The Loafer 132

It’s Bristol Baby!

BASS PRO SHOPS NIGHT RACE Saturday, September 21, 2024 7:30 PM

Food City 300

friday, September 20, 2024 7:30 PM

bristolmotorspeedway.com

NOTE

Volume 03 Issue 132 Publisher Lisa Durbin Creative Director Jon Bill Forrester Managing Editor Peggy Gale Distribution Herbie Durbin Jon Bill Forrester Entertainment Coordinator Andreax Jarre Public Relations Correspondent Lee Lee Williams Contributing Staff Andy Ross

your week’s line-up

04 Spotlight

Kathie Scalf

Bristol Motor Speedway

07 Tri-Cities Nightlife 08 UT Football Schedule 08 Beezwax 09 Pets of the Week 10

Appalachian Hip-Hop

11 Things To Do

14

Biker Events

18

ETSU Football Schedule

Ann Hartley

The Loafer

22 WQUT Concert Schedule

Po Box 39

PUBLISHER

06 Puzzle Page

12 Tri-Cities Faces and Places

Wendy Hayden

FROM THE

05 The History of

Ken Silvers

Telford, Tn 37690

Hello Friends!

It is one of race fans favorite time of the year.

The night race at Bristol Motor Speedway!

There is just something about sitting in those stands listening to the roar of the engines while smelling the race fuel and hearing all of the cheers of the other fans. Are you going to the race or will you be staying at home to avoid the crowds of traffic on the road and in the restaurants? Even if you aren’t a fan we can appreciate the revenue the race brings into our area.

How are you enjoying these fall mornings?

It sure is chilly when I take my daughter to school? Afternoons are still hot but I wonder how long that will last. We better embrace Fall because it is sure here! Enjoy your week friends!

423-930-7319 www.theloafer.net theloaferonlineprint@gmail.com All advertisements are accepted and published by the publisher upon the representation that the agency and/or advertiser is authorized to publish the entire contents and subject matter thereof. The agency and/or advertiser will indemnify and save the publisher harmless from any lossof expense resulting from claims or suits based upon contents of any advertisement, including claims or suits for defamation, libel, right of privacy, plagiarism, and copyright infringement.

Founder: Bill Williams

LBD FAMILY MEDIA Let’s Get Social!

columns & reviews

theloafer.net |September 18, 2024

2

15 Beanz Biker Corner Let's Go Camping 17

Social Sentiments:

Authenticity and Transparency 19 Tea Time with Appalachian Barbie:

Time Traveling for my Sanity 21 Pop Life Twisters 23 Batteries Not Included: A Tedious, but Good, Task

Love,

Lisa Durbin

Publisher

3

theloafer.net | September 18, 2024

Spotlight

theloafer.net |September 18, 2024

4

Johnson City

Kingsport

WEDNESDAY Sept 18th

THURSDAY Sept 19th Midnight Gypsys 7:00pm at Lakeview Marina

Johnson City, TN

Rheva & Keegan’s Irish Fiddle Tunes 5:30pm at Mulligan’s Gaming Pub

Bristol TN/Va Bristol, TN/VA WEDNESDAY Sept 18th Every Other Wednesday All-Star Jazz and Jam 7:30pm at Cascade Draft House THURSDAY Sept 19th Adrian Bundy & His Honky Tonk Hearts 7:00pm at Bristol Casino FRIDAY Sept 20th Julie Williams and The Hired Guns 6:00pm at Bristol Casino Bar

HB Beverly 6:30pm at Rocks Wood Fired Pizza THURSDAY Sept 19th Justin Mychaels 6:30pm at Rocks Wood FIred Pizza Rocky Horror Music Show Live 8:00pm at Capone’s FRIDAY Sept 20th Jeff Lane 6:30pm at Rocks Wood FIred Pizza

Mike Preslar 7:00pm at Cascade Draft House

Bike Night w/ Asylum Suite 8:00pm at Tulip’s Grub & Pub

Alli Epperson 8:00pm at The Corner

Filter 8:00pm at Capone’s

Marques Puckett & 8 Second Ride 9:30pm at Bristol Casino Bar

SATURDAY Sept 21st

SATURDAY Sept 21st Boombox All 80s Band 6:00pm at Bristol Casino Bar Some Old Friends 7:00pm at Cascade Draft House Damon Heath 8:00pm at The Corner Stonefire 9:00pm at O’Mainnin’s Pub Cash Crop 9:30pm at Bristol Casino Bar

Kingsport, TN

FRIDAY Sept 20th Tequila Mockingbird 7:00pm at Lakeview Marina Dead Flowers 7:00 at Gypsy Circus Cider Company SATURDAY Sept 21st Dan Herrell & The Troubadours 7:00pm at Lakeview Marina The Color 7 9:00pm at CJ’s Sports Bar

SUNDAY Sept 22nd Jason Lloyd 7:00pm at Lakeview Marina

Elizabethton, TN Elizabethton SATURDAY Sept 21st Powershift 8:00pm at Jiggy Ray’s Abingdon, VA Abingdon, VA SATURDAY Sept 21st Joey’s Van 5:00pm at Abingdon Vineyards SUNDAY Sep Sept 22nd Josh Bowles & Tom Zeske III 5:00pm at Abingdon Vineyards

Victor Lawson & Boogie Chillen Band 8:00pm at Tulip’s Grub & Pub Seppuku | The Buzzards | Epistaxis 10:00pm at Capone’s SUNDAY Sep 22nd Rheva & Keegan’s Irish Fiddle Tunes 5:30pm at Mulligan’s Gaming Pub TUESDAY Sep 24th Old Time Jam 5:00pm at Yee-Haw Brewing Company

MONDAY Sep 23rd Anthony Childress 7:00pm at Cascade Draft House

Brim & Marci Leal 6:30pm at Rocks Wood Fired Pizza

Submit Your Live Shows to: theloaferonlineprint@gmail.com or call 423-930-7319 to be Featured in the Loafer Spotlight

Known as The Last Great Colosseum, Bristol Motor Speedway’s stadium-like structure serves as a versatile multiuse venue that hosts major auto races, football games, concerts and many other captivating events.

different owners in the early days, but eventually found its way back to Carrier ownership in 1985. On Jan. 22, 1996, Carrier sold the speedway to O. Bruton Smith and Speedway Motorsports, Inc., at a purchase price of $26 million.

