January 2015 Murfreesboro Pulse by The Murfreesboro Pulse

2006–2015: Celebrating 10 Years

MURFREESBORO

Middle Tennessee’s Source for Art, Entertainment and Culture News

Vol. 10, Issue 1 January 2015

FREE For You!

LIVING

A Trip to Margueritaville: A Day in the Life of a Murfreesboro Panhandler PAGE 16

’ N I V I L Y R T N KU s” t i u c s i eb k i n. l o ’ s n i a s e i r s nd is “ o c O e s M S ts i G r I e t B n s oe ty’ t n t u e o s C d ow Bedfor E reality sh A& s i h h t wi

ALSO IN MUSIC

 Alex Guthrie The Great Barrier Reefs Umphrey’s McGee False Colors & More! PAGE 14

ART

Russell White to Curate Exhibit at Center for the Arts PAGE 23

DEAR READERS:

CONTENTS

HERE WE ARE, A FRESH NEW YEAR. The past doesn’t matter so much. We don’t know what the future holds, but can make the present excellent. Let’s let the past go this year. The Civil War was a significant event for our area, but that was a good while ago. We don’t have to let it define the Stones River region any longer. Let it go. Our country is about much more than reacting to terrorist attacks that occured 14 years ago. Let it go. Terrorism, threats, riots and hate should be avoided, but may we bring in a new era, moving away from fear and towards love, respect and strength. With 2015, the Murfreesboro Pulse enters its 10th year, having first come onto the scene in January 2006. As always, each edition aims to bring a little taste of the art, music, food, people, places and events the ’Boro has to offer. By all indications, the area appears to be a great place to do business. According to the Murfreesboro 2035 plan, we can expect even more neighbors to pour into our community over the coming years. Good for business and culture, right? “Love your neighbor!” Try not to be sucked into the “tension,” “riots,” “unrest” and “conflict” often presented FOOD as the news of the day. It can be hard to II g Milano ignore all of the negativity sometimes, but I House on College St. now serving Italian ONLINE AT: and Mediterranean fare. challenge you to do it! Focus on what you really want—what you REVIEWS want your life, career, family and home to be, h Movie how you want your city, country and world to The Interview be. We can’t reach our full potential if there’s January Movie Releases bickering and arguing about petty nonsense, Living Room Cinema selfishness, jealousy, regret and worry. Dirty Money Life is good, and it can be even better! Video Game j World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor If someone’s being stupid and narrowBooks: Writers in the ’Boro minded, don’t stoop to their level. Rise above. k Just for You!: Honor the Z-Force for H.I.M. by Dr. Jay Zajas Think logically about our society as you are Circus of the Mind by Vincent Van Winkle. presented with sensational information. What is SPORTS the bigger threat to your future and your family: Fastest Freshman in the Country riots, terrorism or cancer? It seems Americans ; Taylor Cuneo represents Central Magnet could benefit more from fighting all of the radiain Nike Cross National 5k. tion, weird “food” and chemicals than fighting a Talk with Z-Train x Sports vague war on terror. “No More”: Titans embarassing 2014 season is over. The mainstream news generally does not OPINIONS reflect this priority, but it is a good thing that The Stockard Report you can think for yourself and not just rely on v Court Clerk computer debacle continues; new family of the mainstream news for your values, to tell you recovering addicts to move in; farewell to Aydelott. what is right and wrong, healthy or not. Phil Valentine: Views of a Conservative b Agitators bypassing the justice they say they want. This month, this year, play music, view an art Music Through the Decades exhibit, try out a new restaurant, jump in the pool n Crossing into a new meaning of “Yankee Doodle.” during the Polar Plunge, talk to someone new, Business Sense watch a play, hear a band, create, laugh and love. , Always on: the 24/7 world and the flexible work day No regrets or worries here. This year I will try and enjoy each moment and perform the role I Copyright © 2015, The Murfreesboro Pulse, have fallen into to the best of my ability. To carry the Pulse at your 10 N. Public Square, Murfreesboro, TN 37130. business, or submit letters, Stay healthy, stay active, stay positive, in Proudly owned, operated and published the first stories and photography: Thursday of each month by the Mayo family; printed 2015 and always! Party on, and be excellent to bracken@boropulse.com by Franklin Web Printing Co. The Murfreesboro Pulse 10 N. Public Square, is a free publication funded by our advertisers. Views one another. Murfreesboro, TN 37130

ON THE COVER

EVENTS Community Events 4 January Murfreesboro Anime & Comic Kon, Polar Plunge,

Motorama, Wizard of Oz, And Then There Were None Entertainment Calendar Karaoke, Bingo, DJs and Live Trivia

SOUNDS

8 9 w r

JANUARY CONCERTS Umphree’s McGee Conversation with bassist Ryan Stasik. Album Reviews False Colors, The Great Barrier Reefs, Aye Mammoth Jonny Gowow and The Japanese Cowboys Kuntry Livin’: Big Smo Bedford County’s boss of the stix is “risin’ like biscuits.” Alex Guthrie Singer/songwriter to hit Mayday Brewery on Jan. 30.

LIVING Trip to Margueritaville y AA day in the life of a Murfreesboro panhandler. Market Education Series i AFarmer’s Time to Prune. Peace in Heavy Traffic p At Crossing guard Claudia Russell is in the zone

at Middle Tennessee Christian School. Onscreen, Indoors Bell Media changing the landscap of local advertising.

ART

CREW

PULSE

Culture d Disposable Artist Russell White to curate January exhibit at Center. Publisher/Editor in Chief: Bracken Mayo Art Director: Sarah L. Mayo Advertising Reps: Jeff Brown, Don Clark, Jami Creel, Jamie Jennings Copy Editor: Steve Morley

PHOTO BY BRANDON MILES

Contributors: Dylan Skye Aycock, Robbie Barnes, Gloria Christy, Sarah Clark, Dr. Phillip Foster, Zach Maxfield, Chuck Norwood, Darcy Payne, Jay Spight, Andrea Stockard, Sam Stockard, Edwina Shannon, Christy Simmons, Norbert Thiemann, Phil Valentine, Scott Walker, Emily West

BOROPULSE.COM

(615) 796-6248

expressed in the Pulse do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. ISSN: 1940-378X

Peace, Bracken Mayo Editor in Chief BOROPULSE.COM

* JANUARY 2015 * 3

EVENTS

compiled by ANDREA STOCKARD

Send event information to murfreesboropulse@yahoo.com

JAN 1–3 152ND ANNIVERSARY PROGRAMS Join rangers and volunteers for a variety of walks, talks, tours and living history demonstrations telling the story of one of the most significant battles of the Civil War, the Battle of Stones River (Stones River National Battlefield, 1563 N. Thompson Ln.). For more information, contact nps.gov/stri or (615) 893-9501. Admission is free.

JAN. 3

JAN. 17 & 18 ANIME AND COMIC KON The Murfreesboro Anime and Comic Kon (MACK) will be held Jan. 17 and 18 at the Clarion Inn, 2227 Old Fort Pkwy. The show, in its fourth year, will include gaming all day (Magic, Pokemon, Apples to Apples, Zathura and more), a Super Freebie table on Sunday (free posters, pins, toys, comic books, buttons and more while they last), panels, workshops, photo ops, costume contests, a free nylon totebag for all attendees, free passes to the Atlanta Comic Convention and a rafﬂe for a Win-An-Entire-Booth giveaway ($3,000 in merchandise, including DVDs, CDs, toys, comics, posters, books, T-shirts . . . bring a truck to get it all home!)

2014 Murfreesboro Comic Kon costume contest winners

4 * JANUARY 2015 * BOROPULSE.COM

Of course, special guests are a huge part of the weekend as well. Guests for the show include: Doug TenNapel: the creator of Earthworm Jim (and voice of Earthworm Jim in the video game) and Nickelodeon’s Catscratch; writer on Adventure Time, Veggie Tales: In the House; animator on SpongeBob SquarePants and Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: The Animated Series; creator of the graphic novels Tommysaurus Rex, Nnewts and Ghostopolis. From the Walking Dead: Santiago Cirillo, Kent Wagner, Mike Mundy Actors: Josh Turner (Under the Dome, Nashville), Bill Bryge (Ernest Scared Stupid, Ernest Saves Christmas, Ernest Goes to Jail, Ernest Goes to School) Artists: Dean Zachary ((Star Wars, BatLantern, Superboy, Hawk man,, Green Lantern man Dove), Jason Flowers (Upper & Dove Deck card artist), Mitch Foust, Sam Payne, Tattoo Bob Writers: Robert Midgett, Dr. Jeff Thompson, Dr. Jonathan Lampley, Steve Dillard Wrestlers: Arrick Andrews, King Shane Williams, Jeremiah Plunkett, Le Kisha Oliver, Anthony Wayne, Kerry Awful, Nick Iggy, Hammer Jack, Jim Cornette, Mark James Sunday, kids get in free with a paid adult, and there will be free pictures with Yo Gabba Gabba’s Brobee and Foofa. For more information on the 2015 Murfreesboro Anime and Comic Kon, visit comiccitytn. com.

POLAR PLUNGE Plunge into the new year at the 10th annual Polar Bear Plunge at Sports*Com’s frigid outdoor pool (2310 Memorial Blvd.) at 10 a.m. Admission for participants is to bring non-perishable foods benefiting the Murfreesboro City School Family Resource Center. Registration

begins at 8:30 a.m., when the gym will be transformed into an Arctic Adventure where families can play games, enjoy inflatables, drink coffee or hot chocolate, eat donuts and register for the plunge. T-shirts available. Pre-registration encouraged. For more information, call (615) 893-7439.

JAN. 11–MARCH 8 WEDDING DRESSES THROUGH THE DECADES Step back in time and witness the elegant wedding gowns of women in Middle Tennessee and across the country through the decades at Oaklands Historic House Museum (900 N. Maney Ave.) in partnership with the Human Sciences Department of Middle Tennessee State University. Enjoy the brocade and silk of the mid1800s and the stories and suits of the wartime brides in the 1940s. Grandmothers, mothers and daughters will have the rare opportunity to view items from not only the museum collection but also elegant and fashionable wedding dresses worn by ladies from both Murfreesboro and around the country. The tour is held Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. and Sundays 1–4 p.m. For more information, visit oaklandsmuseum. org, or contact (615) 893-0022 or mb@oaklandsmuseum.org. Admission is $8 and is open to the public. A special evening opening is scheduled for Jan. 23 from 4–8 p.m.

4TH ANNUAL TENNESSEE MOTORAMA Both Barrels Promotions presents the 4th Annual Tennessee Motorama with a huge swap meet, car/motorcycle show, auto memorabilia and custom bicycle show at Mid-Tn Expo Center (1209 Park Ave.) from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. $25 entry fee. $10 for attendance; under 12 free. For more information, visit bothbarrelspromotions. com or call (615) 364-1828.

beneficiary of the race proceeds. The race is set for the first Saturday in January, Jan. 3, at 8 a.m. Come out and burn some of those Christmas calories for a great cause. The Murfreesboro Rescue Mission aims to follow God’s command to love our neighbor as ourselves, and exists to provide help, hope and healing to our community’s most vulnerable population experiencing homelessness. For more information, or to register for the race, visit murfreesbororescuemission.org or franklinroadbaptist.org.

