The Loafer, Jan. 8, 2013

, The Loafer • January 8, 2013

www.theloaferonline.com January 8, 2013 • The Loafer,

Volume 27

Issue #5

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e-mail: [email protected] (editorial)

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It is time for the 28th Annual Tri Cities Bridal Show at the D.P. Culp Center at ETSU in Johnson City! Here we are, more than 28 !"#$%& %'()"& *+$& ,'$%-& %.*/& #(0&our focus, as always, is on our brides and providing an outstanding collec-tion of true wedding professionals that will always be there to take care of their needs. There will be many door prizes and amazing deals from the exhibitors PLUS we will also be present-ing TWO LUCKY COU‐PLES with honeymoon dream cruises from Cruise Planners and Summit Travel at the end of the show! In ad-0'-'*(1&2*$&-."&,'$%-&-'3"&ever, 10 Lucky Brides will roll the Jumbo Dice

for a chance to win a $35,000.00 New Car from Grindstaff Cars, and a $4500.00 Wedding Pack-age from Bel Rae Ballroom. It is the mission of all our great ven-dors to assist brides and grooms

in creating the wedding of their dreams and desires. There will be mannequin models through-out the show displaying the lat-est ladies and men’s wedding day fashions. Continuing our new

tradition, we will have three, runway style fashion shows throughout the day. Weddings are one of the most

celebrated and sometimes con-fusing rites of humanity. They are events that inspire hopeful dreams but also require a great deal of planning and thought. Our culture places much em-phasis on weddings and the phrase that you hear a lot, is the ability to provide the ever elusive “Dream Wedding”. The simple reality is that your wed-ding should be the wedding of your own dreams, not those conjured up by other people trying to change your concept of what your wedding should be. When choosing the vendors that will be assisting you with your wedding, make sure that they are willing to work with you to achieve your ideas and goals. That is what makes YOUR wedding unique.We have a phrase that de-

scribes the suppliers that just do the same thing, over and over, and concentrate on mak-ing it faster, cheaper and easier on them; we call those, “McWed-

0'(4%56& &7*+&#(0&!*+$& ,'#()8&#$"&unique people, and your wed-0'(4&%.*+90&$",9")-&!*+$&:"$%*(-al “Love Story”. Avoid the people that claim to “do it all for you”, or try to provide “only their team” for all your needs, choose from the best, they will be at the 28th Annual Tri Cities Bridal Show. We .#;"& #%%"3<9"0& *(9!& -."& ,'("%-&professional suppliers to meet you, develop some ideas, sim-plify your planning process and most importantly create lasting relationships and friendships. Remember, the best people book far in advance (some as much as 2 years) so it is important to reserve your wedding planner, venue, entertainment, photogra-pher, caterer and others as early as possible! This show is the old-est and largest wedding event produced in the Tri Cities of TN/=>& #(0& /"& .*:"& -.#-& !*+& ,'(0&just those “right connections” to make your wedding exactly what you want it to be!Advanced tickets are avail-

able at www.tricitiesbridalshow.com for $8.00 or $10.00 at the

The 28th Annual Tri Cities Bridal Show

January 13th, 1-6 pm

Continued on page 5


door, pre-registered brides get in free! Exhibitors Include: Cel-ebrate Rentals, The Wedding Boss, Cruise Planners, Summit Travel, DJ Alan Dodson, DJ Rob-bie Britton, A Sharp Entertain-ment, Rae of Light Photography Works,Misty’s Florist, Pratt’s Catering,Men’s Wearhouse (MW Tux), Bel Rae Ballroom, The Ven-ue at King Center, Maple Lane Farm, Jean Moree Photography, Lalonde’s Bridal Boutique, Stu-dio Blue Ridge, Simplicity Gour-met, BC Spa, Cable Photography, Princess Diaries, Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites-Bristol, TN, Team Beach Body Coaches, Tracy’s Treats, Harpstrings, Slumber Parties by Rachel, Meadowview Convention Center, Jim Good-win Photography, Advanced Photography,Mr. Picture Booth, La Petite Sweets,A Thousand Words Photography, ARAMARK

Catering, TN/VA Bridal Gifts, Re-juva Laser Skin Center, Rodan & Fields, Towncraft Marketing, Bel-la Bridal Network, Herbert Lee Jones Photography, Mary Kay, 2 Flowers Photography, Cake Art,

Blue Ridge Studios, Video Wed-ding Invitation, Grindstaff Cars There will be many other door prizes and drawings! The Tri-Cities Bridal show is produced by An Unforgettable Event, Inc.

Continued from page 4


Drum circles are a great opportunity for sound play for people of all ages. Combining the enlivening elements of music, rhythm, sound and motion, this format helps create an environment of shared efforts as well as a sense of community and

well being. Research supports drum circles for stress relief, anxiety reduction, team building and organizational development, while many individuals simply say it is a profound way to communicate with self and others. It is also fun!In the spirit of cooperation,

community building and promoting harmony, Atlantis hosts Drum Circle Play Shops on Sunday, January 13th and Sunday January 27th at 2:30 pm. Each session will be 90 minutes and will include brief education about the drum, taught hand rhythms and playing technique, free play and facilitated play for $5 per person. Particpants are invited to bring an instrument or share one of the many provided; any and all with interest are encouraged to participate no matter their skill level. Drum circle facilitator is Susan Lachmann, whose many and varied works in arts and education are known throughout the region.For more information, please

call Atlantis @ 423-926-8884.

Drum Circles Combining Elements of Music and Rhythm begins January 13th

The Civic Chorale, the region’s leading independent auditioned choir, will hold auditions for new members on Thursday, January 17, in the choir room of Munsey Memorial United Methodist Church, at the corner of Roan and Market Streets in Johnson City, where the group rehearses. The Chorale is involved with three concerts in spring, 2013: On March 16, the Chorale sings with the Symphony of the Mountains and reknowned tenor soloist Carl Tanner in a program of operatic music. On April 14, the Chorale presents our own concert, including tunes from Broadway, choral jazz, folk songs, and a composition by regional composer Dr. Lewis Songer. On May 4, the Chorale once again joins with Symphony of the Mountains in presenting Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9.The Chorale anticipates 3-4 open positions

each in the alto, tenor, and bass sections, and 1-2 openings in the soprano section. Ideal candidates are singers with good sight reading skills who love choral music. Interested singers should contact the conductor, David Hendricksen at (423) 638-0409 or by email at <[email protected]> in order to schedule an audition appointment time for January 17. Auditions are private and

short (about 15 minutes), and involve singing a familiar piece, sight reading, and some simple vocal exercises to check pitch and dynamic range, control of vibrato and general vocal production. For further information about

the Chorale or the audition process, visit the Chorale’s web site (www.thecivicchorale.org) or contact the conductor as indicated above.