Initial plans for the track were drawn up by track founders Larry Carrier and The sprawling facility has come a Carl Moore on napkins during dinner. long way from its early roots. Today Those were given to an architect and the Colosseum offers guests a wide revealed publicly at a press conference range of accommodations, from on January 17, 1961, with working luxurious man cave suites to bar starting on Jan. 23, 1961. The track stools in the Busch Banks and Brews was completed in about six months, Deck to a relaxing environment high with the first race scheduled July 30. atop the track at the Turn One Tavern Finishing touches were being applied to a flexible space inside the infield as the gates were first opened to fans called The Garage Bar. The BMS on July 28, 1961. footprint now includes more than Purchase of the land on which BMS 500 acres of the surrounding area. now sits, as well as construction of the The short track is a (0.533-mile) track, cost approximately $600,000. concrete oval with corner banking The entire layout for BMS covered a ranging from 24 to 28 degrees and a little more than 100 acres. pair of 650-feet straightaways. Also The very first NASCAR race at BMS, part of the complex, the adjacent held on July 30, 1961, was won by quarter-mile dragstrip, Bristol Jack Smith with relief help from Dragway, offers more than 50 events Johnny Allen. annually, including the marquee The facility was held by several Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley

Nationals in early June. The Thunder Valley Amphitheatre transforms the dragway into a premier concert venue on select dates to host some of the world’s best music acts.

Food City first sponsored the Cup entitlement in 1992.

The historic facility, forged amid the scenic mountains of Northeast Tennessee near the Virginia state line, While enjoying racing at the iconic earned its reputation for producing oval, fans are offered a unique viewing incredible finishes during its most experience courtesy of Colossus TV, the storied event, referred to as “America’s world’s largest outdoor center-hung four- Night Race.” sided video screen with a 540,000-watt The first Night Race at Bristol was held audio system. in 1978, and stands today as one of Bristol hosts races in several NASCAR the first on the Cup circuit to touring series, highlighted by two major illuminate NASCAR’s marquee touring NASCAR Cup Series weekends. The series under bright stadium lights. biggest names in NASCAR, including In 2024, BMS will celebrate its 46th Dale Earnhardt, Darrell Waltrip, Cale anniversary of conducting major auto Yarborough, Richard Petty, Jeff Gordon, races after dark.

Rusty Wallace, Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Bobby Allison have In 2024, the iconic Night Race will earned victories at the legendary track. continue to be the elimination race For 33 years Food City has sponsored the in the Round of 16 Playoffs for the Cup Series. As always, the drama is Spring Cup race at Bristol. Food City is NASCAR’s second longest running race sure to be intense as four Cup drivers entitlement sponsor in the sport. Food seasons will end at Bristol after the City has been involved in the event since 500 grueling laps in playoff mode.

1987 through their hosting of one of the In 2016, Bristol enjoyed its “Biggest most popular fan events on the NASCAR Year Yet” hosting the Pilot Flying J circuit, Food City Family Race Night.

Battle at Bristol, where border rivals Virginia Tech and the University of Tennessee played a college football game in front of an NCAA-record crowd of 156,990.

Prior to the game, a special country music concert was held, featuring a trio of successful local acts. The Honda Ridgeline Bristol Tailgate featured Kenny Chesney, The Band Perry and Old Dominion in front of a crowd of more than 40,000.

Interestingly, two other football games have been held inside the BMS oval. In 1961, the NFL’s Washington Redskins took on the Philadelphia Eagles in a pre-season game. The Eagles won, 17-10. The week following the Pilot Flying J Battle at Bristol, BMS held a second game in 2016, the Food City Bucs at Bristol presented by Food City.

The local favorite East Tennessee State University Buccaneers upset rival Western Carolina University 34-31 in a thrilling come-from-behind victory.

One thing is for certain, Bristol Motor Speedway will continue to showcase itself as a facility widely regarded as a major sports and entertainment destination.

theloafer.net | September 18, 2024

The History of Bristol Motor Speedway

5

theloafer.net |September 18, 2024

6

SODOKU

DROP QUOTE

C RYPTOG RAM

ZRH DUQH IOK OGDOWQ ZRCJDQ RUIQHGY JK ZRH QUNH JY RUQ OQQOUGOKZQ. UZ UQ IJCH RUQ UKZHCHQZ ZROK UZ UQ ZRHUCQ ZJ YUKN RUQ DHOP VJUKZ. — Ralph Waldo Emerson

CROSSWORD

ACROSS 37. Send into exile 1. Religious pilgrimage 39. Marine animal 5. Storage medium 42. Congo center?

10. Game played on a world map 43. Düsseldorf donkey 14. Another: Spanish 47. Skyscraper support 15. Bath sponge 48. It's full of life 16. Mother goddess on Pandora 51. Paperboy 17. Insignificance 52. "Once upon a midnight 19. Popular street name dreary..." poem 20. Much ballyhooed 54. Flea market item, perhaps 21. Type of ray 57. Dusk 22. Mark Twain play not 62. Idle published until it 63. Dylan hit originally written was rediscovered in 2002 for "Midnight Cowboy" 26. Beatrix of "Kill Bill" 66. ____ nitrate (stimulant) 30. Set aside 67. Collie or Yorkie 34. "You're ___!" (compliment to 68. "____ sure you're aware... " a comedian) 69. Pry 35. Dresden denial 70. Gape 36. Morn's opposite, to Tennyson 71. Dutch master Frans

Answers to last week’s puzzles can be found on page 09.

Down

1. "The Empire Strikes Back" setting 2. Give it ____ (make an attempt) 3. Faucet flaw 4. Jupiter 5. He wears a red suit 6. Flipper 7. French king 8. Frequently, to Frost 9. Has permission 10. Filmed again 11. Popeye's first words?

12. Pool exercise 13. Japanese writing form 18. Numbskulls 21. Stove fuel 23. Denver to Chicago dir.

24. Soft & ___ (anti-perspirant brand) 25. Smither enders 26. Skewered dish 27. Modern Persian 28. Wild dog of the Outback 29. "How ___ love thee? Let me..."

