Springtime

I wandered out on a cool day last week, walking around my property with Winter, who has really enjoyed his visit this year.    I had noticed he seemed to be a bit out of sorts since the about the middle of February. And now, suddenly he "froze" as he glanced to his right - and he turned white with shock. What's the matter? I asked as I looked in that direction. He didn't answer, and then I saw her! A young lady, dressed in a daffodil yellow dress, swinging on a tree limb - she looked to be about 20 or so years old. Then, amazingly, I noticed that I could see her dress was very flimsy! Astonishing! And in such cool weather! Let's go see who she is, I said, but Winter replied that he thought he better leave. I looked back at the girl, and noticed that I could not only see partly through her clothes, but also through her body! And as I watched, she slowly disappeared! I looked back at Winter, but he too was gone. I pulled my jacket about me and looked again at the now bare branch. The girl was clearly gone, but the forest seemed different than it had before she showed up. Back at the house I found a note from Winter thanking me for the wonderful season, and saying he would see me next year. He had taken his Canon and his other things and a couple of my snowdrifts and icicles. He said he didn't think I would mind. I didn't. He said he would send some more early in March when he gets where he's going. I wonder who the girl was? And why is it sometimes you can see her and sometimes not?  And why do the forests look different after she shows up?

Dr. Brian Raichle, ASU, and Hickory's Science After Dark. Bistro 127.

Dr. Brian Raichle from the Department of Technology & Environmental Design at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC presented the Science After Dark series Tuesday night, April 9, 2013, at Bistro 1-2-7- in Hickory, NC.  

His topic was “Renewable Energy:  Present and in Your Future”.  This was a snapshot of current energy generation and consumption patterns, including but not limited to renewable energy.  He pointed out that many homeowners do not know how much money they pay monthly for their electricity and the average homeowner has no idea of how many kilowatt hours his house uses each month.  And here is the beginning of the process of getting control over your electricity consumption profile.

Dr. Raichle described state-of-the-art technologies with an emphasis on those suitable for the average homeowner to adapt.  He described the rapid fall in the construction costs of adding solar energy to your home and showed how we can all begin with a simple installation that will provide power to the grid that can reduce the monthly energy costs of our own home.  Then of course, we can proceed to increase that amount as we wish to do so.

Dr. Raichle’s presentation was dynamic, vibrant and very personable.  He answered questions and encouraged questions and discussion from the participants during his presentation.  He got his ideas across so well that many of us were figuring out costs and payback data.  This is an example of why Hickory’s version of “Science Cafés”, which we call “Science After Dark” does so well.  Here is the place where we can hear a qualified scientist speaking about some of the events which are changing our world.  But rather than being in a college classroom atmosphere we all are gathered in a pub, cafe or bistro, and the presentation is informal and we – us neophytes – can actually ask these people questions that have bothered us about their topic.  

For more information see http://sciencecafes.org/what/

http://www.catawbascience.org/sci_afterdark.html

http://www.catawbascience.org/events_cal.html

TEDxHickory 2013

Would you like to make a presentation at TEDxHickory?  You can DO it! Yes you can – don’t worry about the people up there on the stage struggling with the floor covering, the lighting, the microphones, losing their places, and all that.  There’s ANOTHER way, maybe a BETTER way to get your ideas across at TEDxHickory!  

Emily Miller
"Craftomics"

There is a Magic Key that a lot of people find at TEDs.  It is called the Key of Networking. And even before the main show begins, Networking is well under way.  Networking begins an hour or so before the performers even get on the stage, and then there is a lunch break, (Networking break), probably another break later on, and when the show is over, sure some of the people will rush out and run away, but those who have important questions to ask, or things they want to say or talk about, will hang around for a while to get to know other attendees.  It’s a great opportunity to meet the people who are making Hickory into the city it will be ten years from now.  This is the place to bring your ideas, your questions about the future, and general outlines of things you are trying to bring into our community right now.  

