g-vegas magazine march 2012

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Did you know?

A few facts about St. Patrick’s Day that you may not know:• Corned beef and cabbage is atraditional St. Patrick’s Day dish• There are 36.9 million U.S. residents with Irish roots. This number is more than eight times the population of Ireland itself (4.5 million). • Irish is the nation’s second most frequent-ly reported ancestry, ranking behindGerman.• The first St. Patrick’s Day parade took place in the United States on March 17, 1762, when Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched through New York City.• More than 100 St. Patrick’s Day parades are held across the United States. New York City and Boston are home to the largest celebrations.• At the annual New York City St. Patrick’s Day parade, participants march up 5th Avenue from 44th Street to 86th Street. More than 150,000 people take part in the event, which does not allow automobiles or floats. Where did the Irish get their world-known symbol, the Shamrock?The shamrock, which was also called the “seamroy” by the Celts, was a sacred plant in ancient Ireland because it symbolized the rebirth of spring. By the seventeenth century, the shamrock had become a symbol of emerging Irish nationalism. As the English began to seize Irish land and make laws against the use of the Irish language and the practice of Catholicism, many Irish began to wear the shamrock as a symbol of their pride in their heritage and their displeasure with English rule.

St. Patrick’s DayFun & Facts

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Editor-In-ChiefKevin Howard - [email protected]

Design

Eduardo Vargas - [email protected]

Katelyn Crook - www.kcrook.com

Photography

Trey Singletary - [email protected]

Brandon Hill - [email protected]

Bobby Gorda - [email protected]

Ryan Harper - [email protected]

Contributors/Writers

Ben Herring - [email protected]

Taylor White - [email protected]

Lori Favre - [email protected]

Mick & Blando - [email protected]

Barefoot Wade - [email protected]

Trey Singletary - [email protected]

Brian Goings - [email protected]

Shamar Roundtree - [email protected]

Patrick O’Brien - [email protected]

Brookelle Stockton - [email protected]

Jenna Dawson - [email protected]

THEG-VEGASMAGAZINEHARDWORKINGSTAFF

G-Vegas Magazine 116 East 5th Street, Greenville, NC

(252) 227-4313 www.gvegasmagazine.com

2 St. Patrick’s Day Fun & Facts

7 Spring Fashion Trends

11 Rock Report

13 The Big Something

15 Nuts & Bolts

17 130 Feet Below the Waves

21 St. Patrick’s Day Recipes

23 The Rivalry Never Dies

25 2012 Pirates BaseballSeason Begins

29 Venue Directory

29 Josh Sanders: Artist Spotlight

31 What’s On your Mind

37 Free Bird!

7

THE BIG SOMETHING

SPRING FASHION REPORT

ST. PATRICK’S DAY RECIPES

PLAYSTATIONVITA REVIEW5

MARCH2012

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NUTS & BOLTS

130 FEETBELOW THE

WAVES

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JOSH SANDERS

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PLAYSTATION VITANever stop playing…if you have that kind of money.

Sony’s next generation portable console, the successor to the PSP and competitor to Nintendo’s 3DS is here. Yes, the PlayStation Vita was released on the 22nd of February. Sorry this is late…but better late than never, right?

Sony’s new handheld brings to the table a whole new host of fea-tures unseen in portable game systems before. The biggest news of course being the 5-inch OLED capacitive touchscreen, designed to provide minimal glare and high definition images. The incredibly light PSVita is a little on the large side at 7.2 inches, so perhaps not small enough to fit in your pocket, unless you have big pock-ets…or a man purse.

Unlike the PSP and the PS3, the Vita doesn’t feature the aging XMB horizontal-display operating system; instead little bubbles are dotted across the screen featuring little apps, widgets and general tidbits to draw your interest. Just like most smartphones and Nin-tendo’s 3DS, the Vita features two high-quality cameras, one on the back and one on the front, enabling you to hold video chats and play augmented reality games.

The system itself is pretty solid, right? Well, I found this not to be the case. The console could cook you a full meal and pour a glass of cola too, but without any decent games on the system, it’ll inevitably just go down as another flop in the vast abyss that is gaming history. So onto the launch titles, available at launch will

be the following – Uncharted: Golden Abyss, LittleBigPlanet, Little Deviants, WipEout 2048, ModNation Racer, Reality Fighters and Hot Shots Golf.

The biggest game at launch, undoubtedly, will be Uncharted: Golden Abyss. This is the first time the game is appearing on a portable device, and is a perfect title to test the PSVita to the max. LittleBigPlanet is also right up to the job of showing off what the Vita has to offer, from social networking features to augmented reality, this bad boy really is set to be a cracker.

But with that said, Sony may shoot the Vita in the proverbial foot with its pricing. There are two versions of the Vita, one with wifi ($250) and the other with 3G/wifi ($300). For something so pow-erful, that’s not too bad of a price. Then you find out you NEED a memory card, which are not only small but way too high. They come in 4gb ($20), 8gb ($30), 16gb ($60) and 32gb ($100). So which ever version you get, you have to spend the money for the memory card you want (or should I say: need).The PSVita is looking like a very sound, high-spec games console, with a very strong line-up of games at launch. Only time will tell whether Sony can close the gap on Nintendo’s 3DS. One thing’s for sure, it’ll be a good fight between the two consoles.

System: PlayStation Vita (handheld Console)Rating: 8.5/10

















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THE GAMEBy: Shamar Roundtree

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This spring, trendsetters agree that we’ll be continuing to commemorate vibrant color and punchy prints. This trend of daring hues and ex-citing patterns began with denim last year, and quickly spread throughout the fashion world. Now all textures and fabrics seem to be infused with eye catching colors and bold prints. This craze is inspiring women to dress for the mo-ment and accentuate their every mood. This spring, embrace your free will by defying drab, and challenging your wardrobe with these fun new looks!