31. Go for another 12 issues, say 32. Home of Bally's and the Venetian 33. Antagonist 38. Sound of a giggle 40. Beat, in wrestling 41. Royal order, briefly 44. To be, in Toledo 45. Historic time 46. Tool for evening 49. Muffle 50. Soup in Hanoi 53. Steer clear of 54. Scottish family 55. Man in Milan 56. Sunbeams 58. Taunting syllable 59. ____ Lund of "Casablanca" 60. Catch redhanded 61. Y features 63. Amt. on a dumbbell 64. Actor Carney 65. Affirmative vote

NIGHTLIFE

WEDNESDAY Karaoke with Absolute Entertainment at The Pub Out Back (The Italian Pizza Pub) - Johnson City 7pm Karaoke w/ Eric Huskins VFW Post 2108 – Johnson City, TN 8pm Karaoke Night at Wonderland Lounge and Bar - Johnson City, TN 9pm Karaoke with Ron at Kingsport Moose Lodge 6:30pm Loudmouth Karaoke at Michael Waltrip Brewing Company - Bristol, VA on Wednesday, April 5th at 7pm THURSDAY Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Tulips Grub & Pub - Johnson City, TN 8pm Karaoke with Absolute Entertainment at Wild Wings Cafe - Johnson City, TN 9pm Karaoke at Numan’s - Johnson City, TN 10pm Karaoke at Jiggy Rays Pizzeria - Johnson City, TN Karaoke at Tipsy Toad Tavern - Jonesborough, TN FRIDAY Karaoke with Absolute Entertainment at Rainbow Asian Cuisine - Johnson City, TN 9pm Karaoke with Absolute Entertainment at The Sports Mill - Kingsport, TN 8pm Karaoke w/ Eric Huskins VFW Post 2108 – Johnson City, TN 8pm Karaoke at Numan’s – Johnson City, TN 10pm Karaoke with Handsome Hodge Entertainment at O’Mainnin’s Pub and Grille - Bristol, TN 10pm SATURDAY Karaoke with Absolute Entertainment at Tulips Grub & Pub Johnson City, TN 8pm Karaoke at Numan’s – Johnson City, TN 10pm Karaoke w/ Eric Huskins VFW Post 2108 – Johnson City, TN 8pm Karaoke at Numan’s – Johnson City, TN 10pm Karaoke with DJ Clyde and Prestige Entertainment at Macado’s -Kingsport, TN 9pm Karaoke with Handsome Hodge Entertainment at O’Mainnin’s Pub and Grille - Bristol, TN 10pm

TRIVIA

TUESDAY Team Trivia at Wild Wing Café Johnson City TN DJ Trivia at Union Street Taproom Erwin, TN 5pm Trivia at The Corner Bar Bristol, VA 8pm Trivia at Aubrey’s Johnson City 7pm WEDNESDAY Trivia at Tipsy Toad Jonesborough, TN 7pm Trivia Night Mellow Mushroom Bristol, VA 7pm Trivia at Aubrey’s Bristol 7pm THURSDAY Mellow Trivia at Mellow Mushroom Johnson City, TN- 7pm Trivia at Riverside Taphouse at South Fork Bluff City, TN 7pm

BINGO

TUESDAY Singo at Riverside Taphouse at South Fork Bluff City, TN 6:30pm

DJ NIGHT THURSDAY DJ B-Digital at O’Mainnin’s Pub and Grille Bristol, TN 10pm

WEDNESDAY Bingo at Tipton Street Pub Johnson City, TN 9pm Singo at Holy Taco & Cantina Boones Creek, TN 8pm Blazin’ Bingo at Mellow Mushroom Johnson City, TN 6pm

FRIDAY Handsome Hodge Entertainment at O’Mainnin’s Pub - Bristol, TN 10pm

THURSDAY Bingo at Mellow Mushroom Bristol VA 6pm Singo at Aubrey’s Bristol 7:00 PM

SUNDAY DJ B-Digital at O’Mainnin’s Pub and Grille Bristol, TN 10pm

SATURDAY Handsome Hodge Entertainment at O’Mainnin’s Pub - Bristol, TN 10pm

To have your events added to this list email: theloaferonlineprint@gmail.com or call: 423-930-7319

theloafer.net | September 18, 2024

TRI-CITIES

7

theloafer.net |September 18, 2024

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Aug. 31 vs. Chattanooga Sept. 7 vs. NC State (Charlotte) Sept. 14 vs. Kent State Sept. 21 at Oklahoma Sept. 28 Idle Oct. 5 at Arkansas Oct. 12 vs. Florida Oct. 19 vs. Alabama Nov. 2 vs. Kentucky Nov. 9 vs. Mississippi State Nov. 16 at Georgia Football Schedule Nov. 23 vs. UTEP Oct. 26 Idle Nov. 30 at Vanderbilt Dec. 7 SEC Championship

2024

theloafer.net | September 18, 2024

PETS

OF THE WEEK

9

T H O R Meet Thor, the sweetest, most down-to-earth 4 yr old tabby who is all about lounging and snuggling.

Thor’s gentle demeanor and loving nature make him the heart of any home. Whether he’s napping in a

sunny spot or offering his services as a professional cuddler, Thor brings a sense of calm and warmth to everyone he meets. He is up to date on all vaccinations, microchipped, FeLV/FIV negative, and neutered!

Last Week's Puzzle Answers

D U

Crossword

Cryptogram:

Dropquote:

"The United States can tell you all about what's wrong with the British, to say nothing of the Russians."

"One characteristic of winners is they always look upon themselves as a do it yourself project."

K

Sudoku

E

Meet Duke, the sweet senior who loves car rides and is ready for his forever home!

• Just like a charming dating profile, here’s why Duke is a perfect catch: • •

Born on 05/08/2017, a delightful Boxer mix companion

•

Loves car rides and is always up for

an adventure Needs a cat-free home House-trained and a total sweetie.

If you’re looking for a loving buddy to join you on road trips and cozy evenings, Duke is the perfect match!

If you are interested in adopting : The Bridge Home No Kill Animal Shelter 423-239-5237 • 2061 Highway 75 Blountville, TN Facebook: bridgehome

bridgehome.org

theloafer.net |September 18, 2024

10

ETSU’s Dr. Ted Olson Helps Create Appalachian Hip-Hop Album Earlier this month, Appalshop’s record label June Appal Recordings released “No Options: Hip-Hop in Appalachia.” Organizers timed the release to coincide with two important historical observations: Aug. 8, which many Black communities celebrate as Emancipation Day, and Aug. 11, National Hip-Hop Day. “During the pandemic, Dr. William Turner (a noted scholar on African American communities in Appalachia) and I co-hosted the podcast series ‘Sepia Tones: Exploring Black Appalachian Music,’ and we produced an episode celebrating hip-hop in Appalachia. It was obvious that a number of talented hip-hop artists lived in the region, yet few of those artists were known beyond their home communities,” said Dr. Ted Olson, a professor of Appalachian Studies and Bluegrass, Old-Time and Roots Music Studies at East Tennessee State University.

