IN THIS ISSUE
IN MUSIC
2006–2015: Celebrating 10 Years
Boro Art Crawl is back Dec. 11 Fans ready for Star Wars: The Force Awakens Pecans are a passion for the Hall family
Shelby Lee Lowe J. Buck Ted Drozdowski’s Scissormen Jon von Boehm The Clover Club Phil Madeira
MURFREESBORO
Middle Tennessee’s Source for Art, Entertainment and Culture News
Wishingg You You Wishin
December 2015 Vol. 10, Issue 12
FREE For You!
+
this Holiday Season
Favorite Holiday Movies
2015 HOLIDAY SHOP LOCAL GIFT GUIDE & GIVEAWAY PAGE 18
30
Contents
2015 14 Page 18
Holiday Shop Local Gift Guide & Giveaway u EVENTS
4
ART
December Community Events Tour of Homes; Holly Trolley Christmas Tour; Murfreesboro Christmas Parade, and more!
Entertainment Calendar 7 Karaoke, Bingo, DJs and Live Trivia
SOUNDS
8
Album Reviews Ted Drozdowski’s Scissormen; Jon von Boehm; J. Buck; The Clover Club
0
DECEMBER CONCERTS
Notes w Music Dead and Company; Phil Madeira; DJ Unk;
Exhibits f December Boro Art Crawl; Karen Brackman; Images of Cuba
MOVIES & GAMES Movies h Holiday It just wouldn’t be Christmas without these classic films. Star Wars k Fans prepare for the release of The Force Awakens. Living Room Cinema l May December
; Reviews The Hunger Games: Mockingjay–Part 2; The Night Before
Michael McQuaid; and more
Game Fallout 4 Event Annual PhreakNic convention held in Murfreesboro.
Lee Lowe r Shelby MTSU grad pursuing career as country artist.
z
LIVING
OPINION
Murfreesboro y Multilingual Local man organizes weekly Spanish, French and
Stockard Report x The Movement to clean up local probation system gains
German clubs for those who want to learn a language. Toys for Tots Murfreesboro Fire & Rescue helps organize annual Christmas toy drive.
2015 Holiday Shop Local i Gift Guide & Giveaway!
Enter to win gift cards and great items from area retailers!
p
Gardening Keep your Christmas plants after the holiday season.
FOOD
s
24
Jack Hall’s Pecans Tennessee family “buys, sells cracks and shells.”
c v b n
traction; flap over Forrest Hall continues. Life on the Streets Salvation Army provides individuals and families with a safe place to rest. Live Exceptionally . . . Well! Speak up: Don’t hesitate to say what’s on your mind. Phil Valentine: Views of a Conservative The secret to wealth is worth, not whiteness. Business Builder Organize and optimize your office for success.
SPORTS Z-Train , Merry Christmas to all! On Brady, on Peyton,
CREW
PULSE
on Kobe, on Ronda!
Publisher/Editor in Chief: Bracken Mayo Art Director: Sarah Lankford Mayo Advertising Reps: Don Clark, Jeff Brown Copy Editor: Steve Morley
Contributors: Dylan Skye Aycock, Sarah H. Clark, John Connor Coulston, Greg Crittenden, Tanner Dedmon, Jennifer Durand, Tony Lehew, Zach Maxfield, Ceyla Orton, Darcy Payne, Robert Ritch, Edwina Shannon, Cecilia Sinkala, Jay Spight, Andrea Stockard, Sam Stockard, Norbert Thiemann, Phil Valentine
To carry the Pulse at your business, or submit letters, stories and photography: bracken@boropulse.com 10 N. Public Square, Murfreesboro, TN 37130 (615) 796-6248
Copyright © 2015, The Murfreesboro Pulse, 10 N. Public Square, Murfreesboro, TN 37130. Proudly owned, operated and published the first Thursday of each month by the Mayo family; printed by Franklin Web Printing Co. The Murfreesboro Pulse is a free publication funded by our advertisers. Views expressed in the Pulse do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. ISSN: 1940-378X
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DEAR READERS: PEACE ON EARTH AND A PAID OFF MORTGAGE, that’s all I want for Christmas this year . . . GAGE sounds like a country song in the making. Many are promoting the idea of shopping small this holiday season and encouraging consumers around the country to support the independent community businesses with their gift purchases. As a small business owner, and a vendor to many independent businesses, that sounds great. Still, I say shop where you feel you receive the best quality, customer service and happiness. That very well may be from a large operation, but generally after real investigation the smaller organizations usually have the ability to provide a superior level of care and quality. Check out some of the fine businesses participating in the Pulse’s annual holiday season giveaway on page 18– visit BoroPulse.com and enter to win some goodies from these wonderful operations for yourself or a loved one. There’s plenty of great art produced in the Murfreesboro area, and the next installment of the Boro Art Crawl, hitting the Square area Friday, Dec. 11, celebrates that local art scene. Wander into some of the establishments that evening and take in a good dose of Tennessee creativity. Do some Christmas shopping at the same time if you like, and obtain an original piece from an artist in the area as a colorful gift for someone on your list. I am making a real effort to keep my drawing skills at least equal to those of my 6-year-old. There are a lot of upset Tool fans out there—just a couple of minutes after tickets for the Jan. 23 Tool concert at Bridgestone Arena went on sale, all tickets were sold out from Ticketmaster and, instantly, the price gouging began on third-party sites. Many music fans are calling the system where Ticketmaster sells the majority of tickets to resellers “broken” and that “the scalpers are the real terrorists.” Years ago Pearl Jam stood up to Ticketmaster; it looks like music fans would really appreciate some more popular artists doing the same. In shady professional sports practices, Sen. John McCain recently brought to light the practice of the military giving taxpayer dollars to professional sports teams to hold patriotic on-field displays. No, your favorite football or baseball team doesn’t really think that the branches of the armed services are so wonderful they must be repeatedly acknowledged; the Defense Department pays them hundreds of thousands of dollars to hold giant flag wavings and reunion ceremonies as part of the federal government’s PR effort to manipulate young Americans into joining the armed forces and glorifying the military with a massive, taxpayer-funded marketing budget. Interesting. In more tropical football news, the MTSU Blue Raiders are bowl-bound after accepting a bid to the Bahamas Bowl, a Christmas Eve tradition since 2014 . . . the Popeye’s Bahamas Bowl, that is, let’s not forget the official fried chicken sponsor that makes this monumental game possible. As usual, there’s all sorts of local music to absorb: from Scissormen to DJs, the Murfreesboro Symphony Orchestra to Shelby Lee Lowe, the Jackillacs and Regi Wooten. Merry Christmas—make the final month of 2015 a good one! Peace, Bracken Mayo Editor in Chief BOROPULSE.COM
* DECEMBER 2015 * 3
Events COMPILED BY
ANDREA STOCKARD
Send event information to murfreesboropulse@yahoo.com
DEC. 4
DEC. 5
MOVIE NIGHT AND PHOTOS WITH SANTA
5TH ANNUAL LA VERGNE PARADE OF LIGHTS
Join friends and family at Daymar College (415 Golden Bear Ct.) for Movie Night and Photos with Santa Friday, Dec. 4, with pictures taken from 5–6:30 p.m. and the
The nighttime Christmas parade on Saturday, Dec. 5, begins at Veterans Memorial Park in La Vergne (115 Floyd Mayfield Dr.), travels down Murfreesboro Rd. and ends at City Hall. For more information, contact jwilson@lavergnetn.gov or (615) 7933224, or visit lavergnetn.gov.
DEC. 5–6 OVERNIGHT BACKPACKING HIKE The Tennessee Trails Association will host a winter backpacking experience Dec. 5 and 6 at Small Wild on Fiery Gizzard Trail. This is a starter hike of only 4.4 miles round-trip on fairly level ground. Participants will be testing their winter outdoor skills on this easy hike to Small Wild back-country campsite. Small Wild has one of the best overlooks in the Savage Gulf Area. For more information, call Andy Meeks (813) 447-1224 or visit tennesseetrails.org.
DEC. 5 CHRISTMAS AT CANNONSBURGH movie The Polar Express beginning at 6 p.m. Enjoy a coloring contest with gift card prizes; hot chocolate, popcorn and cookies will be served throughout the evening. For more information, call (615) 217-9347
DEC. 4 MURFREESBORO ANNUAL TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY Enjoy the Murfreesboro Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on the east side of the Rutherford County Courthouse, Public Square at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, with performances, Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Courthouse.
Enjoy pictures with Santa at Cannonsburgh Village (312 S. Front St.) from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5. For more information, call (615) 890-0355.
DEC. 5 5TH ANNUAL SAVE CRAFT FAIR Support the 5th Annual SAVE (Sustaining A Village Everyday) Craft Fair, a local teen-led nonprofit in Murfreesboro featuring over 75 vendors, a bake sale from Gigi’s Cupcakes and a huge silent auction featuring a set of Titans tickets and more at Lane Agri-Park (315 John Rice Blvd.) from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5. For more information, visit teensave.org.
Davis Home and Plantation (1399 Sam Davis Rd.) selling handmade merchandise perfect for holiday gift giving, Christmasthemed tours through the historic home, a Christmas favorite film short, booths for craft making and food vendors and pictures with Santa. Admission is $5 for guests age 6 and up. For more information, please call (615) 459-2341 or visit samdavishome.org.
DEC. 5, 12 & 19 SANTA IN THE COURTHOUSE Bring your own camera and take a photo of Santa with the kids in the historic Rutherford County Courthouse from noon–4 p.m. For more information, call (615) 895-1887 or visit downtownmurfreesboro.com.
DEC. 5
DEC. 5 & 6
A VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS
JOY TO THE BORO
Enjoy local craft vendors at Historic Sam
Joy to the Boro comes to Family Worship
DEC. 4–5 HOLLYDAY MARKETPLACE Celebrate 11 years of Christmas shopping at Hollyday Marketplace with the Junior League of Murfreesboro at Tennessee Miller Coliseum (304-B W. Thompson Ln.) with Mistletoe and Martinis on Friday, Dec. 4, presented by E. Allen from 6–9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, will bring Breakfast with Santa presented by Chick-fil-A from 8–10 a.m., Santa Snapshots with Kim Linville Photography from 10 a.m.–2 p.m., and Santa’s Workshop presented by Faithful Strokes from 2–4 p.m. For more information, visit hollydaymarketplace.weebly.com. 4 * DECEMBER 2015 * BOROPULSE.COM
Center (3045 Memorial Blvd.), Dec. 5 and 6 featuring free performances at 6 p.m. by Jaci Velasquez and Nic Gonzales alongside a Christmas FWC Worship. An offering will be taken to benefit the Salvation Army of Murfreesboro. For more information, please visit familywc.com.
DEC. 5, 12 & 26 ROCKTAIL HOUR WITH CHIP AT STONEKEEPERS Stonekeepers, 111 E. Lytle St., hosts Rocktail Hour with Chip, beginning at 6 p.m. on Saturdays, Dec. 5, 12 and 26. Participants can sample three different gemstone water elixirs (nonalcoholic, of course!) at no charge. Each blend is handcrafted to achieve specific purposes based on the stone properties. All are welcome to come socialize and learn more about how you can incorporate stones into your everyday life. For more information, find Stonekeepers on Facebook or call (615) 849-1792.
DEC. 6 SMYRNA CHRISTMAS PARADE
DEC. 5 CANDLELIGHT TOUR OF HOMES Welcome the holiday season with an enchanting dinner with food trucks along The Oaklands Christmas Candlelight Tour of Homes from 4–8 p.m. Enjoy meals from Gee Ma’s Kitchen, Sweet T’s BBQ, Demos’ Restaurant and Julia’s HomeStyle Bakery all of whom will be donating a portion of their profits to the preservation and education for future generations. Enjoy a live nativity provided by Southeast Baptist Church’s Bethlehem Marketplace outside Oaklands Baptist Church, 530 N. Maney Ave. For more information, call (615) 893-0022 or visit oaklandsmansion.org.
The 41st Annual Smyrna Christmas Parade invites you to “Miracle on Lowry Street: Experience the Miracle” with floats, bands, classic cars, Clydesdales, riding clubs, dancers and Santa Claus beginning at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6. For more information, call (615) 267-5003 or visit townofsmyrna.org.
DEC. 8 TRAILS ASSOCIATION HOLIDAY POTLUCK The area chapter of the Tennessee Trails Association will have its holiday potluck at 6 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 8, at Barfield
Crescent Wilderness Station. Invite your family and friends, and bring a covered dish to share. Chapter will provide utensils, plates, napkins and beverages. RSVP to Sara Pollard at (615) 714-3610 or sarabpollard@gmail.com.
Roman soldiers, prisoners, tentmakers, weavers, merchants in shops, census-takers, and more with live camels and other animals at 5 p.m. No admission or reservations are required. For more information, call (615) 896-0940.
DEC. 10 BRANCHES CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE Branches Counseling Center says “thank you” to everyone for their support with refreshments, music and a tour at the Christmas Open House (1102 Dow St.) from 5–7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10. For more information, call (615) 904-7170 or visit branchescounselingcenter.com.
DEC. 17
DEC. 11
DEC. 12
THE BORO ART CRAWL The Boro Art Crawl supports and draws recognition to the ’Boro’s artistic talent from 6–9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11. For more information, visit boroartcrawl.com.
DEC. 12 HOTCAKES AND HOLLY Join Santa and Mrs. Claus at “Breakfast with Santa,” an addition to the Rotary Club of Murfreesboro’s 13th Annual Hotcakes and Holly fundraising breakfast, at Middle Tennessee Christian School (100 MTCS Rd.) held from 7–10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 12. Tickets are $8 for the regular breakfast. Breakfast with Santa is $20 from 8–10 a.m. Children who attend the special Santa breakfast will receive a
DOWNTOWN HOLLY TROLLEY SHOPPING TOUR Join the annual Downtown Holly Trolley Shopping Tour at locally owned stores and restaurants in beautiful historic Downtown Murfreesboro from 12 noon–8 p.m. In addition to the one-of-a-kind items in over 25 participating downtown shops, the day will include activities and entertainment. Come dressed in your most festive garb! Enter prize drawings and catch a free trolley ride around downtown Murfreesboro. For more information, visit shopdowntownmurfreesboro.com. run begins at 7 a.m. and will be followed by post-race waffles and coffee provided by Waffle House. There will be no timing system—just a fun run! Raffles and prizes will also be part of the day, with all proceeds going to Court Appointed Special Advocates and Bob Parks Christmas for the Children. For more information, call (615) 494-3141 or email krista@fleetfeetmurfreesboro.com.
DEC. 12 GIRLS NIGHT OUT WITH CHIPPENDALES DANCERS Chais Music Hall, located at 101 Spring St. in Wartrace, Tenn., will host the JOHNNY B AND THE BALLADEERS
free picture with Santa and a copy ofThe Night Before Christmas donated by Ingram Content Group. Get photos and autographs from MTSU’s women’s basketball team. Enjoy musical entertainment by Middle Tennessee Christian School Choir, Johnny B and the Balladeers, Larry and Gay Pinkerton, and actors from the Murfreesboro Center for the Arts. For more information about Rotary Club of Murfreesboro, visit murfreesbororotary.com or facebook. com/murfreesbororotary.
DEC. 12 FROSTY FUN RUN Run through the Stones River Country Club Golf Course the morning of Saturday, Dec. 12, as the Frosty Fun Run offers both 2-mile and 4.5-mile fun run options. The
hottest, sexiest ladies-night-out show in the country when members of the world famous Chippendales dancers come to Middle Tennessee for a Saturday, Dec. 12 performance. For more information, call (931) 389-7050, email chaismusichallandhotel@gmail.com or visit girlsnightouttheshow.com.
