Charlotte, NC

These are updates and observations on stories I’ve run as well as a bit of new material:

• I’ve been informed that the topic about downtown Pineville’s historic preservation has been shelved until their November town hall meeting. This is an important one, folks … so, if you live in the “biggest small town in America” — or even just shop there — be sure to make it, okay?
• The ice extravaganza, High School Musical, will be at the Bobcats Arena this Saturday with shows at 11 AM, 3 PM and 7 PM, then on Sunday with performances at 11 AM and 3 PM. If you’ve seen the movie, you’ll love this rendition (it’s worth the price to see Ms . Darbus — the flamboyant drama teacher — on ice!). Tix range from $18 to $60.
• Did you know that Harding Academy is being used as a model by other schools that are reaching for higher academic standards? ‘Tis true! It’s quite a change from Harding’s rep back-in-the-day (see earlier post).
• Somebody emailed me and asked if I thought my daddy’s “whuppin’” us when we were kids (see Turkey Farm post) constituted abuse. No — in fact, if young’uns were given “switchin’ time” for their “crimes” at a young age, they wouldn’t be doin’ “hard time” for crimes today!
• A couple of emails have arrived concerning the abuse post I ran. Wanna know the signs that signal an abusive relationship? Click this link and especially this one (more detailed). Then make copies of them for study. An important fact here: Do NOT stay with an abusive partner! It only gets WORSE over time!

I’ve also had the distinct pleasure to meet some folks with great blogs (like Deb from We Heart Cats, which you’ll find in my blogroll to your right. If you like adorable whiskerlickers, you’ll really enjoy her blog! And Angela Betts, whose BabyBoomer blog is fantastic for anyone … but especially we who were born after WW II). And a great honor was re-acquainting myself with my eighth-grade math and science teacher, Mr. Mills. Presently one of Pineville’s esteemed councilmen, he was the best teacher Pineville School had back-in-the-day.

Okay … it’s time to cut this rascal off for now, but I’ll be back tomorrow with more. Stay tuned …

One of my most pleasant times when I was a teen was going to the old K-Mart™ on Archdale Drive in Charlotte (Starmount Shopping Center) every Saturday afternoon. My brothers and I had a ball at that old store … and Daddy and Mama loved the prices!
You know, the old “aroma” of that store (sort of like the old-timey dime store in Pineville) never left me; you can find something like it in the air at some of the Big Lots stores of today. Still, as they say, it’s often imitated, but never duplicated. The first “big” thing my folks bought me there (outside the required clothing) was a transistor radio like the one you see in the photo at the top (the only difference was that mine was black).
But the records were what I was interested in. A budding guitarist with sights on making my new rock act work, I dug Beatles, Del Shannon, Troggs, Kinks … anything rockin’ that had a vowel or consonant starting its name!
It was also there that I found my first girlfriend … well, for fifteen minutes, anyway (her parents had to leave, and I … well, I forgot to get her name!). My brothers found a way to completely embarrass my Dad once with a practical joke that was all good clean fun (until we got back home and realized it wasn’t funny to our backside!) And it was where I had my first “promo” picture done with co-singer Don Prasse (to the left of the old building).
The people were always friendly, the prices very courteous to Daddy’s wallet, and the choices would make Wal-Mart blush! In a day of computerized check-out lines (some “do-it-yourself”) and employees too busy to help you with even the slightest choices, a place like that — I mean, the way it was back then — is sorely missed!
Today’s stores can learn a lot from K-Mart™ of old …