Civic Chorale Auditions for Spring 2013

January 17th


The Arts Depot is featuring four area artists in the Member’s Showcase Gallery. Artists displaying their works are Audrey Bevins, Brianna Casey and Debra Casey all of Abingdon, VA, and Lisa May, of Chilhowie VA, This exhibit will continue through February 23, 2013.Audrey Bevins graduated

from Virginia Intermont College in 2012 earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Photography and Digital Imaging. She was raised on her family farm in Abingdon, VA and throughout her childhood she dreamed of “going to the Grand Canyon and riding a mule!” In the spring of 2011 she made that dream come true while on

a family vacation to northern Arizona. Despite six inches of snow, she and a friend rode from the North Rim down into the canyon earning a “Grand Canyon Master Muleteer” )"$-',')#-"?& @"$& "A:"$-'%"& '(&the saddle must have been apparent because the canyon “wrangler” encouraged her to apply for a job. She did, and in March of 2012 she was hired as a “Muleteer”. Audrey was able to combine her love on riding and her training in photography by working

-."& ,';"B3*(-.&season as a Trail Photographer and Trail Guide handing out those “Muleteer” )"$-',')#-"%& ."$%"92?&Audrey says that her current photographic exhibit is “the beginning of a long series that will document my journey working with the Master Muleteers.” Mother &

Daughter, Debra

and Briana Casey

of Abingdon, VA

will each present their own, unique exhibit. Debra Casey was born in South Korea, came to live in Southwest Virginia when she was two years old, and has

lived in Abingdon for the past ,'2-""(& !"#$%?& C."& "#$("0& #&Graphic Design degree from Virginia Intermont College. Debra enjoys working in many media including acrylic, ink, graphite and woodcarving and says there '%& D(*&%:")',')& -."3"& 2*$& -.'%&exhibit, “I just want to share some of the simple things in life, my favorite things in life with viewers.” These days Debora creates art “for the

Arts Depot Showcasing Four Area Artists

Continued on page 9


pure fun of it” and to help her “de-stress” from her hectic schedule as full time mom and self admitted “computer geek” web programmer at CGI Federal in Lebanon, VA.Brianna Casey is a Junior

at Abingdon High School. She works primarily in pencil and acrylic and describes the theme of her show as “People and Social Effects on Life.” Brianna stays busy with her schoolwork and enjoys participating in Indoor Winter track and Spring Track and works part-time as a cashier at Abingdon’s Food City. Brianna has been an active volunteer and member of the Depot Artists Association for many years, is a member of the National Art Honors Society and serves as President of the Art Portfolio Club.

Lisa May gives in to the )9').8&-*&%#!1&DEF;"&#9/#!%&<""(&interested in art” and adds, “I guess that is how it truly is for all of us who have a need -*& ,'(0&/#!%& -*&<"& )$"#-';"????3!&,'$%-&%"-&*2&*'9&:#'(-%&)#3"&to me at the age of 11 from my maternal Grandmother. I grew up surrounded by creative women – and men,

relatives who built houses and churches, women who sewed and painted, played instruments, sang, or danced. It brings me great satisfaction to create something that makes people laugh, or enjoy their living environment better.” In addition to the Arts Depot, Lisa has displayed and sold her painted wares at several shows including the

Hungry Mother Park Art and Craft Festival, the Emory and Henry College Craft show, Chilhowie’s Apple Festival, Abingdon’s Coomes Center Christmas Crafts Show, and the VA Highlands Festival’s Fine Art Exhibit. Lisa’s mixed media exhibit is inspired by life on her farm in Chilhowie, VA where she resides with a myriad of both two and four legged family members. She is part-time Administrative Assistant at the Arts Depot.The gallery and artists

studios are open Thursday, Friday and Saturday, January through March 11-3 pm. There is no admission charge. For further information, (276) 628-9091, or e-mail at [email protected] or visit www.abingdonartsdepot.org.



Morely the Golden Eagle passed away of natural causes sometime during the night on January 1. He was discovered in his enclosure January 2. The oldest animal in the Grandfather Mountain Animal Habi-tats at around 35 years old, Morely came to the Mountain in 1984. He was a native of the western United States before being injured by a gunshot. The wound left him unable to fully extend one of his wings, rendering him incapable of hunting and surviving in the wild.He was known for amusing

trainers with his modesty. He loved taking baths and when Habitats Staff walked by dur-ing one of his daily cleanings, he would freeze and glare as if he was caught naked. Baths were so im-portant to Morely that he would climb into his water bowl when his pond was frozen in the winter months. Morely lived with sev-eral fellow eagles during his time

at Grandfather Mountain, but was the last of his kind in the Habitats when he passed away. The Grandfather Mountain Steward-

ship Foundation is currently in the fund-raising stage of an effort to renovate the eagle enclosure at Grandfather Mountain. The upcoming renovations will completely enclose the habitat, allowing the Mountain -*&#)G+'$"&"#49"%&-.#-&#$"&:#$-'#99!&,9'4.-"0&and protecting the inhabitants from wild animals.

Morley The Golden Eagleof Grandfather Mountain

The Arts and Entertainment District is hosting the 2nd An-nual Student Art Display in Downtown Bristol. In an effort to “Cultivate Bristol’s Creativity,” we have invited the local schools to help us beautify our commu-nity by providing art to decorate the front windows of the former Hayes Furniture Building on State Street. Each school that participates

will have a month-long display period to present their students’ art in the space. Our fourth stu-dent gallery of art went up on January 3, showcasing vibrant charcoal and pastel drawings from 3rd and 4th grade students

at Highland View and Stonewall Jackson El-ementary Schools.Barbara Niemczak

of Artistic Excellence and Art in Public Places is excited to see the downtown highlighting local children in the arts: “Encouraging and complimenting stu-dent art through an exhibit is important in that it helps the young people develop a positive self-image and shows them that their talent and cre-ativity matter.”

Artwork by High-land View and Stone-wall Jackson Elemen-tary School students will be on display un-til January 31, 2013. For more information, :9"#%"& )*(-#)-& H"(8&Rodgers at Believe in Bristol on 276-644-9700, [email protected], or visit the website at www.believeinbristol.org.