Get some really good business cards made up.  I print mine out on my computer, but next year, before TEDxHickory 2104,  I will go by a fine shop in Hickory and get some professional cards made and I will take those with me.  I urge you to do the same.  Why?  At TEDxHickory, everybody you meet will ask you “what brings you here”, or “what do you do?”  And you will be ready.  Your business cards are your introduction.  And if those people are curious, or maybe say something like “that looks interesting”, you might have some small handy brochures printed on stock paper and about the size of a postcard or an envelope.  They can be professionally prepared also, printed on slick paper, perhaps folded over one time.  And for those people who have deeper questions, you will have some handouts won’t you?  And – oh yes – don’t forget to ask THEM those same questions:  What brings YOU here, and what do YOU do?  And listen to them.  And ask them questions.  Get their business card and see if they have any handouts.  You might want to contact them in the future.

Ted Abernathy
"Technology ~ Competitiveness"

A lot of the presentations at TEDxHickory mentioned significant hot-button items such as Curiosity, Innovation, Creativity, Ideas, Imagination and other concepts and everyone agrees that these issues are “great” but there was not much discussion about what those things ARE, or how to find or develop these concepts and feelings.   And this is where you can break through the crowd, and rise above the questions.

Remember those brochures and handouts we talked about earlier?  Those you are going to prepare and bring next year?  They really NEED to have some of those great ideas right out there in front, rousing curiosity, ringing bells, pointing out how you search for and recognize problems in your work, and how you find and apply skills and knowledge to create something new, or a better way to do an old project.  Show how you ask yourself and your fellow workers important questions, and how you and they search together for and recognize clues that can lead to a really creative product or service.  

Belfast Boys at McCrosky's on St. Patrick's Day in Hickory.

Adrian Rice

Ireland came to Hickory today in the form of leprechauns, fairies, tallll green hats, a lot of good Irishish food and, and the Belfast Boys!  Indeed, Alyn Mearns and Adrian Rice, both born and raised in Belfast, Ireland, brought the soul of their native land into our new neighborhood bar and grill here in Hickory, just 5 minutes from where yours truly lives.
 But the place was packed, both inside and outside, and this was right after noon on a Sunday.  The Belfast Boys played from 1 p.m. until 3:30, then left for another stint at Rock Barn, also here in Hickory from 6 to 9 p.m. Last night they were playing in Raliegh.  When you're good, when you're THIS good,word travels fast.

Alyn Mearns

Hickory Community Theatre, Southern Exposure

The Hickory Community Theatre is one of about six or seven community theatres in the community counting those at the college and the university.  The talent is amazing and the presentations are delightful. 

Tonight, at the Hickory Community Theatre, we saw "A Southern Exposure".  This play is the story of a young college student, struggling to leave the nest, where she was raised by her grandmother and two great aunts.  

Callie Belle, a young Kentucky woman raised by her cranky, controlling grandmother and two eccentric, doting aunts, is about to tell them she’s moving to New York City — with her boyfriend!  Will her fairy tale hopes be dashed?  Will she realize her own self-worth?

Well, you will have to drop by and see the play, now playing until March 24, to find out the answer to these questions.  We saw it tonight and enjoyed it.

Hickory Museum of Art, Ekphrastic Poetry

Art of Poetry

Saturday, March 16

2 - 3:30 PM

FREE Admission

The Hickory Museum of Art (HMA) will conduct an ekphrastic (poetry about art) walking tour through its exhibits this Saturday. The public is invited to attend this free event. Enjoy poems written about works featured in the following exhibitions: A Tribute to Will Henry Stevens (1881-1949); IMAGE*INATION: Catawba Valley Camera Club Exhibition; The Birth of a Collection; The High-Speed Photograph of Harold “Doc” Edgerton; Discover Folk Art; and Studio Art Glass from the Museum’s Permanent Collection.

The poets featured during this tour include: Scott Owens, Ann Fox Chandonnet, Betty O’Hearn, Brenda Smith, John Womack, Anthony Rankine, Cynthia Rand, Doug McHargue, Mel Hager, Patricia Deaton, and Kelly Demaegd. 

The Movie "Amour".

The movie "Amour" was shown at the Carolina Theater in Hickory, Thursday night sponsored by the Footcandle Film Society and the Hickory International Council.

Not an easy story to take in.  A French couple, man and wife, both in their 80’s who live in Paris  and therefore probably lived through the German occupation and liberation of WWII .   Both are well-educated and they apparently have significant money for retirement and also the excellent French health-care system is available to them.  Still they strive to handle a health issue on their own resources –  which are non existent.  Their effort doesn’t work and they have problems they can’t handle.  They also have no real friends who can help, and one daughter who works elsewhere.  No professional medical help was present at any time, even after a major surgery had taken place.