SHOPPING CARTS

Of course, one of the fun part of the trip was the “clink-clank” of the old metal shopping carts. Once you filled up, you headed for the checkout and … the goodies were yours!
In today’s internet shopping, there’s still a need for shopping carts if you’re going to get a sale. Unfortunately, a lot of new web-based businesses don’t know how to include them on their sites … and leave prospective shoppers hanging, as such, with merchandise they don’t know how to finally buy!
Well, there’s a very thorough and successful way to add shopping cart software to your site! Whether you’re selling arrangements of flowers, things for your rooms, clocks that tick hours, or really nice perfumes, you can be sure of getting the sales closed with the e-commerce software from Ashop Commerce. They’ll be with you every step of the way in getting your business off-the-ground, saleswise, and your merchandise in the hands of some very happy customers!
And you’ll be pleased with the support you get from them! With the cost being budget-friendly, the service totally thorough, their software 100% reliable — and the fact that they’re integrated with major banks and, of course, PayPal for the most worry-free transactions — you’ll soon see why more and more new businesses are turning to Ashop! And here’s a BIG plus: they have that all-important SSL (secure-socket layer) protection to assure your customers that their purchase info isn’t going to be found anywhere else on the web (this, of course, is to protect your information)! So click on that link up there now … and you’ll start enjoying the benefits (and your sales!) before you know it!

Hear ye, hear ye, Folk of the Town Crown’d (Now, was that corny or what?? Let’s start again):
Hey, Crown Towners and vicinity:
The Carolina Renaissance Festival — a medieval European style art and entertainment festival — is underway up in Huntersville, and it’s brimming with wonderful old-time (I mean realllllly “old-time”) activities and experiences! You have an outdoor theater, circus entertainment, arts and crafts marketplace, a jousting tournament, a feast fit for royalty, and lots more!
This 14th annual season of the Festival (located in Huntersville. I’ll give ya directions in a moment) is open on Saturdays and Sundays until November 18th. It was introduced in 1994 with six acres of things-to-see-do-and-hear. But it’s grown into a twenty acre theme park, and it’s now filled with cottages and castles, kitchens and pubs, and an unusual collection of people powered rides and games of skill.

The event has grown to be one of the largest of the Renaissance fairs anywhere in the U. S.! You have tree-lined areas with 100 purveyors of crafts and food, and non-stop music and comedy shows are presented on 10 stages every event day.

This is one of the most interactive entertainment shows ever created with wonderful amusements and antics ongoing all around you! You can sit back and watch, or you can become a part of the action, surrounded by over 500 costumed characters roaming the festival village. The village lanes are full of peasants singing sea-faring songs and street entertainers surprising you with tall tales and tricks, each with a role to play.
You can experience the clashing of armor and the thundering of hooves daily with full combat jousts at the King’s Tournament Arena.

Now, does that sound like a great way to spend a weekend? Of course it does … as thousands of folks have already found out! It’s fun and educational; there’s a lot of outside activity, and it’s relaxing as all get-out!

Now, I mentioned directions: The Festival is going on now at 16445 Poplar Tent Road in Huntersville, just up the road apiece. Here’s the directions for you newbies:
“Take Interstate 85 North to Exit 52 West (Poplar Tent Road). Follow Poplar Tent Road about 5 miles to the Festival entry on the left. The entrance road will be just before the intersection of Highway 73.
Or take Interstate 77 North to Exit 25 east (NC 73). Follow the signs 5 miles to Poplar Tent Road. Turn right onto Poplar Tent Road. The Festival entry road will be on your right.”
Either way, you’re gonna have fun … and learn somethin’ … so, with cooler temps ahead, get thee a way to traverse and enjoy thou the goodies!

IMPORTANT: Due to the nature of this subject, this post will be longer than normal. Please continue reading this totally. There are no ads or reviews to interrupt this particular post. Your comments are invited. Thank you.

Man, if there’s anything this writer despises, it’s abuse and violence against women and children! Especially when it’s home-based.
Now, remember: The month of October is DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH!! And we’ve all gotta take a FIRM stand and let the creeps and cowards who beat, intimidate, control or otherwise abuse women and children that

CHARLOTTE’S NOT GONNA TAKE IT ANYMORE!

