Thursday, October 19, 2006
Susan Gibson to return to 'Wide Open Spaces'
Amarillo College alumni Susan Gibson will return to the wide open spaces she once called home Saturday.
Gibson wrote one of the songs that helped the Dixie Chicks become famous.
"I love going back up there. Not to be cheesy, but that's where the wide open spaces are. Amarillo has the most beautiful sunsets," Gibson said.
Gibson will perform the song "Wide Open Spaces" with the Palo Duro Metro Chorus as they present "Under Panhandle Skies" at the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts. Then Gibson's band will play a set.
"I'm looking forward to the gig," she said.
Natalie Stephenson has been involved with the Palo Duro Metro Chorus for 32 years. She also looks forward to the performance.
"Susan's a delight to sing with," Stephenson said. "She's very down-to-earth, very gracious and so easy to get along with and to perform with. We get to be her backup on 'Wide Open Spaces,' and we're so excited."
Stephenson said the Palo Duro Metro Chorus does an annual show in the fall.
"We've been working for this ever since last spring," she said.
Other performers at the event will include Keith Reimer from McLean, a double quartet called B-8, a quartet called Star Struck and a gentleman's quartet called Dynomite.
Tickets to the event are available from Panhandle Tickets and at United Supermarkets. They also may be obtained at Randy's Music Mart in Amarillo and the WT Event Center in Canyon. Ten percent of the net revenue from the performance will be donated to Hospice Care of the Southwest.
Gibson moved to Amarillo when she was in the eighth grade and attended Bonham Middle School. She graduated from Amarillo High School in 1990. She spent two years at West Texas A&M University and two semesters at AC. In the fall of 1993, Gibson packed her things and headed to forestry school in Montana.
During her time at AC, Gibson accidentally took a Greek class."I thought it was conversational Greek, but it wasn't. It was translating Bible Greek. It was very interesting," she said.
Eventually, Gibson was satisfied that she had signed up for the class. What she learned still is benefiting her today, she said.
"I make my living with words," she said. "It was important to me as a writer to choose how I use these words. That class really helped me give conscious thought to choose my words carefully. I think that's an important lesson for any kind of writer."
Gibson said AC was a good bridge for her to get ready to move to Montana.
"A lot of the friends I have in Amarillo, I met at AC," she said.
Her first Christmas home from Montana, Gibson scribbled a few words down in a notebook, never imagining that the pen strokes she was making would make her house payment one day.
"I distinctly remember writing the lyrics to 'Wide Open Spaces,'" she said. "I absent-mindedly left the notebook on my mom's kitchen table."
A few weeks later, Gibson's mother mailed her a care package of the things she had left in Amarillo on her stay. The notebook was among the items. Once Gibson re-read the lyrics that she had jotted down, she put them to some music she had been strumming out on her guitar.
"My mom's care package was a gentle reminder that I wouldn't have got to go out on my own near as much if it wasn't for that care package," she said.
A band she played with in Amarillo for six years, the Groobies, also started Gibson on her road to success. Lloyd Maines, father to Dixie Chicks member Natalie Maines, produced the Groobies' records.
"When we recorded our first record, called Wayside, it had 'Wide Open Spaces' on there and he gave it to Natalie because she had just started singing with the Dixie Chicks," Gibson said.
Once the Dixie Chicks got their hands on the song and played it for a few live audiences, they knew it was a success. They chose it to be one of 12 to go on their first album.
Gibson now lives on a quiet piece of land in Wayside, between San Antonio and Austin.
"I was looking to move closer to the Austin area, because there's a lot of music around here," she said.
Gibson now finds herself in a network of musicians.
"The musicians are its own community, and we share what we know about what we know," she said. "It's kind of like a family."
Gibson is not married and lives with her dog and two cats.
"I feel like I'm about as settled down as I'm going to get," she said. "I love playing - I sure love to play."
Gibson has advice for everyone pursuing a dream.
"It fell together like shuffling a deck of cards," she said. "It's so out of my hands. Do what you would do, and wait for the rest of the world to catch onto you."
