at what

we call ‘open access online education sites’ like Khan Academy and Coursera which allow educators to create content and share it with the public. These sites are expanding access to education, which is an important goal in a world where tuition prices are rising. The problem with these sites is that they typically do not allow educators to manage formal, curriculum‐based courses. We decided to incorporate the tools that allow teachers to create public content within our social learning management system to &5,/-,% -.,% )*52-% &'$35,.,(2*A,%2':0-*'(%B%-.,%)*52-%C'(,%2-'3%2.'3#%– for all things online education. With Classmate, teachers can .,#,3"' &)"%-' (7$%6%,2' 5#%9"-/%&8A'college, or K‐12 based courses as well as manage educational content that they wish to make public. Teachers can create private, invite‐only courses for

their traditional students and create open access courses for the public which appear in our searchable course database. This unites two formally separate communities of learners. Now, ‘independent learners’ can communicate with traditional students and teachers can share information, ideas, and research.

BiosColin Lokey,

the President of Classmate, grew up in East Tennessee and began his college education at ETSU as a political science major. After moving to Hilton Head Island, S.C. during the summer of his sophomore year, Colin returned to U"##"//""'&('$%#%/)')%/'undergraduate degree at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville where he received his Bachelor’s Degree in political science. After a year spent studying political science at the graduate level, Colin decided to return to Johnson City to study business at ETSU. He is currently pursuing an MBA. While in Knoxville, Colin actively traded stocks, bonds, and options.

W&' :,/' )%/' 2(9"' (7' &)"' $%#,#6%,2'markets which inspired him to leave political science graduate school for business school. Colin %/','/566"//752'$%#,#6%,2'V(5-#,2%/&'and has published over 250 articles on various websites. He founded the Bherd blog http://blog.lokeyisstreetsmart.com which he describes as

“cynical, alternative $%#,#6%,2' #":/X0' ' @!(9"'all, Colin is dedicated to seeing Classmate succeed and his 10 year college career makes him passionate about advancing education technology. Colin has guided the project from its inception and has been involved in the creative process at every juncture, including the conceptual design of the user interface. Bryan Black’s driving

passion in life is to create things. He has been practicing in the computer /6%"#6"' $%"2*' 7(-'over 5 years. Bryan has developed a wide variety of software systems i n c l u d i n g software that au tomat i ca l ly g r a d e s h o m e w o r k assignments and



systems that manage companies’ manufacturing processes from -,:'.,&"-%,2/'&('$%#%/)"*'3((*/0'Bryan has a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science from ETSU. Chris Philippe has been

tinkering with computers since he was young. He has always tried to make technology work for him and has basically made a career out of it. Chris has been a Computer Repairman, Systems Analyst, Systems Administrator, and Business Systems Analyst. In addition to his career Y5,2%$%6,&%(#/A' )"' ,2/(' ),/' ,'Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Computer Information Systems, and a Master’s Degree in Information Technology. He also has a keen interest in security and has published on iOS (iPhone and iPad), security and forensics in enterprise IT.

Creation of the SiteBryan Black is the lead

programmer and the mastermind behind the construction of the site. Bryan worked over a seven month period to create Classmate from scratch. He designed and implemented the underlying framework and also implemented all the initial features. We held brainstorm sessions about new features and assessed the progress. We also conducted survey research to determine which features teachers and students viewed as indispensable. The site is written in .php and is an MVC framework. The site was developed on Bryan’s home server and when our initial version of Classmate was complete, we migrated the site to an Amazon server. We are constantly innovating. We add new features to Classmate on a weekly basis in an effort to build the site to a level where it will be competitive with any LMS or any social networking product.

Pilot ProgramAfter a seven month

development period we ‘launched’ Classmate on ?"+&".!"-' GF0' U)"' $%-/&' .(#&)'

served as our pilot program as we used the period to test the product with a modest number of users to ensure it functioned reliably. As of the end of October we began to expand the site’s reach. Notably, the site is being used as a case study in a Computer Science class at ETSU and we have commitments from several teachers to use Classmate f beginning in January. The site is adding members quickly and we expect the rate of signups to increase in mid‐November when we launch our video lecture feature which allows us to rapidly integrate 9,25,!2"'6(#&"#&0'?+"6%$%6,228':"'are planning to add hundreds of video lecture courses taught by a variety of professors, all of which will be available as open courses to the public. Site Features/HighlightsClassmate features a myriad of

social networking and learning management system features. Teachers can upload and share syllabi, course documents (all

