The Loafer 61

EAT • SHOP • PLAY THE LOAFER’S LOCAL CHRISTMAS

Tis the Season for Giving.

Publisher Lisa Durbin Creative DIrector Jon Bill Forrester Managing Editor Peggy Gale DIstribution Elizabeth Armstrong Sales Jessica Carlisle Entertainment Coordinator Andreax Jarre

your week’s line-up

Volume 03 Issue 61

04 Spotlight 07 Karaoke 07 Trivia 08 Puzzle Page 09 Pets of the Week 11 Things To Do 12. The ABC's of Chhristmas 14 Bike Events 22 WQUT Concert Schedule

Contributing Staff Andy Ross Kathie Scalf Ken Silvers Wendy Hayden Ann Hartley

The Loafer Po Box 39

NOTE

FROM THE

PUBLISHER Hello Friends!

I hope everyone had a very Happy Thanksgiving! The weather was beautiful and we all stuffed our bellies full! We have so many reasons to be thankful if we just take the time to remember all of the positive things in our lives. If you and yours are healthy, be thankful. If you have a nice warm home with food, be thankful. If you have a job or retirement/ social security be thankful. Be thankful for your family and friends. All of us here at The Loafer are very thankful for each of our readers and advertisers! We would not be able to do this without you so Thank you!

Telford, Tn 37690 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 | November 29, 2022

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15 Beanz Biker Corner Winter Solstice 17

Social Sentiments: 4 Things to Ask Before You Post

19 Tea Time with Appalachian Barbie:

Holiday Do's and Dont's 21 Pop Life: Batman and Superman: The Battle of the Super Sons 23 Batteries Not Included: The Sales Begin

Take Care, Lisa Durbin Publisher

For a full list of sponsors please visit kingsportballet.com

theloafer.net | November 29, 2022

Kingsport Ballet Presents

3

Spotlight

theloafer.net | November 29, 2022

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Johnson City, Tn Johnson City, TN

Kingsport Kingsport, TN

lizabethton Elizabethton, TN

TUESDAY Nov 29th

FRIDAY Dec 2nd

TUESDAY Nov 29th

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

Crossfire 8:00pm at CJ’s Sports Bar

Frito Puente with Will Boyd 7:30pm at Bonnie Kate Theatre

ETSU Bluegrass, Old-Time, & Roots Music Studies 7:00pm at The Down Home

SATURDAY Dec 3rd

FRIDAY Dec 2nd

WEDNESDAY Nov 30th

Bristol TN/Va Bristol, TN/VA WEDNESDAY Nov 30th Kevin Smith 7:00pm at Cascade Draft House THURSDAY Dec 1st Trevor Meade 7:00pm at Cascade Draft House FRIDAY Dec 2nd Some Old Friends 7:00pm at Cascade Draft House SATURDAY Dec 3rd Bluegrass Jam 2:00pm at Birthplace of Country Music Museum Mark Larkins followed by Crash Test Acoustic 7:00pm at Cascade Draft House Double Tap 6:00pm at Delta Blues BBQ MONDAY Nov 28th Anthony Childress 7:00pm at Cascade Draft House

HB Beverly 6:30pm at Rocks Wood Fired Pizza THURSDAY Dec 1st Justin Mychals 6:30pm at Rocks Wood Fired Pizza

Jon Cox Band 9:00pm at CJ’s Sports Bar Abingdon Abingdon, VA FRIDAY Dec 2nd Caleb Caudle 6:00pm at Wolf Hills Brewing

Wild Blue Yonder 7:00pm at Bonnie Kate Theatre SATURDAY Dec 3rd Crosby Tyler 7:00pm at Riverside Taphouse

The Rice Flyers 7:00pm at the Down Home FRIDAY Dec 2nd Gentlemen and Liars 7:00 at Wild Wing Cafe SATURDAY Dec 3rd A Holiday Evening with Isaac Gibson of 49 Winchester 7:30pm at The Down Home Railway Express 9:00pm at Johnson City Moose Lodge Jet Black Audio 10:00pm at Capone’s SUNDAY Dec 4th A Holiday Evening with Isaac Gibson of 49 Winchester 7:30pm at The Down Home 10 Years 8:00pm at Capone’s

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

5

theloafer.net | November 29, 2022

2106 E Main St. Johnson City TN • 423.262.8161

ARE YOU LOOKING TO SELL YOUR VEHICLE? LOOK NO FURTHER! We are now accepting vehicles to our auto auction from the public, it costs NOTHING to run the vehicle through our auction, you will only pay a fee if your vehicle is sold!

Come by and see us or message us on Facebook for more information!

Here is what you will need: 1: Clean title to vehicle in your name 2: Set a reserve price on your vehicle (what does it take to sell it) 3: Form of ID That’s it! Bring your vehicles by and we will get them checked in for the upcoming sales!

Buyer/Seller Fees: $1-$5000 = $100 $5,001-$10,000 = $175 $10,001-$20,000 = $200 $20,001 or more = $225

NO SALE = NO CHARGE

facebook.com/HammerTimeAutoAuction

1ST DEALER AUCTION: DECEMBER 8TH AT 6:00 PM

theloafer.net | November 29, 2022

6

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TUESDAY TUESDAY

Karaoke at Numan’s - JohnsonEntertainment City Karaoke with Absolute at The Pub Out Back Karaoke with Bert & L.A. at Kingsport Moose Lodge 7pm (The Italian Pizza Pub) - Johnson City 7pm

WEDNESDAY

WEDNESDAY

Turn the Page Karaoke at VFW Post 2108 – Johnson City Karaoke Night at Eric Wonderland Karaoke w/ HuskinsLounge VFW and PostBar 2108 – Johnson City, TN 8pm Karaoke at Quaker Steak and Lube (Bristol, VA) 7pm Karaoke Night at Wonderland Lounge and Bar Karaoke at- Kingsport Lodge Johnson Moose City, TN 9pm6pm Karaoke at Thunder Tavern 8pm Karaoke with RonValley at Kingsport Moose Lodge 6:30pm

THURSDAY THURSDAY

Karaoke at Zachary’s Steakhouse Karaoke with Karaoke with Open Mic Entertainment Michael’s Krazy Karaoke at Stateline Bar & Grill at Wild Wing Café Johnson City,atTN Karaoke w/ DJ Marquez Top Shelf Entertainment Wild8pm Wings Café JC Karaoke at Numan’s Johnson City, TN 10pm Karaoke at Numan’s - Johnson City Karaoke at Jiggy Rays Pizzeria - Johnson City, TN Karaoke at Jiggy Rays Pizzeria Abby’s Hell Yeah at CJ’s Sports Bar - Kingsport, TN 8pm Karaoke w/Tony & Rod Karaoke at CJ’s Sports Bar 8pm Karaoke at Tipsy Toad Tavern JonesboroughTN Karaoke at Tipsy Toad (Jonesborough) Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Tulips Grub & Pub 8pm Open Mic & Karaoke at Wonderland Lounge/Bar N Grill Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Tulips Grub & Pub 7-10 Karaoke at Midnight Oasis - Brtistol, TN Karaoke at Sonny's Marina/The FrenchPost Quarter Restaurant Karaoke w/ Eric Huskins VFW 2108 – Johnson City, TN 8pm Karaoke at Numan’s – Johnson City, TN 10pm Karaoke with Absolute Entertainment Rainbow Asian Karaoke w/ ShaneatRouse at Bear’s Bar Cuisine 9pm Karaoke at Kingsport Moose Lodge Karaoke w/ Reverb Karaoke at The Cottage 8:30pm Turn the Page Karaoke at VFW Post 2108 – Johnson City Karaoke w/ Eric Huskins VFW Post 2108 – Johnson City, TN 8pm Karaoke at Elizabethton VFW Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Tulips Grub & Pub 8-11 Karaoke w/ Michael Hawkins at Holiday Inn (Exit 7) – Bristol, VA Karaoke at Numan’s – Johnson City, TN 10pm Karaoke at Numan’s – Johnson City Karaoke at 27 Lions (Marion, VA) 9:00pm Karaoke with Absolute Entertainment at Rainbow Asian Cuisine 9pm Karaoke with Absolute Entertainment at Laurel Marina on South Holsten 9pm

FRIDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Trivia

TUESDAY

Wild Wing Café JC- Team Trivia Tuesdays 8:30pm Johnson City Brewing Company- Trivia Tuesdays 7pm Aubrey’s Johnson City- Trivia Night 7pm 27 Lions - Trivia Night 7pm Union Street Taproom - DJ Trivia 6pm Gypsy Circus Cider Company - Trivia 7:00pm

WEDNESDAY Tipton Street Pub- Trivia Wednesdays 9pm Aubrey’s Bristol- Trivia Night 7pm Johnson City Moose Lodge 1831 - DJ Trivia 7pm Tipsy Toad (Jonesborough) - Trivia 7pm

THURSDAY Holy Taco & Cantina Trivia Night 9pm JRH Brewing - Trivia Night 7pm Mellow Mushroom Johnson City - Mellow Trivia 7pm

MONDAY

Barley Waters- Trivia Night 7pm Yee-Haw Brewing- Trivia Mondays 7pm Woodstone Deli - DJ Trivia 7pm Model City Tap House - Live Team Trivia Night 7pm

SATURDAY

Karaoke at Kingsport Moose Lodge Turn the Page Karaoke at VFW Post 2108 – Johnson City Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Tulips Grub & Pub 8-11 Karaoke at Numan’s – Johnson City Karaoke w/ Tony & Rod at CJ’s Sports Bar

SUNDAY 7pm Open Mic with Karaoke at Go Burrito Johnson City Karaoke at Kingsport Moose Lodge 6pm

MONDAY

Karaoke at Thunder Valley Tavern 8pm

**The schedule is subject to change due to the request for social distancing at this time.**

theloafer.net | November 29, 2022

KARAOKE Kara ke

7

theloafer.net | November 29, 2022

8

SODOKU

CROSWORD

DROP QUOTE

C RYPTO G RA M U DUJ TPAYK ZMGJK LWG XGZL PO WSZ YSOG LXVSJE LP XGDGDCGX NWUL WG ZWPAYKJ'L WUFG ZUSK. —Abraham Polonsky

Down

1. "The ____ With the Dragon Tattoo" 2. ____ Day vitamins 3. Finished second 4. Liberated, to Liesl 5. Kind of vote 6. Marks of distinction 7. Fire remnant 8. Atlas abbr.

9. Affirmative answer 10. Not lower (than) 11. Relaxed gait 12. Rough-____ (unfinished) 13. McGwire's 1998 rival 18. Dessert, in Devon 21. "___ you sure?"

23. Baseball stat 24. Thrice daily, in an Rx 25. Some sensitive teens 26. Turkish money units 27. Ancient Celtic tribe of England 28. Scheduled ACROSS 29. Portuguese king 43. Meat-testing org.

1. Course game 31. Hammers and hoes 47. ___ Wafers (Nabisco brand) 5. Chilling 32. Be jubilant 48. Onion rings, for one 10. Highest degrees 33. Gam and Moreno 14. ____ out (indecisive dog's 51. Plural word after gab 38. Katie Holmes' daughter dilemma) and song 40. How height is measured, in 15. Sample the U.S. 52. Mushroom variety 16. Cookie with a filling 41. Common Father's Day gift 54. River horse, for short 17. Investigates 44. Controversial Reagan-era 57. Appear before 19. Copies a cow prog.

62. Popular cuisine 20. Queen of "Chicago" 45. NYPD rank 63. 2002 film with Richard Gere 46. Algonquian language 21. Insurance company 22. Small loudspeakers and Diane Lane 49. Detects 26. Petrol measure 50. "What a surprise!"

66. Buck or gander 30. School term 53. Baleen whale food 67. "60 Minutes" 34. More unfriendly 54. Web page code correspondent Lesley 35. Masochism's beginning 55. "If ___ a hammer..."

68. Tolkien brutes 36. ___ Clean (stain remover) 56. Coffin cloth 69. "Bad" cholesterol figs.

37. Careless 58. Boat on the Indian Ocean 39. Stay away from the action 70. Seat at the bar 59. Bob Ross feature 42. Prop finisher 71. Roused from sleep 60. Gymnastics position 61. Word ending a threat Answers to last week’s 63. Sub letters puzzles can be found 64. Japanese telecom giant (abbr.)

65. ___ Schwarz on page 09.

3107 W. Market Street Suite 1 Johnson City, TN (423) 328-7991

S ab

ERIN MCARDLE LAW CAN HELP YOU WITH YOUR LEGAL NEEDS.

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• Criminal Defense • Juvenile/Family Law Meet Sable !!! She is a little over a year old and is a lovely green eyed black cat with beautiful markings from a grayish white undercoat. Sable came in with 15 other cats that were abandoned at the Rescue in early summer.

She has become friendly and will meow at you wanting treats and loves to be petted, but she’s still adjusting. Sable is good with other cats, spayed, current on vaccinations and microchipped.

Let the experience work for you.

ERIN MCARDLE LAW erinmcardlelaw@gmail.com

www.erinmcardlelaw.com

Get unparelled legal representation from a former prosecutor who has handled thousands of criminal matters and has tried difficult jury trials.

Em

Last Week's Puzzle Answers Crossword

Cryptogram:

Dropquote:

il

Sudoku

y Hi! I’m Emily! I am approximately a 1 1/2 yr old Australian Cattle Dog, Blue Heeler, Border Collie mix and I am high energy and like to jump !!! I love attention and will sit for treats. Being a stray, I don’t know if I like other dogs, cats or kids so we need to test it out if you have any

of these! I can be a little aggressive with my food. We are also unsure if I am housetrained. I do ok on a leash but could do better with some training. I’m a smart girl, submissive and a people pleaser.

I have been spayed, current on vaccinations and microchipped.