JAN. 3

JAN. 4

RESOLUTION RUN Murfreesboro Rescue Mission will start 2015 off with a fundraiser called Resolution Run. Franklin Road Baptist Church on Highway 96 hosts this 5k race. This year, they have chosen MRM as the

MARKET AT THE MALL With a theme of “Homegrown, Handmade and Heartfelt” Stones River Mall will continue its Market at the Mall, a producer-only farmers’ and artisan market, Sunday, Jan. 4. The market is

JAN. 3

held from 12–4 p.m. the first Sunday of each month behind Shoe Carnival and Bink’s Outfitters, alongside Robert Rose Drive. Stroll around and check out healthy, fresh foods, horticultural products, handmade art and entertainment. Stones River Mall is located at 1720 Old Fort Pkwy.

shops include JoZoara, Just Love Coffee Roasters, Pa Bunks, Perk’d Coffeehouse and Deli and Reveille Joe Coffee Company. For more information, stop by SportsCom or Barfield Park, or contact Jennifer Joines at (615) 895-5040 or jjoines@murfreesborotn.gov.

JAN. 24

JAN. 10 MUSIC IN THE WILD Get cozy inside the Wilderness Station at Barfield Crescent Park (301 Volunteer Rd. or 697 Barfield Rd.) for a music-filled evening and listen to local artists performing their original tunes, plus well-known classic songs, while enjoying bird-friendly coffee. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.; music is from 6:30–8:30 p.m. For more information, call (615) 217-3017.

JAN. 19

JAN. 15 SCHOOL CLIMBING LEAGUE PREVIEW NIGHT Come out for a fun night of indoor rock-climbing with staff and coach introductions, a special preview competition, Q&A session, team sign-ups and more at The Ascent, Climb Your Rock (831 Park Ave.). A no-cost, noobligation event. For more information, contact (615) 796-6545 or info@ climbyourrock.com, or visit climbyourrock.com/previewnight.

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. REMEMBRANCE CEREMONY Commemorate the birthdate of the well-spoken, highly noted and historically important Reverend King at La Vergne City Hall (5093 Murfreesboro Rd.) from 11 a.m.–noon. For more information, contact adavis@lavergnetn.gov or (615) 793-3224.

nonprofits and small business owners with perks of wi-fi, coffee and events designed to help create a business community. First day is always free. For more information, contact info@cultivatecoworking.com.

JAN. 22

JAN. 24

OPEN HOUSE/RIBBON CUTTING FOR CULTIVATE COWORKING Cultivate Coworking (107 W. Lytle St.) will have a Grand Open House from 9 a.m.–6 p.m. and ribbon-cutting ceremony at 4 p.m. Snacks and drinks provided. Take a tour and meet the new business offering an alternative office space for independent workers, freelancers,

WINTER WAGON HAYRIDE AND MARSHMALLOW ROAST Bundle yourself up, get out of the house and head to Cannonsburgh Village (312 S. Front St.) for a good old-fashioned hayride around the grounds and a cozy marshmallow roast from 11 a.m.–2 p.m. For more information, call (615) 8900355. Admission is $2.50.

JAN. 21 COMMUNITY BINGO Join other adults for a lively game of bingo in the PPCC Dining Room in Patterson Park Community Center (521 Mercury Blvd.) from 10–11 a.m. with small prizes and a Grand Prize drawing. Bingo admission allows entrance to the Game Room for a game of pool and access to the fitness track. Third Wednesday of each month. For more information, call (615) 893-2141. Admission is $2.

PHOTO BY JONATHAN WESENBERG

Participants can buzz by any of the seven participating locations and run the route mapped out for that location. Each time someone walks or runs a route, they can have their passport signed to validate the completion. Those completing all seven routes will receive a commemorative coffee mug and car decal. Coffee

ANNUAL AUTHOR LUNCHEON Friends of Linebaugh Library will present its annual author luncheon from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, at the Woman’s Club. This year’s guest is author Susan Gregg Gilmore, writer of

The Funeral Dress. Sign up for the event at the Linebaugh Library circulation desk. For more information on the luncheon, or on becoming a member of the Friends of Linebaugh Library organization, find the group on Facebook.

THROUGHOUT JANUARY ONSTAGE AND THEN THERE WERE NONE Murfreesboro Little Theatre 702 Ewing Ave. 7 p.m. Jan. 16, 17, 23 and 24; 2 p.m. Jan. 18 and 25 mltarts.com THE WIZARD OF OZ Center for the Arts 110 W. College St. 7:30 p.m. Jan. 9, 10, 16, 17, 23 and 24; 2 p.m. Jan. 10, 11, 17, 18, 24 and 25 boroarts.org

JAN. 3–APRIL 25 THE COFFEE MARATHON Murfreesboro area coffee houses, as well as Sports*Com and Wilderness Station at Barfield Crescent Park, have teamed up on a running project this year. BOROPULSE.COM

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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. TGI FRIDAY’S Live Trivia, 7 p.m.

THIS SPACE COULD BE YOURS ALL MONTH LONG FOR JUST $60 CALL (615) 796-6248

 TUESDAYS IGNITE Karaoke, 8 p.m.–12 a.m. 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. THE BOULEVARD Karaoke, 7 p.m.

MELLOW MUSHROOM Live Trivia, 8 p.m. NOBODY’S Live Trivia, 7 and 9:30 p.m.

LA SIESTA (GREENLAND) Trivia, 7 p.m. MT BOTTLE Karaoke, 9 p.m.–3 a.m.

SAM’S SPORTS GRILL Live Trivia, 8 p.m.

 SATURDAYS

 THURSDAYS CAMPUS PUB Live Trivia, 8:15 p.m. LA SIESTA (CHURCH ST.) Karaoke, 6 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. WALL STREET Live Trivia, 8 p.m.

 FRIDAYS

 WEDNESDAYS

NOBODY’S Karaoke, 9:15 p.m.–12:30 a.m.

CAMPUS PUB Karaoke, 10 p.m.–2:30 a.m.

LA SIESTA (CHURCH ST.) Karaoke, 6 p.m.

HEAR WHAT MURFREESBORO SOUNDS LIKE 

CAMPUS PUB Karaoke, 10 p.m.–2:30 a.m. NACHOS Live Trivia, 7 p.m. NOBODY’S Karaoke, 9:15 p.m.–12:30 a.m.

 SUNDAYS O’POSSUMS Live Trivia, 8 p.m. LA SIESTA (CHURCH ST.) Karaoke, 6 p.m. THE POUR HOUSE DJ, 7 p.m. WALL STREET Team Bingo, 5–7 p.m. SAM’S SPORTS GRILL Live Trivia, 8 p.m. To be included in the Pulse’s listings, contact zek@tnkaraoke.com

Want your band listed on our QR Classifieds? E-mail murfreesboropulse@yahoo.com

SOUNDS THU, 1/1

TUE, 1/13

NACHO’S Ivan LaFever

BUNGANUT PIG 2Country4Nashville

FRI, 1/2

WED, 1/14

BUNGANUT PIG Reckless COCONUT BAY CAFE DJ RDP MAYDAY BREWERY Angela Easley

BUNGANUT PIG JD Shelburne Duo LEVEL III Ryan Coleman’s Writers’ Night

SAT, 1/3 BUNGANUT PIG Phoenix Rising JOURNEY POINTE Lovey’s Jazz Cafe Presents David Jones MARK AND PAT’S HANDLEBAR Renegade Kanyon Band MAYDAY BREWERY Third Coast Trio

TUE, 1/6 BUNGANUT PIG CJ Vaughn Trio

WED, 1/7 LEVEL III Ryan Coleman’s Writers’ Night

THU, 1/8 NACHO’S Ivan LaFever

FRI, 1/9 BUNGANUT PIG Liberty Valance COCONUT BAY CAFE Zone Status MAYDAY BREWERY Richard Gowen NOBODY’S Marshall Creek Band

SAT, 1/10 BUNGANUT PIG Zone Status MAYDAY BREWERY Fletcher, Bell and Ward TEMPT Wily Joy, Buku THE BORO Stagger Moon

SUN, 1/11 BUNGANUT PIG Amber’s Drive

View Concert Listings Online:

THU, 1/15 BUNGANUT PIG The O’Donnells NACHO’S Ivan LaFever TFG PRODUCTIONS The Reserves, Antagonizers

FRI, 1/16 BUNGANUT PIG Backlit COCONUT BAY CAFE Pimpalicous MAYDAY BREWERY The Lower Caves TFG PRODUCTIONS Caedes Innocentiae THE BORO Once the Fallen, Mindset Defect, Deconbrio

SAT, 1/17 BUNGANUT PIG The Pilots MAYDAY BREWERY The Jackillacs THE BORO Gunslingers and Gravediggers, Vamptones

PULSE PICK

Alfonso’s 179 Mall Circle Dr. 439-6155 Autograph Rehearsal Studio 1400 W College St. 631-2605

THE BORO Zulu Wave, Acorn People, SPB

Bonhoeffer’s 610 Dill Ln. 907-2890

FRI, 1/23 BUNGANUT PIG Marshall Creek Band COCONUT BAY CAFE Lugnuts GEORGIA’S SPORTS BAR AND GRILL Phoenix Rising MAYDAY BREWERY Laced with Arsenic TEMPT Huglife, KDSML TFG PRODUCTIONS The Whippoorwills, The Dead Electros WALL STREET Roots of a Rebellion, Masseuse

SAT, 1/24 BUNGANUT PIG JD Shelburne Band MAYDAY BREWERY Tim Carroll TEMPT Phutureprimitive THE BORO Dangerous Doll, Dead Hollywood, Stuntmen WALL STREET Kyle Campbell, Jacob Stiefel & the Truth WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING MTSU Horn Festival

TUE, 1/27 BUNGANUT PIG 2Country4Nashville

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 Ln. 893-1322

EVERY OTHER TUES. @ BUNGANUT PIG Murfreesboro bluesman CJ Vaughn continues to hone his craft, and he and his trio have settled into a biweekly routine at the Bunganut Pig. Their next performances are slated for Jan. 6, Jan. 20 and Feb. 3, each beginning at 7 p.m. Stop by and hear a mix of soulful original tunes and blues standards. The artist says in his mission statement that through his music he hopes “to promote virtue and honor while giving your feet something joyful to move to.”

