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Articles by Jack Kiser
My Turn: Amendment would limit voters rights in Gastonia
What if I were your state legislator and I told you I wanted to reduce your voting for Gastonia City Council by 83%? You wouldn’t like it. What if I didn’t tell you about my plan and did it behind your back, without asking or telling you? You would be outraged, and of course you should be. Sorry folks, this is not fiction! It is happening right now, and if you don’t speak up, it will be law in a matter of a few days.
Buckeye Angler: Organizing fishing combos for specific uses
I'm often asked just why fishermen like me and you appropriate so much tackle, especially when "one will do." The first thing to realize is that the person espousing such a viewpoint is either a novice fisherman or has confined and limited himself for some reason to only fishing for one particular specie under one specific method. If you're anything like me, you enjoy fishing for a variety of species under a variety of conditions, both seasonal and geographical.
Buckeye Angler: Try Ohio River for a winter fishing option
So many anglers find themselves in a dilemma come the winter months. They, for whatever reason, are not big fans of ice fishing, even if there is a supply of ongoing safe ice. In most winters, like this one, safely fishable hardwater is intermittent at best. This remains an ongoing source of frustration for even the most avid ice anglers.
Though not how he hoped, Isaiah Foskey makes his mark on Notre Dame football
Anyone is welcome to submit Letters to the Editor, guest columns, quotes, cartoons, comic strips and poems to the Viewpoint Department of The Observer. Items submitted by members of the Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s and Holy Cross community will be given preference for publication. The opinions expressed in the Viewpoint section are not necessarily those of The Observer. Columns, Letters to the Editor, poems, comic strips, cartoons and quotes are commentaries.
Jack Kiser analyzes area fisheries during summer 2022
It is now the time of the open water season to see how things are shaking out at local lakes and rivers thus far in 2022. Ohio anglers may be disappointed at some of their regular favorites, and desirous of some Buckeye State alternatives. With the usual help of specie reports from statewide reporting stations, Buckeye Angler Facebook site, buckeyeangler.com. and the Ohio Department of National Resources, we've assembled catch rates and results since ice-out by specie.
There are areas all over Northern Ohio to find your favorite fish.
After a particularly dreary off-season, it is time to hit Buckeye State waters once again. This year we have arranged to list our top five locations for each of the 10 most popular Ohio species, including angler tips for each and a listing and phone number of the most respected bait and tackle outlets and phone number for each. Many thanks to the ODNR, our reporting stations, and ongoing reports into both the Buckeye Angler Facebook site and buckeyeangler.com from so many of you. LARGEMOUTH BASS 1.
There are areas all over Northern Ohio to find your favorite fish.
After a particularly dreary off-season, it is time to hit Buckeye State waters once again. This year we have arranged to list our top five locations for each of the 10 most popular Ohio species, including angler tips for each and a listing and phone number of the most respected bait and tackle outlets and phone number for each. Many thanks to the ODNR, our reporting stations, and ongoing reports into both the Buckeye Angler Facebook site and buckeyeangler.com from so many of you. LARGEMOUTH BASS 1.
Buckeye Angler | Fishing destinations to try this season
Over the years, certain fishing locales emerge as especially reliable. This is especially critical when some of us must consider not only the basics like time, cost and sheer productivity, but also for some of us, additional concerns for scheduling staff, TV production, photo opportunities and overall travel conditions. I'd like to here specify a half-dozen of the most dependable destinations we've discovered and enjoyed and come to depend on over the last 40 years or so.
The Buckeye Angler Report updates ice fishing in Northeast Ohio
With the region's very best ice angling conditions in a decade well under way, it seems time for an update on just how things are progressing at the most popular and historically productive fisheries. One positive factor in evidence at all the locations is a consistent ice thickness of a foot or better. Even Lake Erie is at the onset of reliably safe ice in the wind-protected bays and increasingly reaching out towards more open water.
The Buckeye Angler Report updates ice fishing in Northeast Ohio
With the region's very best ice angling conditions in a decade well under way, it seems time for an update on just how things are progressing at the most popular and historically productive fisheries. One positive factor in evidence at all the locations is a consistent ice thickness of a foot or better. Even Lake Erie is at the onset of reliably safe ice in the wind-protected bays and increasingly reaching out towards more open water.
