VOLUME 05 | ISSUE 09 | OCTOBER 2017
STAND UP AND MEET YOUR MAKERS
THERE’S ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROV
POUR SOME SUGAR ON ME
2 TABLE OF CONTENTS
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OCTOBER 2017
OCTOBER 2017
TABLE OF CONTENTS 3
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IF YOU DO NOT HOLD YOUR BREATH WHILE PASSING A GRAVEYARD, YOU WILL GET SICK AND DIE. CEMETERIES, MIRRORS AND BLACK CATS, OH MY!, P10
LETTER
CONTRIBUTORS LET’S HEAR IT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
FROM THE EDITOR
CONSIDER THE CREATURE FAQS ABOUT POKEMON ULTRA SUN AND MOON. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
A DINOSAUR’S GUIDE TO BACK-TO-SCHOOL BLISS DINOS BACK. ALRIGHT! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
GHOST STORIES AND KUDZU
THE MOST FRIGHTFUL PART OF HALLOWEEN: CANDY. . . . . . . . . . 7
APPLE ANNIE DAY HAVING FUN AND HELPING PEOPLE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 PHOTO BY ALLISON CARTER
Humans all over the world have proven their fascinations with the supernatural and their seemingly primal desires to believe in something fantastical, but the American South is espe-cially overflowing with spooks. Here, ghost stories are as superabundant as kudzu. Contributor Mallory Kirk talked to some of the local folk about some popular superstitions and, like a true folklorist, compiled all of her findings in a well-written, fun article for our edu-cation and entertainment. Check it out to find out just why we fear Friday the 13th and walk-ing under ladders and why you might find yourself knock knock knocking on wood. If you grew up in Alabama, you’ve undoubtably read or at least heard of 13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey—a book prevalent in most every Alabamian’s childhood. I remember forcing my obviously caring and willing uncle to drive me to some of the sites mentioned in the book. As a small child, the fatherly substitute drove me to see the face in the courthouse window and the gates at Green Mountain. Now, we can look back on these stories with an educated open mind and ask ourselves what these stories truly mean. Charlie Gordon wrote an article for this month’s issue that details the book and comments on its affects on Alabamian folklore. In this issue of SET, the very talented Rebekah Milwee gives us a unique look at local artists Rachel Wakefield and Carver Commodore. Wakefield is a painter whose work screams beauty
SUGA, SUGA HOW YOU GET SO...
and professionalism. She sets up shop in 7-Points in Florence. And Carver Commodore’s new EP is a perfect balance of simplicity and complexity. Also in this issue, new contributor Hannah Mazzucchi’s article sheds light on some miscon-ceptions that many have about trying to eat healthily. And another new contributor, Malachi Blackwood, put together an informative article that tells future Pokémon trainers all they need to know about the new Pokémon games Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. Last year, I visited Sweetwater Mansion with a paranormal investigation team and published an article in SET detailing the trip and my experience. Now that I have had time to look at the video that the team made that documents the investigation and its findings, I have written a followup to last year’s article. Thanks for picking up this October issue of SET! Be sure to stay in our network—big, exciting changes are just around the corner!
BY WESLEY HOPKINS, EDITOR
SET is a publication by and for local young people dedicated to lifestyle, finance, technology and community. It is published by Listerhill Credit Union as
part of its ongoing mission to promote the credit union philosophy of cooperation and financial literacy. It is a platform for 15-20 somethings in the community and it is free.
CEMETERIES, MIRRORS AND BLACK CATS, OH MY! A LOOK INTO THE ORIGINS OF HALLOWEEN AND SOUTHERN SUPERSTITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-11
MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT FOOD TEN FOODS YOU THOUGHT WERE GOOD FOR YOU . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
A SPOOKTACULAR READ 13 ALABAMA GHOSTS AND JEFFREY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
SUSTAINABLE DIFFERENCES LOCAL COMEDY GROUP BRINGS A NEW TYPE OF HUMOR TO THE SHOALS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-17
RACHEL ANN WAKEFIELD PAINTING IS PROBLEM SOLVING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
CALENDAR WHAT’S GOING ON HERE? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
PURE FLORENCE-BASED SOUND MEANING IN CARVER COMMODORE’S NEW EP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
SPOTLIGHT SET READERS IN ACTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24-27
A TRIP BACK TO SWEETWATER A LOOK AT THE FOOTAGE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28-29
FREESTYLE PUMPKIN CARVING 101. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
CONNECT WITH SET MAILING ADDRESS:
P.O. Box 566 Sheffield, AL 35660
Please take one copy and share it. Listerhill Credit Union is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative whose purpose is to improve the quality of life for the membership by providing cost effective services to meet their financial needs while maintaining financial soundness and promoting the credit union philosophy.
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4 CONTRIBUTORS
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OCTOBER 2017
SET CONTRIBUTORS MALACHI BLACKWOOD Cullman, AL
DIGGY BONES Moab, UT
SPENCER BROOKS Athens, AL
ALLIE SOCKWELL
Lawrenceburg, TN
REBEKAH MILWEE Gilroy, CA
ASHLEY GRAVES Athens, AL
LUKE ARCHER
Tuscumbia, AL
MALLORY KIRK Florence, AL
CAITLIN COX
Florence, AL
HANNAH MAZZUCCHI CHARLES S. GORDON Spring Hill, TN
DUSTIN COAN
Ford City, AL
Russellville, AL
OCTOBER 2017
GAMING 5
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Pokémon is a combination of “pocket” & “monster.”
There are 802 fictional species of Pokémon.