Among the spring wardrobe must-haves are breezy pastels, bold color blocks and electric volts of neon. Colorblocking is one of the major statements from spring 2012 runways, and it is also a great look for tops and dresses if you’re feeling gutsy. Spruce up solids or neutrals with color blocked accessories for a look that’s fresh without being over-the-top. If exotic, look-at-me hues aren’t your cup of tea, mint green works with most skin tones, and is ideal for reenergiz-ing your closet. For a classic, ladylike feel, mix that mint green with neutral and pastel staples.

Neon is an eye-catching spin to any style. Mix these provocative tones of hot pink, lime green, bright orange or yellow with your basic black, beige and tan pieces. On a college budget? The clever recessionista could try neon nail pol-ish for a simple burst of fun color.

Many spring trends are back from last year and are ready for round two. Stripes have proven to be a closet staple, as well as season-less pat-terns that can be revamped for fresh spring 2012 look. Feminine florals return, brighter and more energetic than ever, refusing to take a backseat to newer trends. Give mixed prints and Navajo-inspired patterns a whirl, as they too make a comeback this season. Mixing different prints creates a fashion-forward recipe that is effort-less and super easy to pull off. Make sure to bring your look together with a solid accessory for balance. Navajo-inspired clothing, jewelry and accessories are continuing to stand strong alongside upcoming spring trends, with bold graphic form and vibrant hues sure to help you transition from the last days of winter.Retro-inspired peplums are huge this season.

This elegant design detail was huge in the 1860’s, mid-20th century and the 1980’s. Revisit this classic silhouette this spring for a look that is more fast-forward than rewind. High-low is the trend-dictating hemline of the moment. Higher in the front and lower in the back is a trend that will be sure to show off your legs this spring break. If you’re looking for an inexpensive way to re-vamp your look this spring, defined cat eyes are the way to go. Fun cat eyes have a trendy, yet feminine feel. Hot pink lip color is in this sea-son and a fun way to shed the winter blues. Try M.A.C Viva Glam Nicki Lipstick to execute this look, and M.A.C will donate 100% of proceeds to charity. Spring’s trends are oh-so-wearable and there are tons of new outfit ideas that lay ahead. In-vest in a few new pieces each season and build the rest of your wardrobe around them. Creativ-ity is essential to a successful wardrobe. Before you commit to your spring look, visit Pinterest.com for inspiration on how to make these spring trends work for you.

THE LOOKBy: Jenna Dawson

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SPRING FASHION TREND ALERT

S P R I N G F A S H I O N T R E N D A L E R T

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So for those who haven’t heard, the biggest show to ever hit North Carolina is coming back… and even bigger than last year!

Carolina Rebellion’s inaugural show was last year in Charlotte and hosted a SOLD OUT crowd of 32,000 rockers! The show was amazing but there were several issues with parking, lines for food and bever-ages, and things of that nature. This year, to alleviate these issues and for more space, the show has been moved to Rockingham Speedway (which is actually a slightly shorter drive for us in ENC). We were wondering how they would be able to compare with last year’s lineup but this year’s band list is freakin sweet!

SHINEDOWN, KORN, CHEVELLE, FIVE FIN-GER DEATH PUNCH, SLASH, EVANES-CENCE, STAIND, P.O.D., VOLBEAT, ADELITA’S WAY, PAPER TONGUES, WEAVING THE FATE, REDLIGHT KING, HALESTORM,

RED, NEW MEDICINE, AND GHOSTS OF AUGUST.

Not only is that a BADASS lineup, but we’re very excited to see local boys Paper Tongues and Weaving The Fate among the bands this year. Paper Tongues is based out of Charlotte but frontman Aswan North is from Jacksonville and Weaving The Fate (out of Columbia, SC) have rocked all over Greenville for years (previously as Villanova). In addition to the new venue, Carolina Rebellion is also offering VIP & CAMPING PACKAGES in 2012. Options vary from access to VIP recovery tents during the show all the way up to them having a stocked RV waiting for you when you arrive! Not to mention this year they’ve also added the Friday Night Campground Party to kick the weekend off with performances by Lez Zeppelin (all female Zeppelin tribute),

ROCKREPORT

One… The Only Tribute To Metallica, and Foxy Shazam! So mark the date now, Satur-day May 5th, Rockingham Speedway. And keep listening to The X for chances to win tick-ets and some extra goodies to amp up your experience! Find out more at 995thex.com and get ready for the rebellion… the Carolina Rebellion!


Coincidently, I’m residing at the same KOA campground in South Caro-lina that I spoke of in my last article. I played in Charleston last Saturday and my next show isn’t till Thursday, so I decided to hang out here for a few days. But the purpose of this story isn’t to tell you about my ad-ventures; it’s to inform you of a band that will be coming to Greenville on April 13. “The BIG Something” is a band that has been around for a few years and is rapidly gaining momentum. They have released two albums. The first being a studio album and the recent release is a live album entitled “Mad Science: Live at the Costume Ball”. The first sev-eral times I heard this album, I would have an overwhelming desire to cook and eat spaghetti. I’m not sure why this is. Maybe it’s because the recipe for spaghetti and the music of this band share a similar concept. Combining several random and different ingredients that are blended together perfectly resulting in a tasty arrangement of flavor and sound. I’m not necessarily claiming that there is spiritual connection between the two. But feel free to purchase this album and see where your culinary de-sires take you. However, last night I listened to this album under the stars of a clear sky by the lake and palm trees that surround my campsite and it made for quite an enjoyable evening. Since “The BIG Something” will be coming to LIVE next month. I figured I’d get in touch with them and ask them a few standard questions so that you, our collective reading audience can get a better feel for what this band is all about.