WED, 1/28

THU, 1/29

BUNGANUT PIG Ronnie Brown LEVEL III Ryan Coleman’s Writers’ Night WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING Jack Lorens (euphonium recital)

NACHO’S Ivan LaFever

TUE, 1/20 BUNGANUT PIG CJ Vaughn Trio

Lifepoint Church 506 Legacy Dr., Smyrna 459-3311 Journey Pointe 1267 Middle Tennessee Blvd., 896-9272 JoZoara 536 N. Thompson Ln. 962-7175 Level III 114 S. Maple St. 900-3754

FRI, 1/30

Liquid Smoke #2 Public Square 217-7822

BUNGANUT PIG Unauthorized Personnel COCONUT BAY CAFE Zone Status GEORGIA’S SPORTS BAR AND GRILL My July MAYDAY BREWERY Alex Guthrie Band WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING Paula Van Goes (saxophone recital) BUNGANUT PIG My July MAYDAY BREWERY The Arcadian Wild TEMPT HeRobust, Wick-IT

BUNGANUT PIG Jed Smith LEVEL III Ryan Coleman’s Writers’ Night BUNGANUT PIG The Busks NACHO’S Ivan LaFever

Hippie Hill 8627 Burks Hollow Rd. 796-3697

Main St. Music 527 W. Main St. 440-2425 Mayday Brewery 521 Old Salem Hwy. 479-9722 Moose Lodge 645 SE Broad St. 893-0145 MTSU Wright Music Building 1439 Faulkinberry Dr. 898-2469

SAT, 1/31

WED, 1/21

THU, 1/22

Georgia’s Sports Bar and Grill 555 South Lowry St. Smyrna, 267-0295

CJ VAUGHN TRIO

ZULU WAVE

PULSE PICK

THURSDAY, JAN. 22 @ THE BORO Florida’s Zula Wave will bring its sounds, a nice blend of modern rock influences, to Middle Tennessee on Jan. 22. The indie/progressive rock group, which hits the Boro Bar & Grill in support of its latest release, Jagorilla, walks on the groundwork laid by Radiohead and other experimental groups who creatively use various noise and toys.

MON, 2/2 WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING Christina Kim, Andrea Dawson, Oksan Poleshook (faculty/guest recital)

TUE, 2/3 BUNGANUT PIG CJ Vaughn Trio

Nacho's 2962 S. Rutherford Blvd. 907-2700 ZULU WAVE BY JAMES MEADOWS (IWASRIGHTHERE)

JANUARY CONCERTS

Send your show listings to listings@boropulse.com

 IF YOU GO:

TFG Productions 117 E. Vine St. The Boro Bar & Grill 1211 Greenland Dr. 895-4800 The Green Dragon 714-F W. Main St. 801-7171 Wall Street 121 N. Maple St. 867-9090 World Outreach Church 1921 New Salem Rd. 997-1861

BOROPULSE.COM

* JANUARY 2015 * 7

SOUNDS

A conversation with Ryan Stasik

Umphrey’s McGee to Hit the Ryman in February

BY ANDREA STOCKARD MURFREESBORO PULSE: My friend

wanted me ask you why you were wearing a tri-star Tennessee shirt on stage at Summer Camp [Music Festival] this year. STASIK: My wife is from Knoxville [Tenn.], [laughing]. I love Knoxville. What has been your favorite part of being at Bear Creek this year? Having (former Allman Brothers bassist) Oteil [Burbridge] sit in and play my bass. He is one of my favorite bass players and one of the nicest guys.

and then we can go right outside to Tootsie’s. There is so much history at the Ryman. Nashville is a very special place. You are also playing the Tabernacle in Atlanta for ﬁve nights, NYE, this year. The Tabernacle is our favorite place in Atlanta. I am excited to do five nights there.

How do you guys know when other artists are going to play with you at festivals? Oteil just came on our bus and was hanging out and I was like, ‘Dude, do you want to play?’ I think everybody knows that people are going to sit in. We are going to have Lettuce horns and that kid ‘Taz’ is playing. (Brandon Niederauer, aka “Taz,” is an 11-year-old child prodigy musician. At Bear Creek he played with Dumpstajam, Dumpstaphunk and Umprey’s McGee throughout the weekend, shining on an almost-identical cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Black Dog” with Nikki Glaspie.)

Are there any artists from your childhoods personally or as a group that originally sparked your interest in doing this type of jam-style music? There are artists growing up that we never thought we would be able to collaborate with. Stanley Jordan is one. He has become a dear friend and collaborated with us a lot. Hall and Oates, too. We have become friends, and John Oates has played with us a couple times. I grew up spinning those records. There are so many artists. Bela Fleck and Jeff Coffin (The Flecktones, Dave Matthews Band) have become part of playing with us, too. Coffin has been our horns section the past five years for New Years Eve. Joshua Redman, sax player, has collaborated with us, too. They are idols and now we are lucky enough to call them friends.

You’re coming to the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville in February 2015, correct? Yes, we are playing the Ryman. The Ryman is legendary. We have played there once already,

Do you guys have a dream gig, festival, city or venue that is a solid goal? Hawaii. We definitely want to play Hawaii. We heard there are festivals and gigs down there

8 * JANUARY 2015 * BOROPULSE.COM

PHOTO BY ABBY FOX

mphrey’s McGee proves to be a timeless band, having headlined some of the biggest music and arts festivals in 2014. I have watched “die-hard” Umphrey’s McGee fans (many of them my friends) sport “Umph Love” stickers and shirts as they go crazy over the popular, experimental jam band. I was fortunate enough to experience the band at some of my favorite festivals this year such as Summer Camp Music Festival (Umphrey’s affiliated music festival), Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, Wakarusa, Electric Forest and more. It seems it does not matter what type of music you like, Umphrey’s McGee finds a way to play something you most likely will enjoy. I finally got to sit down with Pittsburgh native (although he moved to Kalamazoo, Mich., at the age of 12) Ryan Stasik, bassist and co-founder of Umphrey’s McGee, and genuinely one of the nicest guys I have met. After performing for 16 years with over 100 shows annually, and with the release of their eighth studio album, Similar Skin, paired with Reskinned: the Similar Skin Remix Album (their first for their own indie label, Nothing Too Fancy [N2F] Music), it is hard to believe a band today can stay so grounded and continue to rock sold-out shows across the world. There are very few bands I know of that can play such a vast array of music like Umphrey’s McGee’s diverse, dynamic mash-up of heavy metal, rock, electronic, funk and more. Umphrey’s returned to Bear Creek 2014, making a heavy impact with multiple sets at the Buffalo’s Amphitheater Stage Friday and Saturday night with the perfect mixture of rock and some funk with sit-ins by Oteil Burbridge on bass, Eric Bloom and Ryan Zoidis from Lettuce on horns, Brandon Niederauer on guitar and other guests. Following an upcoming five-night run for New Years (Dec. 30, 2014–Jan. 3, 2015) at The Tabernacle in Atlanta, Ga., the group embarks on a 26-show coast-to-coast 2015 tour including the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on Feb. 6.

and festivals like this are overloaded with funk, which is fine, it is a good thing, but it is good for us to cater out to more of the loud distortion, guitar attack, and give people a flavor of rock ’n’ roll. It is a great lineup here.

and I do not think too many people tour down there. This is our first year in Dominican Republic and then maybe Costa Rica. This year Umphrey’s McGee headlines Dominican Holidaze Dec. 3–7, 2014, an all-inclusive, electronic/rock concert vacation showcasing popular bands STS9, The Disco Biscuits and more. Are you releasing any new music soon? We just released a new record, Similar Skin, which was straight rock and roll, and we are releasing some other things that are a secret I am not allowed to tell anyone [laughs]. We have some new music with some recordings of different versions of older songs, so that is in the future. We work heavily with TourGigs, so all of our stuff is live online and we have our own app which you can subscribe to and get every show right after. What do you do personally or as a group to keep you on your toes as time goes on? Just being an improvisational bass band is always pushing the boundaries. We have been doing this for so long, so it is just natural to try and keep challenging each other and keep the creativity juices flowing to make everything different each night. We try not to fall into the habit of playing the go-to stuff and same riffs we may have done just to be safe unless we need to. It is just a part of it. Do you guys do different things to cater to different show or festivals? Sometimes we do. Festivals like Electric Forest, where it is very DJ- and EDM-oriented, we played rock ’n’ roll because there were not many people there doing it. Here, there is a lot of funk, so we figured we would do a lot of progressive metal, progressive rock, to showcase that. We did do a little taste of everything, like honkytonk, some horns and funk. It is not so specific because a lot of it is improv, so whatever we are feeling, that is what we want to do. To make the people dance you have to feel the crowd and what is coming back to them. Jam Cruise

I really enjoyed that STS9/Umphrey’s McGee tour that hit Nashville in August 2014. STS9 is one of my favorite bands. How does something like that happen? It comes from just hanging out like this. ‘Why don’t we do a tour together?’ We have similar styles [with STS9], so why not collaborate and bring fans from across the country? They [STS9] pull a good crowd from the West Coast and Colorado, and we pull a great crowd from the Midwest. It is a good mix. It was fun and profitable, so there is no reason why we would not do it again. What was your favorite show you have done so far this year? Kalamazoo [Mich.]. We just played in Kalamazoo, and the energy was a hardcore rock show. I went to high school there and have been seeing concerts there since I was 16 years old. It was sold-out, and people were ready. I wrote the set list; we went from really heavy metal, heavy stuff, and then on purpose to something very pretty, or beautiful, or light, or dancey, or bluegrass. We went to something completely different, opposite, which was perfect for the night. I thought we pulled it off pretty well. In the future and down the road, what do you want to be the main thing people say when they look back at Umphrey’s McGee? I want people to know that in a world now where everything is so accessible and there is not the mystery of . . . you cannot meet them or you do not know about them, like your typical rock ’n’ roll people, we are accessible. I want people to know that we are genuinely good people that genuinely want to make challenging and creative music to share with all the people that are out there. It becomes like a family, so we want that family to grow and feel like it was really special to be a part of it. Hopefully the music will be timeless and speak for itself. You never know. The future is bright. Stasik’s ingenuity and personality makes me even more of an Umphrey’s fan than before. It goes to show that modesty and kindness goes a long way. I have no doubt I will be seeing them again during my 2015 festival shenanigans. So far they truly have proven to be a timeless band! For Umphrey’s Fall 2104 Couch Tour with TourGigs, visit tourgigs.com; for more on the band, ﬁnd them at umphreys.com.

ALBUM REVIEWS

BY DYLAN SKYE AYCOCK

FALSE COLORS

THE GREAT BARRIER REEFS

Vanishing Ink

Are You Scared?!

False Colors’ debut album, Vanishing Ink, is a blissful dive into what it calls “post-techno,” a combination of synthesized beats and haunting melodies that provide a calm ambiance for all involved. The album runs shorter than the average release, clocking in just over 30 minutes, but it will undoubtedly take you on a journey. False Colors is the type of band that embodies the natural state of tranquility in its music. Consisting of self-producing artists Matt Suitt and Ardis Redford, the Murfreesboro duo offers its take on the “chillwave” genre by blending synthpop beats and atmospheric melodies. “Portrait in Smoke” is a charming, resounding start to the nine-track album, and its dreamy, intimate sound will likely tempt you into playing it a second time. As the album progresses, you’ll notice each song flows exceptionally well into the next, almost creating a story, but without words. The duo shows off its sampling ability on “Behind Yr Face,” and the synth arpeggios on “Operator” and “Split Ender” make them two of the catchiest songs on the release. Other favorites include “Tuff Caldera” and “Noccalula Falls.” With limited lyricism and repetitive beats, it’s surprising how well this album catches (and holds onto) your attention. Far from mundane, the production is crisp, clear and well-thought-out. Overall, this album leaves you in a state of serenity and appreciation for what’s around you. False Colors has found a way to blend synth-pop and “futuristic skating rink music” to produce an album that can be listened to in any environment. Similar to the music, the album’s cover art is as aesthetically appealing as the tracks are euphoric. A blood-orange sun-shape is layered softly between a violet and green background of various textures and shapes. It’ll draw you in, too, no doubt. To listen to Vanishing Ink and more from False Colors, visit falsecolors.bandcamp.com.

