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(11/25/13 8:45pm)
My iPhone is cooler than yours, mine has a pocket.
OK, I'm being a little dramatic, but I do have an app that lets my iPhone have a virtual pocket. Let me just say, it's one of the best apps I've ever downloaded.
I read...a lot. Sometimes, it's just not the time or place for reading something and I leave the page pulled up on the internet and it somehow gets deleted or forgotten. It's tragic.
Pocket is super easy and convenient. I'm not very app-savvy, and I don't have to have the latest and greatest apps out there.
When I do take the time to download an app, it has to meet my criteria. It preferably needs to be free.
I don't see the need to download something for $5 because I know I'll never use it.
It needs to be easy. I'm not going to use it if I have to watch a 10-minute tutorial.
Lastly, I need it to be current and useful.
Pocket is all of these things and I've given it a prime app spot on my homepage.
I like being able to have all of the articles, pictures and things I come across that interest me in one place.
It even works from your computer. It's so convenient and I don't have to have a million windows up saving stuff I'll probably never read. When I'm bored, I look for new information on my phone via Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
Now, I can actually feel intelligent by reading articles and things I've saved. Pocket has become a new source of information for me and something I check regularly on my phone. More than 300 apps are now synched with Pocket and you can save things directly from the app.
They communicate with each other and save the things I need and are much better than a screenshot. Twitter, Zite, Flipboard and Reeder are all compatible with Pocket and easily save what you need.
The app also has Instant Sync, which keeps Pocket updated even when the app is closed.
For example, like every Auburn fan, I have been watching the game-saving hail mary of the Georgia game.
I like watching "The Prayer in Jordan-Hare" play over and over and cry a few times while viewing.
I have the video saved to my Pocket so whenever I feel the need, I can watch the crowd-inspiring moment as many times as I want, and it will always be there.
I also save Pinterest recipes to my Pocket and pull it up while I'm cooking because it is much easier than searching on Pinterest.
(11/21/13 9:40pm)
In the printmaking studio in Biggin Hall, Cameron Gray, senior in art, transforms blank sheets of wood into a platform for societal commentary.
Students and faculty will get the chance to view Gray's senior thesis in the Biggin gallery until Nov. 30.
Gray's medium is woodcut, a type of relief printing.
In this style, an image is carved backwards onto a block of wood, coated in ink and run through a press where the image from the block is stamped onto a sheet.
"I think that this woodcut is an incredibly innovative commentary on today's entertainment in relation to the entertainment of the past," said Diana Lucas, senior in English literature and art. "Media has changed drastically over time and there are still some things about it that haven't changed, like as the twisting of reality."
Gray's exhibition is titled "That's All Folks," a double nod to a famous cartoon line and Gray's final semester at Auburn.
The exhibit explores stereotypes placed onto others found in television. He bridges these glanced-over implications found in shows, from childhood cartoons to reality television.
"Most people think I create this imagery," Gray said. "Most people don't think this actually exists. People just want to push it to the side and not believe in it. But it happened, so I like to bring awareness to it."
All of Gray's work depicts a Southern reality television show in the form of a 19th century minstrel show poster.
Minstrel shows were a form of entertainment in which white men would perform skits, dances, and music in blackface.
While the implications of the work have the capacity to weigh heavily on the mind, Gray attempts to create artwork that can be found topically humorous.
"I like the idea of art that either makes you laugh or it makes you think about what you're saying," Gray said. "I love art that makes me laugh or makes me think about it. One thing I've always been trying to get to is, 'Why am I laughing?'"
One of Gray's pieces depicts the main character from "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo," where Honey Boo Boo is shown striking one of her signature poses.
Gray brings to light the negative implications and stereotypes that result from this show, and how his art attempts to reveal them.
"This is people putting what they think we are out on television," Gray said. "That's all it is. When you go up North and tell them you are from the South they'll go, 'Oh, you're just like Honey Boo Boo or anything like I have seen on television.' No.
This was fueled out of anger, because I hate when people think of me a certain way because of what they've heard. Why not just try to talk to me and understand me as a person rather than going based off what you've seen?"
An underlying constant through all of Gray's work on display is bringing attention to what Gray referred to as the "other."
"These are stereotypes created by this superior class that felt as though they were superior at one point and tried to push down this 'other' that they didn't understand," Gray said.
These stereotypes created by a superior go beyond regional boundaries and into racial ones.
Gray said his study abroad experience in Italy opened his eyes to stereotypes about his race and made him feel like the "other" himself.
"The only person I saw like myself were the people who came from Ethiopia, and they would be panhandling on the streets," Gray said. "I always felt like people thought that's what I was when I would try to talk to people. They would be kind of hesitant because they thought I was trying to sell them something because that's the only time they've seen people like me."
Though Gray's works broach controversial topics, Evelyn Holladay, senior in art, said she vouches for its aesthetic quality and craftsmanship.
"His marks are really clean," Holladay said. "He has this interesting style that is very intentional."
Gray's exhibit will be open for all students to view in the Biggin Hall gallery until Nov. 30.
(11/27/13 7:03am)
The challenge was to test my mettle without the security blanket of makeup, to enliven the spirit inside that has been there all along and to share my story.
What I am walking away with is so much more than I set out to discover.
The first week was tough and weird as I broke in this new outlook.
The part of myself that loves routine and normalcy groaned as I stretched its limits and cracked the walls of its comfort zone.
During the early days, a biting inferiority complex forced my eyes to the ground.
A foreign strain of guilt pulled my shoulders round, and I was tripped up by a very middle-school-Becky level of shyness.
As I began exploring the ideas of beauty and society, my world opened up.
Like a mathematician, for the first time in my life, I saw the world as formulaic.
The fashion and beauty industries I had admired no longer resembled art.
They were revealed to me as massive corporations feeding on insecurity and jealousy, turning women against each other to generate capital.
My role as a fashion commentator, blogger and advocate was shaken when I questioned the morality of praising one appearance over another -- praising one person instead of another based solely on appearances.
With my face stripped bare, I was able to see myself.
My strengths and weaknesses had always been there, and I realized they weren't connected to what I look like at all.
My thoughts and emotions, and everything I am, are independent from what I look like -- I carry them with me, and my body is just the package it all comes in.
I was able to see others more clearly too, because behind every face and between every spoken word there is a vibrant soul.
Behind every face, sometimes beneath layers of makeup, there is a story that wants to be told.
I have fallen in love with those stories.
I am addicted to the possibilities that await.
I don't know if I will continue the no-makeup challenge for my entire life -- that was never the goal, honestly -- and I'm not going to cancel my "Vogue" subscription anytime soon.
The point is that for me, No Makeup November completely changed the way I look at these former idols.
My outlook on beauty and humanity has been vaccinated with reality.
Because we are human, after all.
Perfection is unattainable, and I think it's time to celebrate everything that makes us real: our screw-ups and stutters, our scars and quirks, our passions and our anxieties.
It's time we stood up for ourselves, even if it means combating the negativity in our own heads.
I had a professor who addressed our nervous, audition-weary senior theatre performance class:
"You are enough," Dan LaRocque stated.
He was referring to the heavy audition process that awaited his graduates, letting us know casting directors wanted to see our personalities in the monologues we chose.
He said it with such urgency we knew it meant something more.