I found the story hard to believe or accept and that detracted from the movie for me.  Symbolism was present but not really directive.   The acting obviously required extensive preparation and work by the female lead, Anne, (played by Emmanuelle Riva) and she played that marvelously.  The physical resources brought to bear by the actors in the story were constrained to bare minimum physical rehabilitation, no real mental activity was applied toward the illness and recovery, some emotional work was done with paintings that were very dark, and singing of childhood songs. The spiritual aspect was totally absent from the film and that seemed strange. 

Sandra Beasley in Hickory NC, Poetry Alive

Sandra Beasley spun out some of her poetry Tuesday night and wove it through an enchanted group of fellow poets who sat intrigued at Taste Full Beans Coffeehouse in Hickory.  She showed us another look at ourselves, from a view we don’t believe if we ever even see it, while she kept sprinkling oogley-googley all over us.  Scary stuff for a guy like me.   “But it’s our first date”  she said, “Huh?” I replied, but then she kept on climbing out and all I got were references to Greek platypuses who play fugues on the piano about nailed troubadours – or trapdoors – I’m not sure which.  

Well, this probably began way back when I was still asleep, earlier in the afternoon.  When I woke up, Sandra was explaining "sestinas" to us and I thought she was joking.  She was really good.  She kept a straight face and I started chuckling.  Some of the others looked at me and held their fingers to their lips.

OK - enough of that.  Sandra Beasley is a resident of Washington, D.C., down here working for a while at LRU.  If you ever get a chance to see her and listen to her, then that will be your Lucky Day.  Meanwhile, she has been kind enough to put some of her poems in books, and you can view them by clicking one of the URLs below.   

http://www.sandrabeasley.com

http://sbeasley.blogspot.com

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/sandra-beasley

P.S. I've just started on my first sestina.  It will be about Sandra Beasley.

Cantú-Barrera in the Hickory Museum of Art

Guitar magic took place in the Coe Gallery at the Hickory Museum of Art on March 8, 2013, 7:30 p.m.  The maestro was Francisco Javier Cantú-Barrera, who was featured as a “specialist” in classical guitar.  He performed pieces written by himself,  Heitor Villa-Lobos, Isaac Albéniz and Joaquin Rodrigo.

It was a joy to see someone play such obviously difficult chord and stroke actions without apparent effort, sometimes almost caressing his insturment and bringing out tender notes that hung in the gallery for a moment, sometimes just barely discernible, and then disappearing as deeper melodies swept in from a source of great power.  In the finest Latin tradition Maestro Cantú-Barrera played his guitar once or twice as one might play a drum, drumming with both hands, on the body of the guitar and on the frets without interrupting his elegant playing of the guitar with the strings and frets – rhythm, melody, and wow.  A marvelous act of creation with with a sense of ease and familiarity.

  

The presentation was free and open to the public.  More than that we were PAID, in a sense to attend, in the form of snacks and wine.  My estimate of the audience was between 40 and 60 (I don’t do crowd estimates), and it took place in a gallery that was hung with the impressionistic art work of Will Henry Stevens.









                                                                                                   

Hickory Museum of Art with Blue Ridge Realists

 Good art and good music, gourmet snacks, wine, conviviality, teaching and learning, what could be better than all that?  The Hickory Museum of Art put on a three-tiered performance Saturday night, February 9, 2013.  From the rarefied atmosphere of level three of the museum, filled with amazing folk art and appreciative visitors and viewers, down to the second level where discussions of the Blue Ridge Realists art, including its creators, were taking place. One of those discussions is shown in the top photograph being led by the museum’s curator, Lisë Swensson.  

Finally coming on down to earth in the lower level where that gallery was also filled with more work by many of those artists, and there were still more snacks there, and the room was filled with the beautiful harp music of Joan Johnson, a member of the Western Piedmont Symphony, also here in Hickory.

Juvenal

The clouds have come from all around!
They’re gathered here, and are staring down
looking at how we twist and writhe
as the wild, ragged wind plays keen with us.
Their cloudy arms now thrust out wide
and we fear for the thumb to appear and decide.