RATINGS: AVERAGE

A CLASSIC BELOW AVERAGE

The Great Barrier Reefs are back again with their third full-length instrumental album, Are You Scared?!, and if this Middle Tennessee band has mastered one thing it’s this: how to make smooth jazz with a tropical flair. Of course, they’ve had some time to hone their craft—all five members studied at MTSU and have been playing shows across the Southeast since forming in 2009. Led by frontman Tony Hartman on steel pan, percussion and keyboards, the fivepiece jazz-funk outfit also includes Josh Dunlap on saxophone, guitar by BJ Golden, Taylor Lonardo on bass and Rick Wilkerson on drums. As a group, they infuse each song with funk-informed rhythms and spot-on jazz harmonies, all while incorporating world music elements and Latin vibes. The upbeat island-jazz title track is a strong start to the album, quickly giving the listener a taste of what’s in store. The song takes its time trailing into the next, but the pace is picked up again by the opening notes of “CB Radio.” Things don’t begin slowing down until “Never Heard of Em,” a smoother track that showcases the musical detail of each instrument. The island native steel pan drum featured throughout the album isn’t the only thing that makes this band unique, but it is what give the Reefs their unique vibe. The saxophone also gives the band a little edge, and it never comes off as overbearing. Clear standouts include “Castilla,” “No One Wants to Wait, But Sometimes You Have to Anyway” and the closing cut, “Couch Sleeper,” which shows off some impressive guitar work. Is it safe to say Are You Scared?! is The Great Barrier Reefs’ best work to date? I’d say so. It’s certainly a necessity for jazz lovers or for those who wish to make a tropical melodic escape during the frigid months to come. For more information on the band, visit thegreatbarrierreefs.com.

OUTSTANDING AVOID AT ALL COSTS

DEAD BOROPULSE.COM

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ALBUM REVIEWS

JOHNNY GOWOW AND THE JAPANESE COWBOYS Wide Stance

Jonathan Gower has joined forces with other area musicians under the name Jonny Gowow and the Japanese Cowboys to release the collective’s fulllength debut, Wide Stance. The 15-track compilation features several musical styles all pieced together with clever humor, spirited rhymes and eccentric lyrics. Gower, a Middle Tennessee native, has performed in a number of bands for almost 10 years while studying musical composition at MTSU. If you’ve seen him perform, chances are the playful, candid nature of Wide Stance won’t come as a surprise. The album begins with an intro titled “Pomp and Deliberance,” in which a woman with a heavy Southern twang attempts to introduce Gowow, but is quickly interrupted. It’s humorous at first, and sets the tone for the album (described by the artist as a “deliberately comical social critique with decidedly homoerotic undertones”), but the gruff male voice demanding “Get over here and shut up!” is a little over the top. After a moment of silence, the mood shifts and Gower’s deep vocals soothe on “Dragon Song”: Now we’ve lost those places and familiar faces we used to love / And we’ve sold our feelings for electric stimulation and used rubber gloves Gower maintains a serious tone while incorporating rhymes like the above to provide humor in a lighthearted, witty fashion throughout the release. The style of music jumps around from song to song, none sounding similar enough to pinpoint one specific genre. However, the majority of songs are upbeat, piano-driven tunes like the aforementioned “Dragon Song” and “Sweet Boy,” which both could easily inspire an impromptu dance number. One of the best songs on the album is “And So On,” a pop-ballad featuring a saxophone solo and reminiscent of the style of Ben Folds. The production as a whole is fun, zany and sometimes a little over the edge; to listen to Wide Stance for yourself, visit jonnygowow.bandcamp.com. — DYLAN SKYE AYCOCK

AVERAGE 10 * JANUARY 2015 * BOROPULSE.COM

Bring the Dawn 3.5

RATINGS:

AYE MAMMOTH

A CLASSIC BELOW AVERAGE

For those in need of a dose of hard rock, meet Aye Mammoth. The band, claiming Murfreesboro as home, evokes all of your sludgy rock ’n’ roll favorites. Phil Stem plays drums on the Bring the Dawn album, while all other parts are credited to Micah Loyed, whose droning, chant-like vocals and fuzzy, distorted guitar work, along with the steady, driving beats, give Aye Mammoth’s project a swagger to it throughout. The album opens with a thunderous and assertive, but not too fast, drum beat before a nifty sixteenth-note guitar riff is sprinkled in between the tom-tom hits on “Weary Traveler.” Aye Mammoth probably owes a lot to many wonderful rock bands over the decades: Soundgarden, Helmet, Clutch, Anthrax, White Zombie, Stone Temple Pilots, something like that. While Aye Mammoth keeps it distorted and powerful, the band plays the majority of the music with a certain restraint, creating a personality that’s as groovy and head-bobbing as it is metallic. Guitar harmonies (à la Avenged Sevenfold, perhaps), stand out in “Maritime,” and Loyed gets as dark as Danzig on “Serpents in the Sky.” The pounding, driving pace is mostly unrelenting until track 8, where listeners can get a little air with “Temple of Light,” a genuinely pretty, breezy instrumental change of pace featuring plucking guitars and spacey, psychedelic sounds. On its penultimate track, Bring the Dawn finally lets loose with what feels like the true explosion of the album, as well as some of Loyed’s best guitar solo work, before another instrumental closes the album, punctuated by a sitar-like solo effect. Aye Mammoth doesn’t meander around too much, or waste time getting to the point of a tune; all clock in under three and a half minutes, so rarely does a beat feel too repetitive. So, for a quick dose of rock, listen to Bring the Dawn at ayemammoth. bandcamp.com (and check the site in the future for the release of upcoming new material). Summon the war drums today! — BRACKEN MAYO

OUTSTANDING AVOID AT ALL COSTS

DEAD

BOROPULSE.COM

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SOUNDS

KUNTRY LIVIN’ Bedford County native BIG SMO is “Risin’ Like Biscuits.” BY BRACKEN MAYO

ig Smo’s career as an entertainer is not a new one. He has been creating and performing music since he was a youngster, he says, and has hustled his way through the years to become a popular character among Middle Tennessee independent hip-hop circles. But his rise to the national stage has materialized rather recently, and for that he credits staying true to his roots and never giving up. 2014 was a huge year for Smo (born John Lee Smith); his major-label debut, Kuntry Livin’, went to No. 3 on the U.S. rap charts, as his eponymous television series meanwhile debuted on the A&E network. “It was a bumpy road,” Smo told the Murfreesboro Pulse just before the new year. “When I was around 8 or 9, my parents bought me a keyboard,” Smo said when asked when his love for music and his career as an entertainer began. “My dad had one of the first video cameras, one of the big ones that you put on your shoulder that took VHS.” The youngster, who grew up in Unionville, just south of Murfreesboro, would record himself performing selections by some of his favorites, such as DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Price, Beastie Boys, and The Fat Boys. “I would film myself just jamming out,” Big Smo remembers. “Looking back, I didn’t look that much different from what I am today: camo head to toe, my dad’s dog tags and aviators . . . I keep a clip of it on my phone, and watch it quite often,” he said. Remember where you came from. He credits his father for introducing the outlaw-country taste to his palate: “Waylon Jennings, Jerry Reed, Willie Nelson,” says Smo, adding that later, in his teen years, he “was big into writing short stories and poetry.” Smo said he also got down with classic rock and Hank Jr. on the radio, and then went through a big gangsta rap phase. This infatuation with music all through his teen years culminated in his bedroom with “a 4-track, a Boss drum machine and a pen and a pad.” “Through determination and curiosity, I figured out how to use the drum machine, how to get my vocals recorded, how to lay 12 * JANUARY 2015 * BOROPULSE.COM

four tracks on top of each other,” Smo said. “I started blowing my friend’s minds . . . Me and my homie DJ Orig just saved our money up and started buying equipment. We did it ourselves. We didn’t have people telling us what sells. We were just making it up as we went along. “Hip-hop, outlaw country and classic rock, all in the blender, that’s what Big Smo is,” the MC said. “It was a recipe that couldn’t be written out, it had to be lived.” While the musical exploration and creative freedom helped build Smo into the artist he is today and resulted in a number of independent album releases, the business side of those years wasn’t exactly leading him to a flashy lifestyle of fame and fortune. “Around 2006 I was pouring concrete, doing construction, coming home after working 12 hours and then trying to record,” said Smo, who at that time had kids to support, as well as some discouragement and thoughts of calling it quits with his artistic aspirations. But through conversations with friends emerged the simple philosophy of keeping it real that Big Smo said breathed new life into his rap career. “I just need to talk about my life, not talk about some pretend life,” he said. “The life that I live . . . we’re some country folk.” There’s enough falseness in the music industry, Smo noted. Being able to deliver something genuine is what seems to work (and anyone from small-town Tennessee probably knows some individuals who have

“Hip-hop, outlaw country and classic rock, all in the blender, that’s what Big Smo is. It was a recipe that couldn’t be written out, it had to be lived.” rarely set foot in a city, who have never lived the gangster lifestyle, but who adopt the urban rap image as their own). Smo said his talk of tractors, mud and bonfires, ridin’ back roads, smoking weed, and drinking moonshine and whiskey is what attracted his listeners and, eventually, his label. The rise of early “hick-hop” pioneers, the recordings of whom he would thump on some of those very same back roads, helped him formulate his style. “Big shout out to Bubba Sparxxx,” Smo said of one of his more recent artistic inspirations, who would combine “some super hiphop beats with twangy guitars . . . and Bubba was just smashing flows on it!”

But now it’s Smo who is “risin’ like biscuits,” and his fans, known collectively as his “kinfoke,” dig it. They can look for a new 6-pack EP to drop in the coming months. “Warner Brothers will release that right around the time when the second season of the TV show will come out,” Big Smo said. “All six songs are super-bangers, a whole new level of music for me.” His whole family is getting in on the action now; Smo’s mother has an upcoming cookbook due to be published while his wife, Whitney, is working on her clothing line. And now, in downtown Bell Buckle, Smo fans can set foot in Big Smo’s Kuntry Store, where you can buy cooking products like meat mud, sweet tea sauce and chocolate gravy, Big Smo jewelry, items from his kids’ Lil’ Kinfoke clothing line—anything and everything Smo-related. Big Smo assures his kinfoke that he’s just getting started. And while the extra cash is surely nice, “the ability to touch people’s hearts with music is priceless,” Smo said. “When people listen to the music, when people see the show, I want them to know they watch something that’s real, it’s not just thrown together.” For more information on the artist, visit therealbigsmo.com; for more on his reality show, visit aetv.com/big-smo; to order a jar of Meat Mud, visit bigsmosmeatmud.com.