He was bestowing upon us the right to believe in ourselves, the permission to believe that we are exactly as we should be, and that we were great.
He repeated himself over and over in that moment, the words hitting us like snowfall, letting the last few hang in the air.
"You are enough."
(11/20/13 5:16am)
The Auburn City Council met Tuesday, Nov. 19, to discuss board vacancies, traffic developments, the purchase of the Auburn Depot, but Council member Arthur Dowdell dominated the meeting with claims of racial discrimination.
Two men spoke on behalf of Christopher Turner during Citizens' Communications. Turner is an African-American firefighter suing the Auburn Fire Department for alleged racial discrimination after he was demoted from lieutenant to firefighter.
Turner's attorney, Julian McPhillips demanded the council to eliminate the fire department assessment test, which screens candidates for promotion.
"Eighteen years and we have not had a black promoted," Dowdell said during the meeting. "Only because we have allowed the assessment center to be there and it should be deleted, it should not even be there. But we got it there. To me, it's there only to predicate things upon black firefighters."
Dowdell said he is concerned, as an elected official, with what he sees in the city.
"Do we really look like America?" Dowdell said. "We aren't going any place. We got black and white, rich and poor."
Dowdell did admit the Auburn Police Division fit his qualifications and reflected America.
"We believe our hiring and promotional practices are race-neutral," said Charlie Duggan, city manager. "Race does not play a part in our decision making. We hire and promote the most qualified candidates for the job."
Duggan assured professionals with experience and background in fire service run the assessment center.
"They come in, and they rate individuals on a number of criteria, not just the test. They put them through a number of exercises," Duggan said. "We believe the most qualified are identified and promoted."
While McPhillips was at the stand, he passed envelopes filled with case details to all council members and the press.
Mayor Bill Ham could not answer questions, because the lawsuit lists him, along with many other city officials, as defendants in the case.
"I thoroughly, faithfully, believe this city is fair in all of its practices and the council has no authority in hiring anybody," Ham said. "I personally think that's a good thing. It's unfortunate that these accusations are out there, but certainly that's what lawyers do."
Dowdell followed these accusations toward city officials with concerns that school principals have expressed racial issues in the school system to him.
"I'm not going to retire from this city council or somebody defeat me until we see change for all of the people in the city of Auburn," Dowdell said. "And let the record know that I was the first to say students should have a voice in this city council. Let's be realistic, we all know why we don't allow students to be here when we have elections."
In reply, Ham said that for the past two city elections, Auburn University was in session for the fall semester.
In other council news,
* Current city code restricts solicitation from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. Phelan proposed the code be altered to 8 a.m. until dark.
* The council approved alcoholic beverage license for J and S Food Mart at 1700 Opelika Road, and a no parking zone stretching from 600 to 604 Edgewood Drive.
* It also approved a development agreement between the city and Eastwynn Theaters, Carmike Wynnsong Cinemas, to redevelop the area to make infrastructure improvements in order to redevelop the facility.
* Approved four planning commission recommendations dealing with the Auburn Club Fitness Center, Initial Outfitters, Project Special K and Vapor Craft of Auburn.
* Approved a sewer study conducted by Raftelis Financial Consultants, Inc. to evaluate the sewer system's sufficiency rates and sewer operational fees.
* Approved a contract with C.W. Smith Decorating Co. to complete sealant and wall restoration work at the Douglas J. Watson Municipal Complex. The cost of the restoration is $201,083 to include labor, equipment and materials.
* Approved a preliminary engineering agreement with the Alabama Department of Transportation to install stagger traffic signals to control traffic in the City. The council approved to match the funding of the project. The total cost of the project is estimated to be $760,500 with federal funding through the Metropolitan Planning Organization of $608,400 (80%) and City match funding of $152,100 (20%).
* Approved various drainage and utility easements for One-Sixty Ross Subdivision and 2025 Brenton Lane.
* Appointed Rex Griffin to the Citizens Advisory Committee of the Metropolitan Planning Organization. His term is effective immediately and will end March 8, 2017.
* Appointed Bobby Poole and Doug Klinkenborg to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. The terms expire March 8, 2017.
* The council approved for the Industrial Board to purchase the Auburn Depot, located at 104, 120 and 124 Mitcham Ave., for economic development.
(11/19/13 7:37pm)
With Halloween in the rear view mirror and the holiday season coming up fast, candy is all over the place. One of the most popular candies by far is the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup. Seriously, try to name three people who don't like them--not counting people with peanut allergies. While perusing Pinterest recently, I noticed quite a few people pinning make-your-own-Reese's recipes. No doubt the sudden popularity can be attributed to people wanting to cut back on overly processed food this time of year. It made me wonder, does this really work? Anyone who has tried a Reese's, or attempted to dip plain old peanut butter in melted chocolate to recreate the experience (what, just me?), knows that there is definitely more to it than just the two hallmark ingredients. So, I picked one of the recipes and decided to try for myself.The recipe calls for:
1 cup creamy peanut butter
\0xBC cup softened butter
2 cups powdered sugar
1 11.5 oz. bag chocolate chips
1 Tbsp. shortening
The instructions say to mix together the peanut butter, softened butter, and powdered sugar until a dough forms. It warns that you will probably have to use your hands. I did. Once the dough stays together in a play dough-like consistency, roll it out on wax paper. If you don't have a rolling pin, you can place another piece of wax paper on top of the dough and press it flat with a glass baking dish, like me. Work with what you have. -The instructions say to press it to \0xBC inch thickness, but the beauty of making it yourself is you decide how thick or thin you want the peanut butter patty. I tried a few at \0xBC inch thickness and a few at \0xBD inch. -Once the dough is flattened, cut out the shapes. A cookie cutter or the clean lid of a spice shaker makes this easy. If you don't have either, simply cutting with a knife works fine. -Place the cut outs on a wax paper-lined cookie sheet and put it in the freezer while you prepare the chocolate. Empty the bag of chocolate chips into a microwave-safe bowl and add the shortening. For authenticity, I used milk chocolate chips. -Microwave at 30-second intervals, stirring after each, until everything is melted and smooth. It took me two intervals, but I have a low-powered microwave. Be sure to watch it, because shortening can catch fire if it gets too hot too quickly. A double boiler could be used instead of a microwave if you want to be more careful. -Once the chocolate is smooth and melted, get your peanut butter patties out of the freezer and find some elbowroom to work in. -If you want traditional peanut butter cups, place cupcake liners in a muffin pan. If you plan to dip different shapes, make sure you have wax paper ready to go. The instructions say to use toothpicks to maneuver the patties in the chocolate, but I found one fork and one toothpick made it easier to flip, coat, and lift. -Let the excess chocolate drip off before placing the chocolate-dipped peanut butter patty onto the wax paper. I did some guesswork to make the cups. I found that adding a spoonful of chocolate to the cupcake liners, letting it set for about a minute, then placing a patty in the middle and covering it with more chocolate got the best results. -Once you've dipped or covered all of the peanut butter patties, place them in the fridge so that chocolate will harden. This took mine about 30 minutes. After they set, take them out and voila! You just made your own peanut butter cups. The number of pieces that the recipe yields will depend on how thick you make the peanut butter patties. I ended up with about 18 thinner pieces and 6 thicker. The only major flaw I found with this recipe is that one bag of chocolate chips is not enough. I ran out before I finished dipping my patties. I recommend buying at least two bags, especially if you plan to make the iconic cups. They require more chocolate than dipping. Other than that, the taste is spot on. The peanut butter middle tastes just like the one in a Reese's. It has that sweet, nutty flavor and unique texture that absolutely melts in your mouth that makes the pre-packaged candies so irresistible. While this recipe took a little over an hour total, I'd say it is worth it on occasion. For large events, buying good ole Reese's in bulk may be the best option. This would be a great recipe to make for a smaller party or tailgate if you want a more natural treat. No added preservatives here. You can amp up the health factor even more by customizing the recipe to your own tastes. Use natural peanut butter to decrease the amount of hydrogenated oil and sugar. Use dark chocolate chips to add antioxidants and cut back on sugar and fat. Substitute shortening for butter in the patty mixture to reduce the amount of saturated fat. Allergic to peanuts? Make the recipe with almond butter. Really, the options are endless. Do you have a Pinterest recipe that you want tested? Email intrigue@theplainsman.com with the link and your suggestion may be featured in Tried and True!