Let’s first start off with the most cliché question of them all...What are the names of all the band members and what instruments do each of you play?

Nick MacDaniels - Vocals, Guitar, MandolinDoug Marshall - BassJosh Kagel - Keys, Synth, TrumpetJesse Hensley - Lead Guitar, VocalsCasey Cranford - Saxophone, EWI (electronic wind instrument)Ben Vinograd - DrumsQuinn Ray - Man Behind the Curtain

How did everybody meet? We met on a candy cane raft floating down a river of Nyquil In your terms, how do you describe your musicand what you do on stage?We call it alternative rock with a BIG groove. We like to throw BIG par-ties and stir up lots of energy on stage. There’s an anthem-like arena rock style to our sound. And it’s all based around songs with lyrics that you can sing along to. We experiment with different styles for each song: alternative rock, funk, reggae, dance, jazz and a little southern twang from time to time. It’s really all about having fun with each other and people that we love. And we like to think that everyone in the audience is part of the big something too. Our fans will often bring creative elements to our shows – live painting, light up balloons, glow stuff, costumes, and bubbles to give an example. We love and encourage this!!

Where is “The BIG Something” based out of?Burlington, NC ... home of the coat factory

If the band was floating down a river of Nyquil in a boat made of Candy Canes, and a magical elf appeared and collectively offered the band one supernatural power...What would it be?

Have you ever seen the movie Meteor Man?Robert Townsend had an awesome power in that movie where he could stick his fingers in the ground and giant vegetables would grow. He could also fly and he had x-ray vision. So it sounds like Meteor Power is the way to go. Either that or Hyper Oxygenated Hyper Bubble Propul-sion

What is the strangest show you’ve ever played?Well there have been lots of strange shows, but the one that always stands out in my mind is The Square Room in Knoxville, TN in July 2010. We were hired by a local Knoxville “promoter” to play a Widespread Panic after party on a Monday Night. There may have been 15 people in the room when we were playing and one of them happened to be this guy named Rodney Alexander. The promoter introduced his friend Rodney to us as “The best Saxophone player this side of the Mississip-

pi.” While we were playing our set, the promoter encouraged Rodney to get up on stage with us to sit in on Saxophone, without asking us first if this was okay. We are normally cool with having special guests sit in with us, but we usually like to plan on and invite the guests up ourselves....So much to our surprise, Rodney just randomly hopped up on stage with a swagger like he was about to blow us all away. Instead he belted out (in the wrong key) quite possibly the funniest sounding sax solo ever. At first, we weren’t really sure what to do, so we tried to signal him to wait his turn, but he thought we were signaling him to use a different microphone. So he proceeded to walk across the stage and play into each mi-crophone one at a time. Eventually, we gave him the signal to take his solo, but he couldn’t figure out what key we were in so he started making these really funny percussive quacking soundings on his horn. It’s been almost 2 years and we still laugh about this. Casey, our sax player, will oc-casionally tease those quacking sounds randomly in our sets to try and make us laugh. The best part is we got the whole thing on video. Check it out on Youtube under “BIG Something: Crazy Sax Player Storms Stage”.

THE SOUNDBy: Barefoot WadePhotography by Brad KuntzTHE BIG

SOMETHING


WHY DO MOST NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS FAIL?While it has become general practice to make resolutions at the beginning of a new year, the truth is that most such resolutions fail. The problem is that most people make the same worn-out resolutions that they have been making and failing at for years. Subsequently, they already have a built-in habit of failure and are ultimately doomed to continue the same cycle. Another problem is that people usually keep their resolutions to themselves so that if they do not keep their resolutions, they do not have to suffer the embarrassment. I suggest that instead of making a resolution, make a commitment. A commitment involves other people. If you make a commitment to other people, there is built-in accountability, and you are more likely to keep that commitment. This is especially true if the commitment is made to people that you care for and really appreciate having in your life. People to whom you make your commitment can offer encouragement, support and advice when needed. With all the extra resources a group brings, the more likely you are to have success. This is also a good way of bonding with people and strengthening relationships in general. Be sure that the people you commit to really do have your best interest at heart. Also, remember to start small. Commit to something that is do-able. As opposed to quitting smoking, commit to cutting down. Instead of losing 25 pounds, commit to having one balanced low-calorie meal a day. From now on, forget big resolutions. Make commitments to the people who really care about you and can support you in your efforts. Make your commitments small and attainable so that your confidence builds and you can move on to the next attainable goal, you have a whole year!

WHAT ARE SOME gOOD NEW YEAR’S cOMMITMENTS?Besides the standard “diet and exercise”, I recommend something simple. Commit to taking one, two or three, three-minute quiet times a day. What that means is you shut the world off for three minutes; no cell phone, no iPod, no music – no way that anyone can intrude on your time and space for three whole minutes. Think about what you are doing and ask if this is really what you want to be doing. Also check in with yourself to see how you are feeling. If you are feeling good about what you are doing, proceed and spend the next few minutes in solitude; just be at peace. If you find that you are not doing exactly what you want to be doing or you are not enjoying what you are doing, then it may be a good time to adjust your plans for the rest of the day. Too often, people go into auto pilot and just do things because that is what they have always done. If you can do the three-minute quiet time three times a day, great. If you can only do it once a day, then do it once a day to start, but stick with it! You will be surprised at how important those three minutes of quiet time become to you and how protective you will be over it. Make sure what you are doing is giving you some sense of well-being, accomplishment or satisfaction. You will be surprised at the benefits that come from focusing on yourself for just three minutes a day. You may find yourself become more focused, and your life may be more enjoyable. Not a bad trade-off for three minutes of self-focused quiet time. All the best in the New

Year, MIcHAEL g. MORRIS CSAC, CRT, LCAS

THE LIFE

What show this year are you looking forwardto the most?It’s a secret right now! But we’ll be able to share it with everyone on our Facebook page real soon. We are also playing at MantraBash and it is also gonna be awesome! (www.mantrabash.com)

In the event that the Smurfs were planning world domination and it was up to “Big Something” to write a peace anthem to prevent it. What would the name of that peace anthem be?