The Big Smo Experience: The “Boss of the Stix” Tears It up in Murfreesboro BY CHUCK NORWOOD

ell-known Tennessee “hick-hop” artist Big Smo performed to an enthusiastic and packed Main Street Music on Wednesday, Nov. 26. During his time onstage, I was able to see how Smo really “kicked it in Tennessee.” To start the night off, Big Smo’s co producer, Orig the DJ, delivered an opening set to get the crowd hyped up for the man of the night. Orig’s set kept true to the hick-hop genre by mixing his set’s content with popular country, classic rock and hip-hop songs. He started the set off with a song by Florida Georgia Line, then quickly transitioned into a electronically enhanced version of the Steve Miller Band’s “The Joker.” As the set moved along, songs like “Teach Me How to Dougie” by the Cali Swag District and “My Chick Bad” by Ludacris were heard. To conclude the set, Orig played one of his personal remixes of “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey. All in all, this was one of the most interesting DJ sets that I have listened to live, based on the range of music Orig used. Next in the lineup of openers for the night was, surprisingly, Big Smo’s band, minus the “Boss of the Stix” himself. Lead singer Haden Carpenter took the reins for the second opening act, accompanied by Smo’s other band members: Travis Tidwell on guitar, Eric Flores on bass, Ryan Peel on drums and Orig the DJ on tambourine. Carpenter used the time to play a few songs of his own with the support of the rest of the band. He describes himself with the word “Arkansoul,” which translates into what he gains inspiration from: his Arkansas roots and Southern soul. From this inspiration, songs like “Hustlers & Thieves” helped change the atmosphere of the venue to a mildly communal, hometown feeling. One thing that I realized at this point of the concert was that Big Smo believed in his band, even without him. Instead of being the center of attention at all times, Smo allowed both his DJ and his accompanying band to perform separate sets before him, instead of booking alternate openers. This particular aspect of the show not only allowed Orig and the Smo band to get stage time, but revealed that Big Smo did not want to direct all the attention to himself, spreading the exposure to his talented “kinfoke.” After a 10-minute intermission to allow the Smo band members to catch their breath, it was time for the main event, “Hick Ross” himself. To start the set, Big Smo performed some of his various hits, such as “35s on It” and “Country Boy Swag.” During this part of the performance, he brought out Haden Carpenter to accompany him and get the crowd stoked. With the excitement building, Smo performed his hit “Kickin’ It in Tennessee,” which made the crowd go wild. During this song, I took a moment to look around Main Street Music and saw the crowd enlivened with energy and singing along. The atmosphere was riveting. BOROPULSE.COM

* JANUARY 2015 * 13

SOUNDS

INSPIRAY RAYTION

Find Alex Guthrie’s release Lessons Learned at cdbaby.com

Singer/songwriter Alex Guthrie hits Mayday Brewery Jan. 30. STORY BY EMILY WEST

lex Guthrie’s transition to folk singer all started with one moment: the moment he happened to be watching a Travelers Insurance commercial that had a soundtrack of a Ray LaMontagne song. “It was a spiritual awakening,” Guthrie said during a phone interview with the Pulse. “I am actually looking at one of his posters now. His music legit[imately] changed my life. I liked the sound of Americana and folk music, so I studied his albums like religion.” His personal music studies during the past two years have taken the denim-wearing, folksy hipster across the Southeast, and it will soon bring him to Mayday Brewery to perform on Friday, Jan. 30 at 6 p.m. Guthrie, 21, creates music that is a mix of The Head and the Heart, John Mayer and The Wild Feathers. He started songwriting when he was 19, deciding to study the lyrics and beats of musicians he liked before he took a stab at it himself.

14 * JANUARY 2015 * BOROPULSE.COM

“I mapped out song structure,” Guthrie said. “I went and listened to similar artists to LaMontagne. I figured out which patterns I liked the most, and then I would just start rhyming my way into a song.” Currently, the Georgia native is working on a full-length album that doesn’t have a finite deadline. As he’s been touring a lot this year, he’s been doing a lot of songwriting alongside his German shepherd mix, Darwin. But when he’s not stuck in a moving vehicle, he would rather find himself secluded in the mountains. “The majority of songwriting happens when I’m camping,” he said. “There’s one mountain near my old apartment, and I would usually hike and throw my hammock on the top of the mountain and just write. I kind of just like the peace and serenity.”

Most of his music is inspired by his travels and the one-liners he taps into the notes section of his iPhone while driving down the highway. Some of his inspiration evolves around his trips to visit his brother in Costa Rica. And like most musicians, he attributes some of his songs to love simply gone wrong. “A lot of them stem from the cliché breakups that everyone has to write about at some point,” Guthrie said. “But I try to be different. Everywhere I go, I try to listen to life stories, and that’s my preferred method.” Singer/songwriter is also his preferred method for employment. He tried college for a semester; it wasn’t for him. He loved animals, so he worked as reptile breeder, a job offering him the opportunity to rehabilitate injured and ill snakes and other reptiles. But those

skills didn’t showcase his musical talents. “I had the plan of doing it the past year and half,” Guthrie said. “It didn’t become feasible until the past year. The past year I took on a new manager, and he’s done a really good job of keeping me on track. And with this help, we’ve had a better show schedule.” For now, he is finishing his tour schedule, with Murfreesboro as the last stop. He’s applied to dozens of festivals so he can play more in 2015, and enlarge his fan base. He plans to stay around Atlanta, where the market for singer/ songwriters isn’t as saturated as Nashville. “Atlanta is awesome,” he said. “I have been to Nashville a handful of times. . . . Atlanta is easier to get a following. We have a loyal fan base.” Guthrie is living his dream, striving for that ultimate combination of living on royalties and touring. “As long as I can support myself, I’m going to find happiness.” For more information on Alex Guthrie, visit alexguthriemusic.com.

BOROPULSE.COM

* JANUARY 2015 * 15

LIVING

A Trip to

Margueritaville A day in the life of a Murfreesboro panhandler.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY DARCY PAYNE

ith her legs shaking and her hands clutching a cardboard sign that reads Homeless. Anything helps, ahh. Please help, Marguerita is not easy to ignore. Although her wrinkled face and slouching stature draw attention, just about every driver whizzes past the intersection of Memorial and Broad in Murfreesboro in attempt to escape her gaze. It’s 11 a.m. on a 44-degree Friday morning. The 54-year-old Marguerita, whose three teeth and profound wrinkles suggest she is far older, waves politely at each passerby. “Hi! Hi there. Hello,” Marguerita yells happily as cars race past her. She says she suffers from severe anxiety attacks and multiple disabilities that keep her from working. Marguerita receives $750 a month from the government on a debit card because she is on disability. The money, she explains, goes towards occasional motel stays and meals other than what The Journey Home offers. The Journey Home offers food, some housing and showers to the homeless. Marguerita and her boyfriend, Donny, spend roughly four hours panhandling on this Friday, standing on the curb of Murfreesboro’s busiest intersection. Typically, they average $20 in cash each “fly” (that’s what they call begging). “One time, a lady gave me a $10 bill and a blanket,” recalls Marguerita. “Oh, it just tickled me pink! I love that blanket. That’s my blanket.” The simplest things please Marguerita. She remembers the time a woman once gave her $100. She and Donny spent the money on a motel room and food for the night. The woman is a “regular” who once gave Donny $100. They say that 9 out of 10 times an African American or Hispanic citizen gives them money, and only rarely does a Caucasian contribute. Panhandlers in the city of Murfreesboro have three rules to follow: Don’t make a mess, don’t step off the curb and don’t stop traffic. Marguerita has received two tickets for soliciting on Church Street. She says she happened to be walking across the street with her sign both times when she received the citations. 16 * JANUARY 2015 * BOROPULSE.COM

In order to pass the time, Marguerita occasionally counts the people who are ashamed to be near her. She even wrote a poem called “Please Don’t Look Past Me.” She loves to write poems and “make art” in her spare time. She mentioned wanting to sell bead necklaces someday that would hang on rear-view mirrors in exchange for donations. “My goal is to make money off my art wood burnings,” Marguerita explains. “I don’t have nothing to work with no more, [though].” Marguerita dropped out of York High School during her senior year. She says English was too difficult for her to continue learning. She tried to go back to school to earn her GED, but English prevented her from completing that as well. Homeless people like Marguerita rarely have a chance to tell their story. And, in Marguerita’s case, it isn’t easy to tell. Marguerita is a lovely, unique name given to her by her mother. “My mama watched a movie with a belly dancer in it when she was pregnant with me,” Marguerita recalls. “I’d kick and dance in her belly to that movie. Now I dance all the time!” Marguerita was forced to move from Northeast Tennessee. The Northeast, she says, isn’t as accepting of homeless people as the South. Her family and friends refused to take her in or give her help, so she had to brave the elements on her own. She has been homeless for eight years and Donny has been homeless for six. “I gots no family,” she says. “My mama died in . . . what year is it now? 2014? OK, she died in January of 2010. I always got her birthday wrong. I even got it wrong on my tattoo here . . .” Marguerita pulls up her sleeve to show a tattoo of “October 2010” on her left arm. She shakes her head. “When I got this [tattoo], I said, ‘See, I did it again, Mama.’ I bet she’s laughing at me now.” When asked about the rest of her family, Marguerita breaks down crying and runs away from the corner where she is “flying.” Donny explains that her sister was murdered by a gunshot, but that’s all he knows.

Now Marguerita has a new family that she calls her own. At The Journey Home in downtown Murfreesboro, there are plenty of friends for her to connect with. She calls her Journey Home family the “Homeless Gang Family Circle.” “They call me ‘Mama’ down there at the Journey Home,” Marguerita announces proudly as she lights up a smoke. “I have lots of [unofficially] adopted kids now. We’re a family. If you mess with the family, I will burn your tent down. We gots proof of dat, don’t we, Donny?” Donny laughs and gives her a kiss. People driving by the couple crane their necks like owls to see their public display of affection. “It’s like people ain’t ever seen homeless people in love before,” Donny says. “Like, ‘What is that? What is that?’” An elderly, snooty-looking woman stares at Donny and Marguerita disgustedly as the intersection light turns red and she comes to a stop. Marguerita waves. “People stare at me,” she says. “I just wave and say ‘Hi!’” Marguerita and Donny start making their way to Walgreens to get her medication for anxiety. They made $20 together today. Marguerita spent some of it on her medication and Mountain Dew.