(11/18/13 5:30pm)
Credit scores mean everything when getting the loan needed for that car or a new credit card.
Frank Abagnale, author of the bestseller "Stealing Your Life" and Leonardo DiCapprio's character in the movie "Catch Me if You Can" (2002) gave me some tips.
"You should check your credit at least once a year for anything negative or suspicious," Abagnale said. "Such activity would be another person using your name to get a loan to purchase an item (car, house). A lot of people use other people's identities to get credit since they cannot get credit. They have a bankruptcy, judgment or foreclosure."
Employers now also check the credit of most perspective hires, according to Abagnale, and why wouldn't they? More information is better information.
"Any employer, insurance company, or landlord is going to check your credit," Abagnale said. "To these companies, having good credit has a lot to do with your character, and ethics. It tells them a lot about you."
The three credit bureaus in the United States, Experian, Transunion and Equifax, have websites providing tips about how to get and keep good credit.
Experian recommends establishing a good-credit history while you are young and opening a credit card account. According to Experian, regardless of one's life circumstances, establishing and protecting a positive credit history should be priority, these days more than ever before. They warn in these difficult economic times, credit scores can affect one's ability to achieve financial goals.
Banks such as Bank of America and Wells Fargo also have tips on credit.
Bank of America suggests never borrowing too much, but one should borrow only enough to build positive credit.
Bank of America states, "If you never borrow at all, lenders have no way of knowing about your repayment habits, but if you borrow too much, you could find yourself in trouble. It's all about finding the right balance."
One of the easiest ways to show potential lenders a person is worthy of credit is to open a credit card account and wisely use the credit card. At the end of the month, persons should ensure they pay the entire balance to avoid the interest rates credit cards commonly charge.
Another way to build credit is to take out a small loan, such as on a car, and pay the bill on time. This scenario demonstrates to lenders an individual is a safe bet when lending money.
According to USA.gov, a credit score can range from 300-850. The higher the number, the better off that person is when getting jobs, loans, and apartments. The average credit score in the United States is 682. USA.gov said, "A high score makes it easier for you to obtain a loan, rent an apartment or lower your insurance rate."
Rates above 750 are considered to be excellent credit.
On recommendation of the Federal Reserve's, an individual should always pay the bills on time.
"One of the most important things you can do to improve your credit score is to pay your bills on time," FederalReserve.gov said.
If an individual does not pay their bills on time, not only will they destroy their credit, they could be foreclosed on, have their car reposed and be out on the street.
Take heed, all: it's the high flyer, elite in downtown, who never paid his bills on time and took a long trip down to the projects.
(11/15/13 9:35pm)
A short drive down Highway 14 in Loachapoka is a passage back in time to the home of the Lee County Historical Society's Trade Center Museum and heritage town.
"For us, preserving our past is extremely important," said Deborah McCord, secretary for the Lee County Historical Society. "We have artifacts and documents that, if we had not been here, would have been lost. These are things like signed deeds from the Creek Indians who lived here, land documents and journals from the general stores in this area."
The Lee County Historical Society was founded in 1968 to preserve the surrounding area's history, documents and educate the public about East Alabama. The Society also restores, preserves and presents historical artifacts from the area.
The historical museum is completely volunteer-operated, and many of these volunteers are middle-aged or older.
"We try to teach people historical crafts from the area including spinning, weaving, quilting, blacksmith, pottery, soap making, basket weaving and other heritage crafts," McCord said. "Our heritage gardens have 10 historical buildings on site. Part of our mission here is to keep these buildings and their contents preserved and in good working order for the public to see."
The Lee County Historical Society's Pioneer Park holds 10 historic buildings and exhibits from the area. The buildings were built during the mid-1800s and the Lee County Historical Society worked to preserve the historical artifacts.
"The Lee County Historical Society brings a sense of who we are," said Charles Mitchell, vice president of the Lee County Historical Society. "All of us are a product of our heritage. Some of us have experienced Lee County all of our lives."
Mitchell explains the Society strives to preserve and share the human history of this part of the South and has done so since 1968, amazingly, with only volunteers.
History is more than artifacts and old buildings, McCord explains, because history teaches us about our ancestors and how society has progressed to modern times.
"We feel like we are a quite vital source for information on the East Alabama of 1850," said Jeannette Frandsen, president of the Lee County Historical Society. "Granted, we have many other items of later vintage, but we try to do the old-timey crafts and projects of early settlement times."
Saturday, the Society will hold December's Second Saturday. The event features a heritage garden walk, blacksmith demonstrations and a performance from the dulcimer group, Whistle Stop Pickers. Frandsen said it will be a day for both the young and old to experience seasonal food and holiday crafts.
"The school field trips that we schedule are my favorite because we are teaching kids about things that won't be anywhere else in this area," McCord said. "Especially as accessible as we are to the surrounding counties and the surrounding school systems."
McCord, a retired school teacher, said she enjoys educating the public about the area's history. The Society holds various events throughout the year and welcomes school children to attend various field trips.
"You can see the excitement in the children when kids learn about the past," McCord said. "We try to have hands-on things so they just aren't reading about history in a textbook or hearing their teacher lecture."
In October, Pioneer Park was the home to the 42nd annual Historical Fair called Syrup Sopping.
"Here they see it demonstrated in the blacksmith's shop, the pioneer living, one-room school house, the spinning, weaving, the Creek heritage, heritage gardens," McCord said. "All those things they get to see and actually put their hands on. They can taste, see and feel. I really think our education program is the most exciting."
Learning works as the staple to the Society, and their preservation of local history motivates them to ensure it stays prominent, McCord said.
"I feel our history is so important. It's my history and your history. Everyone who is from here, this is our history," McCord said. "It tells about our ancestors, tells about our neighbors. It's something that I hope will be passed down to more generations."
McCord said history alters people's perspective of how life was like in the past and how events shaped our future.
"Preserving the past is what we do best," Fransden said. "And we do try to collect and record things used in those early days."
The Pioneer Park and museum is open Wednesday through Friday, 12:30-5 p.m. The museum is open on Saturday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
(11/15/13 12:34am)
The first thing one notices about Maya Ozukur is the immediate greeting she bestows. She's warm, speaks through her clothes and strives to stand out. You might not know it, but something more is hiding.