CONSIDER THE CREATURE FAQS ABOUT POKEMON ULTRA SUN AND MOON The brand behind the famous yellow mouse has finally announced that it is creating an-other 3DS entry in the series called Pokémon Ultra Sun and Moon. Nintendo’s latest plat-form, the wellreceived Switch, also has a Pokémon game filling its lineup, the first core game not to be on a mobile platform. With the upcoming games echoing through fans and newcomers alike, it is understanda-ble to go back and revisit older Pokémon games to catch up on the terms and language that is associated with the game. UNA students on campus have had questions regarding whether or not the new games will be successful. Questions will be answered, tips will be given, and hype will be built for the new releases. Q. How does a Pokémon game work? A. The Pokémon games are very straightforward and formulaic. A little boy/girl is chosen by a professor to go on a journey to battle other trainers and complete a Pokédex (a sort-of Webster’s Dictionary on Pokémon). They choose a starter Pokémon, which is always ei-ther a fire, grass, or water type. A rival also tries to do the same thing you do, with a vil-lainous team having to be foiled by the player thrown into the mix too. The player goes through the game beating eight gym leaders (with the exception of Sun and Moon, which are special), eventually making it up to the Elite Four and the final Champion. Q. Why are there two versions of the same game? A. Each new entry in the franchise has two versions for a variety of reasons. From Poké-mon Red and Blue to
POKEMON ULTRA SUN AND MOON the upcoming games, each game has revolved around having to trade in order to complete the Pokédex. It also ensures that all players do not have the same adventure, keeping the games as fresh as possible. Each version also has an exclusive leg-endary, so the final goal is in place for players to complete their monster collection. Q. Do I have to stay with the same team of Pokémon throughout the whole game? Or do I have to stick to one specific type of Pokémon? A. Absolutely not! The goal of the games is to encourage diversity and change, much like the titular creatures. The player gets a starter Pokémon at the beginning of the game, but that does not mean they must stick with it until the very end. The challenge is to weave creatures in and out of the party until the player finds a team they are comfortable of sticking with. That way, the game does not become stagnant, and the player doesn’t be-come bored. It is encouraged to have different types of creatures on the player’s team, as they would have a much easier time to defeat harder opponents by maximizing effectiveness. Having a team with all Fire-types would mean the player is prepared for Grass- and Steel-type opponents, but will be extremely weak against Water- and Ground-type teams. To avoid that, one should have a Firetype along with, say, an Electric-type to
counteract the Water enemy. Q. What is different about these games than the ones before? A. The original wave (Red, Blue, and Yellow) were a 2D RPG that centered around collect-ing the creatures and completing the game, which was revolutionary at the time. The se-cond wave (Gold, Silver, and Crystal) built upon this by adding a day-night cycle and dual-types (an example being the original fire starter Charizard being Fire- and Flying- type). The third wave (Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald. Fire-Red and Leaf-Green) added more replay-ability post-game and an emphasis on weather effects. The fourth wave (Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum. Heartgold and Soulsilver) added more evolutions to preexisting Pokémon and introduced the series to the DS. The fifth wave (Black and White, Black and White 2) began tapping into 3D shapes and introduced the largest number of the titular creatures, including the first wave. The sixth wave (X and Y. Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire.) was the most revolutionary in the series. It remodeled every single Pokémon ever created in 3D (which was over 700 different creatures), added Mega-Evolutions (which are difficult to explain, but are basi-cally stronger versions of certain Pokémon that last a battle), and were the first to be able to legitimately collect
every single creature ever created. With all of that in mind, the new games are continuing the shift from the series’ traditions by changing the map from Sun and Moon by adding areas and Pokémon that were previ-ously undiscoverable. It is also taking a page from the fifth wave’s book by fusing each game’s legendary to another legendary Pokémon, creating a new being all-together. The game is set in the same region as its most recent predecessors, the Alola region. Q. Is there an event on the UNA Campus about Pokémon? A. The UNA Video Game Association has announced that it is doing an event based on the upcoming games Pokémon Ultra Sun and Moon. The event is to set up eight gamers who will act as the series’ gym leaders, with an additional four acting as the Elite Four. Other gamers will then be given the chance to progress through the event using their own Pokémon, battling to earn gym badges. The event is likely to take place late November or early December, after players have fa-miliarized themselves with the upcoming games. There has been no confirmation as for a prize, but it is not completely out of the question.
STORY BY MALACHI BLACKWOOD
6 MONEY
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The biggest-headed dinosaur was torosaurus.
The fastest dinosaurs were probably the ostrich mimic ornithomimids.
OCTOBER 2017
Troodon was a meat-eater the size of a man.
A DINO”S BACK-TO-SCHOOL GUIDE DINOS BACK. ALRIGHT! “We all have a dinosaur deep within us just trying to get out.” – Colin Mochrie Well, since I am a dinosaur, I don’t really know if this applies to me – maybe more so to birds. By the way, the Greek word for dinosaur means “terrible lizard” and was coined by a British paleontologist named Richard Owen back in 1842. Paleontologist means “jerk scientist.” At least that’s my guess. So, you may have noticed me walking around UNA’s campus the last few weeks. That’s probably because a few girls screamed, some squirrels tossed their nuts at me, and a few chairs got broken at the GUC. But after a few rough spells, things have quieted down some. Dr. Kitts even waved at me the other day. Or was he shooing me? Hmmm. I’ve learned a few things (even though I have a tiny brain) that I’d like to share with you to make your back-to-school experiences that much better. Tip #1: Get to know your territory Did you know that Alabama is the best place east of the Mississippi to find dinosaur remains? Huntsville’s McWane Science Center (mcwane.org) is home to several displays featuring my fallen homies. Dinosaurs used to roam every continent in the world, including Antartica. That’s because we are curious creatures! And, mostly extinct – so there’s that. But let this be a lesson! Get out and explore the area around you. Make an effort to meet your neighbor across the hall (yes, even the one blasting Pantera)
DIGGY’S GLAD HE GOT HIS CLAWS ON A ONE CARD. and share a pizza one night. Explore the areas around campus. There are theatres and museums and holes in the wall that have great local flavors and people that run them. And don’t forget to stick around after class and talk to your professors or ask them for some advice. The more effort you make, the more you’ll take. Tip #2: Mix some herbivorous with your carnivorous Eating right while in college can be a little tricky, especially since most people are on a tight budget, schedules are all kinds of ridiculous, and you may not have all the tools you need to cook. Want to avoid the “freshman fifteen?” Try mixing in some greens or fresh vegetables instead of those French fries. A diet that includes some meat (more chicken or fish), eggs, vegetables, fruit, and low-calorie drinks (staying away from soda and high-sugar juices) will help make you feel better and avoid steady weight gain. Those occasional late-night pizzas and Taco Bell runs are unavoidable, but you can limit those to just a few times per month to keep you on track. Tip #3: Sleep to avoid extinction Despite the fact some of your friends have Red Bull as a blood type, you’re going to find out quickly that being
well-rested is a key to better grades and an improved life balance. According to the University Health Center at the University of Georgia, most college students average 6-6.9 hours of sleep per night, but that may not be enough. Your body needs at least 7-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep to recover and maintain health. Try to go to bed about the same time every night, and keep exposure to digital devices to a minimum before you do. If you have a late-night study session, make room for a 30 or 45-minute snooze the following day to recharge your batteries. Short naps, on average, are more productive than dirt naps. Tip #4: Don’t show your tail I realize this advice is kind of hypocritical on my part, seeing that my tail is long, follows me everywhere I go, and collects a lot of carpet fuzz. But seeing that most of you are homo sapiens, you don’t have to worry about knocking over chairs on a stroll through the Commons or tripping toddlers trying to catch a glimpse of Leo and Una. I’m talking about keeping things civil! Show respect for your fellow students and professors. Treat people like you want to be treated. We may not always agree on everything, but in a world where things sometimes get ugly, you don’t have to be!
Tip #5: Get prepared before the financial Ice Age comes College is a financial meat grinder. We all know it. Your savings account might consist of what’s lying under your couch cushions, but it doesn’t always have to be that way. The first step you can take in pursuing financial responsibility is opening your own savings account (Mom and Dad’s checking account is not the same thing). Try to build up $100 for emergencies. Then once you reach $100, try to get to $250. $250 will soon become $500 if you do not touch it except for emergencies. And no, emergencies do not consist of Krispy Kreme runs or video games. If you can, explore any financial aid possibilities to lighten your financial burden once you graduate and look into part-time employment to help with dayto-day expenses. Start making some professional connections with local businesses to help with your soon-to-be full-time job search. I hope my insight helps you in some way to have a better back-to-school experience. If you like my article and want to high-five me when you see me on campus, please go easy because my arms are really short.
STORY BY DIGGY BONES
OCTOBER 2017
HEALTH 7
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Consumers spend $2.5 billion on Halloween candy.
It takes 364 licks to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop.
