The Loafer, Jan. 15, 2013

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www.theloaferonline.com January 15, 2013 • The Loafer, Page 3

Volume 27

Issue #6

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Spring 2013Wise, witty and heart‐warming “Walking Across Egypt”Begins February 14 at Barter Theatre Main Stage

See the beloved story brought to life on stage “Little Women”Begins March 5 at Bar‐ter Theatre Main Stage

!"##$%&''#"('""('"")$it’s a hilarious musical spoof“I’ll Never Be Hungry Again”

Begins February 7 at Barter Stage II

A hilarious web of sex, lies and political cor‐ruption“Unnecessary Farce”Begins March 8 at Bar‐ter Stage II

A timely story of the timeless desire to be‐long “Half a World Away”Begins March 15 at Bar‐ter Stage II

Summer 2013See Les Mis like you’ve never seen before!“Les Misérables”Begins May 18 at Barter Theatre Main Stage

Break out the casse‐roles for this uproarious comedy!“Southern Fried Fu‐neral”Begins May 30 at Barter Theatre Main Stage

Everyone has their story to tell about the day Rhonda went berserk in the shopping mall“The Blonde, the Bru‐

nette and the Vengeful Redhead”Begins May 10 at Barter Stage II

Feel the heat as Barter brings you a hot new portrait of classic desire “A Streetcar Named Desire”Begins June 7 at Barter Stage II

Starring Richard Rose and Mary Lucy Bivins“The Gin Game”Begins June 19 at Barter Stage II

You can’t keep a south‐ern girl down“Good Ol’ Girls”Bring August 16 at Bar‐ter Theatre Main Stage

Fall 2013Bring the whole family to this delightful musi‐cal“Kiss Me Kate”Begins September 14 at Barter Theatre Main Stage

A treat for the whodunit fans!“Dial ‘M’ for Murder”

Barter Theatre opens 80th season! As always, there are plenty of comedies, dramas, huge

musicals and new works slated for the new year.

Continued on page 5


Begins September 26 at Barter Theatre Main Stage

Based on a true story“Thicker Than Water”Begins September 3 at Barter Stage II

An almost true story from Barter’s favorite comedic authors“A Visit From Scarface”

Begins September 5 at Barter Stage II

A gasp‐out‐loud super‐natural thriller“The Ghost in the Meadow”Begins September 10 at Barter Stage II

ChristmasWarm your heart and tap your toes with this

Christmas treat!“Sanders Family Christmas” Begins November 22 at Barter Theatre Main Stage

It’s a Christmas miracle!Oh, no, wait. It’s a Christmas musical!“Another Night Before Christmas”Begins November 26 at Barter Stage II

Continued from page 4

Saturday, January 19th, 2013, at 7:30 p.m. the Carter Family presents a concert of bluegrass music by the Tyler Williams Band. Admission to the concert is $8 for adults, $1 for children 6 to 11, under age 6 free.Tyler Williams grew up in

Ohio and moved to Johnson City, Tennessee, to study bluegrass music. Ashley Davis is from Fayetteville, North Carolina. When the two of them met at the Galax Old Time Fiddlers Convention in 2007 it wasn’t long before they teamed up to form a band.Tyler is blind and has cerebral

palsy, but he has never let that hold him back. His interest in music began when he was just *$ +"*,$ -#'.$ /&0$ %&,01$ &201,34"21$was a keyboard his grandfather gave him, and he was playing &1$ 5+$ *6"$ 7-3,.$81$ *6"$ %&9")$ :+#",$started taking classical piano lessons by ear. When he was six, his Uncle Derek ‐ a guitar picker ‐ introduced him to bluegrass. :+#",;0$32<#"$1--=$>&4$1-$>&0$%&,01$bluegrass festival. It was there that he met Alison Krauss. His interest in bluegrass kicked into high gear when he was 16. Tyler honed his vocal skills by listening to CDs of his favorite artists. By age 17, he was participating in jams and became part of

the Hocking Valley Bluegrass Boys. When he turned 18, he developed an interest in guitar and mandolin. In 2006, he joined the ETSU Bluegrass program. He graduated in December of 2011. Ashley began reading music

when she was young, and her mom gave her piano lessons. After she saw the movie Oh Brother Where Art Thou?, her musical interests shifted to

bluegrass. She began attending local jam sessions and sought out musicians who would instruct her in bluegrass style %&''#&26.$?+$@AAB)$0>"$C*0$>&,"'$to play in Bill Jordan’s band. In 2007, she joined a group called the Parsons. Ashley became part of an all‐female group Sweet Potato Pie in 2008. She’s now joined Tyler, and they have formed their own group. Watching the two of them

perform is spellbinding. Tyler’s vocal range and instrumental talent are nothing short of amazing. Ashley is already one of the 5"01$ %&''#",0$*,-32'.$!"$<*2$only imagine how their talent will grow in years to come. Joining Tyler and Ashley will be Becky Webb on bass and vocals and Chris Monk on banjo and vocals. Their show is more

than just entertaining – it’s inspirational. There C&##$ 5"$ #-10$ -7$ %&''#"$ 132"0)$unbelievable vocals, great instrumentals, and amazing

harmony. For more information on the band, go to http://www.tylerwilliamsband.com. You’ll *#0-$ %&2'$ 1>"4$ -2$ D+0E*<")$Facebook, and YouTube. F o r more information on Saturday’s concert, contact Mountain Music Museum at 276‐645‐0035. For recorded information on shows coming up at the Fold, call 276‐386‐6054.


Tyler Williams BandCarter Family Fold

January 19th


Central Bal‐let Theatre of G r e e n e v i l l e brings the clas‐sic fairy tale “Snow White: A Christian Twist on a Classic Fairy Tale” to the stage on Jan. 18‐20 with a Chris‐tian twist to the beloved story. Central Ballet

Theatre’s new‐est story ballet brings the tale of Snow White, the funny sev‐en dwarfs, the wicked Lady Queen and the rescuing prince to the stage of the auditorium in the Annie Hogan Byrd Fine Arts Building at Tusculum College. The ballet opens at 7 p.m. Fri‐day, Jan. 18. Two performances are slated for Saturday, Jan. 19, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. A matinee per‐formance is slated for 2 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 20. While following the story

of Snow White that is so well known, the Central Ballet The‐atre version has a Christian theme. Artistic Director Lori Ann Sparks has adapted the fairy tale into a real life story that appeals to all ages. “The story is a picture of life

as I see it, with all the emotions man has always felt and always will, from hate and envy to love and happiness, sadness to hilarity, desperation to miraculous inter‐ventions,” Sparks said. “All directors use life to write their stories, some just leave out the part that God is actu‐ally there to turn to for help. I wanted to show that He is a choice we all have. Each year I try to do something different in our ballets. This year we have a narrator who helps to tell the story

plus actual singers on stage.”A cast of 87 will bring the me‐

dieval era story to life in striking period costumes. There will be kings and queens, adorable ani‐mals, a friar, an amazing mirror with an imprisoned sprite, live trees, a dove, raven and an owl. The story begins with an an‐

nouncement to the comedic King that she is expecting. The child is born, and the mother is taken to heaven. Because there is no mother, the young Snow White is given all her heart desires, so she grows up to be spoiled. The King marries another who be‐comes the prideful Lady Queen. One day in the court’s chapel service, Snow White, now older,

is convicted by the story of Je‐sus. She is called by the Holy Spirit to open her heart to Him, which she does. At once she becomes a new creation. The Enchanted Mirror and Mir‐ror Sprite see this new beauty and exclaim to Lady Queen that Snow White is now the most beautiful in the kingdom.Enraged, the

Lady Queen demands the

Huntsman take Snow White out into the forest and kill her, bring‐ing back her heart. The Hunts‐man cannot kill Snow White for her beauty is so great. He must %&2'$*$03501&131".$:>"$/*,1$6&9"0$her heart for Snow White’s life. When Snow White becomes lost and frightened in the woods, she prays for help. Angels come and lead Snow White to a little cottage where she makes new friends of seven very peculiar men. They tell Snow White to never open the door to anyone, but an old lady appears needing a drink. In Snow White’s kind‐ness, she opens the door. Snow White is then offered a beautiful

red, enchanted apple that is most desirous. She takes a bite! The ballet is part of

Tusculum College Arts Outreach’s 2012‐13 Acts, Arts, Academia performance and lec‐ture series. Tickets may be reserved by calling 423‐724‐7014. They may be purchased in Greeneville at The Gen‐eral Morgan Inn, James‐Ben Studio and Three Blind Mice or at the box -7%&<"$ E,&-,$ 1-$ 1>"$ E",‐formance.

