asheville the movie

If you’ve been to Asheville Pizza Company to watch a movie at any time in the past few months, you’ve seen the trailer for asheville the movie. If you haven’t, it’s worth $2 just to see the trailer, which is f’ing hilarious (AND Revenge of the Sith is playing this week).

Intrigued, I’ve checked the asheville the movie website a couple of times, but found little up-to-date information, despite their to-the-point disclaimer: “this site is for information only since we're making a film and not a goddamn website.”

So, I e-mailed writer, director, and reluctant website host, chusy (all words on the site are lower case, so I’m playing the game) and semi-guilted him into an update, some of which is excerpted here:

we flew to new york and met the executive producers of the second-highest-grossing documentary of all time (after farenheit 9/11), SUPER SIZE ME. after watching our material and our camera test they declared (and I quote loosely, paraphrasing here, aggrandizing there), “we see hundreds of proposals a month here, from bona fide writers, directors and producers. only your project sang out to us. it has a voice like none other. congratulations, we want your film to be our first narrative film.” so that's nice...as we've said on previous occasions it helps when someone other than your family, friends, and the perfectly obedient blow up doll that smiles incessantly at me from the sofa across from where i'm writing this thinks that our project is worth a look.

it took forever and it was like pulling teeth without medication, but thankfully now we have our money. our eternal and heartfelt thanks to those who stepped up to the plate, who saw the possibility and passion. for those of you who saw our material and passed, thanks anyway. we hope to prove you incredibly wrong.

we start production in october, god willing. we are in heavy-duty pre-production doing our casting, location scouting, etc. our crew is incredible. our 16-year-old art director is taking a semester off from high school to be with us. we are about as fortunate as you can imagine.

we are upgrading our production! we are shooting in the outrageous ultra-vivid, ultra high-resolution glory of HIGH DEFINITION ! this is the technology that george lucas, robert rodriguez and others use. we're not saying that we like their films or anything, but we're suddenly in the big leagues. it also means that our chances for distribution and for exposure at high-end film festivals increase exponentially. the novelty of heart-felt independent films shot on digital video is wearing off on folks in the biz. when one shoots hi-def, one becomes a player.

we are still looking for help. we need volunteer production assistants with cars. we also are interested in people with film experience who want to work on something unique. though we are shooting from october to december, a volunteer can work a week, for instance. sorry, but this is for no pay. our budget is lean and mean. our film is very ambitious.

we also need people who are handy. can you build a headboard? can you create a fake wall? that sort of thing. do-it-yourselfers would love this! this is a really cool assignment and fun as all heck. we have some pretty hysterical scenes we are using these props in. i know…don't end a sentence with a preposition.

we need housing for our out-of-town crew. they are all clean, well-behaved and have been tested for dementia and assorted communicable diseases. furthermore, we ran background checks on them. so far, no felons. the ideal scenario is a furnished house. we'd need the house from mid-september to mid-december. can you help us? do you know anyone that can help us? how about super-discounted rental homes? hows about some bed and breakfasts for some of our short term help. we're doing a crazy car stunt and have some nascar folk coming to help us. they'd need lodging for three nights, for example.

attention airbrush artists or portrait artists we need help creating a ceiling mural for one of the character's cars. could you help us? do you know anyone who could?

There’s more, but what seems most significant is: they’ve got a proposal that SINGS, some money, and they NEED volunteers and housing. You know who you are and you know if you can help. This is a remarkable opportunity to get involved with an ultra-cool project about this funky town that we all love so. If you can’t volunteer or aren’t interested in having camera crews bunking down in your home, at least buy a t-shirt or a bumper sticker: Asheville. Where Normal is Weird.

Blog/Talk

whoops, thought i'd show my chops and got carried away with picture of last night's gathering. i guess i'll replace it with some other point of view in the morning. but getting together with others of the same ilk - love that word - is a fantastic idea. it must have something to do with faces, presence and spoken word. it was a pleasure y'all and let's do it again.

Asheville Bloggers and Bele Chere

Last night's second Asheville Bloggers meetup was another resounding success, as Ashvegas, Modern Peasant, Mr. and Mrs. Syntax, Mr. and Mrs. 1000 Black Lines, yours truly, Edgy Mama and her envirospouse all gathered to eat delcious South American fusion cuisine at Tomato Cosina Latina.

It's a strange phenomenon that allows people of disparate backgrounds and interests to come together due to the blogging medium and genuinely enjoy each other.

Asheville Bloggers are growing in numbers, and our community is growing in strength. We're going to start a regular meetup on a specified day of the month in a specified location.

Please make your nominations for date, time, and location in the comments section below!








Also, Ashvegas is all over Bele Chere. This is the best on-the-spot Bele Chere coverage anywhere. Thanks Ash.

mmmm... ropa vieja

translated into english - "old clothes." traditionally, it's a dish made using leftover meat from the night before, and there are several regional variances. and it's my "benchmark dish" whenever i try out a new cuban restaurant, and seeing it on the menu at a central american place certainly caught my attention. i wasn't disappointed with tomato's version. far from it, in fact - very good stuff. nice and flavorful, with subtle spices.

screwy & modernpeasant: it was great seeing you guys again last night!
edgymama/envirospouse, matt & ash: it was great making your acquaintance!
let's do this again soon!

oh, here's a quick example of imagebending, from one of matt mulder's pics:



(in this case i used various fft filters and fade-ins in cool edit pro 2.0 to bend the image. yeah, it's good to have a hobby...)

