The Pulse - Vol. 6, Issue 36

WEST NILE VIRUS • CHURCH FIRE • FACEBOOK FRAZZLE

Obesity In Chattanooga A Weighty Problem

By Tara Williams

News, Views, Arts & Entertainment • September 3-9, 2009 • Volume 6, Issue 36 • www.chattanoogapulse.com • pulse news 95.3 WPLZ

CONTENTS T H E P U L S E • C H AT TA N O O G A , T E N N E S S E E • S E P T E M B E R 3 , 2 0 0 9 • V O L U M E 6 , I S S U E 3 6

COVER STORY

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NEWS & VIEWS 9 SHRINK RAP

22 SHADES OF GREEN

Compassion ignites.

A new columnist, a new leaf.

14 LIFE IN THE NOOG

29 ASK A MEXICAN

Facebook is wearing Chuck out.

Not getting married in the morning.

20 ON THE BEAT Negotiations: Black Bottom style.

ARTS & FEATURES 16 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT By Alison Burke On Friday, Sept 4, local design and screen-print collective Young Monster teams up with AVA and the local chapter of AIGA to present the Chattanooga premiere of Died Young, Stayed Pretty, Eileen Yaghoobian’s highly anticipated film about rock posters and the people who make them.

23 WINE SELLER By Joshua Hurley Last week, Riley’s Wine and Spirits on Hixon Pike introduced the first in a series of 13 weekly selections of “Great Buys of the Week”. If you missed last week, we’re picking some of our favorites from our selection of wine, ports, Scotches, bourbons, vodkas, rums, whiskeys, gins, tequilas, and other spirits and sharing them with Pulse readers

24 MUSICAL FEATURE Cover layout by Kelly Lockhart

OBESITY IN CHATTANOOGA: A WEIGHTY PROBLEM

By Tara Williams Tennessee has fourth highest obesity rate in the country. We grew up on mama’s good Southern home cookin’…biscuits n’ gravy, fried everything, and veggies cooked in enough butter to rival Paula Deen any day. Most of us would not be shocked to find out that according to the F as in Fat Report, released by the Trust for America’s Health this past July, Southern states comprise 11 of the top 15 “most obese” states. A more sobering report finding is that all 10 states with the highest rates of diabetes and hypertension are in the South, along with eight of the 10 states with the highest rates of physical inactivity.

By Hellcat Well, it appears The Features have finally caught a break, and it is about time. The Features have been a band since 1994; the lineup being Matt Pelham on guitar and Roger Dabbs, as it has been from the beginning, and Parrish Yaw on keys and Rollum Haas on drums. They have had a pretty constant buzz around them since they released their first EP in 1997.

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EDITOON LETTERS TO THE EDITOR PULSE BEATS CITY COUNCILSCOPE THE LIST POLICE BLOTTER

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A&E CALENDAR NEW IN THEATERS MUSIC CALENDAR NEW MUSIC REVIEWS MYSTICAL DUDE'S HOROSCOPE JONESIN’ CROSSWORD

The entire contents of this publication are copyrighted and property of Brewer Media Group.

No part of this publication may be reproduced in any manner without the express written consent of the publishers. The Pulse utilizes freelance writers and the views expressed within this publication are not necessarily the views of the publishers or editors. The Pulse takes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs, artwork or other materials.

The

Editoon

by Rick Baldwin

Publisher Zachary Cooper zcooper@chattanoogapulse.com Contributing Editor Janis Hashe jhashe@chattanoogapulse.com News Editor Gary Poole gpoole@chattanoogapulse.com Advertising Sales Rick Leavell rleavell@chattanoogapulse.com Leif Sawyer leif@brewermediagroup.com Contributing Writers Gustavo Arellano Alison Burke Chuck Crowder Michael Crumb Hellcat Victoria Hurst Molly Iles Phillip Johnston Matt Jones Kelly Lockhart Ernie Paik Rick Pimental-Habib, Ph.D. Stephanie Smith Alex Teach Julian Venable Tara Williams Editorial Interns Molly Iles Tara Morris

Letters to the Editor

Art Director Kelly Lockhart Art Department Sharon Chambers Kathryn Dunn Damien Power Staff Photographer Damien Power Editorial Cartoonist Rick Baldwin Contact Info: Phone (423) 648-7857 Fax (423) 648-7860 E-mail info@chattanoogapulse.com Advertising advertising@chattanoogapulse.com Calendar Listings calendar@chattanoogapulse.com The Pulse is published weekly and is distributed throughout the city of Chattanooga and surrounding communities. The Pulse is available free of charge, limited to one copy per reader. No person without written permission from the publishers may take more than one copy per weekly issue. The Pulse may be distributed only by authorized distributors.

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1305 Carter Street Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402 phone (423) 648-7857 fax (423) 648-7860 Letters to the editor must include name, address and daytime phone number for verification. The Pulse reserves the right to edit letters for space and clarity. Please keep letters within 500 words in length.

The Pulse covers a broad range of topics concentrating on culture, the arts, entertainment and local news.

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Music Industry Greed On July 4th, 1975 I was in Memphis, with 55,000 others, partying in the Liberty Bowl. We were there for music and music we got [“Band On The Run”, Life In The Noog]. Charlie Daniels kicked things off, then came The Meters out of New Orleans. As the sun set on came J. Geil’s Band, one of the hottest acts of the ’70’s. Around 9:00 the headliner hit the stage. You may have heard of them, The Rolling Stones. I paid ten bucks for the ticket.

I know, ten dollars?! On their last tour The Stones were asking a little more for a ‘good’ ticket. 450 smackers. And

that was the ‘face value’ of the damn thing, to actually get it in your hand you probably had to shell out double or more because you had to go through a ticket broker to get it.

How did we get to this sorry state?

It’s tempting to blame Ticketmaster and Live Nation and they are certainly part of the problem, but we’re to blame too. With the advent of the internet CD sales have dropped 50% since 2000. Recorded music is now free for many people, not you of course, you’d never download music without paying for it would you?

So live performance is now how artists make the big bucks, and not just the musicians but pretty much the whole music industry is now dependent on concert ‘events’. In a situation like this it’s only natural that greed would raise its ugly head.

David Durham Chattanooga Double Standards It is frustrating that some people like to focus on what events will raise the most publicity and ride that gravy train [“After-Action Report: A Community Ambush Meeting”, On The Beat]. While there are similar problems happening that organizations decide won’t benefit them if they spend

time on it. Double standards make no friends.

Josh Sargon Chattanooga Annexation Frustration Why wasn’t annexation an issue in the mayoral election we just had? Our mayor has no mandate from us to annex anything, let alone a mandate from his targets. He’s not the first.

Did Corker run on two-way? Did Kinsey run on seizing the waterworks?

When signatures were collected to put two-way to popular vote, did Mayor Corker allow a vote, or frustrate one?

Sneaky. Sneaky. Sneaky.

Andrew Lohr Chattanooga Hughes A Legend For All Dude, really? “Ask anyone who’s not between the ages of 35 and 45 about John Hughes and they’ll probably have to think real hard, and then give up.” [“Anyone? Anyone? Hughes?”, Life In The Noog] You’re living in a fantasy world. This man is a legend and God amongst mere film making mortals! We KNOW who he is. We only wish we could have known him when you did.

Loved the piece!

David McAfee Chattanooga

Send all letters to the editor and questions to info@chattanoogapulse.com We reserve the right to edit letters for content and space. Please include your full name, city and contact information.

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Pulse Beats

Quote Of The Week: A rundown of the newsy, the notable, and the notorious...

“Hopefully the economy will turn around and we’ll be able to do some things that we think would be good for the community that we can’t afford to do now.”

— Chattanooga CHamilton County Mayor Claude Ramsey, talking about the newly proposed $627 million county budget.

West Nile Virus Returns To Town A pool of mosquitoes in Hamilton County has tested positive for West Nile virus, according to ongoing mosquito surveillance conducted by the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department. This is evidence that West Nile virus is present in our community. The Health Department reminds everyone to protect themselves against mosquito bites and to remove potential mosquito habitats from their property.

Mosquito season will continue through late October.

“Although we have had no reported human cases of West Nile virus in Hamilton County, it’s more important than ever that people take steps to protect themselves,” said Bonnie Deakins, Director of Environmental Health Services at the Health Department.

The WNV positive mosquito pool came from Sector 4 which includes zip codes 37350, 37402, 37403 37404, 37406, 37407, 37408, 37409, 37410, 37411, 37419 and 37450. Since the health department has confirmed the presence of West Nile virus in Sector 4, the health department will no longer be accepting birds from Sector 4 for WNV testing.

West Nile virus (WNV) is a virus spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes with WNV get the virus from an infected bird, and are then capable of spreading WNV to humans. Most people who become infected by West Nile virus will have no symptoms at all, but some will develop serious symptoms including high fever, headache, neck stiffness, disorientation, coma, and paralysis. Milder cases of West Nile virus often improve without medical treatment, but people with more severe cases usually need to go to the hospital for intravenous fluids, help with breathing, and nursing care.

The mosquito infection was detected in Hamilton County through the health department’s Mosquito Control’s surveillance program. The surveillance program tests mosquitoes for West Nile virus, and initiates control measures to reduce or eliminate the spread of infected mosquitoes. The health department fogs for mosquitoes throughout Hamilton County as necessary, and regularly inspects and treats about 300 areas that contain standing water.

“We routinely collect mosquitoes

Here is one of the more interesting agenda items set to be discussed at the September 8 meeting of the Chattanooga City Council.

7. Resolutions:

throughout the county and test them for infection,” said Bonnie Deakins.

“With this evidence of West Nile virus activity, we are encouraging residents of Hamilton County to remain diligent in applying repellent and eliminating standing water on their properties.”

Since mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water, individuals and businesses can help control the mosquitoes by eliminating breeding sites on their own property. Anything that collects standing water can become a breeding ground for the type of mosquitoes that

transmit WNV, so it’s very important to empty or eliminate objects which hold water, especially after rainfall.

Hamilton County residents who want to report a dead crow, blue jay or robin in areas other than Sector 4, or who know of mosquito-breeding areas not currently inspected, should call Environmental Health Services at the health department, (423) 209-8110. If you experience an intolerable level of mosquitoes at your property, call the mosquito hotline at (423) 209-8117 to request spraying.

Real Food For Real Kids The Time for Lunch campaign is asking people everywhere to contact their legislators and tell them to invest in the health of our children by allocating $1 more per day per child for lunch.

To support this idea locally, Greenlife Grocery and the Chattanooga chapter of Slow Food are partnering for the National Day of Action on Labor Day to tell Congress to provide America’s children with real food at school.

The Child Nutrition Act, the bill that governs the National School Lunch Program, is up for reauthorization in Congress this fall. Local Slow Food members believe, “By passing a Child Nutrition Act that works for children, our nation can take the first step towards a future where no child is denied his or her right to be healthy and where every child enjoys real food.

With nearly 32 percent of children ages 2 to 19 considered obese or overweight, and one in three born since 2000 in jeopardy of developing diabetes in their lifetime, providing schools with real food is a national priority.”

The USDA currently reimburses schools $2.57 for each meal served to a student who qualified for free lunch. Most of this covers labor, equipment and overhead costs, and less than $1 goes toward actual ingredients. The campaign also seeks to protect against foods that put children at risk by establishing strong standards for all food sold at school, including food from vending machines and school fast food.