6(..(#'$%2"'&8+"/IA'+(:"-+(%#&'presentations, and beginning next week, videos. Teachers can create private courses and choose invitees by entering students’ email addresses. Classmate sends invite e‐mail to the students and all the students have to do is click on the link, create a username and password, and the course materials their teacher uploaded will be waiting for them as soon as they log in. Classmate automatically creates class friends groups for each class a student is enrolled in; so connecting with the people in your class is as easy as clicking on that class friend group. Additionally, teachers have easy access to student lists in each class. Teachers can also create public

courses which will appear in our

searchable class database in which any user can enroll in and access the course materials and interact with the other students in the class. We also offer the option to create ‘quick classes’ which can be anything from a recipe you want to share to a step‐by‐step guide on how to solve a calculus problem. These

are searchable by the public and will appear in Google search results. We hope that Quick Classes will eventually become the go to place for ‘how‐to’ information on the web.Anyone can create any kind

of class on Classmate so there is no limit to who can share their knowledge. There is also a calendar feature which members can use to keep track of important deadlines. As for social networking

features, Classmate features a fully integrated message center, a people search feature, news feeds, photo albums, custom friends groups, and full page +-($%2"/' :%&)' %#/"&' ,#*' !,##"-'pics. One might describe Classmate by saying it is Coursera meets Edmodo meets Facebook.



Singer-songwriter Mike Cullison, aka“The Roadhouse Rambler”) debuts Barstool Monologues November 13th

. Mike is used to hearing his work *"$%#"*'%#'+,%#&"-28'&"-./Z'music journalists commonly pull out such metaphors when trying to describe songs. His new album, The Barstool Monologues it’s almost as if

he’s working in the 3D style of sculptor J. Seward Johnson Jr., who turns famous Impressionist paintings into life‐sized tableaux, incorporating not only the original images, but his own fanciful imaginings of what went on beyond the canvas. The Barstool Monologues, weaves lives of bar patrons into songs, then threading them together with spoken‐

word narrative to create a vivid musical tableau. There’s the heartbroken lover, the fracturing couple, the other woman, the lonely imbiber each introduced by a bartender named Hollis, who sees and hears it all. Various singers (including Jon Byrd, Davis Raines, and six others) inhabit their personas, spinning musical novellas into what Cullison likes to describe as “a honky‐tonk Canterbury Tales.” “Songwriting *2%2-'5<-,::*(46%2'%*-%D*(+%'1%)*-%for me,” says Cullison, who also has plenty of “behind the song” stories. One of his favorites involves the opening tune, “Wish I Didn’t Like Whiskey” a perfect choice to open an album set in a bar.

Sco$y McCreery’s Christmas album debuts at No. 4 on Billboard Top 200, No. 2 on Top Country Albums Chart and No. 1 on the Top Seasonal Album Chart. “I owe it all to

New Music



my fans,” said McCreery. “It’s just incredible that last October AND this October, the fans put my new albums at the top of the Billboard charts.” The Platinum‐selling teen, spends half of each week as a full‐time student at NC State and the other half on the road performing. His album is an 11‐song collection produced by Mark Bright, follows his history‐making debut album, Clear As DayA':)%6)':,/'6"-&%$%"*'platinum for sales of more than 1 million units in just three months. Clear As Day debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 and Top Country Albums charts, making him the youngest man in history to open at the top of the all‐genre chart with a debut release. It also garnered the highest sales of any country solo album released last year and held the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart for six weeks. The album’s $%-/&'&:('/%#32"/A'“I Love You This Big” and “The Trouble With Girls,” ),9"',2/('!""#'6"-&%$%"*'gold.

Jen Rock & the Cry Babies announce release of their #rst LP, Old Baby, on their own Johnson City, TN label powerfulNoun. A stark departure from other musical endeavors they have taken, JR&CB are $%#*%#3'-"/(#,#6"'%#':),&'&)"8'have dubbed “beach‐country”. Not to be confused with Jimmy Buffett or other beach acoustic, these kids are exploring the relationships of unobvious parings of musical treatments to what are otherwise traditional singer‐song writer material. JR&CB consists of singer‐song writer Jen Rock, a Knoxville native who has made /%3#%$%6,#&')",*:,8'%#'&)"'[,/&'Tennessee music scene. Multi‐instrumentalist and producer Matthew Chandley accompanies on the majority of the recording,. Mahto Browder is a relative new comer to the music scene, but using his musical talent, hard work and complete zeal, has become a staple in both the JR&CB live show, as well as in the studio. Visit powerfulnoun.com/jenrock. To hear/purchase the album, visit jenrock.bandcamp.com.



