Asheville Cats

“That he not busy being born is busy dying”.

- It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding), Bob Dylan, 1964

“Billions and billions...”

- Carl Sagan, American astronomer, astrophysicist, cosmologist, author, science popularizer and communicator in astronomy and natural sciences (born 1934 /died 1996)

Last week, as some of us were getting our faces painted for a Halloween portrayal as Carnie Zombies, the odometer of global population quietly ticked up a notch from 6,999,999,999 to an even 7 billion. My, my, where did the time go? Seems like only yesterday we were a quaint little planet with a mere 2.5 billion. Back when Industrialized Nations could pillage Third World countries with impunity. They no longer can get away with that kind of shit. Or can they? International corporations like behemoth bulldozers raze everything in their path for world dominance in an insatiable lunge for profits at the expense of people. As the Right2Know March stood poised and ready the morning of Day 16, the final ascent to Lafayette Square, DC Metro buses wrapped with Monsanto propaganda turned the corner one right after the other. The 1% has more money than God, which by definition puts the Almighty in the 99%, somehow a comfort to David in his ongoing bout with Goliath.

It's been a awhile since I last posted an entry to this journal, so you'll have to remind me where we left off. Wait, wait, don't tell me...we were drawing a line in the shifting political landscape. “Which side are you on, Obama? Which side are you on?" That, a chant from the White House Tar Sands Action earlier this tour. We altered the lyric slightly after learning a foe of the president was still asking for him to fork over his birth certificate. Which country are you from, Obama, which country are you from? Really now, must we continue to flog a dead horse? You have to wonder, however, wouldn't it be relatively easy for a forger to, well, forge a birth certificate. After all, if teenagers can put a few hundred bucks down for a passable driver's license, couldn't the fuckin' Commander-in-Chief get his hands on an ersatz document to assuage his detractors. Probably have to 86 the technician, though...you know, to cover the trail of fraud.

Occupy Asheville has two meanings for this writer, the first describes a location among many of the current tsunamic, anti-corporate political and social movement; the other, Sustainable Living Roadshow's sojourn in this amazingly cool North Carolina city. What can I say...I love Asheville. Given my limited geographical vocabulary (I didn't get around much in my first six decades), I'd describe it as one part Santa Cruz, CA, one part Greenwich Village, NY, and one part San Francisco's North Beach – woven together then unrolled street by street in this craft-brewing center of the Southeast. And just as a man (and woman) does not live by beer alone, it has an emerging reputation for farm to table culinary excellence. After partaking in a generous serving of the best, fried shoestring potatoes I have ever eaten (I kid you not!), it may well deserve the moniker Foodtopia.

Home to one branch of the University of North Carolina system, the relatively-small (3,500 students) and somewhat affordable campus is known for its liberal arts orientation. There is a comfortable intimacy, a progressive feel and judging by its food service and physical plant, a tradition of sustainability. Bringing our tented sideshow here is a little like preaching to the choir, but on the other hand it was inspiring to engage so many friendly, kindred spirits.

At the cafeteria's entrance a sign declaring Your Table Awaits You...Relax greets hungry students. Produce is locally sourced, rSBT is absent from milk products and there is much in the way of vegetarian alternatives. Most impressive of all, however, is a DIY juicer, a massive machine that pulverizes and extracts the essence of carrots, beets, kale and apples. The windows of the expansive dining area opens onto an unobstructed view of the Blue Ridge Mountains, its famous Parkway unseen in the distance. Helpful tabletop signage has suggestions for an optimum, balanced diet including a handy, healthy shopping list for your dorm. A poster bids you to Reduce Your Consumption, Take Only What You Need, which applies, of course, to more than just food. The only danger zone is a substantial dessert bar (ice cream, cookies, pudding and pies) offering a challenge to the strong of faith, yet weak of flesh.

There is a robust recycling program in effect with clearly-marked and conveniently-placed receptacles as well as biomass composting. Two of the food service workers with whom I spoke told me there is nearly zero waste at their facility. UNCA also prides itself as having an energy footprint nearly half that of any of the other 15 campuses. So, it came as no surprise that the 7^th Annual Southern Students Renewable Energy Conference (SSREC) was held here over the weekend. Perusing the two-day workshop schedule gave me a booster shot of hope against the perception that young people are dis-interested in politics and preoccupied with popular, mainstream culture. After observing a malaise of apathy and lack of native curioisty at the Maryland Institute College of Art, it was refreshing to witness a strong counter-balance. Perhaps it's possible to have your gluten-free cake and eat it too!

A smaller troupe boarded Priscilla and Julia yesterday morning, several members having jumped off the road at this juncture. We are well over the three month mark of the tour and life beyond beckons. The SLR ship of solutionaries has turned its stern, so to speak, our vessel now westward bound, Austin city limits our next Roadshow destination. Today, we awakened to a still and peaceful Alabama morning. In an hour or so we'll cross over into Louisiana for some laid back time on the Bayou.

I was sorry to have to leave Asheville alright, but it's not going anywhere any time soon. In the wake of that revelation an epiphany, the sudden comprehension that San Francisco is not the only place one can leave his heart.