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

"It was one of those March days when the "An election is a bet on the future, sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: not a popularity test of the past." when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade."

theloafer.net | November 29, 2022

PETS

OF THE WEEK

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theloafer.net | November 29, 2022

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Become Our Next Tennessee Talent Office, Remote and Hybrid work available | $17 per hour We Want You Opportunities for promotion Tremendous bonus opportunities Employee Ownership Program Healthcare and other benefits Locations in Johnson City, Boones Creek, Kingsport, & Blountville ACT is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

To Apply Now Text ACTTODAY to 51893 | careers.acttoday.com

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 DEC 1ST World Aids Day Memorial 6:30pm at Pride Community Center FRIDAY DEC 2ND Johnson City Love & Hiking Date For Couples (Self-Guided) 7:00am at Willow Springs Park Holiday Sip, Shop, & Stroll 4:00pm at Downtown Johnson CIty Holiday Family Movie Night 5:00pm at Memorial Park Community Center Christmas Tree Cake Door Hanger 6:00pm at Into The Fire SATURDAY DEC 3RD Johnson City Love & Hiking Date For Couples (Self-Guided) 7:00am at Willow Springs Park Cookies for Santa Mommy & Me 9:00am at Into the Fire Bike & Beans 10:00am at Trek Bicycle Johnson City Christmas Parade 10:30am Starts at ETSU and Ends at Old Burley Lot

The 2022 Cane Masterpiece Auction 1:00pm at Kimball M. Sterling, Inc Visions of Christmas: 1861 2:00pm at Tipton-Haynes Historic Site WCQR’s 25th Anniversary Celebration 4:00pm at Founder's Park Mountain Empire Camera Club Photo Outing 6:30 at Founder's Park SUNDAY DEC 4TH Johnson City Love & Hiking Date For Couples (Self-Guided) 7:00am at Willow Springs Park

KINGSPORT TUESDAY NOV 29TH Old-Fashioned Christmas Fair 10:00am at Renaissance Arts Center & Theatre WEDNESDAY NOV 30TH Farmer's Market 7:00am at Kingsport Farmers Market THURSDAY DEC 1ST First Thursday Shop and Hop 5:00pm at Downtown KPT FRIDAY DEC 2ND Ullr Fest: Viking Snow & Snowsport Festival 6:00pm at Gypsy Circus Cider Company SATURDAY DEC 3RD Farmer's Market 7:00am at Kingsport Farmers Market

Christmas in the Country 10:00am at Exchange Place Kingsport Christmas Parade 1:00pm at Downtown KPT

BRISTOL THURSDAY DEC 1ST Incredible Business Networking Biz Lunch 11:30am at Michael Waltrip Brewing Co. Bristol Christmas Parade 7:00pm at Downtown Bristol

JONESBOROUGH TUESDAY NOV 29TH Macrame Ornament Workshop 6:00pm at Mill Spring Makers Market Jonesborough Storytelling Guild “Stories n’More” Show 7:00pm at The International Storytelling Center SATURDAY DEC 3RD Victorian Christmas 10:00am at the Chester Inn State Historic Site Holiday Makers Faire 10:00am at Mill Spring Makers Market Historic Jonesborough Town Tour 1:00pm at Chester Inn State Historic Site Jonesborough Christmas Tree Lighting 6:00pm at Downtown Jonesborough

Advanced Call Center Technologies Pay: $15.00 - $17.00 per hour with bonus opportunities.

Various Shifts Available Offers on the spot available!

Locations in: Johnson City, Boones Creek, Kingsport, and Blountville.

Wednesday, Dec 7, 2022 10AM - 3PM Eastern Time

3043 Boones Creek Road Suite 102 Johnson City, TN

ABINGDON, VA WEDNESDAY NOV 30TH Bingo 5:00pm at Abingdon Community Center FRIDAY DEC 2ND Movies for Grown-Ups 2:00pm at Washington County Public Library SATURDAY DEC 3RD Holiday Market 10:00am at Abingdon Farmers Market SUNDAY DEC 4TH Bingo 5:00pm at Abingdon Community Center

PINEY FLATS FRIDAY DEC 2ND Candlelight Christmas Tours 5:00pm at Rocky Mount State Historic Site SATDAY DEC 3RD Candlelight Christmas Tours 5:00pm at Rocky Mount State Historic Site

ELIZABETHTON NOV 20 - DEC 4 WinterFest Art Show Every Mon-Sat 9am-4pm, Every Sun 1pm-4pm at Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park FRIDAY DEC 2ND Holiday Sip and Shop 5:00pm at August Muse

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

theloafer.net | November 29, 2022

THINGS TO DO

HIRING EVENT

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EAT • S A TM

LOAFE HE R ’ -T

P • PLAY O SH

S

theloafer.net | November 29, 2022

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Christmas! My favorite time of the year.

The time to enjoy family and friends and remember the reason for the season…….

Jesus! We are so excited to bring you the ABCs of Christmas again this year on a Santa train. This year our theme is Shop, Eat and Play local. I would really like to encourage everyone to spend your holiday budget locally as much as possible. We need to work hard to keep these local businesses going. Online shopping so convenient and sometimes we need it but please don’t forget the local stores. I hope that you will take the time to look through the ads and make plans to visit some of them. We will focus on Christmas the next 3 weeks.

-Lisa Durbin, Publisher

Eat, Shop and Play Local!

CAL CHR LO I S

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Johnson City Christmas Parade Saturday December 3 10:30 am - 12:00 pm This year’s theme will be “Christmas Around the World.”

The parade starts on East Tennessee State University’s campus, goes onto University Parkway and then W State of Franklin. From there, the parade turns left onto Buffalo Street and down onto E Main Street, then Colonial Way. The parade ends in the Old Burley Lot at the corner of Legion Street and E State of Franklin. www.jcchristmasparade.org/

area residents who can’t wait to see the beautifully decorated floats, as well as the jolly old man himself www.bristolchamber.com/ christmas-parade

Kingsport Christmas Parade Saturday December 3 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm HO! HO! HO! It’s time to Jingle & Mingle in Downtown Kingsport! Join the celebration as the community lights up Downtown Kingsport with Christmas Spirit! The parade will begin at 6pm and the floats will glow with lights! You don’t want to miss this event as our iconic parade moves throughout downtown Bristol Christmas Parade and legendary Church Circle! The Tree Lighting ceremony will begin Thursday December 1 immediately after the conclusion of 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm One of Bristol’s most anticipated the parade. www.downtownkingsport.org/ celebrations, the Bristol events/kingsportChristmas parade takes places christmas-parade/ the first Thursday of December at 7 p.m. Helping usher in the Abingdon Christmas Parade holiday season, the parade, Saturday December 3 which starts on Bob Morrison 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm Blvd. and travels down State Join us for the 55th Annual Abingdon Street to the historic Bristol Train Christmas Parade organized by Station, brings out thousands of the Kiwanis Club for the Town of

A

is for Abingdon Olive Oil

B

theloafer.net | November 29, 2022

Local Christmas Parades

Abingdon and sponsored by Bart Long & Associates Realty and Auction, LLC. The parade will start promptly at 6pm at the Main Street and Court Street intersection. We look forwarding to seeing everyone in the community again this year and don’t forget about seeing Santa to kick of the Christmas holiday! www.facebook.com/ events/608107287461446 Greeneville Christmas Parade December 4 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm The 2022 Greeneville Christmas Parade, a collaborative event between the Exchange Club of Greeneville and the Greene County Partnership, is set to take place at 2 p.m. on Sunday, December 4th.This year’s theme will be “Christmas Around the Globe” where participants are challenged with creating a unique float or decorated vehicle that exemplifies a specific place and its culture from around the world.