The campaign is also pushing Congress for a federal policy that provides funding to teach children healthy eating habits through innovative programs such as farm-toschool initiatives and school gardens.

The Chattanooga Time for Lunch Event will take place September 7 in Riverview Park, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Featured will be activities for children, recipe contests and information on how people can help get healthier food in schools.

e) A resolution requesting an opinion from the Attorney General of the State of Tennessee with regard to the authority of the Chattanooga City Council to enact an ordinance that would give preference to contractors that utilize local labor.

It’s pretty obvious that local governments would really prefer to be able to award their various construction and labor contracts to local businesses. It’s just good government, and has the added benefit of returning tax money back into the local economy.

Yet there are a myriad of legal issues that have to be resolved before the city can make such preferential treatment a legal part of the way it conducts its business. Thus, this resolution, which would formally ask the state attorney general for his official opinion of the legality of such a resolution.

Furthermore, it’s encouraging to see the current council soliciting this type of opinion before a resolution is passed, if only as a way to avoid any future potential lawsuit from non-local contractors.

When we live in such a litigious society, where people sue over everything from hot coffee to having gun-toting people shot by police, any steps that can be made to prevent legal problems down the road is to be commended.

The Chattanooga City Council meets each Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the City Council Building at 1000 Lindsay St. For more information on the agendas, visit www.Chattanooga.gov/City_ Council/110_Agenda.asp

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A weekly roundup of the newsworthy, notable and often head-scratching stories gleaned from police reports from the Chattanooga Police Department, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, the Bradley County Sheriff’s Department and the Dalton Police Department.

Just How Big Is Wal-Mart?

1. Americans spend $36,000,000 at Wal-Mart every hour of every day.

2. This works out to $20,928 profit every minute!

3. Wal-Mart will sell more from January 1 to St. Patrick’s Day (March 17) than Target sells all year.

4. Wal-Mart is bigger than Home Depot + Kroger + Target + Sears + Costco + K-Mart combined.

5. Wal-Mart employs 1.6 million people and is the largest private employer in the country.

6. Wal-Mart is the largest company in the history of the world.

7. Wal-Mart now sells more food than Kroger and Safeway combined, and keep in mind they did this in only 15 years.

• Another week, another bad driver, another major drug bust. It’s just amazing how poorly drug dealers perform behind the wheel, as another drug arrest results from a routine traffic stop.

A Chattanooga police officer stopped a man for doing 67 mph in a 55 mph zone. During the stop, the driver consented to a search of the vehicle, which resulted in the discovery of three baggies in different parts of the car. The baggies contained a couple of different mixtures of methamphetamine, as well as a stash of hydrocodone pills. Once the driver was arrested, he also turned over yet another bag of meth that he had hidden in the crotch of his pants.

• When your own mother won’t come get you after you’re busted for shoplifting, you know you are not going to have a good day. Loss prevention officers at a large Brainerd retail store stopped two young men they had observed concealing various items in their clothes. When the two tried to walk out of the store without paying for the items, valued at just over $100, they were stopped and police were called.

• Sometimes being nice just doesn’t pay. A man was washing clothes in his apartment laundry room when he was approached by two women who asked if he could give them a ride. He borrowed a friend’s pickup truck and drove the two women to Lattimore Street.

Once they arrived, one of the women borrowed his cell phone and walked to some nearby apartments. However, while he was waiting for the woman to return, a pair of men came up, pulled a gun on him, and relieved him of his wallet and the keys to the truck. To add insult to injury, the friend who owned the truck did not have a spare key, so he had to pay to have the pickup towed back to his own residence.

• Every so often, it’s a good idea to remind everyone not to leave anything valuable in your vehicle if you can help

Chattanooga Street Scenes

8. During this same period, 31 supermarket chains sought bankruptcy (including WinnDixie).

9. Wal-Mart now sells more food than any other store in the world.

10. Wal-Mart has approximately 3,900 stores in the USA, of which 1,906 are Super Centers; this is 1,000 more than it had five years ago.

11 This year 7.2 billion different purchasing experiences will occur at a Wal-Mart store. (Earth’s population is approximately 6.5 billion, as a comparison.)

12. Ninety percent of all Americans live within 15 miles of a Wal-Mart

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One man was given a citation and released into the custody of grandmother. However, when the mother of the other young man was called to come pick him up, she refused. So he ended up in the Juvenile Detention Center, where hopefully he learned a valuable lesson.

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it. A pair of roommates on Rosewood Drive found that someone had broken into their vehicles overnight. Among the items stolen were three bottles of expensive cologne and a wallet containing a driver’s license, credit cards and several important papers. It’s also always a good idea if you do have something valuable inside that you lock your doors. Otherwise, you could end up like a man on King Arthur Road, who discovered that someone had stolen his GPS unit out of his unlocked SUV. Nearly every week there are police reports about thefts just like this, all of which could have been prevented (or at least lessened) with a simple application of common sense.

Photography by Kelly Lockhart

Finding a shady spot at the Chattanooga Zoo.

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Shrink Rap

A Church Burned and Compassion Was Ignited

By Rick Pimental-Habib, Ph.D www.DrRPH.com

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church burned to the ground last week. As I drove back to my old neighborhood, I could feel a tightening knot in my stomach.

Something compelled me to see the charred grounds, to gaze upon the remnants of wood, stained glass and brick, and to feel the sadness.

As you all know by now, the beautiful, old, venerable St. Elmo United Methodist Church caught fire and burned. It is now known that the reason was worn, faulty wiring, as is found in many of these old churches, and not caused by arson nor by a hate crime.

One of the many sad pieces of this story is that the media, in the way the media does, was quick to jump on the sensational possibility that because this church is known to be “liberal,” that the fire was intentional. Is that what happens when one congregation’s belief is different from another, more conservative, belief? They start a Christian war? Do we understand the oxymoron of “Christian war?” To be Christian, or “Christ-like,” is to simply follow in the path of Christ. What do wars, fires, and hate have to do with a path of love, forgiveness, and compassion?

No, that’s not what happened.

When I spoke with the pastor and my good friend, Mark Dowell, he said, “We don’t stir up hate here. Our only agenda is to love people, and to come together to love God.” And he spoke of hope of rebuilding this church, this

spiritual home to many.

Yes, this church is inclusive, wonderfully diverse, and open to all who love God. There’s nothing hateful going on in this church. Attend just once and you get that. This was the first church I landed in when I came to Chattanooga, and I made some great friends there. I can vouch for this: Honesty, love, and acceptance is what this church is all about.

One of the delightful pieces of this story, however, is how other nearby congregations—even ones that likely do not believe or worship in the exact same ways as this UMC does—opened their doors and offered their help.

What a wonderful message: We may be different, but you’re welcome here.

If you absorb just one message from this story, absorb this: Open your envelope just one more inch in order to understand another person; sit, momentarily with some discomfort, in service to this understanding; in relationships, in families, in churches, in neighborhoods and communities, manifest this: the overwhelmingly positive, inclusive, and esteemenhancing message that yes, we’re different…and you’re welcome here.

Just imagine, right now, hearing this from the person or people you most want to hear it from. Perhaps loved ones, family, old fractured friendships.

You’re different from me, and you’re welcome here. We’re not going to war over this. C’mon, we’re going to lunch.

A church burned to the ground last week and it’s a shame that it takes a fire to ignite this level of compassion. But several churches rose to the occasion for St. Elmo UMC, just as St. Elmo UMC would have done for them. No agenda

but love; no labels to keep anyone out.

Just open arms to say that if you need us, we’re here.

As I sit with quiet sorrow, I also sit with hope for the future. I will leave you with several of my favorite meditations. First, from Dr. Jon KabatZinn, author and director of the Center for Mindfulness and visionary at the Mind and Life Institute: “Mindful dialogue invites true listening, and true listening expands our ways of knowing and understanding. Ultimately, it elevates discourse, and makes it more likely that we will gradually learn and grow from understanding one another’s perspective rather than just fortifying our positions and stereotyping all those who disagree with us.”

Also from Kabat-Zinn: “When a loss stirs great sadness and grief in us, after the wailing and the tears and the tearing of our hair, there comes a time when we have to fall silent. Silence is the ultimate prayer.”

From Montaigne: “When I dance, I dance; when I sleep, I sleep; yes, and when I walk alone in a beautiful orchard, if my thoughts drift to faroff matters for some part of the time I lead them back again to the walk, the orchard, to the sweetness of this solitude, to myself.”

And lastly, from Habitat for Humanity founder Millard Fuller: “For a community to be whole and healthy it must be based on people’s love and concern for each other.”

“One of the delightful pieces of this story is how other nearby congregations— even ones that likely do not believe or worship in the exact same ways as this UMC does—opened their doors and offered their help.”

Dr. Rick Pimental-Habib, Ph.D., is a psychotherapist, minister, and educator, in private practice in Chattanooga, and is the author of “Empowering the Tribe” and “The Power of a Partner.” Visit his web site at www.DrRPH.com where you can email your questions and comments.

vs. Furman, Sat. Sep 12 @ 6:00pm

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Cover Story

Obesity In Chattanooga A Weighty Problem

by Tara Williams

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ennessee has fourth highest obesity rate in the country. We grew up on mama’s good Southern home cookin’…biscuits n’ gravy, fried everything, and veggies cooked in enough butter to rival Paula Deen any day. Most of us would not be shocked to find out that according to the F as in Fat Report, released by the Trust for America’s Health this past July, Southern states comprise 11 of the top 15 “most obese” states. A more sobering report finding is that all 10 states with the highest rates of diabetes and hypertension are in the South, along with eight of the 10 states with the highest rates of physical inactivity.

So while it may not come as a shock that Tennesseans and other Southerners, enjoying an abundance of potluck dinners and food-laden family gatherings, are heavier, it is surprising to find that the Chattanooga area, with all of its parks and greenways, has an obesity rate only slightly lower than the rest of the state. Our city, known for an abundance of outdoor activities and health initiatives, is not much healthier than the rest of the region.

Many speculate that Southern food culture combined with a laid-back, slow-moving personality and excessive summer heat play a part in the South’s weighty issues. Others attribute the avoir dupois to a higher percentage of the population living in poverty, Big Food Industry’s lack of responsibility, or overabundance and overindulgence. All can agree that whatever the factors or combination of factors that contribute to the South’s rising obesity rates and declining health, something needs to be done—and what’s being done now is not working. For the first time, our upcoming generation is predicted to have a shorter life expectancy and a quality of life that is markedly less than that of the current generation.

A concerned health community For Russell Cliche and the office of Hamilton County’s Coordinated School Health (CSH), changing the behaviors of this upcoming generation is key to halting the rampant rise of obesity and obesity-related diseases. From its inception a little more than a year ago, the CSH program has focused on improving students’ health and their capacity to learn through the 95.3 Pulse News www.chattanoogapulse.com 9.3.09 The Pulse

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Cover Story support of families, the community and schools.

“This population is the sickest ever,” says Cliche, “It’s because they’ve been raised by a whole population of adults whose rates of obesity and obesity-related diseases are even worse. It seems that this generation has lost the value of health and how it affects quality of life.”

Cliche points out that as No Child Left Behind heightens the emphasis on academic achievement, it is even more important to address the overall health of the student population. “All the studies have shown that as the student population’s health goes down, academic achievement goes down. It is all connected. Health affects every area of life.”