Ashvegas bloggers are the best

Friday night marked the second meet-up of Ashvegas bloggers, and once again it didn't disappoint. The Scrutiny Hooligans got everyone so worked up with their blogaround that we decided to get together far from the madding crowds at Bele Chere, rather than wait unitl another planned jam later this summer.

So folks dined on some delish Latin dishes, downed a few brews and enjoyed everyone's company. That's all it was folks - a social visit. There's no secret agenda or ulterior motive. (At least not yet.) We just like hanging out with other freaks like us who feel compelled to gush globally, or feel the weight of blogguilt otherwise.

Screwy showed us his underwear. The Syntax of Things explained his love of photo-bending as Leather Pants listened on. Edgy Mama kept our rapt attention with tales from the edge of motherhood. On the other end of the table, 1000 Black Lines and Modern Peasant hung out, surely solving the world's most pressing problems between bites of pollo and poblano.

I always enjoy meeting fellow Ashvegas denizens, especially those among the blog brotherhood. Enjoyed it, folks. Let's do it again soon.

Asheville Blogger Meetup -- Review

About two hours ago I enjoyed my first Asheville Blogger Meetup at Tomato Cocina Latina. My wife and I wrangled up a babysitter at the last hour (our first one cancelled) and we were off for a blogging good time. Part of the fun was to see what Spiderman looks like without his mask.

The introductions were a bit odd because they usually start out:

"Hi Screwy Hoolie, I'm 1000 Black Lines. Oh, your Edgy Mama? I'm 1000 Black Lines. Glad to meet you. So, this is Mr. Edgy Mama. And you're Modern Peasant. Pleasure to meet. Allow me to introduce my wife, Mrs. 1000 Black Lines."

Introductions might go easier if we all showed up wearing our blog header. Maybe next time.

I brought a digi cam along to record the event. I'll let you guess who is who.



I'm the one behind the camera.



Ashvegas is back behind the camera too. Something about neither of us wanting to lose our day jobs.



I almost forgot Syntax (we were sitting at the opposite ends of the table and didn't talk extensively).



Hope to see you at the next Asheville Blogger Meetup.

Bele Chere-Event or Billboard?

Today begins a 3-day music festival, Bele Chere. 80 musical acts perform on 6 different stages for the duration of the event. With a couple exceptions, the entire event is free to the general public. Most locals avoid Bele Chere. Personally, I would be more attracted to the event if the musical lineup were a bit more diverse. Mountain Xpress provided a band listing revealing a lot of jam bands, folk musicians, singer/songwriter acts and blues artists. It appears that the Bele Chere organizers aren't really offering a music event for Ashevillians as they are branding this city as a jam/folk/singer/songwriter/blues center to non-locals.

So, my fellow Asheville citizens, does Bele Chere represent your musical taste or do you think Bele Chere is nothing but a billboard with a misleading message?

Asheville Blogger Meetup

{I'm moving this back to the top of the page, so no one misses it}

We just can't wait until August 20th, what with all this popular demand, so Asheville Bloggers will gather on Friday night in West Asheville, far from the madding crowds of Bele Chere. Uptown Ruler has rightly suggested Tomato Cosina Latina (he posted a restaurant review here) at 7pm for dinner, drinks, and bloggy goodness. There's no wireless there, so leave your laptops at home. We'll have the next one at a WiFi hotspot once the BeleCherenado finishes twisting.



Tomato Cosina Latina
South American Fusion Cuisine
1455 Patton Avenue
Asheville, North Carolina
828-254-5046

Mapquest map here.

For those of you who attended the last gathering, I look forward to seeing you again. And to all of you who I've only lately discovered, I can't wait to meet you.

p.s. we're trying to get an email list together. drop a line to uptown ruler at blogashevilleAThotmailDOTcom. thanks.

Look Homeward, Angel...

Blue Ridge Biofuels

not to mention supporting a good cause!

You may have seen the Citizen-Times Article about the new biodiesel pump in Asheville.

It's located at the Gas-Up off of Haywood Road, and it's the only biodiesel pump between Tennessee and Raleigh. The biodiesel itself is created by Blue Ridge Biofuels, a member-owned cooperative in Asheville.

All of the biodiesel is created from local sources, so it supports the local economy and the environment. They're even offering ownership in the cooperative. Stock shares are $250 a piece and provide an annual dividend return. 5% of BRB's manual revenue has been subdivided into 200 shares with a starting value of $250 a share. Purchasing more shares provides a larger annual return. However, owning more shares does not allow an individual to control more of the business. This is a safe guard to guarantee that the ethical motivation of the business remains in line with the founding principles of BRB.

I just think it's a pretty sound investment, considering gas prices on the rise and more people being interested in alternative fuels, ESPECIALLY in Asheville. I might buy a share or two myself, and I thought I'd let you guys know in case you were curious. I can't promise whether you'd make money, but I sure bet you would!

Either way, if any of you have a diesel car, it will require no modification in order to run on biodiesel. You'll pay about 50 cents more per gallon than regular diesel right now, but biodiesel could end up being less expensive if "dino-diesel" keeps getting more so.