“Smurf It!” or “Smurf it, Smurfs!” ... I don’t know. That’s a good question. What would be wrong with Smurfs ruling the world? It has been rumored that listening to “The BIG Something” can lead to an overwhelming urge to cook and eat spaghetti. Have any of you personally experienced this effect and do you feel that there might be a spiritual connection between your music and spaghetti?

Yeah, it used to happen all the time until Ben joined the band. Now it’s all about kielbasa and deli meat. Let’s say that some big shot Hollywood guy wanted to do a movie on your band and he was willing to let each member choose what actor would play them...Who would be chosen?

Ben - Jack BlackDoug - John CusackJosh - Phillip Seymour HoffmanJesse - Orlando BloomQuinn - Sean William Scott - the guy who played StifflerCasey – Snoop DogNick - Jackie Chan

What is your website and where can peoplefind your music online?www.BIGsomething.net is the best source for all our music, videos, and other cool stuff.You can also stream and download our music at www.bigsomething.bandcamp.com

Also it really makes us feel special when people “like” our Facebook page. We love interacting with friends and fans that way too! www.facebook.com/theBIGsomething

Feel free to join “The BIG Something” at the LIVE bar on Friday April 13. It will certainly be an epic Greenville night. And on a side note, I’ll be opening up the show with my full band. For those who claim there is nothing left to do in Greenville anymore, consider this a rem-edy for your apathy. So wake up and join the rest of the living and allow yourself to have a good time….or go move back in with your parents. The choice is yours.


Well, now we can officially say that drawing cartoons during class can pay off.

David Stanley discovered this very recently, as he has two publishing houses offering contracts for a book that he wrote and illustrated: based on a silly little robot he began sketching for fun as a high school senior.David finished high school, worked a number of odd jobs, and is now studying graphic design at Pitt Community College. Along the way, he has done freelance art and animation for clients all over the world. A recent animation that he completed will actually be featured on a popular television station aimed at young Latin-Americans. But he re-ally wants to work for himself, creating stories that have never been told before. Which brings us to AJ the Melancholy Robot, a charming and alarming short story about love and betrayal. Here is a quote from one of his prospective publishers:

“Ivy House Publishing Group recently received a manuscript submission from Mr. David Stanley, entitled AJ the Melan-choly Robot. He informed us that he is currently polishing up the last few illustrations, and submitted a few samples of the illustrations, along with the text.

What we found was an incred-ibly unique submission. While we’ve published many chil-

dren’s books over the years, and had many more submitted that were not published, the artwork included was by far some of the best we’ve seen in quite some time, and we’re anxiously awaiting the remaining illustrations. Granted, this is by no means a children’s book; it is, rather, a book for adults fashioned in a children’s book style. Not only are the illustrations top-notch, the storyline is well thought-out, shocking, and sends a message that is all too relevant in this day and age. Some may question whether or not there is an audience for this sort of book, but I need only direct your attention to a book released last year amid amazing hullabaloo: Go the F**k to Sleep by Adam Mansbach. This book lured readers in, being illustrated and produced like a chil-dren’s book, although it was clear from the title that it obviously wasn’t meant for youngsters.” It’s no small feat to get a book published, which is why David needs your help. He recently started a Kickstarter campaign to raise funding for his project. There are contributor rewards as well, where donors will receive free artwork, letters, and even free copies of the book! He understands that people aren’t usually willing to toss money to strangers, and he plans to give back to his fans. Kickstarter’s rules state that if the goal is not met by March 18, all funds go back to the rightful owners.

“...this is by no means a children’s book;it is, rather, a book for adults fashioned

in a children’s book style.”

Making Something out of Almost Nothing

NutsBolts&

aj-the-melancholy-robot

Help one of Greenville’s growing artists achieve his dream. You won’t regret it.

AJ the Melancholy Robot’sFacebook page: www.facebook.com/AJTMR

David’s Kickstarter fundraising page: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1256110427/aj-the-mel-ancholy-robot

THE LIFE

For some, the ocean is a place of fear and mystery. Sharks, eels, lionfish and gravesites of sunken ships all lay in the waters that only few set to explore. Anna, is an exception to this frightful world. She is in love with the ocean. The salty air, warm breeze and chilly waters are what she sees as her inspiration to get up every morning.

Growing up in Baptist family from Wen-dell North Carolina Anna was taught strict morals and values that have brought her to be the person she is today. Throughout her childhood her family and her took many trips to their beach house in Emerald Isle, N.C. where her passion for the sea be-gan. Anna felt an emotional connection

with the sea. As if something was telling her that she could make a difference in peoples lives through Gods waters. Three years ago as a freshman in college she enrolled in a Basic Scuba diving class at East Carolina University. She had no idea what she was getting herself into. Every week she learned to feel the water and become one with it even more so then she previously had.

At the end of the course Anna went on a check out dive to test her skills that she had been practicing the entire semester. She told me that on the boat going out there for the first time was a little bit frighten-ing. As they arrived to the dive spot about 11 miles off shore she knew this is what she had been waiting for. She pulled her blonde hair back into a ponytail to keep it out of her face, and began putting on all of her gear. First her wet suit, then eventu-ally her buoyancy compensator and mask. She put the regulator in her mouth so she would be able to breathe, stood on the side of the boat and took a giant stride off the side into the crisp waters. Anna knew that first leap off the boat was her entry into a new life.