DEC. 12–13 BETHLEHEM MARKETPLACE Bethlehem Marketplace is a walk-through drama at Southeast Baptist Church (708 Minerva Dr.), a presentation of how the village of Bethlehem might have appeared the morning after the birth of Jesus. View
MURFREESBORO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: SOUNDS OF CHRISTMAS Enjoy a Rutherford County holiday tradition featuring Murfreesboro soprano Katherine Sandoval Taylor and the Murfreesboro Symphony Chorus performing beloved Christmas music at First United Methodist Church (265 W. Thompson Ln.) at 7:30 p.m. For tickets or more information, call (615) 898-1862 or visit murfreesborosymphony.com.
DEC. 17 THE CONNECTION, BUSINESS NETWORKING AT MAYDAY The Connection: an Evening of Professional Networking and Business Brainstorming will be from 5–7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 17, at Mayday Brewery, 521 Old Salem Rd. All Middle Tennessee entrepreneurs and professionals are welcome to attend this casual, no-obligation event, where they can meet other small-business owners and tap into one another’s experience and energy. Robert Ritch, a successful entrepreneur and business consultant, will lead an open roundtable discussion encouraging partici-
DEC. 13 MURFREESBORO CHRISTMAS PARADE The annual Murfreesboro Christmas Parade will begin at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, with this year’s theme being “Christmas Around the World.” The parade starts at the intersection of East Main Street and Middle Tennessee Boulevard, continues down East Main and around the historic square onto West Main and slides down the chimney on North Walnut Street. This year is the 31st year WGNS has sponsored the Murfreesboro Christmas Parade. Enjoy five high school bands, floats, antique cars, dancers, schools, marchers, social groups, church groups, costumed characters, Boy and Girl Scouts and more.
BOROPULSE.COM
* DECEMBER 2015 * 5
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 pation from those in attendance, asking them to articulate their vision for their business and calling for examples of some of the business challenges and solutions they are experiencing. The series will continue the third Thursday of each month. For more information, contact ceo@robertritch.com.
DEC. 18 COFFEE WITH THE VETERANS Join Operation Adopt a Hero at Cultivate Coworking (107 W. Lytle St.) from 7:30–9 a.m. on the third Friday of each month for Coffee with the Veterans, an informal, social networking event designed to foster friendships between local veterans and their community. Enjoy coffee, pastries and the chance to meet and mingle with our service members and their families. For more information, call (615) 893-6565.
DEC. 18–20 WINTER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION Stonekeepers’ Winter Solstice Celebration and Back Room Mineral Show will be held Dec. 18–20. Join Stonekeepers as the shop celebrates the changing seasons. Enjoy delicious snacks and refreshing Rocktails.
Help decorate the community goddess to reflect the energies of winter. Also, Stonekeepers has dug through its closets to find hidden treasures to share; many unique crystals and minerals that haven’t made it to the shelves will be available for purchase. Stonekeepers is located at 111 E. Lytle St. For more information, find Stonekeepers on Facebook or call (615) 849-1792.
DEC. 19 HIKE ALONG CORDELL HULL LAKE The Tennessee Trails Association will host a 5.6-mile, moderate-to-difficult hike along the shoreline of Cordell Hull Lake (near Carthage) on Saturday, Dec. 19, passing waterfalls, old home sites and rocky overlooks. Participants will start at the Defeated Creek campground area and hike to the Tater Knob Overlook. Bring lunch, snacks and water. Sturdy hiking boots are recommended. To register, contact Sara Pollard at (615) 7143610 or sarabpollard@gmail.com.
DEC. 26–JAN. 3 153RD ANNIVERSARY PROGRAMS Join rangers and volunteers for a variety of walks, talks, tours and living history demonstrations at Stones River National Battlefield (1563 N. Thompson Ln.) that will tell the story of one of the most significant battles of the Civil War, the Battle of Stones River. Admission is free. For more information, call (615) 893-9501 or visit nps.gov/stri.
JAN. 1 All are invited to start the New Year off right with an invigorating hike and traditional New Year’s Day lunch along with the Friends of Edgar Evins State Park. The adage is that what you do on the first day of the year, you will continue to do all year long. Meet at the covered picnic shelter #1 at the lower part of the Marina parking lot at 10 a.m. to drop off food. The hike will be on the 2.5 mile Millennium Trail, the trail is classified as moderate in difficulty. After the hike everyone will return to the picnic shelter for hot chocolate and lunch, featuring traditional New Year’s Day dishes such as ham, black eyed peas, and collard greens. Just bring your favorite New Year’s dish to share; there will be a roaring fire going to help keep the chill at bay. After lunch those who wish may also hike the two-mile (moderate but hilly) Highland Rim Nature Trail. For more information contact Fount or Anna Bertram at fwbertram@dtccom.net or (615) 765-5357.
6 * DECEMBER 2015 * BOROPULSE.COM
PHOTO COURTESY ROOTSRATED.COM
START THE NEW YEAR WITH A HIKE
ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR
DJ, Bingo, Trivia & Karaoke NIGHTS IN MURFREESBORO
MONDAYS BUNGANUT PIG Live Trivia, 7 p.m. THE POUR HOUSE DJ, 7–11 p.m. AHART’S PIZZA GARDEN Live Trivia, 7 p.m.
TUESDAYS OLD CHICAGO Live Trivia, 9 p.m. COCONUT BAY CAFÉ Live Trivia, 7:30 p.m. THE POUR HOUSE DJ, 7–11 p.m. NACHOS Live Trivia, 7 p.m. NOBODY’S Bingo, 7 p.m. TGI FRIDAY’S Live Trivia, 9 p.m.
WEDNESDAYS CAMPUS PUB Karaoke, 10 p.m.–2:30 a.m. MELLOW MUSHROOM Live Trivia, 8 p.m.
NOBODY’S Live Trivia, 7 and 9:30 p.m. SAM’S SPORTS GRILL Live Trivia, 8 p.m. WOODY’S BBQ Live Trivia, 7 p.m.
MT BOTTLE Karaoke, 9 p.m.–3 a.m. WHISKEY DIX DJ Cliffy D, 8 p.m.
THURSDAYS
CAMPUS PUB Karaoke, 10 p.m.–2:30 a.m.
CAMPUS PUB Live Trivia, 8:15 p.m. COCONUT BAY Karaoke, 8 p.m. NOBODY’S Karaoke, 9:15 p.m.–12:30 a.m. SPORTS SEASONS Live Trivia, 7 p.m. THE POUR HOUSE Karaoke, 9 p.m. WHISKEY DIX DJ Cliffy D, 8 p.m. MURFREESBORO BILLIARDS CLUB Karaoke, 9 p.m. LIQUID SMOKE DJ Night, 10 p.m.
SATURDAYS
LA SIESTA (CHURCH ST.) Karaoke, 6 p.m. NACHOS Live Trivia, 7 p.m. NOBODY’S Karaoke, 9:15 p.m.–12:30 a.m. WHISKEY DIX DJ Cliffy D, 8 p.m.
SUNDAYS O’POSSUMS Live Trivia, 8 p.m. THE POUR HOUSE DJ, 7 p.m. SAM’S SPORTS GRILL Live Trivia, 8 p.m.
FRIDAYS NOBODY’S Karaoke, 9:15 p.m.–12:30 a.m.
Send entertainment listings to listings@boropulse.com
HEAR WHAT MURFREESBORO SOUNDS LIKE
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ALBUM REVIEWS
J. BUCK
The J. Buck Experience 4 4½
MTSU alumnus Josh Buck’s music features a blend of R&B, soul, blues and pop to create something that sounds like it came straight out of Muscle Shoals. The sound takes root at the very start of the Memphis-based musician’s debut EP, The J. Buck Experience. The project’s opening interlude is a short and gritty one-minute cut that finds Buck, a former member of local neo-soul group Mocha Latte, repeating the refrain of “I walk alone” over a stomping, Southern-rock and funk-inspired guitar riff. The rock influence is even more prevalent on the following tracks “Make You Stay” and “In Need.” Both feature lyrics about relationships coming to an end, but give off two different vibes. “In Need” is a bluesy rocker with call and response vocals and a ripping guitar solo that would sound right at home pouring out of B.B. King’s or the Rum Boogie Cafe on Beale Street. “Make You Stay” features a soaring R&B/pop chorus that steps away from the Southern-rock influences and hints at the vibe of the EP’s second half. Midway through the EP, the stylistic focus shifts from rock and blues to R&B, soul and gospel. On the album closer, “God Is Good,” Buck’s passionate vocals cruise atop piano, with a hint of blues guitar in the back of the mix. A religious element also pops up on the track “Somebody,” a melodically strong, mid-tempo cut with a blend of R&B vocals, bluesy instruments and a reflective lyric: Somebody up there loves me I can tell by the way my heart beats Somebody up there cares for me I can tell by the way I breathe. The EP’s mid-point comes on the track “What We Gon’ Do?” a ballad focusing on the hardships the world faces delivered in a style akin to What’s Goin’ On-era Marvin Gaye. J. Buck may not yet be at the same level as Marvin Gaye and the like, but you can tell that’s where he’s striving to be, and The J. Buck Experience is a solid first step in that direction. — JOHN CONNOR COULSTON 8 * DECEMBER 2015 * BOROPULSE.COM
TED DROZDOWSKI'S SCISSORMEN Love & Life
4
Nashville-based psychedelic blues trio Ted Drozdowski’s Scissormen is a local outfit like none other. The group, led by songwriter, vocalist and slide guitarist Ted Drozdowski, brings a plethora of talent to the table; in this case, it’s on their latest effort, Love & Life, an 11-track album derived from rootsy Mississippi blues and a swirling sea of personal and historical recollections. Released on Dolly Sez Woof, Love & Life is a trippy addition to Drozdowski’s already stacked catalog of work. Aside from his music career, he’s also an award-winning music journalist, author and educator, and the trio’s release is just another stitch in this creative tapestry. Drozdowski, joined by bassist Sean Zywick and drummer Pete Pulkrabek, crafted a piece of work that harks back to the blues musicians who molded him into the artist he is. The trio kicks off the album with “Beggin’ Jesus,” a dark and sultry track that has simultaneously Drozdowski “dancing with the devil” and begging for redemption. Drozdowski maintains devilish themes on the next track, “Letter From Hell,” as he sings over screaming guitar riffs: But now I’m going to demon school When I get my horns we’ll see who’s cool Figured I’d tell you I’m doing well Thought I’d write you a letter from Hell. The trio plays around with eerie instrumentation on “The River,” a ghost story that explores the mystic banks of Mississippi’s Tallahatchie River. Later on, Drozdowski pays homage to a few of his influences, with an obvious nod to guitarist Watermelon Slim on “Watermelon Kid” and what perhaps was meant to be a proper sendoff to the late soul and blues singer Mighty Sam McClain on “Let’s Go to Memphis.” However, the most charged of them all is “R. L. Burnside [Sleight Return],” an electrifying five-minute tribute to Drozdowski’s late mentor an American guitarist, blues singer and songwriter from northern Mississippi. Like several albums that have found their way to the Pulse office, Love & Life began as a crowdfunding project; Ted Drozdowski’s Scissormen raised almost $14,000 on Indiegogo and fulfilled their promise to contributors with a dynamic release. Drozdowski and company already have a couple of dates on their 2016 calendar at Mayday Brewery, set for Feb. 6 and April 2. Visit scissormen.com for more. — DYLAN SKYE AYCOCK
THE CLOVER CLUB
JON VON BOEHM
Black
Jon von Boehm 4
3.5
Middle Tennessee hard-rock trio The Clover Club is a staple at local venues, with recent appearances at Mayday Brewery and The Boro Bar & Grill, among others. They’ve got a show at Murfreesboro’s newest venue, The Block, on Saturday, Dec. 5, so it’s a perfect time to take a look at their debut album, Black. The Clover Club’s sound prides itself on being heavy and hard. While it wouldn’t be a stretch to define the band as metal at some points, there’s definitely a bluesy swagger and rhythm that keeps them more in the hardrock realm. Lyrically, a blues sentiment can be heard on the track “Devil,” the latest in a long line of “deal with the Devil” songs that date back to legendary bluesman and rock ’n’ roll forefather Robert Johnson. Rhythmically, the tracks “Woke Up Drinkin’,” “Diamonds & Cherries” and “Crazy Bull” all feature guitar parts or solos that sit somewhere between electric blues and Jimi Hendrix’s sonic take on the rock/blues guitar, all while maintaining heaviness. This heavy sound comes not only from the production on the album (which sounds excellent compared to many local outfits’ mixes), but also from the distinct bass tone and riffs on the album. Clover Club shies away from the unfortunate trend of drowning out the bass in the mix, so you can prominently hear the bass on all the tracks on Black. Most distinctly, the album kicks off with a Motörhead-like bass riff that guides the track into a heavy rhythmic focus. This track, “My Idea of Heaven,” and a lot of songs on Black give off a vibe similar to Pantera, especially with the raw growl in the vocals of guitarist Dustin Rye. The Clover Club is instrumentally sound, with bassist Christopher Campbell and drummer Shawn Jones making Black a great listen for hard-rock fans: These guys play tight together, all while individually remaining distinct. Even though some of the tracks on the album aren’t as memorable as the ones cited in this review, the album is sonically uniform and the material is sure to sound great (and heavy) live. Check out thecloverclub.bandcamp.com for more on the band. — JOHN CONNOR COULSTON
RATINGS: AVERAGE
A CLASSIC BELOW AVERAGE
Prolific bassist Jon von Boehm has appeared on countless projects as a session musician, but he’s now turned to the next chapter with the release of his eponymous solo debut late last year. Over the course of two years, Boehm occupied his free time by writing eight of the nine tracks one by one while simultaneously working on other projects. In addition to Boehm, the album’s hefty crop of talented musicians includes Michael Green (drums), Walter Scott (keys), Michael Gutierrez and Chris West (saxophone), Denny Jiosa, Jonathan Crone, Dann Glenn, Ben Badenhorst and Scott Goudeau (guitar), Kenny Zarider (piano and keys) and Lara Landon (vocals). Together, Boehm and friends experiment with often unpredictable instrumentation, varying tempos and thoughtful melodies in what sounds like an hour-long jazz-fusion jam session. Although Boehm’s bass serves as the album’s funky centerpiece, the other instruments have sufficient breathing room and share the spotlight equally. “Mr. Uncertainty” maintains a smooth and steady groove, while “Funk in a Bizzle” jumps from ambient guitar work by Jonathan Crone to aggressive percussion by Michael Green within a matter of seconds. If you’re a fan of the sax, check the album’s opener, “The Machine Lies,” as well as “Selleck P.I.,” a six-minute track complemented by Scott Goudeau’s electrifying guitar solo. Boehm ties the album together with his own spin on The Brothers Johnson’s 1978 track “Ain’t We Funkin’ Now,” which features Lara Landon’s buttery-smooth vocals layered over the album’s most infectious groove. Jon von Boehm’s self-titled album is one jazzfusion fans will naturally gravitate towards, but it’s also accessible to non-jazz listeners. And as someone who doesn’t listen to much jazz, I can attest that it’s worth a listen. The album is available on iTunes, Amazon, GooglePlay, as well as at jonvonboehm.bandcamp. com. Visit jonvonboehm.com for more information on the artist. — DYLAN SKYE AYCOCK
OUTSTANDING AVOID AT ALL COSTS
DEAD BOROPULSE.COM
* DECEMBER 2015 * 9
Concerts DECEMBER 2015
WED., 12/30 @ BUNGANUT PIG
Send show listings to listings@boropulse.com
THURS, 11/5 BONHOEFFER’S
The Django Riders, Zach Allen Band
BUNGANUT PIG
Madison Shea Band Auditions
THURS. 12/3 CHAIS MUSIC HALL
Tiffany Lemmon, The Vellas
MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING
MTSU Flute Studio; Piano student recitals; String student recitals
THE BORO
Night Wind
TEMPT
Stooki Sound, Shmuck the Loyal, Hustle Up, Suit Up
SAT. 12/5 BIRD SONG STUDIO
Phil Madeira
BUNGANUT PIG
First Avenue
COCONUT BAY CAFE
Lost Dawg
GEORGIA’S SPORTS BAR & GRILL
Geneva
NACHO’S
JOZOARA
THE BORO
MAIN STREET MUSIC
Ivan LaFever All-star jam with Stuart Montez
FRI. 12/4 BUNGANUT PIG
Phoenix Rising
Kelsey Keith
Animality, Sugar and the Suitepeas (System of a Down tribute), Kneel Before None, Behold the Slaughter, Abated Mass of Flesh, Neufound Me
CHAIS MUSIC HALL
MAYDAY BREWERY
COCONUT BAY CAFE
THE BLOCK
Line Dancing Lesson Boro Boys
GEORGIA’S SPORTS BAR & GRILL
JunkBox
MAIN STREET MUSIC
All-star House Band
MAYDAY BREWERY
The Mann Sisters
Virtuoso guitarist Regi Wooten, the oldest of the legendary Wooten Brothers musical clan, will perform at Bunganut Pig on Dec. 30. Wooten is an acclaimed guitar instructor, playing and teaching slapping, popping, sweeping, tapping, the two-handed lap piano method, and various other guitar techniques.