Ozukur spent three months, at the age of 6, as a Bosnian war refugee, but you would never expect it from her open attitude with anyone who approaches.
Locked in a prison camp with her mother, grandmother and brother, she ate lentil soup for every meal, dealt with lice and used an open field as a bathroom.
It was essentially unlivable, Ozukur said.
Her mother was a defense attorney in Bosnia and, today, lives as constant inspirationfor overcoming the war as a single mother with two children.
During nights in the prison camp, she slept on top of her two children, knowing if anyone came by, at least they would take her first and her children would have a chance.
She learned what it was like to experience the hardest times of life at an early age.
"Once you have gone through the darkest hour, you could go through, at the end, you become fearless," Ozukur said.
'No fear' has become the expression Ozukur has lived her life by. Six is a tender age, and she retains a lot of memories that haunt her to this day. She saw her friend shot and killed in the prison camp.
Still, she refuses to let her past hold her back from her passions.
Ozukur has used her past as a catalyst and inspiration to constantly improve her own life.
At first glance, her U&I Boutique appears to be just another shopping destination in Auburn- trendy clothes, helpful employees and an easily accessible location.
She currently owns two boutiques, and will open a third location in December.
Ozukur graduated from University of South Alabama in 2008. She majored in German and, as a child, had dreams of following her mother's profession as a lawyer. She always wanted to do something to help and connect with people, a trait she attributes to learning from her mom.
But now, the boutique is more than just a store. It's her way to create bonds with the community.
"Fashion draws a crowd of people with nothing in common, and then they become best friends," Ozukur said. "I became friends with people because of the store, I care about them. I am always talking with them; what is their background, major, do they have children."
Ozukur's other source of inspiration, her husband, has helped her with all aspects of her business. Nazmi Ozukur mentors by helping Maya build relationships with her customers, something that he has done well at his own restaurants, Tropical Smoothie and Island Wing Company.
Ozukur knows a strong sense of family is the key to being successful. She jokes it's much like the family behind Auburn University.
Her family supports and inspires. After overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds, her family is committed to making a difference, no matter how small.
Ozukur's brother serves in the U.S. Army and is currently deployed.
"Whether it was one person or 100 people, he wanted to make a difference and give them a fighting chance," Ozukur said. "He wants to be the light at the end of the tunnel."
Ozukur does not keep up with the news, because she said she would rather hear good things.
She said her only connection to Bosnia is her heritage, and considers Germany to be her 'second home.'
Although her friends in Europe don't fully understand what her business is and ask if we still have dirt roads in Alabama, but they too are proud of all that she has accomplished.
Despite everything, Ozukur stays humble, and refuses to use religion or her story to encourage people to shop at her boutique.
"My story makes me bigger and better than I would be today," Ozukur said.
Ozukur has embraced "classic Southern charm." She said she is proud and grateful of the country that has allowed her to fulfill her dreams of owning her own business.
"If you come with beliefs, you can really prosper if you want to," Ozukur said.
(11/14/13 9:16pm)
For students who enjoy country with a mix of southern rock, Chris Knight will be playing at Bourbon Street Bar Nov. 20.
The singer-songwriter started playing guitar when he was 15, and started writing and playing songs professionally in 1994.
Knight's first album was released in 1998. The Kentucky native has played at fraternity functions in Auburn, but this will be his first time performing at Bourbon Street Bar.
Knight said he is excited to play at Bourbon Street Bar, and he will be playing his old songs with a mix of his new album material from "Little Victories."
"Little Victories" is his first album of new material in four years, and is about gaining small accomplishments and keeping on moving on, said Rick Alter, Knight's manager.
Alter started to work with Knight before his first record came out. Alter said Knight's attitude is to forget about what you have politically and economically and to keep on working.
"Anybody that appreciates good song writing should go see Chris Knight," said Mike Farley, Knight's tour press and publicity manager. "His songs have the everyday person feel that apply to a lot of people and you can hear Knight, hear his songs and see yourself in his songs. He's just a master songwriter."
Knight describes his music as a mix of country, rock and roll, old rock or Americana, and Alter describes the lyrics as brutally honest and blue collar. Knight wrote or co-wrote all of his songs. His inspiration comes from every day life and from stories about his family and his hometown.
"I've been doing this for a living for 200 years writing songs and playing music." Knight said. "I haven't compromised and I've built myself a career instead of just chasing the star thing. I've built a pretty solid career; I can probably do this as long as I can hold a guitar and sing."
Farley said Knight's music is popular among college students, and he tours three weeks out of each month. When Knight isn't touring, he is in Kentucky with his wife and three children.
Farley said Knight has a cult-like following.
"We're finding people every day that are just now discovering him," Alter said.
Knight has had songs recorded by Randy Travis, Gary Allen, Blake Shelton and Montgomery Gentry. He has also opened for Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Alter said Knight's greatest accomplishment is his fortitude and willingness to work hard. According to Alter, Knight's music is poetic rural literature. Alter said Knight uses violence, poverty and other rural subjects as metaphors for love in "Little Victories."
Tickets to see Knight will be $10, and he will start playing at 9:30 p.m.
(11/13/13 9:48pm)
For years, Andrew Nelson and Blount Floyd's lives have been about music, and they've travelled far and wide spreading their "simple, poppy, infectious" tunes. Their band, Great Peacock, will be performing Friday, Nov. 15 at the Overall Company and they advise those in attendance to expect a good time.
The band answered a few questions to give a little insight into their lives and their music, which are one in the same. If you're interested in the band, tickets are $10 and the concert begins at 8 p.m.
Q: How did you both get started in the music industry?
A: Nelson: "We both got into music on a whim, and we've been performing and playing for so long. We have both played in bands together, and we've been through a lot. We first started out in our twenties, and we didn't know what we were doing. We did the whole playing the bar scene. It was really loud and there was a lot of rock and roll. Now that we're a little older, we decided we wanted to do something a little different. And that's just how Great Peacock kinda happened."
Floyd: "Well I grew up playing in high school with a couple of bands, then I went to Auburn and played on my own. I left Auburn and went to an Engineering school which led me to Nashville and that's about it."
Q: It's an interesting and striking name, where did you two come up with Great Peacock?
A: Nelson: "Well, it started off as joke sort of thing. We noticed a bunch of bands with animals in their names and we thought that would be pretty funny. I have to admit, we were a little inebriated at the time and thought it would be a great idea. We were in a band that just ended and decided that if we were going to keep playing music, then lets just do it for fun. After that night, we started calling ourselves Great Peacock, wrote a song for our indie/folk/joke band and that's how it al happened. After that we wrote one song and our friends loved it and people kept wanting to hear it and it went on from there."
Q: You've been in different bands and seen bandmates come and go, what keeps you two together and still chasing the dream?
A: Nelson: "Blount and I pair very well together, personality wise and musically. We've been best friends for a while and we tend to know how to argue with each other. Whenever you're in a band and you're making music, it usually ends up in arguments. We tend to resolve conflicts really quick.
Musically, we both like and listen to the same types of music. Blount is a little more adventurous in the bands he listens to, and I'm more pop-minded. It creates a nice balance, and we get that artistic merit and commercial appeal that we want.
