Homegoing JOIN US FOR SET’S
c el e b r a t io n
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR BY
KALI DANIEL
Beginning of Bills
HOW TO TACKLE LOANS AND FINANCES AFTER COLLEGE
Ending the Silence
THE GUIDE TO REVIVING OLD FRIENDSHIPS
Grand Finales
THE BEST AND WORST FILM ENDINGS
When we sat down to brainstorm the final issue, it was important that we emphasized endings aren’t always bad — SET’s isn’t! Sure, it’s the end of an era. But it’s the beginning of Listerhill moving toward more involvement with you and for you. Similarly, we’re highlighting some of the best “ends” we could think of. Try not to groan as former editor Isaac Norris leads us through the worst movie endings — don’t worry, we got the best, too. Another former edi-
Choose your own adventure
PHYSICALLY, METAPHORICALLY AND APOCALYPTICALLY EXPLORE OUR WORLD
THE SECOND RISE OF CHOOSE-YOUR-OWN-ADVENTURE STORYTELLING
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GOODBYE SELF-DESTRUCTION, HELLO SELF CARE
In this issue, too, we want you to choose your own adventure and — dare we say it — your own ending. After each story, you’ll have a couple of options as to what to read next, culminating in one of three endings. We’ve always been about variety, and that won’t change for this final issue. Sit back, grab a drink, grab a friend and prepare yourself for The End.
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End Those Bad Habits
tor, Anna Grace Usery, leads us through Key Underwood Coon Dog Cemetery, where dogs’ lives don’t end, rather ascend to the levels of legends. And former editor Linley Mobley takes us to the ends of the Earth — and maybe the ends of our comfort zones — with vacation spots you have to see to believe.
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It Doesn’t Have to End This Way
@droptopkalibop
Let’s Talk money
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To the End of the Earth
THE END IS NIGH. I MEAN, REALLY NIGH. In your hands, dear SET reader, is the final issue of SET Magazine. After six years and over 50 issues, we’ve come to the end of your favorite local magazine’s publication.
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Tech That Will Outlive SET THE MAGAZINE IS ENDING, BUT NOT THESE TECHNOLOGIES
Calendar of Events WHAT’S HAPPENIN’?
20 22
Legends Never Die
COON DOG CEMETERY ALLOWS PET LEGACIES TO LIVE ON
What Aporkalypse? REVISITING OUR FIRST FEATURE
Spotlight
25 27 28
SAY CHEESE!
Venimus, Vidimus, Vicimus SAYING GOODBYE TO SET AND HELLO TO THE FUTURE
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F O E L B TA S T N E T CON
make a new (old) friend
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Y P O C E N O E K A T E S CONNECT WITH SET A E L P
! T I E R A H S AND CONTRIBUTORS
www.getsetmag.com info@getsetmag.com
DARIEN HARRIS
Florence, Alabama
LINLEY MOBLEY
Sheffield, Alabama
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 566 Sheffield, AL 35660
ALLIE JOHNSTON
Lawrenceburg, Tennessee
SPENCER BROOKS
ASHLEY GRAVES Athens, Alabama
Florence, Alabama
KARAH WILSON
CHRIS ANDERSON
ANNA GRACE USERY
Athens, Alabama
Scottsboro, Alabama
Saltillo, Mississippi
ANDREA BELK
Florence, Alabama
Physical Address: 4790 East Second Street Muscle Shoals, AL 35661
EMMA ROBERSON Loretto, Tennessee
ISAAC NORRIS
Hubbertville, Alabama
TAYLOR SIMPSON
Birmingham, Alabama
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.
TOSHA PAIGE WHITTEN Florence, Alabama
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CONTRIBUTORS
THE END
JIMMIE WAITES
Madison, Alabama
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.
YOUR MONEY. Built into the one thing you always have with you everyday. ( Enjoy! )
Danielle Patten Member since 2012
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END OF SCHOOL
BEGINNING OF BILLS HOW TO TACKLE LOANS AND FINANCES AFTER COLLEGE
Create a budget
Build an emergency fund
BY
ASHLEY GRAVES
BUILDING GOOD FINANCIAL HABITS EARLY ON CAN LEAD TO GREATER FINANCIAL SATISFACTION IN THE FUTURE.
Tassel turned, diploma in hand. You’re an official college graduate, but now what? Student loans. Auto loans. Home loans. Throw in a credit card or two.
MONEY
3
Welcome to the next chapter of life called adulthood, where the best part of work is coming back home at the end of the day, and bills are traveling through the mail (or email) at twice the speed of checks.
Not so fast. It’s actually not THAT bad.
Incorpora te this in to your budget. S trive to ha ve three to six mon ths of you r income in this fun d.
Manage debt
Contribute to your company’s retirement plan
While it can be a bit overwhelming, the key is to make the most of your paycheck. After all, building good financial habits early on can lead to greater financial satisfaction in the future.
Choose your own adventure
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credit rt your a on u h n a tr debt c ying ex o much , consider pa imum payo t g in min able Hav r f you’re ore than the r, pay off you e score. I m t t it d e g ebt an ards. Even b oid usin yyour d and av it c a , d p e h t r a c n p o n ment o d bill every m ry. Also, set u have. sa ar ay credit c solutely neces t loans you m b n e a d s unles any stu lan for ment p
At this point, you’re probably thinking, “Great, I’m going to be eating Ramen Noodles until I’m in the nursing home.”
Shortly after graduating from the University of North Alabama, a friend who worked at Edward Jones at the time, offered me a few pieces of advice to help make the transition into the real world a little less painful and your pocketbook a little fatter as you age. Here’s to hoping it will help you as well.
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our k with y y on trac act ta s tr b u u o s y and help e n a m c o c t e in g bt you your A bud s any de ls. Take e a d o g lu c s in g yment, hich savin s, car pa ses — w e n ti e li p ti x u e r you rent, er a plan s well as is left, put togeth a — e v y ha etermine ver mone You could also d te a h W . etc hich could h it. to do wit penses, w x g t e a t h u w c f o ork, livin nt to ed or wa nch for w al work lu r u o y if you ne n g io by packin picking up addit be done r o te a m om with a ro e. id s e on th
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college and are launchlous. You just graduated d. Time flies I know, this sounds ridicu furthest thing on your min the is nt me tire Re . eer ing your car e is on your side antage of the fact that tim adv ke Ta nk. thi you n faster tha nt plan contribucompanies match retireme st Mo . now ing sav rt and sta ’t pass it up! tions. It’s free money, don
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Need more advice?
GO TO PAGE 8
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feeling creative?
GO TO PAGE 14
Good for Cord. Good for the Community.
Join us at listerhill.com
ENDING THE What’s
new?
More likely than not, you’ve heard the above lyrics from a classic Girl Scouts song comparing friendship levels to precious metals. The idea itself is much deeper than this metaphor. Old friends know our darkest secrets. They’ve been through the good, the bad and the ugly; they know our history, the real us that we may hide from newer friends.
But, like all good things, friendships can come to an end, whether you started new phases in life, moved lo-
cations or you’re busy with responsibilities. What about rekindling those old friendships? Where do you begin?
Reaching out may be awkward at first, but sending a quick text to let them know you’re thinking of them and would love to hang out can be the first step. Be definitive as you make plans. Sometimes these conversations of “I miss you” can lead to no actual plans, so make clear your ideas of hanging out.