Basic Cable Preachers The Clover Club, Safe Secrets, Fargo Strut, Really Sharp Knives
THE BORO
Field On Fire, Aye Mammoth, Mothersound, Aedeagus
TEMPT
DJ Aphrodite
SUN. 12/6 BUNGANUT PIG
Reilly’s Writers Night
GREEN DRAGON
Shadow of the Demon Lord Relase Party
TUES. 12/8
BUNGANUT PIG
Drake Freeman
THE BORO
The D.T.’s Rowdy Bar Room Blues
THURS. 12/10 NACHO’S
Ivan LaFever
FRI. 12/11 BUNGANUT PIG
Crusty Veterans
CHAIS MUSIC HALL
Line Dancing Lesson
THE BORO
Zone Status
THE POUR HOUSE
The Sugar Daddys
Tiffany Lemmon, The Vellas
NACHO’S
Ivan LaFever Mayhem, Antiserum, Boombox Cartel The Deathless, Riftworm, The Locust, Sovereign
THE BORO
Reed Turchi and the Caterwauls, All-Star jam hosted by Joey Fletcher
FRI. 12/18
BUNGANUT PIG
Marshall Creek
COCONUT BAY CAFE
My July
GEORGIA’S SPORTS BAR & GRILL
The Boro Brothers
MAIN STREET MUSIC
Super T: The Tyrone Smith Revue
MAYDAY BREWERY
Cade Doyle
SAT. 12/19
BUNGANUT PIG
The Mesa Project
SAT. 12/12
CHAIS MUSIC HALL
BUNGANUT PIG
COCONUT BAY CAFE
Zone Status
GEORGIA’S SPORTS BAR & GRILL
Lauryn Snapp & The Hype
JOZOARA
10 * DECEMBER 2015 * BOROPULSE.COM
CHAIS MUSIC HALL
THE BLOCK
Surrender Hill
Tennessee cover band The Sugar Daddys will perform at The Pour House on Friday, Dec. 11. One of the band’s members, longtime member of the Murfreesboro Fire Department Tony Lehew, encourages everyone attending the show to bring a toy for the local Toys for Tots program (supported annually by the fire department) as they come out to enjoy Southernrock and blues tunes. The fun will also include beer giveaways and an ugly Christmas sweater contest.
THURS. 12/17
WED. 12/9
Kent Hiltz
Shelby Lee Lowe
FRI., 12/11 @ POUR HOUSE
The D.T.’s Rowdy Bar Room Blues
TEMPT
MAYDAY BREWERY
SUGAR DADDYS
THE BORO
BUNGANUT PIG
MAIN STREET MUSIC
PULSE PICK
WED. 12/16
Midnight Special
Stranger than Fiction
GEORGIA’S SPORTS BAR & GRILL
BUNGANUT PIG
Reilly’s Writers Night
TUES. 12/15 BUNGANUT PIG
Jon Myers
BUNGANUT PIG
Delyn Christian
THE BORO
The D.T.’s Rowdy Bar Room Blues
FRI. 12/25
COCONUT BAY CAFE
Karaoke with Hitman Walker
SAT. 12/26
BUNGANUT PIG
Renegade Canyon
COCONUT BAY CAFE
Zone Status
GEORGIA’S SPORTS BAR & GRILL
Geneva
MAIN STREET MUSIC
Leonard Brothers Band
SUN. 12/27
Arts Center of Cannon County 1424 John Bragg Hwy. Woodbury 563-2787 Autograph Rehearsal Studio 1400 W. College St. 631-2605 Bonhoeffer’s 610 Dill Ln., 907-2890 Bunganut Pig 1602 W. Northfield Blvd. 893-7860 Carmen’s Taqueria 206 W. Northfield Blvd. 848-9003 Coconut Bay Café 210 Stones River Mall Blvd. 494-0504 First United Methodist Church 265 W. Thompson Lane Hippie Hill 8627 Burks Hollow Rd. 796-3697 Journey Point Church 1267 Middle Tennessee Blvd., 896-9272 JoZoara 536 N. Thompson Ln. 962-7175 Level III 114 S. Maple St. 900-3754 Liquid Smoke #2 Public Square 217-7822
BUNGANUT PIG
Main St. Music 527 W. Main St. 440-2425
TUES. 12/29
Mayday Brewery 521 Old Salem Hwy. 479-9722
Reilly’s Writers Night
BUNGANUT PIG
Hoo Doo Men
WED. 12/30
BUNGANUT PIG
Regi Wooten
MTSU Wright Music Building 1439 Faulkinberry Dr. 898-2469
THE BORO
Nacho’s 2962 S. Rutherford Blvd. 907-2700
THURS. 12/31
Tempt 211 W. Main St. 615-225-7757
The D.T.’s Rowdy Bar Room Blues
BUNGANUT PIG
My July
COCONUT BAY CAFE
Gorilla Music
MAIN STREET MUSIC
MAYDAY BREWERY
SUN. 12/13
WED. 12/23
Jacques Merlino
JOZOARA
War All the Time, Vampire Bleach Bomb, Ashford
The Glade City Rounders
Ryan Coleman
CHAIS MUSIC HALL
MAIN STREET MUSIC
MAYDAY BREWERY
BUNGANUT PIG
Greez Monkeez
Rhett McDonald
MAIN STREET MUSIC
TUES. 12/22
PHOTO COURTESY SCRAGZ/FLICKR.COM
REGI WOOTEN
IF YOU GO:
PULSE PICK
Midnight Special DJ TruFX
Jonesworld (Prince tribute)
The Boro Bar & Grill 1211 Greenland Dr. 895-4800 The Green Dragon 714-F W. Main St. 801-7171
TEMPT
NACHO’S
The Block 123 SE Broad St (615) 393-9935
SUN. 12/20
SAT. 1/2
The Pour House 2404 Halls Hill Pk. 615-603-7978
The Jackillacs DJ Unk
BUNGANUT PIG
Reilly’s Writers Night
View Concert Listings Online:
Ivan LaFever
MAYDAY BREWERY
Casa Montez
Wall Street 121 N. Maple St. 867-9090 Willie’s Wet Spot 1208 S. Lowery St., Smyrna 355-0010
BOROPULSE.COM
* DECEMBER 2015 * 11
Sounds Dead & Company Head Back to Tennessee, Jed STORY & PHOTOS BY BRACKEN MAYO THOUGH PHIL LESH ELECTED NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE TOUR, three of the original Grateful Dead members made a Middle Tennessee stop recently with the latest incarnation of the group The Dead & Company. This ensemble includes John Mayer, the singer/songwriter responsible for the early-aughts popular tunes “Waiting on the World to Change” and “Your Body Is a Wonderland”; Oteil Burbridge, renowned bassist and longtime member of the Allman Brothers Band; and keyboardist extraordinaire Jeff Chimenti, who has collaborated with core Dead personnel on numerous occasions and projects.
After a massive “farewell event” with Trey Anastasio in Chicago in August 2015, Bob Weir, Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart just couldn’t stay off the road, and kicked off things with Mayer, Burbridge and Chimenti as The Dead & Company on Oct. 29, 2015, in Albany, N.Y.. The tour made a Music City stop on Nov. 18, taking over Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. After a little noodling around to make sure all of the instruments were in working order, the group launched into
“Truckin’” to begin the party in Nashville. “What a long, strange trip it’s been.” The shows on the tour follow the typical Dead format: a first set of eight or so songs, intermission, the standard second-set spaceout and trippy percussion time morphing into a couple more songs, and finally an encore tune or two, which in Nashville happened to be Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode.” The tour really highlights Mayer’s lead guitar abilities, as the band affords him long passages of solo time. There are critics among the Dead fanatics—his solos are straightforward, aggressive and blues-oriented, they say, and not as spacy, noodly and psychedelic as Jerry would have played them—but the crowd’s consensus seems to be that that Mayer boy can play, let’s enjoy the music, dance to it and understand he is a different person than Jerry Garcia. Mayer is adding something fresh to this incarnation of the band; he laid it down and is holding his own among the veteran jammers. Others say overall the song tempos are a little slow this tour, and Mayer’s youthful energy is needed to keep the band rocking. A massive Steal Your Face skull over the stage contained always-moving colorful, psychedelic graphics, giving the crowd some eye candy to take in. The first set concluded with crowd favorite “Tennessee Jed,” featuring a nice instrumental jam, followed by a rousing version of “Deal,” most ideal for Mayer’s style. “What will they have in store for us next?” wondered members of the crowd as the faithful rehashed the first set, shared some of each other’s favorite Dead moments and got to know their concert-going neighbors. The second set took the crowd from Tennessee to California with “Estimated Prophet” along with “Playing in the Band” and “I Know You Rider.” Mayer has drawn some new fans into the world of the Dead. Among the diverse crowd, with concertgoers representing a wide range of ages and fashion sensibilities, were those who were primarily John Mayer fans, now introduced to the legendary American jam band. And with the band’s crossover appeal to both the oldschool hippies and the fans of modern pop music, some predict the Dead & Company to be the “it” band of the 2016 festival circuit.
MUSIC NOTES
For now, the scheduled Dead & Company dates end with a two-night stint in L.A. at The Forum on Dec. 30 and 31. For more on the band, visit deadandcompany.com. For more on upcoming concerts at Bridgestone Arena, including appearances by Tool, Madonna, Blake Shelton and others, visit bridgestonearena.com. Thanks to nognuisagoodgnu and other loyal tapers for preserving this chapter of Dead history so that everyone can experience the music. Listen to the entire Nov. 18 show from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena at boropulse.com.
12 * DECEMBER 2015 * BOROPULSE.COM
PHIL MADEIRA PLANS ALBUM RELEASE SHOW IN WOODBURY Nashville songwriter, musician and producer will perform at Birdsong Studio in Woodbury on Dec. 5, celebrating the release of Mercyland: Chapter 2. Madeira curated the project, on which he appears alongside an acclaimed list of artists including Emmylou Harris, John Paul White, The Wood Brothers, The Lone Bellow, Sugar & the Hi-Lows and The McCrary Sisters. While there’s no confirmation any of these guests will pop up onstage, Madeira has a catalog that holds its own. He’s played and written with artists including Garth Brooks, Alison Krauss, Toby Keith, Mat Kearney, Old Crow Medicine Show, Amy Grant, The Band Perry and The Civil Wars. His co-write with The Civil Wars, “From This Valley,”won Best Country Duo/Group Performance at the 2014 Grammy Awards. For more information on Phil Madeira’s Woodbury performance, visit thebirdsongstudio.com.
DJ UNK TO PERFORM AT TEMPT TEMPT has hosted a variety of hip-hop favorites new and old over the past year, including Twista, Kevin Gates and the Ying Yang Twins. DJ Unk will be the next name added to that list when he performs at the venue on Dec. 19. Unk is best known for the hits on his 2006 album, Beat’n Down Yo Block, including “Walk It Out” and “2 Step.” After that project’s success, Unk released the follow-up, 2econd Season, in 2008 and has continued to release singles such as this summer’s “Alive,” an EDM collaboration with Another Monster and Erica Leigh. The night will also include a “Sexy Santa Costume Contest,” with ladies in costume receiving free admission all night. There will be cash prizes for the best costumes in addition to drink specials. Doors open at 8 p.m. with advance tickets available online. More information on DJ Unk’s show at TEMPT can be found at facebook.com/temptmurfreesboro.
TOURING ACTS HEADING TO THE BLOCK ON DEC. 17 Touring bands will invade The Block on Dec. 17 for a stacked showcase. Memphis synth-rockers The Deathless will release their new 7-inch Through the Dark House at the show, alongside a cover set from masked experimental grindcore vets The Locust, Texas-based post-rock band Riftworm and local sludge-metal favorites Sovereign. The show is free, but tips are encouraged to help the touring acts with traveling expenses. The shows start at 9 p.m., with a cassette giveaway during the show. Check out the bands on their respective Bandcamp pages and official sites, and find more at facebook.com/theblockmurfreesboro.
MICHAEL McQUAID RELEASES GLASSHOUSE EP Local singer-songwriter Michael McQuaid released his latest project, Glasshouse, on multiple platforms on Black Friday. The six-track EP finds McQuaid delivering a strong R&B follow-up to last year’s Heart&Soul EP for fans of Justin Timberlake or modern R&B and pop in general. The project features some futuristic pop production, a track with frequent collaborator and local artist Vann and a Southerninspired pop-rocker for good measure. Glasshouse is currently available on iTunes, Spotify and Soundcloud. You can learn more about the release at michaelmcquaidmusic.com. — JOHN CONNOR COULSTON BOROPULSE.COM
* DECEMBER 2015 * 13
Sounds
SHELBY LEE LOWE MTSU graduate continues path as country artist, performs at Main Street on Dec. 11. STORY BY DYLAN SKYE AYCOCK
S
helby Lee Lowe spent Friday nights in high school under bright stadium lights as a Cornersville Bulldog, all while hiding a talent that, at the time, he didn’t fully know existed. That is, until he grabbed a microphone at Cornersville High School’s Bulldog Search talent show, and belted out the opening notes of Tracy Lawrence’s 2003 country hit “Paint Me a Birmingham.” By the time he polished off the last few notes of his second song, Rascal Flatts’ “God Bless the Broken Road,” Lowe had the school body, faculty and staff hooked. Chosen to emcee the event, Lowe was dared by friends to sing, and, not being one to turn down a challenge, he quickly mustered up the courage to showcase what was then just a hobby. The now 25-year-old country artist says he probably wouldn’t have launched a music career without the overwhelming initial support of students and faculty.
14 * DECEMBER 2015 * BOROPULSE.COM
“I was just the co-host and not supposed to sing, but, for whatever reason, there were very few people who entered the Bulldog Search,” Lowe explained. “It was rumored that I could sing, so my friends said, ‘Hey Shelby, why don’t you sing?’ . . . and after I did, the school went crazy and asked me why I haven’t been [singing] my entire life.” Although praise from his fellow classmates gave him his first boost of confidence, Lowe, who admits he was a class clown in high school, says the assistant principal’s support is what surprised him the most. “I was always kind of a troublemaker in high school,” Lowe said. “So it caught me off-guard when he said, ‘Shelby, if you don’t pursue music and try to go to the next level, you’re dumb, because you have raw talent.’ That was big for me.” After his performance, Lowe says word got around town that he could sing, and he eventually snagged a paying gig at a local
church event. At that point, he wasn’t fully convinced of his talent, but the community’s support undoubtedly planted a seed that would later help jump-start his music career. Following graduation, Lowe enrolled in classes at Columbia State Community College with an interest in Mass Communication. Still performing on occasion, Lowe finished up his associate’s degree and started on his bachelor’s at Middle Tennessee State University. A recording industry student, Lowe says he took every opportunity offered by the university’s intensive program, which sometimes led to co-writing sessions with other students. “I got in good with all the professors, and I ended up meeting other people who were pursuing a career in music,” he says. “My first experience writing songs came from writing with people at MTSU, and it ended up being the first step of putting my whole career out there.”