The anniversary of those six American conquests of the 1((#'%/',2:,8/','&%."'&('-"$2"6&'on what was called man’s great‐est adventure when three men aboard the spaceship called Apollo captivated the world.This week marks 43 years

/%#6"'&)-""'\,98'!5**%"/'$2":'&('the Moon and made a pinpoint landing that punctuated with an exclamation point America win‐ning the Moon Race against the Communist Soviet Union before the end of the 1960s decade. ])%2"' &)"' )%/&(-%6' $%-/&'1((#'

landing of Apollo 11 by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on July 20,1969 was a hair‐raising, white knuckle event with lots of problems, the lessons learned allowed for Apollo 12 to make

a textbook, smooth touchdown right on target.Armstrong and Aldrin found

their moonship named Eagle :,/' $28%#3' &((' 7,/&' ,#*' %&' (9"-‐shot their landing site by four miles. Undoubtedly the best pilot in the astronaut corps, Armstrong’s skills paid off as he had to maneuver over boulders looking for a smooth place to set down among some landscape he didn’t practice among in hours of simulations. With near empty tanks fueling an engine that may last just 30 more seconds, Arm‐strong landed the 20‐ton moon‐ship safely into the history books at Tranquility Base. With three months to solve

those navigation and computer problems that plagued Apollo

11, NASA engineers chose to land Apollo 12 next to an unmanned lander that proved the lunar surface would support weight.Called Surveyor 3,

this spidery‐looking, 700‐pound space probe the size of a small car was made of aluminum tubes with three landing legs, fuel tanks, engine thrust‐ers, solar panels, a re‐mote arm with a scoop and the important camera system.When Surveyor

3 landed April 20, 1967 in the Ocean of Storms it was another American triumph of a con‐trolled soft landing of a space‐craft on an alien world. Surveyor 1 had previously landed safely in 1966, but Surveyor 2 crashed. U)"'$%-/&'(!V"6&'/,7"28'2,#*"*'(#'an alien world was in February 1966 when the Russians had bounced a ball‐shaped probe called Luna 9 to a hard landing. It was their 12th attempt at an unmanned Moon landing, and sent back a few photos. Surveyor 3 had actually land‐

ed inside the sloping walls of a small crater a couple hundred

yards wide. That became “Sur‐veyor Crater,” and above it was the landing target for Apollo 12. And during midnight hour

of Wednesday Nov. 19, 1969, best friends Pete Conrad and Alan Bean took their moonship

right where they had been plan‐ning for six months. The Intrepid moonship landed right on top of Surveyor Crater looking down at the little robot that had been waiting for them. Conrad and Bean were true

friends, along with their Navy buddy in the mothership orbit‐ing the Moon, Dick Gordon. Un‐like the Apollo 11 crew of Arm‐

strong, deceased, Aldrin, 81, and lunar orbiter Michael Collins, 81, who bonded only around the business of space travel, the Apollo 12 crew were true bud‐dies during decades together as .%2%&,-8' +%2(&/' $28%#3' &)"' .(/&'cutting edge of aircraft. The diminutive, 5‐foot, 5‐inch

Conrad was one of the practical jokers in the astronaut corps :%&)' 5#$2,++,!2"' :%&0' ' ^"' !"&'a female reporter $500 that he could say anything he wanted to when he stepped off the lad‐der onto the Moon. She said NASA dictated Armstrong’s fa‐

Second Moon Landing a Pinpoint Exclamation Point



mous words “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,” but Conrad knew Neil thought it up on the way to the Moon. Conrad told the reporter what he planned to say, and said it when he stepped onto the Moon. His self‐effacing words were: “Woopie! That may have been a small one for Neil, but it’s a long one for me.” Conrad said he never collected the bet. The Apollo 12 crew and sup‐

+(-&' &",.' ),*' ,22' &)"' !"#"$%&/'(7' &)"'*,&,' 7-(.' &)"' $%-/&'.((#'landing, as well as the lack of public pressure that came with &)"' )%/&(-%6' $%-/&' 2,#*%#30' U),&'made the mood in America less exuberant when Apollo 12 launched on Nov. 14th for the three‐day, 240,000 mile journey across outer space to the Moon. So the television coverage was less intense, and the interest across the world had waned. \@?@' ),*' 752$%22"*' <-"/%*"#&'