SUGA, SUGA HOW YOU GET SO... THE MOST FRIGHTFUL PART OF HALLOWEEN: CANDY Halloween is known for its spooks, cool weather, and everyone’s favorite: trickor-treating. But perhaps the scariest part of Halloween isn’t the witches or haunted houses. It could be in your orange plastic pumpkins, given out by the handful. You guessed it—candy. In fact, Americans will buy 600 million pounds of candy for the holiday. The high amounts of sugar found in candy are toxic, and there’s just no other way to spin that. The American Heart Association recommends five teaspoons (20 grams) of sugar for women, nine teaspoons (36 grams) of sugar for men, and three teaspoons (12 grams) of sugar for children. Let’s see where some favorite Halloween candy ranks in terms of sugar amount: • Almond Joy (snack size): 8 grams of sugar • Hershey’s Miniature Bars: 4 grams of sugar • Sour Patch Kids (mini-bag): 10 grams of sugar • Starburst (fun size): 6 grams of sugar • Twix (mini): 5 grams of sugar • Smarties Roll: 6 grams of sugar Notice that the above servings are in mini or fun size, not even a full candy bar or bag. Only two mini-bags of South Patch Kids would be my total recommended sugar intake for the entire day (not even counting any other food/sauce/drink that contains sugar, which is basically everything). Sugar has no proteins, essential nutrients, or vitamins. Don’t confuse “sugar” here with natural sugars found in fruit. Those are still helpful because they are naturally made and full of nutrients and fiber. Candy is artificially made, while fruit is grown on trees and in natural settings; our bodies aren’t created to handle the fake components of candy. The scary thing about sugar isn’t necessarily just being high in calories and bad for your waistline, although that is a factor. Sugar’s health risks are
GIMME ALL DA CANDY! lengthy and often overlooked. Sugar causes inflammation in your body. So that old sports injury you have? The sugar you consume causes swelling, making weak ankles and knees worse. Your brain treats sugar as a drug. Sugar triggers the release of chemicals in your brain’s pleasure center. As your body gets used to it, you develop a tolerance for sugar, meaning you need more and more to satisfy that “sweet tooth.” Additionally, high fructose corn syrup affects memory and can cause brain inflammation. Evidence is mounting that sugar, not fat, may be one of the leading causes of heart disease. And even cosmetically, sugar can wreak havoc. Sugar causes tooth decay, creating a breeding ground for bad bacteria in your mouth. Consume enough candy, and you can ditch the Halloween mask altogether. Experts have linked the consumption of sugar with the aging of our cells, leading to
wrinkles down the road. Now that we’ve fully terrified you, it’s time to end on a more positive, realistic note. We know you’re reading this thinking Ok—but it’s still Halloween. Yes, and you deserve to treat yo’self. Just be smart before going on a candy binge this October 31st. Health experts recommend making adjustments. Instead of a Hershey’s chocolate bar, reach for dark chocolate (70% cacao), which has numerous benefits for your health. Other less terrible candy choices include: 3 Musketeers (light and fluffier), Peanut M&Ms for the protein, and don’t forget about the old-fashioned yet delicious caramel-covered apple. Space out your Halloween candy intake. We all remember being kids and wanting to hoard our candy. Don’t eat so much on the day itself, but maybe treat yourself to a piece or two each day.
Indulge in the treats you love. Save your calories/sugar grams for your favorites. For me, this would include the Milky Ways and Sour Punch Straws. Refuse to settle on subpar candy and go for the gold—in moderation, of course. Detox is key. If you do go overboard, try and counteract the sugary harm by eating plenty of fiber (veggies and fruit) and drinking lots of water to help flush out the negatives and replace with healthy fuel. After all, your body deserves it. Halloween is full of good-natured tricks and treats. But don’t be susceptible to the tricks of candy. While it may look harmless in its brightly colored packaging, candy’s high level of sugar can do more harm than good.
STORY BY ALLIE SOCKWELL
8 NONPROFIT
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Apple Annie was a character in the 1933 movie Lady for a Day.
OCTOBER 2017
Junior League of the Shoals is a 501c3 organization.
APPLE ANNIE DAY HAVING FUN AND HELPING PEOPLE There is a saying; an apple a day keeps the doctor away. But for ladies associated with Junior League of the Shoals, an apple carries a little different meaning. Each November, they don iconic red tights, sell apples and encourage donations in front of various businesses throughout the Shoals—an event they’ve deemed “Apple Annie Day.” This year, however, the ladies are getting a jump start on festivities, with the hosting of the inaugural “Apple Annie Live.” “This event is definitely for everyone,” said Kyrel Buchanan, Junior League President. “It’s a chance to get out, enjoy a night of music, and help give to a great cause.” The event will be held at Singing River Brewery October 13 at 7 p.m., with entertainment by The Midnighters. Apple Annie girls will be serving apple-themed finger foods and mocktail drinks. Advanced tickets are $25 and can be purchased by visiting www.jltheshoals.org or from any Junior League member. Tickets at the door will be $30. All proceeds will benefit women’s and children’s nonprofits of the Shoals. “Our goal for the year is to raise $100,000,” said Tosha-Paige Brewer, who serves as Apple Annie Chair. “While this is a kick-off event to stir up excitement for Apple Annie, its main purpose is to champion Junior League of the Shoals efforts to give back to organizations who
LOOK FOR THE LADIES IN RED TIGHTS ON NOVEMBER 3! need our financial assistance.” With the new event just around the corner, Buchanan added she and other Junior Leaguers’ are excited to finally see it come to fruition after months of planning. “As a philanthropic group, we continuously look for innovative ideas and ways to give back to the community,” Buchanan said. “This is an event we wanted to try, and we’re excited about it.” Junior League of the Shoals was established in 1934 originally as the Junior League Auxiliary with 30 women whose major project was hosting a ball. They’ve come a long way since then. In addition to Apple Annie Live, they have
two additional large annual fundraisers in Apple Annie Day and the Sugarplum Marketplace. Between the two, they’ve raised over $70,000 a year to give back to the community through grants to non-profit organizations. Throughout the year, Junior League members also give back in other ways, including Done in a Day projects, the Soup Kitchen, Kids in the Kitchen, and the Special Olympics Banquet.
STORY BY ASHLEY GRAVES
OCTOBER 2017
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NONPROFIT 9
10 FEATURE
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OH MY!
It is hard to imagine Halloween without haunted houses, dance parties, annual chocolate binges and a night full of ghostbusters and unicorns. It seems like a harmless celebration but the beginning of this unofficial holiday is a bit sinister. Halloween originated 2,000 years ago with the Celtic Festival of Samhain to celebrate the end of harvest season and the beginning of the “darker half” of the year. In the area that is now Ireland, the Celtics believed that on October 31st, the day before their New Year, was when the boundary between the living and the dead was the weakest; this allowed spirits to travel through to the other side on All Hallows Eve. People at the festival would dress like evil spirits to avoid contact and blend in with real ones. Bonfires roared, bones of butchered livestock were tossed in the flames and food was prepared for the living... and the dead. Irish traditions carried to America during the mass
immigration in the 19th century. The South is also known for peculiar customs and rituals that most likely come from Celtic ancestry. Irish immigrants settled in many southern states and their culture spread throughout the country. Like warding off evil spirits during the Festival of Samhain, superstitions grow more popular around Halloween. Whether it is dressing up in costumes or lifting up your feet when passing over a railroad, all superstitions seem to have a consequence with a bad omen. Here are 15 of the most bizarre southern superstitions:
HOLD YOUR BREATH WHEN PASSING A CEMETERY
If you do not hold your breath while passing a graveyard, you will get sick and die. This superstition is thought to date back to people associating bad smells to disease, and with disease comes death. A century ago, people
did not know the cause of certain diseases, so the twisted reason behind this tale is that you hold your breath because you could catch a disease from people buried in the cemetery.
THE FEAR OF FRIDAY THE 13TH
This day brings bad luck so you should stay home and avoid the number 13 whenever possible. The number symbolizes death in many societies for different reasons ranging from Judas, the betrayer of Jesus, being the 13th guest at the Last Supper to the day Friday and number 13 being unlucky, so the combination of the two is deadly. So watch out on October 13th, 2017!
A BLACK CAT CROSSES YOUR PATH
If a black cat crosses in front of you, go back where you came from, or you will have bad luck. This superstition
originated from the Middle Ages when people were paranoid of witches. Black cats were thought to be companions of witches or even witches in disguise. People also thought when a black cat crosses your path it was an indication of black magic and meant the devil was watching you.