Blue Ridge Biofuels has a FAQ about their group and biofuels in general, if you have questions.

Great Asheville Coffeehouse

Tired of some of the same ole spots? Feel like exploring your city and finding something new? Let me recommend, Kismet Cafe, down in the Biltmore Village area.
Kismet Cafe & Coffeehouse
1 Boston Way
Biltmore Village, Asheville, NC 28803
828/277-0098

The owners, Bob and Jen, and their staff, are as cool and friendly as can be, their coffee is good, and the menu is a delight!

Sneak Peak:

Sammiches
(all sandwiches served on your choice of bread, with crispy lettuce and red ripe tomato slices, plus tortilla chips & fresh salsa)

The Combo
Choose of the following: Small green salad, bowl of soup (when available), or half of one of our cold sandwiches below. What more could you ask for? $7.95

Don't Be a Chicken Salad
Our chicken salad is to DIE! Finely chopped seasoned grilled chicken, crispy diced apples, tiny bits of onion...I can't go on! $5.75

Most Egg-cellent Salad
What is it about our egg salad that is so comforting? It's so rich and creamy, you'll think you're at grandma's house. It just never goes out of style... $5.00

Bacon & Eggs
Don't knock it `till you've tried it! Add a few crispy bacon strips to our already dee-vine egg salad for a savory sensation. $6.00

Not Your Mama's Tuna Salad
Forget that soggy sandwich in your 2nd grade lunch box. Our tuna will tickle your tongue with fresh tuna, tiny bits of onion, and the b-e-s-t mayo. $5.75

Crispy Crunchy BLT
What can we say? We pile it high with a mound of crispy bacon, fresh lettuce, and red ripe tomato. What else could you want? Oh, yeah...mayo. $5.25

Turkey, Ham, & Cheese (aka: Gobble, Oink, Moo)
It's not just ham. It's not just turkey. It's not just your regular turkey, ham, & cheese! $6.75

Farmer Ed
Farmer Ed says, "Meat, we don't need no stinkin' meat!" Not when we've got farm fresh veggies & creamy cheeses nestled on fresh-baked bread! $5.75

Hummus Amungus
Sink your teeth into a soft pita stuffed with spicy hummus, greens, and Jen's cuc salad. Yummmmm. $5.75

The flood of 2004 put a hurting on the shop, as well as most of the neighboring shops, and closed them all down for a time, but they are back stronger and more delicious than ever. I'm hoping we can do an Asheville blogger meetup this fall at the Kismet Cafe!

Best places to Blog in Asheville?

I write and often blog at Port City Java on Merrimon Avenue--because I am among the last people in America who still need a CAT5 connection to log in. Also, it's close to my home, clean, well-lit, the people who work there are friendly, and, it supplies my drug of choice.

So, in looking to occasionally expand my horizons, where do you write/blog in Asheville? Why?

If you're ever in PCJ, look for the woman with the ancient green Dell laptop and the CAT5. And say hi.
XOXO, Edgy Mama

Still Present Here and There

Got email from screwy hoolie mentioning lack of postings here so thought I'd check in. Picture above is from digital camera i'm learning.

The ambiguous if not downright negative feeling about Bele Cher is a long-standing fixture here in Aville. i think it goes back to the original idea of the thing which was to promote local musicians (this was before aville became known as a combination of the Paris, Sedona, and Santa Fe of the south). That feature has long since been buried.

The last time i went was to hear Jr. Brown, well worth the walk to town.

But the summer heat has me in meltdown mode, so most likely I'll pass this year.

Anti - Bele Chere

Well, I personally enjoy Bele Chere. Even when I was more into the "Punk Scene," which I wasn't actually very into, but just enjoyed the music, I liked Bele Chere. It's just fun. You can watch drunken rednecks, hippies, and people from all walks of life enjoy themselves on the streets of one of the greatest cities in the country.

However, some people like to protest even something like Bele Chere, and at least the last few years I can remember, Green Eggs and Jam, at 82-A North Lexington Ave, has held "Anti-Bele Chere." I'm not sure if they're doing it this year, since Green Eggs apparently changed its name and their website is down, but I'd suggest checking it out anyway. Even if you like Bele Chere, the crowd in the area of Green Eggs and the Lexington head shops is worth a look, and the music emanating from the sweaty, loud crowd inside Green Eggs (or whatever it's called now) is nothing if not interesting.

Here's a short blurb about it; if you know anything else, please post it.

Asheville Blogaround

Ashevillains, blogophiles, and happy accidents,

BlogAsheville is happy to host the first-ever Asheville Blogaround, an overview of the local blog topography. Any blogger in the Asheville area who's posted something in the last two weeks can appear in the blogaround. And to any area bloggers not on BlogAsheville's blogroll, please email us at blogashevilleAThotmailDOTcom to let us know!

Amy at Littlebear Holler: Ten acres, a Winnebago, and a dream, is almost finished building her house and has developed a new appreciation for climate control.

Newest BlogAsheville contributor, Edgy Mama, is working on a new novel called Janus Watchers, and she's written "22,000 words since mid-May. Not too shabby."

Another writer/blogger, Jaybird at Bird on the Moon, takes a astounded look at Annie Dillard's Pilgrim at Tinker Creek.

For those uninitiated to the vortex of charm we call Asheville, Marko at Mountain Town Guy wants to show you around.