John F. Kennedy’s 1961 proc‐lamation directing America to land on the Moon before the end of the decade. The me‐thodical approach was to learn ,!(5&' )5.,#' /+,6"$2%3)&' :%&)'the one man Mercury, the two man Gemini, then the three‐man, two vehicle Apollo programs. Overcoming long odds with the death of three astronauts during a test of the moonship in January 1967, as well as last‐minute in‐novations and risky missions to solve problems with spacesuits, navigation and docking systems, Apollo 11 was a true triumph of the human spirit.But by November, there was

a lot of public sentiment that any more Apollo moon missions were a waste of money and too risky. The Viet Nam War, racial strife and a sliding economy were on the minds of Ameri‐cans more than another trip to the Moon. The launch and trip got the usual media coverage, but not as comprehensive as the hour‐by‐hour telecast of the Apollo 11 mission. Then, a public relations night‐

mare happened once Apollo 12 had safely landed and the astro‐nauts were walking about the surface. The special color cam‐era for sending back live pho‐tos during the moonwalks was damaged when astronaut Bean accidentally aimed it at the Sun! The inadvertent exposure to the direct, hot Sun fried the video sensor and ruined any hope of sending back live photos. During Apollo 11, it was Sun‐

day afternoon landing, then the late evening black and white

images of Armstrong and Al‐drin scurrying about performing their tasks on the Moon that cap‐tivated Americans and the entire the world. That live connection with moonwalkers and earth‐lings was lost during Apollo 12, and without the exciting visu‐als, all NASA had was the audio of the moonwalkers until they got back to Earth with still and .(9%"'$%2.0''U)"'2,#*%#3'),*'(6‐curred at 2 am EST on a Wednes‐*,8A',#*' &)"' $%-/&'.((#:,2M'!"‐gan around 6 am. Consequently, the public quickly lost interest in Apollo 12 after many woke up to the news of its landing and un‐televised moonwalks. When the astronauts returned to Earth on Nov. 24th, they were quarantined for two weeks like Apollo 11 as‐tronauts as a precaution against any risk of moon germs. Unfortunately, the world was

cheated out of seeing the two astronauts standing next to the spidery‐looking Surveyor 3 spacecraft, cutting off its cam‐era system and some tubing for analysis back on Earth, as well as the breathtaking sight of the moonship Intrepid on the rim of Surveyor Crater. Conrad and Bean each spent a total of more than 7 hours 30 minutes on the surface of the Moon during two EVAs. But in another faux pas, the astronauts accidently left /(."' 6(2(-' $%2.' (#' &)"' 1((#A'leaving mostly black and white images to document their amaz‐ing mission. The next moon mission, Apol‐

lo 13, was a near‐death disaster that again captivated the world’s

attention as saving the three as‐tronauts became one of NASA’s $%#"/&'.(."#&/0''=5&'&),&'/",2"*'the fate of any Antarctica‐like lu‐nar bases as the week‐long lunar stays were cancelled. Apollo’s 18, 19 and 20 remained on the drawing boards. Apollo 12’s Dick Gordon was

scheduled to be the commander and moonwalker on the Apollo 18, and then was moved to lu‐nar pilot of the Apollo 17 mis‐sion, scheduled to land with commander Gene Cernan. But Gordon was bumped again when a true geologist, Jack Schmitt, :,/' /"2"6&"*' &(' .,M"' &)"' $%#,2'trip, making sure a scientist had a chance to see the vistas of the Moon. Today, Gordon, also a veteran

of Gemini 11, makes appearance to sign autographs and relive his astronaut memories. But Bean literally paints his memories of his space travels. A true artist, his acrylic paintings of astro‐nauts on the Moon sell for tens of thousands of dollars and are the focus of several books. Bean is among eight surviv‐

ing members of the dozen hu‐mans who have walked on an alien world. All in their late 70s or early 80s, and with Neil Arm‐strong’s death in August 2012, the mortality of these unique men is all too apparent. And someday there will be no one left to point the Moon and say they once camped out there. And that will be another mile‐stone to ponder about what was once considered man’s greatest adventure.


Celestial events in the skies for the week of Nov. 13‐20, 2012, as compiled for The Loafer by Mark D. Marquette.

The Moon is New this week, and that is perfect to see meteors from the Leonid Meteor Shower, which peaks Saturday and Sunday mornings. It’s always best to see meteors after midnight, when our part of the Earth is headed forward into the stream of cosmic debris. In 1999, the Leonids turned in an amazing storm of dozens of meteors a minute, a predictable 33‐year event. In 2012, expect maybe a

meteor a minute in the 3 am to twilight time.

