Periodically, an event appears on the news that is controversial and sparks cries of infringement of the First Amendment violations. Such was the case recently, when Atlanta pitcher John Rocker made some rather unflattering remarks about certain New York subway riders. He has been derided for his inflammatory remarks — and, at the same time, […]
Author: Webmaster
Showing 9178-9198 of 9872 results
Mass transit won’t cure urban congestion
I have a problem with vacations. As hard as I try to just sit still and relax, I always manage to turn each of my holidays into a grown-up version of an elementary-school field trip. My vacation in London this fall was no exception: I visited lots of museums, walked all over the city, and […]
Blues in the light
The year is 1938, the place is a Chicago residence hotel — and the music’s a-howl on the twilight breeze. And that’s just a milli-splinter of the picture. UNCA’s Black History Month celebration has already brought us poetry readings, films, discussions, dances, storytelling, music and drum circles — but there’s even more to come. The […]
Singing your heart out
How many of us can say we love the sound of our own voice — especially when singing? If the thought of taking voice lessons has ever crossed your mind, an upcoming workshop may satisfy your curiosity. Be forewarned: My Voice, My Heart, My Song may also change your life. At least, that’s what several […]
Time-honored tunes
They’re the men behind the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, having penned more than 20 songs for Elvis as well as Ben E. King’s classic “Stand By Me,” Aretha Franklin’s “Spanish Harlem” and The Drifters’ “On Broadway.” Before there were Elton John and Bernie Taupin, Gamble and Huff, or Lennon and McCartney, there were Jerry […]
The grass is always bluer …
“I don’t think much of it,” declares bluegrass legend Ralph Stanley, when pressed to reveal his feelings about that other quintessentially American music, rock ‘n’ roll. Fellow banjoist J.D. Crowe, however, has made a point of adding strains of rock — as well as gospel, country, blues and other sounds — to his brand of […]
Into the unknown
This country’s history is a saga of immigrants. Most American families treasure personal epics of an ancestor or ancestors making that risky leap — one unimaginable to their descendants just a few generations later. Playwright Mark Harelik, however, has imagined his grandfather’s journey, and in so doing, he’s created a unique and powerful story: The […]
Into the groove
The ubiquitous indigo CD lives in practically everyone’s collection. No surprise there: Bob Marley’s Legend is what most of us think of when we think of reggae. Marley’s birthday was Feb. 5; accordingly, his voice could be heard that day on many a radio station throughout the land. But, day in and day out, Marley’s […]
Eyes wide shut
Rickie Solinger braces her audience of wide-eyed students, university faculty and assorted others for the hard-core ideology behind her collaborative installation piece, Wake Up Little Susie: Pregnancy and Power Before Roe v. Wade. But she prefaces her zinger by assuring us that it’s the most “out-there” idea she’s going to drop all night. I’m half-expecting […]
Bad to the bone
What do you call a street brawl masquerading as a boxing match? Simple. You call it Toughman. That’s right — one word, capital “T.” The national competition that measures the testosterone levels of those brave enough to call themselves “real men” is now sounding its casting call across the land. Will the strongest men in […]
Asheville City Council
Democracy ran a marathon when the Asheville City Council met to determine the fate of two proposed developments. The Feb. 8 formal session ran into the early hours of the next day, and in the end, both Home Depot and Nettlewood Professional Park got their conditional-use permits. “That was the longest meeting I can remember,” […]
Zebb Quinn disappearance still unsolved
The circumstances surrounding Zebb Quinn’s disappearance couldn’t be more bizarre — or more maddening for his family. The full-time A-B Tech student (and Wal-Mart employee) has been missing for more than a month, and apparently, there are no fresh leads. His family is pleading with the community to come forward with anything that might help […]
City goals a tall order
Running a city isn’t cheap — and, while taxpayers shell out the money, City Council has to figure out how to stretch the available funds to try to meet the many screaming needs. Asheville City Council capped off this year’s retreat, however, by whittling down the list to five top goals for the fiscal year […]
Letters to the editor
Mistreatment of blacks continues, Mr. Green I want to first congratulate Peter Loewer for the sensible words about Cuba [Commentary, “Yanqui, si! Cuba, no!” Feb. 9]. Peter, please give us more columns like this, and less complaining about things like theaters and airplanes. But what I really want to comment on is the letter from […]
Defining sustainable growth for Asheville
What a truly positive turn City Council took when it responded favorably to the sustainable-growth plan presented by Jack Cecil and David Kolzow on Jan. 18. And what genuine reasons we have to be concerned about urban sprawl and unplanned growth. Since I moved here more than 15 years ago, I have seen and experienced […]
There but for the grace of God …
Just before heading off for the class I teach, I’m sitting in front of Malaprop’s, drinking a coffee and reading Some Can Whistle. In just minutes, I’m panhandled by a kid who looks too young to be panhandling. For whatever reason, I’m feeling expansive and give him the change in my pocket — change I’d […]
Asheville City Council
Curbside recycling to include mixed paper The city wants your unwanted paper. Accordingly, the biweekly curbside-recycling program may be expanded to include mixed-paper wastes, by July 1. “On average, I get at least one call a day asking, ‘Where am I going to put my magazines?’” Waste Management Coordinator Karen Rankin, told Asheville City Council […]
Notepad
Fertilizer for the soul When the heartwarming Chicken Soup for the Soul became a bestseller in 1994, creators Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen began casting about for other demographics to explore. Now, 24 titles later (including Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul and Chicken Soup for the Golfer’s Soul), the indefatigable duo is launching […]
Letters to the editor
Weary of weather forecasters I am weary of the cocky, over-confident, pontifical, unprofessional weather announcers who lack the humility or courage — or perhaps the knowledge — to cite their mistakes and to explain what happened to change the normally expectable. The shame is not in making a mistake in predicting irregular natural events, but […]
!Yanqui, si! !Cuba, no!
Back in the late 1950s, I attended an open-air rally (in Manhattan’s Central Park) that starred Fidel Castro. His entourage stayed at a hotel on 125th Street (memory says the Hotel Theresa, but I’m not sure), and they were ridiculed by the tabloids for cooking chicken on the fire escapes, rather than eat out in […]
A lousy problem
“My kid is a Terrific Kid at [something or other] school” is a message in the language of love — practically a universal tongue. Proud parents treasure their children, no matter what, and they’re anxious to let the world know about those children. But what if your child is sent home from school with head […]