The parade will be staged on Bohannon Avenue, turning left on North Main Street. It will then travel through the downtown area on South Main, proceeding to West Main and dispersing on to Carson and West Main streets at the intersection in front of Crescent School. https://www.facebook.com/ GreeneCountyPartnership

is for B and B Package

C

is for Co-Op

theloafer.net | November 29, 2022

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]

Shopping Local and Made in USA By [https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Gini_ Cunningham/146831]Gini Cunningham How are you doing at your Christmas and holiday buying? I know it is easy to hop on the Internet and enter every cyber sale in existence.

There are wonderful bargains and goodies galore that arrive at the door without need of venturing outside of home. I use the Internet - it is an addictive sort of force. A click or two, a perusal or three, the tapping of credit card information and bam! Holidays are ordered and in the mail in an instant. Of course, there are snags such as the wrong size requested, or order mix-up, or odd colors and quality but with care, these mistakes can be avoided or returned via the next shipment out. While online retailers do not want to see their package reappear in the "return bin", they also know that most folks just keep the junk, either unable or unwilling to venture to shipment service to exchange the error, and so while customers and gift recipients may lose, the cyber folks thrive and await the next errant order.

About five years ago I entered my buy USA phase. What I thought would be a simple task became an arduous affair. It seems that most products are not made here or sometimes the parts are made here and then sent overseas for assembly or they are made here with foreign parts. An example of my frustration is when I entered a big box store with a list of 10 items.

D

is for Drums

The items varied from clothing to kitchenware to bedding and camping gear. Everything I picked up was "Made in China". I was certain I was reading wrong and so I continued beyond my 10 gift ideas and at 25 I simply gave up. Not a single product could be found made in the USA or even in any other foreign country aside from the one mentioned. I have nothing against products made in other nations; I was simply shocked and appalled and very disappointed.

After much research I did find some USA product websites, but I had to read carefully as some were made here but a click sent me to items not made here. Or in the case of a Christmas tree, the tree was made here but not the lights. I explored well-known American company names and again and again ended up in foreign-made products. After hours of searching I finally discovered bed sheets, cookie sheets, and home-crafted toys and so those made up my gift purchases. Unfortunately, I fell off of the USA wagon and have gone for out-of-country buys, but I am trying to mend my ways this year.

Looks like everyone is getting sheets yet again!

I am also working on shopping locally so that my merchant neighbors will have a good year.

It is hard to operate a small business when big stores come in and so I am doing my part, shunning the conglomerates and focusing on small enterprises. Again the task is not easy especially now that I have learned that my

E

is for East Tennessee Distillery

favorite local is going out-of-business. So far this year I am faring quite well with this endeavor.

I have a few more presents to buy and if I cannot get them here I have my USA sites in mind. I know this is an individual crusade and I recognize that I will have to pay more because US workers receive higher salaries, but it is worth it to support locals and products of this country. Are you in?

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles. com/?Shopping-Local-and-Made-inUSA&id=9247733] Shopping Local and Made in USA

F

is for Family

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THE LOAFER’S LOCAL CHRISTMAS

123 W. Millard Street Johnson City TN 423.929.0616 3507 E Andrew Johnson Hwy Greeneville TN 711 Asheville Hwy Greeneville TN 423-946-1500

G

is for Granite & Quartz Design

H

is for Haven of Mercy

I

is for Ice Skating

theloafer.net | November 29, 2022

EAT • SHOP • PLAY

theloafer.net | November 29, 2022

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Creative Christmas Activities For Awesome Family Fun By [https://EzineArticles.com/expert/ Mary_Jennings/135124]Mary Jennings At the center of the Christmas season is spending time with family. Making lasting memories with your family is at the top of every to-do list during the holiday season.

There are many festive activities to bring into your family life so Christmas is more memorable and fun for everyone. Traditional activities and out of the box ideas make the holidays super-special.

Christmas Memories and Traditions Take a few minutes to remember your own childhood and how you spent the Christmas season at home. Do certain memories stand out as special in your mind? These are probably the Christmas traditions your own parents created for the family.

Now it's time to create memorable Christmas traditions in your own home. Make gingerbread houses together. Decorate holiday cookies. Are you short on time but still recall the delicious smell in your mom's kitchen at Christmas time? Simmer potpourri to create a warm aroma in your home even if you don't have time to bake very often.

Christmas Fun In The Kitchen

Maybe baking just isn't your thing. There are still plenty of fun Christmas activities to do in the kitchen. You can make all kinds of gift items in the kitchen without baking.

Make chocolate covered pretzel sticks and chocolates. Pair the chocolate treats with homemade hot cocoa mix to give as Christmas gifts.

Christmas Music Include music in your family holiday traditions. Have fun with your family singing Christmas carols and making your own CD for the holidays. Use the recording of your family singing carols as holiday music every year while you decorate and enjoy Christmas festivities. Get really crafty and dress up the CD cases to look attractive so you can give them as gifts.

Cutting Down The Christmas Tree A timeless tradition for many families is cutting down the Christmas tree. This activity adds a lot to the Christmas season at home. You can find Christmas tree farms just about everywhere. Ask a local grower's group for tree farm locations near you. The family shows up at the farm where mom or dad grab a saw to cut down the family Christmas tree. Everyone hunts for the perfect tree so mom or dad can cut it down

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More Than A Christmas Tree Add dimension and fun to the Christmas tree cutting activity. Include additional family traditions in the day, such as lunch at a special place every year. You can also get Christmas candy to eat in the car on the way home with your tree. Another tradition can be shopping together for new ornaments after you bring the tree home and put it in a bucket of water.

Community Christmas Fun Traditions are also created when you participate in annual community events.

Does your town decorate a Christmas tree every year? Does your neighborhood have a block where all the homes are decorated with hundreds of holiday lights? Drive or walk to local Christmas festivities and make them part of your family traditions every year. Try to walk if the weather permits so you have more time to observe the detailed holiday decorations together.

Christmas Cocoa For kids and adults alike, hot cocoa is an essential part of the holiday season. Start a family tradition of making hot cocoa mix at

M

is for Mistletoe

theloafer.net | November 29, 2022

and bring it home. Some farms are large and some are small. You may only need to walk a short distance to find the perfect tree or you may wind up hiking up and down hills before the right tree turns up.

the beginning of the season. The children can each have a small cup of cocoa every night before bed during the month of December. As Christmas Day gets closer, add special goodies to the hot cocoa such as whipped cream and mini-marshmallows.

Leave a cup of homemade hot cocoa for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. Christmas In Every Room As your children get older, they enjoy decorating their rooms for Christmas. Add holiday cheer to every room when you encourage your children to decorate their own space. Let them do all the decorating themselves then take photos of them in their finished rooms. Look at the photos every year to see how the Christmas decorations in their rooms have progressed.

One last thing -- Imagine the look on your child's face if they received a personalized letter from Santa [http://www.hellofromsanta.net]. You can also include extra goodies with the Santa letter like Reindeer food.

