Cable Country

08

Rubik’s Cube Magician

 Aug 30, 2006

For most folks, the Rubik’s Cube is a puzzle..for Magician Joseph Young, it was an inspiration. “It changed my whole performance”, says the 33-year-old Prestidigitator. “I had a Rubik’s Cube when I was 10-years-old but really I never could solve it I didn’t understand the technique and don’t think of me I’m one of these guys who can sit here and solve a Rubik’s Cube, I’m not. The Rubik’s Cube just happened to fall in my lap at a right time and I created a unique act”. 

Now, he’s become known as The Rubik’s Cube Magician.

“Back in ‘97, I had a lady call me wanted a show and I did not get the show”, Joseph says. “She booked another Magician she said we both performed the same tricks and she was correct we both done a card trick, a rope trick and so forth and I said, I want to be different so it just happened I was playing with a Rubik’s Cube one day and I said, you know nobody performs an act with a Rubik’s Cube. And the Rubik’s Cube is different than anybody else that’s the key”.

Joseph launches into his act and makes a Rubik’s Cube seem to vanish from beneath the cover of a colorful hankerchief.

“You have to be different, you got to be unique”, he says. “But this is what sets me apart from any other entertainer, magician, comedian from around the world and this act has literally taken me all over the nation”.

Not only from Knoxville to Asheville to Roanoke..but to places like Florida and Michigan. In 2004, he won the Houdini Rising Star of Magic Award and the Magi-Fest National Gold Medal of Magic winning out over 900 other Magicians in the competition.

While the cube has become his calling card..the perplexing plaything is still puzzling to him.

“The guy that holds the world’s record is 11 seconds or something I can’t actually solve the Rubik’s Cube that fast”, laughs Joseph. “Mine is simply pure slight of hand. It’s a trick everything I perform is simply I tell everybody is a trick I don’t perform miracles only Jesus performed miracles what I perform is simple entertainment purposes”.

Joseph does motivational speaking at churches and schools all across the region.

“I use my magic not only for entertainment but to put a message out there”, he says.

And there’s no hocus pocus to the message..it’s a matter of simply believing in yourself.

“Believe in yourself because if you believe in yourself anything can be possible”, says Joseph.

He’s thinking outside the box..from this riddler called Rubik’s Cube came a revelation.

“When you step on stage..I mean I enjoy looking at a crowd and seeing Mom and Dad smiling and the kids having a good time”, beams Joseph. “That’s what it’s all about it really is”.

For more on the Rubik’s Cube Magician..pick up a copy of tomorrow morning’s edition of the Bristol Herald Courier and read Joe Tennis’ article in the Empire Section.



Posted by Tim Cable

Golfers With Gumption

 Aug 25, 2006

At Graysburg Hills Golf Course, playing partners Lee Norton and Jim Smith try to tee it up as often as they can.

“Most of the time every week”, Jim says.

But a normal golfing question like, what’s your handicap?..takes on a whole new meaning for this twosome.

“I started playing golf in third grade”, says Lee. “And played up through I had a motorcycle accident in ‘87 and then been playing one handed since probably ‘89 or ‘90”.

The motorcycle wreck left Lee’s right arm paralyzed.

“I just leave it in my pocket if I don’t it swings and gets in the way so I just stick it in a pocket and let it go”, Lee says.

Ironically, it was a motorcycle accident in 1965 that cost Jim his left leg. He wears an artificial leg now. So this duo of duffers certainly seem to be connected and on par with one another.

“Well, when you get a one armed man and a one legged man out there playing everybody watches”, laughs Lee.

“You really don’t think about it a lot”, adds Jim. “But when you get out on the golf course people start pointing and saying look over there”.

“We cut up a lot and have a lot of fun”, Lee says.

“He’s great to be around”, Jim points out about Lee. “He’s a lot of fun”.

Lee takes his driver out of his golf bag and grips and rips.

“You’ve really got to keep your head still”, says Lee.

“The only thing I can’t do I can’t turn my hips”, Jim adds. “And if you can’t turn your hips you can’t hit it as far as Lee hits it”.

Yes, despite playing with just one arm, Lee’s a long hitter alright. So one of his friends mentioned to him that he should go for the long drive record by a one armed golfer.

“A few weeks back he heard on the TV”, Lee tells the story. “A one armed man, Jeff Bardel, broke it, set a new world record of 263 and I was telling my friends that I play golf with and they said, why you can do that and I said, probably and they said, well, let’s do it I said, well you set it up and I’ll hit the golf ball”.

So, on this day, he’s here to try to tee off on the record.

Lee lets it rip again.

“I caught that’n pretty well”, Lee says as he admires his drive.

Down the fairway, Lee’s golfing buddy, Jim Scofield yells out, “That got past 290”.

Miller Land Surveying measures to make it official.

“The distance was 296.4 yards”, says Surveyor, Jason Hopson.

A distance calculated using official surveying instruments.

“It is a Topcon 303 GTS series”, Jason explains.

296.4 yards..a new world record.

“It makes me feel good”, says Lee. “I look at it about the way Jeff set his, he set it one week and three weeks later somebody broke it so this could be broken in a week or two you never know”.