KNOCK ON WOOD
After talking about something unlucky, knock on wood three times to ward off evil spirits from making it come true. In ancient pagan times, spirits or deities were believed to live in trees. By touching wood, you are acknowledging them and calling on them for protection. The number three is recognized as a lucky number because there are three traditional phases of life: birth, marriage and death.
DON’T BE SALTY
If you spill salt you must toss a pinch
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FEATURE 11
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During Samhain people wore animal skins and heads. out over your shoulder. Leonardo da Vinci’s famous “Last Supper” painting shows Judas knocking over a salt shaker. Judas betrayed Jesus; therefore he brings treachery and lies. Once you throw salt over your shoulder it is supposed to blind the devil waiting behind you.
DEATH COMES IN THREES
If someone you know passes, then two more will follow. The number three comes back into play leaning on the shape of a triangle. The triangle is meant to be sacred and once it is broken misfortune will happen.
Some animal shelters won’t allow the adoption of black cats around Halloween because they fear they will be sacrificed.
bottles eventually came to be put in trees. You can still see bottle trees all over the South.
DON’T SPLIT A POLE
If you are walking down the street, stay on the same side of the pole as the people beside you or you will have a bad argument with someone you love. Do not fear, if you accidentally split a pole you know what to say…..bread n’ butter!
DON’T BREAK A MIRROR
Rocking an empty rocking chair will invite evil spirits into your home and cause death, but a rocking chair that rocks itself may already have a spirit in it. If you rock an empty chair by accident, immediately say “bread n’ butter” to undo it. The rocking chair is said to be looking for someone to take a seat and will take whoever is close by.
Everyone knows breaking a floor or hanging mirror will give you seven years of bad luck, but where it comes from is a little strange. A mirror is thought to represent one’s soul, and when the mirror is damaged, so is your soul. In ancient times, people believed it took seven years for your soul to renew. It is also known if you gather the pieces and submerge them into a stream running south, grind the mirror down to shards or immediately spin around counterclockwise three times it reverses the effects to only seven hours.
HAINT BLUE
HANG A HORSESHOE
DON’T ROCK AN ROCKING CHAIR
EMPTY
This superstition is from Creoles that believe if you paint your porch haint blue, spirits will not be able to enter. Creole folks are firm believers in spirits and they believe they cannot cross water, so they believe the color blue will ward off evil.
EAT YOUR HOG JOWL
New Year’s Eve carries multiple superstitions, but this one is the most prevalent in the South. Three essential foods you should eat on New Year’s Day: pork, greens and black-eyed peas. During the Civil War it is said that black-eyed peas saved people from starving. The pork addition comes from a pig’s behavior. Pigs are known to forage the ground with their snouts in a forward motion, and people believe eating pork on New Year’s Day will allow one to move forward in the upcoming year. And if you eat your greens it means you will not worry about money.
BOTTLE TREE
Having a bottle tree in your front yard will capture evil spirits and not allow them inside. This superstition originates from Africa and was brought over during the slave era. Africans are very superstitious and believed you could capture a bad soul in a bottle and throw it in the river, and the
Halloween is more Irish than St. Patrick’s Day.
If you hang a horseshoe in a downward position above your door, then you will have good luck. This tale dates back to a blacksmith that was asked to fit a man for horseshoes. Once the blacksmith figured out this man was the devil, he nailed a horseshoe to his hoof. In agonizing pain, the devil begs him to take it out saying he will never enter a place with a horseshoe above the door.
FORGO THE LADDER
Do not walk under a ladder or you will have bad luck. This superstition comes from Christians believing triangles are sacred, representing the holy trinity. Some believe it is blasphemy if you walk under a ladder. It is also said that ladders were associated with gallows, and walking under one was considered ill luck. If you walk under a ladder unintentionally, spit on your shoe three times and do not look at it until it dries.
SKIP THE CRACK
Don’t break your mother’s back! Stepping on cracks is meant to lead to bad fortune. Cracks were once thought to lead to the underworld, and, if you stepped on them, you would release demons into the world. These superstitions rely on the
traditions of the Celtics and their actions to ward off evil spirits during times where lines were blurred between the world of the living and the world of the dead. Although some superstitions seem silly, southerners are known to take them more seriously than others. This might stem from more spirituality in the south, leading to more belief in the supernatural. Like family traditions, superstitions are passed down from older generations, and their meanings get construed. Halloween is a great example of how something dark became a day that children love to celebrate. Kids have no idea they are dressing up for
something that warded off evil spirits long ago. This contradiction can be looked at as something positive. Long ago people feared this time of year, believing their crops were going to be destroyed and the devil was taking away the sun. The tables have turned in the past 2,000 years. Today people celebrate with decorations, parties and treats. A new, scary superstition that has come to popularity is saying ‘pumpkin spiced latte’ three times fast in front of a mirror and girl in UGG boots will appear. For her to disappear, tell her leggings just went on sale at Victoria’s Secret. Cheers!
12 FOOD
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OCTOBER 2017
OCTOBER 2017
FOOD 13
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Not all consumables are FDA regulated.
Bananas are berries. Strawberries aren't.
MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT FOOD TEN FOODS YOU THOUGHT WERE GOOD FOR YOU These ten foods are often thought of as healthy, good choices to eat, but they are not all they are made up to be. Many food packages will say that they are healthy, but that might not be true. When trying to eat healthily, it not only matters what food you eat but the size serving. Granola is considered by many to be a great snack that is good for you, but most companies load it up with sugars and other unnecessary additives. The size serving of granola is 1⠄4 cup, if you still want to enjoy it. Some healthy alternatives are nuts, seeds, or fresh berries. Coconut oil is made out to be a great alternative to other cooking oils, but by having too much, it could do more harm than good. It can negatively affect your cholesterol level if you have too much, so try to watch how much you use when cooking. Many people think that frozen yogurt is better for you than ice cream, but that might not be the case. Frozen yogurt is often high in sugar and has more fats. If you go with a low-fat frozen yogurt and choose your toppings to be fruit and nuts it's much healthier than ice cream. Dried fruit, sounds healthy right? Well, unless you dry your own fruit, there is a good chance that's it's not as healthy as you might imagine. Most dried fruits have lots of added sugars to make them taste better. So, instead of eating dried fruit and thinking you’re eating healthily, try some fresh fruit. A pre-made salad sounds like it would be a healthy choice and, in some cases, it's not. Chances are it's coated in a high-fat dressing. Instead of buying the pre-made salads, make them for yourself, so you know what going in them, or get one that has the dressing on the side and don't use the dressing or use very little. Veggie chips are thought of as
BUT IT'S DELICIOUS! a healthier alternative to chips, and even though they are made of vegetables, they are still fried. When buying veggie chips look for ones that are baked rather than fried. When trying to avoid sugar, read labels carefully. A product that boasts "sugar-free" on the front label may not be sugar-free. Many claim to have no sugar, but, if you read the label and see dextrose, sucralose, glucose and fructose, there are hidden sugars in it. Agave nectar is thought to be a healthier alternative to adding sugar to sweeten things, but it has more calories per tablespoon. Honey is
a much better alternative for both sugar and agave. Stevia is also a good alternative because it is a plant based and barely processed. Smoothies can be a great option, but when you buy them pre-made, they will most likely have a lot of sugar and additives that are not needed. And most smoothie places don't use real fruit, taking out the chance of it being healthy. If you enjoy smoothies you can buy frozen or fresh fruit, but make sure when buying frozen fruit that it doesn't have sugar listed in the ingredients, and make your own healthy smoothies.