Humans Evolved From Turkeys?

Well, that’s what I got from the presentation given by Dr. Howard Neufeld, professor of biology at Appalachian State University last night as part of the Hickory Science Museum’s “Science After Dark” series.  This was the first science event to be hosted at Bistro 127, and it was very tasty.  My wife and I enjoyed a marvelous Margherita pizza and good draft ale.

Oh,  to get back to the presentation.  Actually Dr. Neufeld didn’t really say mankind had descended from turkeys but he did show an interesting graph revealing that the United States had “evolved” in the process of believing the theory of evolution far enough that it was now head and shoulders above the nation of Turkey, but ONLY the nation of Turkey. The graph, compiled by Jon Miller and published by National Geographic Society (http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/08/060810-evolution.html) showed America lagging FAR behind the other developed nations of the planet Earth concerning belief in the theory of evolution.  Not much was said to address the question “why?”, but it was pointed out that not much attention is devoted to the theory of evolution in the nation’s schools.  Members of the audience indicated that might be because of the requirements of testing the nation’s students.  The issue of religion was mentioned by some of the audience but not really considered.

Dr. Neufeld discussed at length, the “evolution” of the development of the theory of evolution, showing that it really was not the brilliant concept of one man, but that many people, Including Darwin, explored and discussed together the idea and the development of the theory..  And of course, that “theory” understood by many Americans – you know – that mankind descended FROM the apes, was pointed out to be a gross misunderstanding that was never considered by the theory’s developers.  A diagram showing the generally accepted process was presented and explained.

At any rate, it was a packed room.  Many people from Hickory showed up to see the presentation, eat and drink well at Bistro 127, and then to ask questions afterward.  Good job Bistro, Dr.  Neufeld, and the Hickory Science Museum for bringing science to the people of Hickory.  

This was our fifth, we had seen previously a presentation on Dark Holes, another on Dreams, another on the Search for Extraterrestrial Beings, and one on Climate Change.  

New!

This is a try of the new app for the iPhone to blogger

Maya Angelou in Boone

Maya Angelou presented a performance in Boone tonight.  There was some snow on the ground and a chill in the air, but the Holmes Center on the campus of Appalachian State University was full of buzz.  I went up there expecting to be part of maybe 50 or so people to hear this distinguished author, poet, playwright, and movie producer.  Instead, I wound up in a great bee-hive of perhaps 2,000 to 3,000 vibrantly electric beings who were spilling happiness and laughter and busyness accompanied by flash pictures of themselves all over the place.

Then the program began.  At one point the first speaker mentioned that “perhaps some of you here saw the inauguration of President Obama yesterday . . .” and at that instant a huge roar rose from the students, as if Obama himself had appeared on stage for a moment and slam-dunked the winning goal.  Wow.

Then followed music, singing, dancing by a group of young ladies clad only in flimsily flowing black dresses. Then a group of black women, probably in their late teens or early twenties, each proclaimed in various ways that “I am woman!”  Finally, Maya Angelou rode her wheel chair onto the stage.

So this night was a great conjunction of amazing events, all of which would not have been possible when our country was formed, a grand commemoration of the reverend Martin Luther King, Jr, and of the anniversary of Roe-v-Wade, and the second inauguration of President Obama.  Maya Angelou told some tales of her own voyage through life, and implored the students before her to study and learn to shed those "Chains of Ignorance", to develop courage like one learns to lift weights, and to respect ALL human beings.  She read only a couple of her poems but they were placed within other urgings from her.  “You are better than you think you are”, and “You represent ALL human beings”.  And she saluted all of us, we the Heroes and Sheroes of the world.

Then back into the chilly night for a quick ride back down to Hickory.

HCT – Time Stands Still

The Hickory Community Theater presented “Time Stands Still” in its caberet, the Firemen’s Kitchen.  The play showed some of the problems that journalists and photojournalists who cover combat operations bring away with them from those encounters and it clearly references current American operations in the Middle East.  

One of the strongest points in the play was the depiction of emotional problems sometimes experienced by those  who alternate living in two totally different worlds.  One part of their being is looking forward to returning to a “normal” existence while a deeper feeling rises to the point of irrationality because of the conflict between the work they do and the apparent indifference to that work from American “normalism”.  

