theloaferonline.com | May 1, 2018
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on the cover
Volume 32 • Issue #22 Editor Graphic Arts Director Don Sprinkle Cover Design Bill May Advertising Patti Barr Paul Kavanaugh Janie Jarvis Carolyn Kestner Marques Puckett Chris Massie Office Coordinator Amanda Lane Social Media Manager Jon Lester
Distribution Jerry Hanger Teresa Hanger Published by Pulse Publishing, LLC., P.O. Box 3238, Johnson City, TN 37602 Phone: 423/283-4324 FAX - 423/283-4369 www.theloaferonline.com info@theloaferonline.com e-mail: editorial@theloaferonline.com adcopy@theloaferonline.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 Let’s Get Social!
18 Stargazer Spring Galaxies Make for Celestial Contemplation 19 Skies This Week 20 Batteries Not Included A Fritz Long Double Header 21 Pop Life Rampage 22 The Nerd's Corner Mad Titans & Infinity Stones 25 Mister MENTal Health: The Unspoken Catastrope 26 The Casual Word Presents 28 Puzzle Page 31 Kelly’s Place Remote Car Access and other Modern Folktales
columns & reviews
Contributing Staff Jim Kelly Andy Ross Ken Silvers Mark Marquette Daniel Worley Jason Worley Langley Shazor Jon Lester
L
your week’s line-up
THURSDAY JAMS
Publisher Luci Tate
4 Thursday Jams 6 Stunt Dog Experience @ NPAC 7 Foggy Valley Game Show Dinner Theatre 9 Johnson City Ominum 10 World Champion Rodeo @ HRBC 10 Runs, Cars Shows & Bike Nights 11 A treasure trove of all things home @ Décor Exchange 12 French Broad River Festival 13 NO FARMS NO FOOD Farm to Table Brunch 13 TN Mafia Jug Band @ Carter Family Fold 14 Cantemus Womens' Choir presents Wayfaring Stranger 15 Live Variety Show @ BCMM 16 Spotlight 23 Storytelling Season Begins 26 Paramount Partners 27 Chuckey Depot Museum Extends Hours 29 Pets of the Week 30 Things To Do
ook Taurus, we all know that when it comes to finances you tend to be rock solid. In fact, you've got it going on. This week, however, you might make a very foolish decision with your money, all in the name of love. Come on -- don't do it! You don't want to allow a moment of weakness to lead to a decision you'll only regret. Don't loan money to your sweetheart unless you're prepared to never get it back. And if you give your lover a bit of cash, you need to ask yourself why you're even in the position where he or she is asking. Unless, of course, you want to take on the Sugar Daddy or Sugar Mommy role. But really ... do you?
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RETURN FOR 10 WEEKS OF FREE CONCERTS
THURSDAY JAMS theloaferonline.com | May 1, 2018
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F
or the 6th summer in a row, Abingdon hosts free outdoor concerts at the Abingdon Market Pavilion. The popular Thursday Jams series brings a wide range of nationally recognized artists to Abingdon, each Thursday night for 10 weeks. The series kicks off Thursday May 17th, with the soulful modern country sound of Sam Lewis, and continues through July 19th. Presented by Blue Ridge Beverages and the Abingdon Music Experience, the concerts are free and open to the public; a beer garden will be provided by Abingdon Main Street, and local food vendors will be on hand each week. Highlights this year include the joyful blues of Reverend Shawn Amos, the beloved bluegrass band Acoustic Syndicate, and Sweet Crude, a South Louisiana indie-pop band that sings in in an enchanting mix of English and French. For a full listing of musical acts and dates, visit abingdonmusicexperience.com. The series, which draws thousands of locals and visitors to downtown Abingdon each year, is sponsored in part by the Bank of Marion, the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, Express AV, Food City, and JJ’s Restaurant and Sport Bar, with media sponsorship from WNCW 88.7 and The Loafer. Music will begin 7:00 pm each Thursday at the Abingdon Market Pavilion, with a beer garden benefitting Abingdon Main Street opening at 6:30 pm. A variety of food truck and local vendors will be on hand offering concessions. The events are family-friendly, and attendees are encouraged to bring their chairs and or blankets to enjoy the shows. No outside alcohol is allowed. In case of inclement weather, updates will be posted to social media, and Wolf Hills Brewery will serve as the alternate venue, located at 350 Park Street SE in Abingdon.
Sam Lewis May 17, 2018
For Fans Of: Parker Millsap, Anderson East, Townes van Zandt
Reverend Shawn Amos May 24, 2018 For fans of: Keb Mo, Gary Clark, Jr., Jonny Lang “modern blues with a nod to the past”
Ruby Velle & The Soulphonics
Steel Wheels with Special Guest
May 31, 2018 For Fans of: Amy Winehouse, The Broadcast, Charles Bradley
Sinners & Saints June 7, 2018
Cris Jacobs w/ Special Guests
Trongone Band
June 14, 2018 For fans of: Chris Stapleton, Sturgill Simpson, Ray LaMontagne
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Heather Gillis Band June 21, 2018 For fans of: Butch Trucks, Allman Brothers, Samantha Fish
Acoustic Syndicate
June 28, 2018 If you like: Keller Williams, Mountain Heart, Town Mountain
Super Doppler
July 5, 2018 For fans of: Charles Bradley, Antibalas, The Beatles
Eilen Jewell
July 12, 2018 For fans of: Tift Merritt, Gillian Welch, The Be Good Tanyas
Sweet Crude
July 19, 2018 For fans of: Tank & the Bangas, The Revivalists, Rebirth Brass Band
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The High-Energy Chris Perondi’s
STUNT DOG
EXPERIENCE
T
he cast of performers and dogs from Chris Perondi’s Stunt Dog Experience will delight audiences of all ages, with high-energy excitement from beginning to end on Saturday, May 5th at 2 p.m. During the Stunt Dog Experience you will witness some of the most incredible stunts and behaviors ever performed by dogs. With amazing tricks, big air stunts, comedy antics, dancing dogs, and athletic feats, it is the most entertaining show of its kind! Every show includes interactive crowd participation. It’s not just a show it’s an experience! Audience members will chant “Dog-gone Fun” and be involved in the excitement of the production. The show features the “Golden Bone Showdown” which is a series of five separate challenges that will test each dog’s intelligence, speed, accuracy, and leaping ability. These stars have been featured on the Ellen Degeneres Show, Queen Latifah, the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Animal Planet’s Pet Star!, Fox Sports “You Gotta See This!,” the CBS Early Show, and many more. They have also starred in commercials and have been featured on the news and in magazines all across the country. All of the Perondi’s dogs have been rescued from pounds and shelters from across the country. Their mission is to promote pet
adoption, responsible pet ownership, and educate on the importance of spay and neutering. NPAC is teaming up with the Greeneville-Greene County Humane Society by accepting donations for supplies, food, toys, and other needed items. A collection box will be available to accept donations the afternoon of the show. It’s fun for the entire family with Chris Perondi’s Stunt Dog Experience, Saturday, May 5th at 2 p.m. Orchestra level seating is $25, mezzanine seats are $20 and balcony seats are $15. Tickets may be purchased online at NPACgreeneville.com, in person at the NPAC box office, or by calling 423-638-1679. Thank you to 2017-18 season sponsor, First Tennessee. NPAC offers online seat selection with no processing or delivery fees. There is an additional $1.50 ticketing fee per ticket regardless of purchase method. The box office hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. The 1150 seat performing arts center is located adjacent to the campus of Greeneville High School. For venue information, and to purchase tickets, please visit www.npacgreeneville.com.
singlehood. They agree and the winners will take all including $25,000 Grand Prize. Tragically, if the Millers win, Rev. Clyde must marry Judith and the Millers will start a new funeral business in Foggy Valley. If the Goodins win, the Millers must leave town, and Rev. Clyde will retain his freedom. Game host, Mowie Handell, will spur the competition between the two families. Games include Jeopardize Trivia (Jeopardy), Memorable Melodies (Name That Tune), and The Cost is Correct (The Price is Right). Spokesmodel, Vanana Light, comes up missing and Flo Rakestraw and sidekick, Gladys Looney, must fill in. A tie brings the families to a round in Sudden Death (Family Feud) to determine the winner. Members of the audience will also be pulled into the competition and will have the opportunity to win prizes as well. Who will win? What secrets will be revealed? “Foggy Valley Game Show” will be presented at on Saturday and Sunday, May 5th and 6th at The Emporium at 146 Broad Street in Kingsport, TN. For reservations and information, please contact the LampLight box office at (423) 343-1766, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or online at lamplighttheatre.com.