Energy bars are thought to be a healthy way to get some energy in, but what you might not know about them is that they have very large amounts of sugar per serving and more calories than we need. Try to look for bars that have fewer ingredients and grams of sugar. These ten foods are often perceived as healthy but labels can be deceiving so be sure to read and be careful what you eat.
STORY BY HANNAH MAZZUCCHI
14 SIDE HUSTLE
SET isn’t just a magazine looking for people to share their 2 cents. It is entirely comprised of content provided by the 15 - 29 year olds of our community. No one else writes the articles, no one else takes the pictures and no one else decides what runs. That’s why we need you. Attend our next editorial meeting, drop us a line or send us an idea for your story. We want your photography, art and music. Get on SET’s team.
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OCTOBER 2017
OCTOBER 2017
SIDE HUSTLE 15
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Southern folklore can be used to trace heritage.
Jeffrey inspires young people to tell their stories.
A SPOOKTACULAR READ
JEFFREY WAVES HELLO TO HIS GUESTS IN A PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN BY THE AUTHOR.
13 ALABAMA GHOSTS AND JEFFREY As the days get shorter and the treacherous Alabama humidity finally dies down, the time comes for the leaves to change and the “holiday hype” to begin. Stores begin selling candy and horror movies begin to be released in theaters. The South is no stranger to fall traditions whether it be annual trips to pumpkin patches to choose the prize gourd to craft the best Jack-O-Lantern or climbing onto the back of a trailer covered in hay for a night excursion. One key factor in the spirit of spooky Southern traditions is an exposé on the hauntings in the state of Alabama.
Published in 1969 by folklorist Kathryn Tucker Windham and Margaret Gillis Figh, 13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey recalls the stories of haunted buildings and places throughout the state of Alabama. Specifically, the book contains stories of hauntings such as “The Ghost of the Angry Architect” at Rock Hill Plantation in Courtland, the haunted Drish House in Tuscaloosa, and the haunted dormitory at Huntingdon College where Windham completed her undergraduate degree as well as others. The book also contains Windham’s
account of the ghost that haunts her home she playfully named Jeffrey. Jeffrey was the inspiration for Windham to tell the stories of the other ghosts according to her interviews about the book. The photograph on the cover of the book is a picture of the supposed Jeffrey as he haunted the home. Jeffrey can be compared to a Southern “Casper the Friendly Ghost” as Windham regarded Jeffrey as her friend and inspiration. The book received mass popularity earning Windham state and national fame but sparked major controversy in the post-Civil Rights South for it not aligning with the Christian teachings of the deep Bible Belt. Windham’s purpose behind the book was to continue the stories of those who had been lost. Windham wanted generations to be connected through the folklores. Sadly, Kathryn Tucker Windham died June 12, 2011 in Selma, Alabama,
but Jeffrey lives on. The book is still a popular study in elementary schools and one of the most check-out books at the public library. Currently, 13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey is in the works to be adapted as an OffBroadway musical in New York City, New York. Don Everett Garrett who is the mind behind the adaptation has regarded that even he has seen Jeffrey in his New York City apartment watching him work on the musical. Garrett even remarked that Jeffrey was watching over his story making sure the legacy of the ghosts and Windham lives on. In fact, Jeffrey lives on in all of the South. Jeffrey himself is a haunting Southern legend.
STORY BY CHARLES S. GORDON
16 SPECIAL FEATURE
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Many of the original SNL cast came from The Second City.
OCTOBER 2017
Improv is a tool used in couples therapy.
SUSTAINABLE DIFFERENCES LOCAL COMEDY GROUP BRINGS A NEW TYPE OF HUMOR TO THE SHOALS Downtown Florence is not short of attractions and entertainment. Many locals enjoy the live music at FloBama while others prefer the thrilling mystery of The Escape Room. Whether it be the monthly “First Friday”, the famous “W.C. Handy Festival” or a regular Tuesday night, the downtown area offers many forms of amusement and now, another has been added to the roster. David Prejeant, Florence local and New Orleans native, is the creator of the comedy improv troupe, Sustainable Differences. Performing in the Zodiac Theatre, David and his band of comedians try to give the people of the Shoals a fun and hilarious experience. “You go to ‘First Friday’, you buy some dope soap, get some pizza from the Pie Factory and then walk to the Zodiac Theatre and see a show, it’s a full package.” Prejeant said. Performing and learning improv for over 15 years, David studied with the Comedy Conservatory at New Orleans La Nuit Comedy Theatre, training under Yvonne Landry of The Second City, the world’s premier comedy club, comedy theatre and school of improvisation. Prejeant went on to perform with Landry’s longform group, “God’s Been Drinking”, the second longest running long form group in New Orleans and Comedysportz NOLA, a nationwide brand of short formed improv. Wanting to settle down, David and his wife, Sarah, moved to Florence to start a family, joining the family business and having a daughter named Elise. After the sudden loss of a dear friend and improv colleague, David was inspired to continue his work and bring something the Shoals was missing.
SUSTAINABLE DIFFERENCES “When I moved to this area there wasn’t anyone doing the type of improve I love,” David said. Sustainable Differences describe their style as being similar to New York’s, Los Angeles’ and, especially, Chicago’s styles of comedy. “I had a couple of choices, I could not ever not do it anymore or get a
group of people that were interested in learning what I can teach them and start an improv group.” At the time, the Shoals comedy scene consisted of a stand-up open mic in Sheffield and a live-music dominated open mic at local bar, FloBama. “The community was non-existent
in this town,” David said. “So I held an audition, some folks showed and we got a group together.” With former owner of The End Theatre and co-founder of Sustainable Differences, J. Scott Long, David and his new troupe got to work, practicing the technique of improv.
OCTOBER 2017
SPECIAL FEATURE 17
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There are no absolute rules in improvisation.
Improv training can help with social anxiety disorder.
THIS GUY’S GOT SOME ENERGY “Think of improv not as someone telling jokes but someone telling a story that whether they mean for it or not is funny.” Long said, “the raw, vulnerable and immediate aspects of it make it relevant to the audience and funny to the audience.” The comedy troupe creates everything, story, concept, and dialogue, “on the spot” while performing live, only rehearsing technique during practice. “What we rehearse is the ability to stop thinking and just be in that moment and react honestly.” David said, “There’s a real lack of that in our world in general today.” “People being present and acting honestly in the moment to what’s right there in front of them instead of being wrapped in their phones and their social media.”
“We miss that interpersonal communication a lot of the time,” Long said. The troupe’s goal is to bring an enjoyable, new experience to the people of the Shoals, especially during downtown events, Long said. “There’s this energy that gets created when you’re performing live in front of an audience and making it up as you go along,” David said. “They really get invested in that experience with you and you’re really invested with them.” David and his gang of improvisors have held many shows in downtown Florence, taking the stage at 116 E. Mobile St., the former The End theatre and Sheffield’s First Presbyterian Church. The group perform shows with other local improv-comedy group, The Wickets, every first First Friday in
conjunction at the Historic Zodiac Playhouse. “We had an amazing turnout in July,” Long said. “We have a dedicated base that is growing with each show.” The group wants to branch out with this partnership and create new shows. “The hope is by bringing these two groups together, we can grow,” Long said. “We have a band that we practice with as well,” David added. “We’ve been working on musical improv for the last six months.” In addition to growing and becoming more recognizable in the community, David is now offering lessons in the ways of improv in conjunction with the Zodiac theatre. “What improv offers a person is not just the ability to perform on a stage,” Long said. “What you
develop is to stop thinking and be in the moment, actually engage with the person you’re communicating with, stop shutting them down and accepting the information they’re giving you and build and grow a connection without constantly interrupting them.” The group is working towards being able to branch off and go to improv festivals around the country to learn and participate with the nationwide community of improvisers. To learn more about Sustainable Differences, see showtimes or sign up for a class, visit teamdkp.com and facebook.com/sustaindiff.