From Hot Springs come Rosemoon at Moonmeadow Farm with artfully written tales of life on the farm, heat, humidity, and PMS.

Lowell Allen's Latest on his phantastical Phlickr Photoblog presents you with dozens of outstanding pictures of, in, and around our fair city.

Liz at Southern Highlands Cam advocates for community, responsibility, and sheer appreciation for the beauty in which we find ourselves.

Blue Ridge Blog: The life and times of a hillbilly photographer had to "leave the cool air of my mountain perch and descend into the suburban brawl of hell, er I mean Raleigh". We hope you made it home safely, BRB.

Outside the Box volunteered in the Classic Company's annual Bilmore Classic Horse Show on the Biltmore Estate.

In a different vein altogether, Kittenouette, who resides on MSN blogs (bless her heart)< is totally pumped about her new video game, Battlefield 2.

The Everyday Adventures of a Theatre-crazed God Boy (no, I'm not making that up) asks "Why are reality shows so fake?".

Pop the Cap is a single-issue advocacy blog working hard to raise the alcohol cap on beers from its current 6% to a more robust 15%. If you have any interest in good beer, go read this blog and find out what happened in Georgia when they did almost the same thing.

The curmudgeonly Notes From the Culture Wasteland is picking on Lance Armstrong for not rising to better values.



Anton Zuicker, aka Mister Sugar (home of the Coconut Wireless Weblog), has a little girl who's just started sleeping in her big girl bed.

Allison Wonderland at Unlaced Corset shares snippets of her exciting life.

Urban GypZ UnravLZ at Stitch and Bitch when her new blog template won't let her post pictures.

Political blogger, Dirty Greek, asks if Biofuels are worth the trouble.

This site is on Uptown Ruler's list of sites to add to our blogroll, go surprise Huw Raphael at Sarx: Pray Globally. Act Salvificly. He's "an Orthodox Christian working out his salvation in Asheville, North Carolina, CSA. I blog a good number of things here, sometimes religious, sometimes not."

Tingle Alley blogs about literature, the publishing industry, and the lives of Mr. and Mrs. Tingle.

My home blog, Scrutiny Hooligans, is a shocked appraisal of the Bush administration and the times in which we live (plus an excellent RadioBlog). Here's the Hooligan roundup of the latest despicable measures taken by the President in the Abu Ghraib torture scandal.

Waterfall at A Sort of Notebook is a hiker/writer/blogger who's working on a novel of her own.

If you want to see the cutest knitted hats on the blogaround, they're at me & mine.

He's away from Asheville for the summer, but Vespere Hesperian at The Stars That Usher Evening Rose is having great time with his folks.

Matt Mulder of 1000 Black Lines: A cafe serving design, writing, culture from a coffeehouse junkie, performed at Beanstreets' open mic night.

Jeremy Brett at his blog, aptly titled "blog", discovered another site called Open Secrets, "where people send anonymous postcards revealing their darkest secrets to this guy, and he posts them. It's alternately amusing, frightening, depressing and relieving...the latter because it's good to know other people have the same twisted thoughts I do."

Downtown Asheville, which has aspirations to be a community cyber-hub with forums, blogability, and press releases, announces a Grovewood Gallery Exhibit.

Susan at world-famous Easy Bake Coven has her daily look into life and the arts.

Modern Peasant has been blogging since (gulp!) 1999, back when computers were made of wood and sinew, and he invites you to take a look at his latest creation.

Syntax of Things, "i think i just corrupted a little kid a few minutes ago." The poor kid had never seen the "digitus impiticus".

The biggest little blog in Asheville is DEMbloggers. Piloted by Brian Hopkins, this site has gone from 0 to 100,000 hits per week in less than three months. Today's top post, from contributor Ron Chusid, is "Librarians Protest Patriot Act Provision"

Sweet Tea, the bloggy home of Mountain Faerie and her hubby (BlogAsheville's html guru, Uptown Ruler), took their little one to the pool. This kid is seriously cute.

For the best local media criticism and local political coverage around, no one is doing it better than the crack team at Ashvegas: a real mountain metropolis. Ashvegas just got back from Las Vegas and didn't find the American Dream they'd sought.

Last but certainly not least is Asheville Music Blog, headed by Funk-o-Meter. This blog allows any of its readers to also contribute. One guest posted this lament about the state of WNCW. Go read, write, or just listen to the all-local RadioBlog.

Thanks, all you Asheville area bloggers, for doing what you do as well as you do. And to those bloggers listed on the blogroll who didn't make the blogaround, Ashevillains say, "Get to bloggin', Bloggy McBloggersons". Any of our contributors who'd like to put together the blogaround next time, just leave a comment or email the Ruler.

It's an amazing smorgasbord of homegrown goodness. Keep it coming.

Hello, My Name is George Peterson

... and apparently, I'm a blogaholic.

BlogAsheville will be counted as the 4th website I write for, the other three being my own, DirtyGreek.Org, StringCans, a web magazine based also out of NC, and Radical Noesis, a forum based around environmental sustainability and energy concerns, among other things.

Now I've been invited to write for BlogAsheville, so I thought I'd say hi and tell you that though I'm excited about the prospect, blogging will probably be light. On top of writing for (now) four websites, I also work full time and am working on my Master's in Liberal Studies at UNCG.