Student Art Brightens the New Year in Downtown Bristol

They’ve played for Presi-dent Barack Obama’s Inau-gural…They’ve played for Eli Manning’s Wedding…They’ve played for Donald Trump’s New Year’s Eve Party for the last four consecutive years…They’ve played each of the last two years for your Kingsport Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner…and now the Number One Party Band in the Nation is back to play again for your Kingsport Chamber 66th An-nual Dinner! “Kingsport’s So-cial Event of the Year” will take place Friday, Feb. 1, 2013, at the MeadowView Marriott Confer-ence Resort & Convention Cen-ter, Kingsport. The evening will begin with

a reception at 6 p.m. followed by the dinner and program at 7 p.m. The public is invited to attend. Tickets are $100 and can be purchased at your King-sport Chamber (400 Clinch-,'"90& C-$""-1& ("A-& -*& I**0& J'-!&in downtown Kingsport) or by calling (423) 392-8800. Last year, more than 1,700 individu-als attended the popular affair,

which remains the largest Cham-ber annual dinner in the nation. Those interested in attending are encouraged to purchase their tickets as soon as possible. As a special offer, this year’s Kingsport Chamber Annual Dinner ticket will also be good as a complimen-tary ticket to any Symphony of the Mountains Orchestra concert during the 2013 season. “The Kingsport Chamber An-

nual Dinner is such a unique and one-of-a-kind affair and really helps to set Kingsport apart,” said Etta Clark, 2012 Kingsport Cham-ber chair and vice president of communications and public af-fairs for Eastman Chemical Com-

pany. “There’s a simple reason Party on the Moon is the na-tion’s favorite party band – they are the best! Everyone will be thrilled with another great per-formance.” In addition to the main en-

tertainment, Clark will turn the Kingsport Chamber gavel over to 2013 Kingsport Chamber Board of Directors chair Monty McLaurin, CEO of Indian Path Medical Center. The Kingsport Chamber will also celebrate its numerous accomplishments achieved in 2012 and look ahead to 2013. “We are certain-ly most proud of our Kingsport Chamber Annual Dinner. This very popular event would not reach such an excellent level of success if it were not for the many corporate sponsors and Kingsport Chamber members who attend and support it each year. We remain most grateful for their enormous support of their Kingsport Chamber and look for-ward to celebrating another great night with them on February 1.” The Kingsport Chamber will also present its very prestigious King-sport Chamber Lifetime Member Award, an accolade that honors an individual for a lifetime of out-standing service to the Kingsport community. “Your Kingsport Chamber An-

nual Dinner is also a fun night to be with friends and colleagues, /"#$& !*+$& ,'("%-& H"0& J#$:"-& #--tire, enjoy a great meal and be enthralled by fabulous entertain-ment,” Cates added. “This event is always unforgettable and this year promises to be even better!”


DinnerAnnual

66th

Kingsport’s Social Event of the Year!

Party on the Moon- the

“Nation’s Number One Party Band”Kingsport Chamber

Annual DinnerFebruary 1st

Born and raised in New Hartford, New York, now re-siding in Albany, Stephen began play-ing guitar at the age of 15 after hearing John Mayer’s “Room For Squares.” Since then, he has con-tinued to craft his skills as a singer and songwriter, record-ing and performing a catalog of original music.Originally begin-

ning his musical ca-reer playing drums, Stephen’s transition to a songwriter has weaved a percus-sive element into his guitar playing and singing. Either with 3"-')+9*+%9!& ,'(4"$&picked grooves on songs such as Not Worried and Eliza-beth, or dynamic rhythm pieces heard in “Fallin” and “Better in Time,” Stephen’s music has proved to satisfy ev-ery type of environment. Since beginning humbly as a solo act around Central New York, Ste-:."(& .#%& %'()"& ,'("9!& -+("0& -."&

performance and arrangement of his songs to compliment a full band of Bass, Drums, and Saxophone. During a show, while giving his band mates a few min-utes to rest, Stephen utilizes the middle of the set for solo acoustic performances and medleys. This

gives the audience a chance to hear a variety of different original songs, cov-ers, and interpola-tions that are dif-ferent and unique to each show.K'-.& '(,9+"()-

es ranging from: John Mayer, Brett Dennen and Jack Johnson, to Otis Redding, Jamie Cullum, Ben Iver, and Damien Rice, Stephen is cur-$"(-9!& ,'('%.'(4&the recording of .'%& ,'$%-& #9<+31&comprised of new songs, and those re-recorded from .'%& ,'$%-&LM&D>$$';-als & Departures.”Stephen’s de-

but album was recorded at Syra-cuse University entitled “Dreams,

Schemes, & Childhood Memo-ries” was released at the end of Spring 2011. See his website for new song postings, live footage, free downloads, and tour dates. www.stephenbabcockmusic.com.


Stephen BabcockAcoustic Coffeehouse

January 16th


Song of the Mountains, the award winning public televi-sion concert series based at the Lincoln Theatre in Marion, Virginia announces the start of their ninth season of tapings on Saturday, January 12, 2013. “Our show is more popular than ever”, says Tim White the show’s executive coordinator and host. “Our 2013 lineup is proving to be exceptional and all of us with Song of the Mountains are proud -*& :$*0+)"& -.'%& ,'("& )*()"$-& %"-ries for the world to experience on public television from the his-toric Lincoln Theatre in Marion, ='$4'('#65& N."& ,'$%-& )*()"$-& 2*$&2013 will feature fan favorites Wayne Henderson and Jeff Little. This talented duo has appeared on Song of the Mountains several times in the past and showcase their extraordinary mix of acous-tic guitar picking and powerful piano playing. Also on the con-cert January 12th will be Bristol, TN-VA based Folk Soul Revival.Folk Soul Revival is a harmony

drenched, boot stomping, rowdy, rootsy Americana band from the Appalachian mountain region of

Virginia/Tennessee. Folk Soul Revival has just released their third album ‘Prompting The Dapperness.’The completely fan funded release returns to the formula that has continued to make the band so endearing- strong songwriting, sing along melodies, impassioned vocals and most of all honest music that resonates deep within the lis-tener. There’s a reason the band has such a loyal fan base (‘The Congregation’) and garners acco-lades wherever they travel.In 2011, the Virginia Tourism