After that first dive she was addicted. She could not get enough of the water. She went on to get her Advanced, Master Diver, Rescue Diver and finally her Dive Master Certifications. She now works for one of the best dive shops on the East Coast and says that she would not trade her job for anything in the world. Anna

also has been involved with teaching the classes at East Carolina and running the school Scuba Club. She went on to tell me that she really enjoys helping kids learn to dive. Sometimes it is just a mental block for people, and if you can get them over that it is a big thing and can be very re-warding. Brooks Wilkerson, one of Anna’s former dive buddies told me that she is a very well trained diver. Underwater you have to trust the other person with your life and Anna is someone to rely on. When speaking with her I got a sense that she really loved what she does.Without diving her life would not be com-plete. Sometimes we need inspiration and outlets in our lives to escape the normal world and find ourselves. Our true selves, not what other people want us to be, but the one that we really are. Anna Yeager is a diver, and she always will be.

No matter what direction her life takes she will always find that special place down 130 feet under the ocean… a world that most of us can’t even imagine.

For some, the ocean is a place of fear and mystery. Sharks, eels, lionfish and gravesites of sunken ships all lay in the waters that only few set to explore. Anna, is an exception to this frightful world. She is in love with the ocean. The salty air, warm breeze and chilly waters are what she sees as her inspiration to get up every morning.

Growing up in Baptist family from Wen-dell North Carolina Anna was taught strict morals and values that have brought her to be the person she is today. Throughout her childhood her family and her took many trips to their beach house in Emerald Isle, N.C. where her passion for the sea be-gan. Anna felt an emotional connection

with the sea. As if something was telling her that she could make a difference in peoples lives through Gods waters. Three years ago as a freshman in college she enrolled in a Basic Scuba diving class at East Carolina University. She had no idea what she was getting herself into. Every week she learned to feel the water and become one with it even more so then she previously had.

At the end of the course Anna went on a check out dive to test her skills that she had been practicing the entire semester. She told me that on the boat going out there for the first time was a little bit frighten-ing. As they arrived to the dive spot about 11 miles off shore she knew this is what she had been waiting for. She pulled her blonde hair back into a ponytail to keep it out of her face, and began putting on all of her gear. First her wet suit, then eventu-ally her buoyancy compensator and mask. She put the regulator in her mouth so she would be able to breathe, stood on the side of the boat and took a giant stride off the side into the crisp waters. Anna knew that first leap off the boat was her entry into a new life.

After that first dive she was addicted. She could not get enough of the water. She went on to get her Advanced, Master Diver, Rescue Diver and finally her Dive Master Certifications. She now works for one of the best dive shops on the East Coast and says that she would not trade her job for anything in the world. Anna

also has been involved with teaching the classes at East Carolina and running the school Scuba Club. She went on to tell me that she really enjoys helping kids learn to dive. Sometimes it is just a mental block for people, and if you can get them over that it is a big thing and can be very re-warding. Brooks Wilkerson, one of Anna’s former dive buddies told me that she is a very well trained diver. Underwater you have to trust the other person with your life and Anna is someone to rely on. When speaking with her I got a sense that she really loved what she does.Without diving her life would not be com-plete. Sometimes we need inspiration and outlets in our lives to escape the normal world and find ourselves. Our true selves, not what other people want us to be, but the one that we really are. Anna Yeager is a diver, and she always will be.

No matter what direction her life takes she will always find that special place down 130 feet under the ocean… a world that most of us can’t even imagine.

130 FEETBELOW THEWAVES

Sometimes we need inspiration and outlets in our life to escapethe normal world and find ourselves, our true selves...{ {

THE LIFEBy: Brookelle Stockton



In honor of St. Patrick’s Day I have selected a couple Irish recipes that are oh so good and Oh so easy for you to make! First we have the Irish brownies with Irish cream frosting and then we have a recipe that is truly easy as can be! I haven’t heard of this being called this before but it sounds amazing and perfect for a college student wanting something good and quick, it is called St. Patrick’s Day Nachos! Check both of these recipes out below and try them for yourself! I hope everyone has a great and safe St. Patty’s day! Check me out next month for April’s recipes!! Love, Tay…And Happy Birthday to my girl Karli Pina who’s birthday is St. Patrick’s day!! “Cheers, I’ll drink to that!”

Irish Brownies with Irish Cream Icing Ingredients: - 4 ounces semisweet baking chocolate, coarsely chopped (each square is one ounce) - ½ cup butter - ½ cup sugar - 2 eggs - ¼ cup Irish cream (liqueur) - 1 cup all-purpose flour - ½ teaspoon baking powder - ¼ teaspoon salt Frosting:- ¼ cup cream cheese, softened - 2 tablespoons butter or 2 tablespoons margarine, softened - 2 tablespoons Irish cream (liqueur) - 1 ½ cups powdered sugar

Directions:• 1.Preheat oven to 350°F.• Prepare an 8-inch square baking pan by greasing it.• Melt chocolate and butter in medium, heavy saucepan over low heat (I use a double boiler). Remove from heat. Stir in sugar. Whisk in eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Whisk in liqueur.• Combine flour, baking powder and salt in small bowl; stir into chocolate mixture until just blended.• Spread batter evenly in prepared pan.• Bake 22 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove pan to wire rack; cool completely.Frosting directions:• Add cream cheese and butter to small bowl and beat with electric mixer at medium speed until smooth. • Beat in liqueur. • Gradually beat in powdered sugar until smooth.• Spread over cooled brownies.Chill at least 1 hour or until frosting is set. Cut into 2-inch squares

St. Patrick’s Day Nachos Ingredients:- 2 bags frozen waffle cut fries- 1/2 lb. shredded, cooked corned beef or cooked, chopped bacon- 3 to 4 cups shredded cheddar cheese- 1/2 cup chopped green onions- 16 oz. sour cream

Directions:• Prepare two packages of waffle fries according the package directions.Cook them until crisp.• Next, set the oven to 400 degrees. Sprinkle the nachos with 1/2 pound ofshredded corned beef or cooked, chopped bacon.• Sprinkle cheddar cheese on top. Return to the oven for five to seven minutes until the cheese is melted.• Remove from the oven. Top with dollops of sour cream and chopped green onions.• You might want to serve guacamole on the side for added “green” appeal.