Around that time, professors began telling Lowe that if he wanted to be taken seriously as a performing artist, picking up a guitar and learning to play was a must. He took their words seriously, he says, and it wasn’t long before he learned enough on the guitar to comfortably play the instrument during public performances. A hard worker, Lowe got a foot in the music industry’s door with an internship at SESAC, one of three performing rights organizations headquartered in Nashville, while attending MTSU. Like many other students, Lowe worked various jobs to support his college career, which would sometimes lead to gigs around town. Since that defining moment in his high school gymnasium years ago, Lowe has frequented honky-tonks and music venues across the country. But he isn’t singing about trucks and beer and other frivolous things that flood today’s popular country songs. Lowe’s lyrics reflect a more traditional style of country music, which he says he owes to his upbringing. “Traditional country, as far as songwriting goes, has the best stories and melodies and touches the most hearts out of any genre,” he says. “I grew up listening to Hank Williams, and thinking about some of the stuff he wrote about back then, and how revolutionary he was, made me love traditional country music.” Lowe also credits Dwight Yoakam, Chris Stapleton and Eric Church as influences, and he says his upcoming full-length album, produced under the auspices of Banner Music, will remain true to a similarly traditional style. “In the future my music is going to reflect a lot of that traditional background, like George Jones and Merle Haggard,” he says. “And also other stuff I grew up listening to like Southern rock and blues.” Although the release date isn’t set in stone, Lowe says he hopes to have new music out by January or February of next year. Until then, Lowe says he’s in the process penning a few more songs that will appear on the upcoming record. Shelby Lee Lowe’s EP is available on his website, shelbyleelowe.com; he will perform at Main Street Music in Murfreesboro on Friday, Dec. 11.
BOROPULSE.COM
* DECEMBER 2015 * 15
Living
Multilingual
Murfreesboro Meetups help locals learn a new language. STORY BY SARAH H. CLARK
“Keeping a foreign language in shape is a matter of regular practice,” says John Ronner. And Ronner would know: the 64-year-old is currently trying to keep up his German, French, Spanish, Russian and Dutch. That’s why he’s founded the Murfreesboro Spanish Club, French Club and German Club. Organized through the website meetup.com, each group meets biweekly: the Spanish Club on Mondays at Carmen’s Taqueria, the French Club on Tuesdays at the coffee shop at Hastings, the German club on Wednesdays for dinner at various restaurants around town. “It’s a good schedule for busy people,” says Ronner, who regularly attends all three. “You don’t need to practice every day—though once every week would be good.” The goal of each group is simply to meet with others interested in the club’s language for practice in both speaking and comprehension of the 16 * DECEMBER 2015 * BOROPULSE.COM
language. “It’s a lot of fun to be able to speak in a foreign language,” says Ronner. “I would love to be able to sit down at a table with a native
Murfreesboro Fire and Rescue Once Again Helps Organize Christmas Toys for Tots speaker and have a conversation.” The matter of fluency, he says, can be a moving target. For himself, Ronner defines fluency as being comfortable in a language—“but not necessarily speaking like Cervantes,” he laughs. He believes he is fluent in German, which he studied in college and later spoke during a year living in Germany. His first exposure to foreign language, he says, was when he used to visit his grandparents as a teenager. Though the three of them would talk in English, when his grandparents were in another room, they would speak German to each other. “It sounded like a jumble of sounds to me,” says Ronner. “I was mesmerized that they could actually understand each other. I decided then and there that I would learn German.” His love for German soon expanded to other languages as well, and Ronner’s ultimate goal is to become a polyglot—that is, as he defines it, someone who is fluent in six languages or more. In addition to organizing and attending the three language groups here in Murfreesboro, Ronner also uses the website italki.com, which matches users with a language partner who speaks the language they want to learn and who is interested in the language they speak. “I definitely recommend it to people who are smitten with foreign languages,” he says. “It’s worked wonders for me.” In the meantime, the Murfreesboro Spanish, French and German clubs are open to new members, who are welcome to attend regularly or just one time, and all of their calendars and information are available at Meetup.com. There’s no better time to start practicing a new language than now.
THIS YEAR THE MURFREESBORO FIRE AND RESCUE Department is celebrating 32 years of helping children through its Toys for Tots program. MFRD became involved with Toys for Tots in 1983 when Ms. Rose Yost established Rutherford County Miles of Dimes, which soon evolved into the current Toys for Tots. Yost asked for help from the fire department and its staff gladly provided support. Toys for Tots began in 1947 when Retired Marine Corps Major Bill Hendricks and a group of Marine Reservists in Los Angeles collected and distributed 5,000 toys to needy children. The idea actually came from Bill’s wife, Diane, in the fall of 1947. Diane handcrafted a Raggedy Ann doll and asked Bill to deliver the doll to an organization which would give it to a needy child for Christmas. Bill determined that no such group existed and Diane asked Bill to start one, which he did. The 1947 pilot program was so successful that the Marine Corps adopted Toys for Tots in 1948 and expanded it to a nationwide campaign. The initial objective remains the hallmark of the program still today, to “bring the joy of Christmas to America’s needy children.” Since the beginning of the program in Murfreesboro, the Murfreesboro Fire and Rescue Department has helped by distributing boxes, collecting toys and monetary donations from local donor businesses and handing out toys to the little ones on the day of the giveaway. Yost retired in 2004 and the Fire and Rescue Department recruited the Rutherford County Home Builders Association to help with the organization and management of the program. The Home Builders helped MFRD until 2013. A small group of local businessmen and women assisted the fire department in 2013 and 2014. This year, the fire department, with the continued support of the business partners, has accepted the assistance of the Mt. Moriah Masonic Lodge to help with Toys for Tots. Local organizers distributed over 100 toy collection boxes to area businesses in 2015, and have plans to assist over 1,000 young people. As of late November, Michael Bartlett, Assistant Fire Marshall with Murfreesboro Fire and Rescue, said the project still needed a great deal more unwrapped toys and volunteers in order to meet their goal. “Each year there is a lot of hard work and a lot of fun building up to the day we give out the toys. I ask everyone to help and bring their families and children to enjoy the experience,” Bartlett said. “They will better understand the need and the love in our community . . . the majority of the people who show up are truly needful and very thankful we are there to help them have a Christmas.” He and other volunteers will register children Tuesday through Thursday, Dec. 8–10 at the First Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 907 E. Main St. from 5–7 p.m. Anyone wishing to register for toys for their children may bring with them photo ID, proof of address, each child’s birth certificate, proof of guardianship and proof of hardship (evidence of government assistance or free and reduced lunch program, etc.) The giveaway will be held on Saturday, Dec. 19. Pre-registration is required for all children receiving gifts in the 2015 Toys for Tots giveaway. To volunteer or for more information about the giveaway, email toysfortotsrc@gmail.com. To donate new, unwrapped toys bring them to any of the nine Murfreesboro Fire and Rescue Stations.
BOROPULSE.COM
* DECEMBER 2015 * 17
GIFT OF ENCHANTMENT
NATURALLY CLEAN Alchemy of Sol produces its all-natural soap right here in Middle Tennessee from organic essential oils and natural herbs and grains; “No Synthetic Anything,” according to alchemyofsol.com. Step up to the goodness and richness of what handcrafted soap is all about, from lemonlyptus to tea tree. Your skin will thank you.
This colorful Lytle Street shop is the spot for tapestries, posters, artwork, clothing, even hammocks, unique and fun items of all sorts. Stop by and get something Enchanted for a loved one.
ENTER IN! TO W at
BoroPulse.com /WIN
HAIL MARY Grab a gift card to The Alley, Murfreesboro’s steakhouse on the Square, and whether the recipient works on the Square and could use a quick lunch option, or needs a night out with their spouse, they’ll appreciate a meal at one of the ’Boro’s fine independent restaurants.
A BIT O’ IRISH
2015
Holiday Shop Local Gift Guide & Giveaway u
RELAX & UNWIND Most anyone would appreciate a massage, facial, or pedicure, and a gift card to the Nurture Nook would make a great stocking stuffer. In addition to spa services, the boutique offers candles, bathrobes, essential oils and other items to help people find their “Ahh . . . ”
RIB-TASTIC
LIQUID SMOKE & HUMIDOR
TRENDY FASHION
For a great selection of tobaccos and beers, these neighboring shops on the historic Murfreesboro Public Square have what you crave. Cigars, tobacco blends, pipes and accessories from the Humidor make great stocking stuffers, and the store next door has one of the best collections of beer in town; enjoy a few in the art-filled Liquid Smoke lounge.
Visit this shop at 402 W. Northfield Blvd. for high-quality, name-brand women’s clothing at great prices. Camille’s Outlet carries new, designer clothing, shoes and jewelry, at unbeatable prices, up to 80 percent off retail.
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One of Murfreesboro’s truly unique establishments offers “the warmth and welcome of the Irish as well as the fine traditions of Clan O’Possum, one of the oldest, most important, and least known clans in Irish History. Stop by and warm your bones in the pub with some bangers and mash, shepard’s pie, fish and chips or any of the excellent dishes served. The restaurant is also one of Murfreesboro’s favorite breweries; try some of their brews with your meal at O’Possum’s.
Football season is in prime time, with basketball and hockey just underway, and it’s cold. Plus, you know you don’t want to cook before the big game; so, since Sam’s Sports Grill, adjacent to Stones River Mall, has big screens all over the place and a great selection and quality of food and drink, stop in some time, catch a game or happy hour and leave the cooking up to them.
THOR’S TENNESSEE FURNITURE & LIONEL TRAINS A TRAIN FOR UNDER THE TREE
JACK HALL’S PECANS Tennessee’s source for pecans, Jack Hall’s Pecans, is giving Pulse readers the chance to enter to win three pounds of the fine Southern nuts. That’s more than enough to share. Or visit jackhallspecans.com for information on having some shipped to you.
Thor is a train man, and everyone should stop into his one-ofa-kind shop, 416 Medical Center Pkwy., and you may just leave with a beautiful model train to travel around your Christmas tree. In addition to Lionel and other fun train-related products, Thor’s also features lots of locally-made furniture—shelves, bookcases, porch rockers and more.
MUSIC & MORE This fun Murfreesboro store has some great deals on DVDs, video games of yesterday and today, CDs and vinyl, and even guitars, incense, tapestries and toys. Find the store at 2820 S. Rutherford Blvd. and be on the lookout for great deals all holiday season long.
FRINGE FASHION
GOOD BREWS The newest restaurant at the Avenue, BJ’s Brewhouse, has something for everyone, including its own line of craft beers, burgers, pizzas, steaks, ribs, jambalaya and more.
CATCHIN’ & SHOOTIN’ This local favorite sells fishing poles and lures, bows, ammunition and guns, camo gear and more great gift item ideas for the outdoor enthusiast in your life.
A TRIP TO THE MOVIES
Dillard’s, one of the many retailers in the Stones River Mall, offers a huge selection of clothing, shoes, boots and accessories for men, women and children. Having trouble making up your mind? Pick up a Dillard’s gift card as a gift and your friend or family member can spend it however they please.
A trip to the movies can be a magical escape in the winter, or any time of year. Malco’s Smyrna Cinema offers lots of first-run movie fun and a coffee bar, plus they offer gift cards as a holiday surprise for the movie lover.
FOOD TO FLIP FOR
SMOOPY’S VINTAGE BICYCLES
Give the carnivore in your life a gift card that brings pulled pork, beef brisket, wings, catfish and more. Oh yeah, it’s not all about the meats at Nobody’s—they dish out some great desserts too.
Who remembers getting a bicycle on Christmas morning as a child? Recreate that Christmas magic for a child or adult on your list. Shop at Smoopy’s for new and used bicycles and all sorts of fun bike accessories. BOROPULSE.COM
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Living FARMERS’ MARKET EDUCATION SERIES by EDWINA SHANNON
Keeping Your Christmas Plants THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY SEASON is upon us, and so often we either purchase or receive traditional Christmas plants: poinsettia, Christmas cactus, amaryllis and live trees. After Christmas, these plants are alive, often “in color,” yet they often end
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up being thrown out like a dead bouquet. May I challenge you to keep your Christmas plant? Whether the reason is to reduce your contribution to the landfill, accept care of a living thing, retain a reminder of the circumstances in receiving the plant or just to have
another plant indoors, accept the challenge! It is actually an easy challenge. These plants are very easy to care for and can often be easily coaxed into blooming during the holidays for years to come. What you need is knowledge: the how-to. As with any how-to, there are no guarantees. Choose a poinsettia with small, tightly clustered yellow buds in the center. You want to keep the plant in a stable environment: no drafts, no hot TV perches. Water only when dry and be sure it does not sit in water. In January, fertilize it. It may become long and leggy. Trim it back to about 5 inches tall. Through the late winter and early spring, continue to remove dead leaves and dried parts of the plant. Keep in a bright location and add more soil as needed. It is typical to repot in late spring, trimming 2–3 inches of the branches to encourage stronger growth and more branches. Move it outdoors to a shady location. Continue to care for it with water and fertilizer. Move it back inside after Labor Day. Starting near the Autumn Equinox (Sept. 21), give the plant 13 hours of darkness (cover with a box, locate in a closet) and 11 hours of bright light. Temperatures should be about 60 degrees at night. After Thanksgiving, locate the plant so it gets 6 hours of sun during the day. The day/night treatment should be stopped and fertilizer can be reduced. Water when dry. The cycle starts again. The most important factor in maintaining a Christmas cactus is the moisture of the soil. The plant should never sit in water. It does require frequent and thorough watering through the spring and summer, though, to keep the soil slightly moist. Less water is better than too much water, but you never want the soil to be bone-dry. You can maintain a tray of pebbles with water under the plant for more humidity. Adding a fertilizer regularly during the growth cycle also helps. Ideally, it should be located in a north- or east-facing window. If it goes outside in the summer, it needs a shady location. The plant does like temperatures between 65 to 75 degrees. In the fall, cut back on the watering, fertilizing, light and temperature by mid-October for a Christmas bloom. The plant will set buds when day length is about equal to night length and when the temperature drops to 50 to 60 degrees for several weeks. The plant does require a minimum of 12 hours of darkness. Resume watering lightly in November. Ideally the plant blooms in December. Bud drop is caused by insufficient light and over-watering. Continue light watering until new growth appears in the spring. Amaryllis plants do best in a bright window. Water the plant from the top of the container thoroughly whenever the top two inches of the soil are dry to the touch. Drain excess water to
avoid root and bulb rot. Fertilize regularly. You can move the plant outdoors when all danger of frost is past. Place it in the shade initially but move it into a garden where it receives about 6 hours of sun a day. Continue to fertilize. Bring the plant back indoors before the first frost. Amaryllis do not require a resting period and will bloom if kept evergreen. However, blooming time can be controlled by allowing the bulb to go through a resting period. After bringing the potted plants indoors, store them in a dark place like a basement or cool closet (above freezing) and do not water. Do not remove the foliage until it has become dry and shriveled. The bulbs can be forced into bloom again after resting for 8 to 12 weeks. Inspect the bulbs periodically and bring them into light if new growth appears. If no new growth appears, they can be forced to bloom by bringing them into bright light and watering the soil thoroughly. Usually one or more flower stalks appear first, but occasionally they are preceded by leaves. Flowers usually develop in about 4–6 weeks from dormant bulbs, so they can be timed to flower at Christmas or for Valentine’s Day. Amaryllis plants bloom best when they are pot-bound, so they will require repotting only every three or four years. The best time to repot them is after they have gone through a dormant period. Return them to the light and the cycle starts again. If you have a Christmas tree that can be planted outside after the holiday, you need to prepare. First, respect that these trees, for their health, cannot be inside for long: ideally a week at the most. Trees are sold with their roots in a burlap-bound ball. You will need to prepare the hole for the planting before the ground freezes and while it is possible to dig. When you bring the tree inside, locate it away from fireplaces and heat sources. The tree does need water so you will need a big bucket for the root ball. Water it thoroughly. Excess water will drain through the root ball. It should not be sitting in water but have several inches of water in the bottom of the bucket. Water, if needed, again when there is very little standing water. Minimize the lights used on the tree. Get the tree out of the house and into the ground as soon as possible after the holiday. Remove anything that will not decompose, including plastic burlap, mesh, wire. Be sure there is nothing at all around the trunk. The rootball should not be completely covered but instead several inches above ground. That should mimic how it was in the ground before purchase. Build a bed around the raised rootball. Do not fertilize until spring. Stake the tree upright to assist in withstanding winter winds. Enjoy your plants. Best wishes for continued holiday memories as you care for them throughout the year.
