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News News Feature

Long-term Care Insurance

What are your long-term healthcare goals? (Photo: Dominik Lange | Unsplash)

There is often debate among financial professionals about whether long-term care insurance (LTCI) is worth the expense. Some advisors argue having long-term care coverage in place is vital to protecting clients’ assets in retirement. Others believe it’s more cost effective to invest the money a client would have used on premiums into a diversified portfolio that can continue growing over time to cover future care expenses. The correct answer is “it depends.” When determining whether long-term care insurance is right for you, consider the following. 

What are your goals? 

• Do you hope to leave a financial legacy for your children or grandchildren after you pass away? If yes, an LTCI policy may help protect the assets in your estate. If no, your current assets may be enough to cover the cost of long-term care. 

• Do you hope to continue living in your home for the rest of your life, or do you wish to move to a senior living community? If you want to continue living in your own home, you may need LTCI to cover the cost of an in-home caregiver. If you plan to move to a senior living facility, the assets from the sale of your home may be enough to cover your housing and care expenses. 

• Do you have children or other family members who would take care of you should you become unable to take care of yourself, or would you prefer having a professional help with your daily living tasks?

What is your current financial situation?

Perhaps this question should be, “Do you have enough assets to cover the cost of long-term care without a policy in place?” Healthcare is one of the largest expenses faced by Americans in retirement. A 2021 study by Fidelity estimated the average retired couple, aged 65, would need approximately $300,000 in after-tax savings to cover healthcare expenses in retirement. And, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 70 percent of adults who reach age 65 will require some type of long-term care as they grow older.

If you have enough available savings to use for long-term care expenses without derailing your other financial goals, an LTCI policy may not be necessary. On the other hand, if you or your loved ones would struggle to pay such a large expense, it might make sense to invest in LTCI. 

How old are you?

One of the most important considerations in determining whether or not LTCI makes sense is the age at which you purchase it. If you wait too long to implement coverage, you may not qualify. On the flip side, if you implement a policy too early, you may end up making premium payments for longer than necessary. 

Gene Gard, CFA, CFP, CFT-I, is a Partner and Private Wealth Manager with Creative Planning. Creative Planning is one of the nation’s largest Registered Investment Advisory firms providing comprehensive wealth management services to ensure all elements of a client’s financial life are working together, including investments, taxes, estate planning, and risk management. For more information or to request a free, no-obligation consultation, visit CreativePlanning.com.

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Astrology Fun Stuff

Free Will Astrology: Week of 08/08/24

Dario Bronnimann | Unsplash

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Legend tells us that the first person to drink tea was Chinese Emperor Shennong in 2737 B.C.E. As he lounged outdoors, tree leaves fell into his cup of water and accidentally created an infusion. Good for him that he was willing to sample that accidental offering. It took many centuries, but eventually tea drinking spread throughout the world. And yet the first tea bag, an icon of convenience, didn’t become available until 1904. I don’t expect you will have to wait anywhere near that long to move from your promising new discoveries to the highly practical use of those discoveries. In fact, it could happen quickly. The coming weeks will be a favorable time to ripen your novel ideas, stellar insights, and breakthrough innovations.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): I hope that in the coming months, Taurus, you will be refining your skills with joy and vigor. I hope you will devote yourself to becoming even more masterful at activities you already do well. I hope you will attend lovingly to details and regard discipline as a high art — as if doing so is the most important gift you can give to life. To inspire you in these noble quests, I offer you a quote by stage magician Harry Blackstone Jr.: “Practice until it becomes boring, then practice until it becomes beautiful.”

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Wohlweh is a German word that means “good pain” or “pleasurable pain.” It might refer to the feeling you have while scratching a mosquito bite or rubbing your eyes when they’re itchy from allergies. But my favorite use of the word occurs when describing a deep-tissue massage that may be a bit harrowing even as it soothes you and provides healing. That’s a great metaphor for the kind of wohlweh I expect for you in the coming days. Here’s a tip: The less you resist the strenuous “therapy,” the better you will feel.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): I earn my living as a writer now, but for many years I had to work at odd jobs to keep from starving. One of the most challenging was tapping the sap of Vermont maple trees during the frigid weather of February. Few trees produce more than three gallons of sap per day, and it takes 40 to 50 gallons to create a single gallon of maple syrup. It was hard work that required a great deal of patience. According to my analysis, you Cancerians are in a metaphorically comparable situation these days. To get the good results you want, you may have to generate a lot of raw material — and that could take a while. Still, I believe that in the end, you will think the strenuous effort has been well worth it.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): I love the fact that Antarctica doesn’t belong to anyone. Thirty nations have research stations there, but none of them control what happens. Antarctica has no government! It has a few laws that almost everyone obeys, like a ban on the introduction of non-indigenous plants and animals. But mostly, it’s untouched and untamed. Much of its geology is uncharted. Inspired by this singular land, I’d love for you to enjoy a phase of wild sovereignty and autonomy in the coming weeks. What can you do to express yourself with maximum freedom, answering primarily to the sacred laws of your own ardent nature?

