Knoxville is a great way to get a quick vacation or day trip. With the gasoline prices going up that is a great deal.

The Yonder Mountain String Band will be playing tonight and tomorrow night. The 8:30 show tonight and tomorrow are sold out but there’s a 4:00 charity benefit that isn’t. Its $20 at the door.

British DJ Bonobo will be there Saturday at Nine p.m. with the local band Paper Tiger(click to visit their website), whose debut LP hit the street on January 18 last year. Tickets are only $17 at the door and $15 advance. That’s not a bad deal, especially with gasoline going the way it is.

Sunday at 9 the group Badfish will play.Tickets are $16 at the door, $14 advance.

Monday there’ll be an open mic starting at 9 p.m. At $5 to get in, this is a great way to save as money, enjoy the evening and support local talent.

The Orange Peel is a great way to save money on travel and support local business. To see what’s going on past Monday click here to visit their website and listen to their podcast.

This week I want to gush about the movie CONTAGION. This is an incredible film because of its approachto science, an all star cast and its public health value. CONTAGION tracks a global pandemic from start to finish. It gives equal screen time to the laboratory and the fmaily in the street. Lawrence Fishburne, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Marion Cotillard and Matt Damon make up a dream cast that live up to their collective reputation.

CONTAGION is not a feature film, its a high value Public Service Announcement. It looks at the next pandemic from every angle. Watching this film will help you prepare for it or a number of other disasters that could happen. As you watch the public reaction to the pandemic just remember what my friend M. said: Katrina. ALso watch for Jude Law as a blogger in the film’s commentary on the power of social media.

Have a great Monday.

Reflexology proposes there are pressure points on the surface of the skin connected to the body’s organs. Pressing on these lets energy flow to the organ reestablishing their equilibrium. One I use all the time is to massage the point directly between my eyebrows with my middle finger. (Supposedly the middle finger transmits more energy.) This helps the sinuses drain and has brought much needed relief many times.

Of course this shouldn’t replace your family doctor. In fact improper use of reflexology can hurt you. My colleague Michelle had this experience. She discovered that indiscriminate massaging of the soles of the feet can confuse various organs and actually release toxins in the body. There is a reason doctors are well paid. First, they deal with your helath and second, they get alot of education most of us don’t.

Having said all that, reflexology is an incredible tool for travelers to have. I encourage you to learn about it from reputable sources. While the Internet is a good resource, check out a good bookstore for a knowledgeable book.

This brings up the question of how you travel with your valuables. No one expects something this bad to happen but it is an event we need to think about before we leave home. Leave a comment about your thoughts concerning this subject.

J.C. Penney has a whole new marketing strategy in the works. Their ads are saying something big is coming. According to the grapevine— and various news sources— they’re going to permanently markdown all their merchandise by forty percent.(SOURCE: CBS News website, January 25, 2011. CLICK HERE TO READ FULL STORY.) According to the Penney’s website something will happen in about four days, seven hours and about twenty minutes, according to the J.C. Penney website, which you can access by clicking here.

While most shoppers I interviewed were excited, a minority didn’t seem impressed. Ms. M , from West Asheville, cited the costs the store will have to pay and speculated about a gimmick to clear winter merchandise. For better or worse I don’t shop at J.C. Penney’s, although the few times I popped into their store I was impressed by the selection and quality.

I’d appreciate any feedback on this article. If anybody reading this takes advantage of this let me know your experience. If there are any J.C. Penney’s shoppers reading this, let me know what you think.

Click here to read the New York Times story on the same event. This article reports that the little armored creatures are North Carolina, but doesn’t say which area. It also discusses medical treatment which is effective in many cases. Click here to read the reader comments on the article, which are almost as interesting as the article.

Click here to read an L.A. Times article. This article discusses the use of armadillos in the search for a vaccine for Hansen’s disease.

Click here to read the story in the Scientific American about the subject. Author Katherine Harmon quotes dermatologist John Abide of Greenville, Mississippi as saying that if his car ran over an armadillo he would wash it off.

Well, that’s about it. I just wanted to emphasize the danger presented by armadillos. Please avoid them and become educated about this public health threat. Since the armadillo’s range is expanding it is a subject we need to learn more about.