Part of the album was recorded in the ETSU Recording Lab, and Olson served as co-producer and co-curator.

“Dr. Turner and I applied for a grant from the nonprofit organization Appalshop allowing us to produce an album to showcase the music of many of the region’s hip-hop artists,” he said. “Taking two years to complete, with several of the recordings being made in the ETSU Recording Lab, ‘No Options’ is the first album to document the diversity of hip-hop music from Appalachia.”

Previous compilations of historical and contemporary American hip-hop have tended to ignore recordings by Appalachian artists, organizers said, choosing instead to focus on more urban areas of the American South.

“No Options,” meanwhile, purposefully celebrates the unique perspectives of small-town and rural hip-hop artists.

Artists hail from throughout the region, including Alabama, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee and New York. One of the artists, Stunna T, has a track called “Show Up” that was recorded via phone in Wallens Ridge State Prison in Big Stone Gap, Virginia.

The album is available for preorder now through June Appal’s Bandcamp.

JOHNSON CITY SATURDAYS ACOA (adult children of alcoholics) 1:30-3:00pm.

Call for info Bill 423-444-6107 or Cheryl 423-262-6149 THURSDAY SEPT 19TH Tri-Cities Turtles Run Club 12:45pm at Yee-Haw Brewing Co. FRIDAY SEPT 20TH Johnson City Love & Hiking Date For Couples (Self-Guided) 7:00am at Willow Springs Park SATURDAY SEPT 21ST Johnson City Love & Hiking Date For Couples (Self-Guided) 7:00am at Willow Springs Park Johnson City Farmers Market 8:00am at the Pavilion in Downtown Johnson City

BRISTOL WEDNESDAY SEPT 18TH Bristol Bloom Collective | All Local Flower Market 9:00am at West State Studio Comedy Open Mic 8:00pm at Blue Ridge Comedy Club THURSDAY SEPT 19TH Weekly Trunk Show 5:00pm at LUMAC Rooftop Bar “Pumpkin Season” Canvas Class 6:00pm at Kil’n Time FRIDAY SEPT 20TH Weekly Trunk Show 5:00pm at LUMAC Rooftop Bar

“Fall Birch Tree” Canvas Class 6:00pmat Kil’n Time Comedy Open Mic 8:00pm at Andrew Yang & Kenny Stempien: Double Feature SATURDAY SEPT 21ST Board Game Night 5:00pm at Bristol Public Library Seeing Spots Canvas Class 6:00pm at Kil’n Time

BLUFF CITY

Game Night 5:00pm at Abingdon Commons SATURDAY SEPT 19TH Bingo 5:00pm at Abingdon Bluff City Farmers Market Community Center 9:00pm at Bluff City Ball Field 2024 SATURDAY SEPT 21ST

ABINGDON, VA

TUESDAY SEPT 17TH Farmers Market 8:00pm at Abingdon Farmer's Market WEDNESDAY SEPT 18TH

Farmers Market 8:00pm at Abingdon Farmer's Market SUNDAY SEP 22ND Bingo 5:00pm at Abingdon Community Center

KINGSPORT SATURDAY SEPT 21ST Farmer's Market 7:00am at Kingsport Farmers Market Nature: Wolf Howling 10:00am at Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium Brunch 11:30am at Gypsy Circus Cider Company

JONESBOROUGH TUESDAYS Jonesborough Storytelling Guild “Stories n’More” Show 7:00pm at The International Storytelling Center SATURDAY SEPT 21ST Jonesborough Farmers Market 8:00am at Downtown Jonesborough Historic Jonesborough Town Tour 1:00pm at Chester Inn State Historic Site

bristolmotorspeedway.com

To be featured in The Loafer's Things to Do email us at: theloaferonlineprint@gmail.com or call 423-930-7319

theloafer.net | September 18, 2024

THINGS TO DO

11

theloafer.net |September 18, 2024

12

Tri-Cities Faces and Places Celebrating the people and places of our community!

13

theloafer.net | September 18, 2024

theloafer.net |September 18, 2024

14

Bike Nights sponsored by biker wear

PAID ADVERTISEMENT

You may be eligible to take part in a clinical trial for Chronic Cough.

Those who qualify may receive: • Payment up to $1,295, which varies by study • Study-related care from local doctors at no cost • Study medication at no cost Participating in research studies helps contribute to the advancement of future medicine and treatment options.

Local Events: 1.. Twilight Alive July 19th Kingsport, TN 2. Hillbilly & Vet Pre-Party July 20th 7pm Wild Wings Café 3. Hillbilly & Vet Car & Bike July 20th 3pm – 7pm Wild Wings Café 4. 3rd Annual Tri-Cities Takeover August 25th

Bike Nights: Wednesday: 19E Pit Stop Wednesday: Jonesborough VFW Thursday: Darrell Waltrip Thursday: Old Town Tavern To see if you qualify, visit

www.MyCoughTrial.com or call

1-866-488-8088

Friday: Tulips August 3rd Peacemakers Greenville, TN Bike Night and Bike Show

Rides: 1. Hillbilly Shine Ride to Maggie Valley NC Meet 8am KSU 8:30am Jonesboro VFW 2. Bear Barnes Memorial Ride August 17th

Bike Rallies:

There are 5 Race Cars hidden in this issue of The Loafer.

Can you find them all?

1. 15th Annual Hillbilly Show & Shine July 26th – 27th 2. 85th Annual Sturgis Bike Rally August 2nd – 11th

Rides & Rallies

sponsored by biker wear

15

Hello again everyone, it’s a HOT summer so lets go camping in the mountains, by the river, or at the lake. I love to go camping. I tent camp. Today, it seems like most people enjoy camping.

Heck, I know I sure do! And who’s to blame them – camping is an amazing outdoor activity. But everybody has their own way of camping. Some like tents, or RV or a pull behind. No matter how you camp, you are making memories with family and friends. It’s a great way to get back to nature and get away from the noise of the city and the everyday rush. Stress just seems to melt away.

history, people have “camped” as a way of life. We humans lived a nomadic existence out of necessity, moving with the seasons, following food sources and avoiding inclement weather. A roving lifestyle in nature was all we knew for millennia. That, however, is far removed from the type of camping we’re talking about today.

We’re interested in modern camping; the campground, sleeping bag and tent, kind of camping.