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Babylonia was an ancient empire located in what’s now Syria, Iraq, and Iran. Among its citizens, there was a common belief that insomnia was the result of intrusive visitations by ancestral spirits. Their urge to communicate made it hard for their descendants to sleep. One supposed cure was to take dead relatives’ skulls into bed, lick them, and hold them close. I don’t recommend this practice to you, Virgo. But I do advise you to consult with the spirits of deceased family members in the coming weeks. I suspect they have a lot to tell you. At the very least, I hope you will explore how you might benefit from studying and pondering your ancestors’ lives.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Libran tennis player Naomi Osaka is one of the highest-paid women athletes ever. She is also a staunch political activist. That blend of qualities is uncommon. Why do I bring this to your attention? Because now is an excellent time to synergize your pragmatic devotion to financial success with idealistic work on behalf of noble causes. Doing both of these activities with extra intensity will place you in alignment with cosmic rhythms — even more so if you can manage to coordinate them.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Scorpio actor Sally Field told a story about an agent who worked for her early in her career. In those formative years, all her roles were on TV. But she aspired to expand her repertoire. “You aren’t good enough for movies,” the agent told her. She fired him, and soon she was starring in films. Let’s make this a teaching story for you, Scorpio. In the coming months, you will be wise to surround yourself with influences that support and encourage you. If anyone persistently underestimates you, they should not play a prominent role in your life’s beautiful drama.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): One Sagittarius I know is building a giant sculpture of a humpback whale. Another Sagittarius is adding a woodshop studio onto her house so she can fulfill her dream of crafting and selling fine furniture. Of my other Sagittarius acquaintances, one is writing an epic narrative poem in Greek, another is hiking the Pacific Crest Trail from Northern California to the Columbia River in northern Oregon, and another has embarked on a long-postponed pilgrimage to Nigeria, the place of her ancestors’ origin. Yes, many Sagittarians I know are thinking expansively, daring spicy challenges, and attempting fun feats. Are you contemplating comparable adventures? Now is an excellent time for them.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): When I opened my fortune cookie, I found a message that read, “If you would just shut up, you could hear God’s voice.” In response, I laughed, then got very quiet. I ruminated on how, yes, I express myself a lot. I’m constantly and enthusiastically riffing on ideas that are exciting to me. So I took the fortune cookie oracle to heart. I stopped talking and writing for two days. I retreated into a quiescent stillness and listened to other humans, animals, and the natural world. Forty-five hours into the experiment, I did indeed hear God’s voice. She said, “Thanks for making space to hear me. I love you and want you to thrive.” She expounded further, providing me with three interesting clues that have proved to be helpful in practical ways. In accordance with your astrological omens, Capricorn, I invite you to do what I did.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Scientists at the University of California devised a cheap and fast method for unboiling an egg. Their effort wasn’t frivolous. They were working with principles that could be valuable in treating certain cancers. Now I’m inviting you to experiment with metaphorical equivalents of unboiling eggs, Aquarius. You are in a phase when you will have extra power to undo results you’re bored with or unsatisfied with. Your key words of power will be reversal, unfastening, unlocking, and disentangling.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Every week, I imbibe all the honey from an eight-ounce jar, mostly in my cups of hot tea. To create that treat for me, bees made a million visits to flowers, collecting nectar. I am very grateful. The work that I do has similarities to what the bees do. I’m constantly gathering oracular ideas, meditating on the astrological signs, and contemplating what inspirational messages my readers need to hear. This horoscope may not be the result of a million thoughts, but the number is large. What’s the equivalent in your life, Pisces? What creative gathering and processing do you do? Now is a good time to revise, refine, and deepen your relationship with it. 

Categories
Fun Stuff News of the Weird

News of the Weird: Week of 08/08/24

Recurring Theme

Constance Glantz, 74, was receiving hospice care at a Waverly, Nebraska, nursing home when she seemed to pass away on June 3, The New York Times reported. The nursing home contacted the funeral home, and she was transported there. But as a mortician began the process of preparing her for burial, they discovered she was still breathing. Paramedics were called, and Glantz was taken to the hospital, where she actually died later the same day. “This is a very unusual case,” said Chief Deputy Ben Houchin noted. “At this point, we have not been able to find any criminal intent by the nursing home, but the investigation is ongoing.” [NY Times, 6/3/2024]

Ewwwww!