It's a gift that makes a strong and lasting impression.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Creative-Christmas-Activities-For-Awesome-Family-Fun&id=1592942] Creative Christmas Activities For Awesome Family Fun

N

is for Now Hiring

O

is for Ornaments

theloafer.net | November 29, 2022

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BOW CANDY CANE CAROLS CHRISTMAS ELF FAMILY GIVING JINGLE JOY LIGHTS NORTH POLE PRESENTS REINDEER SANTA SLEIGH SNOW STAR STOCKINGS TREES

P

is for Pizza

Q

is for Quilt

R

is for Radio

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423-246-6801 www.bandbpackage.com

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is for Shelter

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is for Ugly Sweater

theloafer.net | November 29, 2022

3636 Fort Henry Dr. Kingsport, TN 37660

theloafer.net | November 29, 2022

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V

is for Veterans

W

is for Wrecking Crew Harley Davidson

X

is for X-Box

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Buy Locally for Flowers This Christmas By [https://EzineArticles.com/expert/ Rachel_P_Carlson/1235303]Rachel P Carlson As you think about gifts this Christmas season, floral gifts are great to give to someone at the office, people who have worked for you throughout the year, as a hostess gift, for your own dinner centerpiece, as decorations for your home or office. The best way to do this is to spend a little time and search online for a florist in the delivery town or zip code. Once you find a list of them look at the ratings and read the reviews, also look for websites that are not run by the national companies. The more individual the websites are the better chance you have of getting to a local florist for that area. A local phone number, address and even just calling the florist will let you know if you have a true local business that can attend to your order. the more personalized the service the better the quality of the arrangement.

Christmas floral gifts can be arranged in keepsake containers if you want those many florists have bought from the national services but order them locally and save the fees for your order. A $60.00 order that you pay for through a national chain will have approximately 40% attached to it in fees in the end. 27% is attached right away and the rest are hidden fees that come along. That will reduce your order to the florist to $36.00 and the florist has to make some kind of profit in the arrangement to stay in business. However, if you call the florist direct you get the full value of your order because those fees won't apply and the florist can create

and innovate the order with so much fun that you will be delighted in the end result The poinsettia is a great way to give the holiday spirit. When you order direct from a local florist the poinsettia you can get will be much larger than the one you will order from a national wire service. That national wire service will contact a local florist randomly but the 50.00 value that you spent will be reduced because of the fees and therefore the size of the poinsettia you have delivered will be reduced.

There is the whole issue of customer service too, if you want to change the message on the enclosure card for instance, calling the national florist wire companies can put you overseas, in fact your original order could have been taken by an overseas customer service representative and the hold times for the phone call I think have discouraged people from calling florists. Call a local florist and get not only better customer service but more personalized service. The reputation of the florist is involved and on a local level this is very important. The florist wants to get it right and have a great customer experiences. So shop local and get the best value for your money when you purchase a floral arrangement gift this holiday season!

Rachel Carlson at http://www.thewildorchidllc.com Article Source: [http://EzineArticles. com/?Buy-Locally-for-Flowers-ThisChristmas&id=6726123] Buy Locally for Flowers This Christmas

Waiting for Santa

Y

is for Yultide

Z

is for Zzzzzzz

theloafer.net | November 29, 2022

]

theloafer.net | November 29, 2022

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BIKER EVENTS sponsored by biker wear Local Events: 3636 Fort Henry Dr. Kingsport, TN 37660 423-246-6801 www.bandbpackage.com

1. Speedway in Lights Nov. 18th to Jan. 7th

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Rides: 1. Toys For Tots Ride 11am Dec. 3rd Starts at Greenville VFW rolls to Johnson City VFW

There are 5 Christmas Elves in this issue of The Loafer.

Can you find them all?

23

Hello everyone, well we have Halloween and Thanksgiving behind us. Now we wait for the first day of winter and Christmas then New Years.

Must folks are now in the cage but maybe there will be a warm day or two where we can ride. But putting your knees in the breeze this time of year requires warmer clothing plus leather.

Be safe!

(usually 20th or 21st of June). Although the winter solstice itself lasts only a moment, the term also refers to the day on which it occurs. The term midwinter is also used synonymously with the winter solstice, although it carries other meanings. Traditionally, in many temperate regions, the winter solstice is seen as the middle of winter, although today in some countries and calendars it is seen as the beginning of winter.

The first day of winter is December Other names are the "extreme of winter" 21st. This day will have the least (Dongzhi), or the "shortest day". Since amount of sunlight and the longest prehistory, the winter solstice has been a amount of nightfall. Starting on significant time of year in many cultures December 22nd our days will start and has been marked by festivals and getting longer. rituals. It marked the symbolic death and The winter solstice, also called the rebirth of the Sun; the gradual waning of hibernal solstice, occurs when either daylight hours is reversed and begins to of Earth's poles reaches its maximum grow again. Some ancient monuments tilt away from the Sun. This happens such as Newgrange and Stonehenge are twice yearly, once in each hemisphere aligned with the sunrise or sunset on the (Northern and Southern). For that winter solstice. The solstice may have hemisphere, the winter solstice is been a special moment of the annual the day with the shortest period of cycle for some cultures even during daylight and longest night of the year, Neolithic times. Astronomical events were when the Sun is at its lowest daily often used to guide activities, such as the maximum elevation in the sky. Either mating of animals, the sowing of crops pole experiences continuous darkness and the monitoring of winter reserves or twilight around its winter solstice. of food. Many cultural mythologies and The opposite event is the summer traditions are derived from this. This solstice. The winter solstice occurs is attested by physical remains in the during the hemisphere's winter. In layouts of late Neolithic and Bronze Age the Northern Hemisphere, this is the archaeological sites, such as Stonehenge December solstice (usually 21st or in England and Newgrange in Ireland. The 22nd December) and in the Southern primary axes of both of these monuments Hemisphere, this is the June solstice seem to have been carefully aligned on a sightline pointing to the winter solstice sunrise (Newgrange) and the winter solstice sunset (Stonehenge). It is significant that at Stonehenge the Great Trilithon was oriented outwards from the middle of the monument, its smooth flat face was turned towards the midwinter Sun.

Beanz Biker Corner

By Anne Hartley 423-297-5675

The winter solstice was immensely important because the people were economically dependent on monitoring the progress of the seasons. Starvation was common during the first months of the winter, January to April (northern hemisphere) or July to October (southern hemisphere), also known as "the famine months". In temperate climates, the midwinter festival was the last feast celebration before deep winter began.

Most cattle were slaughtered so they would not have to be fed during the winter, so it was almost the only time of year when a plentiful supply of fresh

theloafer.net | November 29, 2022

Beanz Biker Corner meat was available. The majority of wine and beer made during the year was finally fermented and ready for drinking at this time. The concentration of the observances was not always on the day commencing at midnight or at dawn, but at the beginning of the pagan day, which in many cultures fell on the previous eve. Because the event was seen as the reversal of the Sun's ebbing presence in the sky, concepts of the birth or rebirth of sun gods have been common. In cultures which used cyclic calendars based on the winter solstice, the "year as reborn" was celebrated with reference to life-death-rebirth deities or "new beginnings" such as Hogmanay's Redding, a New Year cleaning tradition.

word, solstitium, which means ‘standing sun.’

Useless Facts:

11. This is the shortest day and longest night of the year, at times, even called the darkest day of the year.

1. THERE ARE ACTUALLY TWO FIRST DAYS OF WINTER: There is an astronomical first day of winter and a meteorological first day of winter. The meteorological first day of winter begins on December 1.

2. THE FIRST DAY OF WINTER IS USUALLY NOT THE COLDEST DAY OF THE YEAR. Even the though sun is at its most southern point on this day, the Earth continues to retain some of its heat for a little bit.