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he ultimate game show is coming to Broad Street in Downtown Kingsport. LampLight Theatre’s Foggy Valley Gang will bring their farcical antics to their newest venue in the intimate setting of the Banquet Hall of The Emporium with the premiere of “Foggy Valley Game Show.” The word is out. A new funeral home, Miller’s Memorial Mortuary and Mausoleum, is planning to open in Foggy Valley, TN and is sure to rival the B.A. Goodin Funeral Home. The Goodin family will use whatever means including gathering shady secrets about their contenders in order to run the competition out of town. The Goodins find out that the daughter of the proprietors of this new establishment, Judith Miller, happens to be the longtime stalker of family friend, Rev. Clyde T. Humperdink. The Goodins try to convince Rev. Clyde to woo Judith in order to stop the Millers from “setting up shop.” The Millers agree not to open Miller’s Memorial Mortuary and Mausoleum if Rev. Clyde will marry their daughter. In desperation to avoid unholy matrimony, Rev. Clyde strikes a deal and convinces the Millers and Goodins to participate in the Ultimate Game Show in order to settle their issues and retain his
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Johnson City
OMNIUM T
he Johnson City Omnium returns on June 2, 3. After talking with many of the racers at the Sunny King Criterium in Anniston, Alabama, race director Reneau Dubberley said, “Many of the racers are planning to come to the Johnson City Omnium because both the Carter County Roan Groan and Ballad Health Criterium are unique.� The Roan Groan mountain top finish is the only race with a category 1 finish in the Eastern US. The criterium is one the most technical courses with eight turns in 1K. Racers like the challenge. All three courses will be the same this year. Last year the Pro/am women fielded 28 racers. Their responses at Sunny King indicate as many racers will be in JC this year. With this size of field, the Pro/am women who started with the Elite Masters in previous years will have a separate start on the Roan Groan road race. Stephanie Nave of Johnson City said she and her OrthoCarolina Winston Women's Cycling team are returning to the Omnium this year. The level of competition should again be just as fierce as last year, when sprint finishes decided five out of eight fields in the road race Saturday morning. Those sprints were contested after racers completed the 7 mile 2580 ft climb in the Carter County Roan Groan. In the Tupleo Honey Time Trial, on Saturday evening, there was less than hundred's of a second separating top finishers. In Sunday's Franklin Woods Community Hospital Criterium, only inches separated the 1st and 2nd place in the top races. Both the spectators and racers will appreciate the additional brewers and restaurants on the Criterium course in Downtown Johnson City. These provide a unique race experience in the US. You can watch the races while dining and drinking just a foot away from the speeding racers. Last years competitors and guests spent more than $180,000 in the Tri Cities over the weekend. More details and link to registration on the race web site. Www.jcomnium.com
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World Championship
RODEO
Memorial Day Weekend at Holston River Brewing
By Paul Kavanaugh
E
xcitement is building in anticipation of the first full rodeo in the Tri Cities in quite some time. We have seen Bull Riding locally, and it is the most dangerous sport there is, but this Memorial Day Weekend a full 7-event rodeo will be staged at Holston River Brewing Company in the Thunder Mountain Campground. This one will include Bull Riding of course, but also Barrel Racing, Team Roping, Breakaway Roping, Bareback Riding, Saddle Bronc Riding and Calf Roping. To add to the excitement, the two winners of the Wednesday Karaoke contest each week until the rodeo will appear before the rodeo begins on Friday night with 5 winners advancing to the Saturday night final. First place is $350, second pays $150 and third gets $50. Make your plans, the rodeo is both Friday and Saturday night at 8:00, gates open at 6:30. We’ll have more info as the date gets closer. The Loafer is one of the proud sponsors of World Championship Rodeo.
Runs, Car Shows and Bike Nights Sponsored by Bear’s Bar
Send your event to: info@theloaferonline.com
BIKE NIGHTS Wednesdays Thursdays Thursdays Fridays
Bear’s Bar Holston River Brewing Co. Quaker Steak & Lube Tulips American Grub and Pub
RUNS & RIDES
May 19: Honor Flight NE TN Vietnam Veteran Benefit Ride; starts at Black Wolf Harley Davidson and ends at Bear’s Bar. 423-341-8500 July 14: Apple Tyree 3rd Annual Poker Chip Memorial Ride; benefits Special Olympics; Smith Bros. Harley Davidson; 423-946-5423 or 423-283-0422
CAR SHOWS
June 1-3: 2nd Annual Home Built Summit, RatRod; Holston River Brewing Co. and Thunder Mountain Campground; all manner of vehicles can enter; camping available; 423-946-2380 June 16: FLBC Car and Bike Show; all cars and motorcycles welcome; 423-794-8142 or 423-282-0655 July 28: 6th Annual Open Car Show by American Patriots Pastime; Anything with Wheels; Tri Cities Cinemas at exit 66 off I-81; 423-323-3981
A treasure trove of all things home
Decor Exchange Home Furnishings Consignment 1001 North Eastman Road, Kingsport 423.246.4663
atmosphere. Because Décor Exchange has such an eclectic mix, buyers can find anything from antiques, vintage, traditional and modern décor, as well as finer jewelry and handbags. Additionally, they find lots of unique and one of a kind items from all over the globe. In 2004, Lesa Horne, having a love for yard sale and flea market bargain hunting, came up with the idea of home furnishings consignment. She declares, “I thought it would be great to have ‘all the nicer things’ in one location. I had seen clothing consignment shops, but never one with furniture and home décor.” Though taking the plunge to start a business was scary, she soon realized there was a huge demand for this service in the Tri-Cities. Within months the business won the KOSBE “New Business Startup Award.” Since opening in 2004 with 1500 square feet, Décor Exchange has expanded four times and is now over 14,000 square foot showroom adjacent to the North Eastman Road Post Office. The store is open Monday through Saturday from 10am to 6pm. Small furniture and home décor consignments are accepted Monday-Friday, from 10:30a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and larger furniture is taken by appointment.
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Décor Exchange M
ost people today love hunting for a deal, a treasure. On the other hand, many people have too many treasures and need to sell. Look at the rise over the past 15 years of services such as eBay or Craigslist. You can find anything and everything on both of these sites; but, what if you want to buy or sell home furnishings locally? That is where Décor Exchange Kingsport comes in. They offer an alternative to selling items on your own. For a fee they will take your gently used furnishings and display them beautifully in an inviting 14,000 square foot showroom. By consigning, sellers don’t have to worry about shipping, advertising, dealing with phone calls, having strangers come to their home, haggling over price or just not showing up at all. Décor Exchange prices the items, displays them and will even provide a third party for pickup and delivery where needed. The same goes for buyers. They don’t have to look through advertisements, make phone calls, and spend their time driving from place to place to look at merchandise. At Décor Exchange, shoppers will be pleasantly surprised at the beautiful quality furniture and home decor in the upscale
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H
ave you ever floated down Section 9 of the French Broad River? In my experience there are few better ways to get away from the fast pace of modern life and to see this beautiful part of the world the way the Cherokees saw it, who actually called this section of the river Tahkieostee (“where they race”). After several hours on the river, you arrive in the little town of Hot Springs, where throughout the 19th century a stream of wealthy visitors came via railroad to “take the waters” and enjoy the entertainment provided by a series of luxury hotels built adjacent to the thermal springs, along the banks of the French Broad. Today the Appalachian Trail runs right down Main St., and the surrounding area offers abundant recreational opportunities including hiking, fishing and mountain biking. 21 years ago a couple of friends thought it would be fun to “race” down Section 9 of the French Broad River and then have a party on its banks in Hot Springs, with any proceeds from the party going to charity. Well, as you can imagine a good time was had by all and the party has grown exponentially to a weekend outdoor and family music festival encompassing the entire Hot Springs Campground with national and local recording artists on multiple stages, Photo by Great Smokies Photography a whitewater raft race, mountain bike race,
French Broad River Festival
kids’ village, outdoor gear silent auction, arts and craft vendors, outdoor vendors, and great food. To date over $200,000 has been donated to charities including American Whitewater, Big Brother/Big Sisters of WNC, Caring for Children, Eliada Home, Hot Springs Community Learning Center, Homeward Bound and more. The 21st Annual French Broad River Festival is set for May 4-6, 2018 where the French Broad River meets the Appalachian Trail at the beautiful Hot Springs Campground & Spa. Festival begins Friday May 4th (arrive earlier for prime campsite). Visit www.FrenchBroadRiverFestival. com for tickets and details. 2018 musical acts include The Travelin’ McCourys, The Jeff Austin Band, The Grateful Ball, Billy Strings, Jon Stickley Trio, Sol Driven Train, Dangermuffin, Fireside Collective, HipGnostic, The Pond Brothers, a wandering mariachi band and much more! This festival always has a few surprises such as a juggling fire show, kids’ parade, mariachi, trapeze artists, fireworks, late night acoustic jams, and watch out for flying marshmallows! Proceeds from this year’s festival will be donated to American Whitewater, The Verner Center for Early Learning, and the Hot Springs Community Learning Center.