Tues. Nov. 13

New Moon is today at 5:08 pm, passing in front of the Sun for an early morning "62%+/"'/""#',/'+,-&%,2'7-(.',22'(9"-'@5/&-,2%,',#*'&)"'?(5&)'<,6%$%60''U)"'1((#':%22'completely cover the Sun as seen from a remote area of Australia’s Northern Ter‐ritory and Queensland (the calendar date there being Nov. 14th, Wednesday). From our Northern Hemisphere, the Moon is invisible below the Sun in our daytime skies. Meanwhile, across America we are getting used to Eastern Standard Time when the sun sets this week right at 5 pm and rises in the morning at 6:30 am.

Wed. Nov. 14

On this 1969 date in space history, America’s Apollo 12 spaceship was launched to the second manned landing on the Moon. This would follow the July 20, 1969 landing of Apollo 11 and end the Moon Race

with the Communist Soviet Union.

Thurs. Nov. 15

On this 1988 date in space history, the Soviet Union launched their ?+,6"'?)5&&2"'(#','(#"'(-!%&A'-".(&"'6(#&-(22"*'$2%3)&A'&),#'+,-M"*'%&A'#"9"-'&('$28',3,%#0''4,22"*'_=5-,#X'7(-'=2%``,-*A'&)"'?)5&&2"'2((M"*'exactly like America’s, and was sent to orbit while strapped on to Rus‐sia’s huge booster rocket called Energia. Money problems grounded the Russian Shuttle, and it was destroyed in 2002 when its hangar collapsed. A test model of Buran is now a playground attraction at

Gorky Park in Moscow.

Fri. Nov. 16

The crescent Moon is a beautiful sight in our western horizon. Hard to see in the twilight glare is the planet Mars below the Moon. Also below the Moon, but not seen at all without a huge, mountaintop telescope, is the dwarf planet, Pluto. They

are in the constellation Sagittarius.

Sat. Nov. 17

Peak time for Leonid Meteor Shower is this morning and Sunday. But you might see any Leonids during any part of the night—they’ll be the “shooting stars” that streak out from the eastern horizon. Stargaze with amateur astronomers tonight

at Bays Mountain in Kingsport beginning at 6 pm.

Sun. Nov. 18

Saturday midnight until Sunday dawn will be prime time to see meteors ema‐nating out of the rising constellation Leo the Lion. In 1999, this Leonid Meteor

Shower was spectacular with hundreds of meteors an hour as predicted in the 33 year “storm” cycle of this reliable shower of cosmic debris from a dead comet.

Mon. Nov.19

On this 1969 date in space history, Pete Conrad, deceased, and @2,#'=",#A'LSA'$2":'&)"%-'.((#/)%+'6,22"*'W#&-"+%*'&(':%&)%#'

200 yards of their target on the Moon—an unmanned spaceship landed two years earlier. Orbit‐ing in the mother ship called Yankee Clipper was astronaut Dick Gordon, 81. The third and fourth moonwalkers took off pieces of the Surveyor 3 space‐craft and brought back another 75 pounds of moon rocks.


Now don’t get huffy at me, but let’s face it. Once Halloween is over, it’s the Holiday season. The stores have cleared away the spooks and spiders, and the snow and evergreen begins to make it’s appearance. Everyone bemoans over the fact that they forget about Thanksgiving, but what do you want to do? Walk into Target and buy a plastic pilgrim? Thanksgiving is the holiday that you celebrate at the supermarket, while freaking out over the coming tidal wave of family and expectations. D#' &)"' $%-/&' (7' &)"' .(#&)A'

I found myself out and about running errands. One department store I visited was already playing Christmas music, trees and 32%&&"-8' /#(:$2,M"/'up all over the place. With the Halloween paraphernalia all marked down to the lowest price. The only stores where you’re not bonked over the head with Christmas, would be those food and kitchen specialty

stores. They want you geeked up to cook a giant turkey dinner for the family, using their amazingly handy brand of kitchen tools. Even if we publicly bemoan the

lack of a gap between holidays, we’re secretly already planning for the 25th. We’re plotting what to put on lay‐away for the kids, what to get our spouses, and how much medication we’re gonna beg our doctors to give us. Nothing quite exclaims “Have a hol ly jolly Christmas” quite l i k e b e i n g

upped on Prozac while family bombards ya. “But dear, you’re pouring vodka into the mashed potatoes” your mother says, while you just smile and keep yelling “eight maids a’milkin’!!!” Sometimes this Holiday

season starts on Halloween night, TV stations seem to feel it’s OK to begin airing the ads for whatever amazing sales we can get out of this or that. It’s a little disheartening to see an ad for a Christmas sale, while you hear “Monster Mash” playing

throughout the house. One store actually does buck this trend, and that would be the

upscale retail chain Nordstrom. I’ve been to Nordstrom just a few times, but when I was living in Nashville, I noticed after Halloween they had a tiny sign up. A sign that said “We like to celebrate one holiday at a time, we won’t deck our halls till November