Board awarded FSR the Virginia Band of the Year and in 2012, and readers of Virginia Living Maga-zine named the band among the Top Three bands in the Common-wealth of Virginia. Also on the concert on Janu-

ary 12th old time music will be featured also with two dynamic bands, the Tune Town Old Time Band and the Empty Bottle String Band. These two bands promise to entertain you with some music that will surely make you want

Henderson & Little & Folk

Soul Revival on Song of

the Mountains

January 12th

Continued on page 15


to move your feet! Gravel Road Acoustic Trio will complete this ,'("& 9'("+:& *2& -#9"(-& 2*$& C*(4& *2&the Mountains on January 12th. Gravel Road Acoustic Trio, based in Charleston, South Carolina, is made up of three multi-talented musicians who perform in a va-riety of venues in the southeast. The group’s varied musical back-grounds have converged into a style that is unique and innova-tive in the acoustic music world. Before forming Gravel Road, band members enjoyed touring individually with acts like The Osborne Brothers, Blake Shelton, Pam Tillis, and Whisperin’ Bill Anderson. Their different back-grounds bring together a unique and exciting sound that keeps audiences wanting more. Mem-bers are Derek Deakins, guitar #(0& ;*)#9%1& O'%#& P"#Q'(%1& ,'009"&and vocals, and Meg High, vocals. Listeners enjoy the trio’s unique arrangements of bluegrass, country, folk, and pop tunes along with their vocal harmony precision. Tickets for the Song of the

Mountains concert on January 12th are $ 25 reserved seating. Tickets and information please visit www.songofthemountains.org or call 276-783-6093. The live concert on January 12th is sponsored in part by Gen-eral Dynamics Armament and Technical Products.Future concerts scheduled

for 2013 are February 2, 2013 with Doyle Lawson and Quick-silver, Grass Cats, Smith Family Band and Dixie Ridge. March 2, 2013 will feature the Kru-ger Brothers, Nathan Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys, Mark Newton and Steve Thom-as, Paula Dellenback and Fox River and West Wend. Song of the Mountains is underwritten for public television by TEDS, the General Francis Marion Hotel in Marion, VA, Blue Ridge Country 98.1 fm, The Bank of Marion and Emory & Henry College, Bryant Label Co. of Blountville, TN. Special sup-port from the Town of Marion, VA. Also Song of the Mountains appreciates all the support re-ceived from their faithful sup-porters who contribute dol-

lars to keep this concert series funded and on public television across America.Memberships and Song of

the Mountains merchandise are available at the website and your purchases help support the concert series. Donations are accepted at the website as well. Song of the Mountains/The Lin-)*9(&N."#-$"&'%&#&(*(B:$*,'-&*$-ganization. More info available www.songofthemountains.org



Friends Of Library To

Publish Cookbook

The Friends of the Washing-ton County-Jonesborough Li-brary will publish a cookbook '(&RSTU& -*&<"(",'-& -."& 9'<$#$!?& E-&

/'99&$",9")-&/.#-&'%&+('G+"&#<*+-&Washington County and Jones-borough, including the county’s and town’s place in Tennessee history as its oldest county and town, and Jonesborough’s promi-

nence in the storytelling com-munity. We think this cookbook will be of interest to anyone who loves food, local history and sto-ries, family lore, and the culture of the Mountain South. We plan

on collecting not only recipes but stories about as many recipes as possible – why you submitted it. For example: Is it special to you or your family in some way? Does it bring back a memory for you? Do you associate it with a partic-ular place in Washington County or Jonesborough?We hope to collect recipes and

stories about the recipes from anyone associated with Washing-ton County, Jonesborough and/or the library. So if you are a li-brary patron, or are or have been on the library staff, or a Board member, or a Friends member we would love to have recipes from you. Also, we want recipes from folks living or working in the County or Jonesborough, or who have lived or worked in the County or Jonesborough in the past and from their ancestors. We are also interested in recipes and stories from local bed and breakfasts and locally-owned restaurants (current and past) and from storytellers who live and/or entertain in Washington County and Jonesborough.Please submit your favorite

recipes and stories about them to [email protected] or, in the case of type-written or printed submissions, to the library in Jonesborough or Gray. All submissions must include the name and address of the con-tributor. The deadline for sub-missions is March 1, 2013. The authorship of all entries will be fully credited; addresses of con-tributors will not be published. We plan to include photographs and website addresses for con-tributing businesses and story-tellers, so please submit those as well.

LEGO Club

Join Ms. Carey for the LEGO Club at the Washington County Libraries! LEGO Club is an op-portunity for children aged 5-12

years to come together once a month and participate in build-ing challenges. Gray LEGO Club meets on the second Wednesday of the month from 5:00-6:00 pm. Jonesborough LEGO Club meets the fourth Wednesday of the month from 5:00-6:00 pm. In the case of inclement weather, if Washington County schools are closed, we will not meet for LEGO Club. As with all programs, the

LEGO Club is free of charge. If you have any questions, please call the Jonesborough Library at 753-1800, or the Gray Library at 477-1550.

Wee Reads! Winter/

Spring Storytime

Join Ms. Carey for “Wee Reads!” Children’s Storytime at the Washington County Li-braries! “Wee Reads!” is an op-portunity for children and their parents to come together for stories, songs, crafts and more! The weekly themes are fun and engaging, actively involving chil-0$"(&-.$*+4.&3+%')1&,'(4"$&:9#!%1&and other activities. Toddler Storytime for children

18-35 months is offered at the Jonesborough Library on Tues-days at 9:30 a.m. and at the Gray Library on Thursdays at 9:30 a.m. Sessions last about 20 minutes.Preschool Storytime for chil-

dren 3-5 years of age is offered at the Jonesborough Library on Tuesdays at 10:15 a.m. and at the Gray Library on Thursdays at 10:15 a.m. Sessions last about 45 minutes.Our winter/spring sessions

will start the week of January 7th and run until mid-April. All programs are free of charge. If you have any questions, please call the Jonesborough Library at 753-1800, or the Gray Library at 477-1550.