We also sing very well together. I can't sing harmony, I'm terrible at it. And Blount doesn't have a strong lead voice. When we're riding around listening to music, he never sings the melody; he naturally sings the harmony. So we're a perfect fit."
Q: What's a typical day like for Great Peacock when you're on the road performing?
A: Nelson: "These days, we tour off and on. At this stage, we don't have the ability to just tour all the time so we just mainly hit the road on the weekends. We're going to betaking it easy after this weekend until around February. We'll be starting to record our first full length album during that time. We have not decided on a name yet.
In general, it's a lot of going back and forth and it's not very exciting. It's hours in the car, a bunch of dude jokes and a lot of listening to music. We show up, do our thing, have a lot of waiting then get to play some music. We always stay up way too late and party way too much. "
Q: How would you describe your sound?
A: Nelson: "It's more like a pop music/Americana vein. Very southern sounding though. For us, it's just trying to write and play a really catchy song. Like a lot of indie/folk bands, we use a lot more natural sounding instruments."
Floyd: "People usually tag us as "Americana." I mean what is Americana? It means we play a lot of pop songs with acoustic bass and it just falls into the folk category. We just try to write about what people like and connect with."
Q: Where do you draw inspiration for your music?
A: Nelson: "I would have to say growing up in the south has a big impact on our music. We are also inspired by rhythm and sounds that we hear throughout our day. Hearing these sounds leads to the beat in our song, which leads to writing cords, and then there are the lyrics. It feels like a progression through life,
We also love nature and that factors in. It comes from fishing, being outdoors and traveling; its all we ever do."
Floyd: "Well it can be found in a lot of things. We're connected with the south, I grew up in Dothan and Andrew grew up in Mississippi, Birmingham and Georgia so he's all over the south. We try to incorporate the music we love, like old country, and have it be a little more modern and catchy. It's weird, a lot of our songs are about birds or death.
Q: What's your favorite song that Great Peacock performs?
A: Nelson: " My favorite song we do changes night to night. Most likely it's what we play best that night or whatever the crowd responds most to. A crowd favorite is "Of the Mountain Crowd."
Floyd: "The newest songs are the ones you're always going to be the most excited about. "Arms" is one we haven't played yet since we've been here and it's a little more psychedelic, with a classic rock kind of sound to it. I'm really excited about that one and it's gotten great feedback."
Q: What can we expect from Great Peacock at the Overall Company on Friday?
A: Nelson: "They can expect lots of fun. You're gonna want to sing along even if you've never heard it before. We want you to get your moneys worth and have a different musical experience. You might not know what going on, but you feel a part of it."
Floyd: "You can expect to be thoroughly entertained by our energetic live show. We came from the world of rock and roll and we pride ourselves on keeping a crowd entertained and enthralled as the venue can allow.
I'm a big Auburn fan so I'm excited, it's been a really good spot for us."
(10/02/13 12:14am)
The new film "The Butler" certainly delivered some potential Oscar nominees for 2014.
The film tells the story of Cecil Gaines, a man who obtains a position as a butler at the White House during the Eisenhower administration and serves every president until Ronald Reagan.
The film shows what it was like for the African-American White House staff during the civil rights movement and how each president handled and treated the staff and the movement.
Cecil Gaines, played by Oscar-winner Forrest Whitaker, handles each situation the same. He is loyal to the president and keeps his vow of secrecy as his most important duty.
While watching this movie I was lost in the transition they put Whitaker's character through and how he handled each stage of life so well.
There are a ton of films yet to debut this year that have strong male leads and so Whitaker's a big possibility for a nomination this year, it is still not guaranteed.
David Oyelowo could emerge with a best supporting actor nomination from "The Butler." He plays Louis Gaines, the rebellious son of Cecil and Gloria Gaines.
Louis sees his parents as people who will not take a stand against the government that is holding his people back from what they truly could be.
We see Louis struggle the entire time with his identity and his role in the Civil Rights Movement.
He becomes a Freedom Rider and more extreme as time goes on until he becomes a part of the Black Panther party who encourages violence instead of peaceful demonstrations. Oyelowo played the role well and I think has an extremely high chance of receiving a nomination.
The next role that presents itself as an Oscar contender is Gloria Gaines, played by Oscar nominee Oprah Winfrey.
Cecil Gaines' wife struggles with alcoholism and jealousy while her husband remains dedicated to his job.
Winfrey was nominated in 1986 for her supporting role in "The Color Purple." Because she's "Oprah," I think this may be the year she takes home the golden statue.
The next nominee from this movie will almost certainly be Lee Daniels for best director.
Daniels has had extreme success in the last five years with films such as "Precious" and "The Paper Boy."
Daniels has been nominated but has never been the recipient of the award, and this year could be the year. However, there is some stiff competition from directors such as Martin Scorsese, Alexander Payne and George Clooney.
With the success of these movies, and the film industry wanting to highlight new talent, this could be Daniels' year to take home the win.
The only factor playing against "The Butler" is its early August release date. Most films nominated are usually premiered after the first of October.
This isn't always the case, but is most of the time.
However, I still feel that this was an excellent movie that everyone should see and that it has a great shot at some big nominations.
(11/14/13 4:40pm)
"Vanity, thy name is woman."
The phrase is a popular misquote. Hamlet actually said, "Frailty, thy name is woman." Strange that such an expression has taken on a life of its own, put words into our mouths and permeated our culture.
So what does this say about women and their centuries-long pursuit of physical perfection?
"Frailty" has an old French cognate, which means weakness. "Vanity" is a descendent of the Latin word for empty or idle, and of the 13th century French for futile or worthless.
It's as if, to the western world, women's obsession with appearance is equivalent to infidelity, with which Hamlet is accusing his mother when he spits out the heated soliloquy in Act 1, Scene 2.
A quick Wikipedia search will bring up examples of vain women throughout the ages. Artists have depicted the biblical deadly sin of vanity, or pride, as a female before a mirror or lounging with a comb in her hand. A few artistic examples of vain men do actually exist -- Dorian Gray and Narcissus, for example -- but the vice of vanity still seems to be a woman's battle.
Shakespeare slapped a label upon a fictional woman 410 years ago and it became a definition for womankind.
Today, my roommate suggested I watch an episode of "The Simpsons" titled "Lisa vs. Malibu Stacy." Disgusted with the latest talking Barbie-esque doll, Lisa creates her own version and names it Lisa Lionheart.
Where Malibu Stacy embodies everything that is wrong with Barbie dolls: unattainable body proportions, appearance-based play pitched to impressionable girls, and misogynistic recorded phrases, Lisa Lionheart is equipped with "the wisdom of Gertrude Stein, the wit of Cathy Guisewite, the tenacity of Nina Totenberg, the common sense of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and the down-to-earth good looks of Eleanor Roosevelt."
These are women who refused to let vanity be the definition of who they are.
Only one Lisa Lionheart doll sold.
It is a sad, but true, reflection on life, because girls would much rather play with something they can relate to -- a woman who over emphasizes looks and falls under the definition of vanity.
When I started No Makeup November, I wanted to be able to find a definition for myself that was separate from my appearance.
It hasn't been easy.