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Food
Pecans are Passion Tennessee family business Jack Hall’s Pecans will “Buy, Sell, Crack and Shell.”
Jack Hall at the Nashville Flea Market; for all of your pecan needs visit jackhalls pecans.com
STORY & PHOTOS BY BRACKEN MAYO
I
n the late 1930s, Isaac Ed Hall, a mechanical engineer from West Tennessee, went to do some work for a major pecan shellery being constructed in Georgia. “Any time someone had a cotton gin problem in the mid-South, they’d call up I. Ed,” Hall’s grandson, Jack, said recently. But working on this pecan shellery drew the elder Hall into another Southern agriculture tradition: pecans. According to Jack, the shellery owners said they needed some individuals to gather pecans from Hall’s area and supply the shellery. “They said, ‘Why don’t you buy some pecans there, you have some really good seedlings up and down the Mississippi?’” Jack recalled. So Hall, who also operated a small Tipton County grocery store, began putting out the word that he was buying pecans to supply to the business in Georgia; he also began selling the nuts in his store, and thus the Hall family entered into the pecan business. Today, Jack Hall operates a cracking and shelling operation of his own on Highway 51 in Covington, Tenn., about halfway between Memphis and Jackson, not far from the original family grocery store. “We still have the old grocery store,” said Hall, whose father took over the store from I. Ed. “It was a great experience growing up in the store.” While the family grocery store closed in 1995, Jack and his sister, Talley, keep the family pecan business thriving. They “buy, sell, crack and shell” at their facility, meaning that they serve both growers and consumers. If someone wants to purchase pecans, ready to eat or still in the shell, Jack Hall is your pecan man. If someone wants to sell pecans, he’ll buy them. Jack Hall’s Pecans buys pecans by the truckload from professional orchards, or they’ll buy a bucket full from area kids gathering them under a tree or two
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in their yard looking to make a little spending money. And if someone wants to bring in their own pecans for shelling, and keep the nuts, Jack Hall provides on-the-spot cracking and shelling services at his Covington facility for 60 cents per pound. “If it’s a little bucket that Grandma brings in, just enough for a pie, or 100 pounds, we try and have them in and out of here within an hour,” Hall said. Talley is also known to make some fine chocolate-covered
pecans, candied pecans and pralines out of the delicious, protein-packed nuts. Prime pecan harvest time is November and December, Hall tells the Murfreesboro Pulse, but he makes sure to put up enough to sell to his customers. “I have pecans year-round,” he said. “I never run out of pecans.” His nuts still primarily come from the area near the Mississippi River: Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas and Missouri. Since the pecan tree is native to the area, it is fairly resistant to disease and frost, Hall said, so while the harvest can fluctuate from year to year, there are generally plenty of fine pecans to be found every year in the Southern United States. “We’ll average 250,000 pounds a year,” Hall told a pecan consumer at the Nashville Flea Market. “One year around 2008 we did 800,000 pounds.” He distributes them all over the U.S., shipping out individual orders and attending flea markets, bazaars and events throughout the country. “We go to state fairs and everything else,” Hall said. “People will find out about us and they’re asking us to come now . . . they know they’ll get quality, they know what kind of business we do.” He said he loves dealing with people, and traveling to these different shows has allowed him to meet interesting folks from all over the United States, Hall said. “It’s a medium year,” Hall told one of his customers, discussing the quantity of the fall 2015 harvest. “But the quality is above average.” As for the future of Jack Hall’s Pecans, Hall said he would like to acquire some more orchards and see his daughters, Mary Jean and Camille, become involved in the family business. For more information or to buy some pecans, find Jack Hall’s Pecans every month at the Nashville Flea Market in the Exhibitors Building, call (901) 476-9868 or visit jackhallspecans.com.
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Art
DECEMBER ART EVENTS Santa Claus by Mary Miller Veazie; Giraffes by Tina Whitfield
NEXT BORO ART CRAWL SET FOR DEC. 11 ON FRIDAY, DEC. 11, FROM 6–9 P.M., Murfreesboro businesses will host a second Boro Art Crawl. The inaugural Boro Art Crawl took place on Oct. 9, and organizers said it was a great success, having better than expected attendance on a cold and rainy night. The event will once again encompass the Murfreesboro downtown and surrounding areas predominantly, but will also stretch to the Middle Tennessee State University campus and Mayday Brewery. Participating businesses include, L & L Contractors, Dreaming in Color, Hastings House Bed & Breakfast, Nurture Nook Day Spa, Cultivate Coworking, Liquid Smoke, Let’s Make Wine, The Write Impression, FunTiques, Sugaree’s, Walnut House, Alley on Main, Wall Street, Downtown Shoppes on West Main, Greenhouse Ministries, Smoke & Mirrors, MTSU (Student Photo Gallery and Baldwin Photo Gallery), TwoTone, Moxie Art Supply, Mayday Brewery, Center for the Arts, Murfreesboro Art League, Studio 902, Top of the Block, Appleton’s, The Block, Daffodilly Designs and Murfreesboro City Hall Rotunda. The Walking Dead’s Daryl Dixon “The City of Murfreesboro by Ryan Frizzell is happy to once again be participating in the Boro Art Crawl by opening the City Hall Rotunda to viewing by Crawl participants,” said Eric Snyder, chairman of the City Hall Arts Committee. “This month we are featuring artists who were a part of this fall’s Greenway Arts Festival.” The inaugural Boro Art Crawl introduced a variety of artistic styles and mediums to the Murfreesboro community. There was some remarkable art from wellknown local artists, as well as emerging student artists from from MTSU. For this event the committee has added additional artists, along with the new venues. “The first event appealed to all kinds of people,” said Boro Art Crawl planning committee chairman and downtown business owner Todd Wilson. “We saw entire families including small children and grandparents, longtime serious art collectors and college students.” For information about the Dec. 11 Art Crawl, visit boroartcrawl.com or facebook.com/boroartcrawl. 24 * DECEMBER 2015 * BOROPULSE.COM
MURFREE GALLERY FEATURES ART FROM KAREN BRACKMAN MTSU’S MURFREE GALLERY, located in the Rutherford County Property Assessors Office, is currently showcasing the works of local artist Karen Brackman. Her work spans a variety of media including watercolor, acrylic and even woodburning. Her delicately rendered nature scenes bring the calmness and beauty of the outdoors and the changing seasons inside the gallery for this exhibit, featuring earthy colors and finely rendered landscapes. A native New Yorker, Brackman attended Syracuse University and later the State University of Oswego, where she fostered her passion for the arts. She now lives in Murfreesboro, where she teaches art classes at the St. Claire Senior Center and is a member of the North Rutherford Woodworkers. Her work has also been featured in exhibits including The White Oak Show in Woodbury and Murfreesboro’s Greenway Show. Brackman’s work will be on display at the Murfree Gallery until March 1, 2016. The gallery is located on the second floor inside the Rutherford County Property Assessors Office, 319 N. Maple St., and is open from 8 a.m.–4 p.m. on weekdays, closed on state holidays.
EXHIBIT PAIRS PHOTOGRAPHERS’ IMAGES OF CUBA AT MTSU’S BALDWIN GALLERY AN EXHIBIT AT MTSU’S BALDWIN Photographic Gallery will display the work of photographers Meg Griffiths and José Betancourt. Cuba: Two Visions unites Griffiths’ Casa de Fruta y Pan and Betancourt’s Cuba: Reconstructing Memories in a single exhibit, shown through Dec. 30. Griffiths is a photographer currently living in Columbia, S.C., where she is an adjunct professor of photography in the University of South Carolina’s School of Visual Art and Design. Her photos in Casa de Fruta y Pan, or “house of fruit and bread,” capture a cross-section of gentle scenes in private homes that Cubans opened to tourists to supplement their state-regulated income after the collapse of the communist bloc in 1989. “These images are a tribute to these individuals’ tenacity and willingness to improve the quality of their lives through the sharing of private, even sacred, spaces where their personal possessions are always on display,” Griffiths said. “The images are an attempt to capture cross-cultural differences and similarities and to mark a shift from ‘pure’ communism to a nascent, hybrid economy.” Griffiths has also published a book of her Cuba photographs, Casa Particular. You can learn more about her work at meggriffithsphotography.com. Betancourt is a professor of photography at
the University of Alabama in Huntsville’s Department of Art and Art History. He came to the United States in 1971 at age 5, traveling with his parents from Havana, Cuba, to Miami as part of the “Freedom Flights” that carried more than 250,000 Cubans to America between 1965 and 1973. “I had always wanted to return to this forbidden place, but for many reasons, it became difficult for me to travel there,” Betancourt said. “The more I thought about going back, the more memories came to me. I remember going to the beach, riding the ferry into Havana, riding the train and watching crabs walking along the railroad tracks in front of our house. These simple, innocent memories of a child would be altered through time by other stories.” His exhibit Cuba: Reconstructing Memories is a group of photos manipulated by the photographic techniques that best communicated the unclear images, from digital to 19th-century light-sensitive emulsions. You can learn more about his work at josebetancourt.com. MTSU’s Baldwin Photographic Gallery is located on the second floor of the John Bragg Mass Communication Building and is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, call (615) 898-2085 or visit baldwinphotogallery.com.
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Movies
The Bishop’s Wife This one is a bit obscure and may be hard to find. Best chance of getting it would be eBay or Amazon. This is relatively new to my collection. I saw it on someone else’s list a couple years ago and decided to see it for myself. I’m glad I did. The movie was released in 1947 and revolves around an angel visiting with a troubled bishop and his wife. Cary Grant plays the angel with the same cool swagger that made him famous in his day. Before the big Christmas feel-good ending, complete with a soul-revealing sermon by the bishop (David Niven), the humor is delivered by the angel making life hard on the bishop, who suspects the supernatural being is trying to take his wife. This is a movie that old-movies buffs should really enjoy. Best scene: The refilling bottle.
TONY’S TOP
Christmas Movies It just wouldn’t be the holidays without these classic films.
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BY TONY LEHEW
o it’s Christmastime once again, and every year at this time I like to relay a Yuletide story of goodwill or good people that stir the spirit of the holiday. Unfortunately for me, this year I have drawn a blank. Not that I can’t think of people that deserve to be recognized for their good nature and Christmas cheer, but just that I don’t have full knowledge or permission to tell these stories at the moment. So, I have decided instead to regale you with my self-proclaimed expertise in picking the best Christmas movies! Now I’m going to list these in order of the timeline in which I watch them. This is important (at least to me), because the order relays how much the movies have come to mean to me. The starting picks are somewhat interchangeable, but the last six are iron-clad and significant. I hope in some small way some of these movies give you the same Christmas cheer they give me. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Christmas Story 2 I start with this one because it is newest to my growing collection of must-watch Christmas movies. It is a continuation of the classic Christmas Story. This is a cute and funny coming-ofage story about a now teenaged Ralphie. The original was released in 1983 and this one 2007, so there was no way the original actors could play the parts (provided they even wanted to), but the new actors do a really good job and make this worthy of watching.
Deck the Halls This is one of those comfortable feel-good movies that just works so well on a cold afternoon with a cup of coffee. The plot: A set-in-his-ways suburbanite becomes increasingly irritated by his new neighbor. After the gloves come off and they really start going at each other, the movie is really entertaining. The movie stars Danny DeVito, so you know it’s gotta be funny. Best scene: Matthew Broderick and DeVito making catcalls at the dancing girls, and then discovering it’s their daughters dancing. Miracle on 34th Street In this sweet 1947 movie, a Macy’s executive tries to find a new store Santa. She hires an old man named Kris Kringle who claims to be the one and only Santa Claus. Of course, such claims can get you into trouble, and Kris ends up being hospitalized for a delusional disorder. Hope comes in the form of a young man who wants to help Kris prove that he is really and truly Santa. Best scene: The little girl pulling Santa’s beard.
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A Christmas Carol Although it’s not in my Top 5 movies, it is arguably the No. 1 Christmas story of all time. This Charles Dickens classic has been remade so many times you may have starred in a version of it and not known it. Here are my favorite renditions: the 1951 British adaptation, starring Alastair Sim, (he’s the creepy uncle type, which makes it really interesting when he gets a spiritful of Christmas cheer while still being creepy), the 1984 version starring George C. Scott and Disney’s version with Scrooge voiced by Jim Carrey. This last version is animated and takes a lot of liberties with the original story. But, when and where they get it right, and aided by CGI, it’s worth the viewing.
The Polar Express In my opinion, this is one of the better children’s Christmas movies to come out in long time. The first time I saw it, I didn’t really get it. Then I watched it with a 6-yearold, and all of a sudden it made sense. The movie is animated, but isn’t a cartoon in the sense of its plot and humor. It is not a particularly funny movie although it has its moments, like pulling the engineer’s beard to move caribou off the tracks. But it does a fine job of dealing with child issues like shyness and feelings of being separate from everyone else. Scrooged The effects in this one are definitely from the 1980s, but so is the vintage Bill Murray. He is as funny in this movie as he was in Ghostbusters. This movie meanders through a modern Christmas Carol plot and does have some cheesy effects, but the interaction between Murray and the spirits will keep you laughing. Best scene: Trying to staple antlers on a mouse.
Christmas with the Kranks This movie is just a really comfortable holiday movie. The plot involves a middle-aged man and wife, whose daughter has just come into young adulthood and left home. The parents handle the empty nest by booking a Caribbean vacation. At the last minute, the daughter has a change of heart and wants to bring her fiancé home for a traditional Christmas. The best scene in this tale is Jamie Lee Curtis trying to score some canned ham.
Okay, now for the Top 6 Christmas movies I must see, or it isn’t really Christmas. . . . Drum roll, please . . .
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Bad Santa Warning: If you have not seen this yet, it is not for the kids! This movie is violent, politically incorrect, full of foul language . . . and funny. My favorite scene is when the kid makes Billy Bob Thornton a wooden pickle as a Christmas present.
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The Ref Starring Dennis Leary and Kevin Spacey, this is hands-down the funniest Christmas movie ever made. That’s my opinion, and it should be yours. This movie is full of great one-liners, with Kevin Spacey giving the best one while addressing his mother with a fire poker in his hand. This movie involves a botched jewel heist and hostages, along with some foul language and adult themes. Needless to say, it’s not for the small kids. Put ’em to bed, make some popcorn and watch Dennis Leary at his best. Best Scene: Family dysfunction around the Christmas tree.
Honorable Mention:
Fred Claus This movie has a good moral undertone, but the reason it makes my list is the part that features elves dancing to “Rubberneckin’” by Elvis. That scene alone is enough reason to watch this movie every year.
Joyeux Noel This movie could be anywhere on this list, except No. 1 or 2, because it’s true and shows the best in human nature in the worst possible circumstances. This is based on the unofficial Christmas truce of 1914, between the opposing armies in the trenches during WWI. Once the truce is confirmed, soldiers from all sides of the conflict exchange greetings and small gifts and play games between the trenches. To me, this may be the single most inspiring Christmas movie of all time. Imagine it: Against orders, soldiers lay down their guns by the thousands and celebrate Christmas. For one day, they were humans, not mere assets on a battlefield. That may be the biggest Christmas miracle ever.