A woman named Cheyenne called in to a radio show in Australia on May 28 and dropped a whopper of a confession, the New York Post reported. “So my nan passed away in August last year and got cremated,” Cheyenne began. “I went over to my mom’s one night and thought to cheer her up a bit … ‘Let’s just taste Nan.’” The caller went on to say that her brother, who had been in prison, was recently released and as a “welcome home” dinner, she made him pasta with sauce — alla Nan. “I thought it would be funny to prank him … and I put some of Nan’s ashes in the pasta sauce.” Cheyenne said she has a “weird addiction” to the ashes and believes they help connect her with her late granny. “Nan will live on through me forever,” she said. Bon appétit. [NY Post, 5/28/2024]

A Three-Hour Tour

If you thought quicksand only appeared in old episodes of Gilligan’s Island, think again. Jamie Acord, 47, and her husband, Patrick, were touring Popham Beach State Park in Phippsburg, Maine, on June 1 when Jamie fell behind, the Portland Press Herald reported. “All of a sudden I was hip-deep in a wet slurry of sand,” she said. “I couldn’t feel the bottom and I couldn’t get a footing.” When Patrick looked back, he thought she was kneeling, but she couldn’t extract herself. After he pulled her out, she said, “I turned around and the hole was gone.” Maine state officials say patches of quicksand are startling but not really life-threatening, but just in case, they plan to install warning signs that will help visitors know what to do if they find themselves stuck. Scientists say quicksand is denser than the human body, so the upper torso will remain buoyant at the surface. But tell that to Jamie. “I’m just glad I wasn’t alone,” she said. [Portland Press Herald, 6/6/2024]

Crème de la Weird

On June 6, when Farida, 50, went missing from her village in South Sulawesi province in Indonesia, her husband and other residents started searching for her — but found only her belongings, the Daily Mail reported. They did, however, spot a “python with a large belly,” village leader Suardi Rosi said. “They agreed to cut open the python’s stomach. As soon as they did, Farida’s head was immediately visible,” he said. She was found fully clothed inside the python, which was about 20 feet long. Farida’s husband, Noni, 55, lamented her fate: “I am forever sorry that I let my wife go out alone. If I had been with her that day, the snake would not have dared to touch her.” Farida was taken away for a religious burial. [Daily Mail, 6/8/2024]

Perspective

Real estate developer Sekisui House in Osaka, Japan, has announced that it will demolish a nearly completed new condominium building in Kunitachi, Tokyo Prefecture, because the structure is blocking neighbors’ view of Mount Fuji. United Press International reported that the 10-story building was just weeks away from opening to new residents. “We were aware of the culture that values scenery, but we failed to consider it adequately,” the company said. People who had bought condos will be compensated financially, they said. [UPI, 6/11/2024]

Send your weird news items with subject line WEIRD NEWS to WeirdNewsTips@amuniversal.com.

NEWS OF THE WEIRD
© 2024 Andrews McMeel Syndication.
Reprinted with permission.
All rights reserved.

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Opinion The Last Word

A Cleaner, Greener Future

Janet Boscarino (Photo: Clean Memphis)

Every year, as much as 23 million tons of plastic are leaked into our oceans, rivers, and seas worldwide. Taking proactive steps to reduce plastic pollution has never been more critical. The pervasive presence of plastic waste poses severe risks to our ecosystems, health, and future generations, but by making conscious efforts to minimize plastic use, communities like Memphis can experience a variety of benefits and foster a cleaner, greener future.

1. Protects our waterways

Plastic pollution has a devastating impact on our waterways, but individual actions to reduce plastic use can significantly benefit our local rivers and streams. In Memphis, the mighty Mississippi River is a lifeline, providing essential resources as well as local recreational opportunities. Its local watersheds also have a part to play. The Loosahatchie River, Wolf River, and Nonconnah Creek in Memphis all feed into the Mississippi River Watershed, the fourth largest in the world. The Mississippi River eventually drains into the Gulf of Mexico, leading to the North Atlantic Ocean. Unfortunately, plastic waste often finds its way into these waterways, contributing to pollution that extends far beyond our city’s borders.

When residents choose to reduce their plastic consumption — opting for reusable water bottles, bags, and containers — they contribute to a healthier city. These seemingly small actions prevent debris from accumulating locally, reducing the risk of harm to aquatic life and preserving the natural beauty of our environment. Clean rivers and streams support diverse wildlife and provide cleaner water for human use, creating a ripple effect that extends to the broader ecosystem and contributes to cleaner oceans globally.