Be genuine in your approach and let them know why you’re reaching out. Sometimes, when they don’t hear from you for a while, they may think you are reaching out because of necessity. Let them know your reason and why you want to reconnect in the first place. Being genuine and transparent is always appreciated. Our suggestion is KISS: Keep It Simple, SET Reader! Kick off friendships that may have fizzled out with these level playing grounds.
Make new friends, but keep the old;
How are you?
Remember why you were friends in the first place. There’s a reason why you two connected before; rediscover that reason. Catch up at a cozy coffee shop like Rivertown Coffee Co. or Turbo Coffee in Florence, Alabama. For Tennessee meetups, try Muletown off the square in Columbia and catch up on life. Laugh at your old stories and inside jokes, and have a heart-toheart like old times.
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SPECIAL FEATURE
THE END
Find out things you have in common. Chances are, you’ve both changed in many ways. Figure out what you still have in common, what your common interests are, etc. Both still book worms? Head over to Duck River Books on Columbia’s square to peruse shelves together. Both University of North Alabama grads? Go to a UNA game to cheer on your fellow Lions. Find what things you share in common, and build on them. Try out a new activity. Release some awkward tension by meeting up where you can also actually do something. At Painting with a Twist in Columbia, you can reconnect over creating art together. Meeting a little further south? Sips ‘N Strokes offers similar experiences in Cullman, Alabama. Check out their websites to see which type of painting will take place on which day.
Seek a common goal. Nothing brings people together like teamwork. Find an activity that allows you to work together, such as the Escape Room or Paradox in Florence. This allows you to put your brains together and work toward a common purpose — escaping!
Hi
BY
ALLIE JOHNSTON @sock319
THE GUIDE TO REVIVING OLD FRIENDSHIPS
hello
one is silver, and the other’s gold.
i
Get moving. Sometimes walking and talking can make things less stuffy than sitting in one spot. Maintain your New Year’s resolutions to be healthier and meet up for a hike at Davy Crockett State Park in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, or Spring Park in Tuscumbia, Alabama. Too cold for your taste? Find an indoor gym to walk laps around, or find a local studio for fitness classes like yoga at Shoals Yoga in Florence.
Choose your own adventure
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Serve together. Nothing can reunite friends like working for the common good. Look into local charities and volunteer work for a purposeful weekend activity. For example, contact United Way or local animal shelters.
Friendships have health benefits, allow a sense of loyalty and community, and can create lasting memories you wouldn’t have otherwise. Building off of old friendships can be a little awkward at first, but you never know what new memories you can make. As always, don’t force the friendship to happen again, but reaching out is the first step. Here’s to good friends; may we find them, may we thank them, may we be them.
WWW.GETSETMAG.COM
See a movie with your new (old) friend PAGE 11
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check out a party PAGE 26
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Nick Walton Member since 2015
Miracle Osborne Member since 2013
Visit Our Stop by The Hill
to relax, recharge, or (of course) take care of your financial
needs. The Hill is a full service, student-run Listerhill Credit Union location in The Commons at UNA dedicated to helping students reach their full financial potential.
GRAND THE BEST AND WORST FINALES FILM ENDINGS BY
Movies have been the touchstones for American culture across generations. Any time I find myself having to create small talk with a stranger or potential new friend, I always default to movies or TV. The conversation usually starts with questions like, “What’s your favorite movie?” or “What was the last movie you saw?” or “Which Marvel character are you?” and then I somehow find myself babbling about the metaphors or the meanings behind whatever movie I’m obsessed with at that moment.
But the real test of any film is its ending — the good and the bad. So, in the spirit of endings, I’ve compiled a list of what I think (key term here) are the worst and best movie endings.
ISAAC NORRIS
the W O R S T 10. “THE LOBSTER” (2016)
Will Smith blockbuster. The ending of this particular film isn’t necessarily bad, but it misses the mark and negates the point the book is making.
I’ve gotten a lot of flack for this one. I have to be honest— this movie may be too high brow for me and I own that. I was immediately intrigued by the concept of this film way back when the trailer was released, but the ending is just…. Awful.
the ending that I just paid $11+ to see. Let it be known: never, ever end your movie with a title card telling viewers to go to a website to see the full ending.
8. “TITANIC” (1997) Jack could have fit on that door, dammit. You know it, I know it — we all know it. That’s all.
9. “I AM LEGEND” (2007) Let me just say — you’re better off reading the book, wherein the ending is completely different than the
7. “THE DEVIL INSIDE” (2012) No, I’m not going to your (now defunct) website to see
6. “LADY IN THE WATER” (2006) We waited the whole movie to see a water nymph be taken away by giant eagles a la Tolkien, and never got to see the eagle or what happened after Bryce Dallas Howard’s character, Story, was taken.
the B E S T 5. “PAN’S LABYRINTH” (2006) A lot of people complained about having to read subtitles in this film, mainly because they’re weak. This 2006 Mexican/Spanish film is one of the best endings in film ever. Get ready to sob…a lot.
4. “THE DARK CRYSTAL” (1982) A true story of heroism, mysticism and a completely unique and revolutionary approach to practical film effects—this is one film you have to see. A simple story with multiple
Choose your own adventure
son, “Is he is smart, or is he like me?” Tears. Instantly. I can’t.
layers and a truly satisfying ending that leaves you wanting more (heads up — there’s a behind-the-scenes documentary coming to Netflix this year about the making of this film).
2. “MOULIN ROUGE” (2001) One of my all time favorite films, with an admittedly sad ending BUT one that is truly worth it. A must watch — especially if you liked Baz Luhrman’s “The Great Gatsby.”
3. “FORREST GUMP” (1994) You want a good cry? How about a wailing sob? Then watch this movie. If you’ve grown up in the South, you’ve probably seen this movie countless times. The best line? When Forrest says, about his
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healthy ending
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YOU GO NOW. One of the most influential films of 2017, “Moonlight” explores everything from racism, classism, homophobia, self-loathing, paternal love, how drugs ruin communities and so many other topics that this paragraph would become pages. It has one of the best endings of any film of the past few years, filled with hope and acceptance.
1. “MOONLIGHT” (2017) Again, let me say that this is a biased article—and if you haven’t seen this film, GO.
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wholesome ending
wrap! And that’s a ed.) (Pun intend
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e v i s u l c x e r u O 15 20 SOMETHINGS
r o f t n u o acc OVERDRAFT FORGIVENESS FREE CHECKING PERSONAL LOANS MOBILE BANKING
TO THE END OF THE EARTH Photo courtesy Kayla Sloan
Choose your own adventure
PHYSICALLY, METAPHORICALLY AND APOCALYPTICALLY EXPLORE OUR WORLD The Cliffs of Moher This Irish landmark may be one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever visited, but I might be biased since it’s the same spot where I got to say my “I do’s!” The Cliffs of Moher, located in County Clare, Ireland, are nine miles worth of waving cliffs reaching heights of 702 feet. Imagine all the beautiful, lush green fields of Ireland, speckled with fluffy sheep, abruptly meeting air with nothing but the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean below. The sheer
BY
LINLEY MOBLEY
Depen ding o n w ho end of you a r t h e ea e, “t h e r t h” ca n ed in s be int e e veral rpretdiffere we t a lk nt w a y ing a s s. Are far a s t he ma you ca p? Or n go o hav e a and it’ n l i e ns t ake s t he e n n ov e r d ruling of t h e t h e wo hum a n rld? N race w a y yo o mat t u int e r e r w hi pret it ch awe so , I’v e g m e spo o t s o t s m to m a k e like yo e you f u’v e re e el a ch ed “t h e e nd.”