“Snow White: A Christian Twist on a Classic Fairy Tale”

Central Ballet Theatre of Greeneville


We’re back for the third year in a row to raise money for CASA of Northeast Tennessee. We’re switching some things up this year but the one thing that isn’t changing is the opportunity to DO GOOD for a GREAT CAUSE while HAVING FUN! Music by DJ Shorty Tripp. Tickets are $25 now and $30 at the door. Young Professionals Tri‐Cities

compete head‐to‐head of the lo‐cal pizza parlors Sunday, Janu‐ary 20, 5‐11 p.m. at The Charles, Downtown JC. One round ‐ chef’s choice, ten pizza place, Attendees vote and only one pizza parlor will take home the PIZZA CUP!Pizza parlors participating:

Earth Fare, Main Street Pizza Company,Marco’s Pizza, One 12 Downtown, N&K Specialty Foods, Papa John’s, Pizza Inn, Pizza N Gyro, Schmuck’s, Scratch Brick Oven. Also featuring Little City Roller Girls and Big Daddy Voodoo and Man vs. Pizza.

Pie Wars to Benefit CASA


Pie Wars to Benefit CASARenowned media analyst

Jennifer Pozner will cast a criti‐cal eye on reality television programs and their effects on Thursday, Jan. 24, at Tusculum College.F-G2",$ C&##$ 1*="$ *$ %&",<")$

funny and in‐depth look at how “guilty pleasure” television af‐fects beliefs, behavior and cul‐ture in “Project Brainwash: Why Reality TV Is Bad for Women (and Men, People of Color, the Economy, Love and Sheer Com‐mon Sense.)”Her presentation will begin at

7 p.m. in the Behan Arena The‐atre (lower level) of the Annie Hogan Byrd Fine Arts Building on the Tusculum College cam‐pus. The program is part of Tus‐culum College Arts Outreach’s Acts, Arts, Academia 2012‐13 performance and lecture series and is also being presented in conjunction with the college’s H7%&<"$-7$I13'"21$877*&,0.Pozner is a media critic, jour‐

nalist, author and founder and director of the Women in Media and News (WIMN). A media jus‐tice group based in New York, !JDK$ *4E#&%&"0$ C-4"2;0$ E,"0‐ence and power in the public debate through media analysis, education and advocacy. She is also managing editor of WIMN’s

Voices, a popular group blog on women and the media, which can be found at WIMNonline.org.A widely published freelance

journalist, her work has ap‐peared in outlets ranging from newspapers such as The New York Times, Newsday, Chicago Tribune and Boston Phoenix, to magazines such as “Ms. Maga‐zine,” “The American Prospect” and “In These Times” to new media such as Salon.com and the /37%&261-2$ F-01.$ $ I>"$ 7-,4",#+$directed the women’s desk at the national media watch group

FAIR, where she was a staff writ‐er for Extra! Magazine and the organizer of the national Femi‐nist Coalition on Public Broad‐casting. Pozner has appeared as a

commentator on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, ABC News Now, Nation‐al Public Radio, Comedy Cen‐tral’s “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” and several documen‐1*,+$%&#40.$/",$ %&,01$ 5--=)$ LM"*#&1+$ ?&1"0$

Back: The Troubling Truth About Guilty Pleasure TV,” was pub‐lished in 2010, and has been praised as an insightful and fun read. A noted public speaker,

Pozner has conducted multi‐media presentations and partici‐pated in panels and debates at colleges and conferences across the country. She has spoken on women, media, politics and pop culture at more than 70 colleges across the country. In 2009, she was named as one of the New Leaders Council 40 Under Forty young progressive leaders to watch and “Forbes” has named her one of the “20 Inspiring Women to Follow on Twitter.” Admission to the presentation is $6. Tickets may be purchased at the door or by calling Arts Out‐reach at 423‐798‐1620.

“Project Brainwash” Gives Reality Check to Reality TV


An Evening with Paul ThornWhat The Hell Is Goin’ On?

Birthplace of Country Music announces the re‐turn of Paul Thorn to Theatre Bristol, Jan. 19 at 6:30pm. “Fans who came to see his event last year will not see the same show,” says Birthplace Coun‐try Music Executive Director Leah Ross. “He has a new album of songs written by artists he admires, but we do expect the same dry wit and humor we enjoyed at the last event.” Hailed as “the Mark Twain of Americana,” sing‐

er/songwriter Thorn’s new album, What the Hell is Goin’ On?, is the follow‐up to his introspective Pimps and Preachers. After writing many discs of semi‐autobiographical tunes that have drawn comparisons to John Hiatt and John Prine, Thorn “wanted to take a break from myself,” he reveals, “do something different, and just have fun.” What The Hell Is Goin’ On? (Perpetual Obscurity

N$:>&,1+$:&6",0O$%&2'0$:>-,2$E311&26$>&0$-C2$6,&11+$rock stamp on some of his favorite songs. There are some names familiar to Americana fans (Buddy Miller, Ray Wylie Hubbard), some lesser‐known (Foy Vance, Wild Bill Emerson) and some surprises. The Buckingham/Nicks tune “Don’t Let Me Down Again” originated on that duo’s debut, not during the Fleetwood Mac era, while the Paul Rogers/Free song that Thorn chose to cover is an obscure one, “Walk In My Shadow”. Reserved seats for An Evening with Paul Thorn are $75 and include heavy hors d’oeuvres, drinks and

desserts. Seating for the event is limited. Call 423‐573‐1927 to reserve.

The Birthplace of Country Music Cultural Heritage Center Donations

The Birthplace of Country Music Alliance raised nearly $9 million to build The Birthplace of Country Music Cultural Heritage Center in Down‐town Bristol, TN/VA. They need help to achieve $10.57 million goal. That’s where the Friends of 1927 come in. Friends of 1927 are 1,927 people giving $520 to raise $1 million for the project. When 1,927 Friends give, it shows grant holders that there is true community support for the Cen‐ter and it helps us achieve matching dollars for the effort. Contributions by the Friends of 1927 can be made all at once or in installments. Once the Birthplace of Country Music Cultural Heritage Center is completed, a wall will be dedicated to the Friends of 1927 in recognition of their sup‐port.

Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion is calling all 9"2'-,0)$,"13,2&26$*2'$-1>",C&0")$1-$%&##$-31$*EE#&‐cations for the 2013 event to be held Sept. 20‐22. Applications for food and craft vendors should apply online by March 1, 2013 through the festi‐val’s website, BristolRhythm.com. “We are ask‐ing everyone, even vendors who have been with 30$#*01$+"*,)$1-$%&##$-31$*2$*EE#&<*1&-2$-2#&2")P$0*+0$Bristol Rhythm Vending Committee Co‐Chair Ka‐tie Sword. No fees or deposits are required with application, vendors will be contacted after the selection process has been completed. Returning vendors will be given preference, but applications must be received by the deadline.