2. Reduces health hazards

The benefits of reducing plastic pollution are not limited to environmental preservation; they also have direct, tangible impacts on public health. Plastics, especially when improperly disposed of, can release harmful chemicals into the air and water. These can contribute to respiratory issues, contaminate drinking water, and pose additional health risks. In Memphis, decreasing plastic pollution can lead to cleaner air and safer drinking water, reducing the incidence of health issues associated with this practice.

3. Advances our economy

Embracing sustainable practices can have significant economic benefits for Memphis. A cleaner environment can attract tourism and enhance the city’s reputation as a desirable destination for visitors. Visitors are drawn to cities with pristine natural attractions, spotless streets, and a commitment to environmental sustainability, leading to increased tourism revenue and economic growth.

Moreover, investing in waste management infrastructure and sustainable technologies creates job opportunities and stimulates municipal development. By transitioning to more sustainable waste management practices, such as recycling and composting, we can create eco-friendly jobs in industries like waste collection, recycling processing, and renewable energy production. These jobs not only provide employment opportunities but also contribute to the growth of Memphis, positioning us as a leader in environmental innovation and sustainability.

4. Strengthens community relationships

Reducing plastic pollution can also strengthen community relationships by fostering collaboration and collective action. Organized clean-up efforts and sustainability initiatives provide opportunities for residents to come together, bond over a shared commitment to environmental stewardship, and make a tangible difference in their neighborhoods.

In Memphis, grassroots organizations, neighborhood associations, and local businesses frequently organize cleanup events, park beautification projects, and sustainability workshops. These initiatives not only improve the physical environment but also cultivate a sense of pride and ownership among residents. By working to address these challenges, communities build stronger social connections, trust, and resilience — laying the foundation for a more vibrant and inclusive city.

As individuals, businesses, and policymakers, we must recognize the interconnectedness of environmental, social, and economic well-being and take concerted action to create a cleaner, greener future for our city. By working together and prioritizing sustainability, we can build a more resilient, prosperous, and inclusive Memphis for generations to come. Let us seize this opportunity to make a positive impact and pave the way for a brighter tomorrow. 

Janet Boscarino founded Clean Memphis in 2008, driven by her passion for creating a cleaner and greener environment.

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Fun Stuff Metaphysical Connection

Metaphysical Connection: The Lion’s Gate

The sign of Leo is associated with boldness and confidence.(Photo: Emily Guenther)

We are now in the Lion’s Gate Portal (July 26th to August 12th), a relatively new energetic phenomenon. It’s a combination of astrology, ancient cosmology, and numerology — all channeling a very specific celestial alignment that peaks on August 8th. 

The portal happens when the sun, in the astrological sign of Leo, is in alignment with the star Sirius, Orion’s Belt, and Earth. This happens when Sirius “rises” or becomes visible again due to the sun’s yearly passing of the star. The rising of the dog star is an occurrence that has been noted by cultures for thousands of years. Ancient Egyptians knew Sirius well and based many of their ceremonies and holidays around the time it became visible. 

To the ancient Egyptians, Sirius was seen as the embodiment of the agricultural goddess Sopdet and was connected with the annual rising and flooding of the Nile, indispensable to their survival. In later civilizations, the Greeks and Romans noticed that Sirius, actually a binary star that they called “The Dog Star,” began to rise alongside the sun in late July. They believed that the united ascent of these two stars side-by-side made for the hottest time of the year — the Dog Days of Summer. The Dog Days of Summer and the Lion’s Gate Portal are not the same, even though they happen simultaneously and focus on Sirius as a key factor. 

Besides its brightness, ancient astrologers noted that Sirius seemed to take on characteristics of two fiery planets — Jupiter and Mars. In astrology, Jupiter is the planet of luck, miracles, expansion, and growth believed to bring forth prosperity, happiness, fortune, wealth, and wisdom. Mars is the planet of action, competition, conquest, passion, desire, and energy. With these powers combined, Sirius was considered particularly auspicious. This is why taking action while it is in alignment is thought to help one achieve one’s goals, imbued with the luck of Jupiter and the courage of Mars.

Sirius is the brightest star in the sky and is astrologically considered to be a spiritual sun. Its powerful energy is activating, uplifting, and capable of raising consciousness. Where the sun provides physical nourishment, Sirius is believed to breathe life into our “spiritual bodies.” In astrology, it brings wealth, abundance, fortune, and fame. This alignment with the star means it is an excellent time for manifestation. 

The entire Lion’s Gate Portal period is considered spiritually significant but its peak falls on August 8th. In numerology, the number 8 is associated with balance, power, karmic relief, and mastery and is known as the number of good luck and fortune, discovery, hope, and opportunity. It’s also linked to the infinity symbol, which represents continuous balance and the infinite flow of energy. The 8:8 combination signifies inspiration, integrity, knowledge, introspection, and intuition and represents infinite activation. Some consider 8:8 to be one of the most powerful number combinations. 