Now, there are some special events coming up to honor the month, but, before I share ‘em with you, mind if I give you my take on it? I mean, after all, I was a victim of it myself! (yes, it can happen to men):

For the life of me, I’ll never understand how a guy can be attracted to a woman, eventually say her, “I Love You,” and, ultimately, go before a preacher and God with promise to “love and honor” her until death they do part — then set out to change the things that attracted him to her, even to the point of control.
The “abuse” thing comes in from something that started in the 1800s. At that time, whenever a man bought land, anything and everything … including every one … that went on that property belonged to him. He owned it all … they were all “chattel” to him, and he could do whatever he wanted to it.
Also, since this is the famous Bible Belt, many think it’s their “sacred right” to be “Lord and Master; Judge, Jury and Executioner” of his family.
However, these clowns forget that, in that same Bible, in the Old Testament, whenever someone abused his family (especially his spouse), he was put to death!
Personally, I have no time for these impulsive egomaniacs who think they’re John Wayne or some big shot by beating their families. I call them cowards who are unwilling to use a little conscience, foresight, restraint and, most of all, love, to handle things with their household members.
They need psychiatrists … not just slap-on-the-wrist DVO or EPO orders. Those don’t keep the cockroaches away — often, it makes them meaner and more vindictive! To that end, we need (and excuse the expression) a helluva lot stronger laws … and stiffer, active sentences … and mandatory psychiatric care … to stop this scourge!
Then we need to publicize each case that’s handled that way … let the cowards know they won’t get away with it!
Look … (and this is to the abusive cowards) NO ONE IS ANYBODY’S “PROPERTY”! It’s only by the grace and love of the individual that she (or he) stays with a spouse or partner. They are INDIVIDUALS who came to you in love and belief … GAVE themselves to you intimately for that same reason! Who are you to beat or otherwise abuse them? Think you’re some kinda tough guy? You’re not. You’re simply a freakin’ coward! If you were a man, you’d learn the FIRST RULE OF MANHOOD, which states: CONTROL YOUR IMPULSES!
Around here, we call it willpower!
IF YOU DISAGREE WITH ME, JUST LEAVE A COMMENT!

NOW … for the events (still with me?? Good!):

They start on OCT. 15 at 8 PM with the documentary film “No!”, which looks at sexual assault throughout the world. You can catch it at UNCC’s McKnight Hall.

Next (and, for you guys who feel as strongly about stopping the madness as I do, this oughtta be fun … and a wake-up call), on OCT. 25, from 11 A.M. to 1 P.M., there’s gonna be (ready, guys?) a men’s march to stop sexual assault and gender violence at UNCC’s Belk Tower. Guys, you gotta come to this one, ’cause the Walk A Mile In Her Shoes program is looking for guys willing to walk one mile in women’s high heels. (take that, chauvinist pigs! )
Then, from OCT. 29 to NOV. 2, there’s gonna be an art exhibit on domestic violence at UNCC’s Cone Center Art Gallery. These pieces have some high impact, so make a point to be there.

Listen … I have never abused, controlled or demeaned a woman, and would rather die than do any harm to them or children! Recently, I returned from a trip to West Virginia where, in one area alone, there were no less than 100 graves of women who were the victims of domestic violence.

Charlotte, we’re a class city in many ways. Don’t let some idiots destroy that “class” by allowing them to act like the same word … only without the first two letters!

If ya need more info, or just wanna talk, give me a shout-out in a comment, first …
Let’s STOP THIS MADNESS IN ITS TRACKS, okay?