THE TASTEBy Taylor WhiteST. PATRICK’S DAY MUNCHIES!

LeprechaunApproved Brownies!



t was a cold night in Chapel Hill but every-one could feel the electricity building up for the matchup everyone looks forward to around North Carolina. North Carolina, one of the top teams in the nation, was facing an under-the-radar Duke team that seemed like a miss match between the two teams. The rival has gone back and forth and one thing you can expect from this game, the hate and respect between these two teams are at their highest point. The crowd was filing in much earlier than any other game; fans were standing in line to get in as others were rushing to their seat to get prepared for what might be the greatest rivalry in sports.

The crowd started their chants to show their hatred towards Duke, the line-ups were an-nounced in what seemed like an NBA playoff atmosphere, and the ball was tossed in the air to start the game. Duke is a team that always has had streaky shooters, which showed in the beginning of the game with three pointers going in early in the half. North Carolina countered with their size, as Big Z dominated down low. By halftime, it felt like the crowd had just wit-nessed the greatest comeback ever to win the

game with UNC coming back to lead by 3; little did they know what was going to come in the 2nd half. In the 2nd half, UNC stretched their lead and seemed to be in control for a respect-able victory. Then karma came in and in a blink of an eye, everything went the way of Duke and everyone seemed to have a feeling of what was going to happen.

In 2005, UNC came back with minutes to go to steal a game in the last seconds. Now it was Duke’s turn to turn the tables and create one of the greatest moments in their storied history. Un-expected turnovers by Marshall, no field goals made, free throws missed, and a little luck on the side equaled a story comeback.With Big Z tipping in a miss and not connecting on his free throws, Duke was down by 2 with seconds to go. The time felt like the time was slowly ticking away, with all 20,000 fans holding their breathe, praying that this wouldn’t happen, not to Duke, and not in this way. Rivers dribbled the ball, left…. right…. left….right, setting up his man and eventually got exactly what he wanted. With a yell from Curry and the team’s nerves on the line, Austin Rivers rose up with the three.

Everyone’s eyes were watching the spin of the ball, the angle of flight, and the clock wind-ing down. With a last gasp from the crowd, you could hear the ball slide by the net and the hearts and tears from the crowd sank with the ball. I’ve never heard a stadium become so stunned and silent than the crowd on that night. Everyone’s face puzzled, thinking it was a dream, and how could this possibly happen to the team you hate the most. Rivers capitalized on what was given to him and as Coach K said, “That is what he was put on this earth to do.” What might have been the greatest game I have ever witnessed; it will be one that will replay in my head over and over, never forgetting what had happened that night. Even though crushed by the result, the fans had witnessed greatness in sports on all levels; just goes to show every-one, how great the rivalry is, how great college basketball is, and how great the world of sports can be. We can only hope as fans that the rivalry never dies and that there are many other games in the future that will bring the excitement as this year’s game.

THE RIVALRY THAT NEVER DIES


THE GAMEBy Patrick O’Brien

I

PLAY BALL!2012 PIRATESBASEBALL SEASON BEGINS

THE GAMEBy Patrick O’Brien

It’s about that time again; the season started for Pirate base-ball Feb. 17 and the hopes are high for the Pirates again this year as they are ranked 22nd in the nation. Pirate baseball has always been high in recent years, with them reaching regional’s 2 out-of 3 years but not quite being able to reach the College World Series. Pirates will return eight position starters that will have to carry a heavy load with the team this year. The team will have to help produce much needed runs this year because of the inexperience but talented pitching rotation. The Pirates will miss the presence of Trent Whitehead in the outfield, who was an All-Conference USA selection and helped the Pirates to three 40-win seasons.

They have many prospects that could step in and provide them with help, but the season will depend on the young talented pitching staff, along with the leadership of senior Kevin Brandt. They will also have to rely on some help from two junior college transfers Jharel Cotton and Andy Smithmyer, with others fight-ing for starting positions. This is a team that is looking for a

quick start but to leave off right where they were last year and hopefully build this young group to try to get to the College World Series. The schedule is there for a team to build conf dence, as they play in the Keith LeClair Classic, the Alabama Tournament, and against opponents such as NCSU twice, UNC twice, at Rice, and many other quality opponents that could set themselves up nicely for the C-USA tournament in Mississippi and to hopefully get far in the CWS. High hopes are always put on these Pirates, as they seem to always seem to be up there with the best of C-USA.

However, time will only tell how good this team could be and to see if they could build off a stellar season last year. Oh how I can’t wait to get out to Clark- LeClair Stadium, get myself a hot dog, listen to the crazy Pirate fans behind the outfield wall, and watch the Pirates make their mark on college baseball in 2012. PLAY BALL!