N
FUNdraiser
ationally known and respected for its commitment to local farmers, Appalachian Sustainable Development (ASD) will hold its 2nd annual NO FARMS NO FOOD Farm to Table Brunch FUNdraiser on May 6th from 12:30pm-2:30pm at Machiavelli’s in Bristol, Tennessee. Tickets are $45/person and can be purchased online at: tinyurl.com/yamvjj6o. Space is limited, no tickets will be sold at the door. Guests will enjoy this casual, fun event featuring a brunch buffet prepared with in-season ingredients, live music by “The Boys”, a complimentary cocktail, coffee and a Bloody Mary cash bar garnished with ASD’s Appalachian Harvest canned goods. 100% of all proceeds will benefit ASD’s work in northeast TN and southwest VA. Nationally known and respected for its commitment to local farmers, Appalachian Sustainable Development is transitioning Appalachia to a more resilient economy and a healthier population by supporting local agriculture, exploring new economic opportunities and connecting people with healthy food. Since 1995, Appalachian Sustainable Development (ASD) has been working in 15 counties in Central Appalachia. ASD’s reach has since expanded to include eastern WV and KY and southeast OH. ASD uses 6 strategies to accomplish its work: closing the knowledge gap, increasing local food production, developing markets, increasing distribution of local agriculture products, engaging strategic partners, and researching/consulting and advising. ASD operates programs that create jobs in farming and agriculture and address food insecurity. For more information about ASD go to www.asdevelop. org, Facebook, YouTube or Twitter.
Festivals
Got an event coming up?
Events
Send it to The Loafer! info@theloaferonline.com
Concerts
Exhibits
Tennessee Mafia Jug Band Special Friday Night Concert Friday, May 4th @ Carter Family Fold
theloaferonline.com | May 1, 2018
NOFarm FARMS NO FOOD to Table Brunch
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Cantemus Women's Choir presents
Wayfaring Stranger
T
he outstanding Cantemus Women's Choir will present “Wayfaring Stranger”, a rousing and reflective repertoire of folk songs and spirituals, on Sunday, May 6 at 7:00 pm. The concert will be held at Waverly Road Presbyterian Church, 1415 Waverly Rd., Kingsport. The Kingsport, TN based choir will perform moving renditions of longtime favorites such as Shenandoah, Shady Grove, Poor Wayfaring Stranger, Motherless Child, Will the Circle Be Unbroken and Simple Gifts, among others. Under the leadership of Patty Denmark, conductor, and Erin Raines, accompanist, Cantemus Women’s Choir has distinguished itself as one of the finest and most musically diverse choral ensembles in the area. The 30 voice ensemble draws accomplished women from all over Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. The choir is open to women of varying musical abilities, but includes in its membership many professional and student musicians. In its four short years of existence, Cantemus has performed at Biltmore Estate’s Candlelight Christmas Evenings and Knoxville Opera’s Rossini Festival, and has recently received invitations to perform in both national and international festivals. Past concert collaborations have featured the Cambia Flute Ensemble, Assez Vif String Quartet, and a shared Christmas program with the Appalachian Men’s Ensemble. The May 6th concert will feature as guest musicians the Tennessee Border Bluegrass Band. Tennessee Border is a high energy local bluegrass band comprised of college aged students. The band was formed by Avery Peters and Jordan McPherson in 2016. Tennessee Border has made many notable accomplishments in their short formation as a band. The band has played on stages in neighboring states, on television with the Crooked Road General Store, and with the Appliachian Cultural Music Association at their Pickin’ Porch stage in both Bristol and in Kingsport. The band’s latest accomplishment involved an invitation to join Dollywood's Bluegrass and BBQ festival for the second year in a row. The band is comprised of Avery Peters (Banjo), Jordan McPherson (Guitar and Lead Vocals), Corey Nelms (Dobro and Lead Vocals), Ty Wilcox (Bass), Morgan Rogers (Fiddle), and Jacob McPherson (Mandolin). All members of the band are full time college students, hold jobs in their community, and are members of their churches’ praise bands. Their love for music drives their motivation to continue to share the Appalachian Music with those in their community. Auditions for the 2018-19 concert season of Cantemus Women’s Choir will take place August 7th from 7:00 – 9:00 pm at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church in Kingsport, TN. For more information on auditioning for Cantemus or the May 6 Wayfaring Stranger concert, contact Patty Denmark at cantemuswomenschoir@gmail.com
Traveller
Farm and Fun Time in May. For more than 50 years, "The Book" has been releasing albums and touring, sharing stages with the likes of B. B. King, Bonnie Raitt, Ray Charles, Brownie McGhee, and Doc Watson. His album Hillbilly Blues Cats was listed among Eric Clapton's Unplugged and Neil Young's Harvest Moon as one of the 10 most essential acoustic guitar albums of 1992. Farm and Fun Time takes place on Thursday, May 10 at 7:00 p.m. EST at the museum; doors open at 6:30 p.m. EST and guests are asked to be seated by 6:50 p.m. Tickets to be part of the live studio audience are $30 plus tax and fees. Farm and Fun Time features a variety of segments including jingles written and performed by house band Bill and the Belles, a farm report, an heirloom recipe segment, and nationally touring artists. A revival of the former WCYB radio program that aired from downtown Bristol in the 1940s and 1950s, Radio Bristol's Farm and Fun Time is original programming the entire family will enjoy. Radio Bristol can be accessed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 100.1 FM in the Bristol area, online at ListenRadioBristol.org, and through the station's free mobile app. You can also view the program on Radio Bristol's Facebook Live at Facebook.com/WBCMRadioBristol. To purchase tickets and for more information on concerts and programming, visit the events page at BirthplaceofCountryMusic.org.
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Live Variety Show at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum
adio Bristol's Farm and Fun Time live variety show continues to get folks excited to be part of the studio audience, and this month's edition is no different. The May 10 show featuring musical guests Traveller and Roy Book Binder is nearly sold out, and last month's broadcast of the show on Facebook Live peaked at around 3,500 views from all over the world. Though house seats in the Performance Theater at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum are definitely the way to go, giving fans the option to view the popular program online has proven to be a fun experience in itself. "We invite everyone to be part of the conversation on Facebook Live during the show," said Kris Truelsen, Radio Bristol producer and Farm and Fun Time host. "We're beginning to recognize some of the same people who tune in regularly, we've had folks from as far away as France, Israel, and Sweden join the community!" The next edition of Farm and Fun Time features alt-country "supergroup" Traveller, the band formed by the collaborative talents of Robert Ellis, Cory Chisel, and Jonny Fritz. Traveller performs a mix of songs written by the band as well as music the artists have released individually. The band's debut album Western Movies was released last year. Singer-songwriter and storytelling blues man Roy Book Binder will also take the stage at
Spotlight Since 2010
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- TUESDAY - May 1 -
- FRIDAY - May 4 -
If you or your band are playing in the upcoming week and would like to be in The Spotlight, call in advance to (423) 283-4324 or go online to: theloaferonline.com. Due to last minute cancellations or changes, please call the location to confirm.