Also, I live in Winston Salem and work in Greensboro, but I "claim" Asheville, having been raised there and graduated from A.C. Reynolds in '99. I hope to move back there soon. Shout outs to anyone reading this who knows me.

Most of my posts will likely bring some environmental and political radicalness into the mix, which I'm sure won't be anything new for those of you who live in AsheVegas. Hope you all enjoy my posts, and feel free to contact me any time (george at dirtygreek dot org).

Peace

I LOVE Asheville

This is a post I wrote a few months ago that seems appropriate to reprint on BlogAsheville.

Bumper stickers seen on laptop computers and cars parked at Port City Java on Merrimon Avenue over a period of about three hours:

1. AVL FRK (Asheville Freak)
2. Peace on Earth
3. Stop Logging Our National Forests: Protect America’s Wild Heritage
4. DOG IS LOVE
5. breathe deeply
6. We still Play
7. Think Globally, Connect Locally
8. When Clinton Lied, Noboby Died!
9. Kerry/Edwards (three of them)
10. Buy Local Food: thousands of miles fresher

Not a single "W." Once again, I realize that Asheville is probably the only town in the Southeast where I could possibly live. XOXO, Edgy Mama

Bonfires for Peace

{Post lifted from 1000 Black Lines}

Feel free to download a full-size poster
(measures 11x17, resolution 200 dpi, file size 631 kb)
[Download Poster Here]

Bonfires for Peace at Pritchard Park

Saturday, August 6, 2005
3pm to 10 pm
Downtown Asheville

Featuring: Dashvara, Large Lewis, Phuncle Sam, Sunshine

Check Out the Newest Additions!

Uptown Ruler has been searching high and low for Asheville area bloggers who have escaped our attention. He's found several more, and you oughta be checking them out as part of your regular Asheville blogaround.

Bird on the Moon

Hangover Journal

Edgy Mama

Little Bear Holler

meet our bad neighbors

this is a photoblog i set up in order to introduce the world to our next door neighbors, almost certainly drug dealers, definitely slobs, simply because the property owners and the asheville police department don't seem to give a shit.

http://ourbadneighbors.blogspot.com/

First and long for Shuler

This is cross-posted from Ashvegas, where you can keep up with all things Ashvegas. Remember where you heard it first.

Rumors are running hot and heavy that Heath Shuler will make it official next week and declare his candidacy as a Democrat running to unseat congressman-for-life U.S. Rep. Charles Taylor.

Forget the rumors. He's running. Here's what it means.

Democrats are drooling at the prospects of Shuler, a smooth, well-spoken guy with street cred (he knows all the right people), star power (he was a football star at the University of Tennessee, for goodness sakes) and enough mountain charm to fill a tobacco barn. Shuler's got some of that NFL money stashed, too, so he's got resources.

All this means a lot, as Democrats try yet again to unseat Taylor, one of a dozen "cardinals" in the U.S. House who has a choice seat on the Appropriations Committee and stands as one of the richest men in congress.

When Taylor first started running for the 11th Congressional District seat he now holds, this mountain district that is the western tip of N.C. was notorious as a district of flip-flopping voters. It passed back and forth between Dems and Repubs in the 1980s before Taylor finally secured it. He's fended off all comers ever since.

The past couple of contests have seen the kudzu that is campaign cash, a weed that chokes our political system. I think it was four years ago that spending on the race reached an all-time high, with Sam Neil and Taylor each spending more than $1 million each, plus another couple of million tossed in by special interest groups.

This trend will continue with the Shuler-Taylor matchup. Each candidate will spend well more than $1 million each. Meanwhile, you can expect outside organizations, the MoveOn.orgs and such, to toss in plenty more.

Don't expect this race to be quite as nasty as the past couple of races, although Taylor and his machine knows how to throw the mud, as do his challengers. Shuler will be respectful, and probably will talk about not running against Taylor as much as running for change or something like that. Taylor will run on his experience, and on the pork he's been bringing home by the bucketloads.

Shuler's candidacy is also the culmination of another trend in politics - the local Republican and Democratic parties becoming indistinguishable. The district has gone strongly conservative, despite the influx of progressive Democrats moving into Asheville. The district Dems, unable to come up with viable candidates, finally have the perfect one - a former Republican running as a Democrat. Shuler stumped for Republican candidates in Tennessee and I wouldn't doubt that he was a registered Republican there in Knoxville.
So, it should be an interesting race.

Can Shuler win? The answer is - not in 2006.

Bele Chere. Like it or Not, Here it Comes

Bele Chere 2005

Music:

Susan Tedeschi
Marshall Tucker Band
Karl Denson's Tiny Universe
Sam Bush
Dirty Dozen Brass Band
Drew Emmitt
Dottie Peoples
Drive-by Truckers
Porter, Batiste and Stoltz
Grease Factor
Larry Keel
Alvin Youngblood Hart
Xavier Rudd
Tinsley Ellis
The Codetalkers featuring Col. Bruce Hampton
Bonerama
Corey Harris
The Greyhounds
Tishamingo
Blueground Undergrass
Lil' Brian and the Zydeco Travelers
Al Petteway and Amy White
Billy Jonas
Dave Tampkin
Designated Johnny
Denver and the Mile High Orchestra
The Derek Trucks Band
Kyler
Nova Brass Band
Phat Phunktion
Seepeoples
Shanti Groove
St. Somewhere
Stephanie’s id
Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe
Ian Thomas
E G Kight
Foundation Stone
Eta Carina
Firecracker Jazz band
FreeWorld
Jen Daniels
Jen and the Juice
Johnsmith
John Hiatt with the North Mississippi Allstars
Nicole C Mullen
SCRATCH TRACK
Menage
Turbine
Steep Canyon Rangers
Rural Free Delivery
The Greyhounds
Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk
Lil’ Brian & The Zydeco
McTaggart, Garrett & DeBruhl
Beth Wood
Bill Miller
Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band
Zenphonic
Cyril Lance
BUMP
Buncombe Turnpike
Chicago Afrobeat Project
Blue Collar Groove
Anne Coombs
Blue Dogs
Dave Goldberg & Duane Allen
The Biscuit Burners

Jewelry

Espinoza Norcross, GA

Dolores Fawkes Atlanta, GA

Sterling Affairs N. Charleston, SC

Lynda Metcalfe Jewelry Brasstown, NC

Cee Jay Creations Pensacola, FL

Jewels by Julie Atlanta, GA

Rozbird Art Jewels Atlantic Beach, FL

Suzzane Evon Weaverville, NC



Glass

Marc and Jennifer Grimes Columbia, SC

Ken Turk Glass Starr, SC

Lisa’s Glass Studio Snellville, GA



Fiber

Threadhead Creations Knoxville, TN

Almost Paradise Silk Brodhead, KY

Three Wishes Asheville, NC

Jean Yao Basket Art Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Carpet Bag Replicas Charlotte, NC

Laughing Moon Clothing Amesville, OH



Wood

Katherine Worthington Miami, FL

Cherry Lane Woodworks Kernersville, NC

Willow Art/ Spirit Tall Brookfield, MO

Barnwood Birdhouses Dahlonega, GA

Easy Play Music Old Fort, NC

Wood Duflo Vero Beach, FL



Water Color

Elizabeth McAfee Studio Asheville, NC

Gayle Bolton Savannah, GA



Varietals

Jim’s Bonsai Belleview, FL

Basket Art Wilmington, NC

Cheryl Jones Evans Casselberry, FL

Woodsong Ardsans Floyd, VA



Sculpture

Jerry Adams Matthews, NC

Limabean Studio Nashville, TN

Insectworks Atlanta, GA



Painting

Bill Turner Newman, GA



Ceramics/ Pottery

Redfern Fine Art Durham, NC

Wild Hare Pottery North Augusta, SC

Chiricahua Pottery Jessup, GA

The Whole Gamut Studio St. Simons Island, GA

Bair’s Den Pottery Forest City, NC

Garry Child’s Pottery Rougemont, NC

Steve Turner Hendersonville, NC



Mixed Media

Alvin Arts Sunrise, FL

Ujama’ Art Silver Spring, MD

Four Sisters Studio Kill Devil Hills, NC

Alabama Re-Do’s Headland, AL

Marcus Dale Charlotte, NC

Pavel Daniela Inc. Ormond Beach, FL

Jim’s Studio Norcross, GA

Dennis & Jane Riessler Valencia, PA



Photography

Jana Epstein Photography Atlanta, GA

Don Naumann Crystal Beach, FL

Art That Smiles Largo, FL

Edward Heiner Fine Art Photography Raleigh, NC

George Rhodes Photography Plantation, FL

Jay Royal Chadwick Photography Malvern, PA

Jack Stoddart Photography Crawford, TN

Gregg Wrenn & Darcy Holly Asheville, NC

Marie Gruber Greenville, SC

Fine Imaging Studios, Inc. Marietta, GA

Jay Burleson Billings, MT

Has Anyone Else Read Anything By...

Diana Gabaldon? She wrote the Outlander series and I'm just finishing the fourth book, Drums of Autumn.
I can't stop! The best historical fiction I have EVER read. The first
book is a bit shocking but once I got through it I couldn't
resist the urge to find out what happens next. The second book I
devoured in two weeks! (Considering the size of the book that's big for me) Anyone else reading the series? Because "The next book, tentatively titled A Breath of Snow and Ashes,
will be published 27 September 2005." !!!!

If you want more info go to her site! or Type Diana Gabaldon into an Amazon Book search...

The Blue Ridge Blogger Shows You Our World

Blue Ridge Blog: The life and times of a hillbilly photographer. Such talent! Such beauty!

The Question Is Often Asked: Is Our Lawmakers Learning?

I guess the unprecendented federal budget deficits following the ginormous tax cuts for the rich haven't really made an impression on North Carolina's state lawmakers. I guess that the recent resolution of a $2 billion state deficit didn't really help the legislators understand how many people suffer under these tax cuts (medicaid cuts, housing cuts, lower investment in innovative technologies, etc.). And I guess that North Carolina republicans really want to drive our state into a financial and social crisis:

Asheville Citizen-Times: "At the heart of North Carolina’s budget stalemate lies a fundamental dispute over income taxes for people making six-figure salaries.

Advocates contend lowering the percent taxed on people in the top income bracket would help small- business owners and make the state more inviting to executives looking to locate or relocate businesses."

