Category Archives: Columns

Columns, Forum

Closing of Ear-X-Tacy invokes strong memories

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By Paige Thompson

It is a rainy Sunday and I stand in a line with my dad, sister, and fellow music lovers at a very different but beloved Ear-X-Tacy.  The line moves slowly and I feel like I am in a funeral procession, waiting to pass the casket of a lost best friend.  The line is silent except for the occasional murmur from the crowd and the faint sound of Bob Dylan’s “Desolation Row” being played through the store.

We finally reach the inside and there is a mutual sadness and closure throughout the procession.  We stroll around, taking it all in.  I make my way to the records, flipping through what is left.  I soon spy John D. Timmons, the owner of the store.  He is calm, greeting smiles, best wishes, and memories from various people about buying their first record in the store.  He hugs some of his employees and kisses his wife, who is dressed in all black.

There is a  cameraman from WHAS 11 walking around filming various people, including a staff member taking down a poster from the wall. “Hey! Put that back! Oh wait, it’s an employee,” jokes Timmons.  He stands in the middle of his store doing an interview with the crew from WHAS 11.  He talks about how his favorite section of the store was always the local artist section.  He tells about how many people had come up to him crying about the closure.

Ear-X-Tacy has been a staple place to visit when coming to Louisville.  Most of the people that live in the area have some sort of connection to the store.  I bought my first two records there, and I said my goodbyes by buying more.  Some people had a more musical connection to the store, having seen a band such as My Morning Jacket there and watching them grow and grow.

For me, Ear-X-Tacy has been a place for me to feel a connection to the Highland area in Louisville by being able to support a locally-owned business.  What I loved about Ear-X-Tacy was its uniqueness.  It was a relaxed place where people came to listen to music and buy their music.  Every time I went in there and flipped through the records I felt like I was living back in the 60’s and 70’s when everything was a lot more simple.  When flipping through records with my dad he would tell me stories about all of the records he had when he was my age and how he wished he had kept them.  Ear-X-Tacy was a great place to go spend the day and get away from it all, surrounding myself with music.

As some final words, Timmons posted on the store Facebook page, “The record store experience has been the only child in my life.  Now, it’s time for me to let it fly.”

Columns, Danielle Rehor, Forum

Value of speaking honestly discovered

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By Danielle Rehor

Acoustic Thoughts

Synonyms of my favorite pastime include brazen, unabashed, and vivacious. Sounds down right delightful, right? It is, when done in the right way. Often times we say exactly what we think, but for the most part what our brain tells us to say has become diluted. Perhaps you are ok with that, but for me, I am not. Do not settle for saying a half-truth because it will not offend. It is lame.

I am here today to teach you a lost art in today’s world. That is speaking brashly. Now this is a tool that can help you out, or completely hinder your ability to make and sustain friendships.

Point One. Do not use this as a technique to make first impressions. That comes off bad. You are often seen as a self-conceited, careless, rude person whom people would like to sling names at.

Point Two. This is an art best used for finding out information you are afraid to ask. Essentially, if you like someone and want to find out if they like you too, ask them. Yes, it does seem rudimentary and practical, but few have the guts to do it. Additionally, if someone is clearly crushing on you, do not leave them guessing, do the right thing, just tell them no.

Point Three. This is a good technique for getting out things that just need to be said. I have saved my mother a few times from a terrible fashion mistake just by speaking the truth. You all know, you have wanted to tell that girl in the hallway to wear a whole shirt or offer to buy some guy a belt just for your own sanity. That is perfectly fine to do, when you say these things, though they may sound crude, they need to be said.

Point Four. This can be a complementary note. There is a way to just straight up tell someone. “Hey, you are extraordinarily good looking.” Or “Hey, if you would like to sit by me, I would be perfectly fine with it.” Without fear, it is called speaking brashly.

Speaking brashly is not hard to do, provided you are not obsessed with what others think of you. Be yourself, say what is appropriate and comes to your head. It works.

When you speak free of fear of what others might think about you, it is enjoyable. People think highly of those who speak without fear of repercussions. There is a time and a place, but it is admirable to be true to you.

Two of the most common deathbed regrets are not living a life you want, and not having the courage to express your feelings. Are you going to be one of those people?

The most courageous thing is speaking truth, aloud.

Blake Dykes, Columns, Forum

Book smart teens lack common sense

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By Blake Dykes
“Mom how do you turn the washer on?””The only thing I can make is toast.””I don’t know how to start a lawn mower.”

These are some of the most common sentences spoken amongst teenagers. Even more so I find my friends asking how to do simple tasks like this. Occasionally, I even ask some of these questions.

