Talent Showcase Saturday.

The third annual Carthage Acoustic Festival will once again feature an open stage for talent this Saturday. According to event coordinator H.J. Johnson, "anyone with the guts to get on stage" will be given the opportunity for their time in the spotlight. The only requirements are that there will be no recorded music or electrified instruments allowed, and the lyrics of songs be suitable for all age groups. Anyone wishing to participate should sign up for their allotted time on Saturday morning beginning at 9 a.m. The stage will open at 10 a.m. and be open until 1 p.m.

Booked performances, featuring a variety of acoustic styles, will begin at 1 p.m. and continue until 10 p.m. that evening. Indoor facilities have been secured in case of rain and the festival will continue rain or shine.

The festival is sponsored by the Powers Museum with funding assistance from the Helen S. Boylan Foundation.

The City of Carthage provides support for the event through their various departments and the Jasper County Commission allows the use of the Courthouse lawn.

I wouldn’t call the Carthage Acoustic Festival old fashioned, state of the art sound equipment and prob’ly the best stage possible are bein’ used.

What is old fashioned is the fact that hundreds of folks get together on the Carthage Square and entertain each other. Not with high tech devices or special effects, but with pure human talent and energy.

The fare ranges from those who are steppin’ on a stage for the first time to the professional, life long performer.

I suppose the most old fashioned aspect of the event is that it is free. Thanks to the Helen S. Boylan Foundation this get-together is purely for the enjoyment of the community and surroundin’ area.

Come sit a spell, or step on stage, it’s your call.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Metcalf Auto Supply

Click & Clack
TALK CARS

By Tom & Ray Magliozzi

Dear Tom and Ray:

My son’s 1993 Chevy Caprice Classic is leaking radiator fluid, and a local garage told us it needs a new radiator. The cost of an OEM radiator was estimated to be $288, plus two hours of labor. I looked on the Internet and found a seller of OEM radiators that would deliver the radiator for a total cost of $193, including sales tax and a lifetime warranty. I asked the guys at the garage if he would install it. He said, "yes," but added that if it was from such-and-such a dealer on the Internet, it was a piece of junk. My response was, if this is OEM equipment, why would it be a piece of junk? He just repeated that it was a piece of junk and not worth installing. I said, "Thanks!" and hung up. My question: If it is OEM, does it not mean that it was made by Chevy? — Tim

RAY: Well, OEM means "original equipment manufacturer." So, it’s the same equipment Chevy used when it built the car, whether it was actually made by Chevy or one of Chevy’s suppliers. If you’re buying an OEM radiator from www.leakinglikeasieve.com, it should be every bit as good as the OEM radiator your garage will use.

TOM: Just make sure the ad on the Internet doesn’t say "OEM-quality" or "OEM-style" radiator. You want an actual OEM product.

RAY: One reason your local mechanic might be reluctant to install a part you bought on the Internet is because you’re completely eliminating his markup. Like all other retailers, auto-repair shops buy their stuff at wholesale and sell it at retail, for a profit. He’s probably buying the radiator for $193, too.