Bristol Rhythm Call to Vendors


Sean Rich is a modern‐day treasure hunter on a mission to track down masterpieces of military history. But for him, antique weaponry is more than a passion; it’s his business. NGC’s new 16‐part series Lords of War– follows Sean Rich a modern‐day treasure hunter and his team of arms experts as they patrol the country for rare collectibles and auction them off to the highest bidder. They get a piece of the action, and the seller gets the rest. Every auction is battle, but war is in their blood. Part historians and part

detectives, the top‐notch team is challenged in each episode to authenticate an item and appraise its value. It’s not always an easy task, even for these experts. Occasionally an item so rare will come across their paths with virtually no frame of reference. The Lords of War guarantee each weapon they auction is in working condition…no matter how old it is. Testing an antique can be the most exciting, and dangerous, part of the job. NGC captures all the excitement 5-1>$-2$1>"$*3<1&-2$ %#--,$*2'$*1$the shooting range, using slow 4-1&-2)$ >&6>('"%&2&1&-2$ <*4",*0$to capture every detail of an *21&Q3"$ 5"&26$ %&,"'$ 7-,$ 1>"$ %&,01$

time in centuries. From historical gems to just plain junk, there is no telling what, or who will show up at

each auction, and occasionally the people are stranger than the items themselves. A family of Viking re‐enactors is surprised to learn the value of their family heirloom, a 1000 year‐old axe head. But sometimes a seller’s "RE"<1*1&-20$ *,"$ &2%#*1"')$ *0$ &0$the case with one seller who expected to buy an island with the money he hoped to make on a German crossbow. Other items turn out to be priceless; a hand‐drawn map from an infantryman at the battle of Normandy valued at over $20,000 proves to be too personal for his surviving daughter to sell. Lords of Wars Premieres Wednesday, January 23, at 9 p.m National Geographic Channel.

Larry “The Hammer” Harley Bristol Resident Stars in

LORDS OF WARNew Series Follows Modern-Day Treasure Hunters

on Mission to Track Down, Authenticate, and Auction Valuable Pieces of Military History


The Historic Jonesborough Dance Society will hold a con‐tra dance on Saturday, January 19, 2013 at the Historic Jones‐borough Visitors Center, 117 Boone Street. Admission to the dance is $7, $5 for HJDS mem‐bers and $5 for full time stu‐dents. A family package allows parents to bring all of their own children for a total of $15. All dances are smoke and alcohol free. No partner is necessary. Families and children are wel‐come! A half hour contra dance workshop will be offered at 7pm.Performing for this event will

be the “Honey Badgers” from Asheville consisting of David S+2<>$-2$%&''#")$?"1>$D-#*,-$-2$banjo ukulele and Vollie McKen‐zie on guitar. The caller is Katy Tarter German from Asheville. The dance on will run from 7:30‐10:30pm.At the 9:00pm waltz break,

Klondike Ice Cream Bars, the of‐%&<&*#$7,-G"2$1,"*1$-7$1>"$/&01-,&<$Jonesborough Dance Society, will be offered to all dancers courte‐sy of the Historic Jonesborough Dance Society.The evening will begin with a

family dance from 5:30‐6:45pm. The family dance is truly a family event where parents or grand‐parents and children ages four and up learn traditional dances. The dance will consist of easy steps for participants of all ages taught by Katy Tarter German of Asheville. The goal is to teach the fundamentals of dancing with a focus on having fun and plac‐ing less of an emphasis on dance techniques. Types of dances include circles, long‐ways sets, squares, and odd number sets. All dances will be taught and called with high‐energy live mu‐sic from students in the ETSU Bluegrass, Old Time & Country Music program. Family dances promote community, inter‐gen‐erational interaction, and bring traditional dance to a new gen‐eration, making the dance com‐munity stronger and enduring. Admission to the family dance is

$5 for adults and $3 for children. Family package costs $15 for parents and all their children. If the participants wish to stay for the regular dance, their Family Dance admission can be applied to the regular admission costs.Contra dancing is a traditional

form of American folk dance that evolved from the long ways country dances popular in Eng‐lish society centuries ago. The modern contra dances provide dancers of all ages and experi‐ence levels with the opportunity 1-$04&#")$4-9")$<-22"<1)$%#&,1$*2'$create an evening of dance nirva‐na with each other. No previous dance experience is necessary. No fancy footwork is required. If you can walk and count to eight, you can contra dance!Contra dances are commu‐

nity events. At almost any con‐

1,*$ +-3$ C&##$ %&2'$ E"-E#"$ -7$ *##$ages and all dance skill levels, from young to old, beginner to expert. Contra dancers form a very open and welcoming group of people. You can come alone or with others since it is a tradition to dance with a variety of part‐ners throughout the night. It is perfectly acceptable for either a man or a woman to ask some‐one to dance. It’s a great way to make friends with someone they >*9"2;1$4"1$5"7-,".$T-3$C&##$%&2'$contra dancing a great way to make new friends. For more information, contact

event organizer, David Wiley, at 423‐534‐8879 or visit www.his‐toricjonesboroughdancesociety.org and the Historic Jonesbor‐ough Dance Society on FACE‐BOOK.

Contra & Family Dance in Jonesborough

“Honey Badgers” from Asheville


WiseJAMS - A Crooked Road/JAM Program:A Traditional Music Program for Youth Starts

in Big Stone GapWiseJAMS!"#!$!%&'!$()&*+#,-../!0*.1*$2!3&#"1%&3!).!&%*",-!$!%&'!1&%&*$)".%!'")-!.4*!,4/)4*$/!-&*")$1&!)-*.41-!24#",!&34,$)".%

?"6&22&26$ 1>"$ %&,01$ C""=$ &2$February, students in grades 4 through 8 at Big Stone Gap and Appalachia schools will have the opportunity to learn the traditional music of the region in a new after school program at the Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park in Big Stone Gap. The program, known as WiseJAMS – A Crooked Road/ JAM Program, will provide interested students with instruction on %&''#")$ 5*2U-)$ -,$ 63&1*,$ 7,-4$traditional music instructors on Thursday afternoons. The Crooked Road: Virginia’s

Heritage Music Trail and Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM, Inc.) have been working with Wise County administration, school system representatives, the Town of Big Stone Gap, and the Southwest Virginia Museum to create this new program for students. Aaron Davis, Chief Ranger/Interpreter of the Southwest Virginia Museum, noted that “WiseJams is an excellent addition to cultural music education in the region, and it is a wonderful opportunity for organizations working in our communities to partner for the 5"2"%&1$-7$-3,$ 7313,"$<-4432&1+$musicians and leaders.”Bus transportation to the

Southwest Virginia Museum from the schools will be provided to participating students. The classes will run from 3:45 to 5:30 p.m., and parents will pick up students after the classes end each Thursday. Snacks will be offered as part of this program.WiseJAMS is modeled after

offerings through Junior Appalachian Musicians, Inc. (JAM), which has similar programs in other areas of Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. “These JAM programs have a proven track record of engaging students, building self esteem, and providing them with very positive outlets for their creative talents”, said Shannon Scott, Wise County Administrator.Students in Appalachia

Elementary, Powell Valley Primary, and Powell Valley Middle School were treated to a preview of the program when The Mountain Music School String Band, a stellar young group from Mountain Empire Community College’s Mountain Music School, performed during

school assembly programs on December 19th to promote WiseJAMS.WiseJAMS seeks to preserve

our important Appalachian mountain music heritage by -77",&26$#-C$<-01$<#*00"0$&2$%&''#")$old time banjo, and guitar to small groups of students in an after‐school setting. Classes will begin on February

7th, 2012 and will run through May 9th, 2012 for the spring session. Classes will be held at the Southwest Virginia Museum on Thursdays from 3:45 – 5:30 p.m., and a snack will be provided at 3:30 p.m. Children will be required to attend all weekly classes. In addition, a non‐mandatory Supervised Practice will be held every other Tuesday beginning February 12th. Enrichment activities such as

performances by guest artists, lessons in dance, singing and music theory, watching and listening to video and audio recordings, and taking part in %&"#'$1,&E0$C&##$5"$&2<#3'"'$*0$E*,1$of the program. Costs will be kept low. The

fees include: $5/week for those students who receive free or reduced fee lunch at school; and $10/ week for all other students. We want all children to be able to participate in WiseJAMS. If tuition costs are a problem, please contact us at the email address below. This fee helps cover the costs to operate this program. Instruments will be provided

on a loan basis or low cost rental for WiseJAMS students during the time of their participation in the program.BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATION

IN WiseJAMS:Builds Self EsteemBuilds CommunityOffers Students an Educational

Opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument and to learn about regional heritage and cultureEnhances quality of lifeFun!