- FRIDAY - May 4 -
- SATURDAY - May 5 -
Downtown Country Jiggy Ray’s Pizzeria
Stemwinder Rock’s Wood Fired Pizza & Grill
Billy Crawford Band Marker ‘2’ Grille
Blue Reign Kingsport Eagles
Stemwinder Rock’s Wood Fired Pizza & Grill
Ramblin Rose Buffalo Ruritan
House Band High Voltage
The True Grass Band Capitol Theatre
- WEDNESDAY - May 2 -
JD McPherson Down Home Open Mic Bloom Cafe and Listening Room HB Beverly Rock’s Wood Fired Pizza & Grill - THURSDAY - May 3 -
Chris Long High Voltage ’68 w/ Madame Mayhem, American Dropouts & Dullside The Hideaway ETSU Old Time Bands Down Home
Southern Rebellion Wild Wing Cafe Borderline Sonny’s Cafe John Cowan / Darin & Brooke Aldridge Down Home The Green Fingers The Willow Tree Coffeehouse & Music Room Wyldeheart Rain Nightclub Tennessee Mafia Jug Band Lorri Carter Bennett and Ronnie Williams Carter Family Fold
- SATURDAY - May 5 -
Nightshift Band Thompson’s Produce
Loose Leaves Bone Fire Smokehouse
Heavy Country Johnson City Moose Lodge
Rhythm & The Roosevelts Damascus Brewery
Mark Larkins Holiday Inn
Below 7 O’Mainnin’s Pub
Nightshift Band David Thompson’s Produce
Hillbilly Bad Holston River Brewing Company
Ramblin Rose Farmers Daughter
Junkyard Dogz Bears Bar
Spank Wild Wing Cafe
Music on the Square Jonesborough
Holler Jake ft Dave Eggar The Willow Tree Coffeehouse & Music Room
Bill Edwards Gypsy Circus Cider Company
Jigsaw Jane Sonny’s Cafe
Momma Molasses The Pinnacle
Dana Louise and the Glorious Birds Down Home
Stemwinder Band Blackbird Bakery
The Big Bad with Moose Roberts and Th’ Monkeypaws Bloom Cafe and Listening Room
The Kindest People Capone’s
Rusty Steel Woodstone Deli
Rusty Steel & Quarter Bounce O’Mainnin’s Pub
Ralph Stanley II & the Clinch Mountain Boys Carter Family Fold
Donny and the Dry Heavers Model City Tap House
Shake Yo MoneyMaker Holston River Brewing Company
The Green Rumours Gypsy Circus Cider Company
The Tides Rock’s Wood Fired Pizza & Grill
Asylum Suite CJ’s Sports Bar
Toby Jugg Band Rio’s Grill & Sports Bar
Jeff Lane Mountain Music Museum
Renegade Highway Woodstone Deli
Pocket Change Elizabethton Moose Lodge
Sulphur Springs String Dippers Yee Haw Brewing Company
Clockwork Asylum The Hyperion Grill
Jam w/ Jason Keiser Wellington’s Restaurant Colly Bloom Cafe and Listening Room Dirk Quinn Band O’Mainnin’s Pub
- FRIDAY - May 4 -
Acoustifried Country Club Bar & Grill Nightshift Band Lion’s Club
Suthern Accent Bristol VFW Post 6975
Daniel Couper Mockingbird Music Room
Asylum Suite CJ’s Sports Bar Rock & Roll Freakshow Woodstone Deli Kids Our Age Model City Tap House Alex Baughman Yee Haw Brewing Company Ryla Ray Country Club Bar & Grill Jessie Rose of Carolina Reign & Hip Gypsy Bristol VFW Post 6975 Borderline Band Marker ‘2’ Grille - SUNDAY - May 6 -
Ivy Road Marker ‘2’ Grille
for show time & more details, visit
theloaferonline.com
TUESDAY
Karaoke w/ Crossroads & Josh Blevins at Dawg House Tavern Karaoke at Zachary’s Steakhouse - Kingsport Family Night Karaoke at CJ’s Sports Bar Karaoke at Numan’s
WEDNESDAY
Karaoke w/ Southern Sounds Karaoke at American Legion Michael’s Krazy Karaoke at Marx the Spot Karaoke at CJ’s Sports Bar Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Smokey Bones Turn the Page Karaoke At VFW Post 2108 - Johnson City
THURSDAY
Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainmentat Macado’s - Kingsport Karaoke at Zachary’s Steakhouse - Kingsport Michael’s Krazy Karaoke at Stateline Bar & Grill Karaokeat CJ’s Sports Bar Karaoke w/ DJ Marques Top Shelf Entertainment at Wild Wing Cafe - Johnson City Karaoke at Numan’s Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainmentat New Beginning’s Karaoke at Jiggy Rays Pizzaria
FRIDAY
KKaraoke w/ Southern Sounds Karaoke at Sportsman’s Bar & Grill Karaoke w/ Shane Rouse at Bear’s Bar Karaoke at Kingsport Moose Lodge Karaoke w/ Reverb Karaoke at The Cottage Turn the Page Karaoke at VFW Post 2108 - Johnson City Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Moe’s Original BBQ Karaoke w/ Toddzilla at Sportsmans Pub Karaoke At Elizabethton VFW Karaoke w/ DJ Marquez & Top Shelf Entertainment At Holiday Inn (Exit 7) - Bristol VA Karaoke at Numan’s
SATURDAY
Karaoke at The Horseshoe Lounge Karaoke w/ Toddzilla at Sportsmans Pub Karaoke at Kingsport Moose Lodge Turn the Page Karaoke at VFW Post 2108 - Johnson City Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Macado’s - Kingsport Karaoke at Numan’s
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Kara ke
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SPRING GALAXIES
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Make for Celestial Contemplation
N Stargazer
By Mark Marquette since 1996 stargazermarq@ gmail.com
othing makes me contemplate the why and wherefore of the Universe more than looking at a galaxy in my backyard through a telescope. Here on my own piece of earthly real estate, photons of light are hitting the back of my eyeball after traveling 31 million years at the speed of light. The galaxy I'm looking at has a designation of M-104, and is called the Sombrero Galaxy. It is just one of dozens of galaxies that anybody can see through a modest telescope. It's spring galaxy time! The entire southeastern night sky is an open window into our celestial neighborhood in the vast Universe. Most of the year the nights are filled with lots of nearby stars in our own Milky Way Galaxy. But during the months of April and May, our orbit around the Sun places Earth in an area where we can look away from our own Galaxy and into the rest of the Universe. And much of it is occupied by galaxies of all sizes and shapes, containing thousands of millions of stars. There is no Moon in the evening skies for the next two weeks, and amateur astronomers everywhere are getting out their telescopes and praying for clear skies. At 9 pm DST, the huge constellation of Virgo occupies the southeast part of the night sky, and it is absent of any bright stars except one exceptionally bright one, called Spica. Virgo is famous for its dozens of galaxies easy to find with a backyard telescope. They are too faint to be seen with the naked eye, but thousands are there—this area of the night sky is known as the “Realm of the Galaxies”. We are literally looking out a window away from our Milky Way, and seeing our neighbors. The famous Virgo Cluster contains some 3,000 members that lie some 65 million Light Years away. That means that the light we see tonight in our telescopes left those galaxies when dinosaurs roamed the Earth! Now a backyard stargazer can't see all 3,000 members of the Virgo Cluster, but we can see a couple dozen. Photons from unfathomable distances stimulate the visual sensors of the human eye, and the stargazer's brain processes the starry information. And there are galaxies all over the Spring night sky, just beyond the eyesight of mere mortals. High overhead are the familiar stars of Leo the Lion, whose boundaries are also full of distant stellar islands of billions of suns. Toward the north, Ursa Major and its famous Big Dipper outline is also chock full of galaxies. In the eyepiece of a backyard telescope at around 150 power, any distant galaxy looks like a gray smudge. Amateur astronomers fondly refer to them as “faint fuzzies.” In fact, modern photography in the 1900s was needed to make the distinction between the gaseous clouds of nebulae from the similar looking galaxies. Some of the smudges look like cigars, others have a pinwheel shape. From our line of sight, we see some galaxies edge on, some tilted at various angles, and others full face. There are hundreds of spring galaxies out there in tonight's night sky just beyond human eyesight, but waiting discovery by a modest backyard telescope.
The “faint fuzzies” seen with an average backyard telescope were categorized by French astronomer Charles Messier in the 18th Century. His famous list of 110 “M” objects are what newbie amateur astronomers cut their teeth on. We see M-66 and M-67, two spiral galaxies nearly side by side in Leo, in our telescopes just like Messier did. But visual astronomers like Messier didn't know the exact nature of what they were looking at. They had no idea that these tiny “clouds” were actually immense aggregates of stars. In fact, it has only been 100 years ago when astronomers like Edwin Hubble figured out there are other galaxies filled with billions of stars throughout an immense Universe. Today, the Hubble Space Telescope has visually shown the existence of thousands of millions of galaxies in the Universe. Each galaxy containing thousands of millions of stars...which makes billions and billions of possibilities for the existence of intelligent life in the Universe. I turn my modest, 8-inch telescope to M-104 in Virgo with only 150 power. It is a gigantic spiral galaxy that we see edge on, and resembles a Mexican sombrero hat, even in a small telescope. Photos show a bulging center ringed by a dark, dusty lane on its rim. The images from the Hubble Space Telescope are spectacular of the Sombrero Galaxy. In a backyard telescope, I can see the Sombrero Galaxy as a gray, fuzzy bar with a dark line in its center and a noticeable central bulge. I'm seeing the combined light from billions of stars. That faint fuzzy I'm seeing in my telescope is 35 x 6 trillion miles away (according to the data in a handy reference and star map book). That light has been traveling at 186,000 miles a second for 35 million years to reach my eyes. I know it's all hard to understand. The idea to grasp is that our Sun, our Milky Way Galaxy, even our own Local Group of two dozen galaxies, are not alone in the Universe. There are more stars in the Universe that there all the grains of sand on all the beaches all over the Earth. Times a million! There are billions of galaxies in every direction we look. And these galaxies are attracted by gravity into clusters and super clusters of galaxies whose spacial immensity boggles even the minds of the world's most brilliant cosmologists. Our cosmos is beyond our comprehension. Yet, with a telescope costing just hundreds of dollars and a good star map, I can find a dozen distant galaxies in an hour. And with the visual impression of light from a distant world, like M-104, the Sombrero Galaxy, I can later look up the photographic image of the galaxy and the factual data. Then, I think, what are the odds that there are planets orbiting some of the stars of M-104, and what are the possibilities that just one of those stars has life? My imagination can roam from my backyard to worlds beyond our own Milky Way. That's why every chance we're able, amateur astronomers like myself relish the chance to see a galaxy through any telescope. And looking across the cosmos through my telescope, I can imagine.