Here are some camping safety tips: 1. Choose the right shelter and site for your camping trip. 2. Stay upto-date with the weather and be prepared for any changes. 3. Pack and Recreational camping has a store food safely to avoid spoilage long history, with origins traced and contamination. 4. Practice back to ancient times when campfire safety and never leave a fire early humans built temporary unattended. 5. Use insect protection structures in the wilderness and avoid areas with high infestation. for shelter and survival during hunting and gathering expeditions. 6. Be aware of allergies and bring any necessary medication. 7. Protect your However, modern recreational camping as we know it today was skin from the sun with sunscreen, popularized in the late Victorian hats, and clothing. 8. Stay hydrated era Thomas Hiram Holding, who and drink plenty of water. 9. Learn wrote the first edition of "The about local wildlife and keep a safe Camper’s Handbook" in 1908, is distance from them. 10. Be careful considered the founder of modern near water and follow the rules for recreational camping. For the overwhelming majority of human swimming and boating. 11. Avoid poisonous plants and learn how to identify them.

Beanz Biker Corner

By Anne Hartley 423-297-5675

Back when I was a kid, camping trips consisted of a leaky tent pitched on a rocky piece of earth and some marshmallows burnt to a crisp over the campfire. Don’t get me wrong, I loved camping then and I still love it now, but there’s no denying that camping has evolved in ways that were unimaginable a few decades ago. Today, modern campgrounds boast everything from waterparks to coffee carts, and they appeal to a larger number of people than ever before. With the amenities offered at some American campgrounds these days, there’s nothing rough about roughing it.

116 Buffalo Street Johnson City, TN • www.bikerweartn.com • (423) 631-0542

Useless Facts: 1. The total number of campers each year was constantly growing, but the boom was quite noticeable after the pandemic. In 2021, there were 93.8 million active camping households in the United States alone, from which 9.1 million households were camping for the first time in their life.

2. The majority of campers live in urban areas, so going camping for them is also escaping the busy city life. In a survey held in 2021, more than half of all campers (56%) were coming from urban living areas.

3. Camping is for everyone, regardless of their income. In fact, about 41% of first-time campers in 2020 came from higher-income households.

4. The average number of nights campers spend on a campground is between 7 and 9 nights.

5. You don’t need to travel long distances to enjoy nature. In 2021, 56% of campers traveled less than 100 miles for their trip. In fact, one third of them stay within just 50 miles of their homes.

Full Moons of 2024 1. Buck Moon on Sunday, July 21 - 6:19 am 2. Sturgeon Moon on Monday, August 19 - 2:28 pm 3. Harvest Moon on Wednesday September 18 - 10:36 pm 4. Hunters Moon on Thursday October 17 -7:27 am 5. Beaver Moon on Friday November 15 - 4:29 pm 6. Cold Moon on Sunday December 15 - 4:02 am

theloafer.net | September 18, 2024

Beanz Biker Corner

Sponsored By Biker Wear

theloafer.net |September 18, 2024

16

1776 Highway 11 E Jonesborough, TN 37659 (423) 722-8888 www.jonesboroughfuneralhome.com Traditional Services • Cremation Services • Veterans Services Online Memorials • Tribute Videos • Ordering Flowers Sharing Service Details • Daily Grief Support Emails Proudly Offering Burial & Cremation Services for Jonesborough and WashingtonCounty, TN

Contact us to Pre-Plan your funeral, or transfer your existing Pre-Need from another funeral home.

17

Authentic and transparent brands garner respect from audiences by proving that they have their best interests at heart.

Authenticity draws audiences in because they know they are dealing with a trustworthy brand.

Social media is full of misinformation, which attracts people to the truth.

Being authentic shows your audience that you are true to yourself and your word and will deliver on your promises.

Transparency in all aspects of your business helps your audience see the humanity behind your brand.

Allowing your audience to

Social Sentiments

By Wendy Hayden socialsentiments @outlook.com

socialsentiments.net

see behind the scenes gives them a better understanding of why you are passionate about your brand. A mutual understanding that your passion for your brand will lead to passionate results for your clients increases your brand reach, and ultimately, your sales.

Staying true to your character and allowing that to show through your social media posts brings your audience closer and builds a bond that will lead to an increase in brand awareness and sales.

theloafer.net | September 18, 2024

Authenticity and Transparency

theloafer.net |September 18, 2024

18

EAST TENNESSEE STATE 2024 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE Sat, Aug 31

@ App State 3:30 PM

Sat, Sep 7

vs UVA Wise 5:30 PM

Sat, Sep 14

vs N. Dakota State 5:30 PM

Sat, Sep 21

@ Elon 6:00 PM

Sat, Sep 28

@ The Citadel 2:00 PM

Sat, Oct 5

vs Chattanooga 3:30 PM

Sat, Oct 12

vs Samford 3:30 PM

Sat, Oct 26

@ Wofford 2:00 PM

Sat, Nov 2

@ Mercer 3:00 PM

Sat, Nov 9

vs Western Carolina 12:00 PM

Sat, Nov 16

vs Furman 12:00 PM

Sat, Nov 2

@ VMI 12:00 PM

by Kathie Scalf

I don’t think I’m alone in being at a breaking point with the state of the world today.

Aside from finally hitting the “these kids today” age, I concurrently have the misfortune of living in one of the most bizarrely chaotic and exhausting times in history, and thanks to technology, there’s hardly an escape from the nonstop coverage of globally divisive negativity, short of barricading yourself in a bunker with no electricity. Quite frankly, that scenario is sounding most appealing to me versus the alternative at the moment.

Since I still have parents, pets and taxes I can’t abandon for a life of peace and seclusion, I’ve decided to construct an alternative reality for myself that brings me a great deal of joy without going completely off the grid and out of my mind. The one good thing about living in this day and age is that you can literally decide to be anything you want to be, and that is why I have decided to live my life like it is 1950 as much as humanly possible.

Please hear me out and don’t have me committed.

This idea came about innocently enough. I think we all have periods in history that we feel drawn to; for my friend Robbie it’s the antebellum south, for my mother it’s her hayday in the 70s and for me it’s the idyllic Baby Boomer years between WWII and Vietnam. Maybe it’s from growing up in less than perfect settings with parents who both worked a lot, but even as a kid I adored classic TV shows and movies that depicted the perfectly groomed nuclear family in friendly neighborhoods with wellappointed lawns. As I grew into womanhood, I idolized the smoky

eyes and tiny waists of the “Hitchcock Blondes,” and searched in vain for the brawn of classically dark and handsome leading men like Paul Newman, Marlon Brando and Cary Grant in my fellow slack-jawed Y2K collegemates. Even my house in Elizabethton was a 1948 cottage, which I took a great deal of pleasure in decorating by scouring local antique stores for periodappropriate furnishings.

themselves more well-rounded individuals. I then dove into old recipes and diet plans to see how and what they were eating differed from myself, and it’s of no surprise they ate very little processed foods and portion sizes were far smaller. They baked their own breads, emphasized milk and fruits at each meal and always left room for a pinch of dessert. This is all stuff I can get behind!