STORY BY SPENCER BROOKS
18 ART
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ART 19
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There are many different types of oils used in oil paints.
Venus de Milo is one of Greece’s best-known sculptures.
RACHEL ANN WAKEFIELD PAINTING IS PROBLEM SOLVING. Local artist, Rachel Ann Wakefield has identified as a creative since birth, but it wasn’t until after graduating from Alabama with a degree in sculpture and a minor concentration in painting that she started painting seriously. This was only two years ago, but, in this brief period of time, Wakefield has created of body of work that is amazingly detailed and realistic in precision, and beautiful in depth. Since moving home from Tuscaloosa, Wakefield has opened her own studio in Florence’s Seven Points district and gained representation from a prestigious and contemporary Red Arrow Gallery in Nashville. The majority of the paintings Wakefield has on display in her studio focus on water, and the many functions it takes on. Wakefield says she is drawn to water scenes for many reasons, from the distortion of figures to the life source it represents. “Conceptually, water has become so interesting to me. We need water, we come from it, we die if we have too little, we die if we have too much. It’s mysterious underneath, sounds are muffled. Water is also otherworldly... we’re baptized in it, we vacation to it for relaxation. It’s cleansing. There are so many forms it takes on and it is so interesting to paint. I could go on about the significance of it all day. Everyone has their own experiences with it and for that reason it is also very relatable.” She goes on, “Painting these water scenes has caused me to love the tedium of painting. I’m by no means
“LET GO” BY RACHEL ANN WAKEFIELD a patient person. But you learn to look at the painting and think about the power of each brushstroke, how will this stroke affect the entire painting? Because one does have the ability to do that sometimes.” Still taken aback by the fact that Wakefield “just decided one day” to teach herself to paint only two short years ago, I asked her if she paints every day. “No, but if I don’t paint one day I will at least draw something.” She gestures to sketches on her studio wall done in charcoal that are quite different than her water paintings, yet still recognizably her own. I ask her if she gets attached to her work, as much of it is sold out of Red Arrow Gallery in Nashville, as well as on Artsy, a virtual art selling platform for collectors. She doesn’t think so, at least not yet. She wants other people to enjoy
it in their spaces, and as most artists, can always recognize the perceived flaws in her work that others don’t see, since every painting is somewhat experimental. “Painting is problem solving. I usually do start with some sort of idea in my head, but it always changes from there. I start fixing the problems in the painting until I find a stopping point. It’s hard to know when to stop. Sometimes if I don’t step away and come back later I could potentially go too far.” says Wakefield. When I ask her what inspires her to paint she is at a sudden loss for words. Often artists can’t explain what compels them to start creating, so we reword the question. What artists inspire you? To which she replies “I’m inspired by many artists, but specifically, painters who can make a piece look very
realistic from far away, but when you step up close you can see the specific brushstrokes that influence the piece. I love paintings like that.” Which is good, because this is exactly the type of work that Wakefield herself creates. Realistic, meticulously patterned, vividly detailed pieces that are extremely realistic from afar. Personally, I can’t wait to see what comes next in her already impressive portfolio. To check out her work for yourself, head to rachelannwakefield.com and be sure to follow her on Instagram @ rachelannwakefield.
STORY BY REBEKAH MILWEE
20 CALENDAR
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EVENTS OCTOBER 10
UNA OPEN MIC NIGHT @ 116 E. Mobile St. in Florence, AL 7:00 PM
OCTOBER 13
CHRIS STAPLETON @ Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN @ 7:00 PM DALYA’S OTHER COUNTRY (FILM) @ The Ritz in Sheffield, AL @ 7:00 PM
OCTOBER 14
SIGNS OF THE PAST @ will depart from FlorenceLauderdale Tourism and Visitor’s Center 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
OCTOBER 2017
OCTOBER 10 - OCTOBER 31 CALENDAR OF EVENTS RIDE FOR RECOVERY FUN RIDE AND YOGA CLASS @ Highland Baptist Church in Florence, AL 2:00 PM
OCTOBER 18
ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW TRIVIA - SINGIN’ @ River Brewing Company in Florence, AL 6:30 PM PANERA FUNDRAISING FOR SHE RECOVERY @ Panera Bread in Florence, AL @ 4:00 PM
OCTOBER 19-21
LANGUAGE OF ANGELS (GHOST STORIES) @ Historic Zodiac Playhouse in Florence, AL
OCTOBER 24
TAIL-WAGGER TUESDAY (PET DOGS GET FREE TREATS) @ Singin’ River Brewing Company in Florence, AL 4:00 PM
OCTOBER 26
TAP TAKEOVER @ Wildwood Tavern in Florence, AL 7:00 PM
OCTOBER 28
PUNKINFEST @ Franklin: A suburb of Nashville, TN, all day event
SHOALS SALSA SHOWDOWN @ Singin’ River Brewing Company in Florence, AL 2:00 PM HOWLO’WEEN @ Highland Baptist Church in Florence, AL @ 2:00 PM 26TH ANNUAL HALLOWEEN FAIRYLAND @ Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park, Birmingham, AL 5:00 PM
OCTOBER 31
TRICK OR TREAT @ Homewood Public Library, Homewood, AL 9:00 AM
THE ALABAMA RENAISSANCE FAIR @ Wilson Park in Florence, AL 10:00 AM
DINOS ON PARADE
IF YOU HAVE ANY EVENTS YOU WOULD LIKE LISTED, EMAIL CALENDAR@GETSETMAG.COM
OCTOBER 2017
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CALENDAR 21
22 MUSIC
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The band started in Florence, AL in 2016.
Carver Commodore was once The Bear & The Bride.
OCTOBER 2017
They’re named after AL legend Carver Commodore Pruitt.
PURE FLORENCE-BASED SOUND 2. RING AIN’T FREE
“This song is about the beginning of 2016, when myself and a few of my friends got engaged to our significant others around the same time. We were all experiencing similar fears & feelings and having similar conversations about that time of life, so I wrote a song about it with them in mind.”
3. STARS & GALAXIES
“I wrote this one in 2014. I was thinking of what it would be like if I was God, and I just figured I would take all the people, put them in a garden, and never tend to them again. Sometimes I feel like that’s what God has done to us if we’re being honest, but I’ve come to the conclusion that we as humans are given a thing called free will, and I still believe in a God that loves us. It’d be much “easier” to choose otherwise, but I choose to believe and live accordingly.”
CARVER COMMODORE’S NEW EP
MEANING IN CARVER COMMODORE’S NEW EP Following a conscious uncoupling from former Florence-based folkrock band, The Bear and the Bride, local musicians Payton Pruitt and Phillip Blevins began collaborating on new material and reimagining their collaborative vision as a duo. Thus, Carver Commodore was born. Their newfound sound is energetic, soulful and slightly southern. (Think Kings of Leon’s vocals meets the Alabama Shakes’ guitar meets St. Paul and the Broken Bones’ horns.) Pruitt writes lyrics, plays guitar, and contributes vocals, while Blevins plays and improvises on electric guitar. The majority of the self-titled EP was recorded at Portside Sound in Sheffield, and mixed by Chris Bethea
at Noiseblock Studio in Florence. Although Pruitt and Blevins are the permanent faces of Carver Commodore, bass guitar and percussion players are called upon for studio sessions and live shows. After moving to Nashville himself for a stint and deciding to return to the Shoals, Pruitt is convinced that this is his home. “It’s so cutthroat competitive in Nashville. But more importantly, we believe in this area. We want to be a part of what is taking place here in the Shoals. It’s an amazing thing.” On September 22nd at Singin’ River Live, Payton Pruitt and Philipp Blevins performed a set featuring new music from their five-song debut EP as Carver Commodore. That same day,
their self-titled EP was released on Spotify, Apple Music and Soundcloud. I got the chance to sit down and talk to Pruitt at Rivertown about the five songs they chose to include on the EP and learn about some of the inspiration behind the lyrics. Pruitt sees potential lyrics in every situation, and finds it cathartic to write his experiences into song. Below, Pruitt introduces each song and tells his motive behind the lyrics.