August 8th is also the day that marks the sun’s mid-way point through the astrological sign of Leo. The sign of Leo is associated with boldness and confidence. Of course, the sun is also the ruler of sign Leo. So in this moment, everything is in alignment physically and spiritually.

This feast of energy allows an opportunity for spiritual expansion and evolvement. Giving us a chance to become a more empowered, better version of ourselves. Many people use this window of the Lion’s Gate to help them manifest their dreams and significant changes in their lives. If you are manifesting prosperity or things that involve taking a risk, this might be a good time to double down on your manifestation rituals. 

Emily Guenther is a co-owner of The Broom Closet metaphysical shop. She is a Memphis native, professional tarot reader, ordained Pagan clergy, and dog mom.

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We Recommend We Recommend

Ronnie McDowell’s A Tribute to the King

Ronnie McDowell (Photo: Courtesy Ronnie McDowell)


It wouldn’t be Elvis Week without Ronnie McDowell.

McDowell will be back in Memphis to headline “A Tribute to the King,” which will be held at 2 p.m. on August 11th at Lafayette’s Music Room.

The show also includes special guest Amber Rae Dunn with The Royal Blues Band.

McDowell, whose songs include his chart-topping hits “Older Women” and “You’re Gonna Ruin My Bad Reputation,” says he’s going to do some of his records at Lafayette’s. One of them will be “The King Is Gone,” a 1977 song he wrote about Elvis. “Without Elvis I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing,” says McDowell, who lives in Nashville.

Growing up, McDowell used to listen to 78 rpm records that his sister brought home from the store. One of them was Elvis singing “Hound Dog” on one side and “Don’t Be Cruel” on the other.

His life changed when he heard “Don’t Be Cruel.”

“I ain’t been the same since,” McDowell says. “It was the way Elvis performed that song. He had taken his guitar and turned it over and was slapping the back of that guitar. And he was doing it on the back beat. And he was singing at the same time.

“Something in his voice was different from everybody else’s. There’s just something different. And to this day, I can’t put my finger on it other than the fact that it really touched and reached my soul.”

McDowell remembers the first time he watched Elvis on TV. He told his sister, “Wow, that guy is too pretty to be a guy.”

But he also could see the kindness in Elvis. “The camera bares your soul.”

McDowell was driving when he heard the DJ announce at 2:22 p.m. that Elvis died. McDowell wrote “The King is Gone” that afternoon. “In one week, that would sell a million records. And two weeks later I was on American Bandstand.”

He performs a duet to the Elvis hit “It’s Only Make Believe” with Dolly Parton on her Rockstar album. He’s also going to perform a version of it with the recorded voice of his buddy, the late Conway Twitty, on his upcoming album.

McDowell is a star in his own right, but, he says, “My total inspiration is Elvis Presley. Period.”

General admission tickets to “A Tribute to the King,” which will be filmed for an upcoming TV special, are $25. VIP admission is $100 and includes premium seating, a swag bag, and a meet-and-greet following the show.

Tickets may be purchased by calling 901-207-5097 or lafayettes.com/memphis/event-tickets, and in person at Lafayette’s Music Room. 

A Tribute to the King, Lafayette’s Music Room, 2119 Madison, Sunday, August 11, 2 p.m., $25-$100.

Categories
Food & Wine Food & Drink

Brim’s Introduces New Potato Chip Flavors

Brim’s Snack Foods is brimming with ideas for new products. 

The company, known to many for its pork rinds, recently introduced four new potato chip products: Memphis Style BBQ Rib Chips, Formula 901 Memphis Mojo, Cheddar Sour Cream, and Buffalo Ranch.

Potato chips will always be a staple item in stores, says Luke Brimhall, 31. But, he says, “People are tired of their grandma and grandpa’s flavors. They want to try new things.”

Brimhall, Brim’s brand development manager, and his brother Nick, who is plant manager, are part of the second generation of the Brim’s family business.

It began with their parents, Terry and Becki Brimhall. “My dad was a student at Memphis State. And to pay for his tuition there, he would sell MoonPies and those little miniature pecan pies. He used to sell those to grocery stores.”

Like Luke’s grandparents, Paul and Joyce Brimhall, the couple began by selling other people’s products — “from bread to cookies and chips” — to grocery stores.

Luke’s grandmother was quite an entrepreneur in her own right, he says. “Even though she was a homemaker, she always had something she was selling on the side. My favorite one was custom-fitted brassieres.”

After a man in Arkansas told him in the late ’70s how much he made selling pork rinds, Luke’s dad realized that was three times what he made selling MoonPies and pecan pies. “So, he looked around and found somebody’s pork rinds to start selling.”