■ Tavern on 4th110 E 4th StGreenville, NC 27858

■ Rumors417 Cotanche StreetGreenville, NC 27858(252) 758-4591

■ Halfway House420 Cotanche St.Greenville, NC 27858

■ Pirates Den113 East 5th StreetGreenville, NC 27858(252) 551-9020www.piratesdengreenvillenc.com

■ Scullery431 South Evans Street,Greenville, NC 27858 (252) 321-1550

■ Tipsy Tea Pot409 S Evans St, Greenville, NC(252) 413-0087www.tipsy-teapot.com

■ Winslow’s Tavern120 West 5th Street, Greenville, NC(252) 364-892www.winslowsdeli.com

■ Starlight Cafe104 West 5th Street, Greenville, NC(252) 707-9033www.starlightcafe.org

■ Armadillo Grill114 East 5th Street, Greenville, NC(252) 364-8926www.armadillogrill.com

■ 5th Street Distillery120 East 5th Street, Greenville, NC(252) 757-3034

■ Chico’s521 Cotanche Street,Greenville, NC 27858(252) 757-1666 www.chicosrestaurant.com

■ Club 519519 Cotanche Street, Greenville, NC(252) 752-4313

■ Hard Times209 East 5th Street,Greenville, NC 27858(252) 752-0430

■ MacBilliards517 Cotanche St.Greenville, NC 27858252-752-6728

■ Pantana Bob’s513 Cotanche Street,Greenville, NC 27858(252) 757-3778

■ Stilllife511 Cotanche St.Greenville, NC 27858

■ Rehab Lounge218 East 5th Street,Greenville, NC 27858(252) 758-9000

■ Sup Dogs213 East 5th Street,Greenville, NC 27858(252) 752-7682www.supdogs.com

■ The Other Place207 East 5th Street,Greenville, NC 27858(252)353-1555 ■ Tie Breakers1920 B Smythewyck Dr.,Greenville, NC 27858(252) 439-0555

■ Live2120 East Fire Tower Road, Greenville, NC 27858(252) 756-8474 ■ A.J. McMurphy’s1914 Turnbury Drive,Greenville, NC 27858(252) 355-7956www.ajmcmurphys.com

■ Hooters316 Greenville Blvd SW,Greenville, NC 27858(252) 353-5995www.hooters.com

VENUESList of entertainment venues.Restaurants and nightclubs InGreenville NC.

I have had the privilege of being the friend of an extremely tal-ented musician. The man I speak of is Josh Sanders. Josh, like I grew up in the rural area of Rowan County where not too many exciting things happen and opportunities aren’t bountiful. Josh from the day I met him has been a natural to anything that has to do with music, rhythm, instrumentals and expressing yourself through song! I always told him “remember me when you’re famous!”, and he would just laugh, but I as well as so many oth-ers back home new he had what it takes. Josh has worked his way up and is gradually gaining more and more attention from people all over the world! Back home he has become a local celebrity and for good reason, if you have not heard of Josh I insist on you checking him out, you will not be disappointed!

Go to joshsandersmusic.com and also check him out on this sea-son’s American Idol! Josh has shown his hometown and now the nation through American Idol that he is here, he is ready and he has got what it takes! From soul to grunge, blues, coun-try and rock Josh Sanders never ceases to amaze. Josh recently visited our very own G-Vegas when he rocked the house open-ing for “The Chairmen of the Board” at Tiebreakers. His show was unbelievable, his acoustic tunes made the girls hearts melt and his strong unique sound had the guys singing along! Josh is currently touring all throughout North and South Carolina, with even more shows to come. If you’re interested in knowing more about Josh Sanders check him out on Facebook and also his website (joshsandersmusic.com).

We Love you Josh!

-Taylor White.

JOSHSANDERS

THE SOUNDBy Taylor White


How Would I Know If I Had an Alcohol Problem?This is one of those “Oops! Too late!” experiences. If you are asking this ques-tion of yourself, there is a high probability that you already do have a problem. To determine whether or not you have an addiction or just how serious your problem is, I am going to give you the clinical criteria for determining whether or not an alcohol or chemical dependency exists.

The clinical criteria are as follows:1. Increasing tolerance. That basically means that it takes increased

amounts of the alcohol or substance to achieve the desired effect or intoxication. Most people who have partaken of alcohol consistently for any length of time develop some level of tolerance.

2. Having withdrawal symptoms. That basically means that after a night of heavy drinking, you have irritability for no reason, a serious headache or nausea, mild to extreme tremors or a generally lousy feeling.

3. Using alcohol or the substance in larger amounts or for a longer period of time than you had originally planned.4. Trying unsuccessfully to diminish or discontinue the use of the alcohol or the substance. 5. Spending a great deal of time in activities devoted to obtaining the alcohol or substance, using the alcohol or substance or recovering

from the effects of the alcohol or substance. 6. Giving up important social, occupational or recreational opportunities because of the use or after effects of the alcohol or substance.7. Continuing to use the substance despite having the knowledge that the use of the substance is causing physical or psychological problems.

(an ulcer, a bloody nose, or some kind of depression or irritation)

It only takes three of the seven to satisfy the criteria for alcohol or substance dependence. If you determine that you have two or more of these symp-toms, you may want to seriously consider adjusting the way you use, the reasons you use, and the amount and frequency you use. Hopefully none of you have gotten to the point of dependency, but if you have, just know that this is the time for action. Dependence is something that can be treated very successfully. It really is up to you to have the courage to do some soul searching and start taking care of yourself so that you can have the qual-ity of life you are entitled to. A good therapist will be a tremendous asset in this process. Interview several, find one you click with, and get moving.Don’t waste your precious time.

Michael G. MorrisCDWIE, CRT, LCAS

WHAT’S ONYOUR MIND

COUNSELINGBy Michael Morris

EAST CAROLINA TRAVEL PRESENTS:Cruise of the week Carnival Cruise Lines-Carnival ValorMiami, Key West, Grand Cayman, Ocho Rios, Miami.July 29, 2012 - August 4, 2012. . Starting at $509 per person.*prices subject to change due to time of booking.“Go East Carolina or Don’t Go At All!!”