I started wearing makeup in ninth grade, and it made me feel powerful. I knew I could bat my mascaraed eyelashes and get what I wanted. I was tenacious with teachers, arguing my point like a lawyer.
What I am realizing now that the mask has been taken away is when I get fired up about something, or when I tell a particularly witty joke, I forget my face is naked -- in fact, I almost forget about my face completely. Some people are genetically blessed with traits that are interpreted as beauty; frailty, in the form of vanity, comes when beauty is all someone is concerned with.
Someone can be beautiful, of course, but there is always so much more to everyone we meet. No one is simply one thing all the time. No single word can define a person perfectly -- let alone an entire gender.
I may be a journalism student, but I'm also a coffee addict, a pet parent and a "Lord of the Rings enthusiast." In the same way, a woman might be attractive, but she is also smart and creative and sarcastic and brave.
These are the traits we need to amplify and should pass down to our daughters one day as being more important than beauty.
I think Lisa Simpson put it perfectly as she brandished Malibu Stacy at Marge, "I can't believe you're going to stand by as your daughters grow up in a world where this -- this! -- is their role model."
(09/11/13 11:49pm)
This is the South. Meat is the main event on most plates, bonus points if it's bacon, and something covered in cheese is typically on the side. So when an individual decides to try an alternative diet, it can be a challenge.
Whether for religious, ethical or health reasons, the number of individuals deciding to stick to a meat-free diet has been on the rise recently, according to the Vegetarian Resource Group.
It's common knowledge that vegetarians don't eat meat. But what many people often don't know is the difference between a vegetarian and a vegan.
All vegans are vegetarians, but not all vegetarians are necessarily vegans.
While neither group consumes meat, vegans also cut out animal byproducts such as dairy and honey.
Samantha Patton, freshman in pre-business, said she decided to change to a vegan diet shortly after graduating high school in May.
"As great as animals are, that wasn't my choice--to do it for animals," Patton said. "It's just something that makes it easier for me to make better choices when I eat."
Patton said the idea to try veganism was partially sparked after Patton and her twin sister watched the 2011 documentary "Forks Over Knives."
"Some [points made in the documentary] I don't particularly agree with," Patton said. "But some I thought, 'okay, maybe I'll just give it a try.' And we did and it's worked out pretty well."
While Patton's decision to make the switch to veganism was based on her health, many vegans base their choice on ethics.
Jon Camp, director of outreach for Vegan Outreach, was on campus recently passing out pro-vegan leaflets.
Vegan Outreach is a nonprofit organization dedicated to spreading knowledge about the treatment of factory-farmed animals and encouraging individuals to help decrease the demand for animals raised for human consumption.
"Our long-term goal is to push for a day when we take animal suffering more seriously than we do now," Camp said.
The leaflets provide images of animals suffering from conditions in factory farming and captions describing the associated farming methods. Though Camp has been a vegan for 15 years, he said Vegan Outreach doesn't expect everyone to make the same decision.
"We advocate anything from meat reduction to veganism," he said. "We don't hold up this all-or-nothing position. We want people to make whatever changes they can."
And for anyone who thinks they want to try veganism, Camp has some advice.
"Take it in steps," Camp said. "Eat vegan for one day a week, then two, then just keep moving forward to going completely vegan. Take it at a pace you're comfortable with."
Camp said he recommended limiting meat rather than completely cutting it out of a diet. Learning to substitute meat with foods that will both satisfy and supply important nutrients is crucial.
"Veganism takes a lot more intentionality and respect for the nutrition piece to make sure you do it in a healthy way," said Jessica-Lauren Newby, Auburn University's campus nutritionist.
Newby said certain key nutrients are tricky to consume adequately in a vegan diet.
"We are most concerned in vegans about their calcium, their iron, their omega-3 fatty acids and their B-12," Newby said. "All of those vitamins and minerals most commonly occur in animal foods and are more readily absorbed from animal-based food intake."
Though a vegan diet can be healthy, Newby said it's not a quick fix for weight loss.
"Some see weight loss, but it's really based on what a person was eating before and what they change to on a vegan diet," Newby said.
While there's no cholesterol, and typically less saturated fat, in a vegan diet, not everything qualified as vegan is nutrient dense and healthy.
Newby pointed out that even Jolly Ranchers candies are technically vegan.
Camp said whatever the motivation, a vegan diet can be satisfying if done right.
"Eating means a lot more to me now," Camp said. "I'm not just eating for myself, but I'm living according to my values and trying to decrease the amount of suffering in the world each day."
(11/13/13 12:45am)
Downtown Auburn has its fair share of bands come through to provide entertainment to the masses on the weekends. However, not every band can say they were once students at Auburn and frequented the downtown area.
The Bama Gamblers are returning to Auburn and performing at Bourbon Street Bar Friday, Nov. 15, at 10 p.m. James Miller and the Country Road Band will also be performing.
The Bama Gamblers is comprised of five Auburn alumni, including lead guitarist Matt Alemany, drummer Forrest Flemming, bassist and vocalist Bo Flynn, lead guitarist Matt Kooken and Eric Baath on the keys.
The Gamblers got their start in 2010, blending dirty blues and Southern Rock into a unique sound all their own. They described themselves as having the best of both worlds with "Southern swag and big-city blues."
Richard Forehand, CFO of Sink or Swim Music, said the band performed high-energy blues and Southern soul.
"As the Bama Gamblers begin to spread to new and exciting markets, listen for a sound that is both classic and new, and refreshingly opposite from the house or club music congruency that is gripping many parts of the music scene," Forehand said.
Before The Gamblers, Alemany and Flemming met in Auburn and started out in a band called the Underground Railroad. Soon, they joined with Flynn and the band grew from there.
As for the band's name, the members said they wanted something different.
"I know it sounds tricky, us being from Auburn with 'Bama' in the name," Alemany said. "We just wanted it to stand out more than all the other band names out there."
The Gamblers have played in Auburn more than 100 times in the last three years, and said it is always exciting to return home to their alma mater.
"We love that hometown feel," Flynn said. "But it's also fun to play at big venues."
The band of "whiskey-bent, hell-raisers" has been traveling since the spring, beginning in Nashville, Tenn., and performing in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida.
"I love the Gamblers," said Ryan Noll, manager of Bourbon Street Bar. "They always bring the house down, and you never see the same show twice."
The Gamblers have been working on and producing their debut album at Wonderdog Sounds in Atlanta. While the name of the album is still up in the air, the members said fans should expect the same sounds they know and love.
"At our show Friday, we're going to be playing some newly recorded stuff and some Southern rock and blues covers," Alemany said. "We'll be playing songs that inspire our writing and all our music."
"The Gamblers have everything you want in a band," said Joe Lewis Fleming, Auburn alumnus and fan of the band. "Their Southern style really keeps the crowd going, and their music makes anyone want to have a good time. They are the definition of the South."
(08/14/13 11:37pm)
These days when I get on Twitter, my feed is filled with snarky complaints or people venting about their love life and problems.
This can get awkward if you vent about one of your followers, thus starting a Twitter war and potentially ruining a friendship.
Wouldn't it be great if there was a place you could say whatever you wanted to, without having to fear judgment or inadvertently hurting others?
Whisper is an app that allows you to do precisely this.
With Whisper you can vent all day without having to worry about being caught by a disapproving nemesis or frienemy.