In 1979, the Brimhalls began making and selling their own pork rinds. The people who supplied them with pork skins helped them get their fryer and taught them how to use it. The Brimhalls “rented space in an old smokehouse off Highway 70 and started making it themselves.”

Pork rinds begin with “pig pellets,” Luke says. The raw pig skin arrives frozen. “They cut it into pieces and render it down slowly in an oven until it becomes a pellet. Super hard. Shelf-stable. You can’t eat it. It’s hard. You fry it until the moisture evaporates and causes the pork pellet to expand into that puffy thing that we call ‘pork rinds.’”

The business began as “Brim’s.” When they were growing up, “Brim” was the nickname for Terry and his brothers.

His dad had “a sales network in place” from selling other people’s pork rinds to stores, Luke says. 

Several years later, they added popcorn to their line. This was followed by cheese puffs, onion rings, and cheese curls. “Over the years, we added on other items we have partners make for us.”

In 1987, they moved to Bartlett Corporate Park, where they now have about 200,000 square feet. They have another factory in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

Brim’s, which now sells more than 50 snack items, began making its new line of chips in June. “We have had some potato chips over the years, but never really pushed it very hard.” 

Seven years ago they came out with the Memphis Rib chip. “We sold a ton of it.”

But sales fell off when they introduced a Memphis Heat chip, so they discontinued Memphis Rib.

“I think we made the bags too similar and people couldn’t distinguish them in the stores.”

But now Memphis Style BBQ Rib Chip is back.“Most of your barbecue chips are based on what barbecue sauce would taste like. Really sweet. Candy-like. This is more of a dry rub.”

It has “a meaty taste to it. It tastes like you’re biting into a pork rib. It’s not just a barbecue chip. It’s its own animal.”

The Formula 901 Memphis Mojo is a combination of chip flavors. “The idea is to take your different chip flavors — sour cream and onion, dill pickle, salt and vinegar, barbecue, all traditional flavors — and blend them together. Then add in some more barbecue because we live in Memphis.”

The result is a “fine, tangy barbecue and something else I can’t describe. Just the blend from everything in there.”

They added Cheddar Sour Cream and Buffalo Ranch because they’ve never offered those potato chip flavors.

Brim’s, which doesn’t add new items very often, introduced a kettle corn a few years ago. 

The company introduced a churro item called Cinnamon Twists at the end of 2023. Twist-shaped corn pellets are fried until they puff up; then the pellets are drenched in cinnamon sugar.

Luke’s parents are “pretty much retired. Dad still comes in to sign checks. I say he comes in to shake hands and kiss babies.”

As for upcoming products, Luke says, “We’re working on revamping our hot fries line.”

They try to keep all their product lines “fresh and up to date with new packaging and new flavors.”

Brim’s sells other flavors of pork rinds, including plain, hot, and sweet barbecue. They also sell salt-and-vinegar-flavored pork rinds, which aren’t popular in the South, but are on the East Coast.

Brim’s also features “a lot of crackling flavors. Essentially pork rinds, but they have a layer of fat attached to the skin. They tend to not pop out as much. They can be a little bit harder than pork rinds.”

Diversity among Brim’s items is literally the spice of life. “People don’t want to eat chicken fingers and hamburgers at every meal of their life. And they don’t want to do the same thing in the snack world.”

Categories
Music Music Features

The King’s Hometown Cuts

Having incorporated elements of Sun Studio, Phillips Recording Service, and Ardent Studios into the design of his own Southern Grooves studio, Matt Ross-Spang has an ear for history, so it’s no wonder that he’s become the go-to guy for mixing Elvis Presley. It started with his 2016 mixes of outtakes from Presley’s 1976 recordings at Graceland, and others followed, but his mixes on 2020’s From Elvis in Nashville compilation, stripping overdubs away from the raw tracks Presley recorded during marathon sessions in June of 1970, were Ross-Spang’s greatest feat, yielding such jaw-dropping tracks as the hard-choogling “Patch It Up.” 

Now, following a brief similar to that of the Nashville album, Ross-Spang has outdone himself on a new box set dropping just as Elvis Week commences this Friday, August 9th. With a nod to last month’s 70th anniversary of Presley’s first recordings for Sun Records, Sony Music/Legacy Recordings will release Memphis, a set of five CDs and/or two LPs produced by Ernst Jørgensen, collecting everything Presley recorded in his adopted hometown. 