Marguerita drank three medium-sized cans of Mountain Dew in a six-hour time period. She loves Mountain Dew, and even wrote a song about it. “Dew Dew Dew Dew Dewwww,” Marguerita sings as she walks to the bus stop. Of course, most medication and soft drinks don’t cost $20. Marguerita says she will give the rest to her pregnant “daughter” whom she met at The Journey Home. At the bus stop, a young African American girl comes running towards Marguerita. The toddler hugged Marguerita’s legs while looking up at her with a huge smile. The exasperated mother pulls the little girl away from Marguerita. “Hey!” squeals the mother. “You do not run away from me like that, Anastasia! What are you doing?” Marguerita is awestruck. “Did you see that, Donny?” asks Marg. “She just ran to me! To me. Why did she choose me, ya think?” A woman pushing a large cart of groceries overhears Marguerita’s question and responds before Donny has a chance. “Because you’re special,” the woman says. Marguerita lights up with a smile, then trots onto a bus labeled “Mercury.”

“Didja hear dat?” asks Marguerita. “I’m special.” On the Rover bus to the Mercury Walgreens, Marguerita sits in the third row with Donny. “I love your hair!” Marguerita says excitedly to the man sitting behind her. She makes such an impression on the man behind her with the nice hair that he offers Marguerita and Donny a shower, clothes and a place to stay. His name is Champ. “I don’t have a lot of amenities, but you are more than welcome to come to my house,” Champ says. Marguerita is shocked, and her eyes light up. “That’s OK! I don’t even know what ‘amenities’ mean! Let’s go!” she hollers, as she hops off the bus and onto the street. “Stuff, it means stuff,” Champ says, as he gets off the bus to follow her. Donny and Champ laugh as they make their way with Marguerita to the house on First Avenue, which is about a mile away. The small, cluttered, one-bedroom house is gray. Everything inside is also very gray. “Sorry, I wasn’t really expecting guests,” Champ says. “That’s OK, man! It’s your house,” Donny says politely. Marguerita looks dumbstruck to see a house with . . . stuff. She is overwhelmed. She starts poking at the stained glass on his door and skipping around to check out the rest of the place. Both Marguerita and Donny head to the bathroom to get the long-awaited shower. Marguerita chooses not to shower in The Journey Home because she has severe anxiety around large amounts of people. So she sincerely appreciates this kind offer from Champ. “Oh, wow! Look at the bubbles, Donny!” Marguerita giggles from inside the bathroom. After stepping out in fresh clothes, Marguerita and Donny explain that they both need new socks. They’ve been wearing the same dirty socks for three weeks straight.

Champ gives them both some socks and hands Marguerita a new leather coat. “I can put my lucky rock in this coat! Wow!” Marguerita laughs as she puts on the coat on and rifles through the pockets. Every time Marguerita gets a new gift, she says “Wow,” then “Thanks,” and skips off to show the others around her. No matter what the gift, she is always thankful. Later, with a friendly goodbye, Marguerita and Donny hop into a van with Marguerita’s “sister.” They then ride off to the camp in which they live. Marguerita’s home is a place called “Margueritaville.” This camp is identical to the camp in the documentary Tent City. There are eight homeless people living in this camp in the woods. They all care for each other and have fun together. Nights in Margueritaville consist of campfire songs, soda and snacks. And, yes, that includes Jimmy Buffett’s famous song “Margaritaville.” The group of homeless people chimes in with tunes as others play guitar. They have permission from the city to live in this location, but they have to keep the location clean and private. If other homeless people find this camp, it could be ransacked. The camp consists of an enclosed room with a bonfire, a handmade shed (which is someone’s home), eight tents (one inside the shed), a storage structure and a shrine of a cross. As soon as a visitor walks in, a man they like to call “Preacher Man” (legal name Sean) greets the newcomer with an abrupt greeting. He is the ringleader of this homeless community. “Hi there,” says Sean brusquely. “Welcome to my camp.” Marguerita shuffles over to a log in the enclosed bonfire room. She starts to sway to the music while smiling. Although she lives in camp Margueritaville, Marguerita doesn’t drink much. She does admit to being a “Dew-a-holic,” however. “I don’t need no drinks or drugs,” she says. “I’m high off life, baby!”

“I don’t need no drinks or drugs. I’m high off life, baby!” BOROPULSE.COM

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FARMERS’ MARKET EDUCATION SERIES by EDWINA SHANNON

Time to Prune THE COLDEST PART of the winter is the perfect time to trim and prune bushes, woody ornamentals and trees. Of course, if you remove branches of spring flowering plants, you will greatly reduce or eliminate any blooms this year. So you may want to constrain your trimming zeal to the plants that bloom after July 1st. When the spring flowering plants have finished their show this spring, then prune them. Pruning is good for health and appearance. It should be part of the annual inspection of your trees and bushes.

Reasons to Prune:

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Prune to maintain plant health. Remove dead, damaged or diseased plant tissue to maintain plant health and vigor. Prune to remove misshapen, crowded and rubbing branches and branches with narrow crotch angles. These pruning cuts eliminate problems before plant damage occurs.

(From Best Management Practices for Pruning Landscape Trees, Shrubs and Ground Covers, a great resource on the topic published by The UT Extension Service) Pruning is not tree topping. This local practice of reducing a tree to a trunk with only stubbed limbs remaining is horrifying, a misconstrued effort and totally wrong. Instead, selectively and intelligently remove dead limbs and limbs that cross over each other, keeping the one with the best growth pattern. If you don’t know what the plant should ideally look like, use your resources! The local UT Extension office does offer a class or two in the winter on pruning. The class often includes a walk out to the orchard and vineyard for direct application of the lesson.

Free Gardening Class:

There is also a free class on backyard fruit production scheduled in the Livestock Building for Feb. 3 and Feb. 10 at 6 p.m. If you are interested in either of these, please contact the Extension office at (615) 898-7710.

Prune to increase ﬂowering and fruiting. More flower buds will be formed for the following season if old flowers are removed when they lose their attractiveness, a practice called dead-heading.

4 5

Prune to train plants to a particular size or shape, including hedge and espalier forms. Prune to rejuvenate old, overgrown shrubs and restore plant density, shape and vigor. Large-habit plants in the wrong place, like hollies, privet and photinia planted in front of windows, should be replaced. 18 * JANUARY 2015 * BOROPULSE.COM

An example of how not to prune.

LIVING

AT PEACE in Heavy Traffic story by BRACKEN MAYO | photos by SCOTT WALKER

Trafﬁc Ofﬁcer Claudia Russell is in the zone at MTCS entrance.

nyone who has driven down Memorial Boulevard while parents have been dropping off or picking up their kids at Middle Tennessee Christian School over the past two decades has encountered Claudia Russell. Ms. Russell has served as the traffic officer there since 1993, and she conveys a sense of ultimate relaxation and peace as her fluid, almost yoga-like motions guide the masses of automobiles through that busy section of road every morning and afternoon when school is in session. “It is a relaxing time,” Russell said. “I’m blessed to be here. “I just pretend I am a red light, and count the seconds,” she continues. “I try and hold Memorial no longer than a minute, a minute and a half at the most, then I let about 30 cars out of the school.” During her time directing traffic a song in her heart helps pass the time and keep her mood positive. “I sing a lot of hymns while I am out there,” said Russell, who has also developed an affinity for contemporary Christian music. “I love Matthew West and Big Daddy Weave.” Russell originally got hired as a substitute, but after 3 months on the job, she gained a regular gig at the MTCS intersection, where she still works 21 years later.

“A lot of people have said they have watched my hair turn from blonde to white,” Russell said with a smile. She said “the elements are critical, but I am only out here for 30 minutes at a time.” Russell’s other job is for Caris Healthcare, a local hospice company, but when she started that job, she insisted that the hours there accommodate her traffic control duties as well; the company had no issue with working around her crossing guard schedule. While most automobiles pass through the MTCS intersection slowly and cautiously, the traffic officer has seen some fender benders and wild road behavior over the years. “One day, it looked like a tractor trailer was about to run right over a car . . . this gentleman in a Town Car pulled right out in front of him and was being scooted by the tractor trailer,” said Russell. Watching Russell, it is clear she does not seem to be worried about much. Motorists can tell she is in the zone, calmly signaling the cars to pass one after the other, smooth hand motion after smooth hand motion, day after day, year after year. And remember, the next time you are going through a school zone, slow down; also remember that a repetitive task done with the right attitude, even if you have done it for decades, can still be peaceful and relaxing if you allow it to be.

“I sing a lot of hymns while I am out there.”

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LIVING Onscreen, Indoors Bell Media is changing the landscape of local advertising. BY BRACKEN MAYO AS THE WORLD RAPIDLY UNDERGOES CHANGES brought on by new technology, the advertising industry is following suit. With the price of electronics, particularly flat-screen TVs, on the decline, and the increasing ease of programming information for display on devices, one company is trying a relatively new advertising program in Murfreesboro. Bell Media rents a small space on a restaurant’s wall to host a screen. They mount the TV on the wall, and then place ads for other businesses on the screens. The ads alternate every 15 seconds in a 6-minute loop. The host restaurant gets an ad on the screen as well. “The only two things we won’t advertise are other restaurants, and anything that wouldn’t be considered family friendly,” said Greg Woermann, sales manager with Bell Indoor. Find the screens in dining areas at Nobody’s, Chef Wang’s, JoZoara, Gyro Tabouli—Bell now has 25 screens in Murfreesboro, and over 70 throughout Middle Tennessee. “We love local,” Woermann said. “The advertiser gets to pick the screens they want, based on their needs for location and customer demographic.” He said the company tries to strike agreements with restaurants that average at least 200 to 300 visitors a day. “The average time a person sits at our locations is 40 to 60 minutes,” the sales manager said. “An ad can be seen as many as 10 times per patron, which is 3,000 potential views each day for each location.” Bell Indoor advertisers presently include car dealers, doctors, attorneys, chiropractors, aviation services and a wide variety of industries. Woermann said he caps Ads on the Bell Media advertisers at 20 per screen, screens receive thousands so that way each ad is shown of views every day approximately every 6 minutes. Some similar companies, Woermann said, “may have hundreds on there, so you may wait several hours to see your ad.” Other companies may use DVD players to show the screen’s advertisements. Not Bell. “All of our screens have a PC attached to them, so if you want to change an ad, or change locations, we can do that instantaneously,” Woermann said. Bell has partnered with Channel 4 to provide scrolling headlines along the bottom of the Nashville screens; on those in the Murfreesboro market, viewers can find headlines from the Murfreesboro Pulse scrolling across the screen. Bell Media began in 2007 when Scott Bell purchased a digital billboard in Montgomery, Ala. In 2010 the company began its indoor, flat-screen program, and has since expanded to Birmingham, Middle Tennessee, Huntsville and Columbus, Ga. Woermann said the company enjoys working with non-profit organizations, and has donated advertising to Murfreesboro’s Operation Adopt A Hero, for example. “Some of our screens are being close to sold out, but there are many spots available on others,” Woermann noted. For more information, contact Greg Woermann at (615) 696-6998 or greg@bellindoor.com. 22 * JANUARY 2015 * BOROPULSE.COM

ART

Russell White to Curate ‘Disposable Culture’ Exhibit at Center for the Arts The gallery at the Murfreesboro Center for the Arts hosts a mixed-media exhibit this month entitled Disposable Culture. Local artist Russell White, who has curated the event, says it showcases art in many forms: kinetic imagery, interactive sonic sculpture, video game/virtual atmosphere, projection mapping, painting and more. Disposable Culture opens Jan. 9 and will be on display through Feb. 16, with an artist reception slated for Jan. 26. Admission to view exhibits in the gallery is free, and the Center is open Tuesdays–Fridays from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. (as well as before and after theatrical performances). The Center for the Arts is located at 110 W. College St.