Lately I’ve been having some health So back to my decision to time issues, which is particularly troubling travel for my own health and sanity. for me because I’m a lucky individual I do not enjoy the direction the who’s never had to give a second world is heading, and that is not thought to illness beyond an annual geared toward any one political or sinus infection. As I was lying around religious opinion; in general and in one day, scrolling through Instagram, short, I think we’re going to hell in a I stumbled upon an account handbasket. And even though I’m a dedicated to vintage historical modern woman and can recognize photos, and many of them were of the there were numerous faults with era I adore so much. As I thumbed 1950s/1960s America, I think we’re my way through the photos of people losing a lot by doing away with many living their lives in 1950s America, I of these values. Lying on our backs, began to notice how few overweight eating fast food and scrolling through people there were. In fact, there were useless memes, while working none. If you snapped a candid photo sedentary jobs is turning us into on any beach right now, the average monsters. I feel empty from wasting weight would easily run 40lbs my life away in this manner day after heavier than the vacationers 70 years day, comparing myself to filtered, ago. What were they doing that we’re vapid people who care only about not now? what designer label on their silicone filled butt will receive the most likes This led to making my way down a from strangers for validation. I crave Google rabbithole, researching the day-to-day lives of the 50s housewife. intellectually stimulating people who are active and motivated and strong Surprisingly they devoted little time in their own beliefs, regardless of to exercise in spite of their figures, whether they differ from mine. and it’s of course due to the fact that women were naturally more active then. They started their day 30 minutes before the rest of the family, prepared 3 nutritious meals, maintained spotless households and ran daily errands by foot. Most families only had one car, which meant women walked to the grocery store, bank or clothier during the day while their husband was gone to work. In their little free time, they read books, took up hobbies like tennis or golf or took classes to learn new skills-all geared toward making

In an attempt to be the change I want to see, I’m adopting as many of these lifestyle habits of yesteryear as I can make feasible. I’ve begun following a diet that more closely resembles what was eaten then, and while I’m not baking my own bread, I did go buy some from the farmers market that was made in the simplest and most organic way. I’ve started reading books again and in the car, switched from my normal true crime podcasts to informative and educational ones like Civil War history and alcohol-

industry news for my career. I’ve started caring more about my appearance before leaving the house, and just for fun I’m avoiding news and current events in favor of classic films of the era I’ve not seen.

The wildest thing about living in 2022 versus 1955, is that you now have a choice in your own successes and failures and you can blame it on no one else. We all hold the literal key to the universe in our hands with internet powered smart phones. Any and everything you’ve ever want to know is a click away, it’s just up to you whether you use this key for good or evil. Which means if you’re ignorant, fat and poor, it’s by your own choice, just as much as if you’re educated, healthy and successful. I might seem like I’m sticking my head in the sand to the current turbulent times by mentally going backward, but I’m thinking the key to me moving forward might be taking a few steps backward. Who’s coming with me?

XO - Kathie

theloafer.net | September 18, 2024

Time Traveling for my Sanity

19

theloafer.net |September 18, 2024

20

Unicoi County Apple Festival Expands with New Events and Celebrates 47th Year As autumn’s vibrant hues paint the East Tennessee landscape, the Unicoi County Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the 47th Annual Unicoi County Apple Festival. Scheduled for Friday and Saturday, October 4 and 5, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day, the festival will once again transform downtown Erwin, Tennessee, into a hub of seasonal celebration.

The Unicoi County Apple Festival, drawing more than 120,000 annual attendees, has been consistently recognized as one of the Southeast Tourism Society’s Top 20 events, earning accolades such as four Northeast Tennessee Tourism Association Pinnacle Awards and the Johnson City Press Readers’ Choice Best Local Event from 2018 to 2022. This year, the festival promises an enhanced experience with the introduction of two exciting new events: a Tennis Tournament and an Apple Decorating Contest.

“We are thrilled to host the 47th Annual Unicoi County Apple Festival right here in the heart of downtown Erwin and delighted to announce exciting new additions such as the return of the beloved tennis tournament and the introduction of the apple decorating contest,” said Amanda Delp, Executive Director of the Unicoi County Chamber of Commerce. “This annual festival truly showcases our community’s

spirit and provides a fantastic opportunity for everyone to come together and celebrate the fall season.”

Festival-goers can expect an expanded lineup of activities over the two-day event. More than 400 artisans from across the nation will showcase their crafts, providing a diverse selection of unique gifts, home décor, and handcrafted items. Attendees will also enjoy live music performances on the festival stage, featuring a variety of musical acts.

Food enthusiasts will be delighted by an array of options available at two festival food courts, including both classic festival fare and local specialties. Apple-themed treats such as candy apples, fried apple pies, apple dumplings, and apple cider will be prominently featured.

Families will appreciate the large children’s area, located in the parking lot of Erwin Town Hall. This area will feature rides, inflatables, interactive games, and face painting, offering an interactive space for young festival-goers to explore and enjoy.

The festival will also host several competitive activities and contests.

The UT Extension’s Apple Cooking Contest will take place on Friday, October 4. Runners from across the country will compete in the Apple Festival 4-mile footrace and 2-mile race, coordinated by the

Unicoi County Family YMCA walk on Saturday, October 5.

In addition to these exciting activities, this year’s festival will include The Nursing Nook LLC, providing a dedicated space for parents to feed their babies, change diapers, or take a break.

To further enhance the festival experience, sign language interpreters, provided by Northeast State Community College will be available at the stage area, making the event more inclusive and accessible for all attendees.

“Our goal is to make the Unicoi County Apple Festival a welcoming experience for everyone, which is why we are excited to introduce new features like The Nursing Nook and sign language interpreters this year,” added Delp. “These additions reflect our commitment to inclusivity and ensuring that every attendee can enjoy the festival to the fullest.”

The festival spans a 5-block area of downtown Erwin, including adjacent side streets. Attendees can easily access the event from Interstate 26, Exit 37, with several

parking areas designated for festival use. To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience, festival organizers request that pets, bicycles, and skateboards not be brought onto the festival grounds.