drop off of the cliffs are enough to take your breath away, and I’ve never been anywhere that felt more like I’d reached the edge of the world. The Cliffs of Moher are one of Ireland’s top visited spots, with over 1.5 million visitors per year. The Cliffs have also been featured in several well-known movie scenes including “The Princess Bride” (the cliffs of insanity) and “Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince” (when Dumbledore takes
Harry to the cave to find one of You-Know-Who’s horcruxes). It’s only about $9 to enter the visitor center, but if you are a frugal traveler and would rather save that money for an Irish coffee later (and let me tell you, nothing warms you up like an Irish coffee), I’d recommend going off the beaten path a bit. There are several trails found along the side of the road that will take you along the cliff’s edge, and these are completely free.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Parks If “the end of the earth” leaves you thinking of the apocalypse, you should definitely visit Hawaii’s Volcanoes National Parks. What feels more like the end of the world than a scorched, steaming, smoking landscape and the occasional wave of molten lava? This national park has over 150 miles of hiking trails, covers over 333,308 acres and is home
to Maunaloa — a volcano that’s been dormant since the ’80s — and Kilauea — a volcano that’s been slowly erupting since the ’80s. Crazy fact: The cooled lava that has erupted from Kilauea has added 875 acres of land to the island of Hawaii since it started erupting in January 1983. While Hawaii is known for being a pricier vacation spot, vis-
iting the Volcanoes National Park is actually pretty affordable. If you’re driving in, it’s $25 per car and the pass will admit you into the park for up to seven days after your purchase. If you’re looking for a $0 option (I mean, c’mon, who isn’t), visit their website to see if your vacation falls on any of their “fee free” days!
Zhangjaijei National Park In addition to being known for its “alien” terrain, this 12,000 acre national park in China is also famous for being the filming location for the movie “Avatar,” making it the perfect travel spot if you’re into the “aliens have taken over” point of view. In fact, one of the most notable pillars, The Southern Sky Column, was officially renamed Avatar Hallelujah Mountain after the movie was released. The park is scattered with natural quartz and sandstone pillars, some reaching heights
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adventure at home TURN THE PAGE
of 3,540 feet. These pillars have been formed over the centuries by natural erosion due to weather and are a very accessible attraction to travelers who are willing to face the crowds. The national park is usually very crowded, and also very large, so if you’re planning to visit, be sure to have a plan ahead of time and give yourself a few extra hours to take in the magnificent sights. Pro tip: if it’s the Avatar Hallelujah Mountain you’re want-
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adventure back in time PAGE 27
ing to see, head to Yuanjiajie scenic area. Shoals native Kayla Sloan had the awesome opportunity to visit Zhangjaijei National Park a few years ago and see these postapocalyptic sites for herself. “Plan to be there all day,” she said. “If the three-plus hour long lines don’t keep you, the views certainly will. There is so much to see and take in, it almost feels like you are on another planet. It’s hard to leave.”
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BY
TAYLOR SIMPSON
@taylorbsimpson
If you’re like me, a child of the ’90s, you spent a large amount of your youth – in between games of Pokémon or while waiting for a family member to get off the phone so you could use the Internet – reading. And if you spent a large amount of time reading children’s books in the ’90s, you probably picked up a couple of “Goosebumps” books. For me, these were my first experiences with choose-your-own-adventure or multiple-ending types of storytelling. Now, with the availability of new technologies, printed CYOA stories — also called gamebooks — are less common, but there are other ways to consume and create these stories that aren’t just instructions telling readers, “if you decide to open the basement door, turn to page 143.” We’ve come a long way from R.L. Stein’s classics, but CYOA stories are still all about interaction: Choices that the reader, viewer or player makes while the author guides them through a story filled with decisions. In the age of technology, why wouldn’t interactive storytelling be the next logical step in entertainment? With big names like Netflix, Telltale Games and HarperCollins publishing these types of stories, you’d better get used to interacting with your media. Here are some of the best examples of interactive media available today.
It Doesn’t Have t THE SECOND RISE OF CHOOSE-YOU video games After the popularity of gamebooks with kids in the ’90s, video game technology took over to give audiences a more interactive experience. Many video games give players the freedom to make choices that may affect the ending of the game and give creators a more elaborate way to tell their stories. Most of the options below are available to play on both gaming consoles and smartphones.
Based on the Fables comics, this game takes classic fairytale characters and puts them into a crime-filled urban scene where you play as Bigby Wolf, a detective set out to investigate a woman’s murder. The choices you make in your interactions with the other characters determine your success with the task.
“THE WOLF AMONG US” TELLTALE GAMES
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MAIN FEATURE
THE END
“OXENFREE” NIGHT SCHOOL STUDIO
This indie-made game takes players on a supernatural adventure where the choices they make impact the characters’ journeys and the games ending. You play as a teen among a group of friends as they explore and uncover the secrets of a deserted island.
This is an acclaimed, indie-made RPG where you play as a human who has found himself in the Underground, where he must face monsters in order to get back to the surface. Whether you choose to kill or befriend the monsters is up to you and your decisions lead to one of three game endings.
“UNDERTALE” TOBY FOX
books This classic category is a great way to start if you’re looking to take a more interactive role in your entertainment, there are many gamebooks available in many different genres and styles. From graphic novels to young adult fiction to memoir.
You are the main character in this adult version of a CYOA story. Make a decision at the end of each chapter to see where your life takes you. Your choices affect your character and the plot to lead you to one of 22 possible endings.
“IF” BY NICHOLAS BOURBAKI
“PRETTY LITTLE MISTAKES” BY HEATHER MCELHATTON
This book gives readers the opportunity to choose a path, make life changing decisions, and start all over again. There are 150 possible endings – so you can read it again and again using your previous experiences to help you make decisions and live the life you want.
This is not so much a CYOA story as a memoir told in the style of one. If you are a non-fiction lover, but want to give this type of storytelling a shot – this is where to start. Each chapter starts with a quiz and ends where the answers may reveal something about yourself as well as the author.
“CHOOSE YOUR OWN DISASTER” BY DANA SCHWARTZ
to End This Way R-OWN-ADVENTURE STORYTELLING movies + tv
Probably the newest a most complex form of CYOA storytelling is through the television. As long as you’re streaming on a newer device like smart TVs, game consoles or smartphones, you can interact with the show you’re watching. While there are only a few options available right now, be sure to look out for new releases in this form of television in the near future.
“BLACK MIRROR: BANDERSNATCH” NETFLIX
This surprise interactive science-fiction film hit Netflix in late 2018 and allowed viewers to make decisions for the main character, a programmer working on his own CYOA game, that affect the movie’s plot and lead to one of five endings — six if you count Netflix’s “secret” ending.
This interactive murder-mystery TV show was first released on the Mosaic App in 2017 and then on HBO in 2018. On the app, viewers can make choices that affect the perspective from which they are able to view the plot. They also have the option to do background research within the app that gives insights about the plot.
“MOSAIC” HBO
WWW.GETSETMAG.COM
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It Doesn’t Have t
Did You Know?
CYOA STORIES WERE BEING WRITTEN AS EARLY AS THE 1930S. GAMEBOOKS BECAME POPULAR IN THE 1970S. INTERACTIVE COMICS AND GRAPHIC NOVELS ARE AVAILABLE BOTH IN PRINT AND ONLINE.