27th.” The idea of a store acknowledging Thanksgiving was downright refreshing, yet alone nice to not see nutcracker overload. Now I know that for some, it’s

nice to be ready for Christmas before Thanksgiving rolls around. You want to make sure the offsprings have that wonder toy that they’ve lusted after all Fall. Thanksgiving coming before Christmas does offer that double whammy of expectations for two outlandish holiday feasts, and when you’re in a panic over the turkey, the last thing you wanna think about is the Furby that your child wants (yet alone ponder who in the hell thought it was a good idea to bring those things back). So where are you with the

upcoming yuletide? Tired of the premature Santa Nation? Or are you happy to be ready to tackle it with the full brunt of your strengths? I’m just worried about eating and sleeping on the couch in a food coma, for either holiday. See you next week, follow me on Twitter @ThatAndyRoss, check out my blog at heythereandy.blogspot.com.


It’s The Holiday Season

www.theloaferonline.com T4B(/#()*dPK*WVdW*0*A'(*74._()K*!.;(*WU

Kingsport Ballet launches its 30th anniversary season with guest performances by San

Francisco Ballet soloists, Sasha

De Sola and Daniel Deivison‐

Oliveira. The Nutcracker will be performed at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center in Greeneville, TN, November 30th and December 1st. Sasha De Sola, will dance the

role of Princess Clara, trained at the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, D.C., and has won various major international competitions. She was awarded the Best Couple prize at USA International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi the silver medal at World Ballet Competition the bronze medal at Varna International Ballet Competition the bronze medal at Youth America Grand Prix in New York City and she received a full scholarship to Paris Opera Ballet. She instead joined San Francisco Ballet in 2007 at age 17, and is currently a soloist.Ms De Sola is originally from

Winter Park, Florida, where she began her ballet studies at the Central Florida Ballet. As a young student Ms De Sola danced under Kingsport Ballet’s artistic director, Valeria Sinyavskaya, in Southern Ballet’s production of The Sleeping Beauty. Ms Valeria is happy to feature Ms De Sola as guest principal with Kingsport Ballet this year: “I remember Sasha as one of my little waltz girls in The Sleeping Beauty – at this young age she had beautiful

artistry and outstanding facility for classical ballet.”Daniel Deivison‐Oliveira

is a soloist with SFB. He joined the company in 2005 and is originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. He trained at Cia Brasileira de Ballet, Ballet da Cidade de Niteroi, Petite Danse School, and San Francisco Ballet School. His repertory includes featured and lead roles in major traditional ballets such as Swan Lake and Romeo and Juliet, as well as neo‐classical and

original works. Ms De Sola and Mr Deivison‐

Oliveira will be joined by the Kingsport Ballet company members and students from the school. Tickets are available &)-(53)'&)"'\<@4'!(C'(7$%6"a'FGHK638‐1679. Ticket prices: $10, $15 (groups), $16 (seniors), $20 (adult). Kingsport Ballet invites all area dance students to attend the ballet at the “children’s” rate of $10. Show your ballet /2%++"-/' ,&' &)"' !(C' (7$%6"' &('receive discount, or check with

your dance school for the verbal 6(*"' &(' +-(9%*"' &)"' !(C' (7$%6"0'School performance scheduled for Thursday, November 29th, 10am. Also part of Kingsport Ballet’s Nutcracker festivities: Tea and Chocolate at the Dress Rehearsal November 18th 4pm. Kingsport Ballet Studios, and Clara’s Tea Party – December 1st, 5pm at NPAC’s Mezzanine. Call Kingsport Ballet for information: 423/378‐3967

Kingsport Ballet Presents NutcrackerWith Guest Performances by San Francisco Ballet Soloists