1. VALLEYS & GRAVES
“This song is about my short time spent living in Nashville and the decision to leave and come back to Florence. I knew it wasn’t the right place for me all along, but there was also a part of me that felt like a failure for moving back home. While driving back into town one day, I wrote this song in a word vomit of all the feelings I was having, and there you have it. Lust, failure, redemption, shame they have no power over me or you, so leave in the dust.”
4. MERCY
“I grew up holding a lot of grudges against people who’d done me wrong, and then I discovered Mercy. So I figured if we’re given mercy, why shouldn’t I give it to others? Forgiveness is still a struggle sometimes, but it’s a worthy struggle.”
5. TO TELL ALL
“I wrote this song on the topic of gossip in a small town back in 2012. After reading The Hobbit for the first time a couple of years ago, I decided to change a few lyrics and make it specifically about gossip in a small town in middle earth called The Shire with the main subject being a young Hobbit named Bilbo Baggins.” For more information on Carver Commodore, check out their website at carvercommodore.com and be sure to follow them across all forms of social media as well.
STORY BY REBEKAH MILWEE
OCTOBER 2017
MUSIC 23
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Miracle Osborne
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OCTOBER 2017
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LISTERHILL IN ACTION THE SHOALS, COLUMBIA, SEPTEMBER 2017
LISTERHILL CELEBRATES CHILDREN AT MY DAY AT THE FAIR
CONGRATS WIFFLE GOLF WINNERS!
PADDLES UP AT SHOALS DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL 2017
SMILES AND SNOW CONES
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OCTOBER 2017
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AMERICAN IDOL AUDITIONS ALABAMA MUSIC HALL OF FAME, SEPTEMBER 7, PHOTOS BY DUSTIN COAN
COREY KEENUM
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SMILING CONTESTANTS
MAYOR KERRY UNDERWOOD
MAYOR CUTS THE RIBBON
IDOL CREW
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A.I. AUDITIONS TOURED 19 CITIES IN THE US
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28 SPECIAL FEATURE
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EVP stands for Electronic Voice Phenomena.
OCTOBER 2017
Children and animals are more likely to see a ghost.
A TRIP BACK TO SWEETWATER A LOOK AT THE FOOTAGE Sweetwater Mansion is a plantation house in Florence, Alabama, the entrance hidden behind a gas station on Florence Boulevard. We drive by every day, and we don’t think about it. We could be unaware of it, had we not heard its stories growing up—the tenant who propelled salt at curious high-schoolers, the ghosts of Governor Robert Patton and his relatives. The Mansion was built by General John Brahn, a veteran of the War of 1812, then finished and inhabited by Governor Patton in 1835. Its intriguing lore has drawn multiple paranormal investigation teams to its gates, its brewing drive, its warding entry, halls, stairways and eight anxiety-inducing rooms. And if you read last year’s October issue of SET, you know I had the “pleasure” of joining one of those teams on one of their investigations of the 183-year-old property. This article is a continuation of last year’s about my experience; I hadn’t seen any of the footage or heard any of the recordings at the time of the first article’s publication. If you want to read the original article, you can find it in the archives of getsetmag.com. With my heart racing it felt like time was going by torturously slowly, so I was surprised by the brevity of the DVD Robert produced to document our visit’s findings. We were in there for 45 minutes. It felt like hours. And the DVD is only 10 minutes long. The video starts out with a scene taken from one of Robert’s stationary cameras that he placed on a stump in the front yard of the mansion. While eerie music plays, it shows Karen and me walking through the grass, her telling me about the history of the mansion and those who lived and died there, and me listening, taking notes. An incorrect timestamp in the bottom
left corner says it’s September 18, but a title quickly spins into view with an animated graphic from Windows Movie Maker: Sweetwater Mansion, September 23, 2016. After the opening scene, Robert compiled a series of still photographs of the crew, me, and the mansion. Since most of those photos were taken candidly during the process of setting up equipment, they give the viewer a sense of what it was like to be there with us. When I watched the DVD, and those pictures appeared, I was instantly reminded of that agitation I felt at the plantation. I remembered being curious but mostly just wanting it to be over. The moment I stepped through the door and into that mansion, I wanted to go home. But the DVD doesn’t quite live up to the anxiety of being there. Robert mentioned three occurrences he considered to be paranormal. The first, and, to me, most controversial, is a “spirit orb” that appears in front of me and is captured on digital video by a camera mounted on my body. Robert and his crew have relied on “orbs” as paranormal proof since their founding. After watching countless videos the crew has taken, I can confidently say that these orbs are their most common finding. To me, relying on these anomalies as proof of the paranormal is problematic because they are usually more easily explained by reasonable, earthly or natural evidence. Most of the time, I think these orbs could be explained as light reflecting off of an object. The object is usually semitransparent or at least mostly invisible to the naked eye in the given situation. For example, the light from camera’s flash or a videographer’s headlamp reflecting off of a particle of dust, pollen or hair, or an insect or even
moisture in the air could reveal an image that seems naturally unexplainable, especially by someone who truly wants to believe. But there are different types of “spirit orbs.” Some are very bright. Some aren’t. Some are big. Some are small. Some hover, and some don’t. Believers and nonbelievers argue about multiple aspects of these phenomena: the shape, the transparency, the position, etc. Those believers who want to be taken seriously must concede that the reflection of light can create an image of an “orb” and most do. Now, the general opinion among believers in orbs is that, while most orbs are a result of the reflection of light off of a particle of dust or similar object, not all are. They believe that some orbs have distinct characteristics that set them apart from dust orbs. A popular term used by believers when defending their opinions on orbs is “flight pattern.” In videography, orbs that seem to have a mind of their own, hovering, moving back and forth, in and out of doorways, rather than following a path that easily identifies it as a particle of dust caught in the wind, have, as far as I know, not been scientifically explained. So, this type of visual anomaly might be representative of a supernatural or extradimensional being, but there is no way to prove such a claim, yet. We can, however, prove that most “orbs” caught on camera are simply reflections of light off particles of dust. On Robert’s DVD, when the “orb” appears in front of my camera and floats past the top of the frame, I feel no reason to think that anything unnatural or supernatural has occurred. It’s obvious that our presence in the house has stirred up dust, and one of many particles is reflecting light from one of our headlamps back toward the camera. It’s unfortunate that Robert spends such a great portion of his time considering the paranormal possibilities behind these dust particles. I think that life after death is something worth looking into, but it should be taken as seriously as possible, and its students should conduct all research in the most thorough and professional manner possible, especially since there is such a large amount of skepticism surrounding the subject and the
methods of finding answers in the realm of the supernatural are limited by technology and lack of educated analysts. Robert typed text on the frame that says “take note the dust, bugs and debris fly in all different directions and totally transparent. The Orbs captured tonight navigate with intelligence and have substance to them.” I believe I have some—not many—videos of orbs that seem to “navigate with intelligence.” One of those videos was one of Robert’s. But, unfortunately, the orbs in this video do not seem to me to navigate with intelligence, nor do they seem to have any more substance than the particles of debris that accompany them. The next scene that Robert believed to exhibit supernatural activity was in the parlor, where the piece of brick fell to the floor. In the video, my camera shows a mostly empty room with only an empty bookcase against the left wall, a staircase and Robert and Karen. Along with the creepy music, the audio is filled with Robert’s voice. “So who’s gonna be first to step up?” As he finished his afterlife-aimed question, we hear the brick hit the floor. At the time, we didn’t know what it was. Karen was obviously startled. Her ponytail flipped as she jerked her body around to face the commotion, and Robert’s caption appeared on-screen once more: “suddenly at the end of the Main Hallway a loud noise filled the night air.” I do commend Robert’s attempt at flowery language. “Okay. Where did that come from?” Karen asked Robert. “You moved in front of the camera when that happened, so it may not have seen it.” “Hey, Becky?” Robert called out to our eyes in the GHOST trailer. She didn’t see the object, either. She was looking down at her log, making a note of the previous “orb” sighting. After watching the video, Robert noticed that an “orb” manifested at Karen’s head and floated to the left and then upward and out of the frame less than a second before the brick hit the floor. This orb does not seem to move intelligently. I believe the orb to be a dust particle. As we were walking around the parlor, looking for the origin of the then-mysterious
OCTOBER 2017
SPECIAL FEATURE 29
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The White House is haunted by Abigail Adams.