“It’s fantastic for East Tennessee and his family”, Jim says. “We’d a got to see him play on Sunday had he not hurt his arm I feel sure”.

Well, I feel inspired by this terrific twosome so, I tee one up and let one rip myself. Perhaps I can join in on their round. But, Lee just walks over to me, grabs my right arm, sticks it in my pocket and says, “There, now you have one less thing to worry about”.

Okay, so I won’t be making it a threesome..but I get the feeling this twosome won’t ever let any kind of handicap slow them down.

“No, not a bit”, laughs Lee. “I haven’t found anything I couldn’t do from..playing basketball, golf or whatever about anything I’ve tried I’ve been able to do it to some degree”.

Jim just gives me a look of assurance and says, “Long as I’m able I’m playing it’s just that simple”.

Talk about a couple of golfers with gumption!



Posted by Tim Cable

The Counsel Man

 Aug 24, 2006

At South Side School, boys and girls get guidance from the Counsel Man.

“Well, I tell people that I’m the best male guidance counselor in Johnson City elementary schools”, laughs Greg Wallace.

Truth is, he’s the only male guidance counselor in Johnson City elementary schools.

“My friends over in Sullivan County told me the reason why I left was because they hired another male over there”, Greg says. “So I couldn’t be the best one”.

The Counsel Man says having a male counselor makes a good mix.

“I think for some kids especially kids that come from homes where maybe their Dads are not involved in their life they have a lot of women involved in their lives and a lot of female teachers that are good role models”, Greg continues. “But I think it’s also good for them to have opportunity to have men in their lives, too because I think everybody needs both parts of that”.

He says his philosophy for guidance counseling is basically two fold.

“I want to build upon what most families are trying to instill in their kids”, says Greg. “They want their kids to be good citizens you know they want their kids to be productive members of society. And I want parents to see a guidance class in elementary schools as kind of something that builds upon the skills that they’re already working with and that would be the first thing and I think the second thing would be for me to develop relationships with kids so that they can see that there’s a positive male role model in the schools someone that they can look up to hopefully and if they have problems they can come and talk to and feel comfortable doing that”.

Well, after watching Greg in action, speaking to 5th graders, I had to ask him if he had any advice for me.

After glancing at his watch, he chuckles and says, “I’m sorry, I just don’t have time to cover that”.

So, no guidance for me..but plenty for his students. He’ll stand on his head for his students if that’s what it takes and often does. Yep, The Counsel Man has flipped over his job.

“I absolutely love it”, he beams. “It’s the best job in the world. I grew up as a kid that didn’t have a lot of influences in my life and if it wasn’t for teachers and coaches I wouldn’t be where I am today. I feel like this is what I’ve always been meant to do”.



Posted by Tim Cable

Sam Houston Schoolhouse

 Aug 23, 2006

Remember The Alamo..but don’t forget Sam Houston. Turns out, he’s one of the most famous folks to ever call Blount County, Tennessee home.

“As far as I’m concerned, I would rank him right at the top of the list”, Sam Houston Schoolhouse Resident Manager Ralph Grindstaff says. 



Posted by Tim Cable

Doak House Museum

 Aug 13, 2006

Tusculum typifies history.  “Tusculum is the oldest college in Tennessee founded in 1794”, says Tusculum’s Director of Museums, George Collins. “And then we’re the oldest co-educational school in the Presbyterian system in the United States”.

Tusculum Academy was started in 1818 by Reverend Samuel Doak and his son, Reverend Samuel Witherspoon Doak. They built the Doak House..completed around 1830.

“Reverend Samuel Doak died in 1829”, George adds. “So this home was lived in by his son and his wife and 13 children at one point”.

And they ran a 483 acre farm here.

“The Doak family occupied this site until 1974”, says George.

In 1974, it was conveyed over to Tusculum College by the Doak family.

“So it’s only been lived in by one family”, George states proudly. “Which makes it unique and the site has been very well preserved over time”.

Now, it’s home to the Doak House Museum.

“It’s all hand molded brick including curved brick so it’s a very unique structure for us”, George says. “Very striking in its appearance. The first floor interior of the house is set up as a period house of the 1840’s”.

On display, a small table owned by Reverend Doak..bookcases and secretaries, period kitchen utensils and cooking pots, exquisite dining room furniture..even a tall clock.

“There’s some pieces of East Tennessee furniture here that represent not only the Doaks but the craftsmanship of the region”, says George. “It certainly makes a statement about Reverend Doak and who he was in the community”.

The statement it makes these days focuses in on education.

“Our primary focus at the Doak House Museum, which is one of the two museums of Tusculum College, focuses on museum education primarily for school children”, according to George.

They serve around 10 to 12,000 school children a year.

“And that’s hands-on, participatory, curriculum based programs”, adds George.

And the education goes on and on..just like the legacy of the Doak family. How intertwined are they? Well, it just so happens the 7th generation direct descendent of the Doak family still lives adjacent to the museum property.

“We’re very tied to our history and rightfully and proudly so”, George says.



Posted by Tim Cable

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