3. SOME PEOPLE THINK ENGLAND’S FAMOUS STONEHENGE MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT IN CELEBRATION OF THE WINTER SOLSTICE. 4. THE FIRST DAY OF WINTER HAS SOME OTHER HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE AS WELL. December 21st is actually the day that the pilgrims arrived at Plymouth 5. THE FIRST DAY OF WINTER DOES NOT ALWAYS HAPPEN ON DECEMBER 21. It can occur anytime between December 20 and December 23. This is because of the difference between the tropical year (the amount of time it takes the sun to circle to the exact same spot on the early) and our commonly used Gregorian calendar year.

6. THE WINTER SOLSTICE CAN AFFECT PEOPLE’S MOODS. Around the winter solstice is when SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) typically sets in.

7. The word ‘solstice’ originates from a Latin

8. On this day, the sun rays are directly over the Tropic of Capricorn, i.e., 23.5° south latitude.

9. It is the day between September and March when Earth’s Northern Hemisphere gets the least exposure to direct sunlight over the course of a day.

10. Our Earth orbits on a tilted axis.

From September to March, the northern hemisphere gets less direct sunlight than the southern hemisphere, thus making the days shorter and the nights longer.

The rest of the year, southern hemisphere gets less direct sunlight than the north.

It’s the reason why we have different seasons.

12. Although it is the first official day of winter, it is not the coldest day of the year. The coldest days are in the months of January or February (in some places).

13. Usually astrologists describe the day as a ‘significant turning point’ or ‘a start of a new cycle’. It is thus believed to be a good time to slow down and introspect your life decisions.

14. All snowflakes have six sides due to hydrogen bonding with the coolest facts.

15. The Polar Plateau in Antarctica has the world’s coldest winter. The yearly average temperature is -72.9 degrees Fahrenheit.

theloafer.net | November 29, 2022

24

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25

Posting content in a cancel culture world can feel like walking on eggshells. There are four specific things to consider to make sure your content doesn't negatively impact your image.

How would a customer view this content?

What would you think of your company if you were seeing your content as a first time customer? Take a step back and view your content from the perspective of a first time buyer. First impressions can make or break your customer base and most first impressions are now made online.

What if this went viral?

Going viral is unlikely in most scenarios, but you still need

Social Sentiments

By Wendy Hayden socialsentiments @outlook.com

socialsentiments.net

to consider the possibility.

Mistakes or improper remarks will be amplified if your content does go viral, leading to potential reputation loss.

Can this be interpreted as offensive?

sparingly and carefully. Keeping your political beliefs unseen and unheard can save you and your brand from a lot of time spent handling backlash.

Carefully considered content can save you from a world of hassle. A Defending an unpopular stance can be tricky. Even if the 30 minute brainstorming session is well worth not having to deal offensive post is taken down, screen shots may still exist. Your with potential lost revenue. brand could come crashing down with one word or photo.

The golden rule is that if an issue doesn't directly impact you or your brand, stay silent.

Do I absolutely need to post something political?

Politics is a very touchy subject.

It's impossible to have every person that sees your content agree with you. If politics applies to your brand, post

theloafer.net | November 29, 2022

Four Things To Ask Before You Post

theloafer.net | November 29, 2022 26

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Is it just me or is time now flying by so quickly it’s not even happening?

When this article is published we will be halfway through November and my mind is still trying to process July.

Bearing that in mind, the holidays are basically here, so if you’re not ready it’s probably high time to get that way. This time of year can quickly spiral from “the magical season of giving” to “stress fueled dumpster fire” without some type of game plan.

Luckily for you all, in my decades of holiday hosting I’ve learned a few valuable lessons I can share. The rest, you’re going to just have to learn from experience. Behold, my abridged list of holiday do’s and dont’s!

by Kathie Scalf

certain movie, playing board games Speaking of guests, it’s time to tackle or a recreating Grandma’s classic the toughest do’s and dont’s of them Grinch punch. But DON’T be afraid to all- with whom and where you will start a new tradition! Maybe this year spend your quality holiday time. It’s everyone is saving money so you draw a fact that being forced to mingle with names, or someone gets a karaoke people you only see once a year can get dicey or in some cases downright machine and spikes Grandma’s punch and it’s a hit; if something new is fun, DO put your tree up whenever you’re ugly; for some it’s what makes the good and ready. I have always holidays miserable. If that’s the case, bring it back the next year.

DON’T do it. Just because someone been staunchly against Christmas Don’t let the true values of Christmas shares a blood line with you doesn’t trees before Thanksgiving and one of my favorite traditions has been require suffering through an evening get lost in the commercial BS of social media and television. Do things that spending black Friday picking out of dry turkey through gritted teeth and decorating a tree with my family. and tears in the bathroom. DO make you feel good on the inside and But times and circumstances have surround yourself with people you you can guarantee the best holiday changed, and this year with mom love who bring you joy, whether it’s season ever. Give to those less and dad coming to Nashville for family or friends or the bartender fortunate, forgive those who deserve Thanksgiving instead of me coming down the street who can’t get back My first DO- decorate your house it, spend time with the people you home plus a lack of storage space, I home this year. People put way too in a tasteful, elegant, minimalistic, much emphasis on sharing these love and decorate as little or as much monochromatic color scheme! Which had to go ahead and put my tree up November 10th. It’s not so bad, and special occasions simply because leads me to my first Don’t- DON’T as you want. Keep it simple and low will leave time for other activities ‘blood is thicker than water.’ I say listen to me, or anyone else! That is stress and remember, if worst comes during my parents’ visit. If you love to heck with that; sometimes you how I like MY house to look, to worst, it’ll be over before you know basking in the warm glow of the tree, just aren’t compatible no matter but you feel free to go as overboard it! Happy Holidays! put that sucker up and enjoy it as long who the person is. But in the spirit and loud as you want. If you want as you want. of forgiveness, DO make an honest your house to be lit up like the effort to mend any burned bridges Griswolds, go for it! The Christmas While there may be many reasons that might be weighing on you. spirit is all about feeling warm and for the season, we all know food is While it’s not healthy to let any old fuzzy, so whatever makes you feel the real star of the show. Whether person back into your life, if you find that way is the ‘right’ way to decorate. you’re cheffing the main event or yourself missing someone or you’re I do request you keep the inflatable just contributing a snack, everyone just being petty because someone yard décor to a minimum because, wants to have a standout dish. But you genuinely enjoy shares a different respectfully, they are a bit much. But the holidays are not the time to try otherwise, create a Christmas scheme out a new recipe. DO make the meat view than yours politically, let that that is authentically you. of your menu classics that stand the stuff go. Life is too short to hold grudges. test of time. People wait 365 days However, DON’T leave your Finally, DO put a focus on tradition decorations up ‘til the groundhog can to eat Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner; DON’T throw everyone for and making memories. People get so see his shadow beside them. There is caught up in material things during a loop because you decided to be nothing more depressing to me than the holidays, when the real joy and adventurous and switch up their seeing a dilapidated brown wreath favorite fried turkey for a spicy magic comes from the feelings within. hanging haphazardly on someone’s The glow of lights, the smells of door beneath one sad string of lights curry slow roast bird. However, I do encourage you to throw in at least one yummy desserts, the playful bickering a month after the glitz and glamour while trimming the tree…this is what of the holidays has passed. If I made new dish for everyone’s sampling. leaves lasting impressions, not how Whether it’s a specialty cocktail or a the rules, it would require breaking side dish, you never know what might many likes you got on the Instagram video unwrapping the latest Jordans. become everyone’s new favorite Each year, DO resurrect the things classic for years to come. There’s nothing wrong with exploring, just from years past that are unique to don’t stray so far off the beaten path your family, whether it’s watching a everything down on New Year’s Day, but since I don’t it isn’t mandatory. I think a week following New Year’s is plenty of time to have enjoyed the décor and then stashed it away until next November. The way time is flying, it’ll be back before you know it anyway.

that it throws everyone for a loop.