Spirits can often be helpful and even protective of the families they haunt.
SWEETWATER MANSION noise, an “orb” appeared to fly past Robert. At this time in the video, Robert added another caption that says “again the ORB that has followed us around appears by me this time. It has interacted with each one of us and was not seen again the rest of the evening.” Based on his caption, I can assume that Robert believes that there is one single orb, one single supernatural entity, appearing in the footage. Robert found the piece of brick and brought it into view of a camera. He does not consider the brick falling to the floor to be evidence of paranormal activity. The mansion is old, and pieces of it fall off all the time. He has no doubt, however, about the “orbs.” I view them with more skepticism, but with an open, scientific mind. After we discovered the piece of brick, we continued to ask questions to the dead, and the third and spookiest occurrence happened. Robert said that newcomers such as myself have gotten
responses in the past and asked me to attempt to communicate with the spirits. “Can I get a name of anyone who’s here right now? Is there anyone here right now?” I asked. As Robert was examining our footage as closely as he could, he heard a human voice—an EVP—in the audio after I asked my question. Although the language is not distinguishable, the voice sounds like that of a human male. Robert added a caption that says “Wesley asked a question and got an EVP. Were [sic] not sure what it says so use your own judgement and let us know.” EVP have been studied by serious researchers trying to find answers to questions that seem unanswerable. Many cultures throughout history have used a variety of methods to try to communicate with those who have passed on to the afterlife: séances, mediums, psychics, etc. It makes
Around half of Americans believe in ghosts.
sense; if these beings are somehow able to communicate with us, then they can answer the age-old question of what happens to us when we die. It isn’t surprising that technology has given rise to new methods of possible communication with the dead. What is surprising, however, is the influx of EVP and the lack of scientific explanation despite the curiosity of credible researchers. These researchers have classified electronic voice phenomena as mysterious vocal activity that is not heard at the time of the recording. EVP are only heard during playback and researchers study them by classifying them according to three categories. Class A EVP are easily understood by almost anyone with little or no dispute. They are usually the loudest EVP. Class B EVP are usually characterized by warping of the voice in certain syllables. They’re lower in volume or sound more distant than class A EVP. Class C EVP are characterized by excessive warping. They are the lowest in volume, often whispering, and are the most difficult to understand. Since we cannot blindly trust the word of other people, we must question the legitimacy of all EVP, unless we were there or completely trust the source. Although the EVP we recorded that night at Sweetwater would be considered a class C EVP, it inarguably sounds like a human voice, and I trust that Robert has no reason to lie to me. I’m not an expert by any means on audio or visual recording equipment, but it seems possible that these voices could be picked up from an interfering radio or cellular signal, or part of some latent residual recording from a previous account on the same device. I know about as much about recording equipment as I do the afterlife: very little. In that same view, it seems possible that EVP are voices of people who have died, beings from a different dimension, angels, demons or maybe even people from the future. Or, EVP are nothing more than dramatic realizations of the researcher’s subconscious and hopeful results. Although no one knows if he was serious or playing a joke, reports from the 1920s say that Thomas Edison was working on a mostly unheard of invention: a machine that would allow the living to communicate with the deceased. So, the idea of using electronics as a means for the living to communicate with the dead is almost as old as the idea of using electronics as a method for the living
to communicate with the living. EVP have baffled researchers since the early 1900s and researchers from around the world continue to investigate them. They have shared their findings with each other as well as the public on the internet and in books, and EVP have yet to be proven to be anything at all. I am completely intrigued by the continuity of the mystery of EVP. One would think that such a tangible idea could be analyzed until scientifically explained. The struggle to gain any real proof in the realm of EVP is something that keeps the attention of spooks as well as legitimate researchers. Legitimacy and paranormal investigation are two things that are sometimes at odds with each other, and I attribute this to the incursion of “reality” television shows in which the producers have a common goal: to make money. Investigators who don’t make money by studying the supernatural agree that 99 percent of recordings turn out to be full of a whole lot of nothing— no paranormal activity. Therefore, it takes a lot of time, effort and dedication to produce even a minute of interesting material. We spent 45 minutes in Sweetwater Mansion, and Robert was able to compile ten minutes worth of interesting material. And most of it was showing the same things, over and over, in different speeds and volume. The misconceptions that “reality” television is an accurate interpretation of the real world and that everything on the internet is true have led to many false impressions on the public. It’s way too easy to fabricate “proof” with the growing abundance of technology and information, but, if we remain enlightened enough to question all information we’re given, we can, eventually, as a society, learn to weed out inaccurate information and, at the same time, keep an open mind toward new and seemingly radical ideas. We can enjoy movies like “Paranormal Activity” as drama and still question the idea of real supernatural occurrences. Our ideas can live somewhere in the grey area, between I don’t want to know and that’s impossible. We can accept the fact that we don’t know but not the idea that we will never know.
STORY BY WESLEY HOPKINS
30 FREESTYLE
WWW.GETSETMAG.COM
FREESTYLE STEP 1: PREP YOUR PUMPKIN
Cut a circular lid into the pumpkin by carving a wide circle around the stem. Make sure it’s at least big enough to put your fist through. Pull out as many seeds and stringy goo that you can by hand, and then use a pumpkin or ice cream scoop to scrape the inside clean. 
OCTOBER 2017
PUMPKIN CARVING 101
STEP 2: PLACE PATTERN
Tape or pin your pattern onto your pumpkin. Use a pumpkin poking tool to poke small, shallow holes through the paper, following the lines of the pattern. When all lines have been traced, remove pattern and save it for reference later.
STEP 3: CARVING TIME
Insert your carving saw (never use a knife!) into a poked line. Begin sawing out each section. Remember, saws don’t twist and pumpkins don’t give! To prevent your saw from breaking, saw curved areas carefully, gently turning the saw the direction you wish to go while you continue to saw.
STEP 4: LIGHT IT UP!
Battery lights are great for pumpkin lighting. However, if you really love candles, use these to light your pumpkins. Light your candle and then, about a minute or two later, blow it out and observe the inside top of your pumpkin. You’ll see a dark area singed by the candle’s flame. Carve a chimney hole into this area, just over an inch wide, to allow the flame’s heat to escape. Now, relight the candle and watch your pumpkin glow!
OCTOBER 2017
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FREESTYLE 31