In order to help us serve our area’s youth, we need to hear from you. If you, or someone you know, are interested in participating in WiseJAMS, please contact: [email protected] or call Aaron Davis or Retha Cole at (276) 523‐1322.

The annual “Sunday with Friends” writers’ series at the Washington County Public Li‐brary begins with an appearance by Henry Wiencek, the author of a controversial new book, “Mas‐ter of the Mountain: Thomas Jefferson and His Slaves.” His lecture will be Sunday, Jan. 27, at 3 p.m. in the conference room of the library. According to the new book,

Jefferson was not the reluctant slave owner that historians have often portrayed him, but a will‐ing participant who allowed the E,-%&10$7,-4$0#*9",+$1-$,"0<3"$1>"$Jefferson family countless times 7,-4$2"*,$%&2*2<&*#$'&0*01",.$ Wiencek is a professor of

history at the University of Vir‐ginia. His book “The Hairstons: An American Family in Black and White,” won the 1999 Na‐tional Book Critics Circle Award for biography. Wiencek’s work on George Washington and his slaves, “An Imperfect God: George Washington, His Slaves, and the Creation of America,” similarly won many awards. “Jefferson, his children and

his grandchildren forever re‐ferred to slaves at Monticello as a burden,” Wiencek wrote, “and historians have sympathetically echoed that complaint, writing that Jefferson was ‘trapped’ or ‘entangled’ in a system he hated. But again and again the sale, the

hiring or the mortgaging of black souls rescued the Jeffersons from a bad harvest, bought time from the bill collectors and kept the 7*4&#+$ *%#-*1$ C>&#"$ *$ 2"C$ *2'$grander version of Monticello took place.”Wiencek makes his forceful

case through a careful descrip‐tion of Jefferson’s letters, planta‐tion records, and actions, as well as memoirs by his former slaves *2'$ *,<>*"-#-6&<*#$ %&2'&260$ *1$Monticello. Writers upcoming in the se‐

ries will include the Kentucky writer Silas House, one of Appa‐lachia’s leading writers and the NEH Chair in Appalachian Stud‐ies at Berea College. After pub‐

lishing three acclaimed novels—“Clay’s Quilt,” “Parchment of Leaves” and “The Coal Tattoo” —House has recently branched into a vari‐ety of literary forms. He helped oversee a book about mountain‐top removal, “Some‐thing’s Rising,” which features articles and oral histories about the practice of moun‐taintop removal in the V-*#%&"#'0$*2'$>*'$1C-$plays produced, “Long Time Traveling” and “The Hurting Part.” Two young adult

novels have been pub‐lished recently, “Eli the Good,” already ac‐claimed as an Ameri‐can classic from the same mold as “To Kill a Mockingbird” and “Same Sun Here,” an epistolary novel with correspondence be‐tween an Indian girl in New York and a coal miner’s son in Ken‐tucky. His appearance will be February 3. On March 3 Virgin‐

ia’s new “Poet Laure‐*1")P$ I-%&*$ I1*,2"0$ -7$Williamsburg, will be the headline poet in a regional poetry cel‐


Jefferson Historian Opens This Year’s “Sunday with Friends” Events

Continued on page 15

ebration. Starnes is overseeing “The Nearest Poem Anthology” as part of her work as poet lau‐reate, which will collect from average Virginians between 50 and 100 poems that are most meaningful to them.Starnes is the poetry editor of

“The Anglican Theological Re‐view,” an international scholarly U-3,2*#$ -7$ 1>"-#-6&<*#$ ,"%#"<1&-2.$She has published several vol‐umes of poetry, including “The Soul’s Landscape,” which was a co‐winner of the Aldrich Po‐etry Prize and “Corpus Homini: A Poem for Single Flesh” which won the Whitebird Poetry Series Prize. She will be joined at the reading by several members of the Appalachian Center for Poets and Writers. April 7 the former First Lady

of Virginia, Roxane Gilmore, will deliver an illustrated lecture on the book that she wrote about the lengthy process that she oversaw to restore the Executive Mansion in Richmond. The book shows images of the before and after of the actual restoration—with many images from historic

archives—as well as an insider’s knowledge of the problems and their solutions to the restoration pro‐cess of the oldest, continuously used state house in the nation.Gilmore was the

only First Lady of Virginia to main‐tain her career while serving as First Lady, main‐taining her posi‐tion as assistant professor of clas‐sics at Randolph‐Macon College. She is married to Jim Gilmore II, the 68th Governor of Virginia. She has a B.A. and an M.A. in history from the University of Vir‐ginia. April 21 Betsy

K. White, the re‐tired director of the William King Museum, will discuss her new book, “Backcountry Makers: An

Artisan History of Southwest Virginia and East Tennessee,” published by the University of Tennessee Press.

The book, based -2$WA$+"*,0$-7$%&"#'$research, focuses on the artisans who worked in the region in the 19th and early 20th cen‐turies—where they came from, where they learned their trade, what their families were like. Included in the 5--=$*,"$E,-%&#"0$-7$67 artisans, includ‐ing cabinetmakers, silversmiths, black‐smiths, jewelers, embroiderers, pot‐ters, weavers, quil‐ters, carvers, basket makers, folk sculp‐tors and artists. The book is a

sequel to White’s “Great Road Style: The Decorative Arts Legacy of South‐west Virginia & Northeast Tennes‐see,” published by

the University of Virginia Press.:>"$ %&2*#$ C,&1",$ 0>-C<*0"'$

in this year’s series May 5 will

be talented young novelist Matt Bondurant, author of three nov‐els: “The Third Translation,” “The Night Swimmer,” and his national bestseller, “The Wettest County in the World,” which was recently 4*'"$&21-$1>"$%&#4$LS*C#"00.P$F*,1$ 7*4&#+$ >&01-,+)$ E*,1$ %&<‐

tion, “The Wettest County in the World” patches together the leg‐end of his paternal grandfather and uncles, a fearsome trio of bootleggers in rural Prohibition‐era Franklin County, Va. The book evokes the historical atmo‐sphere—the elaborate stills cam‐-3%#*6"'$&2$1>"$C--'0)$1>"$430&<)$and the drunken gatherings that explode into shattering violence. Bondurant earned a Ph.D. in literature and creative writing from Florida State University and teaches at the University of Texas at Dallas.The “Sunday with Friends” an‐

nual literary series is sponsored by the Friends of the Washing‐ton County Public Library. The events are free for the public. They will be followed by a ques‐tion and answer session, refresh‐ments, book sales and signings. For more information, contact Lisa Jett ([email protected]).



An Evening with Todd Wright Jazz Quintet Emory & Henry College will

begin its celebration of the life of Martin Luther King with “An Evening of Jazz” provided by the Todd Wright Jazz Quintet on Sunday, Jan. 20. The concert, which is free and open to the public, begins at 7:30 in Memo‐rial Chapel at Emory & Henry. The Todd Wright Quintet in‐