Now … about the schedule

Sometimes, just the rustle of leaves can bring back memories …
I remember back, years ago, there was an old stretch of woods out by Dorman Rd. (just south of Pineville) — actually, we all called it “Turkey Farm Road” for some reason. Daddy used to take me and my brothers there on Sunday afternoons to enjoy the natural beauty, tall trees, and … well, just the peace of it all.
Or … or maybe it was just to get out of mama’s hair while she cleaned up after Sunday dinner. I dunno …
Anyway, there was a Sunday afternoon in September of 1963 in particular that stands out in my mind, and brought new meaning to the word “whuppin’”! Let me explain:
Steve, Dick and I were all Army buffs back then … anything with a helmet and rifle was awesome to us (remember: though I already played a little guitar and harmonica, the Beatles hadn’t hit our shores yet!). Well, awhile earlier, we’d talked Daddy into getting us some “Army” walkie-talkies at K-Mart on South Boulevard, and we took those with us — just in case we became separated or something.
When we got out of his Hinson Pump Co. van (by the way, there’s someone in Derita who’s using that name for his business. Listen … please honor the man who created the first HPC, and keep it clean, okay?) and took off to the woods.
First, we encountered the legendary “Indian Burial Grounds”, and talked about it between ourselves, using our radios (who cares if we were only about three feet apart? The feedback alone let Daddy know where we were!). Then we went a little deeper into the woods, just to check it out.
And deeper …
and deeper …
Yep. We were more lost than an atheist at a Pentecostal tent revival! My brother Dick shinnied up a tree to see if we could find our way out (actually, I tried to tell him to look for the break line … where the trees thinned out a bit with none behind ‘em. But he’d perfected a trick later adopted by ex-wives everywhere: He didn’t listen to me).
Soon, though, he gave in and we started heading in the right direction … to a point where we could hear Daddy …
who’d not only been frantically calling for us, but also had gotten radioed Uncle Cull and Pineville Police Chief Tom Rogers to gather a search party for us! And had also CB’ed Mama, who was at her wits’ end in worry.
Well, we finally made it out. He came up to us and, in a voice that coulda raised those Indians, commanded, “Go get in the truck”.
We piled in, knowing what was gonna happen when we got back! Not a word was said to us; he only got on the CB and let everybody know he’d found us.
Back at the house, we’d started to open the passenger door when he said, “Wait a minute. Let me get to that side. You boys know what’s coming!” Dick got out first … and, after his tail-burnin’ came me! I don’t think I sat down again until 1968! Steve — always the crafty one — tried to sneak out the driver side, but with no success. Daddy “headed him off at the pass.” To this day, I think he got off easier ’cause he was the youngest (only 9 … ’sides, it was close to his birthday!).

Today, we hear of kids runnin’ wild on the streets, staying out ’til all hours, gettin’ into trouble. Sadly, some are hurt, kidnapped or worse, and parents become frantically worried.
Police are called, circulars are put out, Amber Alerts are posted … but not all come back safely.

I submit that if more dads would be like mine (the late C. E. “Eola” Hinson), they’d have a better chance of keeping their kids safe …
even though the young’un’s fannies might be a little worn out in the process …

Man, there’s going to be a super homecoming shortly, as thousands of troops from the 82nd Airborne return home from long hauls in Iraq and Afghanistan. A little over 3,000 soldiers from the Division’s Third Brigade will be returning to Pope Air Force Base (near Fort Bragg) sometime between Oct. 19 and Nov. 2. More than one hundred of their colleagues have already returned to get ready for their return.
This is especially poignant to me, since I not only am a veteran myself but have friends stationed with the brigade. Of course, fathers/mothers/spouses or partners/children have all been waiting for this day for over a year.
Now, as much as we’d like to see them back in civilian clothes, we can’t expect them to get back to their homes immediately. When they return to their base at Bragg, they’ll have to work half-days for ten working days (but they’ll have a few “four-day weekends” built into their schedules. And while they usually get two-week vacations, their extended deployment convinced officer to give them a break for a full month — from Dec. 8 to Jan. 7.
I mentioned the “more than one hundred” soldiers preparing for them. Well, they’ve already held nine meetings with the returnees’ families, giving them resources that are available from the Army’s Chaplain Corps and Womack Army Medical Center. They also spent time teaching them how to recognize signs that a soldier’s having trouble adjusting to life at home.
One of the first things to understand is: Don’t try to turn the civilian activity right back on. You see, after being gone for a 1 1/4 year, everybody’s going to be coming at them from different angles. Everybody’s going to have something to deal with.
In Iraq, they’re already undergoing counseling for a return to home life so that the men (and women) won’t be spending much time on-base once they get home. Their work will be minimized so they can focus on those who have missed them the most … their families.
But, any way you look at it, it’s going to be a celebration: They left here, perhaps kids just wanting to hang out at the mall, go shopping, cruising, play video games or work at McDonald’s.
They’re coming back as responsible, disciplined MEN and WOMEN. And Charlotte — as with the rest of the troops’ hometowns — couldn’t be prouder!