W
ith the Moon moving to the after-midnight scene, faint meteors can be seen all week that are pieces of the famous Comet Halley as the Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower is in progress. The Moon moves to Last Quarter on Monday, May 7, playing tag with planets Saturn and Mars late in the week in the predawn sky. Don’t forget Venus! She’s blazing bright in the west after sunset, startling drivers and often reported as a UFO. Tuesday, May 1 On this date in 1996, Comet Hyakutake was closest to Earth, 20 million miles away and a visible sight in evening skies. Causing some “comet fever” a year before Comet Hale-Bopp, this comet, an icy rock only 10 miles wide, won’t be back for another 70,000 years. Both comets were easy to see, but not the blazing “great comet” the Northern Hemisphere has been waiting since Halley’s in 1910. Wednesday, May 2 You won’t see the largest constellation Hydra the Snake, but it is there snaking along southern horizon from west to east. It has no bright stars, and most are drowned out by light pollution. But it covers more of the sky than any other constellation. In fact, Hydra, Virgo and Ursa Major are visible in the Spring and all three take up almost 20 per cent of the night sky. Thursday, May 3 Between Hydra along the horizon and Virgo in the high south are two constellations, Corvus the Crow, and Crater the Cup. Both are faint, but Corvus is recognizable as a lopsided square in dark skies. Crater has some stars that curve and is a star pattern that is supposed to be the goblet of god Apollo.
Friday, May 4 TMay the 4th be with you! This is “Star Wars Day,” so you might run into a character from that movie franchise. Saturn is below the Moon, rising together in Sagittarius at 12:30 am. On this date in 1989 STS-30 was launched, the Atlantis orbiter and five astronauts deploying the Magellan spacecraft for Venus Saturday, May 5 The Moon rises at around 12:30 am between Saturn and Mars in the constellation Sagittarius. On this 1961 date in space history, America’s first spaceman, Alan Shepard, was launched on a rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida for a short 15-minute ride to the weightless environment of space and back to the Atlantic Ocean. Ten years later, Shepard stood on the Moon as commander of Apollo 14 in February 1971. He died in 1998. Sunday, May 6 Tonight is the peak of the Eta Aquarid Meteor shower, and you might see up to 20 meteors an hour after midnight—and a bunch of strays throughout the evening. These “shooting stars” are sand grain-sized pieces of Halley’s Comet as Earth passes through its orbit. Halley’s Comet was last seen in 1986 and will return in 2061. Monday, May 7 Find some time to sit out under the stars on a pleasant evening, soaking up some star shine and unleashing your mind to think about all the unseen worlds and possibilities right above your head.
19 theloaferonline.com | May 1, 2018
THIS WEEK
SKIES
Celestial events in the skies for the week of May 1-7, 2018, 2018 as compiled for The Loafer by Mark D. Marquette.
DOUBLE HEADER
theloaferonline.com | May 1, 2018
A Fritz Lang
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G Batteries Not Included
By Andy Ross aross@ theloaferonline.com
erman director Fritz Lang made a name for himself creating masterful, impressionistic works of German cinema with movies like 1927’s “Metropolis” and 1931’s “M,” the latter being a precursor to the genre known as Film Noir, which Lang is considered a master of. In 1936 Lang immigrated to America where he began a 20-year career in Hollywood that came to an end in 1956 with the RKO releases of “While the City Sleeps” and “Beyond a Reasonable Doubt.” In addition to being Lang’s final works for Hollywood (though not his last films as a director), both films also happen to share Dana Andrews as their star, and both have had their blu-ray debuts recently from Warner Archive. “While The City Sleeps” is often billed as a Film Noir, but I don’t really quite think it fits the bill. What “While The City Sleeps” actually is, is a very fine crime mystery wrapped up in being a “newspaper procedural.” The film takes place in New York City, centered around a newspaper conglomerate that owns one of the major papers in the city, as well as a TV news program that airs twice daily, plus a wire service used by thousands of newspapers across the country. Andrews stars as the paper’s most celebrated reporter, who has won a Pulitzer and anchors the group’s TV broadcasts. A young woman has been murdered, the killer wrote on the wall of his victim’s apartment “Ask Mother” in lipstick. The old man in charge of the conglomerate, who is in ailing health, calls in Andrews and the other heads of his news empire and tells them he wants this to be a sensational story and to slap “Lipstick Killer” on the front page in giant letters. Mere moments after giving this decree, the old man dies and is replaced by his son. His son, who always had something of a disdain for his father, gives the decree that he wants the newsgroup to catch the killer. Promising a promotion to whichever head of the three main divisions—print, wire, and photo— can pull it off first. “While The City Sleeps” has a most impressive cast. Andrews is supported by George Sanders, Ronda Fleming, Thomas Mitchell, Ida Lupino, and Vincent Price— in what must be one of the rare films he made WITHOUT his signature mustache. “While The City Sleeps” is a great little movie. Completely engaging from start to finish, “While The City Sleeps” is worth seeking out—especially if you want to see Vincent Price practice his golf putting in shorts and black socks! From the same year is the quick, 80-minute Noir-ish “Beyond a Reasonable Doubt” which is a greatly pessimistic film that also stars Andrews. The film almost starts to seem like it’s going to be a companion piece to “While The City Sleeps,” but in the
end, it isn’t quite that. Joan Fontaine stars with Andrews in “Beyond a Reasonable Doubt” which has Andrews playing a novelist whose soon to be father-in-law is a publisher who comes ups with a scheme to expose injustice in Capital Punishment. The two plan to frame Andrews for a murder, using only circumstantial evidence that they document the placing of to show how unreliable it can be for a harsh sentence. This film is OK, for me I was left feeling rather mixed on it. There were one too many plot holes and from about 10 minutes in the film’s main conceit was telegraphed to me in GIANT LETTERS. It’s a finely made film, but just a bit contrived for my tastes. It has the makings of a fine noir, but there’s just one too many twists and turns in the plot that seem to come out of left field for the only purpose of twisting things around to get a reaction out of the audience. Both “While The City Sleeps” and “Beyond a Reasonable Doubt” come to bluray with brand new 1080p transfers from Warner Archive, framed in their original “Superscope” exhibition of an aspect ratio of 2:00.1—you’ll see some small letterboxing happening on your screen when you watch the film. Both films look fantastic, beautiful, sharp, defined black and white. Both films also feature a clear DTS-HD MA mono soundtrack, and each film has its respective trailer included. Though I only really cared for one of these films, Lang completists will be thrilled to have his final two American films on blu-ray for the first time. I’d give “Beyond a Reasonable Doubt” a rental first, but I’d give a full “nab it as a blind buy” recommendation to “While The City Sleeps.” Warner Archive has done another fine job, as they always do, and it’s nice to see more and more classic Hollywood titles come out in HD. See you next week.