In light of the current push for a healthcare system overhaul, it is vital to point out that in 2006, obesity-related claims made up more than 9 percent of all healthcare claims, according to a recent study by RTI International, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Additionally, the study shows that an obese person has 42 percent higher medical costs than someone of normal weight. In an already strained healthcare system, that’s an additional estimated $147 billion that can be greatly affected by supporting lifestyle changes and better health initiatives.

Ron Blankenbaker, M.D., member and past chairman of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Health Council, thinks it is unlikely that the current government healthcare reform activities will lessen this strain. “Preventive measures are needed—and they are more expensive in the beginning with the payback coming many years later. Also, studies of the cost of prevention generally do not give any value to improving the quality of life when you prevent disease and disability,” says Dr. Blankenbaker.

“The government and the insurers have generally not wanted to pay to prevent something that may not happen for another 10 or 20 years.”

In her nine years at CIGNA, Human Resources Manager Kristen Levi has seen a lot of changes.

She feels that one of the best is the companywide push toward healthy lifestyles and preventative care. In addition to her role as an employee advocate, Levi is also the Healthy Life Team

“It is surprising to find that the Chattanooga area, with all of its parks and greenways, has an obesity rate only slightly lower than the rest of the state.”

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Leader for Cigna Chattanooga. Levi explains that up until this past year, CIGNA offered many Healthy Life programs online only for employees.

Last year, the company added to the Healthy Life benefits by opening an onsite Healthy Life Care Center. The center includes a clinic staffed with a nurse practitioner and a free fitness facility. It also offers a part-time health advocate to assist with creating individual health plans and a licensed counselor available to assist employees with any personal issues.

“As a provider of health and wellness benefits, CIGNA knows that it is important to help people get healthy and stay healthy,” says Levi. “Our goal is to provide our employees with a health centered environment.”

According to Levi, the Chattanooga location was chosen because of its large population of employees, and health concerns mirroring the trends in the rest of the state. CIGNA Chattanooga is one of only four CIGNA offices that offer the onsite Healthy Life Care Center. Levi says, “Employees love having access to the free fitness center as well as the flexibility to utilize the clinic for preventative care along with chronic and acute illnesses as they arise,” she says.

Levi points out that although employees enjoy the bulk of the program’s benefits, the company also reaps some rewards. “Since last year’s opening of the fitness facility and clinic, employee absences have decreased and morale is much higher,” says Levi. “The happier and healthier our employees, the better they perform and in time, the program will lower medical costs.”

David Banks, PhD, knows the effects of physical health stretch way beyond the medical realm.

This fall, he is drawing on his experience as a psychologist and marriage coach to coordinate with First Things First on implementing the “Let’s Get Physical” marriage

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enrichment class. “It is crucial that couples stay healthy,” says Dr. Banks, “Health affects energy levels, hormones, emotions and mental clarity. If you don’t feel good physically, all areas of your relationships break down.”

Dr. Banks points out that the main focus of his class is not to lose weight but to stay healthy. “I tell people to stop dieting,” he says, “If people are constantly focused on losing weight, relationships suffer…tempers flare, communication falls apart.

I encourage couples to exercise together, cook together and have fun together.”

Step ONE (Optimize with Nutrition and Exercise) also focuses on encouraging lifestyle changes, not just lowering numbers on the scale.

“A diet is not the answer. We are talking about changing the way people eat, an entire lifestyle shift,” says Step ONE program manager, John Bilderback, “That is more of a culture issue rather

Cover Story than an individual issue. It has to do with public policy and public health rather than individual health.

“When you look at the American diet, you see a lot of salt, fat and sugar.

These are three of the most addictive principles in food and Americans, especially in the South, consume way too much of them,” says Bilderback.

“We need to pay more attention to the ingredients we eat. Unfortunately, in a lot of cases, it is difficult to decipher what ingredients are actually in our food. That is something we need to change.”

Through her work at the OCHS Center, Lori Quillen has done extensive research on food and health disparities related to food access. She points out that while our current food production system has been good at providing an abundance of affordable food, it has also created some gaps in which the cheapest food is not the healthiest food.

“We are in strange position now in that it’s cheaper to purchase a bag of Cheetos with a whole list of ingredients than it is to buy a head of broccoli,” says Quillen, “There are policies at every level that need to be addressed.

It’s a complicated issue but is something that we are working on.”

One woman’s story Six years ago, Cindy Pare joined Weight Watchers in order to lose weight for her daughter’s wedding. Over the next two-and-a-half years, Pare lost more than 80 pounds. Today, Pare works as a Weight Watchers

consultant and uses her own experience to encourage others struggling with weight-loss issues.

“Before losing weight, I was comfortable being pleasantly plump. My husband loved me the way I was and I felt good about myself,” says Pare. “But now I see how much better I feel, emotionally and physically, and I don’t want to go back. I am more adventurous now about everything.

When I look at myself, I see someone that has taken control of one of the hardest things to do in my life.” She adds, “Now, the key is not going back to the bad habits that caused me to put the pounds on in the first place.

“The pounds creep up slowly,” says Pare, “especially for women.

People look for a quick fix but a quick fix isn’t going to work on something that has taken years to happen. It takes a complete lifestyle change.”

Pare emphasizes that lifestyle changes need to be permanent in order to sustain a weight loss.

She cites healthy eating habits, exercise, avoiding fast food, limiting caffeine, eating fruits and vegetables, eating whole grains and portion control as important factors in sustaining weight loss.

Pare also points out the importance of addressing reasons for overeating: comfort, security, emotional attachments; and learning to transfer those emotions from food to a healthier behavior. “At my meetings we say ‘food is fuel, not life’,” says Pare. “Once you learn what to buy at the grocery store and you deal with the emotional issues that cause you to overeat, you will be successful and make a huge change in your life.”

“In light of the current push for a healthcare system overhaul, it is vital to point out that in 2006, obesity-related claims made up more than 9 percent of all healthcare claims.”

States with the Highest Obesity Rates 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Mississippi Alabama West Virginia Tennessee South Carolina Oklahoma Kentucky

Source: Trust for America’s Health

8. Louisiana 9. Michigan 10. Arkansas and Ohio 12. North Carolina 13. Missouri 14. Georgia and Texas

Why Measure Obesity?

According to Allyson Cornell, M.D., of Erlanger East Comprehensive Care, obesity is defined by a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or higher. BMI is calculated by using a ratio of your body weight in kilograms to your height in meters squared.

“Basically BMI is a tool used to determine how much you should weigh, based on your height,” says Dr. Cornell. “Physicians use BMI as a tool to determine whether or not someone is at a healthy body weight; and to determine whether they are at risk for developing certain diseases based on their weight.”

She adds, “However, a normal BMI alone is not enough to say someone is ‘healthy’.”

“The higher a person’s BMI, the higher the risk for developing obesity related diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease, elevated lipids, obstructive sleep apnea, and osteoarthritis,” Dr. Cornell explains. “Obesity is also believed to be a contributing factor in the development of several cancers such as colorectal cancer and breast cancer.”

“Obesity from a physiologic standpoint is very simple,” says Dr. Cornell. “It is caused by an imbalance in the calories we take in, and the calories we use.

Unfortunately the psychosocial factors that affect the calories we consume and expend are very complex. That is also where we need to focus attention.”

95.3 Pulse News www.chattanoogapulse.com 9.3.09 The Pulse

13

Life In The Noog

Facebook Is Wearing Me Out

By Chuck Crowder

I

just accepted my 655th friend on Facebook. And believe it or not, it was someone I see on a regular basis and hadn’t “friended” yet—online at least.

The fact they weren’t already in my inner cyber social circle got me wondering how many of my close friends are missing and how many not-so-close friends are in there.

I’m not one to proactively “friend” people or “friend” everyone who asks me. I actually ignore as many friend requests as I accept. I generally ignore just about anyone with whom I haven’t spoken to—in person—within a reasonable amount of time, if ever.

I ignore friends of friends unless they seem like someone I’d like to get to know better. And high school peeps are out for the most part. If I had wanted to stay in touch over the past 24 years, I would have stayed in touch…or hired a private detective to find you by now.

And dare I say it, but I have been known to “unfriend” as well.

Now that doesn’t mean we aren’t actual friends any more (although it likely means we were only acquaintances to begin with). It generally means that either I don’t know you very well, or you have worn out your Facebook welcome.

Too many status updates. Too many survey invites (or results).

Too many Mafia Wars. Too many intangible “gifts” that I can’t use (especially the drugs). Or too many irrelevant and/or embarrassing posts to my wall that have the other 654 of my friends wondering what I was thinking when I friended you in the first place.

Now, I’ve heard of late—I’m slow with technology—that I can just “hide” you from view and that will eliminate having to put up with these social inconveniences without the blatant slap in the face of unfriending you. However, I didn’t know this when I eliminated a couple of dozen or so of my friends a few weeks ago.

Boy was that a mistake.

First of all let me state that, no offense, I could care less if you friend me or not or unfriend me or not. I’ve

14

had more than a few friends do it to me I’m sure. In fact, I’ve noticed a few ex-girlfriends that have decided they could care less what I am up to these days and proactively dropped off my list. That’s fine with me. I probably wouldn’t have even noticed they were gone had I not been searching for another friend of the same name.

Some people though, take the gesture of “unfriending” a little too seriously.

I’ve actually been approached and called out in person by a few of those I’ve decided not to have in my friend list any more. At the time I played dumb and told them I didn’t know how that could have happened. But I do know…and they know I know.

And I admit it now. I deleted them.

But that doesn’t mean I don’t like them as people. It just means that our cyber relationship may have reached its expiration date.

You see, social networking requires a special set of social skills. And these social networking skills are a little different than normal face-toface social skills. When you agree to be someone’s cyber friend, you are entering their life at the same level as anyone else on their list.

You can follow them as much as you want, interact with them more frequently than in real life, and have the opportunity to be as much a part of their lives as anyone in their family or close friends. But with that 24/7, uncensored access comes certain responsibilities. Let me explain.

Likely you have different things in common with different people. And not every one of your how-ever-many friends is interested in the results

The Pulse 9.3.09 www.chattanoogapulse.com 95.3 Pulse News

of “Which 80’s Song Are You?” or appreciates the joint you send around every single freakin’ day or wants you to write “good to see you last night, or should I say this morning, at 2 a.m. last call” on your wall so your boss can easily figure out why you didn’t bother showing up for work. It’s okay to bring this kind of stuff up in person (at the next bar, for example) but to say it online for all 654 of my other friends to see is just not cool.

I signed up for Twitter (under duress) a couple of months ago but have yet to send my first “Tweet.” To me, Twitter takes social networking to a level of “big brother” that I care not enter into. I mean, it’s cool to read that Shaq is chillin’ at a McDonald’s somewhere in Miami at the moment.

And I know, I know, Twitter is great for following news sources and other subjects of interest and isn’t limited to “I’m sitting on the couch. What r u doin?”

But I know my friends, and that’s the kind of Tweets I’d be getting. And to be honest, I really don’t care what 90 percent of my friends are doing right this second.

For me, not knowing is one of the few mysteries of life that I still cherish.

Think about it. If I follow you and you follow me every single step of our lives, then what’s there left to talk about when (or if) we see each other in person. Pretty soon, the request of “I want to get together and catch up with you” or the question of “what have you been up to lately?” will be obsolete. And that’s just plain sad.

Don’t get me wrong, social networking can be a wonderful thing.