BOROPULSE.COM

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FOOD

II Good

STORY AND PHOTOS BY CHRISTY SIMMONS

ast month, I reviewed Goodness Gracious at The Mill. This month, I decided to review the restaurant that moved into the old house on College Street that Goodness Gracious used to occupy, purely for continuity’s sake. Well, that and the fact that Back to Cuba was once again closed on a weird day, but I digress. The restaurant that now resides in that beautiful old house is Milano II Italian Restaurant. I don’t think that they have two locations; rather, I think they decided to call it II because this is the second location that this restaurant has had. (The first was located on what is now known as Robert Rose Drive.) What I do know for certain is this: the cost is reasonable and you get very tasty food. I am not saying that this is the best Italian food in Murfreesboro, but it is quite good and the prices are excellent. There wasn’t an entrée on the lunch menu that was over $10, including the Filet Medallions, which I want to try the next time I go. When I go to a new Italian restaurant, I have several benchmarks that I use to gauge food quality: their bread, Caesar salad, marinara and meatballs. All simple things, but I figure if they can’t get the simple things correct, they are not going to do too well with the more complex dishes. Milano II doesn’t offer meatballs on their menu, so that was out. We decided to get their calamari appetizer to share, and I got the Chicken Marsala with a Caesar salad as my meal. My lunch companions chose the Milano’s Favorite pasta and Chicken Parmesan as their entrées. For those of you who are limiting carbs as a part of your New Year’s resolutions, take heart: all of Milano’s entrées, with the exceptions of the pasta dishes, of course, come with your choice of roasted red-skinned potatoes or roasted vegetables, a blend of broccoli, zucchini, squash and carrots. Also, the Chicken Parmesan is not breaded, as it is at most Italian places. The calamari was hot when it came to our table, and it was good; very tender and not bouncy, but the way it was breaded made it look like it was a frozen product. For the price, I wasn’t complaining. The marinara sauce that came with the calamari was flavorful, but very

THE DISH

Milano II now serving Italian and Mediterranean food on College Street.

NAME: Milano II LOCATION: 114 E. College St. PHONE: (615) 624-7390 HOURS: Mon.–Thu.: 11 a.m.– 9 p.m.; Fri.–Sat.: 11 a.m.– 10 p.m.; Sun.: 11 a.m.–3 p.m. PRICE: Favorite Pasta (lunch): $7.99; Chicken Marsala (lunch): $7.99; Beef Kabob: $13.99; Grilled Salmon: $16.99 ONLINE: milanomurfreesboro .com

thin, almost like a puree. The Caesar salad was nothing special. It was edible and didn’t taste bad, but it was obvious that they used bottled dressing and bagged croutons. It wouldn’t be hard to make croutons with leftover bread or to make their dressing from scratch, and it would make all the difference in the taste. The Chicken Marsala, though, was surprisingly delicious. The chicken was so tender that I used my fork to cut it. The marsala sauce that came with it was creamy and flavorful and had loads of mushrooms in it; I am a huge fan of mushrooms, so this was a plus for me. I got the potatoes as my side dish and even though they were barely lukewarm when they got to me, the flavor was great. I had a bite of the Milano’s Favorite pasta, which had chicken and smoked sausage with red onions in a creamy Cajun alfredo sauce, and it was very good as well. The sauce had a slight smokiness to it that I loved. The only complaint that was spoken about this dish was

Chicken Parmesan with roasted veggies (clockwise) Milano's Favorite Pasta, Chicken Marsala, Ceasar Salad

that there wasn’t enough meat in it. But, considering the fact that the diner who ordered it cleaned his plate almost to the point of licking it, I’d say he was happy with his choice. The restaurant offers more than the Italian standards, too. Take a tour around the entire Mediterranean with offerings like baba ghanoush, hummus and kabobs. Those with children know that there are only three options for them: chicken fingers, pizza and pasta. The child with us opted for the chicken fingers, which are grilled, not breaded.

They also don’t have fries; the dish comes with either the roasted red-skinned potatoes or the vegetables, same as the other entrées, so if you have picky kids, maybe steer them towards the pasta or pizza. There’s also no coloring pages or any other activities for the children, so if your child requires entertainment for you to eat in peace, be sure to bring your own. Overall, this was a good experience and I will return to Milano II in the future. Share your comments online about your Milano II experience at BoroPulse.com. BOROPULSE.COM

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LIVING ROOM CINEMA

REVIEWS

column by NORBERT THIEMANN

facebook.com/livingroomcinema

THE INTERVIEW 4

Starring: James Franco, Seth Rogen, Randall Park Directed by: Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen Rated R So, what’s actually in The Interview that led a group called “Guardians of Peace” to threaten 9/11-style attacks (think about that for a second) on any theater that showed the movie, causing Sony to delay its release? What’s so offensive about a Seth Rogen and James Franco comedy that it resulted in Sony getting hacked and having its internal documents released, allegedly by North Koreans? Well, it wasn’t the dick jokes— with which the film is rife. Cowritten and co-directed by Rogen and frequent collaborator Evan Goldberg, The Interview is a vulgar, raunchy, and often hilarious comedy (not satire, it’s too sincere for that) that is exactly what anyone would or could expect from the guys behind the Devil’s dong in This Is the End or God’s vagina weed in Pineapple Express. There’s a bit of Spies Like Us in the film as entertainment news anchor-goof Dave Skylark (Franco) and his credibilityseeking producer and all-around BFF Aaron Rapaport (Rogen) land the interview of a lifetime

MOVIE

with the Supreme Leader himself and are tapped by the CIA to “take him out.” The two bumbling would-be assassins fumble their way through the world of high espionage at Kim Jong-un’s compound, where he and Skylark bond over basketball and mar-

garitas and Rapaport explores his good rapport with one of Kim’s female officials. Veep’s Randall Park plays Kim Jong-un as a spoiled rich kid, both insecure and prone to devastating tantrums, who is reluctantly thrust into adulthood

and power. It’s a surprisingly humanizing take on Kim, which could be seen as the real danger to a dictator who acts so desperately to control his own image. But the heart of the film is the effortless, joyful, filthy riffing between the film’s leads. Rogen and Franco remain lighthearted and charming even as they discuss the limited places one can quickly hide a large, poisoncontaining capsule. I’ve tried to see it from the other perspective: if North Korea made a comedy about assassinating any of the Western world’s leaders, would I be insulted or would I laugh? I find it hard to truly comprehend, but all the reactionary hullabaloo surrounding this funny little comedy seems silly in itself. Imagine if Britain had reacted this way to the depiction of, and plot to kill, the Queen in The Naked Gun, or if Saddam Hussein had held a grudge against Hot Shots! Part Deux. All that can be said is: This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and locations portrayed and the names herein are fictitious, and any similarity to or identification with the location, name, character or history of any person, product or entity is entirely coincidental and unintentional and, if you enjoy juvenile dick jokes, hysterical. — JAY SPIGHT

Dirty Money

he phrase “dirty money” is deﬁned in the Urban Dictionary as “proﬁt from the sale of narcotics, prostitution, guns or other illegal activities. Money that needs to be laundered.” Over the years this topic has been epitomized by one righteous fella.

Goodfellas (1990) is masterfully directed by Martin Scorsese. Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci and Robert DeNiro all grace the screen, along with many others. Like The Godfather saga from Coppola, it raises the bar for mob movies. In fact, if there is one pivotal ﬁlm in our modern history, it is certainly, Goodfellas. The greatness of this ﬁlm cannot be overstated.

Casino (1995) is directed by Martin Scorsese, and stars Robert DeNiro, Joe Pesci and Sharon Stone. A bookmaker for the mob is sent to Las Vegas to oversee a top casino. Lots of great details are shared along the way, in addition to the crude illustrations of greed and baser instincts.

JANUARY RELEASES Playing this month:

JAN. 9: PREDESTINATION

JAN. 9: TAKEN 3

RATINGS:

A CLASSIC

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JAN. 16: BLACKHAT

JAN. 16: PADDINGTON

OUTSTANDING

JAN. 16: VICE

AVERAGE

BELOW AVERAGE

The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) is directed by Martin Scorsese, who cast Leonardo DiCaprio for the lead. A hungry young stock trader ﬁnds a niche in the market, and exploits its potential with some very creative tactics. This latest installment showcasing dirty money does not disappoint. AVOID AT ALL COSTS

DEAD

World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor 5

REVIEW BY ROBBIE BARNES

have been playing Warlords of Draenor now for almost two months, and I can’t stop. I love the Warcraft universe, I have been playing since Warcraft: Orcs and Humans (a very long time!). Sadly, I began losing interest in the universe somewhere near the end of Wrath of the Lich King. Cataclysm didn’t appeal to me, neither did Mists of Pandaria, but seeing the trailer for Warlords of Draenor made something in me reignite. I started playing WoW again about a month prior to its release, and got a couple of characters to 90 to prepare for WoD. Pandaria was more fun than I had thought it would be, the scenery was very pretty but none of it felt like it was in the Warcraft universe, aside from the Garrosh storyline. Warlords of Draenor, however, makes me feel nostalgic. Everything feels exactly like a Warcraft game should. The scenery, the storyline, the characters—it all feels so natural. I even heard an orc yell out “My life for Ner’zhul!” It’s been a decade since I’ve heard that. Needless to say, I’ve been hooked. There are so many things that Warlords of Draenor has going for it; everything feels so fresh, the quests, the zones, the storyline. I even got that same sense of wonder I had when I first started playing World of Warcraft back in vanilla as I strolled past the corpse of a colossus in Frostfire Ridge. I haven’t been able to keep interested in MMOs as much as I used to, but this has gotten me to stick around for more than my usual few weeks. Warlords takes place on an alternate timeline, so a lot of the older characters that are dead (mostly orc characters) have returned. The biggest return is Grom Hellscream, a personal hero of mine from Warcraft 3. In this timeline he doesn’t drink Mannoroth’s blood, but does decide to lead the orcs on a huge conquest anyway! Yeah, he’s the big bad in this expansion, which kind of bums me out but also excites me. I hit 100 a few days after the expansion launched. I didn’t rush it (though I did play a lot), but the experience point gain is pretty substantial, so it doesn’t take too long to get to level 100. The quests are very enjoyable and the zones are very well done and fun to explore. This expansion doesn’t feature flying mounts in the pre-Outlands Outlands (Draenor), so you will be doing a lot of on-foot travel. They give you plenty to look at and experience during this, so it makes the game feel much more alive and larger this way. Bonus objectives, rare mobs and hidden treasure litter the maps to give you a break from the normal quest-log grind, but still let you get gear and experience. Nagrand is an absolutely gorgeous zone; it was one of my favorites in Burning Crusade and it’s one of my favorites