In addition to the festival activities, visitors are encouraged to explore the local business community of Erwin and Unicoi County.

The area offers a range of shops, boutiques, and services, as well as stunning views of the Appalachian Mountains and opportunities for outdoor recreation.

Mark your calendars for this year’s Unicoi County Apple Festival and join us for a weekend of family fun and community celebration.

For more information, please contact the Unicoi County Chamber of Commerce at (423) 743-3000, visit our website at www. unicoicountyapplefestival.org, or stop by the Chamber office at 100 South Main Avenue, Erwin.

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In my opinion the current film "Twisters" is a must see on the largest theater screen possible. Some films you can see at home just fine, but certain films need the extra oomph theaters provide."Twisters" is described as a standalone sequel to the 1996 classic "Twister," which featured the famous flying cow sequence. The new film once more features a group of storm chasers, one group considered the "heroes" and the other group the "villains."

The film features plenty of scientific jargon and ideas, but just like the "Jurassic Park" or "King Kong and Godzilla" movies, we come to see the main attraction in action, in this case tornados. The film introduces us to Kate Carter (Daisy Edgar-Jones), who works in Oklahoma with some fellow storm chasers who, as in the first film, have a doppler named Dorothy V, they hope to launch inside a tornado for research. After a tragic accident to the team which leaves Kate devastated, she leaves Oklahoma to take a job at the NOAA (National

Pop Life

By Ken Silvers theloaferonlineprint @gmail.com

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) in New York City. Of course anyone with an IQ over 50 knows her job with NOAA will be a thing of the past when one of her former chasers, Javi (Anthony Ramos), visits from Oklahoma with the hope of luring her back to Oklahoma to to help him in the new company he works for named Storm Par, a mobile tornado radar company. Kate reluctantly agrees to return for a one-week position, which we all know will lead to more. Once she is back in Oklahoma, Kate meets the other members of Javi's team, which includes new Superman David Corenswet as Scott. Just as she gets acquainted with the team, "Tornado Wrangler" and YouTube star Tyler Owens (Glen Powell), shows up in his truck, and quicker than a twister can hit, you know Kate and Tyler are destined to be a couple. As in the original film, the two groups attempt to outdo each other in storm prediction and chasing.

Eventually Kate and Tyler are in the tornado wrangler truck together, and Kate discovers her old friend's organization is on the seedy side. Her discovery leads to her trusting Tyler and feelings develop between all the storms and witty banter. The film features several smaller tornados, until a massive EF5 hits the ground headed for El Reno, Oklahoma.

At this point in the film, Kate becomes the Ripley (Sigourney Weaver's character in the "Alien franchise) of the film and heads straight into the tornado to release Dorothy, which contains various chemicals

which they hope will. dissipate the twister in order to save more lives. The film ends with the expected happy ending for Kate, Tyler and Javi, and we get there after several harrowing storms and forgiven misdeeds by the characters.The actors are all great, but with his arrogance and bravado, Powel nearly steals the film from the twisters. "Twisters" breaks no

new ground in story-telling, but has great special effects and is one of those films I like to call a "popcorn flick," i.e. pure Hollywood magic on the screen. So I recommend that you sit back and let "Twisters" blow you away. (Rated PG-13)

theloafer.net | September 18, 2024

Twisters

theloafer.net |September 18, 2024

22

P

CONCERT SCHEDULE Bristol

BRISTOL TN/VA

PARAMOUNT Sep 6 ZOSO-The Ultimate Led Zeppelin experience Sep 26 Key West Sep 27 Trae Crowder Sep 28 Dusty Slay (two shows) Oct 4 Destination Soultown featuring the Sensational Soul Cruisers Oct 6 Sunday Funday Clean Comedy Show Oct 11 An Evening with Todd Rundgren Oct18 Atlanta Rhythm Section Nov 9 Deana Carter Nov 10 John Crist Nov 14 Farm & Fun Time featuring Wood Brothers with Lindsay Lou Feb 15 Vitamin String Quartet BRISTOL RHYTHM & ROOTS REUNION Sep 13-15 Ashley McBryde, The Wallflowers, The Red Clay Strays, Sam Bush, Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, The Steeldrivers, 49 Winchester and more.

JOHNSON CITY TN

JOHNSON CITY

MARTIN CENTER FOR THE ARTS Aug 17 The Concert: A Tribute to ABBA Sep 28 Black Jacket Symphony will perform will perform Elton John’s Madman Across The Water Oct 7 Ben Folds

Sep 23 Oct 5

Wheel of Fortune Live Artimus Pyle Band honoring Ronnie Van Zant’s Lynyrd Skynyrd Oct 13 Newsboys Oct 18 The Isaacs-Tribute to the Grand Ole Opry Oct 27 Sara Evans Nov 2 Grand Funk Railroad Nov 14 Tracy Lawrence Nov 24 Gladys Knight Dec 1 Girl Named Tom-Christmas Tour

MARION VA

MARION VA

THE LINCOLN THEATRE Aug 24 Landslide: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac Sep 18 The Machine performs Pink Floyd Sep 28 Abbey Road: Tribute to The Beatles Oct 11 Spank The 80s Oct 19 & 20 Gene Watson Oct 27 An Evening with Pam Tillis Nov 8 Killer Beaz Nov 9 On Fire: The Hottest Tribute to Van Halen Nov 16 Rhonda Vincent & The Rage Nov 22 The Wizards of Winter Nov 30 Chapel Hart Dec 31 7 Bridges: The Ultimate Eagles Experience

CHARLOTTESVILLE VA

CHARLOTTESVILLE

TING PAVILLION Sep 9 GOOSE Oct 2 Vampire Weekend Oct 3 Joe Russo’s Almost Dead FREEDOM HALL Oct 9 Ray Lamontagne & Gregory Alan Sep 20 Rocktropolis’ 24 featuring Ace Isakov with Erin Rae Frehley, Josey Scott of Saliva, Oct 25 Whiskey Myers with JJ Grey & Sebastian Bach and Scotty Austin Mofro And Colby Acuff Oct 3 Zach Williams, CAIN, Matt Knoxville Maher & Ben Fuller Oct 20 Whiskey Myers, JJ Grey & Mofro BIJOU THEATRE Aug 20 PJ Morton GREENVILLE Sep 13 Jamie Lissow Oct 1 Spyro Gyra Oct 2 Shovels & Rope NISWONGER PERFORMING ARTS CENTER Oct 3 The War and Treaty Aug 24 Exile Oct 26 Henry Cho Sep 5 Arrival From Sweden-The Music Nov 8 Gaelic Storm of ABBA Nov 15 Preacher Lawson Sep 11 Stryper-40th Anniversary Tour