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MAIN FEATURE FEATURE
Want to Give it a Try? As a writer or creator, it’s common to have a hard time deciding in what direction to take your characters and how to make the story progress, with CYOA stories, you can let the audience decide. Not only that, but these types of stories are a great way to utilize modern technologies and take a potentially low-stakes story to the next level. Whether you want to make a video game, movie, TV show or book – it all starts with a well-planned story. So, here are some things you should know if you want to give this type of writing a shot.
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MAKE THE DECISIONS HARD
INVOLVE THE READER You can do this in one of three ways: Put the reader in control of a character, make the reader a character using second person point-of-view or allow the reader to make decisions at important parts of the story. Giving your reader limited control of the main character is a great way to ease into this type of storytelling. It makes the reader feel closer to the character and the story without creating too much extra work for you as a writer. Writing (or creating) in second person point-of-view might seem
a little weird at first, but with practice it can really help you understand the reader’s experience. This method is probably best for short pieces or when creating for a video game. Allowing the reader to make decisions at important parts of the story — whether they’re deciding for multiple characters or making decisions affecting the environment or situation — is probably the hardest type of CYOA writing because it will take more authorial creativity to connect these decisions with their consequences and engage the reader.
This may seem like a nobrainer, but readers won’t be interested unless they are invested in the characters and the stakes of the story. Like any work of fiction, the reader’s connection to the characters is key to their experience with the material and whether or not they enjoy the story. Don’t skimp on the character development in planning your work. Just because the story is more complex doesn’t mean the characters shouldn’t be. Characters with complex motivations will help readers (or players) question their own beliefs.
"WHETHER YOU WANT TO MAKE A VIDEO GAME, MOVIE, TV SHOW OR BOOK – IT ALL STARTS WITH A WELLPLANNED STORY." THE END ISSUE NO.1
to End This Way
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SHOW THE CONSEQUENCES One major complaint that consumers of CYOA stories have is that, especially in video games, players feel like their decisions don’t actually affect the outcome of the story. To avoid this, make sure you have multiple, distinct endings. It’s also a nice touch to include reminders of past decisions throughout the story. For example, in “The Wolf Among Us” the main character must decide in the heat of a bar fight whether to rip off another character’s arm. If you choose that option, in later scenes, the character is shown without his arm and his feelings toward the main character are greatly affected.
Choose your own adventure
"IT’S A NICE TOUCH TO INCLUDE REMINDERS OF PAST DECISIONS THROUGHOUT THE STORY."
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STAY ORGANIZED WHILE PLANNING It can be easy to get confused when there are multiple story branches to keep up with while writing your interactive fiction. Navigate this challenge by making outlines, path and plot maps, and using tools from the Internet. This is a genre where you must really take the time to pre-plan your story or game. Think about why your characters might make each decision and what those decisions mean for your story and its outcome.
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read our story
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USE PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO HELP YOU There are tons of programs and templates available that can help you map out and publish your interactive fiction. From Google Slides to specialized programs and websites, technology is here to help you. Here are some programs, apps and online tools that can help you map out, write and publish your interactive story: Google Slides, Google Forms – allow for in-text links from decision points to story branches Microsoft PowerPoint – allows for in-text links from decision points to story branches, templates available InkleWriter – free software designed to easily add decision points for your readers that lead to different paths Ren’Py – “visual novel” software that allows for the addition of graphics to interactive stories. Also allows you to export for iOS, Android, and other systems WireWax – paid video editing software that allows editors to add interactive effects and decision points If you plan to publish on Kindle or other digital platforms, in-text links can help you include content from other sources or help take readers from the decision point to the next part of the story. Many of these tools don’t require knowledge of HTML5 code and are free to use and export from.
read more about tech
GO TO PAGE 20
"CHARACTERS WITH COMPLEX MOTIVATIONS WILL HELP READERS (OR PLAYERS) QUESTION THEIR OWN BELIEFS." The only realm of entertainment that interactive storytelling hasn’t taken over yet is audio books, but with the growing popularity of Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices, there are sure to be more developments in this area as well. Now that you have the knowledge and tools to create this kind of media for yourself, it’s time to put that ’90s nostalgia for create-your-own-adventure storytelling to good use.
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GOODBYE SELFDESTRUCTION, HELLO SELF CARE BY
KARAH WILSON
END THOSE S T I B A H D BA
At the start of every new year, those who are ready to start off new with a clean and healthy slate make resolutions. However, the new year is not the only time resolutions can be made and bad habits can be broken. Here are some habits to start as well as some to break at any time of the year.
Start…
Stop…
Technology is a must. Employers look for potential employees that know how to use computers, phones, tablets, etc. However, that doesn’t mean a break can’t be taken every once in a while. Have a hobby that’s been procrastinated? What about that book on the “to read” list? Limiting your screen time can kickstart all those things that have been procrastinated for so long.
1. Always saying ‘yes’
1. Spending less time on your phone
2. Spending less money
Spending money is something done more often than not. Is it always necessary, though? Ask if the expensive coffee or fancy meal is worth it. It’s certainly okay to be lavish every now and then, but cutting back on doing it often will allow room to save money to be even more lavish next time.
It’s okay to say “no” to things every once in a while. Making sure the calendar has some room for “me time” is never a bad thing. All the energy used doing things for everyone else is tiresome, so make some time to sleep and relax.
2. Biting your nails
Nail biting is one of the habits that happens without thinking, especially for those with anxiety. Fortunately, there are helpful products out there to help cut that habit, like terrible tasting clear polish designed specifically for stopping.
3. Waking up and going to sleep earlier
3. Procrastinating (seriously)
4. Cutting off toxic relationships with people
4. Eating fast food regularly
Snoozing the alarm clock in the morning can be one of the most rewarding feelings or one of the most guilty. Rushing to get ready in the morning because the snoozing is hectic and can set a bad mood for the rest of the day. Going to sleep earlier and making sure to obtain beauty sleep can help to wake up earlier in the morning.
Whether it be a friendship or romantic relationship, keeping toxic people around can make for feelings of anger, stress and depression. It’s one of the harder habits to break, but it’s one that needs to happen eventually. If you’re wondering if you need to cut them off, you probably do.
5. Trying something new
Everyone has a comfort zone. However, there will always be something more to life that needs to be tried. Trying something new doesn’t always mean something extreme like skydiving, it can be something simple like befriending someone new. Taking baby steps will lead up to those bigger dreams.
Choose your own adventure
1
legendary tech
GO TO PAGE 20
Procrastination is such an easy thing. However, there’s always the rush to get those tasks done when the deadline approaches. It’s so much easier to get tasks done a few days before they’re due than rushing to get them all done at once. This is true for school and work. Try forming a list and sticking to it for one day a week and work up to every day.
It’s easy to get into the habit of eating fast food when life is busy and it’s cheaper. Buying in bulk, using coupons and meal prepping are aspects of cooking at home that make it less of a chore and more of a relief on the wallet than you might think.
5. Binge watching television show after television show
Platforms like Netflix and Hulu have made it easier to sit back and enjoy your favorite shows all at once or start new ones friends have been raving about. It’s important to get out of bed or off the couch and be active, participate in activities or hang out with friends. Next time you finish rewatching “Breaking Bad,” skip the television and focus on hobbies.