NPAC November 30th and December 1st


If you have ever played a video game in your life, you will no doubt enjoy the new computer‐,#%.,&"*' $%2.' _]-"6MKW&' b,2+)X0'U)"' $%2.' %/' &)"' &,2"' (7' ]-"6MKW&'Ralph (John C. Riley), the villain of arcade game “Fix‐It Felix”, who decides he no longer wants to be a bad guy who destroys a building, and attempts to incorporate himself into the “lives” of the other characters in his game. You see, at night when the arcade closes, the characters of all the games are free to roam and visit other games. One night Ralph leaves his game to visit a support group for video game villains, and reveals to the group he no longer wants to be bad. After he leaves the shocked support group, he arrives back at his game to discover the characters celebrating their games 30th anniversary without having invited him. Ralph asks to be invited in, and the hero of

the game, Fix‐It Felix, Jr. (Jack McBrayer) reluctantly invites the villain into the party. While at the party, the other

characters are not ready to accept Ralph unless he wins a medal like their hero Felix. When he is visiting the game “”Tapper’s”, Ralph runs across a solider from the game “Hero’s Duty”, who tells the good guy wannabe that the winner of his game wins a medal. This spurs Ralph to enter “Hero’s Duty” on his quest for the coveted medal. In the game, disguised as one of the soldiers, he runs into Sergeant Calhoun (Jane Lynch), the take‐no‐prisoners commander in the game, who will

play a major role in the rest of the $%2.0'W#'!"&:""#'3,."/'(7'_^"-(;/'Duty”, Ralph manages to capture his medal, but accidentally hatches a Cy‐Bug, the enemy of the game. The bug attaches itself to Ralph as he leaves the game in an escape pod, only to crash land in the kart‐racing game “Sugar Rush”, where he meets Vanellope von Schweetz (Sarah Silverman), who instantly begins to tease the hulking villain. Vanellope manages to steal Ralph’s medal, which she hopes to use to buy her way into an after‐hours race. Ms. Schweetz (love the name!) must try to buy her way in, as she has been banned from racing in the game because she is considered a “glitch”. During the course of the story,

Vanellope and Ralph become friends, as he helps her build a kart for the after‐hours race. Meanwhile, Sergeant Calhoun has joined forces with Felix, and the two invade the Sugar Rush game in order to help thwart the pending bug attack on the kart‐racing game. Of course, as expected, Ralph proves himself

a hero, and the characters in his 3,."' $%#,228'3,%#' -"/+"6&' 7(-')%/'work as villain of the game. The $%2.A' *%-"6&"*' !8' b%6)' 1((-"'(“The Simpsons”), is animated eye candy, and features many appearances by famous video game characters, including Sonic from “Sonic the Hedgehog”, and Pac‐Man. Even a video game zombie (they are everywhere these days) manages to make an unforgettable appearance. U)"'$%2.'.(9"/',&','-,+%*'+,6"A'

and has plenty of witty dialogue

to keep adults in the audience entertained. I’m sure adults will enjoy seeing a few classic game characters some of their kids may have never heard of. Time for Video Game 101 kids! I saw the $%2.'%#'HcA',#*'W;.'),++8'W'6)(/"'the format, as the characters and bright colors pop off the screen. While “Wreck‐It Ralph” will cost you a lot more than 50 cents, you will be a winner if you choose to /""'&)%/'$%2.0'Eb,&"*'<OI'=d

Wreck-It Ralph


Now that Christmas merchandise and decorations have been in stores for well over a month (way too early in my opinion—isn’t two weeks before December 25th just about right?), it’s time to start compiling my holiday wish list. In keeping with the pop culture theme of “Kelly’s Place” my wish list consists of books and movies. So let’s get started so we can avoid those annoying last‐minute Christmas rushes.

First up is the newly‐published book by acclaimed historian Sean Wilentz, 360 Sound: The Columbia Records Story, the $%-/&' 6(.+-")"#/%9"' ,66(5#&'of one of the most important record companies in the world. The history of the label, which can trace its origins back to 1888, not only encompasses the development of recorded music, from wax cylinders to DVD disks, but also offers a playlist second to none. Columbia artists include Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Billie Holiday, Bing Crosby, Miles

Davis, Willie Nelson, LL Cool J, James Taylor, Phillip Glass, Mariah Carey, Lauryn Hill, Jack White, countless classical artists, Billy Joel, Adele, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Aerosmith, Robert Johnson, Barbra Steisand, and Simon and Garfunkel. And this just scratches the surface. Now owned by Sony, Columbia is still carrying on a grand tradition, albeit in a very different world than the one dominated by vinyl records, promoters, DJs, and

record stores. Although Wilentz’s book is available in standard hardcover format for about thirty bucks, why settle for that when you can ask Santa to deliver a limited edition deluxe version for two hundred and forty bucks? This big package of goodies comes not only with Wilentz’s book by also another volume of commentaries by music journalist Dave Marsh and a “beautifully crafted USB drive” containing two hundred and sixty‐three Columbia

recordings. Needless to say, this is at the top of my wish list.Because I am a fan of Alfred