O
Pop Life
By Ken Silvers ksilvers@ theloaferonline.com
Rated PG-13 3 Gorillas (out of 4)
ver the course of his film career Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has battled mummies, an earthquake, race car drivers, the ocean, the sword and sandal set, a video game come to life, and now in his latest film "Rampage", a giant mutated wolf and crocodile. Of course Johnson alone is imposing enough in size, so you can definitely imagine him going against said creatures. The sci-fi/monster film is loosely based on the video game series of the same name, so any film based on a video game is bound to be defined as a "popcorn" flick. In this effort Johnson stars as primatologist Davis Okoye who is the leader of an anti-poaching unit. Okoye saved a white albino gorilla he named George years ago from poachers, and the two developed a way to communicate via sign language. George is now grown and living in an area of the San Diego Zoo, and is cared for by Okoye. Meanwhile up in space, a research space station owned by the Energyne company, is destroyed by a mutated laboratory rat (never a good sign), leaving the villains of the story, Claire Wyden (Malin Akerman) and her brother Brett (Jake Lacy) wondering if they will be able to retrieve the pathogen that caused the extreme growth in the rat. Never fear, as with any good monster movie, canisters containing the pathogen land in the Everglades, a Wyoming forest, and in the San Diego Zoo. George discovers the mysterious object that has conveniently landed near him, and no sooner can you say "King Kong", he starts a growing spurt thanks to his exposure to the pathogen. The pathogen has similar results on a wolf in Wyoming and a crocodile in the Everglades. The pathogen not only promotes extreme growth, but extreme aggressiveness as well. Not long after the creatures grow and cause havoc in their respective areas of the country, Dr. Kate Caldwell (Naomie Harris), a genetic engineer and former employee of Energyne reaches out to
Okoye. The two team up to venture to Chicago in an effort to steal the antidote to the pathogen from Energyne and cure George. While the two heroes make their plans, the dastardly sibling duo of Claire and Brett have unleashed a signal from a radio tower atop a Chicago skyscraper that will lure the large creatures to the city where they plan to use George to kill Kate after she uncovers their plan to use the pathogen as a biological weapon. Thus, a massive smack down is set between George, the other creatures and Okoye. The creatures are so infuriated by the transmitters signal they attack the city while making their way to the skyscraper in an effort to destroy what is torturing their ears. As expected all the main characters, including the creatures end up at the building, with George holding court on top like an albino Kong. Needless to say, the battle is massive, and George proves he is the smartest of the large creatures involved in the battle. As with any popcorn flick, there is plenty of dialogue meant to provide chuckles, and Johnson has plenty of opportunities to convey how massive his arms are. For good measure, and more cheese, the filmmakers have brought in Jeffrey Dean Morgan, on loan from "The Walking Dead", to play a cowboy type government agent, and his character is almost as annoying as his WD character Negan. As for the sibling villains of the story, they appear to have stepped off the set of the rebooted "Dynasty" series, and are typical "polished" bad guys. Johnson is his usual movie star self, and proves he can hold his own against massive CGI creatures. It will be interesting to see Johnson in the role of Black Adam, which will be a spin off of the "Shazam!" movie. "Rampage" falls into my category of "bad movies we love", and if you just sit back with your popcorn, relax and enjoy the ride, you will experience 107 minutes of mindless fun.
theloaferonline.com | May 1, 2018
RAMPAGE
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The Nerd's Corner
By Jason & Daniel Worley jdworley@ theloaferonline.com
MAD TITANS and Infinity Stones
theloaferonline.com | May 1, 2018
nless you've been living on the distant planet of Knowwhere, by now you’re completely aware that it's Avengers time in Tennessee! The latest entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Avengers: Infinity War, smashed its way into theaters over the past weekend with recordbreaking crowds and millions in box-office revenue. Many of you might have already seen it, excitedly booking multiple screenings the day that tickets dropped and waiting hours in line just to get the best possible seats. Others are likely to be drug grudgingly by the kids who just can't seem to get enough of Iron Man. If you've yet to make it to the theater or just need to regroup your thoughts after experiencing the epic smackdown smorgasbord that makes up Infinity War, we've got all the info you need to understand and enjoy this year's biggest blockbuster. Begun in 2008 with the release of the first Iron Man, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is celebrating its ten year anniversary with the crossover to end all team-up movies (that is, until untitled Avengers 4 comes out to wrap up the story next year!) Thanks to the good folks at Marvel, the MCU has become the most successful franchise in cinema history, grossing a combined 14 BILLION dollars across 18 interconnected movies. Within this vast universe we've been introduced to stories both grounded and fantastical. Captain America: The First Avenger brought us a pulpy WWII action film. Thor's first two forays
course, we didn't know it was an infinity stone then, because it was housed in a protective casing known as the tesseract. As Loki and his army of Chitauri invaders demonstrated, it has the ability to open portals between any two points in the universe. Thor's brother Loki was last seen taking this from the vault on Asgard before escaping the doomed planet. Next to show up was the Mind Stone, originally encased in Loki's scepter he used to brainwash Hawkeye. Users of this gem can control any mind they desire. Avengers: Age of Ultron revealed that the stone also possessed an intelligence of its own, a fact Tony Stark found out the hard way when he accidentally used it to create the genocidal Ultron, and ultimately, the android Avenger known as Vision. He currently has the yellow stone embedded in his forehead and uses it to blast energy beams. Perhaps the strangest and least-explained gem is the Reality Stone. This was the main macguffin of Thor: The Dark World. In the comics, the stone has the power to alter the fabric of reality itself, making the impossible become possible. The MCU version exists within a liquified red state, known as the Aether, and is able to convert regular matter into antimatter. After retrieving it from the Dark Elves before they could destroy the universe, Thor and company delivered it for safekeeping to the intergalactic packrat known as the Collector.
Iron Man and Peter Parker join the Guardians of the Galaxy on a mysterious planet as they prepare to face off with Thanos. Credit: Marvel Studios
took us into the realm of fantasy, while 2016's Doctor Strange quite literally went out of this world into new and exciting dimensions. Ant-Man was a small film (see what we did there?) that pulled off its heist genre without a hitch, as Guardians of the Galaxy and last year's Thor: Ragnarok hit all the right comedy beats within their space opera romps. Infinity War serves to bring all those different stories and tones together into a culmination event unlike any seen in modern history. Here’s the rundown: Thanos the Mad Titan, an alien warlord, is hellbent on gathering the assorted infinity stones spread throughout the galaxy on his quest to annihilate half of all life within the universe. Other than the fact that Earth's mightiest heroes join forces with the Guardians of the Galaxy to try and stop him, we know precious little about the film. That makes it not only exciting, but also very frightening, as directors Joe and Anthony Russo have made it clear that this time around, nobody is safe. For those who have been mind-wiped by Hydra or just need a short refresher course on the past movies, you may be wondering what the colorful infinity stones are and why they are so dangerous. We've got a short refresher course for you, just in case you don't feel like binge watching over 36 hours of films before heading to the theater. Withing the MCU, the infinity stones were formed shortly after the creation of the universe from the remnants of the six singularities which form the building blocks of existence. Space, time, reality, mind, power, and soul, they grant total control of each of these elements by those strong enough to harness the stone. The brilliant blue Space Stone was the first to be introduced way back in Captain America's first outing, later having a starring role in the Avengers. Of
Guardians of the Galaxy brought us the Power Stone. Not only does it give its bearer almost unlimited physical power, but when combined with the other infinity stones, if ups their strength as well. One of the most dangerous stones, its purple energy blasts can destroy all organic matter it comes into contact with. The Guardians brought it to the planet Xandar at the end of their first film and gave it to the Nova Corps for safekeeping within their trusty vault. Doctor Strange used the Time Stone in his first foray in the MCU. This trippy rock can stop, reverse, or speed up the flow of space-time. It actually doesn't exist within time, and usually winds up disappearing quite frequently within the comics as it jumps to different eras. The good doctor keeps the bright green gem protected within the Eye of Aggamotto he wears around his neck. Fans have anxiously waited for the Soul Stone to appear within the movies, but so far we've yet to see even a hint of it. Probably the most potent stone of them all, it can control the souls of every living being in existence. Always hungry, souls of both the living and the dead are constantly taken by the gem to trap them in the pocket universe which exists within it. Fan theories run wild regarding the orange stone, with some asserting the all-seeing Heimdall secretly keeps it in his possession. Others think it may be hiding in Wakanda. Wherever it is, we'll get our answers no doubt within Infinity War. We could talk about this film all day, but we don't want to give away too much until you've seen it for yourself! Come back next week though, because we can guarantee The Loafer's resident movie snob will have a very opinionated piece regarding the Avenger's latest outing, even if it doesn't included Batman. (We love you Ken!)