This app gives you the option to post whatever you want with complete anonymity. Whisper automatically assigns you a username that is completely random, but can be changed if you want it to.
You can change the settings so that you can view other people's Whispers from a close radius to your current location.
When I applied this setting I immediately found posts relating to Auburn students. Some poor soul posted a whisper that said "I wish some beautiful Auburn girls would give nice guys like me a chance!!"
Stay strong my friend, there are plenty of us here.
Another user complained about seeing someone brush their teeth in the RBD library.
There's the occasional post that holds too much information like White Ranger who posted "after breakups the only thing that makes me feel better is sexting random girls." Hopefully none of you have been a victim of White Ranger's random sexting.
Some posts actually made me laugh out loud like one user, whose username was too inappropriate to include, that posted "I burnt my mouth taking a big swig of hot cocoa and screamed the f bomb...in class, during a math test."
Definitely wish I could have been there for that.
You can also direct message people anonymously on Whisper if you like, or dislike, their post.
For my first post I made something up to see if anyone would respond. Within 20 minutes after posting I already received multiple direct messages and comments on my post.
It's a way for people to communicate anonymously, and potentially give advice or try to help a person with their problem.
When you type in your problem, or feelings, or whatever is on your mind, Whisper matches your words with a photograph that pertains to the topic. If you don't like the one they give you, you can take your own photo or use one that you already have on your phone.
It also sends you notifications when someone posts a Whisper in your area, likes one of your posts, or sends you a direct message.
You can filter through the Whispers you want to read under the categories "latest," "popular," and "nearby."
Whisper also adds extra protection to its user's accounts by asking for a pin number before the user posts something, so that if someone takes your phone they won't be able to post without your permission.
Under settings they have a frequently asked questions section that tells you how to do things like block or remove a user if you don't want them to send you messages.
So next time your teacher gives you a lower grade then you wanted, or your best friend ditches you for her boyfriend, try posting on Whisper and see what advice and support you can find from other users.
(11/13/13 12:31am)
"Lightning Bolt" by Pearl Jam More than 20 years after their debut album "Ten," Pearl Jam has released their 10th studio album "Lightning Bolt." If Pearl Jam is anything, they are consistent. Unlike Alice in Chains or Soundgarden, they never suffered a breakup or the dreaded hiatus. Pearl Jam releases a new album every 2-3 years, giving listeners something to rely on. Another thing you can rely on is Pearl Jam's ability to write a kick-ass song. "Lightning Bolt" starts out with a slow crawl with their track "Getaway," which slowly crescendos into a hard-rock head banger once it hits the chorus. From there, the album maintains this level of intensity until halfway through the album. At the halfway point, Pearl Jam trades out their electric guitars for acoustic ones. This might seem a bit odd for some of you grunge fans out there, but I found myself enjoying most of these acoustic songs. In my opinion, the acoustic songs on this album are the best ones. The slowdown in pace and tone seems to match lead singer Eddie Vedder's maturing voice. However, that's not to say he can't belt out some good old-fashioned screams from time to time for nostalgia's sake. Unfortunately, I found myself waiting for the chorus to hit in many of their hard rock songs before I could start enjoying it. Also, some of the vocal melodies during the verses didn't seem to be well-written, contributing to the angst I felt until the chorus finally released the tension."New" by Paul McCartney Look, I like Sir Paul McCartney. He was my second favorite Beatle, right after Ringo, but Sir McCartney is not in The Beatles anymore. He has been alone, out in the cold, doing his own thing, for the past 40 years. When people hear the name Sir Paul McCartney, they think of The Beatles. It hurts me to say it, but I believe Sir McCartney can attribute a lot of his success in his solo career to his glory days in The Beatles. I'm not saying he is coasting off of it entirely, but it has definitely helped. That is not to say he hasn't pumped out some amazing music over the years. "Live and Let Die," "Band on the Run" and "Maybe I'm Amazed" were phenomenal songs, but hear me out. I have a challenge for you. Name five songs Sir McCartney wrote in his solo career that are half as legendary as any of the songs he wrote in The Beatles. Don't say "Ebony and Ivory." I hear that song used more as a joke than I have heard it played seriously. I bet you can't do it, can you? "But Jordan!" you say, "You haven't even talked about Paul McCartney's new album yet, 'New.'" Well, I apologize. I have a habit of going on tangents, but what I said before is relevant. Also, say "Sir" Paul McCartney and stop being so disrespectful. He is a knight and his name should be said in such a way to reflect his status as a gentleman. Most of the songs on Sir McCartney's new album "New" were nice. That's the only word I know to use, because they were nice little songs that didn't try to do anything new. The melodies felt recycled and the lyrics were typical Sir McCartney lyrics that have been stomping the same tropes to death throughout the last 40 years. The only thing new about this album was Sir McCartney incorporated some electronic elements into a few of the songs, which felt out of place. Other songs that sounded more rock 'n' roll seemed to rely on a guitar riff to carry the song, making them seem lazy and lackluster. The irony of "New," is absolutely none of the songs on this album felt new. Unfortunately, it just felt like more of the same.
(11/08/13 9:00pm)
The majority of the Nov. 5 Auburn City Counci meeting, after a three-week hiatus from the last meeting Oct. 15, consisted of a quick discussion of traffic control ordinance, utility easements and closing of the streets for the Auburn Christmas parade.
The parade will be held Dec. 6 and is hosted by the Auburn Chamber of Commerce. The council agreed to shut down portions of Gay Street, Thatch Avenue, College Street and Glenn Avenue.
Also approved was a road-paving agreement between the city of Auburn and Lee County.
Parts of Mrs. James Road or Lee Road 081 are in the county and others are in the city. The county engineer recieved a good price for the job valued at $204,921.71 from East Alabama Paving Company, Inc.
The city will remburse the county for the cost of resurfacing the portion of Mrs. James Road that is maintained by the city.
The Council approved a service agreement with Allcomm Wireless, Inc for the city's 911 management system. The company will provide technical assistance, site response, 24/7 remote equipment diagnostics and software/firmware support for the city's 911 equipment at a cost of $23,125.50 for one year.
This is an annual contract that ensures citizens are in constant communication with the Emergency Management System.
The Council approved the purchase of 15 sets of turnout coats and pants for the fire department at a cost of $24,345 and one 2014 Ford F-150 Supercab pickup truck at a value of $21,930 for Environmental Services.
They also approved utility agreement with Southern Natural Gas Company for pipeline relocation costs for $19,720.
The agreement costs include preliminary engineering, preparation of design drawings and environmental evaluation.
The Council approved drainage and utility easements at Mimms Trail Subdivision and the southeast corner of Moores Mill and Grove Hill Roads.
Three people were appointed to the Tree Commission: Chuck Furlow, Steve Eden and Ed Lowenstein. The term expires, Nov, 7, 2016.
The city decided to continue a development agreement with WBB, LLC Hyundai of Auburn located at 823 Opelika Road.
The Council recognized Tim Youngblood as November's employee of the month.
Edward Charles Howard of water resource management was recognized for his 29 years of service and was recognized as a retiring employee.
Catrina Cook from the environmental services department and Houston Manning from the parks and recreation department received 15-year service pins.