The act of being a witness to destruction and at the same time recording it for – well, is it really for the purpose of history, or education or news or reporting, or is it more an act of voyeurism? This is an old question, and a pertinent one.  The play discusses this issue and really leaves it, perhaps to haunt the audience.  Meanwhile we see the dedicated compulsion of these people who snap the horror they see in war and develop the agony of innocent humans into a different kind of "beauty".

The play tells how incredible photographs and stories of burning women, dying themselves, crying and carrying the dead bodies of their recently killed children, and the stories that describe these events have to compete with space in American magazines and newspapers with house-ware sales, bridal showers, new automobiles, movies, and restaurants, and how those other events crowd out the stories and pictures of war because the combat depictions are not deemed "economically productive".   It is pointed out that people who see those pictures of horror often quickly turn the page to get on to something more enjoyable, like perhaps a sale at a department store.

The play is powerfully presented and skillfully explores these questions for people who have never experienced the ripping and tearing effect of desperately wanting time to relax and rest at home with family, while at the same time realizing that very wish makes them vulnerable to mental and emotional dismemberment.  

According to the play it seems that once you cross a certain threshold in events of this nature that the only way out is to go back again.

The cast:  Sarah, the photojournalist: Christy Rhianna Branch, James, the journalist: Mark Alton Rose, Richard, the publisher: Ted Eltzroth, Mandy, the normal person: Kelly Abernethy

Poetry Alive Jan 9, 2013

Good poetry readings at Taste Full Beans. Susan Woodring and Molly Rice were the featured speakers. Really, really good readings.

Shakespeare – in a Nutshell

Went to the Fireman’s Kitchen last night to see its penultimate presentation of the Hickory Community Theatre’s “The Complete Works of Shakespeare – Abridged”.  Well, it was truly magnificent?  But I had the feeling that Shakespeare would have loved it.  I think he would be right up there on the stage piling absurdities and mis-quotes on top of all of the other actors.  He would have sent a messenger  off to the Olde Hickory Tap Room, just around the corner or perhaps right around the other corner to “The Crescent Moon”, to supply ale for the entire congregation, and would have probably brought his own bottle of Sack along with him.

We were generally a demure group.  We did laugh at the appropriate points (most of them) and we giggled at the off-color references, and enjoyed as many of the absurdities that we could recognize.  And we even hung in with the endless demonstrations of various ways to do Hamlet quicker and quicker, even finishing one entire rendition off in 30 seconds, and we then watched as they repeated THAT one backwards, ending at the beginning.  

It was a good evening, back in the Fireman’s Kitchen, back with old friends and new friends and a fine evening of entertainment.  

We also found out that the Hickory Community Theatre celebrated its 50th anniversary by becoming one of 6 community theaters nationwide to produce a winning play of a new playwriting competition.  Over 200 plays have been submitted to the competition.  Once the top plays have been chosen, HCT will select which one they would like to produce.  the playwright will journey here, workshop the show, and be on hand for the opening night festivities.  Not bad for a town with 5 community theaters!

Poetry Alive in Hickory, November 13, 2012..

Jakia Propst

A marvelous group of poets assembled tonight in Hickory at Taste Full Beans and blessed the world with expanded horizons and deepened dimensions, and everybody lifted their wings and rose into glorious realms of new understandings and the entire world was clearly seen – briefly – for the very first time.  

At any rate, Nancy Posey, Helen Losse, Mel Hager, Scott Owens and “Versus” – Jakia Propst and Andrew Licout, two students from St. Stephens High School presented a stellar demonstration of really, really good poetry.  Versus gave us hard hitting stuff that opens your eyes, your emotional eyes, and your unconscious eyes, and shows you who you really could be.  Good.

Joseph Mills who teaches writing at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem, then read from three of his books to finish a marvelous evening.   Mills had conducted a class in Taste Full Beans for poets just before the readings began. 

A good evening.  Thanks to Scott Owens and Taste Full Beans.

Hushpuppy. The Hickory Footcandle Film Society.