Naturally, that includes Presley’s initial work with Sun Records’ Sam Phillips, though those foundational recordings were not tampered with (nor could they have been, not being multitracks), only given a thorough restoration and remastering. After the Sun era, there were three other distinct moments when Presley cut records in Memphis: in 1969 at American Sound Studio, in 1973 at Stax Records, and in 1976 during remote recording sessions the King set up in his own Jungle Room at Graceland. Also included is a live recording of Presley and his touring band at the Mid-South Coliseum in 1974. All of those recordings get the Ross-Spang treatment.

Working from digital copies of the original multitrack tapes offered him a glimpse into the recording techniques of a bygone age. “I was really excited to work on the Stax and American stuff simply because I’m a Memphis history nut,” he says, “and to get to hear those multitracks was really exciting. Working with Chips Moman at American, Elvis had a new band, a new producer, a new studio — everything was new. And yet Chips didn’t have nice technologies like RCA [in Nashville]. He committed all that music to four tracks, typically. And oftentimes he recorded the [reverb] chamber right onto the track. Or put the bass and the acoustic guitar on the same track. So it was really cool for me to open that up and see how much commitment he had, the vision he had from the beginning.”

Those American recordings yielded hits like “In the Ghetto” and “Suspicious Minds,” but the familiar versions, exploding with those distinctive string arrangements, are only hinted at here. The Memphis tracks reveal what preceded those orchestral flourishes: The sure-footed, house band Moman had assembled, aka The Memphis Boys, both soulful and rocking, playing their hearts out while the voice of Elvis rang out in the room. As Robert Gordon writes in the extensive liner notes, the new mixes put us “standing next to Elvis inside the recording studio, us and the basic band, hearing what he’s hearing.” 

Moreover, it’s a master class in minimalist songcraft, as one hears guitarist Reggie Young weave his lines in with those of keyboardists Bobby Woods and Bobby Emmons, the latter’s organ parts suggesting an orchestra, yet molded out of rawer sounds. Here and there are occasional overdubs, as in the remarkable “Don’t Cry, Daddy,” where Presley harmonizes with himself. As Ross-Spang explains, “We left in some of the overdubs that they did on the spot there [at American], but we didn’t use things that they went back to Nashville to do.” 

Ross-Spang didn’t have to mix these tracks entirely on his own. “It was really fun to get to work with Robert Gordon on this. I was sending him mixes and he was sending me notes back. And then producer Rob Santos and Ernst. Sometimes I can treat a mix too technically and not emotionally, but Ernst would give me very nontypical, emotional mix notes.” As the singer’s raw emotion explodes from the speakers, Memphis reveals Elvis to be one of the premier soul artists of his time. 

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Film Features Film/TV

Deadpool & Wolverine

Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman are, once again, Deadpool and Wolverine.

Ah, the ’90s. If you remember the final decade of the 20th century fondly, odds are, you weren’t there. Sure, the Cold War was over, and we had world peace, except for little stuff like the Gulf War, the Bosnian and Rwandan genocides, the First Chechen War, and some other minor slaughters. The economy was good, unless you happened to graduate into the early 1990s recession that followed the Gulf War. Bill Clinton was elected president in 1992 to the tune of Fleetwood Mac’s “Don’t Stop (Thinking About Tomorrow),” ending 12 years of Reaganite political domination. Except that Clinton governed like Republican Lite, expanding the War on Drugs and the carceral state. As a reward, Newt Gingrich impeached him. 

The kids’ response to the Clintonian utopia was a resounding “whatever.” The 1990s began in the spring of 1989 when Heathers made its brief theatrical run. Winona Ryder’s devastating deadpan sarcasm became the coin of cool. If Douglas Copeland’s novel Generation X gave us a name, Richard Linklater’s indie film Slacker gave us what passed for an ethos. The newly formed Comedy Central’s flagship show was Mystery Science Theater 3000, where robots made fun of “cheesy” movies in space. Sincerity was passé. Snark reigned supreme. 

In the comic book world, the ’90s were the worst of times. Marvel tried to freshen up their product with young talent like artist Rob Liefeld (now notorious for his obsession with pouches, which made his characters look like walking cargo shorts) and writer Fabian Nicieza, who created Deadpool. In superhero comics, everything is deadly serious. World-saving is a regular event. Only Deadpool doesn’t keep up the kayfabe. As the only character in the Marvel universe who knows he’s in a comic book, he frequently broke the fourth wall, looking directly at the reader and making snarky comments about the action. Yes, this whole superhero trip is ridic, Deadpool says, but we both know it, and I’ve already got your money, so let’s have fun with it. 

The Age of Snark lasted until the mid-’00s, when The New Sincerity and Poptimism arrived with the millennials. The new young people were sick of the old young people’s bullshit. Thus it has always been, and will be again. 