TALL TALES
theloaferonline.com | May 1, 2018
with a Week of
Storytelling Season Begins
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Photo by Jay Huron
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il Lepp, a storyteller known for his sharp sense of humor and his wild tall tales, is storytelling season’s opening act. He’s first up in a line of top-shelf entertainers that the International Storytelling Center (ISC) will host through the end of October as part of one of its signature programs, Storytelling Live! As the town’s teller in residence, Lepp will perform every day, Tuesday through Saturday, in the Center’s downtown headquarters. Lepp has been telling stories in Jonesborough since 2000, where he has long since reached celebrity status. He recently took a moment to reflect on his popularity, tracing part of his appeal to his naturalistic style. “Part of what I like to do is look like I’m making up the story on the spot,” he says. “When people ask if I’m ad-libbing, I take it as an incredible compliment. All good storytelling should feel like an extension of the supper table. It shouldn’t feel like a performance. “Every other person in the world has a thousand stories in their head that they’ve never written down,” he adds. “In conversation, you share those little experiences from your life. Mine are just longer and in a more professional form.” Lepp’s residency will run May 1 - 5, with performances at 2 p.m. daily. Tickets will be sold in advance, and early reservations are highly recommended. “I generally have full audiences,” Lepp says. The storyteller often opens storytelling season in Jonesborough. “The audience is fresh,” he says. “They’re ready for storytelling after a long break. We always have a lot of fun with it.” On the evening of Thursday, May 3, Lepp will offer a special evening concert, “Bil & Skeeter
Break the Ocean.” It’s one of the many tall tales he’s written about his real-life best friend, the infamous Skeeter. “He’s so much cooler in my stories than he is in real life,” Lepp jokes. The nighttime performance will begin at 7:30 p.m., with tickets priced at just $15. Tickets for all matinee shows are $12 for adults, and $11 for seniors, students, and anyone under 18. Season passes are available at a deep discount for a limited time. Lepp’s Thursday-night concert is one of many special events scheduled throughout the Storytelling Live! season, including other afterdark shows, Saturday-morning story hours for children, and story-based workshops. Tickets for all special events are all sold separately. Ticketholders for any matinee or evening performance can present their ticket stubs for a 10 percent discount on sameday dining at JJ’s Eatery and Ice Cream; Main Street Café (lunch only); Medley Vegan Vegetarian; Olde Towne Pancake House; and The Corner Cup. Boone Street Market is offering 10 percent off prepared meals and 5 percent off any other purchase. Information about all performers, as well as a detailed schedule for 2018, is available at www. storytellingcenter.net. The premier sponsor of Storytelling Live! is Ballad Health. Additional program funding comes from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Tennessee Arts Commission, the Niswonger Foundation, Eastman Credit Union, and Food City. The International Storytelling Center is open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. For more information about Storytelling Live! or to make a group reservation, call (800) 9528392 ext. 222 or (423) 913-1276.
theloaferonline.com | May 1, 2018
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Mister
By Jon Lester jlester@ theloaferonline.com
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MENTAL HEALTH T h e Unsp o k e n Ca t a st ro p e
ince 1949, May has been Mental Health Awareness Month. However, with all the awareness, society—even men themselves —have remained silent when it comes to verbalizing about their mental health—also known asThe Unspoken Catastrope.
GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER The Anxiety and Depression Association of America define Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) as, "(GAD) is characterized by persistent and excessive worry about a number of different things. People with GAD may anticipate disaster and may be overly concerned about money, health, family, work, or other issues. Individuals with GAD find it difficult to control their worry. They may worry more than seems warranted about actual events or may expect the worst even when there is no apparent reason for concern."
"Value your mental health with the same amount of importance as you do your physical health." ANXIETY AND ME I'm Jon Lester, 29 years old, features columist for The Loafer. I am a man that suffers from mental health issues. I am a man that suffers from Generalized Anxiety Disorder. What is (GAD) like? Well, it exceeds beyond nervousness and worry. It creeps on you without forewarning; it doesn't introduce itself, nor does it announce its existence; and its arrival and leave will be on its own terms. Anxiety can also disguise itself as a health related issue that can also cause physical pain. I have experienced Anxiety for nearly 25 years and I am speaking out to shatter the stigma of men and mental illness. I want men to inform men that it is okay to have a mental illness, and it is okay to talk about Mental Health.
THE LOAFER | MISTER
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HEALTH
By Langley Shazor Follow Langley at TheCasualWord thecasualword@ gmail.com
Paramount Partners
The Casual Word
Discounts available with ticket stub day of performance
theloaferonline.com | May 1, 2018
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• Bristol Station Brews & Taproom Half off first pint or flight • Blackbird Bakery 10% off your order • Stateline Bar & Grille 2 for 1 Appetizers • Machiavelli’s Buy An Appetizer, Get second one for Half Price • The Angry Italian Half Off Toasted Ravioli • Quaker Steak & Lube 10% Off Total Order (Excluding Alcohol and Tax) • Zachary's Steakhouse 10% Off Total Order (Excluding Alcohol and Tax) • Whiskey Rebellion 1/2 Off Your Appetizer & Free Dessert w/Entree
Visit paramountbristol.org
Discounts valid for any and all performances at The Paramount.
Announces Extended Hours
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he Chuckey Depot Museum at Jonesborough is extending hours of operations beginning May 5, 2018. Due to the popularity of the museum, the museum will be opening two hours earlier on Saturdays. Regular hours will be Monday through Friday, 1 – 5pm, Saturday, 11am – 5pm and Sunday, 1 – 5pm. The Museum is also available for rentals for private events outside of regular hours. Ideal events include birthday parties, meetings and special occasions. The Chuckey Depot’s original home was in Chuckey, TN, approximately 15 miles from its current location in Jonesborough. The depot was built in 1906 to replace the original depot that burned in 1905. It consisted of two public waiting rooms, a ticket office and warehouse. The Chuckey Depot ceased to be used in the mid-1900s and sat abandoned for decades. It was privately owned by the Babb family, but sat on railroad property, destined for demolition. The Babb family worked to find a new site for the depot in Chuckey but were unsuccessful in their efforts. The ideal situation would have been to keep the depot in the Chuckey community, but the goal was to save the building and the next best plan was pursued. Finally, the decision was made to locate the depot to Jonesborough, a Town known for its preservation efforts. The plan was to preserve the building and utilize it as a railroad museum to interpret the use of the depot when it was in Chuckey as well as celebrating Jonesborough’s instrumental role in bringing the railroad to East Tennessee. In a cooperative effort between the Town of Jonesborough, the Heritage Alliance and the Watauga Valley Railroad Historical Society, the Chuckey Depot Museum at Jonesborough opened in October 2017, serving as a prime example of how a cooperative effort between two communities can save a structure very loved by many. The Town of Jonesborough has continued to celebrate the history of the depot while also paying homage to the history of the railroad in the Jonesborough and Chuckey Communities. For more information, please contact Rachel Conger at 423.791.3869 or rachelc@jonesboroughtn.org.
theloaferonline.com | May 1, 2018
Chuckey Depot Museum
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Answers on page 30
Harley a 9 year old male Pomeranian. He is going to be neutered and will be up to date on all vaccines! This cutie is super friendly and sweet!
Hope a 1 1/2 year old female mix. She is spayed and up to date on all vaccines. She is a beautiful and energetic dog! Loves to play! And like her name we have hope she finds her furrever home!
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he Bridge Home has an ongoing aluminum can collection in front of the shelter at 2061 Hwy 75 in Blountville, TN 37617 and a second aluminum can collection site at Airworks Heating and Cooling, 5633 Memorial Blvd Kingsport. The cans are collected by a volunteer and the money from the aluminum goes towards badly needed food and supplies for the animals. The Bridge Home No Kill Animal Rescue has started a pet food pantry for people that have had financial hardships because of job loss or medical problems and are struggling to feed their pet. They can come by the shelter and get cat or dog food to get through the tough time.