<#3'"0$ %&9"$ -3101*2'&26$ &2'&9&'‐ual jazz musicians who collabo‐rate to perform in a variety of jazz styles ranging from classic to contemporary as well as other genres. The director and founder of the quintet, saxophonist Todd Wright, is director of jazz studies at Appalachian State University since 1990.Wright has shared the stage

with numerous jazz greats, in‐cluding Billy Taylor, Joe Wil‐liams, Benny Golson, Clark Terry, Randy Brecker, Wycliffe Gordon, Ingrid Jenson, and the Marcus Roberts Trio. In addition to be‐ing an active jazz festival partici‐pant, he is a jazz recording artist

and has toured widely as a per‐former.Trombonist Rick Simerly is a

regular faculty member of the famed Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshops and has been artist in residence at numerous jazz campuses. As a clinician for Conn‐Selmer, Inc., he regularly performs at clinics and concerts throughout the U.S. , has toured with the Smithsonian Jazz Mas‐terworks Orchestra, and has played in the bands of Tommy Dorsey, Woody Herman, Nelson Riddle, and others.Guitarist Andy Page has per‐

formed internationally at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Swit‐zerland, Japan’s Muroran Jazz Cruise, and for jazz workshops in Freiburg, Germany. He has performed informally with jazz artists such as Matt Wilson, Gary Smulyan, Don Braden, Chris Vadala, Jack Wilkins, Jon Metzger and David Baker. Zack Page has been performing

as a professional bassist since the early 1990’s. His work with various jazz ensembles, theater companies, and the cruise in‐

dustry has taken him to all 50 U.S. states, the Caribbean is‐lands, Australia, South America, Europe, and the Far East. In the jazz genre, Zack has performed and recorded with Billy Higgins, Marvin Stamm, Eddie Daniels, Lew Tabackin, and Babik Re‐inhardt, the son of gypsy jazz guitarist Django Reinharts. He lives in Asheville, N.C., where he enjoys a busy freelance schedule C&1>$4*2+$-7$1>"$I-31>"*01;0$%&2‐est musicians.Drummer Rick Dilling is a con‐

summate drummer in the swing style and is in demand by most of the regions’ jazz artists. He has performed with the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, Ernie Watts, Herb Ellis, Clark Terry and oth‐ers. Dilling has even traded riffs with Louis Bellson. His students have gone on to perform around the globe.To obtain complete informa‐

tion related to all events in the celebration, please write mk‐[email protected] or call 276.944‐6842 for additional information. Emory & Henry College is locat‐ed off exit 26 on I‐81.


Emory & Henry College Celeberates Martin Luther King


‘Brand Newness and other Mythologies’ Unique Performance

Actor Mohammed Bilal will present a unique performance of spoken word poetry Monday, Jan. 21, at Emory & Henry Col‐lege. Bilal will perform “Brand Newness and Other Mythologie” in conjunction with the College’s Martin Luther King celebration. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. in Wiley Hall Auditorium at Emory & Henry.?&#*#$ %&,01$ 5"6*2$ *<1&26$ *1$ *6"$

six when he joined the famous Alyo Children’s Dance Theatre and ETA Creative Arts in Chi‐cago. He continued his actor training at a performing arts high school, and later, an act‐ing conservatory, The Theatre School: DePaul University. He has received extensive training &2$%&#4)$1"#"9&0&-2$*2'$1>"*1,"$&2$both New York City and Chicago. He is known for his intensity and versatility on stage and in front of the camera. Bial has a master of arts degree

in diversity studies and spent 14 years creating innovative ways

to educate people about diver‐sity, AIDS and HIV prevention, drug and alcohol abuse, and re‐sponsibility. His positive energy, unmistakable talent, and ethics have made him one of today’s leading role models and top di‐versity consultants.Through his AIDS awareness

presentation, he offers solutions on how to better accept the reali‐ty of HIV and AIDS. His “12 Steps to Appreciating Diversity” has helped thousands to embrace and incorporate social justice and equity into their daily lives.In addition to poetry, Bilial

and his best friend, Will Power, started Midnight Voices, a live instrumentation Hip‐Hop band in 1990. The band has toured worldwide, and has won numer‐ous awards including two San Francisco Whammies and one Bay Area Music Award for best /&E(/-E$ 6,-3E.$?&#*#X0$ %&,01$ 0-#-$*#534)$5"*15-R$4"1*%&<1&-2)$&0$*#‐ready being called groundbreak‐ing for its sensitive lyrics and use of world music. Bilal, is also the keynote speaker for the Martin Luther King festivities that begin 10 a.m. on of Jan. 21 in the Sanc‐tuary of Memorial Chapel.


Described by London’s Time Out magazine as “hilarious and enormously talented,” Tomáš Y35Z2"=[$ V",1&%&"'$ S32*1&<$ *2'$Master of the Impossible brings

his collision of absurdist theatre and circus magic to Diana Wortham Theatre, Saturday January 19, 2013 at 8:00pm. Via comedy, clowning, mime, magic, acrobatics, and music, Kubínek’s exuberant show is equal parts comic brilliance, virtuosic vaudeville, and irresistible charm.Born in Prague, Kubínek and

his parents left Czechoslovakia when he was only 3 years old to escape the 1968 Soviet Invasion and were granted asylum in

Ontario, Canada. It was there that a young Tomáš witnessed >&0$ %&,01$ <&,<30)$ C>&<>$ 0E*,="'$a passionate interest in clowns, circus, theatre, and magic. Through experimentation with live performance, and various studies and collaborations, Kubínek developed an entertaining and thrilling style all his own.Tomáš Kubínek has appeared

in over 30 countries around the world. He was the headline performer at the First

International Congress of Fools in Moscow, toured across Italy, and performed a sold‐out run at London’s prestigious Royal Festival Hall Purcell Theater as the featured solo‐artist

Tomáš Kubínek Performs One‐of‐a‐Kind

Absurdist Theatre & Circus Magic

January 19th

“Masterfully played

comedy…that secret

mixture of daring, talent,

and utter foolishness”

‐Santa Fe Reporter



of the London International Mime Festival. In 1997 and 1999 Kubínek played limited engagement runs at Broadway’s New Victory Theater. Both runs sold out in advance and received rave reviews from audiences and critics alike. The New York Times lauded his work as “Absolutely expert and consistently charming!”Besides his solo work, Tomáš

Kubínek has collaborated with other artists from all over the world. He has been featured on Czech National Television with the celebrated actor and clown Boleslav Polivka on Mr. Polivka’s

annual television specials, and he has performed in numerous guerilla‐style absurdist theater sketches with writer and comedian Frank van Keeken at the HBO Workspace in Los Angeles. While touring with his solo work Kubínek also teaches master classes for theatre students and professionals and occasionally writes and directs new works, collaborating on pieces for solo artists and theater companies. The Diana Wortham Theatre at

Pack Place is located in the same complex as the Asheville Art Museum and the Colburn Earth Science Museum and is within

walking distance of many shops and restaurants. The intimate theatre seats just over 500 and boasts exceptional acoustics and sightlines, making it the premier

performance space in all of Western North Carolina. The Mainstage Series is supported by a grant from the North Carolina Arts Council, a state agency. To

obtain more information on the Mainstage Series or to purchase tickets, call the theatre’s box -7%&<"$*1$\]@]O$@B^(_B`A$-,$9&0&1$www.dwtheatre.com.

“Tomáš Kubínek creates a

humor based on artful dodges

and poetic bamboozlements

performed with feline

virtuosity and devilish wit.”‐The Courier Journal, Louisville, Kentucky



Phil Vassar is as driven 1-'*+$ *0$ >"$ C*0$ C>"2$ >"$ %&,01$left his Lynchburg, Virginia home to pursue and realize his dream of making his mark in Country music. Known as one of Nashville’s top tunesmiths, Phil was racking up hits on the radio long before he even began his own recording career. “My Next Thirty Years,” “For a Little While,” (both by Tim McGraw) “She’s Right on the Money,” (Alan Jackson) and “I’m All Right” (Jo Dee Messina) are just a few of the songs he’s penned that other artists have recorded and taken to the top of the charts.This great Virginia native and

almost local artist is coming to celebrate Valentine’s Day in Bristol at the Paramount Center on February 14, 2013 at 7:30 P.M. “His hit single ‘Love is a Beautiful :>&26;$ $ 0>-3#'$ 5"$ *$ E",7"<1$ %&1$being performed from the stage of the Paramount on Valentine’s evening,” said Darlene Cole, Venues Manager for the City of Bristol Tennessee who is

partnering with WXBQ Radio, Marsh Regional Blood Bank and WCYB‐TV in order to bring the concert to the Paramount.Vassar’s latest single, “Don’t

Miss Your Life,” was written on an airplane, and his inspiration was *$ ,"1&,"'$ 530&2"00$4*2$ %#+&26$ 1-$see his family. “He told me about all of the things he had missed while building a business and supporting his family. I realized all of the things I had missed in my kids’ lives. I was looking at pictures of ‘moments’ in the lives of my daughters on iPad and realized I wasn’t in any of them!” For Vassar, his philosophy about songs has never changed during his time spent writing hits for himself and other artists, it’s important for a song to carry a message and make the listener feel something.Tickets go on sale Wednesday,

January 16, 2013 @ 10 A.M. at 1>"$ F*,*4-321$ ?-R$ H7%&<"$ \_@`(274‐8920) and the Viking Hall ?-R$H7%&<"$\_@`(^a_(_W^WO$-,$-2(line at E‐Tix.