I feel more in tune with more people in my life than ever before. I can see pictures of parties, weddings, new babies, vacations and other adventures that provide a unique glimpse into the world of my friends. I can manage my social calendar, look up dates/times/ directions and see who’s going to be where at any given time. And these days, that’s kind of cool. But like all things, social networking is certainly better—in moderation.

Chuck Crowder is a local writer and general man about town. His opinions are just that. Everything expressed is loosely based on fact, and crap he hears people talking about. Take what you just read with a grain of salt, but pepper it in your thoughts. And be sure to check out his wildly popular website www.thenoog.com

“I’ve noticed a few exgirlfriends that have decided they could care less what I am up to these days and proactively dropped off my list. That’s fine with me.”

95.3 Pulse News www.chattanoogapulse.com 9.3.09 The Pulse

15

Arts & Entertainment

Finding The Underground

By Alison Burke

O

n Friday, Sept 4, local design and screen-print collective Young Monster teams up with AVA and the local chapter of AIGA to present the Chattanooga premiere of Died Young, Stayed Pretty, Eileen Yaghoobian’s highly anticipated film about rock posters and the people who make them.

The documentary chronicles Yaghoobian’s travels across the United States and Canada, offering a look into to the world of such gig poster giants as Art Chantry, Brian Chippendale, the Ames Brothers, Print Mafia and Rob Jones, who have worked on posters for bands like Arcade Fire, Broken Social Scene, Radiohead, White Stripes, The Melvins, Ween, Sonic Youth, Pearl Jam, Bob Dylan, Marianne Faithfull— and the list goes on.

The Pulse caught up with director Eileen Yaghoobian, who talked to us about inspiration, rock ’n roll, and the search for the illustrious “Underground.”

Alison Burke: So why make a movie about rock posters? What drew you to this medium in particular?

Eileen Yaghoobian: I was drawn to the cultural and political dialogue that pervaded each piece, as well as the artist’s individual expression of “rock ’n roll.” Passion for art and music is what ultimately drives the poster-art scene, as well as my own interests. I also love the fantasy of the “Underground.” I wanted to see if it existed, and to see if the feelings derived from posters mark out a physical space in comparison. Where is “off the radar?”

feature film with out-of-pocket money.

I lone-wolfed the project, traveled solo for three years, filming on location in Austin, Chicago, Nashville, Seattle, Providence, Calgary, and all across the USA and Canada. Kinda like a band on tour. I tried to match the energy of rock, and equally cut my film like a rock poster. After collecting the 200-something hours of footage, I got Canada Council money to finish the film. At this point, I had enough footage to make four documentaries!

AB: How did the subject matter dictate your approach and presentation?

EY: I wanted the artists in my film to have their own voice to match the aesthetics that make rock posters powerful. With a film like this, you can easily get caught in the traps of the glitter and gloss of rock ’n roll.

If you’re not careful it can sink you.

“I didn’t want to create a façade narrative in the film. I wanted to be ‘true’ to rock ’n roll!”

AB: Well, you certainly looked all over to find it! How did you get from the idea stage to the making of a fulllength film?

EY: I took a risk, and made a

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The Pulse 9.3.09 www.chattanoogapulse.com 95.3 Pulse News

Instead, I chose to go with a story that told what I love most about music and rock posters, which is the community of poster makers and the cultural dialogue that lives in the posters.

I knew that some people would want the traditional documentary structure, and want to be fed information by narration, or by the history of poster art. They want to see facts and truth in a world that blurs the line between fantasy and reality. But that wasn’t the kind of film I wanted to make. I didn’t want to create a façade narrative in the film. I wanted to be “true” to rock ’n roll!! I was very specific about this. I cut it as though I were cut-and-pasting a poster. The history of rock posters is there, but it’s in the location filming.

You can see it in the artist’s worlds.

You see it in the background, in their conversations, studios, spaces and work.

AB: You mentioned “lone-wolfing continued on page 19

A&E Calendar

Send your calendar events to us at calendar@chattanoogapulse.com

Friday

Thursday “Collaboration: Two Decades of African American Art” Artist Panel 6 p.m. Hunter Museum of American Art, 10 Bluff View.

(423) 266-0944. www.huntermuseum.org

“Writing Our Family Stories”

AFFT/Chattanooga Film Commission Quarterly Meeting 6 p.m. Chattanooga Doubletree Hotel, 407 Chestnut St. (423) 894-8927.

Chattanooga Writers Guild facilitates a four-week workshop, beginning tonight.

Free, but reservations required.

The Mystery of the TV Talk Show 7 p.m. Vaudeville Café, 138 Market St. (423) 517-1839.

7 to 9 p.m.

St. Andrews Center, 1918 Union Avenue. (423) 893-5539. cwg@chattanoogawritersguild.org

Pat Godwin 8 p.m. The Comedy Catch, 3224 Brainerd Rd. (423) 629-2233. www.thecomedycatch.com

“Fresh: Emerging Artists” Association for Visual Arts, 30 Frazier Ave. (423) 265-4282.

Fun Fridays Children’s Reading Hour 10:30 a.m. Rock Point Books, 401 Broad St. (423) 756-2855. www.rockpointbooks.com

Died Young, Stayed Pretty Three-part event celebrating Eileen Yaghoobian’s documentary on rock postermakers. (See feature this issue for more information.)

6 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Young Monsters, green/spaces, JJ’s Bohemia. (423) 265-4282.

Saturday

Art Until Dark Noon. Northshore, Frazierr Ave. (423) 413-8999. www.arttildark.com Mystery of the Time Machine 1 p.m. Vaudeville Café, 138 Market St. (423) 517-1839. www.funnydinner.com

Celebrated debut feature about alien refugees in South Africa.

Call for showtimes.

Bijou Theatre, 215 Broad Street.

(423) 265-5220. www.carmike.com

Monday “Speak Easy” spoken word and poetry 8 p.m. Mudpie Restaurant, 12 Frazier Ave. (423) 267-9040.

“New York Cool” Hunter Museum of American Art, 10 Bluff View. (423) 266-0944.

UTC Department of Art Biennial Faculty Exhibit Cress Gallery, 615 McCallie Ave. (423) 425-4371.

“Breaking the Mold” River Gallery, 400 E. Second St. (423) 265-5033. www.river-gallery.com 35th Annivesary Month Exhibit In-Town Gallery, 26A Frazier Ave. (423)267-9214. www. intowngallery.com

“HelloWorld.Show();” Create Here, 55 East Main St. Ste. 105. (423) 648-2195. www.createhere.org “Doulton Delicacies” Houston Museum of Arts, 201 High St. (423) 267-7176. www.thehoustonmuseum.com

Pat Godwin 7:30 p.m. & 10 p.m. The Comedy Catch & Giggles Grille, 3224 Brainerd Rd. (423) 629-2233.

“Sign of the Times” Jewish Cultural Center, 5461 North Terrace. (423) 493-0270.

The Mystery of Flight 138 8:30 p.m. Vaudeville Café, 138 Market St. (423) 517-1839.

“Landscapes” The Gallery, 3918 Dayton Blvd.

(423) 870-2443.

Sunday Mosaic Market 11 a.m. 412 Market St. (corner of 4th/Market) (423) 624-3915.

District 9

Wine Down Friday 6 p.m. Lookout Mountain Gallery, 3535 Broad St. (423) 507-8117. www.lookoutmountaingallery.com

Night Visions: The Art of Frederic Remington and Frank Tenney Johnson Hunter Museum of American Art, 10 Bluff View. (423) 266-0944.

Swingfest 5:30 p.m. Coolidge Park, 150 River St. (423) 265-0771.

Pat Godwin 7:30 p.m. & 10 p.m. The Comedy Catch & Giggle's Grille, 3224 Brainerd Rd. (423) 629-2233. www.thecomedycatch.com

“Collaboration: Two Decades of African American Art” Chattanooga African American Museum, 200 E. MLK Blvd.

(423) 266-8658. www.caamhistory.org “New York Cool” Hunter Museum of American Art, 10 Bluff View. (423) 266-0944. www.huntermuseum.org

Tuesday

Wednesday

Booksigning with Ethan Gilsdorf 7 p.m. Rock Point Books, 401 Broad St. (423) 756-2855.

“We Took Possession of the Town”: A “Fall of Chattanooga’ Anniversary Walking Tour 7 p.m. Arch under Tennessee Aquarium, 1 Broad St. (423) 265-3247.

“Bagels and Barbeque: The Jewish Experience in Tennessee” Kolwyck Library, Chattanooga State, 4501 Amnicola Hwy. (423) 697-4448.

The Mystery of the Red NeckItalian Wedding 8:30 p.m. Vaudeville Café, 138 Market St. (423) 517-1839. www.funnydinner.com

The Mystery at the Nightmare High School Reunion 6 p.m. Vaudeville Café, 138 Market St. (423) 517-1839. www.funnydinner.com

Chattanooga Writers Guild 6 p.m. Greenway Farms, 5051 Gann Store Rd.

Pat Godwin 8 p.m. The Comedy Catch, 3224 Brainerd Rd. (423) 629-2233. www.thecomedycatch.com

Multicultural Book Club 6 p.m. Rock Point Books, 401 Broad St. (423) 756-2855. www.rockpointbooks.com Night Visions: The Art of Frederic Remington and Frank Tenney Johnson Hunter Museum of American Art, 10 Bluff View. (423) 266-0944. www.huntermuseum.org “HelloWorld.Show();” Create Here, 55 East Main St. Ste. 105. (423) 648-2195.

“Follow the Sun” Lookout Mountain Gallery, 3535 Broad St. (423) 507-8117.

“Doulton Delicacies” Houston Museum of Arts, 201 High St. (423) 267-7176.

“HelloWorld.Show();” Create Here, 55 East Main St. Ste. 105. (423) 648-2195.

“Sign of the Times” Jewish Cultural Center, 5461 North Terrace. (423) 493-0270.

Free First Sunday at the Hunter Museum Just in time to see the powerful new “New York Cool” exhibit.

Free Noon to 5 p.m.

Hunter Museum, 10 Bluff View.

(423) 267-0968. www.huntermuseum.org

“Maggie!”

Shuptrine Fine Art and Framing, 2646 Broad St. (423) 266-4453.

“Magnificent Fifty” North River Civic Center, 1009 Executive Dr. (423) 870-8924.

“Breaking the Mold” River Gallery, 400 E. Second St. (423) 265-5033.

Editor’s Pick: Featured Event Of The Week Artists’ Panel: “Collaborations: Two Decades of African American Art” A unique opportunity to meet several of the artists whose work is featured in the new major show at the Chattanooga African American Museum. A must add to your calendar.

Free with museum admission, $9.95 6 p.m. cash bar, 6:30 p.m. program Hunter Museum, 10 Bluff View.

(423) 267-0968. www.huntermuseum.org

95.3 Pulse News www.chattanoogapulse.com 9.3.09 The Pulse

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Arts & Entertainment

New in Theaters

continued from page 16

Extract

it” for the filming. Did you have any help in finishing the movie?

EY: My very small crew, family and friends have all been incredibly generous with their support for the film from start to the never-ending finish. Mark Greenberg (who used to be in the band The Coctails) did an incredible job on the soundtrack— we have 16 original tracks for the film. And Pete Dionne did amazing work on the VFX for the posters. I really wanted their talents to shine on the screen and I think they do.

AB: Do you have any favorite parts in the movie?