XO - Kathie

theloafer.net | November 29, 2022

Holiday Do’s and Dont ’s

theloafer.net | November 29, 2022 28

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Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super Sons As you can probably tell from past articles I am a huge Batman fan, and I am there for anything involving the Dark Knight. One of the current releases featuring Batman, but not in a starring role, is "Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super Sons". While the film does feature Batman, as voiced by Troy Baker, the primary focus of the film is on the characters of Jonathan Kent (Jack Dylan Grazer) and Damian Wayne (Jack Griffo), the sons of Superman (Travis Willingham) and Batman respectively. I would hazard a guess that most of the general public or non comic book fans had no idea Batman and Superman had sons. If you have ever seen the television show "Superman and Lois" you know Superman has twin sons in that show, which has taken liberties with the comic books.

On the other hand, Batman's son Damien might be a bit better known as the offspring of the Caped Crusader and one time affair with Talia al Ghul, and has been featured in the comic books for years and various animated movies. The two sons are front and center in this DC Animated Universe film and their eventual team-up is the core of the storyline. When the two

Pop Life

By Ken Silvers theloaferonlineprint @gmail.com

first meet, Damien, in his usual manner, brushes off Jonathan as annoying, declaring being a trained assassin has little time to invest in Superman's son.

However, Damien's many attempts to become part of the Teen Titans are again postponed, leaving him feeling devastated. The film also features some great moments between Clark Kent and his son while they are in Smallville, and this is where Jonathan discovers the reason is father is often away, and that he has inherited some of his father's super abilities. We also see Bruce struggle to keep Damian in check, which would require the determination of a superhero to do so effectively. The story really kicks into high gear when the world is invaded by Starro, an alien creature that looks like a giant starfish and releases small starfish to attach to the faces of others in order to take control of them. Both Superman and Batman and eventually the entire Justice League and Titans are taken over

by Starro, leaving Jonathan and Damian/Robin to save their fathers and the planet, quite the task for two young heroes. The duo take one of the Bat vehicles in order to reach the orbiting Watchtower (one of the headquarters of the Justice League) , in order to rescue their fathers and take on Starro.

The battle in space is exciting and the duo prove to be formatable as they fight for their lives in order to save the world. Meanwhile, back on Earth, Lois Lane (Laura Bailey) has managed to be free of Starro's grasp and attempts to get help from U.S. President Lex Luthor (Darin De Paul) in the fight of the invading creature. As one might expect, the villain is thwarted and all ends well for our duo and their budding friendship. Many parts of this film were enjoyable, especially the slower moments such a

Jonathan flying with his father after he learns he is Superman, and a moment at the end with the often aloof Bruce hugs Damien after the rescue. The animation is wonderful, and at times is breathtaking. This is one animated film that would have been great to see on the big screen at a theater.

This is a fun and action packed film for Batman and Superman fans, or for those who would like to

learn about Jonathan and Damien.

Make "Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super Sons" part of your animated movie watch list.

Now available on Blu-ray, DVD, and streaming on various outlets including Amazon Prime and YouTube. (Rated PG-13)

theloafer.net | November 29, 2022

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theloafer.net | November 29, 2022

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CONCERT SCHEDULE Bristol

BRISTOL TN/VA

PARAMOUNT Dec 4 Chris Isaak Dec 16 Mark Chesnut Jan 6 Dailey & Vincent Feb 3 Neko Case

CAMEO THEATER Dec 14 Tab Benoit and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band Dec 22 The Wizards of Winter Feb 11 Lorrie Morgan Mar 18 Bad Marriage May 10 An Evening with Roger McGuinn

JOHNSON CITY TN

Knoxville

KNOXVILLE TN

TENNESSEE THEATRE Jan 12 Tommy Emmanuel Jan 26 Kenny Wayne Shepherd Apr 28 Amy Grant THOMPSON BOWLING ARENA Nov 17 Five Finger Death Punch with Brantley Gilbert Dec 8 Trans-Siberian Orchestra Feb 17 Journey and Toto Feb 18 Cody Johnson featuring Randy Houser Feb 24 Blake Shelton Mar 30 Kane Brown

JOHNSON CITY

KNOXVILLE CIVIC AUDITORIUM Nov 10 Clay Walker & Tracy Lawrence FREEDOM HALL Dec 1 Mannheim Steamroller Christmas Nov 11 Sal Vulcano Nov 18 Aaron Lewis Dec 2 Little Texas Nov 26 Switchfoot Christmas Tour Apr 14 Nate Bargatze MARTIN CENTER FOR THE ARTS Nov 10 Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Dec 13 Michael W. Smith Christmas Show Feb 4 The Black Jacket Symphony: Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours Apr 30 Amy Grant

GREENVILLE TN

GREENVILLE

NISWONGER PERFORMING ARTS CENTER Nov 15 Jimmy Fortune, Bradley Walker, Ike Rogers and Ben Isaacs Nov 19 Atlanta Pops Holiday Radio Show Dec 2 The Gatlin Brothers Country & Christmas Jan 21 The Isaacs Jan 27 The Doo Wop Project Feb 3 Heather Land Feb 11 I Am He Said -a Neil Diamond Tribute Feb 17 Roots & Boots Acoustic tour with Aaron Tippin, Collin Raye and Sammy Kershaw Mar 4 Resurrection- A Journey Tribute Mar 11 Jefferson Starship Mar 31 Gentri (The Gentlemen Trio) Apr 4 One Night of Queen-performed

by Gary Mullen And the Works Apr 14 Mark Lowry Apr22 Masters of Soul

Jan 27 Kenny Wayne Shepherd Jan 30 Mammoth WVH and Alter Bridge Feb 14 Death Cab for Cutie Feb 23-25 Tedeschi Trucks Band Feb 26 Billy Strings Mar 4 Dawes Mar 18 Buddy Guy Apr 7 & 13 Morgan Wade Apr 14 & 15 Lady A May 8-10 John Mellencamp May 19 Crowded House ASCEND AMPHITHEATER Oct 1 Jon Pardi Oct 15 The Head and The Heart Oct 16 Stevie Nicks BRIDGESTONE ARENA Nov 16 Five Finger Death Punch with Brantley Gilbert Dec 2 Maren Morris Dec 9 Jelly Roll Dec 11 PentatonixA Christmas Spectacular Dec 14 Trans-Siberian Orchestra Dec 30/31 Widespread Panic Feb 19 TobyMac with Crowder Feb 24-25 Billy Strings Mar 1 Carrie Underwood Mar 31 Kane Brown Apr 7 Chris Tomlin