These arguments are straight out of the Republican tax cut script. "Free up the dollars of the wealthy who will then invest and innovate!" I wonder if they'll invest in health care for the poor or if they'll offer up a steaming pile of service jobs while sending manufacturing elsewhere. I wonder if the 125,000 dollar a year set will spend their hard-earned cash on NC made products...

"North Carolina has the highest per capita, corporate and personal income tax rates among surrounding states, according to data from the state commerce department.

That’s why business leaders and some lawmakers are pushing to lower the corporate and personal income tax rates for individuals and couples bringing home $125,000 and $200,000 or more respectively.

Senate budget writers proposed reducing the taxes for high-income earners from 8.25 to 7.75 percent, the rate they paid before the 2001 recession. The senate also suggested lowering the state’s corporate tax rate from 6.9 to 6.4 percent in 2007.

House Democrats want to consider the taxes in tandem. They won’t agree to lower the corporate and personal income taxes unless the state lowers a tax that affects everyone, such as the state sales tax."

All this tax cutting talk. The Democrats want to cut taxes too... in addition to the corporate and wealthy tax breaks. They're evidently in some sort of competition with South Carolina, Alabama, and Tennesee to see who can provide the least helpful government for the majority of citizens. North Carolina has already slashed education spending, slashed mental health spending, frozen hiring and wages for state employees, and watched as Medicare/Medicaid costs rise meteorically. Yet the legislators backing further tax cuts seem blissfully unaware of the coming social crisis in the state.

"Critics maintain the compromise would have overwhelmingly benefited the wealthy. High-income earners would received an average tax cut of $2,000 while the bottom 20 percent of North Carolina taxpayers would realize a $5 savings per year from the lower state sales tax rate, said Elaine Mejia, director of the N.C. Budget and Tax Center, a grassroots advocacy group."

Just like the reckless deficit doves of the Bush administration, our state legislators are working towards starving the government. As our population rises with more and more immigrants arriving, the pressures on the social services of the state are already maxed. Mental Health reform, as it continues down the path of least effectiveness, will send more of our neediest citizens to emergency rooms, hospitals, and jails. Housing costs are skyrocketing while salaries remain stagnant or drop as manufacturing moves overseas.

And they want to cut taxes.

Taxes, my $125,000/year and over friends, are the pricetag for living in a civilized society. If you don't like North Carolina taxes, bugger off. But if you love this state and you want to see her continue to grow and improve, then you'll pay your taxes, enjoy your roads, send your kids to decent schools, be protected, and know that the elderly are cared for, the veterans are cared for, the sick are cared for. Be proud of every tax dollar you pay rather than whinging because you won't be able to get that second plasma TV.

Folk Art Center, Downtown

fox news ♥s al-qaida

did anyone else see this on media matters???

The following exchange between Fox News host Brian Kilmeade and Fox News business contributor and substitute host Stuart Varney occurred during breaking news coverage of the attacks on London subways and buses on the July 7 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends:

KILMEADE: And he [British Prime Minister Tony Blair] made the statement, clearly shaken, but clearly determined. This is his second address in the last hour. First to the people of London, and now at the G8 summit, where their topic Number 1 --believe it or not-- was global warming, the second was African aid. And that was the first time since 9-11 when they should know, and they do know now, that terrorism should be Number 1. But it's important for them all to be together. I think that works to our advantage, in the Western world's advantage, for people to experience something like this together, just 500 miles from where the attacks have happened.

VARNEY: It puts the Number 1 issue right back on the front burner right at the point where all these world leaders are meeting. It takes global warming off the front burner. It takes African aid off the front burner. It sticks terrorism and the fight on the war on terror, right up front all over again.

KILMEADE: Yeah.

i don't even know what to say without resorting to profanity...

(thanks to stAllio! for pointing this out)

just curious...

hey, is anyone here going to the mark kozelek show at the grey eagle on the 19th?

Great New Restaurant in Asheville

I'm not typically one to write up a food review or anything else for that matter (perhaps a Van Morrison album review, or the orange peel's Kasey Chambers show), but I'll be damned if I go to sleep tonight without sharing this new place. Tomato Cosina Latina is a new South/Central-American-fusion restaurant which was opened about two months ago in West Asheville by a family from El Salvador. Finally, an authentic taste of South and Central America comes to Asheville.

We started with an appetizer, Gambas al ajillo - fresh prawns sauteed with garlic and cashews, topped with saffron alioli - $5.00; we followed this with the Enslada Gringo - organic greens with cumin and lime vinaigrette, avocado, tomato and fried pumpkin seeds - $3.50. Our main course was a mouth-watering (and I know mouth-watering I'm originally from Alabama) Camarones en Salsa - sauteed shrimp tossed with butter garlic, served with tomato or green chili sauce, rice, beans, and friend plantains - $11.00.

Tired of the same ole thing? Grab your grandma and head down to one of Asheville's finest, underground restaurants, Tomato Cosina Latina. You'll probably see me there, trying the rest of their great menu. Care to take a look? See a sampling below!

Aperitivos

Patatas Bravas - Fried potatoes with Spanish smoked paprika and chili, topped with alioli - $3.00.

Pinchos de Res - Skewered beef sirloin, with grilled scallion, chimol and a handmadde tortilla - $4.00

Entradas

Churrasco Mixto - Mixed grill of skirt steak, chicken, pork, and shrimp, seasoned with salt and lime, served with rice, beans, plantains and heart of palm salad - $12.00

Paella - Combination of seafood, chicken breast, sausage and rice, topped with orange, butter, garlic, and Spanish saffron, served with fried plantains - $12.00

I'm still smiling, get thee hence, before the rest of Asheville finds out and you can't get a meal without a reservation!