EY: The location filming was a high point. The places and people I met, and the wonderful surprises that happen when you’re filming on location. Like the conversation at Sam’s BBQ where Noel Waggener is talking about the economy and predicting the recession, while in the background a man is struggling to get his wallet out of his back pocket. At the end, the teller reaches over to grab it. Moments like this were high points, every step of the way.

AB: So, did you find what you were looking for?

EY: Mark Greenberg, the film’s composer, said to me when he first saw the cut, “Out of these dirty, murky places comes this shining art and community.” And I was allowed to bear witness to it, fully. There is this amazing, shining art and community.

And I try and share that with audiences.

Died Young, Stayed Pretty: Screenprinting Demo/Workshop Young Monster is collaborating with Print Mafia, a Kentucky-based studio featured in the film, to design a 25-print run of posters especially for this event. Attendees can help produce their own special edition prints by pulling the final color of their custom poster.

Reservations required at (423) 2654282, ext. 106 to register or www.avarts.org Friday, September 4 6 - 7:30 p.m. $20 Young Monster Studio Chattanooga Business Development Center, 2nd Floor 100 Cherokee Blvd. www.weareyoungmonster.com

Died Young, Stayed Pretty: Film Screening, Lecture & Poster Exhibit 8 –10 p.m.

Free green/spaces 63 E. Main Street (423) 648-0963. www.greenspaceschattanooga.com

Live Music at JJ’s Bohemia 10:30 p.m. $6 (free if workshop attendee) JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd.

(423) 266-1400. www.myspace.com/jjsbohemia

Mike Judge, the creator of the seminal animated series Beavis & Butthead and King Of The Hill as well as the cult office classic Office Space returns to the workplace with Extract, a film about a flowerextract plant owner dealing with workplace issues and a stream of bad luck, including his wife’s affair with a gigolo. Alas, the marketing geniuses at the Miramax seem to have decided to market the film as if it was the next Hangover instead of a worthy successor to Office Space, which has led to some rather misleading trailers. It is not one of those “Joel hates his job and his life sucks, but now he’s going to get a night he’ll never forget... if he can remember it!”—type of movies. Rather, Judge has directed yet another film featuring what is rapidly becoming a stale stereotype of wildly dysfunctional characters whose inherent stupidity is only trumped by their complete lack of a moral compass. While the film is funny in parts, in some cases extremely funny, the underlying emotional theme is one

of depression. It was as if Judge was tried to combine Office Space with It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia—only with better actors.

Starring: Jason Bateman, Mila Kunis, Kristen Wiig, Ben Affleck Director: Mike Judge Rating: R

Also in Theaters About Steve (New) Sandra Bullock falls head-over-heels with a news cameraman after one blind date, and follows him around the country in a bid to win his love.

Gamer (New) Gerard Butler stars as a futuristic gladiator imprisoned against his will in an ultra-violent mind-controlled firstperson shooter game.

Taking Woodstock A man working at his parents’ Catskills motel inadvertently sets in motion the historic concert in the summer of 1969.

The Final Destination A group of friends escape a deadly accident thinking they’ve cheated death, only to get killed off oneby-one in increasingly gruesome ways.

Halloween II Director Rob Zombie picks up right where he left off, with the next terrifying chapter of Michael Myers’

murderous rampage.

Inglourious Basterds Brad Pitt stars in Quentin Tarantino’s violent WWII tale of soldiers, peasants and resistance fighters who collide in Nazioccupied France.

Post Grad Alexis Bledel is a college grad whose big plans for the future take a detour when she’s forced to move back in with her crazy family.

Shorts A small town is thrown into chaos when a mysterious rainbowcolored rock falls from the sky, granting wishes to anyone who holds it.

District 9 From producer Peter Jackson, a cerebral sci-fi tale about alien refugees in South Africa who hold the key to a mysterious, powerful secret.

The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard Jeremy Piven stars as an infamous, fast-talking used car salesman hired to help save a struggling

dealership over the Fourth of July.

Ponyo Legendary anime director Hayao Miyazaki’s tale of a 5-year-old boy and a goldfish princess who longs to become human.

Bandslam Vanessa Hudgens is part of group of high school misfits who form a fledgling rock band to compete in the ultimate battle of the bands.

The Time Traveler’s Wife Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana star in the tale of a man cursed with a genetic anomaly that causes him to skip back and forth through time.

Julie & Julia Meryl Streep and Amy Adams star in parallel true stories of famed chef Julia Child and a young woman who embarks on a culinary quest.

A Perfect Getaway A newlywed couple goes backpacking in a remote island paradise, only to be thrust into brutal battle for survival.

95.3 Pulse News www.chattanoogapulse.com 9.3.09 The Pulse

19

On The Beat

Negotiations: Black Bottom Style

By Alex Teach

I

t was the dead of night and the air was hot with equal parts humidity and anticipation.

The only light was cast from a filthy and distant street lamp.

I could only just make out the once-familiar faces of my fellow officers by the soft glow of sweat that was slowly dripping from the tips of their noses and chins, their pistols held at a low-ready as we stood outside a house in which a barricaded and suicidal suspect was separated from us by mere inches of sheet rock and cheap vinyl siding.

It was then, with an elbow propped up on the window sill next to the front door, that I drew upon my years of experience and put my skills to the test with a line that was the culmination of a thousand calls for service and a thousand different conversations with a thousand different sad stories: “Hey, what’s up, man?” I said. (I had to suppress a visible shudder, such was my satisfaction.)

“Brian” had just been released from jail. He had been taken in three nights before during my days off, and now his sister had called 911, saying he had called her with thoughts of suicide and that he had a gun and wasn’t going back to jail.

She was on the way and would be there in 20 minutes, and it was with this information I entered into the situation. It wasn’t a unique scenario by any means, but the fact that he lived in the southernmost tip of East Lake in an area known as “Black Bottom” wasn’t lost on me and made it a little more complicated than normal, as the proximity to Georgia tends to do to most things in my experience.

“Aw, you know,” he replied quietly; any conversation, good or bad, was a plus.

I followed up with a clever, “Why don’t you come out here and talk with us, brother? You kind of have everybody freaked out here.”

“Naw, man. Ya’ll beat my ass the last time I came out.”

He had a valid point, I thought.

“You’ve got a valid point.” (“Zing!”

I thought to myself.) “Seriously

20

though, that was another shift, this is a whole different group of people.

I can promise ain’t nothing’s gonna happen to you.” (I spoke fluent Black Bottom, and put it to good use.) “My name’s Alex, I’m actually off duty in a few minutes. Why don’t you just tell me what’s going on? You don’t have a gun there by the way, do you?”

I said, cleanly slipping that last bit in like jelly between two slices of sweet white bread. (“Mmmmm,” I thought to myself. “Jelly.”)

“Gun? Nah. Ya’ll cleaned me out when ya’ll took me to jail.” That made sense. “That makes sense,” I said, but of course I didn’t trust him.

“What’s got you upset? You’re a free man now, you’re not going back to the Pokey. We just want to make sure you’re OK and we’ll be on the way.”

“Well…it’s kind of embarrassing,” Brian said. “You wanna see embarrassing?” I replied, “I cut my own hair, look at this!” and it elicited a laugh. “Just talk to me, man, and we’ll get out of your yard in a second here. Your sister’s worried about you and we just want to make sure you’re OK.” I heard a sigh, and he finally began to talk.

“Well…what day is this?” he asked. Not always a good sign.

“Thursday, Daddy-O.” “Well, I guess it was Monday I come home from work, and found my ol’lady in bed with somebody.”

“Hey,” I said. “It happens, you know?” Brian sighed and said “Well, turned out it was my brother.” I cringed a little. “I freaked out and they both left, and I called a buddy.”

(He paused.) “We got kids, man, I love her. So anyways my buddy comes over, and I decide to relax with a few old hydros and some beers. Well, he pulls out this crack pipe, and I think ‘What the hell’ and hit it, and damn if I didn’t just flip my wig. Flipped my wig, man.” I was about to interject, and he continued.

“Well, the neighbors called ya’ll out, and well…I flipped my wig, man, I didn’t mean to fight ya’ll, but you know how it is.” I nodded, sure. It really wasn’t personal. “So ya’ll all beat my ass and took me on in, and there I was in jail,” he said matter-offactly, then paused as he toyed with an empty pack of smokes. “I just missed dinner time there, and hadn’t eaten that day already. Well, by the next day I was real hungry, so I took two food trays to eat. Well, those jailers

The Pulse 9.3.09 www.chattanoogapulse.com 95.3 Pulse News

just went off and they took my food away and I was pissed, you know? So then they beat my ass, too. Had my ass gang-kicked twice now, ol’lady’s screwing my brother, I was still starving, and now I’m in confinement.

Sister bonded me out next day.”

Another pause, and I let him continue after he collected his thoughts. “So I come home, and my ol’lady has took the kids, took my 32inch plasma and my Wii I got with my tax check, and you know what? She even took all the food out the kitchen, so I still ain’t eat yet. So I’m depressed and I call my sister, and I’ll be damned if she don’t send ya’ll out here all over again. Please don’t beat my ass again,” he implored. “I just flipped my wig. That’s all.”

What else could I say? “Your brother AND your TV? Holy hell, man. I’d hit a crack pipe too! Don’t sweat it!” He shook his head…but smiled a little this time. “Tell you what,” I said, “open the door, and let’s go get some food.” By now his sister had been escorted in and said, “Come on, Brian.” He began to cry, and walked to the door. We had kept him in sight through the window and confirmed he had no gun shortly after the door opened, then we ensured his impending trip to the KFC with a five-dollar bill.

“Good luck, man,” we said as they left, and we meant it.

NOBODY should mess with a man’s TV, after all. Even in Black Bottom.

“Say, KFC sound good to anyone else?”

When officer Alexander D. Teach is not patrolling our fair city on the heels of the criminal element, he is an occasional student at UTC, an up and coming carpenter, auto mechanic, prominent boating enthusiast, and spends his spare time volunteering for the Boehm Birth Defects Center.

“‘You don’t have a gun there by the way, do you?’ I said, cleanly slipping that last bit in like jelly between two slices of sweet white bread. (‘Mmmm,’ I thought to myself.

‘Jelly.’)”

95.3 Pulse News www.chattanoogapulse.com 9.3.09 The Pulse

21

Shades Of Green

A New Leaf

By Victoria Hurst Editor’s note: Our thanks to Elizabeth Crenshaw for her “Shades of Green” contributions, and welcome to Victoria Hurst, who is taking over this column.

“Be loyal to what you love, be true to the earth, fight your enemies with passion and laughter.”

— Edward Abbey

T

his quotation by the famous American author and environmental advocate has become one of my mantras as a young person, living in a time when the concept of making changes is being met with less fear and ever-weakening resistance.

I love to write. I have always been one to believe passionately in the concepts of family and home.

As I have grown, I have come to recognize Earth as our ultimate home.

And we must remember: The only true enemy a person can have is the self. We all have to coerce ourselves out of our comfort zones and start communicating about what actions we can take to redefine the basic American lifestyle. I am honored to be joining The Pulse and to have a forum in which to discuss where and how these changes are being made.

Four years ago, I moved from the foothills of South Carolina to the campus of Warren Wilson College in Asheville, North Carolina. For those of you who have not heard of Warren Wilson (and I highly suggest that you “Google it”), it is a 900-student college based on a “triad” education. In addition to academics, students must work 15 hours a week for the school, and also complete at least 100 hours of community service to graduate. However, there is another distinguishing aspect of this college: dedication to the environment.