Washington County Libraries Events


WEDNESDAYS

The City of Bristol’s Paper Windows Photography project hit a high note in session nine titled, Grateful.The photographer was

asked to shoot something they were grateful for or saw gratefulness in. “Our judges were particularly .#$0B:$"%%"0& -*& ,'(0& V+%-&one photo that stood

out among the entries during this session. So many of the photos were shot with such a since of passion, the emotional value was immeasurable,” said Lisa Beckner, project coordinator for the city project.N."& ,'$%-& :9#)"& /'(("$&

was Wallace Moura’s “Christmas of Hope”. The full-color picture featured a young girl standing in front of a frost-covered window as though she were

Paper Windows Photography ProjectSession Nine Winners



peering out at the wonder of Christmas. “There was just something that showed the innocence of Christmas in this shot that captured the imagination of anyone viewing it,” said a judge who serves on the panel.The second place winner

was titled “Big Miracles in

Small Packages” by Regina Shinall. The black and white photograph featured a newborn child lying in an old soft-drink wagon surrounded by a cloud-like blanket. “This photo was so touching. You could almost feel the gratefulness a parent feels in bringing this little human being into the world safe and sound,”

commented a n o t h e r panel judge.T h e

photograph t a k i n g third place was titled “ H a p p i l y Ever After” and was also shot by

Regina Shinall. The photo featured a newly married Bride and Groom racing down the aisle. The tenth

of the twelve sessions is

titled “The Sound of Music”. “We are anticipating some great work for this session. With all the musical events hosted in downtown Bristol along with all the musical heritage that runs in families of this area, there has to be some great shots,” said Beckner. “Just remember, is not important when the

picture was taken, just that it was taken in Bristol,” continued Beckner.For more information

on the Paper Windows Photography project go to the city’s website at bristoltn.org. or contact Lisa Beckner 423-764-4171 [email protected].




A recent reorganization of the City of Kingsport’s Leisure Ser-vices Division has resulted in the )$"#-'*(& *2& #& %-#(0B#9*("& W2,')"&of Cultural Arts within the divi-sion, highlighting Kingsport’s continued focus on economic as well as cultural opportunities provided by the promotion of all forms of art.Moving forward, collaborative

programs will involve a variety of arts organizations as well as non-arts organizations, with the goal of increasing opportuni-ties and outlets for artists of all types. As Kingsport becomes a destination for artists, new mar-kets emerge for the creations of these artists. This in turn ex-

pands both the creative class and economic opportunities within our community.Macdonald, who has worked

in Cultural Arts with the City for seven years, and has been involved in community arts pro-gramming for more than two decades. Beth Estep and William Stephanos round out the creative -"#3& 2*$& -."& W2,')"& *2& J+9-+$#9&Arts, each with education and ex-perience in the arts and skills to provide narrative for Kingsport’s creative community.The City of Kingsport fur-

ther supports art programming through the ‘Percent for Art’ program, which authorizes a sum equivalent to .75 percent

of major City capital projects for Public Art efforts. Through the Percent for Art program, local, regional and even national art-ists are asked to create a ‘sense of place’ within Kingsport, illus-trating the important stories of our community through art. N."& J'-!& *2& X'(4%:*$-& W2,')"&

of Cultural Arts also works with Engage Kingsport, a private, non-:$*,'-&*$4#('Y#-'*(&-.#-&:$*;'0"%&support and guidance for cul-tural projects. Engage Kingsport has already made an impact through its backing of the Car-ousel Project, generating dona-tions and other support for the project. “The Carousel Project is a perfect example of what we hope to achieve through the Of-,')"1&)*((")-'(4&;*9+(-""$%1&/.*&have given literally thousands of hours of time to the project, with the founding carving artists who helped start the project,” Mac-donald said. “And what is even more remarkable about the Car-ousel Project is that the found-ing carvers themselves were not

City of Kingsport Creates Independent

Office of Cultural Arts to Promote Public Art and Opportunities for Artists



artists at all when the project began. Instead, they undertook training and became skilled carving artisans as a result of their initial desire to secure a Carousel as a gift to the commu-nity.”Each completed animal re-

quires more than 600 hours of carving. Volunteer animal paint-ers and rounding board paint-ers go through special training in order to achieve dazzling effects that will highlight the animals and the Carousel frame itself. To date, Engage Kingsport has raised more than $170,000 for the Carousel effort and will continue to seek sponsors of every level, with a total goal of $500,000 for the project.“These efforts do not happen

without volunteers and com-

munity support,” Macdonald %#'0?&DN."&W2,')"&*2&J+9-+$#9&>$-%&certainly would like to extend a huge Thank You to the Public Art Committee members, the direc-tors of Engage Kingsport and the hundreds of volunteers who have already made a huge posi-tive impact on Kingsport.”Members of the Public Art

Committee include: Roy Har-mon, Bruce Shine, Brad Hoover, Beverly Perdue, Judy Smith, Chris Campbell, Jeff Stoner, Greg Willis, Janelle Swafford. Mem-bers of the board of directors of Engage Kingsport include: Reg-gie Martin, Cindy Saadeh, Ger-ald Sheppard, Bill Haile, Sharon Hurd, Lucy Fleming, Kathy Rich-ards, and Mark Ray.

Two comets speeding to-ward the Sun could be spec-tacular in 2013, a year that will continue to see man ex-plore Mars, Saturn, Mercury and our own Earth.Pretty soon the general

media will begin picking up the names to two approach-ing comets, PANNSTARS and ISON, and the doomsay-ers will start wagging their


Continued on page 23Comets Highlight

Stargazing for 2013

tongues that the end is near—again!The evening skies of March

3'4.-& <"& ,'99"0& /'-.& -."& 9*(41&bright tail of Comet PANNSTARS, named for the remote controlled telescope in Hawaii that “pans the stars” discovered it in 2011. Then in November and Decem-ber, Comet ISON might be an amazing sight. Discovered in by another comet and asteroid hunting telescope in 2012, its trajectory is favorable for a close pass of Earth giving predictions for a “Comet of the Century.”While Comet PANNSTARS

might put on a show as spec-tacular as the beautiful tail of the 2007 Comet McNaught in the Southern Hemisphere, Comet ISON might cast a shadow as its predicted brightness rivaling the Moon would make it visible in the daytime. It will be a pre-dawn sight, and could be some-thing that everyone will be talk-ing about a year from now as a wonderful holiday sight.But, comet predictions are a

lot like betting the horses—there are some many factors than can make a “sure thing” go awry. Comets are dirty snowballs of ice and grit the size of a small city. A

few are orbiting the Sun in long, elliptical orbits that are predict-able, like Halley’s Comet, next visible in 2061 AD.The two anticipated comets