The Hickory Footcandle Film Society presented the “Beasts of the Southern Wild” Thursday night at the Carolina Theater.  Basically, the carrier story is about people in Louisiana’s coastal swamps and bayous still trying to live in an old world which is now being reclaimed by changing weather, rising sea elevations, hurricanes and pollution from great corporate enterprises.   

Interesting story.  But I think most of the people who watched the movie detected a deeper feeling moving within themselves.  No longer are only those people still living on the ecotone between nature and civilization who are being threatened by earth’s changing environment and weather, but all of us are feeling changes coming into our lives also.  It is no longer only those “uneducated” people of our planet who are helping contribute to the deterioration of their own immediate environment, but now we all participate in the acceleration of these changes. And the changes we feel are also accelerated by our habits, our life-styles and our own “education”, which also prepared us for a world that no longer exists.  And it is not the simple superstitions of simple people who make them deny the reality of the world before their eyes but many of us now, captured by our own convictions, religions, facts and answers, are no more prepared to confront this new world we now inhabit.  The simple people portrayed in the film, who once were fully capable of functioning and living a fruitful, even bountiful life of blessings poured upon blessings, now see their world, their friends, their family and themselves slowly slipping away like a dream that is disappearing.  

The acting and portrayal of these people were very interesting.   The 8-year old actress, Quvenzhane Wallis, who portrayed a 6 year old girl, called “Hushpuppy”, was played without noticeable flaw. Her actions were impressive and easily led me to forget her age. She clearly is a product of that new world which is now replacing the ones we all remember so fondly.  Those who survive into this new future will see many more amazing stories from her.

Also, congratulations to the producers for an astonishing achievement:  no cigarettes were lit in the entire film!  Haven’t seen that in years.  Also there was no evident “product placement” anywhere in the film, although I’m not really sure that any manufacturer would really want their product recognized in this film.  There was a super abundance of cheap American beer, whiskey, and a lot of other alcoholic beverages constantly being consumed without apparent harm to the constant guzzlers.

Good movie.  If you haven’t seen it, go now – before it is too late!

Congratulations to Alan Jackson, good job.

And one more thing.  Why the focus on the nostrils near the end?  Nothing is ever done without meaning in a movie like this.  So why did the camera linger on a close up of the boar’s nostril and then VERY shortly after that do the same thing with Hushpuppy’s dad?  I even hate to bring this up because it might seem racist.  But still, I wonder.  Any ideas?

Nicholas Carr in Hickory.

Another fine day in Hickory, NC.  In spite of the fabulous weather with temperatures in the 70s and gentle breezes on a sunny day, we went out to LRU to take part in their Visiting Writers program, now in its tenth year.  

Tonight’s speaker was Nicholas Carr, author of The Big Switch: Rewiring the World, from Edison to Google” and “Does IT Matter?” .  He is in Hickory tonight to speak about his new book “The Shallows:  What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains”.  The program was recorded to be rebroadcast tomorrow morning on WFAE, Charlotte, at 0900, and was MC’d by Mike Collins. 

Carr was fresh from his second encounter with Stephan Colbert last month http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/01/nicholas-carr-on-colbert_n_632304.html

and he talked with Collins about the book, its implications and the messages it carries for all of us.

He pointed out how the current emphasis, especially in education, on teaching children facts and answers is reinforced by the internet’s constant shifting of topics.  Carr says this leads to an actual restructuring of the brain cells by the reinforcement and neglect of different neurons involved.  Contemplative thinking, introspection, and the ability to mentally reflect become lost along with our abilities to concentrate our attention.  Carr also pointed out how this negatively affects our long-range memories, and our abilities to differentiate between trivia and important concepts.  Then he talked about how psychologists believe that we now tend more so than in the past to seek information that corresponds with our beliefs and to reinforce those beliefs rather than use new information to learn and grow.

On the way back we stopped in Bistro 127 for a couple of their craft beers and a really good margherita pizza.   Bistro is in the process of developing a new brewery in Hickory, the Loe’s Brewery.  We tried two of their new presentations a Loe’s Pale Ale and a Loe’s Amber Ale.  I preferred the Amber which I found to be an interesting experience with a variety of tastes and complexity.  The Pale was more straightforward, a bit like a lager with a couple of surprises.

Then back home to the doggies.  Another enjoyable day in Hickory.