The school, which has its roots as the Asheville Farm School, still has an

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organic farm that contributes to the fare in the cafeteria. An appreciation for working with and living off of the land has been passed down through the generations and continues to be part of a Warren Wilson education.

One of the greatest benefits of living at Warren Wilson is developing basic habits. When living in a community where turning off lights, recycling, composting, and conserving water is commonplace, it is much easier to adopt these practices and make them routine.

At Warren Wilson, I was surrounded by people encouraging environmental citizenship and offering the resources to make the right choices. However, after three years of living in this pseudo-Utopia, I moved off-campus and started an internship.

Both of these experiences brought me back to the reality of things.

My summer internship was under the Energy Coordinator for the City of Asheville, Maggie Ullman. We shared a cubicle in Public Works, next door to Waste Management and Recycling.

Our main goal was internal marketing to encourage city employees to think about ways to reduce their impact at home and in the office.

Our tactics included “guerilla marketing,” which meant blitzing the municipal buildings on the weekends with “turn off the light” stickers on every switch and reminders to “use less paper towels” on every dispenser. I never met most of the people whose offices I was decorating with my messages, but I hope that the

“I have also met people who believe the only reason for turning off lights is to save money—and I say, ‘Whatever works.’” presence of my purpose will be felt as these little thoughts become less of a reminder and more of a protocol.

Between attending Warren Wilson and working for a municipality, I gained a width of perspective on how people are responding to the suggestion that they should make a change in their routines. I have met people who would sell their souls if it would offset their carbon footprint. I have also met people who believe the only reason for turning off lights is to save money—and I say, “Whatever works.”

The most realistic thing that we can do as a society is to shift our actions so that the repercussions will prove far less drastic. We all have an obligation to take care of our home, and we need the right tools to fix the leaks.

But the best way to inspire others is to share your experience and your passion, and I feel fortunate to have joined The Pulse in hopes of taking part in these endeavors.

Victoria Hurst is a proud resident of the Appalachian Mountains. She has recently graduated from Warren Wilson College with a B.A. in English: Creative Writing.

Wine Seller

Let’s Talk About Wine

By Joshua Hurley

L

ast week, Riley’s Wine and Spirits on Hixon Pike introduced the first in a series of 13 weekly selections of “Great Buys of the Week”. If you missed last week, we’re picking some of our favorites from our selection of wine, ports, Scotches, bourbons, vodkas, rums, whiskeys, gins, tequilas, and other spirits and sharing them with Pulse readers.

This week’s picks are among some of the finest from California’s Sonoma region: Sebastiani Sonoma County Selections, Sebastiani is a winery located on the edge of the town of Sonoma in the Sonoma Valley. It was founded in 1904 by Samuel Sebastiani and taken over by his son in August of 1944. When Samuel died in 1980, his son Sam assumed the responsibilities and transformed the large enterprise by thinning the output of generic wines and then adding some higher-quality varietal wines. This caused extreme family unrest, and for his bold vision, he was ousted from the family business with his brother Don taking over the day-to-day operations.

So it’s somewhat ironic that the winery now produces several highquality varietals, including Sonoma County Selections.

First up is the 2007 Sebastiani Sonoma County Chardonnay. This classic is always rewarded in major wine publications and remains a restaurant staple. Chardonnay pairs with white meats such as fish, crab, and chicken or with salads. On the nose, you will smell bright green apple and lemon, followed by a taste rich with peach. Barrel aging gives a longlasting finish of sweet oak.

Next, we move into red wine with the 2005 Sebastian Cabernet Sauvignon. Cabernet is the world’s most popular red wine and pairs wonderfully with steak, roast, and BBQ. You’ll taste bright plum, berry,

cherry, and velvety tannins with a long finish. Oak aging gives it some length, with undertones of coconut, vanilla and cinnamon. Wine Spectator rated this wine high with 84 points.

Moving on, we come to the 2005 Sebastiani Sonoma County Merlot.

Restaurant Wine awarded this vintage five stars. You’ll smell and taste blueberry, cherry, black tea, and cranberry. The wine’s oak aging produces sweet spice, which you will find on the after-taste. Merlot pairs well with all red meat, as well as lamb and duck.

The 2006 Sonoma County Coast Pinot Noir is a red wine awarded 89 points by Consumer Guide to California Wine. Less dry than the other red wines, it often pairs nicely with BBQ. This wine might remind you of an ice cream sundae, with hints of maraschino cherry, espresso and vanilla with an after-taste of sweet spice.

Last is the 2006 Sonoma County Zinfandel. The Zinfandel grape is California’s very own because it is not widely grown anywhere else in the world.

Zinfandel pairs with red meats, such as steaks, roast—and even works well with turkey. Bright ruby in color, you’ll find it has the aromas of strawberry and raspberry, which taste as good as they smell. This vintage won a gold medal at the San Francisco Wine Competition and has structure to make it age worthy.

Tasting Notes by Vickie Hurley Sebastiani Sonoma County Chardonnay is highly recommended for serving with Chicken Divan. This chardonnay will enhance the flavors of the creamy white sauce that tops the chicken and broccoli. The 2005 Sebastian Cabernet Sauvignon, served around 62 degrees, will be delicious paired with Beef Wellington—and don’t forget to add wine to your Bordelaise sauce.

Joshua Hurley is a third-generation wine and spirit salesman at Riley’s Wine and Spirits. His family has been in the business for more than 50 years.

95.3 Pulse News www.chattanoogapulse.com 9.3.09 The Pulse

23

Music Feature

The Features Find Some Kind of Salvation

By Hellcat

W

ell, it appears The Features have finally caught a break, and it is about time.

The Features have been a band since 1994; the lineup being Matt Pelham on guitar and Roger Dabbs, as it has been from the beginning, and Parrish Yaw on keys and Rollum Haas on drums.

They have had a pretty constant buzz around them since they released their first EP in 1997. We all thought that they were in the clear when they signed to Universal a few years back.

What happened? Many people have asked me this very question, so I wanted to find out the truth. When I spoke to the lead singer and guitarist, Matt Pelham, he explained how it all went down.

Basically, after they released their debut full-length album and went back into the studio to work on the second record, they got the feeling the label wasn’t really in the direction they were going. This may not have been a stretch of the imagination, as it took them a year of constant prodding to get the label to agree to record the album. Universal took the attitude of, “OK, fine, we’ll record it,” with about as much enthusiasm as a child going to the doctor’s office. Matt got the idea they were just going to end up shelving it.

“I can appreciate a band that doesn’t compromise their sense of ethics.”

While there is no way to tell for sure—sometimes it is best to go with your gut instinct. Universal finally set up the recording gig, and then, two weeks before The Features were set to record, they got a call from the label saying they had to perform a particular song for a commercial. The song was “All You Need is Love”.

Matt explained that they felt pretty weird about recording someone else’s song to begin with, not to mention a Beatles song. They also were a little

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sketched out about the fact that they were pretty sure they didn’t have permission to record the song in the first place. If there is any supergroup that I wouldn’t want to offend, it would be the Beatles. Besides, I am pretty sure that Paul and Yoko have enough on their plate fighting over song rights without any additional interference.

The label really wasn’t interested in their opinions. When The Features said that they did not want to go through with it, they were given the ultimatum of doing the song and keeping their deal or not doing the song and being dropped. Needless to say, the song wasn’t done. I can appreciate a band that doesn’t compromise their sense of ethics.

Good job.

As the universe tends to reward those that do hold, at least loosely, a moral compass, the karma police stepped in and 429 Records picked up The Features and their new collection of songs. 429 Records just happens to be the Kings of Leon’s label. So this does have a happy ending—or, rather, a start. The Features have recently enjoyed playing with artists such as The Meat Puppets, Spoon, The Walkmen, and of course, Kings of Leon. This is what was going on in Matt Pelham’s world when I caught up with him: Hellcat: So, what’s been the coolest part of getting signed onto 429 Records?

Matt Pelham: Getting to see a lot of artists I wouldn’t have normally seen. I don’t really go to shows. I don’t really go out much at all unless we are playing. I prefer to be home. I have twin 8-year-old daughters. There is always something going on. It’s hard because you have to divide time between them and family and music.

HC: Are you a full-time musician?

MP: I just quit my job that I’ve had the last eight years, working as a screen printer. We are about to go on tour with The Kings of Leon for a few weeks, and then The Whigs through the end of the year.

HC: Where are you from originally? I’ve been hearing you play around Tennessee for years now.

MP: Originally, Sparta, but all of the band lives in Nashville now, except for me. I’m in Morrison, TN.

HC: Wow. Why? What’s out there?

MP: Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

That’s why I like it. When I really feel like going out on the town, there is a coffee shop in the next town over, McMinnville, where some high school kids play their latest version of a new Nickelback song.

HC: OK, that’s awful and I can’t believe you called that being “out on the town”. Is this new record, Some Kind of Salvation, the same record you were trying to put out for Universal?

MP: It’s about 90 percent the same album. We’ve made some changes and some additions, but it is mostly the same.

HC: What’s the difference, in your opinion, from this album and your last one?

MP: The first record, I liked the songs but not how they were delivered. It was too raw and in your face. When I listen to it, it makes me tired, ya know? This album is more dynamic and eclectic. They last album was kinda raunchy and punk. These songs are similar—just executed differently.

The Features with Taxicab Racers (CD release party) $7 10 p.m.

Saturday, September 5 JJ’s Bohemia, 231 E. MLK Blvd.

(423) 266-1400. www.myspace.com/jjsbohemia

Music Calendar

Send your calendar events to us at calendar@chattanoogapulse.com

Friday

Thursday

Southern Mischief 7 p.m. Thunder Creek Harley Davidson, 7720 Lee Hwy. (423) 892-4888. www.thundercreekharley.com

Ben Friberg Trio 7 p.m. Market Street Tavern, 850 Market St. (423) 634-0260. www.marketstreettavern.com

Amber Fults Band

The Pool: 20th Year Anniversary 10 p.m. Rhythm & Brews, 221 Market St. (423) 267-4644. www.rhythm-brews.com

Nathan Farrow 8 p.m. The Palms at Hamilton, 6925 Shallowford Rd, #202.

(423) 499-5055.

The Tammys, Enter The Haggis 7 p.m. Miller Plaza, Nightfall, 850 Market St. (423) 265-0771.

The Tammys 10 p.m. Market Street Tavern, 850 Market St. (423) 634-0260. www.marketstreettavern.com

Channing Wilson 9 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar, 5751 Brainerd Rd. (423) 499-9878. www.budssportsbar.com

New Orleans Jazz Trio 8 p.m. The Original Blue Orleans on Amnicola Highway, 3208 Amnicola Hwy. (423) 629-6538.

DangleBerry 10 p.m. Tremont Tavern, 1203 Hixson Pike. (423) 266-1966. www.tremonttavern.com

Digital Butter

This fresh open-mic winner sings from the soul.

Open Mic with Gabriel Newell 9 p.m. Market Street Tavern, 850 Market St. (423) 634-0260.

Groove to crunchy funk beats with pipes that will blow you away.

Mike and Rhonda Unplugged 8:30 p.m. The Foundry, 1201 South Broad St. (423) 424-3775.

Adrenaline Drop 10 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar, 5751 Brainerd Rd. (423) 499-9878.

Free 8:30 p.m.

Mudpie Restaurant, 12 Frazier Avenue. (423) 267-9043. www.mudpierestraunt.com

Land Camera, Englishmen, Mermaid Police 10 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia, 231 E.MLK Blvd. (423) 266-1400.