The rise of the New Sincerity corresponded neatly with the cinematic superhero onslaught. Marvel, struggling to survive, sold the rights to their crown jewels to Twentieth Century Fox in 1994. It took until 2000 for X-Men to finally hit the screen. The somber, self-serious adventure was a huge hit, and made a star out of Aussie song-and-dance man Hugh Jackman, who played Wolverine, the coolest X-Man. Deadpool, whose X-Force super-team was included in the Marvel/Fox deal, was introduced in the 2008 spinoff X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Played by Ryan Reynolds, he was just another glum, violent superguy. Then, Marvel sold its B-team The Avengers to Disney, and Iron Man exploded in 2008. As Marvel stole their lunch money, the X-Men films descended into morose nonsense, and Ryan Reynolds was given free rein to get snarky with Deadpool in 2016. 

Now, Disney owns Twentieth Century Fox, and their oh-so-sincere Marvel Cinematic Universe, having nearly destroyed the film industry with the magnitude of its success, is passé. Deadpool to the rescue! He’s snarky like you, fellow teenagers!

Deadpool & Wolverine tries to rise above the Marvel muck by diving into the deep end of the lore pool. It’s not about the history of these characters. Hugh Jackman’s poignant swan song as old man Wolverine in Logan is erased and mocked in the cold open, when Deadpool brutally murders agents of the Time Variance Authority (TVA) with pieces of Wolvie’s adamantium skeleton. No, this film is about the business history of the characters, and brand positioning for future exploitation. Deadpool and Wolverine are banished by the TVA to The Void, where comic book characters who have been discarded by the poptomist machine sit in limbo. There are many cameos by former superhero actors showing up for a paycheck. I won’t spoil the “fun” by telling you who they are, except to say that Daredevil Ben Affleck apparently has all the money he needs. 

But, a meta hero needs a meta movie. The Disney brass is celebrating the success of Deadpool & Wolverine as the redemption of the MCU business model. Don’t be so sure. Is it good when the only way you can juice sales is by making fun of your own product with ultraviolent gay jokes? Isn’t getting snarky about Marvel movies my job? 

Oh well, at least the fake-ass New Sincerity is truly and finally dead. Long live snark! Or not. Whatever. 

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Politics Politics Beat Blog

Still on Call

Alisa Haushalter (Photo: Jackson Baker)

Some readers might wonder: Whatever happened to Alisa Haushalter? The former director of the Shelby County Health Department, Haushalter was, not so long ago, one of the most visible people in the public eye as department head at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

By one measure — the fact that she was publicly accountable and on call on a daily, even hourly basis — she may have been for a time the single most visible of all local officials. Not only was she at the helm of the health department and having to cope directly with the scourge of Covid, managing local responses to it as best as she could; she had the responsibility of communicating every aspect of the disease’s progress and every important piece of data relating to its impact on the community. It was 24/7 and then some.

It is certainly arguable that Haushalter herself was one of the chief victims in Shelby County of the Covid-19 pandemic. Her work as the director was hailed as exemplary then and later by her associates in the department and in county government at large.

But, simply because of the prominence of her position, she was caught up in various controversies that owed more to the inherent disruptiveness wrought by the pandemic than to any actions she was responsible for.

Consider this a tease for a forthcoming lengthier, and possibly eye-opening, treatment of Haushalter’s pivotal and arguably heroic service on behalf of Shelby County in a time of crisis. Suffice it to say for the moment that political pressures relating to state vs. local issues played a large role in her decision, in February 2021, to step down as health department director.

But her service to Shelby County has continued. When she came here in 2016, after years of health service, first in Nashville and later at the renowned Nemours health complex in Delaware, she had a request of then-County Mayor Mark Luttrell, who hired her.

For three years, while working in Nashville, she had gone back and forth between the state’s two largest cities working on her doctorate, which she got from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.

“When I was in Nashville,” she recalls, “I had dual appointments. I taught at Vanderbilt, and I was at the health department there. So when I came here, part of my discussion with Mayor Luttrell was, ‘Can I have a dual appointment so that I’m still teaching?’” The answer was yes, and, while serving as health department director she taught health policy at UT. 

Her thinking was eminently commonsensible. “That really was sort of how I came back to Tennessee. You learn along with the students, and the students get to learn from someone who has experience, not just what they’re getting from reading the book. And so it has always been a good match.”

Upon leaving the department, Haushalter would expand her teaching load to include, currently, healthcare economics and population health.

She has never departed from the idea of service. She’s still very much here and on the case, keeping her hand in — learning, doing, and teaching. Aside from her regular students, she says, she’s still on call at the department. “There are team members over there that still reach out to me that I coach or mentor.”

Her bottom line: “I’m committed to public health, I’m committed to nursing and have spent decades doing that. And I’m committed to Shelby County.”

More about Alisa Haushalter to come. Stay tuned.