Tomato Cosina Latina
South American Fusion Cuisine
1455 Patton Avenue
Asheville, North Carolina
828-254-5046

Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos

via Sarx

Raphael Doxos, "I am an Orthodox Christian working out his salvation in Asheville, North Carolina, CSA. I blog a good number of things here, sometimes religious, sometimes not." points us to this newest arrival in our mountains -

"The Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos Monastery is an institution of the Orthodox Church in America under the direct jurisdiction of the Primate, His Beatitude Metropolitan HERMAN.

Beginning community life in South Florida on June 7, 1982, the present monastery comprises five monastics following the traditional life of Orthodox monks.

With the blessing of Metropolitan HERMAN, the brotherhood is now located in the mountains of rural western North Carolina, where conditions seem beautifully suited to the monastic way of life.

Monks of this monastery may be involved in any honorable work which is not inconsistent with monastic values or the horarium of the monastery."

Welcome to Asheville, Holy ones. We hope you find it to your liking!

BeanStreets by Jeff Pittman

The Declaration of Independence 2005

CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776

The unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. --That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. --Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refuted his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred. to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. --And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

--John Hancock

New Hampshire:
Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton

Massachusetts:
John Hancock, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry

Rhode Island:
Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery

Connecticut:
Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott

New York:
William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris

New Jersey:
Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark

Pennsylvania:
Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross

Delaware:
Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean

Maryland:
Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton

Virginia:
George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton

North Carolina:
William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn

South Carolina:
Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton

Georgia:
Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton

Source: Jeff and Eric at Phidoux

Happy Fourth of July, Asheville!

The quest for Ashvegas mayor

The following is cross-posted from my Ashvegas blog. Check it out for more coverage of local elections, and all things Ashvegas.

Folks, the filing has begun for Ashvegas City Council elections, and while a couple of nobodys came out on Friday, this month should bring some intriguing candidates out of the woodwork.

Go here to check the filings each day.

For right now, I'm just going to focus on the mayoral race. There's probably going to be a dozen or more people filing for council seats, but the mayor's race is always the most fun to watch. Just look at the war last time 'round between Charles Worley and Brian Peterson. That got dirty (Peterson's meet-ups with a hooker) and expensive (Worley spent $120,000, the most ever, to win his seat).

So I'm going to break down potential mayoral candidates and their chances of winning.

Worley will file again. It took him three tries to win the first time, and he's going to go for it again. Why is it so important to him? I don't really know, but it is. And the fact is he's got zero chance of winning. Why? His competitors will beat him over the head with the failed water agreement negotiations. The crumbling Ashvegas Civic Center. The steady development that continues to threaten some local neighborhoods. He's doomed to be a one-and-doner.

Former mayor Leni Sitnick will file again, I predict, and has a very good shot at winning. Why? She's got the charisma. She's the Bill Clinton of Ashvegas politics. (She hosted Bill Clinton at her home, by the way, when he was running for president the first time.)

She got nothing accomplished when she was mayor, but she was a good ambassador for the city, and she fit an image of a hippie-cool city that's on the brink. Progressive Democrats love her and are anxious to get behind a winner. (City elections are nonpartisan, but partisan divisions still matter.) We rate her at 80 percent.

Terry Bellamy will run again for mayor. She ran last time and lost in the primary. We give her a 30 percent chance of winning. She has done nothing to make a name, except complain about drugs in public housing. Her position on big votes changes, and she's earning a reputation as a politician who tests the waters of public opinion before voting. She's got too many people in her ear. No chance.

Joe Dunn has a 75 percent chance of winning if he files. He has said over and over that he's a one-term councilman. So that means he runs for mayor or he's out - or he's a liar. Many thought he would run for Buncombe commissioner, but he didn't.

Dunn is a straight talker who appeals to some of the older, conservative voters in the city. If it's Sitnick vs. Dunn, that's going to be a whale of a race. If it's Dunn vs. Worley, Dunn wins handily.

Brownie Newman got off to a shaky start in local politics. The first time he ran, he ran as part of a team ticket - he and Holly Jones. Holly got on the board, and he didn't. He was a weak candidate seen as an extreme environmentalist who kinda lied on his resume.

He shook that all off to win a seat on the board in his next try, and he has grown into his position. He came out a winner in the water negotiations, earning some respect from fellow council members, as well as commissioners. He's been steady. But does he have the steel to run, and win, the mayorship? It's 50-50.

Carl Mumpower, the most self-center member of Ashvegas City Council, has been doing everything right to set himself up for a run as mayor. He's worked side-by-side with city workers, and he has the TV and newspaper photo op coverage to prove it. He's slept in the city's rough public housing complexes. He's fought hard for police crackdowns on drugs in the projects.

But he did himself more harm than good by being the constant naysayer in all the water negotiations. He sent e-mail after e-mail across the city, slamming fellow council members and Bunc commissioners alike. If he runs (we don't think he will) he's got a 20 percent chance of becoming mayor of our fine city.

The Blue Ridge Mtns

I'm Such A Show Off...

My latest creation!