BUILDING CUSTOMER TRAFFIC

If you’re a businessperson here in Charlotte (especially if you own one!), you know the importance of “getting the word out” about your services. Today, the quickest way is by Internet: It can bring in more customers than you can “shake a stick at.”
If you have a site that displays your merchandise, then it’s important to give customers a chance to make their choices and purchase in the comfort of their own homes!
Now, in order to do that, your site needs good ecommerce software to allow them to get the order to you! Right — you need a “shopping cart” (you’ve seen these in some sites like eBay and others. They really are great in closing the sale!).
So, if you want your online business to be successful, it’s vital to get your own shopping cart. The folks at Ashop Commerce have the best — and at a price that won’t break your business budget!
Don’t have an online store?? They’ll help you create one! They even offer free store design … give you a 10-day free trial, and even more perks!
So give them a shot today. Just click on the link above (or the pic below) and watch your profit-margin grow! Success is only a click away!

It’s official. The Foo Fighters are invading Charlotte this Friday.

Now, don’t go grabbin’ yer guns an’ callin’ Homeland Security. For the uninitiated, the Foo Fighters is a group comprised of some of rock’s finest performers. Headed by Dave Grohl (former drummer for Nirvana), these guys have brought the house down with their powerful sets, fantastic playing and great vocals. (Actually, Chris Novaselic was supposed to join Dave in the beginning but, since he was also a member of Nirvana, he didn’t want the FF to be thought of as a “second coming” of Cobain’s classic band.)

Still don’t know ‘em?? (Man, are you behind the times!) Hmmmm … I got it! Remember Letterman’s show a few weeks back, when ….? Ah-HA! NOW you remember!! (See? Toldja they were good! If they weren’t, why’d you remember ‘em? ).

Actually, this would be a cool outing for your older kids … and, from the FF shows I’ve been to, a pretty safe one! It’s gonna be at the Cricket Arena, 2700 East Independence Boulevard, on Friday night. The doors open at 7 PM with the show starting an hour later. Tix are $38.50 through Ticketmaster, but, hey … the show’s worth it, okay? They’ll also have a really dynamite opening act, the Hi-Fi Handgrenades.

So be sure to get your tickets now (okay … at the door, then …) … and I’ll see ya at the show!

Normally, I put the photo to the left of your screen, but, this time — well, a hero needs to be “front and center.”

Sgt, Zachary D. Tellier joined the Army a year after he and his lovely wife, Sara, moved to Charlotte in 2004. While she remained brave and kept the home fires burning here, he was assigned as a combat infantryman with the 4th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, stationed at Fort Bragg.

Though on a tour of duty in Afghanistan, he was due to fly to Atlanta for a brief leave this month. Sara had been anxiously shuttling between Charlotte and the Georgia metropolis, where Zachary had family … just waiting for that day when her arms could be around him again.

In April, though, his unit was on mounted patrol when a vehicle drove over a bomb. It exploded and set the vehicle on fire, according to official reports.
While gunfire erupted, Tellier — a member of the proud 82nd Airborne –pulled two of his comrades out of the wreckage, suffering severe burns to his hands. For that, he was awarded the Bronze Star with valor. Previously, he had gotten two Purple Hearts.