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legendary dogs
GO TO PAGE 24
19
TECHNOLOGY THAT WILL OUTLIVE Photo courtesy vpnsrus.com
20
GEAR
THE MAGAZINE IS ENDING, BUT NOT THESE TECHNOLOGIES BY
SPENCER BROOKS @berserkxspence
1.SOCIAL MEDIA Sad, but true. Although this technology was originally invented in 1996 and celebrated a sort of “renaissance” in the early 2000s with MySpace, it didn’t really take off until the late 2000s and early 2010s. Nowadays, it’s a daily from of distraction some can’t live without and the concept shows no signs of ever vanishing, but instead, evolving and adapting to suit the public. Now don’t get me wrong, we’ve had a rocky relationship with social media, including, but not limited to: our information being stolen, cyberbullying, allowing our parents to have profiles and don’t EVEN get me started on fake news — but we’re still online. According to Nielsen, an American data and measurement company, the average adult spends almost four hours consuming social media even after consuming seven more hours from other mediums. Whether it be the infamous Facebook or the fast-paced Twitter, we’re all still keeping up in some way, form or fashion. Why? Who knows, some say we’re nosy, others just like to “stay in touch” and most just say “the MEMES.”
2. FOOD APPS One of the more convenient luxuries of our time, food apps are definitely not disappearing in the near future. This convenience spans the board with pleasing people; it allows introverts to avoid awkward encounters in
Choose your own adventure
Technology. It comes and it goes, but some inventions stick around longer than others, like phones, computers and toasters. Yes, toasters — they’ve outlasted the VHS, DVD and, soon, even this publication. But what are some technologies that have come out recently we may not see become obsolete anytime soon?
public, helps speed up the process of getting your order, allows customers to get exactly what they want when ordering, and some even offer a point system for using that can be used for getting free food.
4. STREAMING SERVICES I feel like this one doesn’t need much explaining, but I’ll continue. Imagine waking up one day and you couldn’t stream “The Office.”
If this technology disappears anytime soon, my only hope is that I do, too.
Yeah, this one is definitely sticking around for a while.
3. WIRELESS HEADPHONES
5. WI-FI
Remember when Apple revealed the iPhone X without a headphone jack? Everyone freaked out because they didn’t want to also buy a dongle or trade in their beloved headphones for Apple made ones. I was one of those people, but I didn’t fret long because my headphones were wireless.
Without Wi-Fi, literally, everything on this list would be useless. That means full-on human interaction at Chick-fil-A, everyone owning a cable subscription again and zero memes. It’s horrifying, I know, but this staple in the technology world may as well take its permanent place in human history, presence and future. If Wi-Fi disappeared, life would be a lot darker (literally), not only for the ones born in it but everyone who has grown dependent and expectant on the use of it in our current lives.
Wireless is the future for all headphones, and with everything from televisions to your toasters getting Bluetooth nowadays, they’re becoming more and more prominent. No need to worry about cords and mics, these bad boys have it all built in. On-thego but still need to call mom? You got it! Worried about your cord getting tangled up when you’re running? Not any more! Listening to some music on your phone but have to leave your phone on the charger and go to another room? Boom, you can now! It would be foolish to see this tech disappear anytime soon. It is so useful and convenient and can only improve in the future. Plus, I don’t see anyone complaining about not having a cord, just saying.
1
Although it’s not a basic essential such as clothes, food and shelter, Wi-Fi has become so embedded in our daily lives that it may as well be. As long as we don’t do something crazy, this technology should last and only improve in the future, making more and more tasks convenient. All of these technologies certainly will surpass SET in existence, but more than likely these wonderful innovations will exist long after SET ends.
outlive the bacon shortage GO TO PAGE 27
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outlive set
GO TO PAGE 30
PUT COMMUNITY FIRST - JOIN THE CREDIT UNION TODAY!
events march + april
calendar of MARCH 1 BRIAN SUTHERLAND LIVE The Boiler Room - 313 N Court Street, Florence, AL @ 8 PM
2 MULE DAY PAGEANT Cherry Theater at Columbia State - 1665 Hampshire Pike, Columbia, TN @ 7 PM
17TH ANNUAL JERRY BROWN ARTS FESTIVAL Tombigbee Cooperative - 3196 County Hwy 55, Hamilton, AL @ 9 AM
3 17TH ANNUAL JERRY BROWN ARTS FESTIVAL Tombigbee Cooperative - 3196 County Hwy 55, Hamilton, AL @ 10 AM
SUNDAY SOCIAL BOWLING LEAGUE Tenn Pin Alley - 730 Mooresville Pike, Columbia, TN @ 6 PM
6 YOGA AT THE LIBRARY Cullman County Public Library System - 200 Clark Street NE, Cullman, AL @ 11:30 AM
TRIVIA NIGHT Bistro 822 - 822 S Main Street, Columbia, TN @ 6 PM
OPEN MIC NIGHT Flobama - 311 N Court Street, Florence, AL @ 10 PM
7 THE ENCHANTED BOOKSHOP Shoals Community Theatre - 123 N Seminary Street, Florence, AL @ 7 PM
22
CALENDAR
BRAINBLAST TRIVIA Grumpy’s Italian Grill - 402 5th Street SW, Cullman, AL @ 7:30 PM
8 THE ENCHANTED BOOKSHOP Shoals Community Theatre - 123 N Seminary Street, Florence, AL @ 7 PM
RADIO FARM Bistro 822 - 822 S Main Street, Columbia, TN @ 7 PM
COFFEE BLACK LIVE
13 YOGA AT THE LIBRARY Cullman County Public Library System - 200 Clark Street NE, Cullman, AL @ 11:30 AM
TRIVIA NIGHT Bistro 822 - 822 S Main Street, Columbia, TN @ 6 PM
OPEN MIC NIGHT Flobama - 311 N Court Street, Florence, AL @ 10 PM
14 BRAINBLAST TRIVIA Grumpy’s Italian Grill - 402 5th Street SW, Cullman, AL @ 7:30 PM
15 THE ENCHANTED BOOKSHOP
TREE DAY Maury County Park - 705 Lion Parkway, Columbia, TN @ 8 AM