You would think high school students would be able to do simple things like cleaning and cooking, however many students have never been taught these things.

In school we learn how to find the slope of lines, evolution of the world, and what demonstrative adjectives are. Although, are not taught the little chores, and necessities for life.

One would think that parents would teach these things. However, many people do not think much about it.

People mostly assume they know how to do these things, but once trying to realize they cannot.

On the other hand, there are some teens that do not have supportive parents in their lives. This is where schools should step in, and focus on teaching these mandatory skills for life.

In high school students are not concerned with this. I know very few people that fold their own laundry, cook their own dinner, and so on. It is not unheard of, just the majority of people.
Why would anyone want to do a chore that their parents will do if it does not get completed?

This laziness or inexperience will cause an issue in the future.

Once you have gone to college you may be shocked that the big pile of dirty clothes keeps building up on the floor, and eventually the lack of clean clothes. Or you no longer have any eating utensils, because they are all built up in the sink.

Ask yourself this question, do you know how to preform these jobs? Cooking for instance, not just mac and cheese, but could you really prepare a decent meal? Or do you know how to clean your bathroom? That could result in a mess.

Now it is time to take the initiative and ask for help. If a parent is not able to help you out then Google it, you can find anything on the Internet.

At the end of the day, there is no reason to not be able to fold your own laundry.

Columns, Forum, Jared Hinderer

Columnist settles new vs used debate

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By Jared Hinderer

By Chase Palmer

Two and a half years ago, I bought my first car. I had to decide between getting a newer “economy” car that may have only been a couple years old, or getting five to six year old luxury car.

Fortunately, luxury won out. For less than I could have bought a new bare-bones Kia Rio, or a slightly used Camry, I got a fully loaded six-year-old turbocharged V6-powered Saab.

The reason I make this comparison is that for the same price as a new car with nothing luxury about it, you can get a very nice older car.

For example, what you pay for a new Kia Rio, (about $13,000) that does not even have air conditioning or power locks, you can get an 80,000 mile 2003 Mercedes-Benz E320, with  heated leather seats, dual-zone climate control and a lot more.

Furthermore, despite being older, these higher-end options will more than likely last longer than a newer “cheaper” car.

Although, you have to weigh the advantages and disadvantages. With an older luxury car, you have to take into consideration repair costs if they need servicing, and the fact that they have no warranty. Also, an older Mercedes, Saab, BMW, or other luxury car will probably show some signs of wear.

On the other hand, a new car will have a warranty, be in perfect condition, and have that glorious smell.

Now, I’m not knocking buying a new car. If you have the money and can get the features you want in a brand new car, by all means, do it. Especially if you are shopping American; we need all the help we can get.

In the long run, I have been much happier driving an older luxury car over a new econo-box, but the choice is yours. Weigh the options and choose what makes you happy.

Columns, Forum, Jacob Baumann

New trends reveal sounds for all listeners

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By Jacob Baumann

By Chase Palmer

In the past, music has gone through multiple stages and each had its own good and bad qualities.

About a year ago I would have told you all new music is horrible, but it has grown on me a bit.   Each of these stages in music had to be disliked during its transition period.

When the first pop songs started to appear in the late 70s, I bet they did not care for it at all.  The 80s was pretty much only pop songs and hair metal bands.  This stage in music is probably my favorite, but for some it was a horrible time in music. 

For those who enjoy heavier rock,the era was a bit mellow and boring.   Pop was the style everyone that most bands were headed toward.  I liked the direction where music was going, but some fans were very upset by these changes.

In the 90s, it was no different.  Rap and alternative rock came into the picture as pop began to fade.  Acts like MC Hammer, Ice Cube, and Vanilla Ice proved that rap was here to stay. 

When it comes to rap, I would usually say that it is painful to listen to.  Any rap where an artist just curses and screams profanity, I would not consider it to be music.  Rap where an artist sings about their hardships and struggles is what I see as great.  

With hair bands being pushed out of the picture, bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam arrived with an edgier sound.  I am not a fan of this sound at all.  The lyrics of the songs were good, but the sound just isn’t very appealing to me.

By the end of the decade, pop returned and led to another addition to the music’s lifecycle.  Rap and some heavier music also remained as the 2000s era began. 

Even though I do not care for the music of this decade,  it does not mean that music has gotten worse.  I like and dislike where music is headed.   I do not like it when someone who is talented screams instead of singing, or when their voice is ruined by auto-tune.

Music is ever changing and its really cool to see it happening.