“The real is not only what can be reproduced, but that which is always already reproduced.” So wrote noted semiologist Jean Baudrillard to describe his theory of hyperreality, a pillar of late-20th-century post-structuralism. Lost in found sound: The Books Baudrillard passed away in March, but his description could just as easily serve as a publicity […]
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Even a two-week-old can do it
Becca Molaro prances in a circle at the Family Dance, holding hands with an adult on each side and gazing way up to their approving faces. A few moves later, as the live band strikes an up-tempo Celtic frenzy, she surges onward to explore the next people. At Family Dances, partners swing as equals. photo […]
Them’s politics
Winston Churchill once remarked that politics is “almost as exciting as war” and just as dangerous. “In war you can only be killed once,” he mused, “but in politics many times.” In Madison County, however, politics is a blood sport played by a few powerful families yet sanctioned by all. The gladiators in Madison’s political […]
May I see your license?
A bill filed in the N.C. General Assembly late last month would require all complementary and alternative health-care practitioners in the state to be licensed. This is unnecessary, impractical and contrary to the wishes of many Western North Carolina residents. Another bill, filed April 5, follows other states’ lead in protecting people’s fundamental right to […]
What a relief
I just really want to say to the kid in the “Pastafarian” article: Kudos! Thanks to Jason Bugg for bringing us this story [“The Pirates Life for He: Suspended ‘Pastafarian’ Speaks Out,” April 4] to show that (phew!) kids still think for themselves. — Christy Caudill Asheville
‘Tis the season of tragic reproduction
Returning to my car after lunch in downtown Asheville on April 3, I passed a small, crouching cat behind a restaurant. She was tiny; I initially thought she was just a few months old. I started petting her and discovered dirty matted fur, crusted eyes and several plump ticks on her body. I scooped her […]
Pet owners must be vigilant
If a supermarket advertises a recall to its patrons on its own Web site, it is entirely reasonable to believe that it has completed the recall from its own shelves, removing the suspect items completely or replacing them. This was not the case at our local supermarket on March 17, when we bought food for […]
Making justice more accessible
The Asheville/Buncombe County League of Women Voters has become concerned about the degree to which citizens of this community understand the workings of the system of justice. Discussions with local leaders have revealed that many citizens, but particularly minority groups, have less than total confidence in the equity of the legal system. In the case […]
Plan to follow the plan
Why have we done so little as a nation to combat global warming? Everyone from the National Academy of Sciences to the National Association of Evangelicals tells us that it’s high time we went to work cutting carbon-dioxide emissions, but nothing happens in Washington. The oil and coal companies have spent hundreds of millions of […]
35 years and happily counting
Kudos to Kern Stafford, a pharmacist who wrote [“Reality Veganism Gets Results,” Letters, March 28] concerning his conversion to a vegan diet three years ago instead of getting a bypass heart operation, which one physician recommended. Thankfully, a second opinion steered him in a different direction. I’ve been an adherent of the vegan lifestyle for […]
March to a different charity?
March of Dimes’ WalkAmerica is scheduled to take place here in Asheville on April 28. When people give to the March of Dimes (MOD), they expect their money will help babies. Instead, MOD has funded dozens of experiments using primates, cats, dogs, rabbits, sheep and other animals. MOD experimenters have immobilized monkeys in restraints for […]
Grow up — or grow out
A recent letter [“Progressively Paving Paradise,” April 4] adds to many I have read in the past year that attack our City Council on the topic of development. It seems that this issue is one of the greatest dividing forces among our “progressive” community. When downtown development is proposed, groups of citizens within our community […]
Personal stewardship may be the key
I am writing to respond to Jade Finn’s letter [“We Pay a Terrible Price for Indifference,” March 21], in which she responds to Davis Spangler’s letter [“Who Defines Dialogue?”, March 7]. Isn’t it wonderful that you have the right to express your opinion? And to disagree? Do you think you need to apologize for your […]
A pirate’s life for he: Suspended “pastafarian” speaks out
Bryan Killian is a lot like any other 16-year-old. The North Buncombe High School sophomore enjoys music, computers and hanging out with his friends. But when he decided last week to come to school dressed like a pirate, his life took a decidedly different turn, placing him at the center of a whirlwind of controversy […]
“Less worse than anything else”
A thin, shockingly green shelf runs along the walls of the Black Mountain Center for the Arts gallery. Perched precariously on the ledge are 100 or so small paintings and drawings, little postscripts to Robert Godfrey’s latest works. “Silly Talk # 17,” oil on paper, by Robert Godfrey. None of the pieces—executed in charcoal, oil […]
Gallery Gossip
• Have you been to the Hambidge Center? It’s a great residency program for artists, located just across the Georgia state line. There are little houses snuggled in 600 acres of woods, and head gardener Cindy Martin cooks dinner for you. Gerald Lowrey is the new director. Applications for residency are due April 15. • […]
The stubborn ounces of my weight
Mary Ellis was a soul I wandered into many years ago in Chicago, where I was trying to play blues at night and work by day. She was an Indiana farm girl who’d moved to Deerfield, Ill., with her husband, Holbert, a straight and taciturn man who managed to simultaneously exude both kindness and a […]
Whose town this is, I think I know
Although I agreed with most of his points, it was through gritted teeth that I read Harry W. Jell’s letter [“Where Did My Asheville Go?”, March 7]. I not only feel the need to respond but also the desire to be painfully blunt: Mr. Jell, this was never your Asheville. You see, I’m part of […]
Play catch-up while you can
This would be an opportune time to play catch-up by declaring a moratorium on any further new residential community zoning and development, considering the following circumstances: 1. Citizen opposition to the present runaway development is very high. 2. Citizen confidence in the city’s capacity and competence to manage additional development is low. 3. There’s a […]
Progressively paving paradise
According to the city of Asheville’s Building Safety Department, in 2006 our progressive City Council authorized up to 27 percent more development than at anytime in the 10 previous years of nonprogressive Councils. In dollar terms, there was $279 million worth of new development in 2006, versus [an earlier] 10-year high of $204 million in […]
Preaching to the grandstand
The Mountain Xpress deserves a note of credit for highlighting my glaringly obvious, self-serving efforts to grandstand around the drug issue. It takes special talent to alienate the drug community and the police at the same time, and such shenanigans merit editorial attention. Heck, if you throw in the any-way-you-like-it crowd, those with a knee-jerk […]