The Homecoming Jingle All the Way White Christmas The Bells of St. Mary Classic TV shows for kids: A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964) How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966) The Little Drummer Boy (1968) Frosty the Snowman (1969) Santa Claus Is Coming to Town (1970) ’Twas the Night Before Christmas (1974) The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974) Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas (1977) Jack Frost (1979)
Elf A little more than a decade ago, I had the pleasure of taking a brighteyed 3-year-old to see her first movie, on Christmas Day. I was worried about her being bored and fussy, but she watched this movie with the wide-eyed wonder that only a child that young can. She remembered the plot accurately and told us all about it all the way home. Best Scene: The entire movie.
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Christmas Vacation This is one of the greats when it comes to holiday movies. Every year at least once, I have to watch Clark Griswold suffer through Christmas and still manage to keep his Christmas spirit. There are so many funny moments in this movie, and Chevy Chase is a master at comedic timing. Best Scene: Any scene with Randy Quaid in it.
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How the Grinch Stole Christmas I’m sure that there are many who don’t think this movie belongs in the must-see category. Well, they are wrong. It is true that there are many liberties taken with this Dr. Seuss tale, but I think it’s only fair to add that there isn’t enough of the original story to make a two-hour movie. Once you get over the wide strokes taken to make this movie, it is really funny, with some of the best one-liners in any Christmas movie. The Grinch costume, cave settings, the Whos and Whoville give the feeling of the Seuss original. If you’re not a fan, you should be. Best Scene: Sledding down the mountain.
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It’s a Wonderful Life I am always amazed to find that there are people who have not seen this movie. It was released in 1946 and is one of the most-loved Christmas movies of all time. I was 11 years old the first time I saw it. My parents worked third shift and I would sneak out of bed late at night and watch TV. This movie came on one cold night and it was just me sitting on the floor in front of the black-and-white glow of the midnight movie. I watched the entire movie and was glued to it. My parents liked the movie, so maybe that’s why I wasn’t chased back to bed. It’s is a great movie, and the memories surrounding it will be with me for the rest of my life. This one is watched every Christmas Eve or it isn’t Christmas. Best Scene: Clarence the Angel scaring the bridge guard.
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A Christmas Story This Christmas phenomenon has become America’s favorite, with the 1983 film being aired all day, back to back, on Christmas Day. My best memory of this movie is sitting with my dad after all the festivities of the day are over and laughing with him at little Ralphie. My dad’s name was Ralph and, although he never said it, I think that movie reminded him of his childhood. This movie has become so ingrained in my Christmas tradition, I don’t think I could go to sleep Christmas night without having seen this movie. Best Line: Some men are Baptists, others Catholics; my father was an Oldsmobile man.
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Movies
Fans Young and Old Prepare for Star Wars: The Force Awakens “THERE’S BEEN AN AWAKENING . . .” These words from the first teaser trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens signaled not only an awakening for the beloved film franchise, but also in the fandom of the series. Fans old and young flocked to YouTube when the first two teasers were released to see what Disney, who purchased the film rights in 2012, and J.J. Abrams had in store for the first of three sequels to the original trilogy of films. Those teasers currently have a combined total of more than 166 million views, and there are another 64 million on the full-length trailer released in October, with still around a month to go before the film’s Dec. 18 premiere. The Star Wars fandom has long been documented as one of the most loyal, passionate and prominent fan groups in popular culture. Many see the original trilogy of films as a cultural high mark for science fiction and adventure storytelling, in addition to playing a key role in each of their childhoods. But one question some are asking is how a series that began in 1977 has continued to gain traction with younger audiences nearly four decades later After all, the teens and 20-somethings waiting in line to see The Force Awakens weren’t around for the original films, only the prequels in the early 2000s (which many fans see as a grave disappointment). Why isn’t this hype all coming just from 45-year-olds? Well, as with many cultural traditions, the answer is simple: parents. The teenagers who waited in line in 1977 to see Star Wars are today’s parents, and they passed their love of the series on to their children. “Star Wars has essentially been a part of my entire life,” says MTSU student Stephen Hughes, 19. “My dad was a huge fan and it passed down to me.” “Both of my parents are huge fans, so of course when they came back and made the prequels it was a family affair,” says Spring Hill native Lesley Waddle, 20. “I’ve just always loved [the movies] because they were something my family could do all together. Then the older I got the more I had an appreciation for it.” 28 * DECEMBER 2015 * BOROPULSE.COM
Families became a part of the Star Wars fandom over time, but that still doesn’t fully explain younger audiences’ gravitation towards the series. The graphics of the original films are archaic compared to modern standards, and there’s a never-ending cultural stigma that says the films are only meant for children and geeks. Perhaps, as suggested by recent MTSU alum Bryan Lewis, 24, the answer lies in the values of the universe’s stories, with a little help from imagination. “Who doesn’t love imagining running through the galaxy with a lightsaber?” he says. “That being said, Star Wars is relatable to our society today. It shows the consequences of people’s actions, how they lead to a ‘dark side’ or the ‘light side’ and depicts how these actions affect the society around them . . . It also stresses a world that is more focused on ideals and morals rather than material goods.” So the fans are hooked, but the question still remains: Will the new films be any good? As The Wall Street Journal reported last month, more than $50 million worth of advance tickets have been sold, so it goes without saying that expectations are high. Monetary values aside, just think of the fans who have waited for decades to see what happens to Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia and Chewbacca next. “I’m trying really hard to not come in having high expectations because I just don’t want to be disappointed,” Waddle says. “I’m sure visually, it’s going to be phenomenal. It’s where they’ve decided to take the story that I’m nervous about seeing. But I do have faith that I’m going to continue to love whatever they do as much as I currently love what they have.” “Do I think it will live up to the original three? No,” says Hughes, who’s purchased a ticket to watch all six films in theaters before The Force Awakens premiere, “but there’s an extreme amount of potential with the new trilogy, and I hope both Abrams and Disney can capitalize on it and give the fans the Star Wars they deserve and expect.” — JOHN CONNOR COULSTON
LIVING ROOM CINEMA column by NORBERT THIEMANN
facebook.com/livingroomcinema
May December Here are some cautionary tales about romance in the age gap.
Love Is the Devil: A Portrait of Francis Bacon (1998) is directed by John Maybury. This portrait of the great British artist revolves around his tumultuous love affair with a younger man. The look of the movie is very much inspired by the artist’s work, and is a visual feast.
Lolita (1997) is directed by Adrian Lyne. A professor seeking a boarding room ends up marrying his landlord in order to be closer to her young daughter. Through unforeseen circumstances, he is able to develop his role beyond that of a stepfather. Lolita is a very controversial movie due to the obvious subject matter.
Fish Tank (2009) is directed by Andrea Arnold. A rebellious teenage girl competes for the affections of her mother’s boyfriend. Her coming of age has lessons concerning herself, and the harsh realities of human nature. The movie is not rated due to its strong content.
Behind the Candelabra (2013) is directed by Steven Soderbergh. Liberace was a flamboyant character in life, and that spirit is certainly captured here. Power and relinquishment are in the subtext of this turbulent relationship between the famed pianist and a younger partner. Their entanglement is as dramatic as the man himself. BOROPULSE.COM
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Reviews THE HUNGER GAMES MOCKINGJAY –PART 2
superstar because of her iconic performance in the first Hunger Games, but in Mockingjay – Part 2 she seems completely uninterested. Julianne Moore as President Coin is the only actor who doesn’t seem to be phoning it in, which is understandable because she’s also the only actor who gets compelling material. Coin is the leader of the revolution but her methods fall more in line with the dictatorship she’s fighting. It’s a fascinating story line that unfortunately
doesn’t get enough exploration. But the biggest problem with Mockingjay – Part 2 is that it’s too faithful to its source material. The final Hunger Games novel had plenty of flaws. But instead of fixing those flaws, the film painstakingly recreates them. The main battle in the Capitol basically being another Hunger Games arena is a silly concept that should’ve been retooled. But the most important flaw is the considerable lack of agency for Katniss. This feels like a betrayal of not just the character but of what The Hunger Games series has meant for its female audience. It’s frustrating to see a character as strong and complex as Katniss be sidelined in her own story. Mockingjay – Part 2 is bloated yet notably thin. With bored actors and bland set pieces, a franchise that started off on fire has clearly burned out. — CECILIA SINKALA
lorn, Isaac ingests probably too many hallucinogens, and Chris endorses Red Bull and feigns frustration at fending off his fawning fans. The three leads’ onscreen chemistry is adequate, but they rarely deviate from these one-note modes, and the friendship is less relatable for it. Fortunately, there are more than a few mixed nuts that show up along the way. Mindy Kaling, Nathan Fielder, Michael Shannon, Jason Mantzoukas and by far the best Grinch since the original, Broad City’s Ilana Glazer all add their own much-welcomed
flavor. Lizzy Kaplan is believable as the obligatory love interest but she is outshined by Jillian Bell who is hilarious as Isaac’s pregnant, drug-providing wife. There are a few other notable cameos, but to reveal them would be like opening your presents before Christmas morning. With some classic references to early iPods, Goldeneye on N64 and ill-advised beard ponytails, this film is almost tailor-made for those of us who were born in the early ’80s and are still trying to figure out adulthood. For that reason, I did enjoy The Night Before, but it still tries too hard to cram a buddy movie, a party movie, a rom-com, a drug-com, a man-child maturation movie and a Christmas-miracle movie all into one bag, resulting in—to draw out an already belabored extended metaphor—a trail mix with eight ingredients where five will do. Be thankful for the chocolate and cashews. — JAY SPIGHT
2
DIRECTED BY
Francis Lawrence
STARRING
Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Woody Harrelson, Donald Sutherland, Julianne Moore
MOVIE
RATED PG-13
Fans were elated when the Harry Potter series decided to split its final movie into two parts. But five years and many disappointments later, the “two-part finale” trend has greatly worn out its welcome. Mockingjay – Part 2 starts right where Part 1 ended, with Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) being attacked by her brainwashed love interest, Peeta (Josh Hutcherson). This attack galvanizes Katniss and she leads the revolution to the Capital of Panem to topple President Snow’s (Sutherland) op-
pressive government for good. Mockingjay – Part 2 is possibly the grimmest blockbuster in recent memory. It’d be commendable if that didn’t make the film feel like such a slog. The first hour is unbearably dull, but when Katniss and her crew storm the Capitol it doesn’t get more exciting. There is a tense sequence in the sewer but it’s not enough to overcome the tedium that dominates the rest of the film. Jennifer Lawrence became a
THE NIGHT BEFORE 3
DIRECTED BY
Jonathan Levine Joseph GordonLevitt, Anthony Mackie, Seth Rogen STARRING
RATED R
The Night Before is kind of a grab bag, a trail mix of a movie that is equal parts delicious (chocolate and cashews) and disappointing (banana chips and raisins). Presented as a Christmas fable for adults, complete with a rhyming narration by Tracy Morgan, The Night Before is an account of the timeless annual tradition of getting messed up with your friends on Christmas Eve. For 14 years Ethan, Isaac and Chris (Gordon-Levitt, Rogen and Mackie) have made it their yearly custom to traipse about town wearing ugly X-mas sweaters, doing Run-D.M.C. karaoke RATINGS:
and generally drinking heavily. On this, their agreed-upon last adventure, as the once 20-something rapscallions are now 30-something adults with a kid on the way (Isaac), and a suspiciously late-blooming football career (Chris), the brothers three embark to find their one white whale: the exclusive, the elusive Nutcracker Ball. Luckily, Ethan stole three tickets while working as a coat-check elf. Shades of The World’s End, minus the alien-robots, color the three friends’ journey. While Ethan plays morose and love-
A CLASSIC
30 * DECEMBER 2015 * BOROPULSE.COM
OUTSTANDING
AVERAGE
BELOW AVERAGE
AVOID AT ALL COSTS
DEAD
G AME FALLOUT 4 BY TANNER DEDMON Fallout 4 delivers the classic post-apocalyptic experience the series is known for by throwing players into the ravaged Boston wasteland, and though it has some all-too-familiar quirks, it combines many of Bethesda Softworks’ best features while providing refreshingly new elements. After playing, replaying and hunting achievements in Fallout 3 and owning Fallout: New Vegas on multiple platforms, I had high expectations for Bethesda’s latest installment. Since purchasing the game on its Nov. 10 release and investing many hours into it, I noticed several changes that create a more fast-paced and personalized experience. Perhaps the most notable feature is the implementation of settlement building. In past titles, players’ in-game homes were decorated with dull, pre-made packages
Conquering the wasteland with only Power Armor, a Super Sledge and my trusty companion Dogmeat.