Phil Vassar Tickets on Sale for Valentine’s Day

Performance

The spring Spencer‐Miller Concert Series begins Sunday, January 20 with a performance by Larnell Starkey & the Spiritual Seven, the most acclaimed gospel group in Virginia. The concert will be at 3:00 p.m. at the Sinking spring Presbyterian Church in Abingdon.Larnell Starkey & the Spiritual

Seven has been singing for over 40 years. The group is made up of brothers, sons, and cousins who are members of the Chestnut Grove Missionary Baptist church in Wirtz, Virginia.Their music, a zestful blend

of traditional gospel with a contemporary twist, showcases the group’s amazing vocal >*,4-2&"0$ 7,-4$ 1>"$ >&6>(%#+&26$7*#0"11-0$-7$1>"$%&,01$1"2-,)$1-$1>"$deep rich sounds of the low bass.Known as the “Gospel

Temptations,” the award‐winning ensemble has toured across the United States and internationally to audiences ranging from small churches of

30 people to arena crowds of 30,000.The other performances this

spring include The Paramount Chamber Players on February 24 performing a concert entitled “Words and Worlds of Music” featuring American composers and their music: Aaron Copland’s Old American Songs and Kenton Coe’s 5 Pieces for 2 Flutes and Piano. In addition, there will be a rarely heard and unrecorded work by French composer Louis Moyse.Area audiences are in for a

real treat on March 24 when the 7 Sopranos from Washington,

D.C. perform. They will provide a scope of arias and songs of soprano classics from all genres, including comedy and drama, secular and religious music. Their passion is for the audience to have as much fun listening as the group has performing.The Paramount Chamber

Players third concert of the Year will present an unusual mix of memorable music, with the concert entitled “Lasting Impressions.” Aaron Copland’s “Old American Songs” will be followed with an unusual pairing of ancient repertoire with a modern instrument – the “Telemann Partita No. 6” performed on the clarinet. Continuing the tour of unique &4E,"00&-20$C&##$ 5"$ *$ %#31"$ 1,&-$5+$ %&#4$ <-4E-0",$ K&2-$ M-1*.$:>"$%&2*#$C-,=$C&##$5"$Lb9-,*=;0$Piano Quintet in A Major, op. 81.The Spencer‐Miller Memorial

Concert Series honors the memories and legacies of Dr. Bill and Catherine Spencer and Dr. Sam and Mary Agnes Miller, all of whom enriched the Abingdon community with their love of music and their support of musical events in the community.Tickets to the concerts are

$10.00 for adults, but it is free for all students, and tickets may be purchased only at the door. Admission is free for students, faculty and staff at Virginia Highlands Community College, as well as those students of the College for Older Adults who have purchased Arts Array passes.The Spencer‐Miller Memorial

Concert Series is part of the Arts Array community cultural outreach series of Virginia Highlands Community College. For more information of the concert series, contact Ben Jennings, Arts Array Coordinator, at (276) 739‐2447 or email him at [email protected].


Larnell Starkey & the Spiritual Seven (Gospel) !"#$%"&#'()*+)%,-!..)%#Concert of the Spring

Several friends have ap‐proached me since Christmas with the same need for advice from this experienced stargazer, asking…“We got a telescope for Christ‐

mas and… we need help!”And that’s what I love doing—

helping people connect in a real way with the Sun, Moon and stars.First, whether a $100 entry lev‐

el telescope from “Wally World,” or a more expensive model, the care and feeding is still the same. And keep in mind that not only '-$ +-3$ E-00"00$ *$ 0<&"21&%&<$ &2‐

strument, but a family heirloom that can be passed down from generations. Now the cheaper telescopes

might not last decades, but they certainly can do their job of turn‐ing on that youngster or adult to the wonders of the night sky—and lead to the purchase of a higher quality instrument later. I*21*$V#*30$5,-36>1$4"$4+$%&,01$telescope back in the 1960s—a JC Penny’s refractor that lit the 01*,6*G&26$ %&,"$ 32'",$ 4"$ \*2'$which I’m looking for on E‐bay).The big question is…how do

you use your telescope? The

inexpensive models probably didn’t come with computerized “go‐to” capability. Those that are computerized—in the $300‐plus price range for starters—have easy set up that are outlined in an instructional CD. And, most of the good to higher quality telescopes have tutorials on the Internet—just google your brand name and model with the tag

L9&'"-P$*2'$+-3;##$E,-5*5#+$%&2'$*$YouTube instructional.There are three types of tele‐

scopes: a refractor has a lens at one end, and an eyepiece at the -1>",$"2'c$*$,"%#"<1-,$>*0$*$4&,‐ror at the bottom and eyepiece on the side near the open top; a catadioptric or cassegrain that <-45&2"'$*$,"%#"<1-,$*2'$,"7,*<‐tor with a mirror at the bottom

where the eyepiece is, and a cor‐rective lens at the front.No matter which style of tele‐

scope you might have, my advice is the same—get familiar with the knobs and movements in the daylight! There is nothing like fumbling around in the dark, try‐ing to remember what the tuto‐,&*#0$0*&'$*2'$%&63,&26$-31$C>*1$to touch and turn. Even walking around a tripod of a telescope takes some awareness as you’ll bump into it plenty!And once you do get outside

in the dark, an essential tool C&##$5"$*$%#*0>#&6>1$"4&11&26$,"'$or green light—the two colors that will not harm your night vision that takes 10‐15 min‐utes to acquire. As those pupils of our eyes dilate wide open to capture more dim light, one %#*0>$-7$C>&1"$#&6>1$7,-4$*$E-,<>$or auto headlights can ruin the night vision, and you have to start all over again. Covering a #&6>1$0-3,<"$C&1>$*$,"'$%&#1",)$#&="$a red plastic or tape, will allow you to see the telescope, read charts and see the cat under +-3,$ 7""1.$ $ d"1$ *$ %#*0>#&6>1$ 1>*1$attached to the head or a hat, and you’ll be glad your hands are free—as how many times >*9"$ J$ 013<=$ *$ ,"'$ %#*0>#&6>1$ &2$4+$4-31>$1-$7,""$4+$%&26",0eAgain, familiarizing yourself

with a telescope in the daytime can’t be overemphasized. And after all, it can be interesting to see the neighborhood close‐up! The odd motion of a telescope



So You Got a Telescope for Christmas...

moving across the sky is some‐thing to get used to, as well as manipulating the focusing knobs, 1>"$%&2'",$0<-E"$*2'$C-,=&26$1>"$command controller on the com‐puterized models.Your telescope mount will ei‐

ther work like a gun turret, called “altazimuth” or follow the arc of the stars, called “equatorial.” The computerized models will fol‐low the stars automatically after proper alignment, prescribed by the manufacturer.Select a backyard observing

site that will give you the best view of the ecliptic—the band of constellations called the Zodiac. That where the Moon and plan‐ets will be, and you don’t want trees or buildings blocking this area. Think of where the Sun ris‐es, arcs across the sky, and then sets—that’s the ecliptic. Once you found a good spot

that also is not being bathed by lights from the street or your neighbors (check this at night, of course), you’re ready to look around in the daytime. First step is to make sure your mount is an‐chored steady, legs spread apart

and as level as possible. Any vibration is ampli‐%&"'$ *0$ *$ 6&66#&26$4"00$in the eyepiece.Next, you want to

align the small, refrac‐1-,$ %&2'",$0<-E"$1>*1$ &0$attached to the side of most telescopes (com‐puterized models don’t need them). To do this, insert the highest number eyepiece, most commonly a 25mm (for millimeters of focus distance). The higher the number, the lower the power. Amateur astrono‐

mers rarely use very high power, something around 250x (times sign for “power) is usually the maximum that sky conditions and a telescope can handle. Those claims of 500x and more are stupid and unrealistic, as the higher the power the dimmer an object becomes as well as being sensitive to any movement in the telescope. And there are some limits in optical physics is to how much “power” a certain size tele‐scope mirror or lens can handle and still see a good image.