Buckeye Angler | Prepping for the looming ice fishing season
Although a sustained period of safe, fishable ice is never an absolute guarantee in our corner of the country, almost every year provides at least a brief opportunity to enjoy the rather unique opportunities offered by the sport. Ice angling in general is a great way to cure the cabin fever plague that hits so many of us this time of year. Another major attraction of ice fishing is in the table fare arena.
Portage County-area outdoors news and notes for July 9
The weather uncertainties of spring are now giving way to the relative stability of not just weather, but also fish behavior, including more predictable patterns and behaviors. All freshwater species settle into old, reliable feeding behaviors and locations that will remain essentially predictable through fall. I'd like to explore here four of the most reliable, exciting, and productive fishing adventures for this time of year.
Portage County-area outdoors news and notes for June 5
When fishing prospects for most other species are in the doldrums there is one particular panfish that will always cooperate with anglers to at least some degree. Down south they more efficiently lump all the bluegill sub-species under the same moniker as "bream," often pronounced "brim." Up north we often inaccurately lump hybrids and other similar fish like pumpkinseed, sunfish, warmouth and redears as "bluegill," despite the fact that they are their own unique and separate species.
Portage Outdoors | The great spinnerbait comeback
For the last decade or so, one of bass fishing's most productive and versatile lures slowly but surely declined into an almost mysterious level of unpopularity. The big manufacturers and their flagships of pro tournament anglers clearly de-emphasized the long-time favorite in favor of more expensive offerings like the bladed jig and "chatterbait," both rather lame variations of the spinnerbait itself. A cynic might suggest that the spinner was always too simple and inexpensive for its own good.
Things to know while exploring ice and snow
The beauty of a winter wonderland can quickly turn dangerous if outdoor enthusiasts don’t take proper precautions. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources is encouraging Ohio residents and out-of-state visitors to be careful while participating in winter recreational activities such as hiking or ice fishing. "Ohio's natural areas are beautiful in every season — even winter," said ODNR director Mary Mertz.
Things to know while exploring ice and snow
The beauty of a winter wonderland can quickly turn dangerous if outdoor enthusiasts don’t take proper precautions. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources is encouraging Ohio residents and out-of-state visitors to be careful while participating in winter recreational activities such as hiking or ice fishing. "Ohio's natural areas are beautiful in every season — even winter," said ODNR director Mary Mertz.
Portage Outdoors prepping your gear for the upcoming angling year
Although ice fishing opportunities have finally arrived (Mogadore reports 3-5 inches' of ice)and a strong bluegill bite on waxworms) most fishermen by now have been watching this year's new fishing TV shows, gotten their catalogs, and with the added COVID-19 induced additional contribution to cabin fever, thoughts turn towards the open water season.
FACS - Lifelike - Albums - Reviews - Soundblab
Disappears was one of those revival bands that came about from the movement started in the early 2002s by bands like Interpol and The Strokes to revive post-punk. It had Sonic Youth’s iconic drummer Steve Shelley as a member until 2012, but in 2016 went on hiatus, and from that, we get FACS – a Chicago based post-punk band in the same vein as Disappears. Their 2018 debut album Negative Houses was well-received, and they’ve returned with its proper follow-up Lifelike almost exactly a year later.
The Wild Reeds - Cheers - Soundblab - Soundblab
The Wild Reeds should be ashamed of themselves. On their latest album, Cheers, they serve up an embarrassment of hook-filled, sing-along songs. Some of them have darker themes, but all are as catchy as the measles. Whoever it is that gets to pick what the singles for the album will be is going to have a heck of a time.
Pool Kids - Music to Practice Safe Sex to - Soundblab - Soundblab
With the name Pool Kids, I expected this to one-up (or one-down) the Adverts One Chord Wonder ethos and make music with, perhaps, a half-hearted attempt at a C chord, without any consideration as to a time signature.
Sleaford Mods - Eton Alive - Soundblab - Soundblab
One of the most important contemporary punk bands — if not the most important one — is by no means "punk" in the conventional sense. Their music is best described as a mixture of lo-fi electronic music and spoken word, they are only two people, and they have no instruments whatsoever, apart from a laptop operated by Andrew Fearne, and a very sharp tongue belonging to lyricist Jason Williamson. I‘m obviously speaking of Sleaford Mods, Britain's most important politically charged band at this time.
Various Artists - Big Gold Dreams: A Story Of Scottish Independent Music 1977-1989 - Soundblab - Soundblab
This massive 5CD box set of often rather obscure indie acts from Scotland follows on the heels of Cherry Red’s city-centric multi-volume overviews of Manchester (North Of England) and Liverpool (Revolutionary Spirit). You may not remember many of these 115 tracks, but they run the gamut from punk to pop, twee to dance and all manner of subgenres in between.