*2&RSTU&#$"& ,'$%-& -'3"$%& '(& -."'$&pass around the Sun, having been perturbed out of the reservoir of comets called the Oort Cloud by gravity of the giant gas planets, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Nep-tune, as well as passing stars.The New Year will again be de-

void of any eclipses of the Moon or the Sun that catch the eye of the North American public. You won’t notice a change when the Full Moon slips into the thin, out-er shadow of the Earth on May 25 and Oct 18. A partial eclipse of the Moon will be seen from Europe on the night of April 25.The Sun will be eclipsed by

the Moon as seen from Australia #(0&-."&C*+-.&M#)',')&'(&#&D$'(4&*2&,'$"5& -.#-& /*(F-& G+'-"& )*;"$& *+$&entire star. Then another “an-nular eclipse” will take place on Nov. 3, with parts of it total in the continent of Africa.The nights of Memorial Week-

end from May 24-28 will have three planets dazzling the west-ern horizon—Jupiter, Venus and Mercury.The Full Moon night of June

23rd will have another “super

moon” as it will be extremely close to Earth (218,000 miles), making it 14 per cent closer and 30 per cent brighter than a nor-mal Full Moon.Looking into the 2013 crystal

ball concerning human and un-manned space exploration, the status quo will be maintained on the International Space Station while the world awaits the next Chinese launch of their second and much larger space station called Tiangong 2. Space watch-ers think the Chinese will con-tinue advancing their prowess in orbit with the launch in June 2013 of two men and one woman “taikonaut” aboard the Shenzhou 10 spaceship to the box-car sized Tiangog 1 space station, in orbit for two years and the home for three weeks of the Shenzhou 9 trio of taikonauts. China makes no secret of their plans to build several orbiting space stations and eventually head to the Moon.Russia’s tried-and-true three-

man spaceship called Soyuz en-ters its 45th year of service with a half-dozen upgrades during that time. Four Soyuz missions are planned this year to ferry up Expedition 35-38 crews, and bring them back to Earth. The November launch of Soyuz TMA-11M will mark the 120th launch

and orbit of a Soyuz spacecraft since the one-man Soyuz 1. While the usual stay on the ISS is four to six months by the inter-national crews, four spacemen are training for year-long stints beginning this year.The role of independent space

agencies in maintaining the ISS will be expanded with two more important cargo launches of their spaceship “Dragon” by the Space X Corp. There will also be -."& ,'$%-& %.#Q"0*/(& 9#+()."%&and rendezvous with the ISS by -/*&("/&:$';#-"&%:#)",9'4.-&<+%'-nesses, and an unmanned test of the Virgin Galactic spaceship that might take paid passengers -*&#&%+<*$<'-#9&,9'4.-&<!&RSTZ?Around the Solar System,

there will be more discoveries by *(B4*'(4&%:#)")$#2-&*$<'-'(4&,';"&planets. The European Space Agency has Venus Express in or-bit taking measurements of the cloud-shrouded world as Mars Express orbits the Red Planet. NASA has the following active space probes reaping the scien--',')&$"/#$0%&*2&!"#$%&*2&:9#(('(4&and mission accomplishments: Messenger orbits Mercury; or-biting Mars are Mars Odyssey and Mars Reconnaissance Orbit-er; roving the surface of Mars are Mars Excursion Rover Opportu-

nity and Mars Science Labora-tory Curiosity; orbiting Saturn is the most expensive NASA space $*<*-&";"$!&,9*/(1&-."&[T&<'99'*(&Cassini.Also on NASA’s plate and its

$17 billion budget from the American taxpayers:The Tracking and Data Relay

Satellite System (TDRS) will be updated with a new spacecraft for important space communica-tionsThe Landsat Data Continuity

Mission (LDCM) will gather valu-able data and imagery of Earth to be used for agriculture, busi-ness, government education and science.Lunar Atmosphere and Dust

Environment Explorer that will analyze from orbit the properties of lunar dust.The Mars Atmosphere and

Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) mis-%'*(&-*&\#$%&/'99&<"&-."&,'$%-&*$-biter to study the atmosphere and understand how the Red Planet changed the last 2-3 bil-lion years.And there’ll be plenty of re-

search missions from the Eu-ropean Space Agency, Russian Space Agency and the Chinese. Keep looking up for exciting news in 2013 from outer space.



Celestial events in the skies for the week of Jan. 8‐14, 2013, as compiled for The Loafer by Mark D. Marquette.

Night falls around 6:30 pm this week with moonless evenings gripping the land and revealing the exciting bright constellations and stars of winter. High in the early evening is bright planet Jupiter in Taurus the Bull with the red star Aldeba-ran nearby. The Pleiades cluster is easy to see high overhead, and leaping the

eastern horizon is Orion the Hunter.

Tues. Jan. 8

Happy Birthday Stephen Hawking, the world’s premier physicists and longest %+$;';*$&>OC&#-&#4"&]S?&J*(,'("0&-*&#&wheel chair for decades, Hawking has a brilliant mind that has pioneered modern

day physics.

Wed. Jan. 9

The brightest star in the sky, Sirius, is high above the eastern horizon by 9 pm, and above it is another bright star, Procyon. They are the brightest stars in the Big and

Little Dogs, Canis Major and Minor.

Thurs. Jan. 10

Above Procyon are two stars side-by-side, the Gemini brothers Castor and Pollux.

Their bodies are two strings of stars that extend above Orion. By midnight, Orion has taken a lookout position directly south, with Sirius to his left and Gemini and

Taurus directly overhead.

Fri. Jan. 11

On this 1978 date in space history, NASA was three years away from the Space Shuttle when Russia docked two manned Soyuz spacecraft to their Salyut 6 space

%-#-'*(1&)9"#$9!&9"#0'(4&-."&-").(*9*4!&*2&9*(4B-"$3&.+3#(&%:#)",9'4.-?

Sat. Jan. 12

New Moon is today with the natural satellite invisible in the daytime sky and beginning its new phase as an evening crescent by Monday.

Sun. Jan. 13

The morning sky has planet Saturn near the horizon in Libra at 5 am, while Venus is close to the Sun as the planet rises in the pre-dawn twilight.

Mon. Jan. 14

On this 2005 date in space history NASA landed a tiny space probe on the alien moon Titan orbiting the planet Saturn. Ejected from the $1 billion Cassini spaceship in orbit about Saturn, the probe Huygens parachuted while taking :.*-*%&*2&,9*/'(4&3"-.#("&$';"$%&<"2*$"&9#(0-ing on the shore of a small lake. It sent back

data and photos for about an hour in the minus -200 below zero surface of Titan.