(11/07/13 6:02pm)
The Secret Sisters will be performing at The Standard Deluxe Nov. 8. The Plainsman recently had the chance to catch up with Lydia and Laura Rogers of The Secret Sisters about life as rising artists. Q: How long have you been performing? A: Professionally, it was 2009 when we were "discovered," if you want to call it that. We got a record deal in early 2010, and as far as performing goes we never did very much of that in front of people. The only time we were seen together was in private at home or just the two of us and our dad. We would do a lot of family stuff, but we never performed anywhere. In fact, we had never even performed a real show together until after we had got our record deal so it was kind of a backwards process. A little surreal and definitely different than most peoples' experience in the music world.Q: I'm curious about how you got your record label before you started touring.A: I (Laura) always had terrible stage fright like could not even stand in front of my friends and sing a song because I was so insecure. I had just graduated from college and was living in Nashville and A friend of mine told me about this open audition that was being held here. This record label was doing a general talent search. I went to my audition and performed for this panel of judges. I thought I did a terrible job, but they called me back and told me they really liked me and wanted to hear me sing some more. So I played more for them and they started talking about, 'Let's get you in the studio, let's do a record deal,' and I got really panicky because I thought, 'I can't do this by myself.' So I insisted that they hear Lydia sing. (The judges) were kind of blown away that they had discovered this pair of sisters who could sing together who actually were not pursuing a career in music at all. Within a month of that we were flown to Los Angeles and we recorded a couple of demos and then we went up to New York and auditioned for our label and on a wild hare that label believed in us and they signed us ever having played a show without us having a fan base or web site or anything. Q: Tell me how the sister dynamic plays into making music together. A:At first, when we started touring, it was tough because we were so used to not being around each other, and then all of a sudden it was like we were everywhere together - on airplanes, in cars, on trains, in dressing rooms, hotel rooms and on stages. It was like you could not get away from each other so there have been tense moments between us but it's like you get on the stage, and all of a sudden you forget what you were upset about. We play around with it on stage. We make jokes about sibling rivalry and being typical sisters and I think at the end of the day there isn't anybody we would rather be having this big crazy adventure with.Q: Is there a rhythm that you naturally pick up on when playing with your sibling? A: I think so. We kind of feed off each other, and we know what the other one is going to be doing throughout the song. Our voices blend well together so it's just a completely different dynamic than playing with other people. It's funny because sometimes I'll go and play with other people who aren't my sibling and I'm like, 'Oh, I miss Lydia. She would know exactly what I need to do.'Q:How has your music progressed while on tour? A:When we were entering the world of music and trying to make a name for ourselves we became primarily known as a throwback country duo, and that is true. We definitely love classic country music, that's a big part of who we are as musicians, but I think a lot of times it was overlooked that we love early Rock 'n' Roll, some early pop and we're big into gospel, blue grass and a cappella.
(11/11/13 3:25am)
It's only an average morning for nature-lover Jennifer Lolley as she stands alone in the middle of nowhere. Surrounding her is 110-acres of quiet foliage.
As she walks the trails weaving through and around bushes and trees, plant species and histories weave in and out of her conscious.
Her calm pace is this place's tender-love-and-care.
A passion begotten her before she even had a chance to reject it stems from a biology teacher mother and an innate love of critters.
This fire fuels a woman who inspires Auburn to get back out to nature.
"I was raised in it," Lolley said, glancing down to silence the chirping grasshopper ringtone. "Always had it around me. I just told my mom about my black widow collection. She was always showing us things in nature."
After moving frequently as a Navy brat, her family settled in Enterprise and had four horses.
"I always had some kind of critter," Lolley said.
Lolley graduated from Auburn University with a degree in biology. Now, she's settled in Auburn and spends her days in a world of bird's nests made for people and tree houses built for adults.
She's the first and only full-time employee of Auburn University School of Forestry and Wildlife's Louise Kreher Forest Ecology Preserve.
Her office is in the wildlife sciences building and her home is among the other professors in this town.
"I like being with my people," Lolley said. "We're in such an academic world. You don't find that everywhere. I enjoy the people who live here. College towns are great."
To most children around town, she's just "The Snake Lady."
Lolley said she can be grocery shopping when a child spots her, their eyes go wide and they begin tugging on their mother's shirts whispering, "that's the snake lady."
Lolley dedicates herself to the Preserve, taking each opportunity as a teaching one. She holds camps, hikes and leisure opportunities, which have become a favorite for children and families around town, according to Lolley.
"It's made me realize the impact you can have on somebody in such a short time," Lolley said.
For Lolley, the Preserve offers an solution to the problem she calls "nature-deficit disorder" affecting children who just don't get outside much.
Lolley said her favorite part about the job is showing the children things about nature and watching them get excited.
"I can show them something scary or exciting, like a snake or a tarantula, and you can watch them change," Lolley said.
The Preserve features an outdoor classroom, a bird observation area, a turtle pond and an outdoor classroom Lolley calls her pride and joy.
Lolley said she's blessed, because she gets a place in the Preserve's history as the first of something.
"I have a job that can make a difference," Lolley said. "I like to go to work, plus my office is pretty cool."
(11/11/13 9:00pm)
The contract connection between the Lee County Humane Society and Lee County ended Oct. 18 begging the question, who's going to let the dogs out?
The nearly two-decade long relationship between the county and the society is nothing more than the average contractual one similar to cable and internet services and roadwork.
The humane society's relationships with the cities of Opelika and Auburn have not changed.
"We looked at our contracts and what we found was we were not getting paid what it cost to hold the animals for seven days," said Bobbi Yeo, Lee County Humane Society executive director.
The stray-hold is a state-mandated seven days an animal is kept in holding until rescued or adopted, after that time the animal is disposed of in any lawful manner, Yeo said.
"The Humane Society declined to accept a renewal of our existing contract at level funding," said Bill English, Lee County Commission chairman. "On the last day of the year, they proposed a new contract with less favorable terms for the county and a 20 percent increase in cost to the county. When asked, they replied that the terms were non-negotiable. They left us no choice but to meet our statutory obligation in another manner."
The county commission allocated $127,923 last year for the society. The society asked the commission for $154,091 this year. The overall contract increase was 14 percent.
English said they asked for more money, even though the society reduced their available service hours to the county and removed the county's indemnification.
"The fees they provided were nowhere near the most basic cost of that service we provide," Yeo said.
Yeo said the Society's figures were based on the quantity of animals brought in by the county versus that of the cities.
"It's just an allocation, a pro-rated allocation based on activity with us over the past several months," Yeo said.
Yeo said the biggest issue the society was having was subsidizing the funds with donor funds, which she said is unacceptable due to its status as a tax-payer obligation.
English said the Animal Control Division will continue operations as before, but will deliver the animals to different facilities.
"We are exploring alternate methods for housing and possible euthanasia in the future," English said.
Animals collected by the ACD are currently being taken to approximately 25 different Lee County veterinarians.
English said they are not identifying those veterinarians until the Commission has established a long-term solution.
"I believe those vets are giving very good care, and they are invested in re-homing animals at the end of the seven days," Yeo said.
In October, 35 percent of the animals picked up were euthanized.
In additon, 15 percent were adopted, according to English.
As of now, neither entity intend to reunite.
The Lee County Humane Society celebrates 40 years next year.