and mainly served as a storage location. This bland system received a major overhaul in Fallout 4, where players now collect junk from the wasteland to be repurposed into decorations, structures and resources to adorn a community. I couldn’t help but feel invested in my town, and I was proud to look at my self-sustaining, well-defensed home and to know that I created it. The combat also received changes to create a more fast-paced feeling. Nothing startled me more than going into V.A.T.S. mode to target a jumping Radroach and see the Radroach gliding menacingly in slow motion towards me. And then there’s the armor and weapon mods—the glorious, plentiful mods. Hundreds of mods are available, and each one prepares players for anything the wasteland CONTINUED ON PAGE 33
PhreakNIC Holds Annual Convention in Murfreesboro STORY BY CEYLA ORTEN
NASHVILLE 2600, AN ORGANIZATION WITH THOMAS FLATT an aim of educating people about cyberculture and tech- Author of The 11 Year Old’s Guide to Linux, Flatt nology, held its annual PhreakNIC convention Nov. 6–7. teaches people what they need to know about Linux Located in the Clarion Inn in Murfreesboro, OS and why it’s better than other systems. Flatt says PhreakNIC19 gathered hundreds of attendees and that he started his journey not knowing much about volunteers for Nashville 2600’s biggest convention computers. With hopes and aspirations of Thomas to date. becoming a computer programmer or hacker once he According to Nashville 2600 grows up, his mother, Amy Flatt, chairperson Elonka Dunin, helped contribute to Thomas’s also a notorious cryptographer compilation of thoughts and adand game developer, this year’s vice on computers and writing. convention had some fantastic activities such as workshops AMY FLATT with knowledgeable speakers, Thomas’s mother, Amy, held a lock-picking exercises, and this session on ways to bring technolconvention’s first-ever kids track, ogy education into schools. She creating an environment where is the founder of EDGE-ucational parents could interact with their Consultants, and a public school technology driven children. teacher. She likes teaching robot“PhreakNIC had changed ics, coding, mathematics and and matured,” explained Dunin. other STEM subjects. “Computers “When it started it was more of a are very fast, extremely precise “I want to encourage technology party.” and extremely stupid,” she tells young people, especially She reminisces of previous conthe Murfreesboro Pulse. “Humans girls, to love learning ventions, telling the Murfreesboro are flawed, we make mistakes, about science and Pulse that there used to be music, we’re slow and we’re brilliant . . . maybe smoke machines in the technology because that’s when you pair the two things up hallways and lasers, but now there you get something very remarkthe way to get more are a lot of professionals talking able; we live in a great age.” female leaders in this about technology. career field.” “I want to encourage young BEN HICKS people, especially girls, to love Hicks organized the kid’s portion — Amy Flatt learning about science and of PhreakNIC. technology because that’s the way to get more female “I brought a lot of the workshop and gaming equipleaders in this career field,” says educator Amy Flatt, ment, which is mostly repaired and recycled equipone of the speakers at the convention. ment that still has some life in it, especially if running Linux and tweaked for the purposes we use it for.” “As tech is getting cheaper and smaller, it is putSome of this year’s speakers included: ting power into the hands of hackers and makers to ELONKA DUNIN Dunin spoke on the topic of Beale Ciphers, three sets come up with neat and interesting ideas,” Hicks said. of ciphertexts which described the location of a huge PhreakNIC is a way that his community stays intertreasure hidden in Bedford County, Va., in 1820. One ested and excited about what they do. out of three texts were solved, however, the other two are still unsolved. Nashville 2600 operates with the goal of “educatDunin also held the Kids Crypto Workshop. Morse ing the public on various aspects of cyberculture Code was distributed to each attendee who particiand technical literacy,” and meets the first Friday pated and practiced to solve the codes. She likes evening of each month at the Cool Springs Galleria lock-picking exercises, which show people how easy food court in Franklin. For more information, includsome locks are to pick, and teach them not to buy ing details on next year's Murfreesboro PhreakNIC, these locks. visit nashville2600.org. BOROPULSE.COM
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Opinion Movement to Clean up Local Probation System Gains Traction PEOPLE ARE RATCHETING UP THE PRESSURE on Providence Community Corrections and Rutherford County amid a federal legal battle over the probation services run by the private company here. Rutherford Reader Publisher Pete Doughtie filed a complaint recently with the Rutherford County Ethics Committee in an effort to force the county to answer questions about its contract and determine whether any conflicts of interest are coming into play. The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance is also looking into PCC’s activity in Rutherford County, opening up a formal complaint based on a federal lawsuit filed in Nashville. “We are still waiting on PCC’s response to our inquiry. We are looking into the allegations for any violations of the Private Probation Services Council’s laws and rules,” said Kevin Walters, spokesman for the Department of Commerce and Insurance. State Rep. Mike Sparks said he spoke with the state department about the lawsuit and concerns he has about the probation system here. “They were very concerned about these allegations,” says Sparks, a Smyrna Republican who believes PCC could be charging exorbitant fees to probationers and then violating them if they fail to pay. One of the key complaints in a federal lawsuit brought against PCC and the county is that people, especially poor people, are being jailed if they can’t afford the fees, in addition to court costs and fines, and being kept in the system for several years, often finding themselves still owing hundreds of dollars even after they paid off all their legal encumbrances. Doughtie says he grew interested in PCC’s business here when he attended a federal court hearing in Nashville and found out, for instance, probationers are being charged $160 to do community service, such as picking up trash, as part of their probation requirements. “The money rolls in,” Doughtie says. “It’s almost like they’re signing to get a loan.” Doughtie’s complaint references the federal lawsuit brought by Equal Justice Under Law, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit law firm, which points toward “constitutional violations and possible corruption” in the probation system. The county handed probation services over to private supervision more than a decade ago because the Circuit Court Clerk’s office was struggling to collect fines and fees. PCC reported it closed 7,191 cases and collected $4.1 million in fines in 2013 for Rutherford County and from 2009 through 2013 it 32 * DECEMBER 2015 * BOROPULSE.COM
The
STOCKARD REPORT BY SAM STOCKARD sstockard44@gmail.com
closed 32,200 cases and collected $17.1 million for the county. PCC State Director Sean Hollis also reported the office collected $3.1 million for Smyrna Municipal Court and $850,232 for Cannon County General Sessions and Circuit courts during that five-year period. However, Rutherford County reported revenue of only $1.2 million in fines and fees for last budget year and put about that same amount into the current budget. PCC more or less cuts the county a check and then it is divided up between all the parties designated to receive the money. Doughtie questions whether the county has audited PCC’s performance and financial records, whether state laws have changed in regard to such contracts and whether any county government or judicial system employees own stock in PCC, a public-traded company, or affiliated companies. He also asks whether the county attorney should handle this case since conflicts of interest could arise because Chancellor Howard Wilson and his business partner, Chuck Ward, own the West Main Street building where PCC is housed. They put it up for sale in 2014 after Wilson won election to avoid conflicts of interest. Rutherford County officials have declined to answer questions, other than in court, since the lawsuit was filed. It’s also hard to tell whether the Ethics Committee will be able to dig in very much on this matter, since it’s in litigation. Still, Doughtie’s questions are legitimate. And considering a great deal of taxpayers’ money could be on the line, somebody is obligated to answer them.
THE NEVER-ENDING DEBATE
Depending on whom you’re listening to, Muslims are evil incarnate or they’re peace-loving individuals who are unfairly linked to the terrorists inflicting damage in Syria and Europe. The truth is: They’re probably both. To this point, we’ve seen no evidence the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro is bent on destroying Rutherford County, although some people say the congregation is just waiting to build strength before it wreaks havoc. On the other hand, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria is clearly intent on doing harm in the Middle East, destroying lives and some of the world’s great antiquities, bombing Paris
and planning other European targets, in addition to strategizing hits on the United States. President Barack Obama said recently there’s no credible evidence ISIS is planning an attack on America. He shouldn’t speak too soon, because if they’re breathing they’re probably lurking. Former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, a Republican who served under Obama before leaving because of disagreements about the handling of ISIS, believes military tactics alone won’t stop this Islamic organization. Political alliances must be forged, he said recently on CNN, and America might have to wind up partnering with Russia and even Iran to deal ISIS a death blow. Forging alliances could help economically as well to quell the discontent that births this type of insanity. Oddly enough, Russia and America are both fighting ISIS now, but while Russia is backing the president of Syria, America is trying to boot him out. Somehow or another, world powers are going to have to forge some sort of agreement putting all emphasis on destroying ISIS and laying old disagreements aside. Then again, this is what happens when democratic republics such as the United States try to shape the world in their own image. I’ve got news: We ain’t God. We can’t control every dictator in the Middle East and force democracy on people who wouldn’t know George Washington from Vladimir Lenin. It didn’t work with Iraq or Afghanistan, and it won’t work in Syria. As Hagel says, it’s time to put political heads together—and military—with Europe, Russia, Britain and anyone else who wants to join in. We need to get rid of these people who want everyone to be as miserable as they are.
FORREST HALL FLAP WON’T FADE
No matter what decision is made on the name of MTSU’s Forrest Hall, this issue won’t die. Named for Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest in 1958, the university’s ROTC training building has drawn fire from students since the late 1960s. During most protests over the matter in the last 50 years, students have called for Forrest’s name to be removed. Yes, he was a great commander for Southern troops more than 150 years ago, coming to the aid of local residents. But he was a slave trader before the Civil War and is believed to have been the first grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan after the war. So here we are today, most of us with a completely different perspective on race and freedom than the South held in the 1800s. Thus, students, including black and white,
believe Forrest’s name should go. Those who want to hold on to history—or maybe learn from it—say Forrest’s name should stay. Sen. Bill Ketron is one of those, and he serves on the task force and will hold a strong voice once the panel gathers information, holds public forums and starts its discussion. At least one group of students believes MTSU President Sidney McPhee should go ahead and remove Forrest’s name instead of waiting for the task force to make a recommendation in April. Any decision McPhee makes must go to the Board of Regents and possibly other groups for a final call. The students say either MTSU stands for racism or stands against it, and they’re planning to escalate protests. But if McPhee calls for a name change, prohistory or pro-Southern people will be irritated with what they believe is political correctness. One of the options McPhee gave the task force is to keep Forrest’s name on the hall and add historical perspective. My prediction is that’s what the task force and McPhee will do. But Forrest’s name will remain, and many students and MTSU graduates will continue to feel alienated. Then again, so will many others if the name is changed.
POTTY-GATE
When a TV report surfaced recently about former General Sessions Judge David Loughry using his old key to enter the Judicial Building and judges’ chambers for a Saturday restroom emergency you’d have thought it was the only thing going on in Murfreesboro. In fact, few people were talking about anything else. But while Loughry shouldn’t have had the key a year after he lost the election—much less gone into the building—few people around here can say they’ve never had an intestinal emergency after eating at some of the restaurants on the Public Square. If I had a nickel for every time my stomach nearly jumped out of my body after a downtown meal, I could retire today. Amid a county inquiry into the matter, the former judge apologized and handed in his keys. The case was closed as far as the district attorney and sheriff ’s office were concerned. Apparently, nobody smelled any criminal intent. While the county is checking its security protocol in the wake of a gastronomical conflagration, more than likely this was an attempt to make Loughry look silly. Sure, it was probably a little embarrassing—since most people saw TV news video of Loughry’s entrance and exit. But Loughry has pretty thick skin, and he probably hasn’t lost much sleep over it. After all, nobody is immune to downtown food.
LIFE ON THE STREET BY DARCY PAYNE
Salvation Army Provides Homeless Individuals and Families a Safe Place to Sleep LEAVES SWAY ACROSS THE INTERSECTION of South Church and Broad Streets in downtown Murfreesboro. It’s the day after Thanksgiving. The streets of Murfreesboro are quiet and foggy. The silence is favorable. Enjoyable. Solitude. Holiday shoppers are nowhere near this empty intersection, and Black Friday has begun at Stones River Mall not far away. Surprisingly, homeless individuals are scarce on the streets as well. The Linebaugh Public Library, a sanctuary to many homeless people, is closed today. There are no cardboard signs being held describing situations unknown. No pedestrians inhabit the sidewalks. In the silence of the streets, my thoughts begin to race. Recently, there has been some confusion about the role of The Salvation Army in Murfreesboro. Some say that it only shelters families, but others say the organization shelters individuals as well. Apparently defeated in finding a homeless person to ask about the Salvation Army dispute, I sit on the stoop of an abandoned business building to think about alternate ideas. Atop the South Church Street bridge, a figure arises out of the fog and into the light. As the figure steadily grows closer, I see a man. He has a backpack, a baseball cap and winter clothes on his body. The man’s gray hair hints that he is roughly 70 years of age. A smile grows on his elderly face as his one tooth pokes out the side of his mouth. His name is Joey. “Hello,” he says with a skittish tone. I begin to ask him about his thoughts on The Salvation Army’s shelter for homeless
individuals. It turns out Joey is homeless. He doesn’t mention if he has utilized the services of The Salvation Army, but he does have opinions. “Costs money to stay there,” Joey says. His eyes dart back and forth in an attempt to see who’s around. The surrounding area is vacant. Only Joey and I populate the expanse. Joey says he doesn’t know if The Salvation Army houses individuals or not, only confirming the confusion surrounding this issue. I ask if he is going to the Journey Home, a homeless resource center next door. He says no, but doesn’t proceed to tell me what his plans are today. Joey shyly says goodbye and waddles down the road once again. Instead of scouring the streets of Murfreesboro for more people to ask about this misunderstanding, I decided to go to the source. Outside of The Salvation Army, a few volunteers are waiting to serve the scheduled 4:30 meal. A man named Bill sitting on a bench at the picnic table has been volunteering for years. “Room in the Inn is always full and motels aren’t safe,” says Bill. “So, this is a great, safe option for families.” The Salvation Army currently has a 7:30 p.m. curfew for individuals and families who are sheltered. The people sheltered at this facility are required to pay between $50 and $65 per week to stay overnight. Additionally, documented proof of looking for a job is necessary as well as a breathalyzer test before entry each night. If homeless individuals don’t mind curfews, tests and payments, The Salvation Army is one option for homeless individuals and families.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 30 may throw at them. During my current playthrough using only melee weapons, I have noticed that the mods tend to favor guns over melee weapons. Don’t get me wrong, I love swatting away Raiders and Mutants with my tricked-out Super Sledge, but with the high-damage weapon being found early on, it invalidates many other creative weapons. The equipment mods and settlement creation took the game to a more personalized level, and the changing of Power Armor into an Iron Man-esque suit creates the powerful feeling that Power Armor should invoke. That’s right, Power Armor is now a mechanized suit players climb into instead of toting it around in a backpack like a change of clothes. Having
a voiced protagonist also made me feel more attached to my character and his storyline. I haven’t gotten over the fact that the karma system was replaced with a reputation system that greatly affects the storylines of companions. It wasn’t unexpected—the Fallout series has a history of fluctuating between karma and reputation usage—but not having negative and positive karma attached to my decisions makes some quests and actions seem less compelling. Like many Bethesda games, the the defining and most enjoyable characteristics are complete opposites: the massive scope of the game and the meticulous attention to detail. There’s more in store for me in Fallout 4, and I can’t see myself being finished with the game any time soon. BOROPULSE.COM
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Opinion Live Exceptionally. . . Well! BY JENNIFER DURAND
Speak UP! Don’t hesitate to say what’s on your mind. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN A SITUATION where you wanted to say what was on your mind but didn’t, only to walk away and question yourself with statements like “if only I’d have said this” or “why didn’t I say that?” You are not alone. There are all kinds of reasons to walk away and not say what you really want to. Some reasons could be that you don’t want to hurt someone’s feelings, you feel like no one will understand you anyway or that nothing will change, or you fear confrontation or rejection. Those might seem like legitimate excuses at the time, but when you choose not to say or do what’s true for you, regardless of your rationale, you chip away at the core of your foundation—who you really are. Each time this occurs you bury a little more of your authenticity. This “emotional layering” results in tension and stress—mental, physical, even spiritual. It can be very obvious but more often than not it happens in a very subtle way. It builds up over time and the buildup is not as recognizable when it appears as agitation or annoyance with other unrelated situations. You might even wonder why you’re reacting to a situation or conversation with hostility. Many times it is because you have residual angst from unresolved core issues. The illusion that you have “handled” your frustration prohibits you from being emotionally free. Free from reacting, from angst or being true to your ideals, values or beliefs. Sometimes standing up for what you believe in leaves you isolated from others. This can be tough to do, but ultimately it strengthens you and builds your character. When you peel back all of the layers of thoughts, ideas and opinions the only one standing in the middle at the end of all reasoning is YOU. So, make sure that you show up for you, and that you are altruistic. Learn to count on yourself. You are the only common denominator in your life and all of its episodes. It has been my experience that people are not mind readers. I know I am not a mind reader. Others don’t know how you feel, and certainly cannot do something differently unless they are enlightened. When informed, people are often more accommodating than we think they will be. One such occurrence involved a client keeping her thoughts to herself when a friend did not do some34 * DECEMBER 2015 * BOROPULSE.COM
thing they said they would do. This pattern continued, and the tension in her body had built up so much that she could not move her neck. Did her friend have any idea of the effect she had? No, of course not. The client was certainly “paying the price” for not being true to herself. She was absorbing the disappointment and frustration she felt over the situation, but not even realizing that it came from herself, not what her friend did or didn’t do. She didn’t speak up for how she felt. Another situation was a young man who was struggling with choices his friends were making. They didn’t line up with his values. He confronted his friends and asked them to stop doing what they were doing on his parents’ property. They wouldn’t. He was in a tough position. Does he alienate himself from his friends by standing up for what he believes in, or does he allow his friends to do what they want which could result in disrespecting his parents and himself ? The mental battle was daunting, but he stood up for himself and what he believed was right. While he watched his friends alienate him, which was very painful, he didn’t realize at the time that he was also building his integrity and character. He could count on his own self respect. When you stand up for yourself and what you believe in and speak up for truth it cannot find a place to store in your body or actions. It provides more freedom in living unencumbered. I know you might be thinking of all kinds of reasons why you can’t do this in “certain situations.” I do, however, encourage you to give more thought to what happens afterwards. If you cannot audibly stand your ground, then at the very least mentally acknowledge what’s true for you until you can practice verbalizing. This will bring you closer to living a more authentic and less stressful life. “You must never be fearful about what you are doing when it is right.” – Rosa Parks Jennifer Durand is the owner of The Nurture Nook Day Spa & Gift Shoppe; she is a certified QiGong and Breathe Empowerment instructor, and is licensed in massage therapy, body work and somatic integration. Let her help you find your personal “ahh . . .” factor by visiting nurturenook.com or calling (615) 896-7110.