Mars Hill College’s Weizenblatt Gallery will fea-ture a collection of paintings and sculptures by the late Vadim Bora, January 17- February 28, titled Si-lent Symphony – Land, Body, Water: Selected Works by Vadim Bora. The exhibit will include an opening reception on Thursday, January 17, from 4-7 pm, and a curator’s lecture for students and the public on Wednesday, February 6, at 2 pm. This exhibition explores Bora’s vibrant palette

and thoughtful observations of land- and water-scapes over several continents, as well as the hu-man form and its relation to nature. Curated by the artist’s widow, Constance Richards, the intimate "A.'<'-'*(&$",9")-%&/*$Q&-.#-&/#%&)$"#-"0&-.$*+4.-out Vadim Bora’s career in the United States, ranging from 1993-2010, with an emphasis on rare-ly-exhibited later works. (His sud-den passing came in January 2011.) The pieces in the exhibition come on loan from private collections, the Dill-ingham-Richards Collection, and the Vadim Bora Estate.Created as a

“teaching exhibi-tion,” this show will allow students to follow some of the artist’s steps in cre-ating a piece of art.

Bora was a teacher and gallery owner, as well as an accomplished sculptor and painter, with seven pub-lic art sculptures around Asheville, downtown, and on the Biltmore Estate.“It enriches the student experience, and allows

them to follow the continuum of the artist’s initial idea. Vadim continues to teach through his works, and his art continues to resonate with the commu-nity and beyond. I thank Mars Hill College for this opportunity to show more of Vadim’s work.”A catalog of selected works by Vadim Bora is cur-

rently available at the Asheville Art Museum Shop.Vadim Bora’s website is www.vadimborastudio.

com.


Weizenblatt Gallery Features Vadim Bora


E& .*:"& !*+& /*(F-& ,'(0& -.'%&week’s column to be too indul-gent. After all, it’s only a col-umn discussing how brilliant and humble I am. Kidding. This week’s column stems from the fact that—in one of the very few times this has occurred—this week’s issue of The Loafer is coming out on January 8th. This happens to be the date of my birth. It’s not a bad date at all to be born on, I share this day with Elvis Presley, David Bowie, and Graham Chapman from Monty Python. Fine company indeed. I’m 28 today, and I have no

problem with that, or age at all. Over the past year, I found myself taking issue with some people I graduated with from high school on Facebook. You know the ones, they never talked to you much in high school, but yet they insist you accept their friend request. The issue I found myself having, was some of their status updates. “Can’t believe I’m turning 27!!!!!! I’M SOOOOO OLD!!!!!” Things of that nature. If they’re having is-sue with being 27, one can only imagine how they’ll feel when they reach 47. You see, unlike these folk, I

don’t mind age at all. Age means many wonderful things, the fore-most being that you’re still alive to see another year. In light of

the very unfortunate events that ended 2012, I can say I’m more thankful for that this birthday than any other. 28 means you’ve lived through a few of the hur-dles that help you navigate life with. You’ve learned how to tell when some of your “friends” are really users, and you’ve begun to be fully comfortable with your-self. You reach that stage when you no longer care what others think of you. Sure, you don’t want anyone to think you’re a jerk, but you no longer worry if people think it’s weird you’re driving around belting out The Shangrai-Las’ classic hit “Out in the Streets.” Everyone has a different ex-

perience in their 20s, and mine has been rocky at times. Ups and downs, and twists and turns. But I’m happy to be here at 28. Even happier I’m not married. No offense to those of you who are married and what not, I just don’t particularly see myself go-ing down that road at any point in the near future. Too many bad relationships, and too many di-vorces in my family have caused me to become a bit sour on the subject. But good for you if it’s all sunshine and Hallmarkyness. I suspect some of you of an-

other age may be a little sur-prised at the youngster waxing

poetically about age and what not. But the thing is that this is as old as I’ve ever been, I can only comment on the now from this viewpoint. Perhaps ten years from now, I’ll look back and re-gret sending this one off to print. There’s plenty of columns from my early days at The Loafer that I hope never see the light of day again. I’m optimistic about 28, life is far too short to wallow around in the trenches of nega-tivity. Bad things happen, a num-ber of things did to me last year. But I know that one day, at some point, it all makes sense. So here’s to 28, to another

year of pondering life, and dis-covering movies I’ve never seen before. Not to mention getting caught at red lights, by people in the other cars, with my windows down, and belting out 1960s Girl Group Tunes. They’re so infec-tious, how could you not? Cheers to another year, cheers the ones who remain hopeful, cheers to the ones who still take no shame in being fully in touch with their inner child. See you next week. Follow me on Twitter @ThatAn-dyRoss, check out my web pres-ence at heythereandy.blogspot.com

!"#$%#&#'($)*$+,#


There are actors in Hol-lywood, and there are mov-ies stars. To me Tom Cruise falls in the latter. Yes he can <"&#&,'("&#)-*$1&<+-&E&.#;"&#9-ways felt his “star wattage” is in the league of Marilyn Monroe. Tom has proven time and again he is a box *2,')"& 2*$)"& -*& <"& $")Q*("0&with (the “Mission Impos-%'<9"5& ,'93& %"$'"%& <"'(4& #(&example). Cruise in back in -."&("/&,'93&D^#)Q&H"#)."$51&and don’t let the preview fool you, as this movie is far more than Cruise running around in a car knocking people out. Cruise stars as Reacher, an ex-military

investigator who becomes involved in a case to prove the innocence of an ex-military sniper who has been accused of murdering some innocent American civilians. Reacher is called into action by the accused, and is soon aiding the snip-er’s attorney, Helen (Rosamund Pike) who is going up against her father, the lo-cal District Attorney involved in the case. Reacher begins his own investigation and discovers there are sinister forces behind -."&%(':"$&#--#)Q1&#(0&%**(&,'(0%&.'3%"92&a target for termination. The movie surprised me in several

aspects, one of which was that this is an action-crime-thriller with intelligence. The action sequences are exciting, and Cruise is given the opportunity to work with the always marvelous Robert Duvall. The two actors work great together and have wonderful onscreen chemistry, aid-"0&<!&%(#::!&0'#9*4+"?&N."&,'93&:$*;'0"%&plenty of opportunities for Cruise to have “movie star” moments, and he allows his co-stars to shine as well. The promo tag 9'("&2*$&-."&,'93&'%_&DN."&O#/&.#%&9'3'-%?&@"&does not”. The tag line seems to apply to Cruise the actor as well, as Hollywood has limits, but he does not. Mr. Cruise knows how to choose roles tailor for him, and he has done it again. (Rated PG-13) B+