Hitchcock’s movies, I hope Santa brings me “Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection,” a two‐hundred‐eleven‐bucks boxed set of fourteen Blu‐Ray versions of the master’s best movies, including “Frenzy,” “North By Northwest,” “Psycho,” “Vertigo,” “Shadow Of A Doubt” (Hitch’s 7,9(-%&"' $%2.IA' _U)"'=%-*/AX' _b",-'Window,” “Rope” and “The Trouble With Harry.” Several of these selections are being offered

(#' =25Kb,8' 7(-' &)"' $%-/&' &%."0'Although I already own most of &)"/"' $%2./A' W' -"2%/)' &)"' %*",' (7'),9%#3' &)".' %#' )%3)' *"$%#%&%(#'and brimming with numerous extra features. And this Christmas season is a good time to be watching these masterpieces in light of two new movies devoted to Hitchcock—the recently released account of how Tippi Hedren just barely endured the $%2.%#3'(7'_U)"'=%-*/X'E_U)"'O%-2AX'starring Sienna Miller as Hedren and Toby Jones as Hitchcock) and the upcoming Thanksgiving weekend release of “Hitchcock,” starring Anthony Hopkins as Hitch and Scarlet Johansson as Janet Leigh, who appeared in the most famous movie scene of all time (the iconic shower scene from “Psycho”).My third request is

another Blu‐Ray boxed set, “Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection,” an eight‐disc tribute to the golden age of American monster movies. Included here, for a mere two hundred bucks and some change, are “Frankenstein,” “Bride of Frankenstein,” “The Mummy,” “The Wolfman,”

“The Creature From The Black Lagoon,” “Dracula,” “The Phantom Of The Opera,” and “The Invisible Man.” Needless to say, I own all of these movies in /&,#*,-*' *"$%#%&%(#' 9%,' &)"'Universal Legacy collection, which was packaged in conjunction with the release of “Van Helsing” in 2004. This collection featured more movies than the new boxed set, but since black and white looks stunning on

Blu‐Ray, why shouldn’t I ask Santa to stuff the new )%3)'*"$%#%&%(#'6(22"6&%(#'into his bag of goodies this year?Speaking of horror

movies, I also want the new Blu‐Ray Collector’s Edition of “Terror Train,” the 1980 slasher movie starring Jamie Lee Curtis, fresh from her screaming debut in “Halloween” two years earlier and her role in “The Fog” just eight months earlier. While not a masterpiece, “Terror U-,%#X'*"$%#"/'&)"'/2,/)"-'

3"#-"' ,/':"22' ,/' ,#8' (&)"-' $%2.A'and it appeals to my love of mysteries that take place aboard trains (sounds like the subject for a future column, doesn’t it?). I can’t imagine that being +-"/"#&"*' %#')%3)'*"$%#%&%(#':%22'%.+-(9"'&)"'$%2.'9"-8'.56)A'!5&'I want it primarily for the extra features that are being included 7(-'&)"'$%-/&'&%."0Last, and certainly not least, I

am asking Santa for “Columbo: The Complete Series.” Yes, I own

all the shows now, but I like the idea of having them all neatly boxed up in a way that takes up less shelf space. And, hey, if Santa brings it to me I won’t have to shell out a hundred and thirty bucks and can always use a spare set of sixty‐nine episodes from one of my favorite TV series. The only lamentable part is that this new boxed set, like the individually packaged sets, doesn’t include any extra features (other than three episodes from the ill‐fated “Mrs. Columbo” series that only lasted a year and a lame featurette about TV detectives). This set of course cries out for extra features and commentaries. You would think that at the very least Steven Spielberg would offer a commentary on the one episode he directed before he became famous with “Duel” and “Jaws”—“Murder By The Book” from the $%-/&' /",/(#0' ]%&)' (-' :%&)(5&'commentaries, however, this boxed set belongs in hundreds of stockings this Christmas.I hope I’ve given you some

good ideas for your holiday wish list(s). I will try and behave myself between now and December 24 so Santa won’t bypass my house. See you next week with more holiday cheer.

Making A List and Checking it Twice

, The Loafer • November 13, 2012 www.theloaferonline.com

november 13, 2012

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