BIJOU THEATRE Nov 11 Sam Bush Band Nov 17 Joanne Shaw Taylor Nov 18 Morgan Wade Nov 19 Natalie Grant Nov 30 Eric Gales Dec 1 Paul Thorn Dec 3 Dave Barnes Christmas Dec 6 Herb Alpert & Lani Hall Christmas Asheville Jan 27 Scott Miller and David Childers Feb 3 Amanda Shires THE ORANGE PEEL Mar 23-25 Drew & Ellie Holcomb Scott Bradlees Postmodern Jukebox Dec 3 Dec 5 JohnnySwim Nashville Jan 20 Larkin Poe Feb 18 Elle King NASHVILLE MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM Nov 30 Black Veil Brides, Motionless in THOMAS WOLFE AUDITORIUM White and Ice Nine Kills Nov 20 Nate Bargatze(2 shows) Dec 10 Rainbow Kitten Surprise Dec 3 Lindsey Stirling

ASHEVILLE NC

NASHVILLE TN

RYMAN AUDITORIUM Nov 23 W.A.S.P. Nov 30 Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Dec 6-8 Lauren Daigle Dec 9 Allman Family Revival Dec 10 Leann Rimes Dec 12-15 Amy Grant and Vince Gill Dec 16 Smokey Robinson Dec 19 Aaron Lewis Dec 30/31 Old Crow Medicine Show

EXPLOREASHEVILLE.COM ARENA Dec 10 Warren Haynes Christmas Jam

CHEROKEE NC

GREENVILLE SC

Greenville, S.C.

BON SECOURS WELLNESS ARENA Nov 18 MercyMe Nov 19 Charlie Wilson and Friends Nov 20 Five Finger Death Punch and Brantley Gilbert Dec 9 Trans-Siberian Orchestra Jan 29 TobyMac, Crowder, Cochren & Company Mar 18 Kane Brown

WINSTON-SALEM, NC

Winston Salem North Caroiina LJVM COLISEUM Mar 3-4 Billy Strings

PIKEVILLE KY

Pikeville, Ky

APPALACHIAN WIRELESS ARENS Nov 18 Warrant, Winger and Bullet Boys Dec 31 Noah Thompson & Chase Matthew

CHARLOTTE NC

Charlotte

SPECTRUM CENTER Dec 10 Trans-Siberian Orchestra Feb 8 Carrie Underwood PNC MUSIC PAVILION May 30 Dead and Company OVENS AUDITORIUM Dec 6 Allman Family Revival Dec 31 The Avett Brothers (Bojangles Coliseum) Jan 29 Death Cab for Cuti Feb 8 John Mellencamp e Mar 3 Joe Bonamassa THE FILLMORE Nov 27 W.A.S.P. Mar 16 Static-X Apr 13 Fozzy

MYRTLE BEACH, NC

Myrtle Beach, S.C

House of Blues Dec 3 Blue October Dec 30 Marcus King HARRAH’S CASINO Dec 31 Corey Smith Nov 18 Mike Epps Dec 10 Cirque Musica Holiday Wonderland Mar 25 Eric Johnson Apr 7 Scott Bradlee’s Jan 7 Styx Postmodern Jukebox Jan 13-15 Jamey Johnson Cherokee, N.C.:

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

31

Every year people often complain that the line between Halloween and Christmas is getting shaved thinner and thinner. Many people are not here for Thanksgiving erasure (nor were they here for my holidaythemed Erasure tribute band called the same), and often lament how quickly the jack-o-lanterns are replaced by Christmas trees. It seems that due to the great duress we’ve been under these last few years that more and more people want to get into Christmas mode as soon as possible.

Who can blame them? It’s been a “not great, Bob” time to be alive.

Yet, I have noticed something this year that did catch my eye as being a bit more unusual than most. The Spector of Black Friday sales, that day that all capitalists and retail fans live for, appeared on the horizon far quicker than usual. 'Twas in the second week of November that an email arrived in my inbox telling me that “The countdown to Black Friday is on!”

This email assured me that Black Friday was right around the corner, and to keep an eye on my inbox for another email coming soon to tell

Batteries Not Included

By Andy Ross theloaferonlineprint @gmail.com

me what would be on sale, then a further email would come to tell me when the sales would begin. There was a teaser graphic in the email, a clock that showed the minutes and seconds till the sale began, but the hours and days were both replaced with two question marks, “??”

I thought nothing of it and went about my usual life. I’m not one to get into the middle of the madness on that day. The older I get the more I dislike being around large groups of people. Standing outside Kohls to go HAM inside a big box store was never my idea of a good time and I sure as heck will not start now. I might cybershop some, but that would be the extent of it.

As promised a second email came in to tell me that “this year’s Black Friday sale is going to start even earlier than before! Be ready and save up to 80% off our entire stock!”

There was no countdown clock with this email. Just a warning. A note to say “When it happens, and it will, be prepared.” I do not know if the ominous tone was intentional, but it shook me to my core. How will it affect society as we know it to suddenly spring an early Black Friday sale on us? Can we endure such a shock to our system?

Why was I so worried? I do not partake in Black Friday sales. Yet, I found it so odd that all these “hype emails” kept coming in. I wasn’t going to go anywhere the day after Thanksgiving. Ideally, I’d be too full of turkey and starches to leave my bed. But that tone, that weird sense of a man wandering the local pub saying “stay off the moors” had my guard up. Again, I went about my life as I always did.

But then came the day when the emails proved true. I was standing in line at the grocery store the Sunday before Thanksgiving. I was quietly keeping to myself with a cart full of ham and potatoes when my phone made a sound. It was the notification

of a new email that had come in.

As I reached for my phone I heard a similar sound from the phones of the other people in line. I swiped on the screen and my email app opened.

It was the conclusion of the emails that had been coming in all month long, it had one simple sentence within. “Black Friday has begun!”

Wait, this was a Sunday. Black Friday wasn’t supposed to be before that coming Friday. What was this madness? As I looked up from my phone the other people around me were also looking at their phones with confusion on their faces. “But it’s Sunday!” one of them exclaimed.

There was a sound of faint, manic laughter from the last person in the line, two people behind me. “It has begun” they exclaimed, “Black Friday is now!” The mood in the store began to shift. There was a pause, then the cashier abandoned their station and ran to the clerk at the station behind them. As soon as they got there they started to hockey punch the other cashier.

I felt an arm around my neck, and the man behind me yelled “Your hams are mine!” As he tried to take my food from me I struggled to free myself. Luckily, I grew up in the schoolyards of the 1990s and know how to defend myself. I grabbed a Pay Day bar and began to use the salty, abrasive peanuts on the man’s eyes. His screams were horrible. When I got free I abandoned my cart and ran out of the store.

I got to the parking lot and found fistfights, duels, and people eating Mayonnaise with a spoon while crying. It was madness. I was lucky to get out of there alive.

The audacity of moving Black Friday had brought havoc to my quint community. The store later apologized for this. They said it was never their goal, they hoped to offset this madness by starting it early. This is why we only do those sales one day of the year. I can only hope it will be a lesson for us all. I know I’ll be careful of any store from now on when November winds down. See you next week.

theloafer.net | November 29, 2022

The Sales Begin

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11/3/22 10:51 AM