Free 10 p.m.

The Low Down, 306 Cherokee Blvd. (423) 468-3593. myspace.com/thelowdownchatt

A.J. Varcarcel and the Bittersweet Lesson 9:30 p.m. Riverhouse Pub, 224 Frazier Ave. (423) 752-0066.

Pine Hill Haints, ADD/C, Mockingbirds 10 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia, 231 E. MLK Blvd. (423) 266-1400.

Saturday

The Floating Men with Conner Christian Legendary Floating Men rock into a two-night reign for Labor Free Weekend. $10 10 p.m.

Rhythm & Brews, 221 Market Street. (423) 267-4644. www.rhythm-brews.com

Sunday All Day Music Bash 4 p.m. The Warehouse, 5716 Ringold Rd., East Ridge.

Frankie Beverly and Maze 9 p.m. Memorial Auditorium, 399 McCallie Ave. (423)727-5156.

Preston Parris 8 p.m. The Palms at Hamilton, 6925 Shallowford Rd, #202.

(423) 499-5055.

Jordan Hallquist 9 p.m. Tremont Tavern, 1203 Hixson Pike. (423) 266-1966.

Jeremiah Sammartano 8 p.m. Charles & Myrtle’s Coffeehouse, 105 McBrien Rd. (423) 892-4960. www.christunity.org Mike and Rhonda Unplugged 8:30 p.m. The Foundry, 1201 South Broad St. (423) 424-3775.

The Features, Taxicab Racers 10 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia, 231 E.MLK Blvd. (423) 266-1400.

The Usuals, Dead Baby Robots 10 p.m. Riverhouse Pub, 224 Frazier Ave. (423) 752-0066.

Dos Mojo 10 p.m. Market Street Tavern, 850 Market St. (423) 634-0260.

Tuesday

Wednesday

Summer Music at The Incline Noon. The Incline Railway, 3917 St. Elmo Ave. (706) 820-2531. www.ridetheincline.com

The Ben Friberg Trio 7 p.m. Table 2, 232 E. 11th Street, (423) 756-8253. www.table2restaurant.com

Hester Pryme, Kill What I Adore, Thrill of a Gunfight, EWAP, A Hero Remains 7 p.m. The Warehouse, 5716 Ringold Rd., East Ridge.

DJ at The Palms 8 p.m. The Palms at Hamilton, 6925 Shallowford Rd, #202.

(423) 499-5055.

Spoken Word/Poetry Night The Riverhouse, 224 Frazier Avenue, (423) 752-0066

Hap and Jacks Open Mic 10 p.m. The Low Down, 306 Cherokee Blvd.

(423) 468-3593. myspace.com/thelowdownchatt Lucky’s 2536 Cummings Highway, (423) 825-5145.

Tremont Tavern 1203 Hixson Pike, (423) 266-1996.

Micheal Sechrist, Tori Sparks 12:30 p.m. First Tennessee Pavilion, 1829 Carter St. (423) 648-2496. www.chattanoogamarket.com

Standing Room Only 9 p.m. The Tin Can, 618 Georgia Ave. (423) 648-4360.

Deon Taylor 9 p.m. Top of The Dock, 5600 Lake Resort Rd. (423)876-3356. topofthedock-chattanooga.com

Monday

New Brinkley Brothers Noon. Rock City Gardens, 1400 Patten Rd., Lookout Mtn. GA. (706) 820-2531.

Kara “Ory” Oke 8 p.m. Riverhouse Pub, 224 Frazier Ave. (423) 752-0066.

Billy Hopkins 8 p.m. Market Street Tavern, 850 Market St. (423) 634-0260. www.marketstreettavern.com

Uncle Billy and Friends 8 p.m. The Tin Can, 618 Georgia Ave. (423) 648-4360.

Open Mic with Mike McDade 9 p.m. Tremont Tavern, 1203 Hixson Pike. (423) 266-1966. www.tremonttavern.com

Johnston Brown 8 p.m. The Palms at Hamilton, 6925 Shallowford Rd, #202.

(423) 499-5055.

Brenn, Within The Eddy, Sound Method 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia, 231 E. MLK Blvd. (423) 266-1400.

Scott Miller, Leticia Wolf 9 p.m. Rhythm & Brews, 221 Market St. (423) 267-4644. www.rhythm-brews.com

Milele Roots Get your fix with Bloody Marys and Chattanooga’s own reggae kings. $3 8 p.m.

Northshore Grille, 16 Frazier Avenue. (423) 757-2000. www.northshoregrille.com

The Floating Men: Take 2 9 p.m. Rhythm & Brews, 221 Market St. (423) 267-4644.

Weekend Nachos, Late Night Rage, faded, Gravebound 9 p.m. Anarchtica, 621 Bell Ave. 40 oz. Folklore, Jesse Nobody, True Stereo, Bring the Witch

Editor’s Pick: Featured Event Of The Week Bangerz Ball Forget the swine flu—if you haven’t caught on to the raunchy dance craze infecting Chattanooga, then now is the time. Bangerz Ball is bringing DJs Nastique & DJ Charles the Third in from Birmingham to join our own DJs Talk, DrugMoney, and Bngrz.

Sweat out the work week.

Saturday, September 5 $5: 21 and up, $7: 18 and up 10 p.m.- 3 a.m.

Loose Cannon Gallery, 1800 Rossville Avenue (423) 648-0992. loosecannonartsandevents.com

95.3 Pulse News www.chattanoogapulse.com 9.3.09 The Pulse

25

New Music Reviews

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By Ernie Paik

Laurie Anderson

Various Artists

Nothing in My Pockets (Dis Voir Editions)

Yeti 7 (Yeti Publishing)

If Laurie Anderson was a narrator and nothing else, she’d still be a remarkable performer; that voice—that unmistakable voice—is often cool and composed, like a news reporter, but there’s also a comforting quality and a delivery that conveys her as curious and observant, but not pedantic. Anderson has many other talents, as a visual and video artist, instrument inventor, violinist, and singer, and she made her name by working at the intersection of the art world and the music world, bringing the avant-garde to wide audiences through recordings and elaborate multi-media performances.

Anderson’s latest release, Nothing in My Pockets, is an audio diary on two CDs, with accompanying book, that details three months of her bustling life in 2003.

There are no stand-alone, conventional songs on the two hour-length pieces; however, original electronic song snippets serve to bridge various segments together, and there are some welcome excerpts from her live orchestral piece A.E., about Amelia Earhart. For those three months, Anderson carried a recorder around with her, capturing conversations, ambient sounds, concert recordings, and pretty much any interesting noise she might have encountered.

Bouncing between locations such as Italy, Sri Lanka, Germany, and her home in New York City, Anderson does extraordinary things like being onstage with Lou Reed and Patti Smith, helping plan the opening ceremony for the 2004 Olympics, or being the first (and last) artist-in-residence for NASA. But, also documented on Nothing in My Pockets are the everyday, honest glimpses of her life, like taking her dog to the vet or ironing her clothes, which serve to make the audio diary seem that much more genuine. I’m reminded of the Jim Jarmusch film Mystery Train and the Japanese tourist character who snaps photos of mundane things (hotel room and train station, for example), and not the big sights, so that he can better remember the details of his travels.

The frequent narration on Nothing in My Pockets makes it most similar to Anderson’s storytelling album, The Ugly One with the Jewels, but without the inevitable moments of revelation. This makes Nothing in My Pockets a unique item in Anderson’s catalog, and while it’s still fascinating listening, some listeners may be confounded by the lack of a central theme or an overarching plot. But, it’s like Anderson’s visit to an Italian theater and her explanation that, centuries ago, the theater would be flooded on purpose to recreate naval battles: “These weren’t really plays—they have no plots. Then again, not every show needs a plot.”

On one end of the ‘zine spectrum is the kind that typically comes immediately to mind: the photocopied, hand-assembled and stapled booklet, created by ardent music fans.

Then, on the other end, are the publications that show the next level of the ‘zine, made by people who are no less passionate about music but have publishing software and more resources. Some of the best ones that come to mind—like The Believer’s annual music issue, Badaboom Gramophone, and Yeti, provide a deluxe package: a perfect-bound book, one that can take up shelf space and dispel the notion of being disposable, with an accompanying CD. The latest Yeti compilation is admirably diverse, kicking off the proceedings with a rousing acoustic rockabilly track from the late Abner Jay, who called himself the “last working Southern black minstrel” and boasted a full, arresting baritone voice. “Docta King” from Nancy Dupree, originally released on the 1970 Folkways album Ghetto Reality, is a chilling MLK tribute, with a children’s choir singing piercing lines like “They murdered him” with piano accompaniment. The Bible Aires Spiritual Singers provide an upbeat, two-minute gospel-soul-rock number, “You Better Get Ready,” from 1967, which leads right into a spirited live recording from the New Zealand band the Great Unwashed, featuring members of the Clean, propelled by an irresistible motorik drum beat.

Carl Simmons’s 1999 home recording “Scotty Guffy Sings” is a strangely compelling munchkin folk song, and “Stupid Art” from the early ’80s German duo 39 Clocks has a sort of low-rent Velvet Underground meets Young Marble Giants approach, while never really heating up to a satisfying degree. Speaking of the Velvet Underground, the new track from Moon Duo sustains a great, brisk “Sister Ray”/Krautrock groove with a nervous, druggy kind of Spacemen 3 distorted guitar.

Another highlight is the animated, hookladen lo-fi power-pop song “Brite Futures” from the one-woman band Dum Dum Girls, and “False Horizon” by Grouper (a.k.a.

Elizabeth Harris) is a gorgeous, reverbdrenched strum-and-sing song with nonobvious vocal harmonizing.

The CD’s hit-miss ratio is very healthy, and its selection, developed with an ear for the uncommon, is wide enough to likely inspire further listening for even the most hardcore music geeks. Yeti is in a different league than certain magazines that come with free CDs as a marketing gimmick, as a tool of the corporate music biz; publications like Yeti show an equal interest in the past and the present, serving a wealth of rarities and obscurities that are often undeservedly unknown.

95.3 Pulse News www.chattanoogapulse.com 9.3.09 The Pulse

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Mystical Dude's Horoscopes Virgo (August 23-September 22): Thursday sees you pushing ahead with plans that bring useful results; don’t rattle your friends too much over a financial issue. You’re getting clearer about your general approach and individualistic stance recently, so it might feel a little displacing when a chaotic partner throws an unconventional spanner in the works on Friday. From Monday you need to carefully review how you spend money and resources. The next three weeks, make sure the bills are being paid on time and there are no confusions over cash transactions. Vivid dreams about a relationship (Tuesday) see you make an attitude adjustment towards children.

Libra (September 23-October 22): You feel the heat on Thursday to reach a pinnacle of achievement, yet you’re pushed for words to explain yourself and the direction you are going in. Getting into your personal cocoon has been helping you make better sense of how to freshly apply yourself to the world, so a feeling to let go of duties, schedules and tasks is not too surprising on Friday. Presenting yourself with more conversational diplomacy needs to be reviewed from Monday. For three weeks it’ll be best to keep thoughts to yourself. Adjust feelings for friends to fit with home life transformations on Tuesday.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21): On Thursday, you’re activated to widen horizons and feelings for another viewpoint, yet challenged because you know better to keep things secret.