Amateur astronomers use as high a power as the object and sky conditions allow. Most ob‐U"<10$*,"$%&,01$7-32'$*1$#-C$E-C‐er, than one works up to higher 4*62&%&<*1&-20$5+$<>*26&26$"+"‐pieces and see if the celestial tar‐get looks better or worse. Settle -2$ 1>"$ 5"01$ 4*62&%&<*1&-2)$ *2'$relax while enjoying a long look. Details will pop in and out as the unseen turbulence in the at‐mosphere passes between your telescope and the sky target.Which reminds me…any ob‐

serving session begins with the

telescope being taken outside and allowed a half‐hour to acclimate the glass mirror or lens (called the “objective”) to the outside temperature. You have your telescope

set up in the daytime, and the low power eyepiece is inserted and you look in it to come across any object, like a telephone pole, tree limb or neighbor’s chim‐ney. With the daytime -5U"<1$ %&,4#+$ &2$ 1>"$ 1"#"‐0<-E";0$%&"#'$-7$9&"C)$#--=$1>,-36>$ 1>"$ %&2'",$ 1"#"‐scope. It will have cross hairs or other markings

to center an object in the middle of the mini‐telescope. There are knobs that adjust to move the %&2'",$ 1"#"0<-E")$ *2'$ -2<"$ +-3$have the object in the telescope "+"E&"<"$ <"21","'$ &2$ 1>"$ %&2'",$telescope, you’re in business. H2<"$ 1>"$ %&2'",$ &0$ E#*<"'$ -2$ *$star, planet or the Moon, that ob‐ject will be in the telescope eye‐piece (hopefully!) Test this by moving the telescope to targets 5+$ #--=&26$ 1>,-36>$ 1>"$ %&2'",)$then into the eyepiece. Because &1;0$ "*0+$ 1-$ =2-<=$ 1>"$ %&2'",$

around, you’ll have to realign it with the telescope almost every time you want to stargaze.Now, you’re ready for a night of

observing! Keep in mind the eve‐ning temperature and be aware that plastic and metal parts can become brittle in the cold. Knobs on the focuser and teeth on gears, as well as other mov‐ing parts, are susceptible to chip‐ping and breaking. So be careful until handling your telescope be‐<-4"0$*$%#3&'$,-31&2"f*2'$1>"2$still exercise caution as veterans break things on their telescopes all the time (as I can attest!).8$%&2*#$1&E$-2$30&26$*$1"#"0<-E"$

is to read, read, read! There are plenty of “how to” books in any library on amateur astronomy and beginner telescopes. And there are plenty to buy, and many free resources on the Internet. Just like a camera, gun, sewing

machine or even kitchen appli‐ances, there is a learning curve to the safe and correct manner in usage. Taking the time to learn all the idiosyncrasies of your telescope is well worth the time. And in time, you’ll be enjoying the sights of the Universe right from your own backyard.




Celestial events in the skies for the week of Jan. 15‐21, 2013, as compiled for The Loafer by Mark D. Marquette.

The beautiful constellations of winter are quickly taking over the night scene as the bright stars shine in the cold nights. Planet Jupiter in Taurus the Bull is high in the east when the sunsets, and right behind them are Orion the Hunter, his two dogs and the twin brothers, Gemini. And the beautiful waxing crescent Moon is

making it monthly dance through our early evening skies.

Tues. Jan. 15

The planet Jupiter is reaching directly overhead or “zenith” at 9 pm. The red star beside Jupiter is Aldebaran, the eye of the mighty bull.

Wed. Jan. 16

H2$1>&0$Wgag$'*1"$&2$0E*<"$>&01-,+)$1>"$I-9&"1$h2&-2$E",7-,4"'$1>"$%&,01$-31",$0E*<"$'-<=&26$-7$1C-$4*22"'$0E*<"<,*71)$I-+3G$B$*2'$B.$$:>&0$5"*1$84",&<*;0$%&,01$manned docking of the moonships Apollo and Lunar Module by Apollo 9 on March 3. Two cosmonauts in Soyuz 5 left their commander and spacewalked to the two "4E1+$0"*10$5"0&'"$1>"$I-+3G$_$<-44*2'",f1>"$%&,01$*2'$-2#+$1,*207",$-7$<,"C0$by spacewalks. NASA’s Apollo and Lunar Module were linked by a short tunnel.

Thurs. Jan. 17

Looking east at 9 pm you immediately see several bright stars, include the bright‐est, Sirius, above the horizon. Sirius makes a “Winter Triangle” with Procyon high to the left and Betelgeuse to the right. Sirius and Procyon are in the Big and Little

Dog, respectively, and Betelgeuse is the shoulder of Orion the Hunter.

Fri. Jan. 18

The Moon is at First Quarter today precisely at 6:45 pm. Directly south at sunset, its easy to see the right angle made by the Earth you stand on, the Moon in front of

you in the south, and the sunset western horizon to your right.

Sat. Jan. 19

On this 2006 date in space history, NASA launched the New Horizons space probe to Pluto, which was listed as the 9th planet at the time. Now demoted to a “dwarf E#*2"1)P$F#31-$*2'$&10$%&9"$4--20$C&##$5"$9&0&1"'$5+$K"C$/-,&G-20$i3#+$W_)$@AWB.$$

Blasted off Earth at a speed that reached 36,700 mph when its engines shut down, it still takes more than 9 years to travel the 4 billion miles to reach Pluto.

Sun. Jan. 20

Happy 82nd birthday to Apollo 11 moonwalker Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, who landed -2$1>"$%&,01$>&01-,&<$D--2$#*2'&26$C&1>$<-44*2'",$K"&#$8,401,-26)$'"<"*0"'.$$8#‐drin is the astronaut standing in the small crater on the Moon in the iconic image

1>*1$>*0$8,401,-26$,"%#"<1"'$&2$1>"$>"#4"1$7*<"E#*1".

Mon. Jan. 21

Jupiter is the bright star beside the Moon tonight, less than the Moon’s width away in the constella‐1&-2$:*3,30$1>"$?3##.$?-1>$*,"$1",,&%&<$1*,6"10$C&1>$

any telescope.


New Horizons space probe



Say the title “The Avengers” and what would you suspect most people today see in their minds? A team of comic book superheroes? Mention that title to me, and I see in my head two people. A marvelously sexy woman in a leather cat suit, and a dashing man in an bowler hat, with an umbrella. This would be the other set of Avengers, those of the 1960s British television series “The Avengers”, a show which happens to be one of my favorites. The high point, and most memorable part of the series run, comes from the middle three seasons—the Emma Peel era. Before I get to that, let me give you a brief overlook at the series. The series began in the UK in

1961, it was a proto spy series, C&1>$ 1>"$ %&,01$ 0"*0-2$ <"21","'$around a doctor and his friend—John Steed, as played by Patrick MacNee—avenging the death of his wife. As the second season roll around, the doctor was gone and Steed had a female partner,