Donations can be sent to The Bridge Home Shelter PO Box 654 Blountville, TN 37617 Every animal in their care is spayed or neutered and fully vaccinated before being adopted. Being a non profit the shelter is funded entirely by membership dues and private donations. They always need volunteers or monetary donations. Other always needed items: pet food, cat litter & cat toys dog treats & dog toys,paper towels, cleaners, office supplies, Purina weight circles. Phone: 423-239-5237 Hours are Mon-Fri 12pm6pm Sat 12pm-3pm and Sun 2pm-4pm. Website is www.bridgehomerescue@ gmail.com or like them on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/bridgehome
theloaferonline.com | May 1, 2018
PETS
OF THE WEEK
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THINGS TO DO Johnson City Community Drum Circle The Johnson City Community Drum Circle meets every Wednesday evenings through October 24, 7pm - 8:30pm, inside the Farmers’ Market Pavilion next to Founders Park. Everyone is welcome and any body can play. Come drum, hoop/holler, dance, or just relax and take in the scene, no experience or “talent” necessary. There are shared instruments and of course you can bring your own drums or percussion. It's all improvised, so there are no mistakes. We just smile and keep playing. Shine or rain, the pavilion has us covered. Bring your own seating! •••••••••••••••••••••••••• Train excursion & Riverboat cruise The George L. Carter Railroad Museum at East Tennessee State University and the George L. Carter Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society will sponsor a scenic train excursion and riverboat cruise in Knoxville on Saturday, May 19. Tickets for the excursion are $90 each for adults and $80 for children ages 3-12; children ages two and under may ride free. Passengers should arrive at ETSU’s parking lot 22A on Go Bucs Trail no later than 7:30 a.m. to travel to Knoxville. The Three Rivers Rambler steam train will depart from the depot at 10 a.m. and follow a scenic route along the Tennessee River. Upon returning to the boat dock at noon, passengers will be delivered to the Tennessee Riverboat Co.for the luncheon cruise. Buses will begin loading at 2:30 p.m. for departure at 3 p.m. and will return to Johnson City around 5:30 p.m. Ticket order and liability waiver
forms are available at the Carter Railroad Museum, located in the Campus Center Building at ETSU and open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., or by visiting www. memrr.org and clicking on “NRHS Excursions” and “Excursions.” A signed liability waiver form must accompany the ticket request. Payment may be made by check or money order payable to the G.L. Carter Chapter, NRHS, and mailed to G.L. Carter Chapter, NRHS; attn.: Carolyn Gregg, 460 Plainview Heights Circle, Greeneville, TN 37745. Space is limited and tickets must be purchased no later than May 7. For more information, contact Carolyn Gregg at carolyngregg55@yahoo.com, 423-639-3966 or 423-329-4369. •••••••••••••••••••••••••• Volunteer and Make a BIG Impact Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Tri-Cities is looking for community volunteers to make a difference in a child’s life. Spending approximately 4 hours a month with an at-risk youth can help them improve in school, their behavior and their self-esteem. Find out more about Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Tri-Cities at 423-247-3240, or visit TennesseeBig.org. •••••••••••••••••••••••••• 20th Annual Antique Collectibles & Bottle Show The State of Franklin Antique Bottle and Collectibles Club will sponsor its 20th Annual Antique Collectibles and Bottle Show and Sale on Saturday, May 5, 2018, in the Farm and Home Building at the Appalachian Fairgrounds located at Exit 13 off I-26. Admission is free with show hours from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Show includes sodas, medicines, milks, coins, to-
kens, postcards, fruit jars, advertising and table-top collectibles. For table rental or further information contact Carl Bailey @ 423-282-3119 or Peggy Cox @ 423-349-4027 or Email peggy@appalchianfair.com or cknhs@comcast.net. •••••••••••••••••••••••••• Birding Kingsport The State of Franklin Antique Bottle and Collectibles Club will sponsor its 20th Annual Antique Collectibles and Bottle Show and Sale on Saturday, May 5, 2018, in the Farm and Home Building at the Appalachian Fairgrounds located at Exit 13 off I-26. Admission is free with show hours from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Show includes sodas, medicines, milks, coins, tokens, postcards, fruit jars, advertising and table-top collectibles. For table rental or further information contact Carl Bailey @ 423-282-3119 or Peggy Cox @ 423-349-4027 or Email peggy@appalchianfair.com or cknhs@comcast.net. •••••••••••••••••••••••••• Open call for athletes to “audition” for Olympic sport Do you think you have what it takes to compete at the elite level in sports? The Olympic Training Site at East Tennessee State Uni-
versity wants to hear from you. The ETSU Next Olympic Hopeful Tryout will be held Saturday, May 26, and is open to anyone ages 14 and up. The event will be held at Science Hill High School’s Kermit Tipton Stadium from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Check-in will begin at 10 a.m. Tests to be performed at the event include a 30-meter sprint, vertical jump and maximum pullups. Optional tests are the onemile run and three-repetition maximum back squat.There is no cost to participate but pre-registration is required. The registration deadline is Sunday, May 20. To register, or for more information, contact Emily Brockelman at brockelman@etsu.edu. •••••••••••••••••••••••••• Contra Dance in Jonesborough The Historic Jonesborough Dance Society will present a Contra Dance on Saturday May 5, 2018 at the Jonesborough Visitors Center at 117 Boone Street. Class for beginning contra dancers will start at 7:00 pm. The dance will run from 7:3010:30 pm with a waltz and Klondike Bar break at 9:00pm. Coming back to Jonesborough to perform for the dance will be the Riverdale from Knoxville. Calling for the dance will be by Clinton Ross.
For further information call event organizer, David Wiley, at 423-5348879 or visit www.historicjonesboroughdancesociety.org or Historic Jonesborough Dance Society on FACEBOOK. •••••••••••••••••••••••••• G.L.O.W. Children’s Theatre presents Land of Light Step inside the fantastical imagination of a little girl named Ellie, as her inspired dream takes you on an adventure to the Land of Light! This April, the gifted young cast of the LampLight Theatre G.L.O.W. Children’s Theatre program will present a tale of love that goes beyond the common man, told through the familiar eyes of a little girl’s playtime dolls. Come Alive will be presented May 4-6, and 11-12. Show times are Friday and Saturday at 7:00 pm with matinees on Saturday at 2:00 pm and Sunday at 3:00 pm. Doors will open 1 hour prior to performances. Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling the LampLight Box Office at 423-3431766 or online at www.LampLightTheatre.com. LampLight Theatre is located at 140 Broad Street Kingsport, TN 37660.
Cryptogram: Of course life is bizarre. The only way to approach it is to make yourself some popcorn and enjoy the show. DropQuote: "The person who sends out positive thoughts activates the world around him positively and draws back to himself positive results."
the package inside.” After delivery is make, the customer receives a message informing him or her that the package was delivered successfully and that their car is once again safe and secure. And apparently the only concern we should have is that the “right courier” was “present in the right location with the right package.” And Amazon feels good about this new development because its customers apparently feel more secure about having a courier unlock their car than their home. Rather than focusing on the dark side of this tale, I want to take a look at its lighter side. Take, for instance, the possibilities for endless practical jokes and pleasantries that exist for this new delivery system. Various “trunk or treats,” if you will. I won’t go into any detail for fear of creating unnecessary mayhem, but I will let your imaginations run wild. On a more practical side, I can foresee a whole new market for a series of “delivery modules,” for want of a better term, that can be easily attached to the roofs of our vehicles, like the little luggage compartments that already exist. These modules will allow for the delivery of packages without having to give couriers direct access to the interiors of our vehicles. And, for those who prefer home delivery but are more than a little antsy about giving home access to strangers, we could purchase storage sheds or wall attachments that can safely and securely store our
REMOTE CAR ACCESS
Kelly’s Place
By Jim Kelly since 1989 jkelly@ theloaferonline.com
and other Modern Folktales
and hopefully discretely place packages inside our trunks. As you know, Amazon is already delivering packages to our homes by using the same method. While we are away, these same personnel are gaining entrance to our homes and placing our packages inside our living rooms. So, let’s welcome these new family members into our homes and cars. According to a column by Valentina Palladino that appeared in ArsTechnica last week “Amazon added a new delivery location to the ever-growing number of spots it can leave your packages: inside your car. The company announced an expansion of its Amazon Key in-home delivery service that now lets Prime members get packages deposited in their cars at no extra cost.” Now here is the interesting (and scary) part. “Before couriers gain access to the customer’s car, Amazon uses an ‘encrypted authentication process’ to make sure the right courier is present in the right location with the right package. After authentication, the car is unlocked so the courier can deliver
packages. Of course, someone other than me will take these ideas and make millions of dollars. Sounds like a golden opportunity to me. You might want to start drawing up some prototypes right away. Let’s just hope there’s a market for these new products. Before we go, let’s imagine the next frontier for Amazon--personal delivery. With all the GPS sophistication and precision that already exists, why not envision the ultimate convenience of a courier being able to personally deliver our packages to us wherever we happen to be? Imagine walking down the street or dining out and enjoying the thrill of having our packages taking us by surprise. After all, we are very easy to locate on a 24/7 basis, so why not make life more interesting and adventurous. We could call this new service “Encounters,” “Rendezvous,” or something more exotic. Just think of all the adventures that await. And opportunities for chance romances and friendships. I will bring this week’s column to a close as I peruse the news for more fascinating news about the wonderful world of intrusive delivery.
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n his thought-provoking book, WORLD WITHOUT MIND: THE EXISTENTIAL THREAT OF BIG TECH (2017), Franklin Foer raises some interesting and sometimes frightening questions about our surrender of privacy for the convenience of instant information and delivery. In his conclusion, Foer reminds us of just how revolutionary Gutenberg’s printing press was. With the eventual and often contentious rise of widespread literacy made possible by the simple presence of a private book, human beings no longer had to take someone else’s opinion as truth. Even though very few people benefitted from the initial introduction of the printing press, the groundwork was erected upon which our notions of individual freedom were built. Foer focuses on three powerful and pervasive inheritors of Gutenberg’s legacy--Amazon, Google, Facebook, and Apple. In his thought-provoking meditation on that legacy, Foer raises some valuable questions about how these companies are altering our conceptions of freedom and privacy. This is not a doomsday book, but a modern “folktale” about monsters in our midst that tempt us to trade privacy for convenience. This week I have been following one of these modern folktales-namely, Amazon’s test of a new program designed to deliver packages to our cars. Based on Amazon Key, this new service requires us to give access to our cars to Amazon delivery personnel who will conveniently
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