But that was just part of the story. The rest goes like this:

After he was burned, he jumped up in the turret to return fire, according to a member of his unit. A lieutenant made Tellier get out of the vehicle due to his injuries.

Sadly, he died as a result of those injuries.

While debating Bush’s funding and hearing all the rhetoric coming off Capitol Hill about the handling of the war, we here in America all too easily forget the bravery and tenacity of the young men and women who are on the ground, sweat-mixed-with-sand drenching their bodies as they fight in unbearable heat.
We forget that many of them would give anything for a cool drink of water — even something as simple as a candy bar and a moment’s rest.
They, as we, may not support our President’s stance on Iraq, but they do their job as they’re told — hoping against hope that they’ll come back safely to their loved ones — and soon.

Unfortunately, Sgt. Tellier didn’t have the chance to do that. Instead, his actions made sure that two others would live to love their children again.
For his unselfish actions in the line of duty … for the fact that he put his own life on the line for the safety and security of his comrades … this writer firmly believes Sgt. Zachary Tellier should be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

He was one of us; a Charlotte resident (incidentally, we’re doubly proud of those who re-locate here. To think that, of all the cities and towns across America, they chose Charlotte to be their home is quite an honor!).

He was … and is … an American HERO!

In my last post, we talked about how hip-hop music has gotten a bad rap with some preconceived notions about its sound, purpose and performers.
Before we move on to this one, let’s review:

• Though many baby-boomers think of it as noise that’s turning our nation’s kids into juvies, our folks (note this is an understood collective pronoun; I’m referring to the general boomer population of the Queen City, and not to just one or two people!) thought the same thing about The Beatles.
• If you especially listen to the song Gitarzan, you’ll hear the same basic lyric pattern as used in a rap/hip-hop song — only with the wonderful silliness that became Ray Stevens’ trademark. (I’ll admit was off with Wooley’s That’s My Pa. The vocal bridge after every third line, coupled with a hilarious refrain, makes it unique and fun to listen to, but not an early “rap”)
• The musical instrumentation — from turntables to synthetic loop — is still valid in most hip-hop arrangements, and found in artists as diverse as 50 Cent, Jay-Z, Beyonce and Ludacris.
• The lyrics, at times, may seem harsh to some critics, but even those are being toned down and given a more universal slant in actions taken by many of the genre’s producers.

One thing that has to be remembered: Before passing judgement on the hip-hop phenomenon, consider that only a fraction of the hip-hop artists today advocate any kind of violence. The lion’s share of them, while letting their emotions play through their rap, are only venting what all of us feel at one time or another. Granted, the profanity should be cut back, if not removed completely. Any great performer is proficient at conveying his/her emotions (including anger) without ‘em … and still go gold with their products.

And, listen: Don’t judge the brand by the loudness you hear from car stereos! Sure, it’s noise pollution, but it’s up to the listener to turn the volume down, not the artists! In fact, if you were to take the same CD that’s blaring out of some heavy-bass-speakered car and listen to it at a sensible volume, then actually study the lyrics, storylines and emotions (beyond any profanity you hear), you’ll see that this is, in fact, music!

Now, the next thing to do is take in a live show. From concept of song to writing, rehearsing, laying tracks, more rehearsing, practicing dance/prance moves, mic arrangements, booking, promotion, travel, roadie set-ups and soundchecks, it takes a lot of time and skill to make a really good one.
On the show itself, you’ll see a lot of excitable movement across the stage, occasional audience interaction, and pure energy in each set. These make for great shows (acts like The Who, The Rolling Stones and others did the same in our day — and still do!). Nothing more; no “hidden agenda” or “riot incitement” or anything.

To close this look into the hip-hop world, remember: If you want to know something a little better, you’ve gotta study, understand and compare it before you pass judgement! The rap/hip-hop genre is here to stay — and (after almost forty years in music, including studying, teaching, performing, DJing, performing, writing and recording) I can tell you it is an indelible part of our musical heritage!