Don’t be pushed to take sides in an argument, or you could undo yourself! By Friday you’re sorting out the wheat from the chaff in your social circle so you know who’s reliable; a feeling to let caution fly to the wind for craziness in the name of fun is always welcome, though! From Monday, keep gossip contained for three weeks. You’ll be doing well if you don’t let your tongue loosen about yours or anyone else’s plans.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21): On Thursday, a friend causes friction by what they say. You know the truth and are driven towards making changes, prepare for a peak emotional confrontation that pushes things along further. Friday’s full moon indicates your reputation up in the spotlight, and it’s clear what direction you’re going in. A feeling to lose all boundaries, though, could fog up family and home life briefly; get things back in order to progress. Monday is not the time to set future plans in stone. A flexible approach and ability to freely review all the possibilities for the next three weeks is best.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19): Thursday sees you in a mindset to push ideas into the public realm; however, a partner is simultaneously acting independently and causes the gears of progress to clog, so be ready for friction. Friday’s full moon and you’re getting away from it all: Analyze which direction will teach you the most about life. A feeling to unconsciously blurt out what should be fairly well ordered could make for interesting events!

From Monday, you’ll be reviewing your status and reputation; it’s not the time to make a big announcement. Waiting for three weeks will give you time to conveniently change your viewpoint.

Aquarius (January 20-February 18): Recent motivations see you push your unique skills and get on with the tasks; however, a longdistance message or teacher holds you back from goals you know you can reach (Thursday). This leads to Friday’s full moon when you’re all about making changes by adopting a more businesslike attitude, so why not let go and see what happens? You’ll get a nice surprise in the long run. A holiday or breakaway could get delayed or confused from Monday. Develop a clearer ideology over the next three weeks so you can present yourself in a new light and understanding.

Pisces (February 19-March 20): Thursday—and you’ve got ideas that change the whole way the game is played; an emotional urge to let off steam is best answered first before

28

JONESIN’

By Matt Jones

“King John” –a fond farewell to Mr. Hughes.

you alter things too much, though! Friday’s full moon, and you want to perfect relationships with important people who hold key significance. You are keen to adapt and change; a feeling to unify with everything and everyone regardless could make for a little chaos. Handle the emotions with care. Monday brings careful review of shared resources and finances; don’t make important decisions for three weeks, giving you time to mull over all possibilities.

Aries (March 21-April 19): What would things be like if you were less frantic to get your message across to a significant other, giving yourself time to clarify and explain what’s on your mind (Thursday)? Yes, express strong feelings for having your surroundings exactly justso, but let others fit in with your ways to create positive action rather than domestic strife. Even with enhanced communications and the ability to reach a conclusion that is within your grasp, don’t be headstrong and make a final decision yet; there are important work/partnership reviews to make over the next three weeks, starting on Monday.

Look before you leap!

Taurus (April 20-May 20): The more attentive to details and getting things right, the more you can organize your schedules and work times. This attitude is necessary to offset any problems with your ideas and opinions, especially if people close by are forcing you to take on a defiant tone (Thursday). If there are problems at work, sitting down with employers or employees and talking things over is good— though don’t make a final decision for three weeks (Monday). Be aware of anxious thoughts that upset your balance; go into review mode and think about changing, particularly in the area of diet and health.

Gemini (May 21-June 20): A project that facilitates getting thoughts expressed is developing nicely. You’ve felt forced to improve your self-worth and now you’ve struck gold, especially when family treats you differently (Friday). But there’s a catch: Don’t have so much fun and rush the details on signing a contract or agreement over the next three weeks (Monday), as you might later want to retract over money ultimatums. Instead bide your time, enjoy taking pleasure in conversations with those close to you; include those influential people who are out to help, as long as you don’t act too flippant or blasé towards them.

Cancer (June 21-July 22): There’s focus on communications to those close to you (Friday), including sibling relationships, which sees you talking out loud to the family about your urge to act more independently, possibly creating some friction (Thursday).

From Monday, you’ll need to think twice before blurting out any more stuff, at least for three weeks; instead review your thoughts first. This is a good time to talk about what you like and what you love and your values around the things you want to own (Tuesday). Your partner might not agree, though, so be prepared to compartmentalize the differences in order to keep harmonized.

Leo (July 23-August 22): The big cat in you will enjoy purring and indulging in life’s luxuries at the moment, much like a pampered house cat would. But this is no time to laze around! You’ve got lots of plans to get going on, which if you let fester could become washouts (Thursday). Instead, analyze and get a feeling for improving your financial situation.

This also means not spending too much in one go on unnecessary purchases (Friday). Monday sees you still delaying over the decision to learn more and take a course. Wait three weeks before finally deciding if it’s right for you.

Julian Venables is a British astrologer whose worldwide travels bought him to Chattanooga.

Email themysticaldude@gmail.com for a personal consultation. Visit www.mysticaldude.com to discover more about the local astrology group, classes and the free podcast on iTunes!

The Pulse 9.3.09 www.chattanoogapulse.com 95.3 Pulse News

Across 1 ___-Os (imitation salad topper brand) 4 Ozone layer pollutant 7 ___ Cup (tennis event) 12 Florence’s river 13 Vert. counterpart, on old TVs 14 Like noses on some wines 15 Word in Portuguese place names that means “fig tree” 17 University prep schools, in France 18 She played the created object of desire in “Weird Science” 20 The “one man” in the tagline, “One man’s struggle to take it easy” 23 Wade opponent 24 Hallow follower 25 Zealous 27 Say “I do” 28 Split fruit 29 With 34-across, movie with the line “What’s happenin’, hot stuff?”

34 See 29-across 35 Elite squads 36 Crooked 37 Really smart people 38 He’s quoted in “The Little Red Book” 39 “...man ___ mouse?”

42 Redhead featured in three of John Hughes’ films

46 Film named after a hit Psychedelic Furs song 48 “The Vampire Chronicles” character de Romanus 51 1996 comedy with Sinbad as a Secret Service agent 52 Liquor in an Italian restaurant 53 New U.S. citizen’s course 54 Camera part 55 Like many San Francisco streets 56 Dash lengths 57 Anal ending, in Britain?

Down 1 Short-lived 2 Certain fisherman 3 Prefix meaning “clown,” especially used for fear of clowns 4 Potful at cook-offs 5 Predicted 6 Used a pot for catching, perhaps 7 Get stains out, in a way 8 New Zealand’s most populous city 9 Go toe to toe 10 Samson follower?

11 Part of OS: abbr.

12 “I’m not at the computer” initialism 14 Ice chunk 16 Charlotte Bronte heroine Jane

19 “Reverend” of 1980s rap 21 Equal, in French 22 Philosopher Descartes 26 Dorm leaders, for short 27 “The Darjeeling Limited” director Anderson 28 “Transformers” director Michael 29 Get droopy 30 Checkout lane unit 31 Prefix meaning “stranger” 32 Place for a prank involving a potato 33 Particle physicist whose findings were first accepted by Einstein 34 Buddies-first mentality 36 It may be charged by airport shuttle services if you’re late from a flight 38 He played B.A. 39 Has the rights to 40 With full attention 41 Look-___ (impostors) 43 “___ jumpy rhythm makes you feel so fine” (Johnny Cash line) 44 Bathroom door word 45 Battleship call near the middle edge of the grid 47 Singer lang et al.

48 Booker T’s backers 49 Song or dance, e.g.

50 Singer Corinne Bailey ___

©2009 Jonesin’ Crosswords (editor@jonesincrosswords.com) For answers to this puzzle, call: 1-900-226-2800, 99 cents per minute. Must be 18+. Or to bill to your credit card, call: 1-800-655-6548. Reference puzzle #0429

Ask A Mexican

Not Getting Married in the Morning

By Gusatvo Arellano themexican@askamexican.net

Dear Mexican, I am a 22-year-old MexicanAmerican women, still living with my parents but going to college, working full-time and taking care of myself financially. I grew up in a very traditional Mexican household, youngest of four kids, and we were all born in the United States. I’m unmarried but with a steady boyfriend I have been with for four years. My family is proud of me. I’m the only one of my cousins who was not in gangs, didn’t leave with the boyfriend at 15 and is doing something with her life, and still I get shit for NOT BEING MARRIED AT MY AGE! Why? My aunts, uncles, cousins, distant relatives ask me the same question EVERY TIME I see them: “¿Y cuando te casas?” I’d rather not go to family gatherings because this is the main topic of discussion. I thought getting married too young was wrong. Here I am, thinking that if I go to college, graduate and then get married, that was going to make everyone proud of me. Boy, was I wrong! So, enlighten me: WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE FOR A MEXICAN GIRL TO GET MARRIED? — Soon to Wed, ¡Ya Que! Dear Chula, Déjame get wonky for a bit before answering your question. No reliable current stats for the median age of first marriage for women in the United States exist anymore, but the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth, co-sponsored by the Center for Disease Control and the National Center for Health Statistics, noted something

interesting. It showed that 10 percent of Latinas (mostly mexicanas, of course) marry for the first time by age 18, compared with six percent of gabachas. And Latinas marry for the first time at a younger age in a greater rate than gabachas until 24, by which time an equal percentage (roughly 50) of Mexican mujeres and gabachas have married for the first time. After that, the trends reverse, and Mexican women tend to delay their first marriage at higher levels than gabachas. So, Mexican women generally marry younger, but not in the ridiculously overblown numbers Know Nothings trot out to justify demonizing us as sexual deviants.

Ahora, to your question, Soon to Wed: the right age para casarte is whenever a girl is ready. The Mexican recommends chicas get a good career before paying attention to wooing pendejos and reminds them that men of all razas want women only to take care of their chorizo and huevos. Your family giving you a hard time just because you dare delay? Que se vayan a la chingada. Or, in the language of the Bard: tell ’em to slag off.

Dear Mexican, It has been said that George W. Bush and Vicente Fox made an agreement years ago whereby the U.S. would allow unchecked illegal immigration presumably to give greedy American corporations cheap labor while taking pressure off of the Mexican government to provide food, medical care, and social welfare for the rapidly growing, poverty-stricken Mexican population and thus averting a revolution. Perhaps we should have sent our Internal Revenue Service to

aid the Mexican government in reining in taxes from the fabulously wealthy class down there. I guess a socialized welfare state in Mexico for Mexicans is taboo while everyone expects the U.S. to provide social welfare for up to 40 million Mexicans over the next few years. The IRS will make it happen here, so why not in Mexico?

— Chazz from Chooger Land, Tejas Dear Gabacho, Actually, the two countries signed their gentleman’s agreement in 1848, when Mexico gifted el Norte with half of its territory with the provision the U.S. create a financial system that forever relied on cheap labor. And the Pew Hispanic Center’s Statistical Portrait of Hispanics in the United States, 2006 estimates based on U.S. Census figures that Mexicans of all stripes number 30 million, and foreignborn wabs a mere third or so of that amount, with the illegal portion even smaller. As for the IRS, I may be Mexican, but I ain’t not dumb—no comment on our finest of institutions.

Ask the Mexican at themexican@ askamexican.net, myspace.com/ocwab, find him on Facebook, Twitter, or write via snail mail at: Gustavo Arellano, P.O. Box 1433, Anaheim, CA 92815-1433.

“The Mexican recommends chicas get a good career before paying attention to wooing pendejos and reminds them that men of all razas want women only to take care of their chorizo and huevos.”

Solution To Last Week’s Puzzle

95.3 Pulse News www.chattanoogapulse.com 9.3.09 The Pulse

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