KNOXVILLE TN

GREENEVILLE TN

TENNESSEE THEATRE Sep 10 Patti LaBelle Sep 22 Keb’Mo’ & Shawn Colvin Oct 1 My Morning Jacket Oct 3 Teddy Swims Oct 10 Switchfoot Oct 28 Jesse McCartney Nov 19 Theory of a Dead Man Dec 11 Mike Birbiglia Dec 18 A Magical Cirque Christmas THOMPSON BOWLING ARENA Sep 12 Hootie and the Blowfish with Collective Soul and Edwin McCain Oct 2 Jeff Dunham Oct 25 Jelly Roll Nov 19 Justin Timberlake KNOXVILLE CIVIC AUDITORIUM Oct 10 Air Supply Oct 11 Chonda Pierce Oct 18 Gary Allan Oct 26 Dusty Slay Nov 17 Sal Vulcano Dec 11 Christmas with CeCe Winans and Roman Collins KNOXVILLE CIVIC COLISEUM Oct 3 Brantley Gilbert NEYLAND STADIUM IN KNOXVILLE Sep 22 Morgan Wallen and Hardy

ASHEVILLE NC

ASHEVILLE

THE ORANGE PEEL Aug 27 The Linda Lindas Sep 3 Soul Asylum Sep 7 Brandy Clark Sep 9 Buckethead Sep 11 Bad Flower Oct 1 The Hives Oct 3 Mother Mother Oct 20 Railroad Earth Nov 7 & 8 Drive-By Truckers Nov 10 Morgan Wade Nov 11 GWAR Dec 6 & 7 The Wood Brothers Dec 12 Tommy Emmanuel RABBIT RABBIT Aug 30 Sublime and Rome Aug 31 Juvenile with The 400 Degreez Band Sep 17 Black Pumas Sep 24 Kaleo

Oct 5 Oct 8

Violent Femmes Lake Street Dive

Oct 13

Vampire Weekend (sold out)

EXPLOREASHEVILLE.COM ARENA Aug 30 King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard Sep 17 Seether and Skillet Oct 2 Ray LaMontagne & Gregory Alan Isakov Oct 21 An Evening with Sturgill Simpson Oct 25 & 26 GOOSE Nov 9

Tedeschi Trucks Band

THOMAS WOLFE AUDITORIUM Oct 1 Nurse Blake Oct 17 Jo Koy Oct 18 Barenaked Ladies Oct 19 Gillian Welch & David Rawlings Oct 23 Straight Up No Chaser Nov 20 Bonnie Raitt Nov 24 Mark Normand Dec 12 Mike Birbiglia

CHEROKEE, NC

Cherokee, N.C.

HARRAH’S CHEROKEE Sep 6 ZZ Top Sep 20 & 21 Jamey Johnson Oct 19 Charlie Wilson Oct 25 Little Feat with Duane Betts & Palmetto Motel Oct 26 Tower of Power Nov 23 Babyface Dec 14 Colter Wall Dec 20 Home Free

HAMPTON VA

Mill Spring, N.C.

TRYON INTL EQUESTRIAN CENTER Aug 30-Sept 1 Earl Scruggs Music Festival with Tanya Tucker, Old Crow Medicine Show, Yoder Mountain String Band, Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives, The Steeldrivers and many more.

CALL WQUT @ 477-1015 FOR MORE CONCERT INFORMATION OR VISIT WWW.WQUT.COM

23

Those of you who are long-time readers of The Loafer, and of my column in particular, may recall that in the very early years of it I often reviewed music as well as my regular musings. I am, and pretty much always have been, a serious music lover. What I mean by that is the listening to music and the pleasure and enjoyment I get from it has been one of the great passions of my life.

Even going back to when I was a kid, there exists a home video where I’m three and you can hear my mother remark “You know all he wants to do when he first gets up in the morning is listen to music.” You know I’m an advocate for physical media, and that doesn’t end with movies. I have been curating a large home library of music since I was, not joking, five years old when I was given a stereo with a CD player for my birthday.

My home office is full of music on various formats. Cassette Tapes, Compact Discs, and Records.

Some 20 years ago I bought a MP3 player like many people, and as I began to rip my CDs to put on the device, I found I loved it. I used to haul a duffel bag full of CDs with me on vacations and road trips, along with my trusty portable CD player. This did all that, and in one little device that fits in my pocket!?

The future is now, kids! Yet, as

Batteries Not Included

By Andy Ross theloaferonlineprint @gmail.com

many people have moved on to being content not owning music and leaving it all up to a streaming service, I am not.

I still like having my music, and though I do subscribe to a streaming service, I still buy music. I also this year began a project to get the most out of my beloved CD collection, I’ve begun re-ripping most of them as lossless files, digital files with audio quality the same as the original CD. Now, you may be asking, why would I do this? Well, there’s several reasons. The biggest one for me is knowing that one day it is highly likely I will own a car without a CD player in it, which feels weird to me, to be honest.

If I have to rely one day on all my on the go and in the car music being on my phone, I want to be able to

listen to it in CD quality. Another is that last year I upgraded some of the speakers in my home to ones of higher quality, this is combined with the fact that I also use a home media server, made me think it be nice to dial up my CDs in their native fidelity from anywhere in the house.

But the biggest one for me is to be able to do some digital housekeeping. Some of these files began life in the mid-2000s as Window Media, then that got converted to MP3 as I changed digital players. There’s also a lot of duplicates of things. Somehow I wound up with five copies of the song “My Girl” in there, I’d like to have it all tidied up a bit to where there are less duplicates of things.

I also want to be clear I’m not

doing this to get rid of the CDs, I’m keeping those. I’ve curated them for far too long to toss them and I do enjoy playing them in the office on a CD player that’s hooked into my current stereo. I also don’t believe that my CDs will one day suddenly stop playing either, but I do think maybe having a backup of them all in a lossless form is a good idea too.

I don’t know when I’ll be done with this, I’m trying to tackle it all in waves to keep it from being overwhelming, I own around 700 CDs after all. I do know though that when I finish I will be pleased with the results and should, hopefully, never have to re-rip a CD again. It’s a task, but one that I’m enjoying, despite the tedium now and then.

See you next week.

theloafer.net | September 18, 2024

A Tedious, but Good, Task