Ryley Walker - The Lillywhite Sessions
There’s such an entrancing, illicit appeal to the mythos around lost art. Just last week, the notoriously unreleased Orson Welles film The Other Side of the Wind finally made its way to audiences. And now, Ryley Walker is taking the notion of recovery one step further. In late 1999, Dave Matthews Band set out to craft a darker, less refined album, embracing a grittier muse and leaving each strained mistake on the final recording.
The Men announce 'Hated: 2008 - 2011' compilation - Soundblab
The Men have announced the release of Hated: 2008 - 2011, an album of early recordings, due November 9th via Sacred Bones. Check out the blistering track, Ailment, below. The video features previously unseen live footage of the band. Mark Perro had this to say: "We wrote that first EP in the practice space, really quickly. I remember the exact moment when "Ailment" came together.
Ryley Walker announces The Lillywhite Sessions on Dead Oceans - Soundblab
Ryley Walker has announced a new album, a full cover album of Dave Matthews Band’s lost 2001 album The Lillywhite Sessions. The original album, produced by Steve Lillywhite, was scrapped by the band's label and many songs were re-recorded for their 2002 album, Busted Stuff. The original album has never officially been released. Check out the first track below, Busted Stuff, which has been described as "jazz-tinged post-rock that recalls Chicago heroes The Sea & Cake".
CHAI - Pink - Albums - Reviews - Soundblab
Japan's CHAI formed in 2012. Led by identical twins Mana (vocals/keys) and Kana (guitar), along with friends from school, Yuna (drums), and Yuuki (bass), CHAI offer what is easily the most bizarrely pleasurable listening experience of 2018. CHAI's sound is a bit like the results of throwing The Breeders, Devo, Deee-Lite and a splash of J-Pop into a blender - a very noisy, distorted blender.
IDLES - Joy As An Act of Resistance - Soundblab
Joe Talbot, the heavily-tattooed, wild-eyed, politically-charged voice of IDLES, included a line in press materials for his band's forthcoming album, Joy As An Act of Resistance, which perfectly sums-up the listening experience: "This album is an attempt to be vulnerable to our audience, to encourage vulnerability; a mere brave naked smile in this shitty new world." It would be a challenge to come up with a better encapsulation of the emotions elicited by Joy As An Act of Resistance than...
IDLES share new track 'Samaritans' - listen here - Soundblab
IDLES have today shared the third track, Samaritans, from their upcoming album, Joy As An Act of Resistance. Watch the video below. Singer Joe Talbot had this to say about the track, "There's been a long line of bullshit that has pushed men into a corner, where simple masking becomes a trope of masculinity and a catalyst for insanity. What we wear, what we eat, what razor we use, high performance chewing gum, go faster shampoo, how we treat women, how we treat ourselves, how we die.
Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever - The Basement, Nashville
Embarking on the first tour of your band’s hopefully blossoming career can be defined through a number of sentiments. Exhilarating, yes, but also full of mystery and ambiguity. The Aussie collective known as Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever have an undeniable mouth full of a name, but their hot popularity continues to tidal wave across indie radars all over. Obviously, up and down the golden coast of Australia, their presence is known.
LICE - It All Worked out Great Vol. 1 & 2
How appropriate that thrashing success story, IDLES, signed a just as vigorous act on their fresh new label this year. Also stylized in all caps without a concrete meaning why, the compatibility between both acts on this label roster seems too close to destiny. Bristol’s LICE, only add more chaotic flavor to the rustling scene far west of London. It seems pandemonium is engrained in the geography of Bristol, but each band’s signature flare differentiates in multiple flights.
Pinkshinyultrablast - Miserable Miracles
It still seems strange to me that the first band that ever got me into dream pop/shoegaze was Pinkshinyultrablast. This Russian collective of distorted sound junkies surreally encompass the development of modern dream pop. Two albums in with Everything Else Matters and Grandfeathered, they demonstrated early that the droning experimentation of shoegaze was not limited to just the United Kingdom and the States.
A Place To Bury Strangers - Pinned
Brooklyn noise trio, A Place to Bury Strangers, encapsulate the squeamish feeling of just waking up from a nightmare. Their consistent continuation of the progression in the noise rock genre is hard to be overlooked. For many, the genre is just as what you might expect, noise and unidentifiable chorus. However, the complexion and sheer calamity have only since increased from the pioneering CBGB days.