2019 HANCEVILLE IRISH HERITAGE FESTIVAL Downtown, Hanceville, AL @ 9 AM
THE ENCHANTED BOOKSHOP Shoals Community Theatre - 123 N Seminary Street, Florence, AL @ 7 PM
GIRLS NIGHT OUT THE SHOW Cowboys Dance Hall and Saloon - 1819 Carmack Boulevard, Columbia, TN @ 8 PM
CHERRY BOMB! Ember’s Tavern and Grille - 2513 Hospitality Drive, Columbia, TN @ 9 PM
17 THE ENCHANTED BOOKSHOP
Shoals Community Theatre - 123 N Seminary Street, Florence, AL @ 7 PM
Shoals Community Theatre - 123 N Seminary Street, Florence, AL @ 2 PM
COSMIC
SUNDAY SOCIAL BOWLING LEAGUE
Bistro 822 - 822 S. Main Street, Columbia, TN @ 7 PM
Tenn Pin Alley - 730 Mooresville Pike, Columbia, TN @ 6 PM
On The Rocks - 110 N Court Street, Florence, AL @ 9:30 PM
9 SOUTHERN GHOST GIRLS TOURS AND PARANORMAL INVESTIGATIONS Berkeley Bob’s Coffee House - 304 1st Avenue SE, Cullman, AL @ 6:30 PM
THE ENCHANTED BOOKSHOP Shoals Community Theatre - 123 N Seminary Street, Florence, AL @ 7 PM
RESTORE THE ATHENAEUM AND INVESTIGATE ROSE HILL CEMETERY WITH HT 800 Athenaeum Street, Columbia, TN @ 7 PM
WIZARD OF OZ The Building Block School for the Arts - 700 Woodland Street, Columbia, TN @ 7 PM
POCKET VINYL’S WORLD RECORD TOUR COMES TO COLUMBIA, TN! Bistro 822 - 822 S Main Street, Columbia, TN @ 8 PM
10 SUNDAY SOCIAL BOWLING LEAGUE Tenn Pin Alley - 730 Mooresville Pike, Columbia, TN @ 6 PM
THE END
16 63RD ANNUAL PANCAKE DAY Cullman High School - 510 13th Street NE, Cullman, AL @ 6 AM
SHAMROCK SHUFFLE 5K/1M COLOR RUN East Elementary School - 608 4th Avenue SE, Cullman, AL @ 8 AM
CULLMAN ST. PATRICK’S CELEBRATION 2019 Cullman Parks, Recreation & Sports Tourism - 510 5th Street SW, Cullman, AL @ 8 AM
20 YOGA AT THE LIBRARY Cullman County Public Library System - 200 Clark Street NE, Cullman, AL @ 11:30 AM
TRUETT LIVE Swampers Bar & Grille - 10 Hightower Place, Florence, AL @ 12 PM
TRIVIA NIGHT Bistro 822 - 822 S Main Street, Columbia, TN @ 6 PM
OPEN MIC NIGHT
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Flobama - 311 N Court Street, Florence, AL @ 10 PM
QUILTERS THE MUSICAL
21
Maury County Arts Guild - 705 Lion Parkway, Columbia, TN @ 7 PM
BRAINBLAST TRIVIA
BRANDON WHYDE LIVE
Grumpy’s Italian Grill - 402 5th Street SW, Cullman, AL @ 7:30 PM
The Boiler Room - 313 N Court Street, Florence, AL @ 8 PM
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30
ALABAMA STATE 3D NASP IBO TOURNAMENT
MARCH MADNESS GOLF TOURNAMENT Cross Creek Golf Course - 2321 County Road 490, Hanceville, AL @ 11 AM
Cullman Civic Center - 510 5th Street SW, Cullman, AL @ 8 AM
23
QUILTERS THE MUSICAL Maury County Arts Guild - 705 Lion Parkway, Columbia, TN @ 7 PM
ALABAMA STATE 3D NASP IBO TOURNAMENT Cullman Civic Center - 510 5th Street SW, Cullman, AL @ 8 AM
31
GROWING MICROGREENS
QUILTERS THE MUSICAL
Columbia Arts Building - 307 W 11th Street, Columbia, TN @ 10:30 AM
Maury County Arts Guild - 705 Lion Parkway, Columbia, TN @ 2 PM
UNDERWOOD-PETERSVILLE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT MONTHLY FISH FRY
SUNDAY SOCIAL BOWLING LEAGUE
Underwood-Petersville Volunteer Fire Department - 4661 Highway 157, Florence, AL @ 2 PM
Tenn Pin Alley - 730 Mooresville Pike, Columbia, TN @ 6 PM
MULE DAY 2019 Bistro 822 - 822 S Main Street, Columbia, TN @ 12 PM
BLOOMIN’ FESTIVAL ARTS AND CRAFTS FAIR St. Bernard’s Prep School, Cullman, AL @ 9 AM
APRIL
SUNDAY SOCIAL BOWLING LEAGUE
2
Tenn Pin Alley - 730 Mooresville Pike, Columbia, TN @ 6 PM
TWIN KENNEDY
25 IMPRACTICAL JOKERS “THE CRANJIS MCBASKETBALL” WORLD COMEDY TOUR Von Braun Center - 700 Monroe Street SW, Huntsville, AL @ 7:30 PM
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Wallace State Community College 801 Main Street NW, Hanceville, AL @ 7 PM
3 YOGA AT THE LIBRARY Cullman County Public Library System - 200 Clark Street NE, Cullman, AL @ 11:30 AM
YOGA AT THE LIBRARY Cullman County Public Library System - 200 Clark Street NE, Cullman, AL @ 11:30 AM
TRIVIA NIGHT Bistro 822 - 822 S Main Street, Columbia, TN @ 6 PM
TRIVIA NIGHT Bistro 822 - 822 S Main Street, Columbia, TN @ 6 PM
6
OPEN MIC NIGHT -
BOB ROSS OIL PAINTING CLASS
Flobama - 311 N Court Street, Florence, AL @ 10 PM
Hobby Lobby - 1658 Town Square SW, Cullman, AL @ 9:30 AM
28 BRAINBLAST TRIVIA
ROCKIN’ THE MOMENT, FAME RECORDING, KISS FM BATTLE OF THE BANDS
Grumpy’s Italian Grill - 402 5th Street SW, Cullman, AL @ 7:30 PM
Florence-Lauderdale Coliseum 702 Veterans Drive @ 12 PM
2019 FRONTIER DAYS FEATURING CHUCK WAGON RACING Seven Springs Lodge - 1292 Mt. Mills Road, Tuscumbia, AL @ 7 AM
BLOOMIN’ FESTIVAL
YOGA AT THE LIBRARY
Saint Bernard Prep School - 1600 St. Bernard Drive SE, Cullman, AL @ 5 PM
Cullman County Public Library System - 200 Clark Street NE, Cullman, AL @ 11:30 AM
7
TRIVIA NIGHT
BLOOMIN’ FESTIVAL ARTS AND CRAFTS FAIR St. Bernard’s Prep School, Cullman, AL @ 9 AM
10 YOGA AT THE LIBRARY Cullman County Public Library System - 200 Clark Street NE, Cullman, AL @ 11:30 AM
TRIVIA NIGHT Bistro 822 - 822 S Main Street, Columbia, TN @ 6 PM
13
24
24
ALUMNI GAME 2019
Bistro 822 - 822 S Main Street, Columbia, TN @ 6 PM
25 2019 FRONTIER DAYS FEATURING CHUCK WAGON RACING Seven Springs Lodge - 1292 Mt. Mills Road, Tuscumbia, AL @ 7 AM
26 2019 FRONTIER DAYS FEATURING CHUCK WAGON RACING Seven Springs Lodge - 1292 Mt. Mills Road, Tuscumbia, AL @ 7 AM
University of North Alabama One Harrison Plaza, Florence, AL @ 10 AM
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HUNTSVILLE WATER LANTERN FESTIVAL
100 YEAR ANNIVERSARY
Big Spring Park - 200 Church Street SW, Huntsville, AL @ 4 PM
Busy Bee Cafe - 101 5th Street SE, Cullman, AL @ 6 AM
15
2019 FRONTIER DAYS FEATURING CHUCK WAGON RACING
UNA PERCUSSION SYMPOSIUM Norton Auditorium - One Harrison Plaza, Florence, AL @ 9 AM
17 YOGA AT THE LIBRARY Cullman County Public Library System - 200 Clark Street NE, Cullman, AL @ 11:30 AM
TRIVIA NIGHT Bistro 822 - 822 S Main Street, Columbia, TN @ 6 PM
23 2019 FRONTIER DAYS FEATURING CHUCK WAGON RACING Seven Springs Lodge - 1292 Mt. Mills Road, Tuscumbia, AL @ 7 AM
Did you know? A photo of Michael Jordan is hidden in every SET issue from 2012-2017!