The Secret to Wealth is Work, Not Whiteness
I
’ve about had it up to my eyeballs with all this white-privilege nonsense. The EPA recently gave a $30,000 grant to a Unitarian church that preaches “white privilege” and says America is “structurally racist.” The money was given out in a so-called “environmental justice grant” for climate change education. What that has to do with white privilege is anybody’s guess, but it’s time to set the record straight. Certainly there was a time in this country when being born white gave one a distinct advantage. We’re now 50 years beyond that. There’s, no doubt, an advantage to being born rich, but that’s no longer to the exclusion of minorities. The folks a couple of doors down from me live in a huge house with a swimming pool and a gate and they’re black. They are privileged, I guess, but VIEWS OF A not because of race. They’re privileged because they worked hard and worked smart. column by What’s ironic about this white-privilege foolishPHIL VALENTINE philvalentine.com ness is it’s oftentimes coming from exclusive schools that charge outlandish tuition. If you’re black and you’re attending one of these universities, I have news for you. You’re privileged. But what does privileged even mean? It means you’ve reached a level where you’re able to enjoy the finer things in life. That used to be what we strove for in this country. Now it’s something to be ashamed of. That needs to end. We all dream of working our way up the ladder and being able to enjoy that five-star resort vacation. We don’t always get there, but it’s part of what motivates us. It’s called capitalism, and that’s the crux of the problem. These people who whine and moan about white privilege are the same ones who whine and moan about capitalism. It’s not fair. The reason it’s not fair to them is because they’re lazy. They’d rather have the government redistribute money to them than work for it. Of course, “redistribute” is an odd term. In order for income to be redistributed it would first have to be distributed. Income is not distributed. It’s earned. That’s a hard pill to swallow for those who spend their lives coveting what everyone else has. I’ve often noted it says a lot about a person when they’re more concerned about those who make more than they do rather than those who make less. This obsession with the one-percenters is not only perverted, it’s dangerous to the future wellbeing of the country. Did you know that the vast majority of the wealthy in this country didn’t inherit it? PNC Wealth Management conducted a survey several years ago. They polled people with more than $500,000 in extra cash available to invest. I think we can all agree, these people qualify as rich. Only 6% got their money through inheritance. Here’s another stat you’ll find interesting. According to National Review, the average rich household has four times as many full-time workers as do poor households. Egads, I think we’ve found the secret to wealth. Work! Here’s something else that may interest you. Handling money is a skill that has to be developed through good habits. Seventy percent of lottery winners will go broke within seven years. Also, researchers at Vanderbilt, the University of Kentucky and the University of Pittsburgh found the more money you win, the more likely you are to go broke, and more likely to go broke faster. In other words, it ain’t that easy to get rich and stay rich. Instead of chastising the rich, these class warfarists should study how it’s done. And then get to work.
CONSERVATIVE
“According to National Review, the average rich household has four times as many full-time workers as do poor households. Egads, I think we’ve found the secret to wealth. Work!”
Phil Valentine is an author and nationally syndicated radio talk show host with Westwood One. For more of his commentary and articles, visit philvalentine.com. BOROPULSE.COM
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Opinion Optimize and Organize Your Office for Success BUSINESS BUILDER
N
BY ROBERT RITCH
ow that you have written down some SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-Bound) goals for yourself, both personal and business, let’s work on optimizing your surroundings and increase your ability to work effectively. The actions you take to organize and streamline your office, get rid of clutter and maximize your workspace for productivity will save you money and time. A disorganized office costs more to run. Supplies, tools and equipment go missing because nothing is organized or put away properly. Those things have to be replaced to get the job done, plus, you spend valuable time searching for missing items, files or paperwork. In fact, some studies have revealed that the average senior business leader spends nearly four weeks each year navigating through messy or cluttered desks, looking for lost information. Does that sound like productive time to you? Benefits of taking the time to create an organized and well-structured office include: > Better communication. An organized office environment encourages better internal communication. With a central area for staff communication, it is easier to share sales news, track targets, and plan and monitor projects. > A manageable budget. Organized spaces will allow you to quickly see what you have, what you need, and when you might need more. This supports the creation and sustaining of budgets, especially for supplies and equipment. > Increased work ethic and morale. When you and your staff take care of your surroundings, it makes the workplace a more pleasant place. Taking care shows that you value your work and the people who work for you. > Better time management. You spend less time looking for things and more time actually working. Get started by walking through this stepby-step workplace audit, and making necessary improvements as you go. Complete the following steps by literally walking around your office with a notepad and making observations. This is intended to be a positive exercise, so try not to get overwhelmed. Small changes are the best changes to start with. 36 * DECEMBER 2015 * BOROPULSE.COM
Start with your own office. What can be found on your desk? Where are your current files located? Where are your old or inactive files? How many personal items are visible? What is on the walls? Where are your office supplies? How much paper is on your desk? How many files, binders or books are on your desk? Where are your inbox and outbox located, and how much is piled in them? Would your office benefit from a better layout? A better filing system? A smaller desktop monitor? A paper shredder? Clear your desk of everything but your computer, your Day-Timer, your current files, your inbox and your telephone. Depending on the size of your desk, you may wish to put your current files or inbox on top of a filing cabinet within arm’s reach to maximize desk space. Anything you don’t need on a regular basis should be stored out of arm’s reach. Choose one central system for managing your notes, tasks, to-do lists, brainstorming and scheduling. If you have a Day-Timer, use it. If you prefer electronic systems, use those. Having too many binders, notepads and calendars gets confusing. Make a habit of tidying your desk at the beginning and end of each day. Keep loose papers pinned to your to-do list, or have clear and organized folders. Use drawer organizers to keep your stationery drawer clean and easily accessible. Organize your loose paper, inbox and action items in a file sorter or stack of paper trays. Use categories like to do, to review, awaiting response, on hold and to file. Put your phone on the left if you’re right handed, and on the right if you’re left handed, so you have the appropriate hand free to take notes when you’re on a call. Keep a notepad or post-its by the phone to record messages and conversation notes. Personal items can be distracting when they’re in your primary line of vision, and encourage daydreaming. Photos and memorabilia have a place in your office, but relocate any items that are in direct sight. Move on to the common areas of your business: Office supplies storage
Team communication center Point-of-sale or reception area Printing and photocopying Staff room or kitchen Employee and management offices Equipment storage Product stock storage Hallways Shipping and receiving area Financial paperwork and accounting Move through each of the areas and answer the following questions, as applicable. What is the distance between your office and areas you frequently use, like the printer or photocopier? How much loose paper is found around the business? What is hung up on the walls? Where is the central communication point? How is the team communication center organized? Is it up to date? How much old stock are you storing? How are your office supplies organized? Are boxes and shelves labeled? Do your staff members have organization systems for their own desks? How many files are used on a daily or weekly basis? Where are old or outdated files kept? Identify opportunities for improvement. Put doors on shelving so cluttered spaces are not visible. Label boxes, containers and shelves so everyone knows what goes where. Create a consistent filing system. Provide enough shelving and filing cabinets to store files in a systemized fashion. Ensure your system keeps files out of the way and out of sight when not in use, but maintains easy accessibility. Return or sell unused stock and overflow office supplies, like stationery. Locate other unused items that you can potentially sell or donate to create more space. Consider renting out unused portions of your office to independent consultants or small businesses. Ensure each staff member has access to the organizational materials they need to keep their offices neat. Provide stacking trays or file sorters, and suggest systems that may help them. Remember that you can’t control their work environment, but you can provide the support they need to stay organized.
Locate your office so you have a clear line of sight between you and the most productive area of your business. Finally, make sure your business has the tools you need to run an effective, cohesive operation: > A team communication center for all team members to review on a daily basis for important information about sales achievements, targets and company news > A whiteboard in the team communication center or the boardroom to use for brainstorming and planning > A sales board in your team communication center (a private location from clients) that is customized to your business. Use thin black tape to create columns and rows to chart sales on a weekly or monthly basis > A 12-month marketing planner to keep your eyes focused on the big picture. This is where you schedule campaigns and plan promotions > Create a filing system for vendor, client and/or project files, and color-code it if necessary > Create a binder of master lists for regularly accessed information like office passwords, goals, birthdays, contact information > Use a bound notebook to keep track of phone calls and messages; put the date on each page. Eliminate loose notepaper. > Create a business card management system. Either organize cards by last name or company name in a binder or Rolodex, or enter the information in a data management program, then throw away the cards. Once you set up systems to manage your data and organize your supplies, the hard part is over. A clean and organized office is easy to sustain once it is in place. Remember to be patient with yourself. Depending on the state of your work environment, this may be a project that takes a little while. Take your time, and you’ll get the job done. Robert Ritch is a successful entrepreneur and business consultant, and has helped numerous small businesses increase their profits by assisting them in planning the steps they need to take and the order they need to take them. Contact Robert at robertritch@me.com or at robertritch.com.
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Sports MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!
T
On Brady, on Peyton, on Kobe, on Ronda!
SPORTS TALK
he Train Daddy is record—worst record in back as always and it’s the league that season, column by ZACH Christmas time in the tied with the Bucs. After “Z-TRAIN” MAXFIELD titanman1984yahoo.com ’Boro. Ho, ho, ho! Unstarting this 2015 season like your typical Train ride 1-6, the Titans fired Ken, this locomotive has a special destination— all naming Mike Mularkey interim head coach. aboard the Polar Express, destination Sexy So, Merry Christmas, Ken Whisenhunt. You Town! Happy Holidays, Yuletide Greetings, finished 3-20 during your tenure here in Season’s Greetings, Happy Hanukkah, Season Tennessee. Good riddance! Green Smoke or have a Cool Yule. There are many ways to wish someone a festive DecemMERRY CHRISTMAS TO ber, but from me to you Merry Christmas! I TOM BRADY love Christmas, it’s great spending time with The 38-year-old star friends and family, and I love all the football quarterback nicknamed games—games that carry heavy playoff impli“Tom the Terrific” beat the cations. Over the years I have spoken much odds. He beat the NFL, and of the 5 F’s: Faith, Family, Football, Food and he infuriated Commissioner Goodell after a Friends. There isn’t a better time than the court overturned his suspension this season. holiday season to live life following and apTom Brady and Patriots owner Robert Kraft preciating the 5 F’s, in that order. It’s brought are laughing at the memory of Deflategate and much joy to my life and it’s guaranteed to do Spygate. Tom is even married to a smokingthe same for you. hot supermodel named Gisele. So the PatriSo, with it being the holiday season, a time ots are dominating the NFL yet again, and we give thanks and show our appreciation by very well could end up Super Bowl champs doing good deeds for others, I have a list of yet again. The four-time Super Bowl champ people I want to wish a Merry Christmas. Some isn’t letting age diminish his performance. I are naughty and some are good, but all deserve can’t believe how good he still is. As far as I a little bit of love during the holiday season. am concerned it is going to be Brady, Cam Do you realize how small America’s probNewton or Adrian Peterson who will win this lems are compared to the rest of the world? Be year’s league MVP. The lesson here is: If you’re thankful we live in such a great country, stop famous and have money you have a chance at protesting and stop complaining America; getting away with cheating. Damned Patriots! there is so much opportunity in this country. My first Merry Christmas goes to America— MERRY CHRISTMAS TO that’s right, America! She is beautiful, she is PEYTON MANNING free and she presents opportunity for all. Just take a look at the Middle East and other areas Like Tom Brady, age is and that’s enough to be thankful for. Literally catching up to the 39-yearanyone who is now in this country can become old former Tennessee successful if they work hard and have a drive Volunteer. Manning, a to succeed. Some may have to face tougher five-time league MVP, and 14-time pro bowler obstacles to get there, but anyone can take a is looking rough this season. A strong defense shot. That’s a fact, jack! I hate watching the in Denver is all that is keeping Peyton relevant. news—people complain, people whine, people Just like Brett Favre handing the reins over to demand. Shut up, people, and live life, work Rodgers, it looks like Peyton may be ready to hard, and treat your neighbor as you would hand it over to a man named Brock Osweiler. treat yourself. Lady Liberty smiles upon us all: I am sure we will see Peyton suit up again this black, white, Asian, Hispanic, green and blue. season after he heals. The longer Brock plays well, the harder that becomes for the coaching staff. Merry Christmas, Manning. I very much MERRY CHRISTMAS TO THE respect you and all you have done for the game TENNESSEE TITANS AND of football. Very classy.
FORMER TITANS COACH KEN WHISENHUNT!
Ken gave loyal Titans fans Marcus Mariota, and that’s it! In 2014 Coach Whisenhunt gave us a splendid 2-14 38 * DECEMBER 2015 * BOROPULSE.COM
MERRY CHRISTMAS RONDA ROUSEY! The 28-year-old UFC superstar recently felt her first taste of defeat—maybe it will humble her. Rousey was basking in the glow of
success. She was, and is, a dominant force, and being sexy helped as well. Ronda lost her first match in UFC 193 to Holly Holm recently. Ronda is loved and hated equally. Rousey is cocky and at times refused to shake hands before or after a match with her opponents. UFC president Dana White already has stated “there will absolutely be a rematch.” There has to be! Is this the end for Ronda, or will she train that much harder and finish her career with a bang?
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO THE BLACK MAMBA KOBE BRYANT! The five-time NBA champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist says he will retire after this season. Kobe announced to the world via a very manly poem that he is retiring. “My body knows it’s time to say goodbye,” wrote Bryant. Despite a pretty nasty sexual assault case, the Black Mamba had a phenomenal career on and off the court. We’ll miss you, Kobe.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ADRIAN PETERSON, A BEAST! There are some out there who still are upset that the star running back beat his son with a tree branch, but no one can deny his football ability. It’s not up to me to tell someone how they discipline their child; all I know is the man has won me some Fantasy Football games. I only participate in two fantasy leagues that truly have meaning for me and somehow I ended up in both leagues with the number-one overall pick. So I took running back Adrian Peterson in both leagues, and now, nearing the end of the season, it has proven to be the right choice. Other candidates at the time were Le’Veon Bell and Jamal Charles, both of whom ended up with season-ending injuries, and Eddie Lacy, who has been a disappointment. Adrian Peterson is on track to duplicate his record-setting 2012 season, at 30 years old—Merry Christmas, Peterson!
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO LOUISVILLE BASKETBALL COACH RICK PITINO! A bombshell scandal: A former coach is alleged to have paid for strippers to dance and sleep with players and recruits—juicy! I am sure Pitino’s team will just play at a high-caliber level as
all his teams do, and most fans will slowly forget about the entire scandal come March Madness.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA! You are a bad president. Liberal policy is disgusting— just my opinion or possibly fact? I can’t imagine after eight years of this administration that America would want a Bernie Sanders or a Hillary Clinton to run the country. Let’s just pray this country has had enough of this liberal, leftwing socialist crap, and is ready for someone who fights for the working man, not the lazy man. Life isn’t a pie we all can split up equally. It sounds nice, but people have to work for it. Some people may start at a disadvantage, but in this country anyone can be successful. Work hard and show respect, and life will reward you properly. Obama and his goons seem to think no matter how hard you work or don’t work, everyone deserves an equal share of the pie. Merry Christmas Democrats!
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO SANTA CLAUS! I know you’re real, Santa. It started in 1990. I will always remember that, when I was a child, my parents didn’t have the extra money to get me a regular Nintendo, but that year it showed up under the tree. I am now at the ripe age of 30 and I want to thank you, Santa Claus. I loved that video game system. That year my little sister and I saw you, I was 6 and she was 4. She received an Easy-Bake Oven and I got the Nintendo, so Merry Christmas, Santa!
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU, THE PULSE READER! Have a wonderful December and a Happy New Year. This is a time to comfort those who may not have family, or mothers and fathers who work overtime to buy presents for their children. Simple conversation can go a long way toward comforting people. This is a wonderful country full of opportunity for all; remember that the next time you complain. Pray for the refugees fleeing their war-torn countries, and ask what you can do to truly help those in need around you. People, stop protesting and crying about nonsense—we live in a country where anything is possible with a little determination and hard work. I get crap sometimes for saying this, but the problems of this country are laughable when compared to the rest of the world. Be thankful you live in America. Choo-choo!
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