Go East Carolina,

or Don’t GoAt All!!

252-227-4313 www.EastCarolinaTravel.com

TRIPS IN THE US

SPRINGTRAVEL

TRAVEL

> A Spring Training Tour of Phoenix Who needs groundhogs and robins to tell you that winter is almost over when you’ve got Pitchers and Catchers—the day the first baseball players report to camp to get ready for the season ahead? For fans, the start of exhibition games in late February is practically a national holiday. Throughout March, 30 Major League teams draw nearly 2 million people to intimate fields in Florida, home to the Grapefruit League, and Arizona, the Cactus League’s turf. The latter is a home run if you’re trying to pull off an easy, affordable trip: seven of the nine ballparks sit close to one another in the Phoenix metropolitan area; hotel rooms are plentiful; and tickets can be snagged online for $5 to $25, or even scalped—it’s legal. The Cactus League has a trip planner and ticket information on its extensive Web site, CactusLeague.com. The grass here is achingly green, the sky blazingly blue, the ball a white me-teor. And it’s hot—night games are a big plus. Bring your mitt and arrive early to take part in a great spring ritual: standing outside the warm-up field and scurrying after balls hit over the fence. Chances are you’ll also catch an autograph.

> Las Vegas No city in the world has the power to transform itself like Las Vegas, a sales-savvy amusement park that unapologetically changes themes whenever it likes. But beyond the Strip, an entire city exists. This is where to find some of Vegas’s most transformative experiences: the mammoth new Las Vegas Springs Preserve, legendary local restaurants like Lotus of Siam, and events like First Friday, when gritty downtown turns into a giant art party.

> Yellowstone National Park “Yellowstone.” Few words can inspire so much awe and wonder in a child—or, for the uninitiated par-ent, such uncertainty. This is a big, big park, after all: 3,400 square miles packed with steaming hot springs, burbling mud pots, exploding geysers, and more wildlife than your kids could see watching Animal Planet for a month.



ProudMember

Of


Pepsi has always been a huge part of music! The global trademark represents excitement that is instilled in the brand and brings out that Pepsi spirit in each and every one of us! The jingles from the late 1900’s into the 80’s with Madonna and Michael Jackson along with Ray Charles into the early 90’s, Brittany Spears taking the brand off the charts in the year 2000 and now Pepsi partnering with Xfactor has been a huge success! Richard An-drew singing “Tonight Is The Night “ has been the premier spot in the Pepsi commercial for the Xfactor. The commercial takes you through the history of music and the artist who made Pepsi what it is today!

We are were very excited to partner with Rob Oliver and bring an event like this to Green-ville. Let’s just say there was a lot of Pepsi Spirit in the air!!

Music and Pepsi will always be a part of each other! I look forward to the excitement and the future of where the brand may take us next!Check out the pictures on next page!


At some point of time in your drinking career, you have been in a bar and heard someone yell “FREE BIRD!!!” Sometimes they are serious and sometimes they are just making a joke. If you haven’t noticed, we live in the south which means that there is always at least one person in the bar who makes it very clear that they are a Lynyrd Skynryd fan. They will preach to no end that Lynyrd Skynyrd is the best band in the world. They will commonly confuse all other southern rock songs as being Skynyrd tunes. And in some extreme cases, they want to fight you if you disagree. God only knows how many times I’ve heard some drunk yell “Play Ramblin Man by Skynyrd !!!”. This putting me in the awkward position of whether or not to tell them that “Ramblin Man” is an Allman Brothers song. All this is pretty common bar knowledge, but I know some of you are new to the bar world so I fig-ured I’d give you some back ground. Anyhow, some musi-

cian friends and I have a long running inside joke about this particular breed of fan. We will randomly slip into their character, and play the role using our deepest drunken southern accent. It’s very hard to explain this on paper, but hopefully you get the idea.

So a couple weeks back, GVEGAS was hosting the “Beer Olympics” at 5th Street Distillery. I was conversing with two of the lovely GVEGAS girls when a drunken redneck ap-peared with one tooth. He introduced himself by saying “Hi! My name is John and I am the drummer for Lynyrd Skynyrd”. Just to make sure we heard it, he said it 3 times in a row. He then tells us that Lynyrd Skynyrd is playing tonight across the street. I tried to be polite but it was really hard not to chuckle at this. Now a music dork such as me knows who the drummer for Lynyrd Skynyrd is and knows it isn’t him. But for everyone else, you would know this because he was still wearing his safety goggles from his construction job around his neck. All I can think about is how I’m dying to tell this story to the above mentioned friends with whom I have shared this long running joke with. As the night progressed, I ended up swinging by the new-ly renovated Pirates Den. They were having open mic and

THE SOUNDBy Barefoot WadeFREEBIRD!!!!!


the drummer there happens to be one of those friends who participates in this ongoing joke. They are in the middle of a long song when I get there. So I sit anx-iously, just waiting for a chance to tell Tom that I have seen the quintessential real life version of this character that we have often portrayed when low and behold, he enters the bar. He walks back up to me and once again introduces himself as the drummer for Lynyrd Skynyrd.

He then goes on stage, stops the band, picks up a guitar and says over the microphone “I am the drummer for Lynyrd Skynyrd and who is ready to hear a Lynyrd Skynyrd song!” And then, he immediately starts playing a song by the Georgia Satellites….printed words alone cannot fully describe this situation and how funny it was to me. But this was a good night to be downtown in Greenville.

By the way, you can come see my local Greenville shows on March 1 and April 5 at The Carolina Ale House. And you can see me with my full band on Friday April 13 at LIVE bar opening up for an awesome Jam band called “The BIG Something”. Check out my other article in this magazine for more info on that.

g-vegas magazine march 2012

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