Seven Springs Lodge - 1292 Mt. Mills Road, Tuscumbia, AL @ 7 AM
CULLMAN STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL 2019 Depot Park - 309 1st Avenue NW, Cullman, AL @ 8 AM
UNDERWOOD-PETERSVILLE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT MONTHLY FISH FRY Underwood-Petersville Volunteer Fire Department - 4661 Highway 157, Florence, AL @ 2 PM
28 2019 FRONTIER DAYS FEATURING CHUCK WAGON RACING Seven Springs Lodge - 1292 Mt. Mills Road, Tuscumbia, AL @ 7 AM
23
“Back Road ‘Roid Rage” 2 0 0 5 – 2 01 5
THOUGH COONHOUNDS CAN BE DOCILE, KIND AND GENTLER THAN THE BABY IN THE BASSET, THEY ARE FIERCE,
COON DOG CEMETERY ALLOWS PET LEGACIES TO LIVE ON
LEGENDS NEVER
POINTED, FEROCIOUS ANIMALS WITH A LETHAL DEMEANOR.
24
SPECIAL FEATURE
THE END
BY
ANNA GRACE USERY
PHOTOS COURTESY
There is a certain finality in death, even for animals. Last breaths are exhausted, hearts lose their beat and muscles turn tense and cold. But for coon dog owners, the legend of the hunt lives on. One of Alabama’s most famous anomalies, the Key Underwood Coon Dog Cemetery in northwest Alabama, is close to where the Cherokee High School Indians battle on the gridiron every Friday night under the beam of stadium lights. The cemetery serves as the resting place for more than 300 full-blooded coonhounds. These dogs are bred specifically for hunting a pesky southern nuisance—raccoons. Though coonhounds can be docile, kind and gentler than the baby in the basset, they are fierce, pointed, ferocious animals with a lethal demeanor. And just like middle school boys, they need exercise. Once exhaust-
LEE HATTON
ed, though, they can snooze for hours. With a little time, effort and energy, they become a loyal counterpart and trusted hunter. Lee Hatton, of Lexington, Alabama, is on the cemetery’s board of directors. He and several other members keep the lot maintained by cutting the grass, refreshing tattered American flags and preserving the history of the sacred land. He makes it a point to keep his thumb on the pulse of all the cemetery’s happenings. “We’ve had about six or seven inquiries for burial already this year,” he said. Hatton’s tie to the place runs deeper than firing up a John Deere lawnmower on Sundays. He’s an avid hunter who raised a United Kennel Club (UKC) Grand Nite Champion, one of the most elite statuses for competition coon dogs. The English blue tick, named Back Road ‘Roid
Rage “was something else,” Hatton said. Rage, as Hatton liked to call him, passed away when he was 10, after retiring from a full life of competition hunting. Hatton deemed it only natural to bury his beloved hunting dog in the Coon Dog Cemetery in August 2015. Rage’s precision as a hunter was unlike any other four-legged pursuant, but his personality was part of the glue that held the Hatton family together. Lee Hatton’s English Blue Tick “Back Road ‘Roid Rage” is one of many Coon Dogs buried in the cemeter y.
R DIE Coon Dogs are revered hunting dogs — many have been in families for generations.
“My wife said he would cock his head and smile,” Hatton said. “You know, show his teeth a little. I’ve got a grandpuppy of his… does the same thing.”
University of North Alabama grad Jessica Rikard said she never had a coonhound buried in the lot, but she remembers kicking rocks and surveying the land with her Maw Maw and Paw Paw on their way to the “Corn Dog” Cemetery, as she called it in her formative years. “I guess I thought there were coon dog cemeteries everywhere,” she said. “Coon dogs are so important down in the holler where our farmhouse is. My family raised generations on that land. They lived off the land.”
Though she settled down to make a living in Huntsville, Rikard said she has dreams of making the sleepy little camping post a home of her own one day. “I want to retire there some day and build a cabin,” she said, almost as if she was sitting on her future front porch, sweet tea in hand.
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need a pick-me-up? TURN THE PAGE
“Please be careful with fire,” a sign reads upon entering the grassy lot. “Only graveyard of its kind in the world.” It’s the same sign producers of the hit movie “Sweet Home Alabama” borrowed to recreate the cemetery scene at the grave of Bear — the predecessor of Bryant, the coonhound featured in the movie. The dogs were named for the University of Alabama’s longstanding football coach Paul “Bear” Bryant, revealing that even in Hollywood
“PLEASE BE CAREFUL
T HE L AY O F T HE L AND
Her ancestral relationship to the area came almost a century before owners broke ground on the cemetery in 1937. Her fifth great-grandfather, William Rikard, emigrated to the Shoals area from Germany. They raised 12 kids in a two-room farmhouse near what would become the cemetery. The farmhouse burned down in 2009, but she and her family still visit to enjoy the land that impacted previous generations.
Choose your own adventure
NO THI NG EL S E L I KE I T ANY W HE RE
2
WITH FIRE,” A SIGN READS UPON ENTERING THE GRASSY LOT. “ONLY GRAVEYARD OF ITS KIND IN THE WORLD.”
eled Troop’s name on chimney rock to mark the occasion. “He never intended for this to be a cemetery,” Hatton said. “He was just doing what he thought was best for Troop, and it caught on.” Not just any droopy-eared pup can be laid to rest in the cemetery. To be buried in the cemetery, the coonhound owner must clarify three things: 1) the pet is an authentic coon dog, 2) a witness says the pet was an authentic coon dog, and 3) a member of the Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard, Inc. must view the coonhound and declare it as such. Hatton added that the burial fee is $100 and if a hunter is not able to provide paperwork for the dog, he or she needs to get five affidavits from fellow hunters verifying the dog was a full-blooded hound. Hatton said the board has been busy since the start of the new year. There have been four coonhounds buried in the cemetery in the last three months. “Even had a guy come down from Buffalo, New York,” he said.
The first dog said to be laid to rest in the cemetery was Troop, a faithful hunter belonging to Mr. Key Underwood, the cemetery’s namesake.
In the South, death is something to be celebrated, and to mark the inaugural burial of Troop on Labor Day in 1937, townspeople and residents throw a good ol’ fashioned shindig. The Labor Day celebration is one of the biggest events of the year in the area. The Friends of the Coon Dog Cemetery host the annual festival onsite, boasting a lineup of entertainment fit for a family including music, dancing, food and even a liar’s contest. Attendees can snag an official Coon Dog Cemetery T-shirt or equip their next hunt with an official camouflage cap.
Supposedly, Underwood chose the spot because of its significance to the coon dog hunting world—it was a social gathering place and infamous camp where hunters would put their hounds on display.
To find the cemetery, start out 7 miles west of Tuscumbia on U.S. Hwy 72. Turn left on Alabama Hwy 247, then travel approximately 12 miles. Turn right on Coondog Cemetery Road and follow the signs to coondog haven.