Jack Reacher

Predictions run rampant at this time of the year, and as I’ve said many times, predictions are really impossible to make with any accuracy (witness the De-cember 21, 2012 hoopla). But they do allow us to indulge our passions for being in control. And they are generally a lot of fun. So, let’s see what the new year may or may not have in store for us.I'$%-1& E& )#(& )*(,'0"(-9!& :$"-

dict I will keep my New Year’s Resolution for this year just like EF;"& 0*("& 2*$& -."& :#%-& ,'2-""(& *$&so years. Each year, I make the same resolution and so far have never failed to keep it. And what is that, you ask? Very simple and very achievable—I vow to never watch the movie version of “The Sound Of Music.” Don’t get me wrong—I have nothing against this iconic movie, and Robert Wise is one my all-time favorite directors. It’s just a very easy resolution to keep, and I can look forward to ending each year with a sense of accomplishment. If only other aspects of my life were this easy to bring under control (i.e. reducing the amount of stuff -.#-&,'99%&3!&E(<*A&";"$!&0#!`?Second, it appears that 2013

will see an accelerated prolifera-tion (neat term, huh?) of the so-called “Internet of Things” that has come to characterize our mobile society. This term refers to the capability of being able to access the Internet from gadgets other than desktops, laptops, and tablets. The latest and per-haps most bizarre manifestation is yet another innovation from Japan—the Satis, an advanced “smart toilet” that performs a wide array of functions via Blue-tooth and other communica-tion protocols. And what can it

do? According to a recent press release (available, with video, from www.dailymail.co.uk), the Satis, which is manufactured by -."& ^#:#("%"& ,'$3& O'A'91& D)#(& <"&controlled from an iPhone or An-droid app, [allows users to] lift the lid before they arrive using a special app [and tracks bowel movements] to monitor health.”

And, yes, the Satis plays music and heats your posterior while you are giving it directions from your smartphone. Targeted for a spring release, the Satis prom-ises to revolution the bathroom experience, further expanding the “Internet of Things” into lit-erally every nook and cranny of our daily lives.Closely related to the Internet

of Things is my third prediction, relating to the availability of 3-D Printing, or Additive Printing as it is most accurately termed. Tak-ing personal printing to a whole new level, this process allows us to create a working product from a detailed drawing, spreading some alarm in the manufacturing

community. Most recently, fears were raised when MakerBot demonstrated how easy it was to 3#(+2#)-+$"& #& /*$Q'(4& ,'$"#$3&in the privacy of your home. This,

of course, raised some serious eth-ical questions—such as, “Just because it can be done, should it be permitted?” Ethical questions aside—not that they are easy to put aside—Addi-tive Printing will no doubt become a very hot topic this year and will change the way we think about the manufactur-ing process.Fourth, several

commentators have noted that we have not seen the last of the “50 Shades of Grey” phenome-non. In fact, this new trend prom-ises to follow in the wake of the “Pride And Prejudice And Zom-bies” sensation to produce sev-eral literary and cinematic varia-tions of E. L. James’ S&M cash cow. Several authors, including Sylvia Day, Maya Banks, Sylvain Reynard (a pseudonym), and L. Marie Adeline (another pseud-onym), are hard at work produc-ing “50 Shades” clones that will no doubt be transformed into movies at some point. Defenders of this literature, often referred to as “mommy porn,” are quick to point out that it at least encour-ages people to read. According

to Bahram Olfati (ap-parently not a pseud-onym), Vice President of Indigo Books and Music, “Any time people buy books and start read-ing, it is not a bad thing. I don’t judge the content. As long as people are reading, it will improve you.” Just how it will improve you he doesn’t say, however.

Following the success of “Abra-ham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter,” and “Pride And Prejudice and Zombies,” I predict we will soon be seeing the following titles on our shelves: “Mary Todd Lin-coln, Gigolo Hunter,” “Grover Cleveland, American Gigolo,” and Shakespeare’s “As You Like It With S&M”. The possibilities are truly endless.C:"#Q'(4& *2& 3*;'"%1& 3!& ,'2-.&

prediction is based on a little piece I found on KPHO Phoenix’s website. “There are few things more annoying than someone tweeting while you are at the theater,” notes journalist Greg Argo. “But now some theaters are thinking about encouraging it.” These theaters, taking their cue from English proprietors, are installing sections of “tweet seats,” where tweeters can tweet at will without disturbing other patrons (who most likely resent being distracted from updat-'(4& -."'$& I#)"<**Q& :$*,'9"%`?& W2&course, tweeting has become a preferred method of advertising and writing reviews, etc., so it is un-derstandable why theater owners would want to in-stall these special seating sections (unless, of course, their shows start getting a lot of negative tweets). If this trend catches on, ex-pect to see “tweet seats” at restaurants, in churches, and at other public events. Sounds like a plan to me.My sixth prediction has

to do with our becoming

a drug culture. No, I’m not talk-ing about illegal drugs, which do surely pose a problem. I’m talk-ing about the prescription drugs -.#-& '(& %*& 3#(!& /#!%& 0",'("&American culture and shape our behavior. It is surprising to me -.#-1& 4';"(& -."& :*/"$& #(0& '(,9+-ence of this multi-billion dollar industry (which could easily pay off most of our national debt), we don’t name our children after its most popular and lucrative prod-ucts. After perusing a list of the top-selling prescription drugs, I predict we will soon meet chil-dren with these rather catchy names: Humira Jones, Abilify Smith, Plavix Johnson, Cymbalta Edwards, Spiriva Matthews, Lan-tus Collins, Lyrica Blevins, and Enbrel Wilson. Given you any ideas?Last but not least is my sev-

enth prediction, and one that has a very good chance of com-ing true. Given all the political shenanigans we’ve witnessed during the past year or so, it seems inevitable that we will see the rise of the Opposition Party this year, dedicated to only one goal—to disagree and oppose any idea that is not endorsed by its members. No principles, ethics, ideology, love of country, or decency—just a determina-tion to say “No” to anything its members don’t like. Of course, membership in this party will by necessity remain rather small, given the fact that its members will start opposing each other as membership grows. Perhaps there will only be two or three founding members.There you have it—my list of

predictions for the coming year. Let’s plan to meet again on New Year’s Eve to see how accurate they are. By then, of course, I will hopefully have another list for 2014. See you next week.


2013 - The Year of Smart Toilets? (And Other Predictions)

, The Loafer • January 8, 2013 www.theloaferonline.com

The Loafer, Jan. 8, 2013

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