Uranium Club - Live for the Very First Time (in Italy)
Minneapolis’ newest punk outfit channels nostril flaring intensity with all the seriousness of a Spinal Tap show. Displaying evident hometown influences like the Replacements and Husker Du, Uranium Club can be found abrasively charming. On their newest record, this boisterous bunch performs songs from their two latest mini album releases, all being accomplished at a blistering pace and devout attitude. The first time that I stumbled upon the Uranium Club was in October on my birthday.
John 3:16 - עשר - Albums - Reviews - Soundblab
To say that I am going into this review blind would be a glaring understatement. Curiosity is something I can go to the grave acknowledging as one of my most valued attributes, but also an arrow in my Achilles heel. Generally, I have some background knowledge of who I am writing about, but here, I just thought the name was wittingly ironic. JOHN 3:16, one of the aliases of Philippe Gerber, epitomizes jagged, desolate post-metal served in a broken cocktail glass.
The Men - Drift - Albums - Reviews - Soundblab
The Men return from their brief hiatus demonstrating their desire to counterattack, with their 6th studio album, courtesy of Sacred Bones Records. With the entirety of the project being fairly minimalistic, only a number of tracks pack a punch. It seems rather uncharacteristic for a Men album to feel less confrontational and more experimental, however the ever changing social climate is moving far too quickly for comfort.
Insecure Men - Insecure Men - Soundblab
In a world full of chaos, pandemonium, and Saul Adamczweski songwriting, one would expect that his debut side project would be an extension from many of his previous experiments. Along with being associated with the rising success of experimental rock band Fat White Family, Adamczweski has channeled influences from the likes of his previous work with the Metros, the Saudis, the Moonlandingz, and the Black Lips (other band members were in this).
Superchunk - What a Time to be Alive - Soundblab
Superchunk is approaching 30 years of solid content and collaboration, yet they still find ways to remain relevant. To say that this North Carolinian is politically cognitive would not do the band’s mantra justice. They are conscious of their visible surroundings, yet are still able to willfully channel it in a playful demeanor. Their college rock attitude was the heartbeat of the 90’s, working with pioneering trailblazers like Guided by Voices, Sebadoh, and Built to Spill.
My Bloody Valentine - Loveless
This is the one that started it all. When people were ushered into this new, bizarre fixture of reverb laden melodies, the listening public was swept off their loosely planted feet. It is difficult to say that any band championed the shoegaze imagery quite like My Bloody Valentine. Loveless, was an effort all its own, essentially establishing the roots and foundation of the shoegaze genre.
Joan As Police Woman - Damned Devotion
Joan Wasser, or better known as Joan as Police Woman, has released her fifth project, channeling her sensual, yet fierce demeanor over a velvety backdrop. Scattered among the record are flakes of jazz fusion, blistery electronica, and returning jabs of her influential songwriting. Wasser is a workhorse, and it clearly shows through her recent collaborations with artists like Rufus Wainwright, Lou Reed, Anohni, amongst many others.
Khruangbin - Con Todo El Mundo - Albums - Reviews - Soundblab
On Khruangbin’s second effort, a lucid, airy transfiguration gracefully unfolds, traveling through the desert plains without haste. While there is seemingly a lack of literary elements incorporated in the record, the lush instrumentation dexterously gives the listener all the resources to visualize their own sonic landscape.
Shopping - The Official Body - Albums - Reviews - Soundblab
At some point, harping on political issues can often feel like overkill. We are thoroughly reminded about the plethora of issues that plague the world on an hourly basis. British trio, Shopping, understands this frustration and recent radicalization of the civic spectrum. Shopping’s overall attitude can be summarized as being rhythmically spunky with subtle undertones of trivializing matters many continue to face.
Profligate - Somwhere Else - Albums - Reviews - Soundblab
Many may not know the personality behind Noah Anthony, but based on the cryptic production that you hear from his better known alias, Profligate, his gloomy illustrations and translucent spoken work details something worth investigating. While Somewhere Else is Anthony’s sophomore effort, this is his first release off Warf Cat Records and intricately details his maturity over the years.
My Turn: Save historic preservation tax credits
By Jack Kiser Rehabilitation and repurposing of the Historic Loray Mill, converting and renewing the abandoned Gaston Memorial Hospital for senior housing, and restoration of the Armstrong Apartments were all made possible by Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits for investment properties.
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