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
LG's new phone to stop drunk dialing
Cell phones were invented to make phone calls, right? Today they serve many functions. From playing games and instant messaging to surfing the Web and taking pictures, who would have guessed cell phone technology ever would come this far?
Manufacturers in Korea upped the ante last year when they introduced the LG breathalyzer phone. When these gadgets hit the U.S. later this year, cell phones will serve one more purpose: a handy sobriety test in your pocket.
The invention gained tremendous popularity in Korea, especially among younger crowds.
More than 200,000 of the models have been sold in Korea, according to www.news.com, and probably will spread like wildfire in North America as well.
How does it work? There is a tiny hole located on the side of the phone that a tipsy person can easily blow into. If the alcohol level is over the legal limit of 0.08, an animation pops up of a car swerving into a cone. That tells the partier it is not safe to drive.
Not only does the built-in breathalyzer serve as a friendly reminder not to get behind the wheel while intoxicated, it also fights against drunk dialing. The device can be programmed to not allow a user to dial certain numbers -especially exes - when the operator has had too much to drink. This feature could prevent embarrassing yourself when you're in a drunken stupor.
Keep your eyes peeled for this genius invention. It may keep you out of some sobering situations.
Sunday, January 1, 2006
Local Talent Needed: Independent Film Maker Plans Release in 2006

By: Rachel Nelson
For Edge Monthly
For Edge Monthly
David Marvin describes himself as a simple man with big dreams. For 30 years, he has worked patiently toward starting an independent film production company.
"This will pay for my other plans which include building a complete motion picture and television production studio, a recording studio and music manufacturing facility, and building a family entertainment park," Marvin said.
The park would provide local area citizens the opportunity to participate in the operation of the park, providing employment as well as business and career opportunities.
"Marvin Entertainment (TM) will focus on hiring those in the selected community currently living below the poverty level, providing a living wage and benefits that will allow them the opportunity to make a better life for themselves," Marvin said.
There is one major obstacle standing between Marvin and his long-time goal: Money.
"Motion picture production is not cheap, even when working on what is considered a low-budget film."
It was in 1975 that, Marvin made the decision to pursue a career in writing and producing his own motion pictures.
"It didn't take me long to realize that Hollywood was not the place for me," he said.
"Not because I think I am better than the established method of motion picture production, but because the purpose of any business is to make a profit and a new-comer to Hollywood never makes money."
In attempting to bypass Hollywood, Marvin is forced to raise funds through investors or product placement and promotional opportunities. Though this has proved itself to be a difficult task, Marvin said he is closer now than he has ever been before.
"I currently have an investor who is raising the production funds, and will receive 50 per cent of the gross profit derived from the film. This is only right," Marvin said.
The first film Marvin plans to release will most likely be made in Amarillo.
"It's Only Make Believe!©" takes place in a fairytale village hidden deep in a federally protected forest far away from civilization.
In the story, the village is populated by characters from fairytale books who live simply and peacefully until they are interrupted by outsiders trying to get in. Finally, the outsiders hire a lawyer to represent them and present their grievances to the villages.
The attorney negotiates an agreement and the villagers agree to allow the outsiders in on a trial basis.
Together, they elect a town council to make decisions for the village and begin to pass new laws. As a result of their newfound civilization, they hire policemen, judges and officials to enforce the laws and handle the business of the village. They enact taxes to pay for their new costs, but few can afford them, and before long resentment and rebellion begin.
Like all of Marvin's scripts, this story ends with a moral and a lesson.
"This motion picture will not contain sexual material, objectionable language or gratuitous violence and will be suited for family viewing," Marvin said.
Marvin Entertainment (TM) will film its movies using local area, non-union talent and crews. This means that average people with special talents from the local area will have a chance to make their dreams come true as well as earn some extra cash.
Although a date is not set in stone, Marvin hopes to release the film by July of 2006.
Marvin is in need of actors, actresses, set and costume designers and anyone else interested in helping on the project. For a cast list or more information on how you can participate, contact Marvin via e-mail at marvinentertainment@yahoo.com.
"It is my sincere goal to help others to realize their dreams, and Lord willing, this is what I will do."
For this local dreamer, simplicity is bliss.
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