Legend has it that on Labor Day 1937, Underwood buried his beloved Troop three feet deep in the soft Alabama clay and chis-
“Be sure and sign the guest book while you’re out there,” Hatton said. “Nothing else like it in the world.”
stereotypes ring true. Hatton said he was happy to oblige and allowed the film crew to use it as a prop. However, Lee says, the crew forgot one small thing – they never returned the sign. He recreated the sign as best he could, he said, to remark the cemetery for visitors. “It was kind of funny that happened,” he said, laughing.
say a final goodbye
GO TO PAGE 30
25
Homegoing JOIN US FOR SET’S
ce l e b r a t i o n
t a h W
BY
TOSHA-PAIGE WHITTEN, JIMMIE WAITES, AND EMMA ROBERSON
REVISITING OUR FIRST FEATURE
APORKALYPSE? Hey, bacon-doomsday-preppers! You can stop the stocking up and weeping now. The Aporkalypse is officially over. So many things have happened while you’ve been in denial about the 2012 bacon shortage — the obsession over bacon has exploded. There’s now bacon toothpaste, bacon dental floss, bacon candy, bacon neck ties, bacon nail polish, bacon food trucks… The list goes on and on. The media has claimed the bacon shortage was fake news to drive up demand for the supply of this delicacy. News channels have blamed hurricanes, crop shortages and droughts for the decline in the pork industry. It was a tumultuous time. On the upside, Joey Chestnut — featured in our debut fall 2012 issue — has continued his bacon-eating contest pursuits. This pro-bacon eater consumed 7.75 pounds in under eight minutes to claim the title as the No. 1 Baconfest World Bacon Eating Champion in 2017. Obviously, he was unfazed by the bacon shortage of 2012 as there had to be plenty of practice to obtain this highly coveted award. During this “shortage,” we became creative with our bacon usage. We found different uses to stretch the “life” of bacon, and now that there is an abundance of the sacred meat, now is the opportune time to explore the littleknown perks of bacon (as if we needed more reasons to love it):
1. BACON CAN HELP GET OUT SPLINTERS.
Take a piece of bacon fat. Wrap it around the impaled body part. Tape it up with a Band-Aid and leave it for a few hours. The splinter will magically be drawn out by the bacon.
2. BACON GREASE CAN BE USED TO MAKE CANDLES. All you need to do is pour bacon fat into a small glass container. After the fat comes to room temp, drill a hole in the solidified grease to add the wick. Some people go so far to put the melted grease back into their food. We’re not saying we recommend this, but we’re not saying we didn’t try it, either.
3. BACON CAN CURE NOSEBLEEDS. Basically, roll the raw bacon up and shove it up your nose. The high salt content of bacon is said to induce swelling which causes the blood vessels to constrict slowing the flow of blood and helping to clot the blood. (Please consult your physician before attempting.)
4. EVER HAD SCABIES?
You may not be a 14th century pirate, but you wouldn’t wish this on your worst enemy. However, there is a cure and it’s… yep… bacon.
5. FOR YOUR NEXT CAMPING TRIP, TRY BACON FIRE STARTERS. You’re sure to smell good and attract all the right friends. Roll up a single paper towel and place it in a paper cup. Pour in a little bacon grease. Refrigerate. Pull out one or two cups out the next time you make a killer campfire.
6. NEED TO SHINE UP THOSE LEATHER SHOES TO IMPRESS YOUR BOSS? A smidge of bacon grease is the perfect remedy to shine those scuffed-up wingtips and stilettos.
7. WE LIVE IN THE SOUTH. Bugs are a for-sure problem on those nice crisp evenings in the backyard. Bacon to the rescue! All you need is a container filled with part bacon grease part vegetable oil and set it out in a common bug area. The dynamic duo will attract the bugs to a thick vat beyond return.
Simply rephrased from Bubba Gump, “Bacon is the fruit of the land. You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, sauté it. Then there’s, uh, bacon-kabobs, bacon creole, bacon gumbo. Pan-fried, deep-fried, stirfried. There’s pineapple bacon, lemon bacon, coconut bacon, pepper bacon, bacon soup, bacon stew, bacon salad, bacon and potatoes, bacon burger, bacon sandwich. That—that’s about it.” WWW.GETSETMAG.COM
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SPOTLIGHT
@drharrisb393 Florence, Alabama
COFFEE BLACK
25
SPOTLIGHT SPOTLIGHT
Theatre
ALLIE KILLIAN
E, AL
RY 26
FLORENC
JANUA
@ Shoals
Henry C ho
L A , S L A O H S E L • MUSC TH
MADDISON STACY AND SOPHIA COURTNEY
DARIEN HARRIS
s ’ y p m a h C @ k JA NUARY c la
S P O T L IGH T P HO T OGR A P HE R :
THE END
Coffee B
JONATHAN GOMEZ
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Sil e n t Di s c o
SHOKO AOYAMA, RUNA KOTOKU, KONOSUKE SAKAGUCHI, ANAY ROJRA AND SURYA PARTAP SINGH
FLOR E N C E , A L
@ U N A • J A N . 17
BROOK ELYLES, JORDAN THOMPSON, TAYLOR BERRY AND MARK PERKINS
DANIEL LA GRAVE
SPOTLIGHT
29
VENIMUS In 2012, founder Chris Anderson saw a need in the area for a magazine by and for young adults age 15-29. High-brow and niche magazines existed, but none for today’s youth and tomorrow’s adults; none that let us have fun, but also got serious about topics in our communities.
right down the street. We even gave great fashion advice (hair flip)! We guided you through your dreams, through music, through the holidays. But we never stopped growing and thinking about new, innovative ways to look at what was happening around us. We had over 100 contributors from cities all over the South. We held countless brainstorm sessions, deadlines, photo shoots and interviews. We featured thousands of local events in our calendar and hundreds of opportunities to throw our readers’ beautiful faces in the spotlight.
From Columbia, Tennessee, to the Shoals to Cullman, Alabama, there wasn’t a medium specifically for north Alabama/southern Tennessee youth that showcased amazing things happening in our portion of the South. We decided that needed to change.
We did that.
VIDIMUS
VICIMUS
Enter the “Aporkalypse.” Our first issue was fun-loving but advice-giving — kind of like having an older sibling, minus the hair-pulling and tattling. We took something mundane, a bacon shortage, and transformed it into something funny but also practical.
“Conquer” is a weird word. Its measurement of success is high, while its details are pretty ambiguous. Like conquering a language, a fear or an enormous feat, it seems that when you know, you know.
We gave you the lowdown on the iPhone 5 (we get it, we’re old), and we talked about real life heroes
30
THE END
Well, we know. SET was and is a fun-loving, innovative way to share knowledge from young adult to young adult. We didn’t see what we wanted to in the
news or on TV, but we had ideas and recommendations to share regarding our hometowns, our favorite coffee shops, our favorite parks and our favorite people.
Our sincere hope is that fostering this relationship with local businesses and our communities put you on the path to continuing to learn and love this region. We hope we got you hooked on a nonprofit that shares your passion, a movie you’d never heard of or a sandwich in a restaurant you’d missed. We hope we inspired you to see what sets us apart from the rest of the world. We hope you’ll continue loving and learning here. At SET Magazine, like its parent Listerhill Credit Union, we are grateful for you. Yeah, you specifically. We are grateful for the opportunity to hear you, to give you an outlet for your thoughts and passions. We are thankful for the years of followers, and we are so appreciative to those who have emailed, Facebook messaged, DM’ed or otherwise told us who you are and what you’re about. “Veni, vidi, vici.” I came, I saw, I conquered. But really, the old adage is true — there is no “I” in team. So let’s do this the SET way and make it our own, because we’re all about “we.” “Venimus. Vidimus. Vicimus.” WE came. WE saw. WE conquered.
Photo Courtesy Andrea Belk/SET Magazine
Julius Caesar is said to have coined the phrase “I came, I saw, I conquered” as a tribute to the rise of the Roman empire. Seems a little self-absorbed, no? Caesar would not be the world-renowned political aficionado had it not been for the situations that presented themselves to him and his consulate. We like to think the same could be said for SET, our group effort.
SET STAFF
SAYING Goodbye TO SET AND Hello TO THE FUTURE
BY
VEN I M U S V I D I M US V I C I M US
WWW.GETSETMAG.COM
FREESTYLE
The31 End
Thanks for the memories, set readers!