Cathy Gale. A role played by Honor Blackman, best to know for playing Pussy Galore in Ld-#'%&26",P.$ 8$ ,-#"$ 0>"$ #"71$the series for. This is when the biggest changes to happen to 1>"$0",&"0$1--=$E#*<")$%&,01#+)$1>"+$began shooting the series on %&#4.$8#0-)$8?V$0E"21$j@$4&##&-2$for the rights to air the series in America. Making “The Avengers” -2"$-7$ 1>"$ %&,01)$ &7$2-1$:/k$%&,01)$British television series to ever air on a major American network, in prime time. It was a hit here, even getting spoofed in an episode of “Get Smart”. This change brought forth

the combination the series is best remembered for. Steed and his new partner, the ravishing Emma Peel, mostly referred to as Mrs. Peel on the series. Played by Diana Rigg, now Dame Diana Rigg, Emma Peel was a very progressive character. A woman who can beat up the bad boys just as much as the men, always looked at as an equal. Despite saying she’s married, you never

see her husband, and the show subtly suggests that her and Steed had more than a “business

relationship”. By now, it had fully become a

show of secret agents. Unlike the

Bond series, or “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.” You never see them go to the HQ of the agency they work for, called “mother”, and rarely mentioned. Steed and Peel would just appear, and get the job done, always up against some type of outlandish villain. One episode in particular featured a man eating plant. The series was never quite camp, nor a spoof, just kept its 1-263"$%&,4#+$E#*21"'$&2$<>""=.J1;0$+"1$1-$%&2'$&10$C*+$1-$K"1%#&R)$

and I don’t recall it being on TV here since the late 90s when A&E ran it—before they became a channel worth dropping. DVDs are readily available, including a mega box of all the Emma Peel episodes. The mega box also comes with a bonus DVD, that features an episode of the 1977 revival “The New Avengers”. If you’ve never seen the series,

it’s very much worth a look, if you enjoy shows of a truly unique %#*&,.$ D*="$ 03,"$ +-3$ '-2;1$4*="$the mistake of watching the Wgg]$%&#4$,"4*=")$1>*1$ &0$-2"$-7$1>"$1,3#+$C-,01$%&#40$"9",$4*'")$and missed the tone of the series dramatically. That’s it for this week, go forth and spend some time with Steed and Peel. See you next week.

Mrs. Peel, We’re Needed



If you want to see Barbara Streisand chow down on a huge steak, the new %&#4)$ L:>"$ d3&#1$ :,&EP)$ *##-C0$ +-3$ 1>"$opportunity. Streisand stars as Joyce Brewster, the mother of co‐star Seth Rogen’s character, Andrew. The story begins by introducing Andrew as an inventor who can’t sell the all natural cleaning product he has created. In fact, Andrew is such a failure at selling the product to a supplier, he is nearly broke. Everything turns a bit brighter when 82',"C$%#&"0$1-$K"C$T-,=$1-$9&0&1$>&0$4-4)$and upon discovering a secret from her past, invites her on a cross‐country road trip. While Joyce is thrilled to be traveling with her son, Andrew has his own agenda

for bringing her along. The two leave New York by rental car bound for San Francisco. The road trip is providing Andrew the opportunity to present his product to various companies. Andrew and Joyce make memorable stops in Tennessee (a strip club), and Texas (a steak house), and Las Vegas (a casino). The banter between Rogen and Streisand is sharp and often leaves Rogen’s character exasperated. The two actors work very well together, and their mother and son “dynamic” is 5"#&"9*5#".$:>"$%&#4$E,-9&'"0$U301$"2-36>$laughs to be fun and just enough emotion 1-$5"$0C""1.$J$'"%&2"$L:>"$d3&#1$:,&EP$*0$*$cute comedy. (Rated PG‐13) B+

The Guilt Trip


Kevin Kelly’s (no relation) blog in the January 7 issue of The Technium has a very interest‐ing title, “The Improbable Is The New Normal.” A blog on kottke.org, commenting on Kelly’s blog, has another intriguing title, “The Extraordinary Is The New Or‐dinary.” I am getting really tired of reading about stuff that lays claim to being the “New” any‐1>&26)$ 531$ J$ '-$ %&2'$Y"##+;0$ &'"*0$worth considering. And they should be kept in mind as we enter a new year that will no doubt present us with more “New” items—i.e. “Up Is The New Down,” “Right Is The New Wrong,” “Of‐%#&2"$ J0$ :>"$ K"C$ H2‐line,” and “Cooked Is The New Uncooked.” Reminds me of the great line from The Who’s “We Won’t Get Fooled Again”—“Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.”Using YouTube as

his example, Kelly com‐ments on how we are living in a world that seems to be less and less extraordinary. Not a very original idea, but he nevertheless has some interesting ways of calling our atten‐tion to this fact. Com‐menting on the billions of video uploads that make up YouTube, Kel‐ly points out that wild

and improbable events become ,*1>",$ 432'*2"$ C>"2$ %&#1","'$through YouTube: “A burglar get stuck in a chimney, a truck driver in a head on collision is thrown out the front window and lands on his feet, walks away; a wild antelope knocks a man off his bike; a candle at a wedding sets 1>"$ 5,&'";0$ >*&,$ -2$ %&,"c$ 0-4"‐-2"$ %&0>&26$ -77$ *$ 5*<=+*,'$ '-<=$catches a huge man‐size shark.” Of course, many of these events were captured on TV shows like

“America’s Funniest Videos,” but on YouTube they reach larger audiences and become common‐place rather than once‐a‐week showcases of Americana. The word “viral,” for example, was never used in conjunction with “America’s Funniest Videos.”What happens on YouTube

and other places on the parallel universe known as the Internet is that “every minute a new impos‐sible thing is uploaded . . . .and that improbable event become

just one of hundreds of extraordi‐nary events that we’ll see or hear about today. The internet is like a lens which focuses the extraordi‐nary into a beam, and that beam has become our illumination” (don’t you just love that sen‐tence?). The extraordinary has thus become the new ordinary.Our Internet lens has already

changed forever the way we expe‐rience the world, and for people like me who have one foot plant‐ed in the pre‐internet era and one planted in the here‐and‐now, the change is noticeable. For the generation who has never known anything but online existence, what might be considered won‐drous and bizarre by members of my generation is just business as usual for them. Kelly reminds us that “Cameras are becoming ubiquitous, so as our collective recorded life expands, we’ll ac‐cumulate thousands of videos showing people being struck by lightning.” Further, “when we all wear tiny cameras all the time, then the most improbable accident, the most superlative achievement, the most extreme actions of anyone alive will be recorded and shared around the world in real time.” The clear im‐plication is that “Soon only the most extraordinary moments of -3,$a$5&##&-2$<&1&G"20$C&##$%&##$-3,$streams. So henceforth rather

than being surrounded by ordi‐2*,&2"00$ C";##$ %#-*1$ &2$ "R1,*-,‐dinariness.” Extraordinariness, of course, that has become thor‐oughly and predictably ordinary.In a world where the extraor‐

dinary becomes ordinary and the improbable becomes normal, what will it mean to be “amazed,” “awe‐struck,” “surprised,” and L%&##"'$C&1>$C-2'",Pl$!&##$ 1>"0"$terms cease to have meaning in a world where extraordinariness is expected and normal? Could it be that people will be stuck dumb when confronted by something mundane and unexciting? Need‐less to say, we live in that kind of world now.I sometimes feel we are living

in a Christopher Nolen movie like “Inception” or “Memento,” a world where the “normal” rules of perception and “ordinariness” are warped beyond recognition. A term like “parallel universe,” which used to excite us when we were reading or watching sci‐"2<"$ %&<1&-2)$ 2-C$ 0""4$ Q3*&21$and old‐fashioned. What used to be seen as parallel, and perhaps alien, has now become merged and entangled in what we used to call “reality.” Kevin Kelly doesn’t comment on this kind of thing, but his thoughts certainly lead us to contemplate these kinds of re‐alities. Maybe all these thoughts have to do with the fact that I

U301$ %&2&0>"'$ C*1<>&26$“V/H/S,” a very inter‐esting, clever, and dis‐turbing movie about ubiquitous video cul‐ture and how it is changing the way we perceive what used to be called “reality.”We can only wonder

how all this will affect “Kelly’s Place” this year. Will this column keep pace with the “new ordinary” events taking place on You‐Tube? I can only hope that my readers will come to see my column as “the new extraordi‐nary” or perhaps “the old normal.” Either way, I can feel good about what transpires.So, I am looking

forward to presenting you next week with something normally extraordinary.

The New Ordinary and the New Normal: A Less-Than Astounding Observation


Page 32, The Loafer • January 15, 2013 www.theloaferonline.com

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