G AME in Warlords. I’m glad Blizzard finally added some incentive to explore besides a couple of achievements and one title, they did this namely with the hidden treasures. There are probably 50 or more in each zone and some are hidden quite well. They drop pets, gear, money, resources and toys. So now if you see a mountain and decide to try to find a way to climb it, chances are you won’t be greeted with nothing but instead something shiny! The biggest addition to the game with this expansion (besides, you know, an entire new continent) is the garrison system. It lets you run and customize your own fortress and build outposts to help further your goals. The outposts don’t seem to do too much other than give you a couple extra perks when you’re in different zones but the garrison itself is pretty fantastic. You can gather NPCs (non-playable characters) as followers to send on missions to bring back resources, money, experience points, or even gear at later levels! They level up as they do missions, and once they reach max level you can start gearing them to send them on harder missions with much larger rewards. I am completely addicted to the followers’ mis-

sions. They take anywhere from 30 minutes to a week to complete, so sometimes it involves a lot of waiting, but setting up your strategy for efficiently completing as many missions as possible is quite fun. Most of your daily quests will start from here, as well. The garrison has three different sizes, which you upgrade as you progress through the story in Draenor. At the third level you can have a total of seven buildings of your own choosing in your garrison. You also receive four “free” buildings which are automatically added into your garrison: a mine, an herb garden, a pet menagerie and a fishing shack. With the mine and herb garden you can mine and collect herbs without having those professions (poor miners, I really think this is going to kill their money-making ability. The price of ore has dropped significantly.) The pet menagerie is for pet battlers, and the fishing shack is for blacksmithing . . . wait, no, it’s for fishing, sorry. For your seven other slots you get to pick a variety of other buildings to put up that have different effects, or give you different abilities. If you build a profession building for a profes-

sion you don’t have, you will be able to craft some items from that profession through an NPC (Neat!). If you build one for a profession you do have, you will receive several benefits from it: namely, the ability to make work orders for NPCs to create the item you can only make once a day. As a blacksmith I can only make one truesteel ingot a day, but with the blacksmithing building I can create one every four hours. It’s pretty handy! As for PvE, the dungeons are well thought out and fun to run through. Heroics aren’t as much of a challenge as they used to be, but I’ve enjoyed the ones I have run through. I have yet to run the only raid that is currently available (which is Highmaul) but it is now open in LFR (looking for raid), I believe only the first two wings are available for LFR, but the entire thing is open for those that run it on normal. Battleground and Arena PvP haven’t changed terribly much, except for the typical shift of power and buff/nerfs across the board. The new level-100 talents add some new toys to your arsenal, my favorite of which is Necrotic Plague on Death Knight (if you thought the diseases were bad before). The only big change I’ve noticed, as far as class balance goes, is that Warlocks seem to be much weaker in PvP than they used to be. Death Knights (any spec) and Retribution Paladins are still powerhouses, and for those of you that PvP’ed during Mists of Pandaria after 6.0.2, healers are finally able to be killed again. The biggest addition to PvP this expansion is the persistent PvP zone in Ashran. Ashran is home to your “capital city” in Draenor and just outside the gates is a large structured PvP zone—think Wintergrasp with less tanks. The main objective is to trash your enemies’ base, and there are plenty of side missions along the way to help you accomplish this. Ashran is quite a lot of fun, but can quickly become a stalemate where it’s just a huge throwdown at the middle for hours at a time, which is entertaining but it’s nice to win every once in a while! NPC’s and other players in Ashran drop artifact fragments that can be used to summon powerful NPC’s to help you destroy your enemy. Beware, if you die, you drop all that you are carrying! Boatloads of honor, some conquest and lots of blood can be found here! Warlords of Draenor was plagued with problems for the first few days, mainly large queues and constantly being disconnected and kicked back into queue. All that has since been leveled out, and it really is a fantastic expansion. I haven’t been this excited to play World of Warcraft since Burning Crusade came out. If you’re on the fence about picking up Warlords of Draenor, I highly recommend it. You also get a free boost to level 90 for a character, so you can jump right into the new content. Visit Facebook.com/PulseVideoGames for exclusive gaming discussion with our Video Game Writers/Editors. Ask questions or share your own gaming experiences. BOROPULSE.COM

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REVIEWS WRITERS IN THE ’BORO

BY SARAH H. CLARK

Just for You!: Honor the Z Force for H.I.M. by Dr. Jay Zajas JUST FOR YOU! IS A GUIDE TO FINDING HEALTH, INTIMACY AND MEANING, OR “H.I.M.” It was published by The American Wellness Academy and “is aimed at parents, doctors, coaches and therapists who seek to find a viable lifestyle model for psychological and spiritual health.” The book begins with a series of five warnings: “there are no guarantees in life,” “no one else can perform your mission,” “obey the call of God in your life,” “begin with the end in mind” and “no one is perfect: forgive and renew.” Then, in nine chapters, Zajas, or Dr. Z+, as he is known, lays out “the Z force” and how it contributes to a joint view of psychological and spiritual well-being. Dr. Z+ recommends that individuals take an active role in their own health and in the lifestyle choices that they make. He emphasizes a connection between “the inner self” and “the external world,” as well as the common human need to find meaning in the world. Dr. Z+’s central claim is that psychotherapy post-Freud has heretofore ignored the realm of “spiritual health.” The study of “logotherapy,” “existential psychology” or “spiritual and psychological health (SPH)”—these terms are used interchangeably—has, we are told, consumed five years of research for Zajas, who spoke to a great number of experts on the subject (though how so many experts exist in such an understudied discipline is left unclear). Many of his claims are fairly straightforward Christian doctrine, while others are overly simplistic: one of the seven pillars of SPH is that, “As doctors . . . our raison detre [sic] . . . in life is to help make the world a better, nicer place one patient at a time.” Furthermore, the book is rather poorly organized, with thoughts and paragraphs succeeding one another with little connection or transition. For example, in defending his “open-ended, research perspective” in writing the book, Zajas claims to have incorporated “findings and concepts from philosophy, literature, theology, management theory, ethics, medical psychotherapy, organizational psychology and the behavioral sciences.” He then states in a long paragraph that the question of the meaning of suffering is a complex one, cites numerous authors who have written on the subject, and concludes that since this is a complicated question, “the author maintained an open-ended, research perspective throughout the writing of this book.” The connection between the argument and the conclusion, as well as any description of what this “open-ended, research perspective” actually consists of, is left unstated. The book itself is somewhat oddly styled, with most of the text printed in a very difficult to read all-caps font with heavy use of bold and italic text. It is, moreover, sprinkled with both original and quoted poetry, which seems an odd choice for such a heavily researched book, which makes such claims of scientific seriousness. In conclusion, though much of what Dr. Z+ writes may be both reasonable and helpful, readers may wish to proceed with caution before accepting the author’s claims. The author’s credentials are listed in the front matter for interested readers.

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Circus of the Mind by Vincent Van Winkle PUBLISHED BY ROSEDOG BOOKS, Circus of the Mind is a new take on the classic horror trope of the killer clown. It’s a quick read at just over 70 pages and features nearly two dozen original illustrations by the author. Take warning, however: this book is not for the faint of heart. It tells the tale of the orphaned Obadiah, who is taken in by a reverend who owns a plot of land near the town of Willows Brook. The land is given over to a permanent carnival, and young Obadiah befriends the outcasts who work there—particularly Meena, a young girl from Latvia whose mother and grandmother are fortune tellers. But when Obadiah and Meena are attacked and Obadiah’s adopted father is killed, Obadiah begins to transform into his alter ego, the terrifying clown called Oatmeal who is consumed with thoughts of revenge. Obadiah’s younger brother may be the only one who can stop Oatmeal and rescue Obadiah from his dark fate. Circus of the Mind contains graphic scenes and is not an appropriate book for children. It is also, perhaps, not for the grammar geek, as this edition features numerous misspellings and typographical errors. The plot is mostly solid, if a bit rushed in places. Overall, Circus is a solid amateur effort from a creative writer and talented illustrator. Though the plot may contain a few holes, it is the illustrations that really bring the horror movie feel, which can be difﬁcult to summon from the written page, to life. Rather than simple depictions of plot points, most of Van Winkle’s intricate blackand-white illustrations feature montages of characters and places from his story. One image shows Meena, her mother and her grandmother with lines of power surrounding them. Another shows Oatmeal’s doleful gaze over a surreal collection of fairground sights: the skeleton of conjoined twins, a crystal ball, a painted carousel horse. Meena stands next to him, but closer to the viewer, her gaze abstracted and her hand raised as if to strike. The images are eerie yet beautiful, helping the reader to picture the events and characters of Circus of the Mind without forcing a particular vision of each scene, thus allowing the imagination to run free.

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SPORTS

FASTEST FRESHMAN IN THE COUNTRY TAYLOR CUNEO represented Central Magnet in National 5k meet.

aylor Cuneo, a freshman at Murfreesboro’s Central Magnet School, competed in the 5k at the Nike Cross Nationals, held Dec. 6 in Portland, Ore., and placed eighth overall among high school girls. The race included high schoolers from all over the country, and Cuneo’s time of 17:41 actually made her the fastest freshman on the course. Earlier in 2014, Cuneo claimed the Tennessee A/AA Individual State Champion title, and she still has the majority of her high school career ahead of her. She was also the Tennessee Middle School State Champion in 2012 and 2013. “I am so grateful for such a great start to my high school running career,” Cuneo said. “I couldn’t have asked for a better way to represent God while doing something I love. I am very thankful for all the support I get from my family, friends, CMS and all my supporters in Middle Tennessee,” she said. “As a freshman, I am really just trying to focus on making the next four years successful so that I may have the opportunity, later on, to attend a really great college.” Her parents, Stephen and Lori Cuneo, little sister Sydney and CMS cross country coach Allen Nichols are already proud of Taylor’s running career and surely excited to see what she can do in the future. Cuneo also volunteers with her church youth group as well as the local running community and youth soccer program. She cites runner Jordan Hasay as her favorite athlete, and recommends chilled watermelon after a hard race. Follow the young runner on Instagram @ taylor.cuneo. — BRACKEN MAYO

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SPORTS The Titans Close an Embarrassing Season On the bright side: they’ll take the No. 2 pick in this year’s draft.

SPORTS TALK

at some games the ass-tohe Train Daddy is back seat ratio sometimes has with the pain, daddy, column by Z-TRAIN me wondering where these as always! With the holititanman1984@ tickets end up going. days behind us and New yahoo.com The Titans will be reYear’s upon us, there is only warded with the No. 2 overall one certainty: my knowledge pick in this year’s draft after such an awful of the sports universe is growing stronger season, practically guaranteeing a solid every year. Let me tell you a true story about playmaker. Tampa Bay holds the top pick why this is so. Long ago my 5X great-grandin the draft. Obviously both teams need a father, named Big Train, was young, and he signal caller, among one of many needs. If it was a very intelligent young man. He was was up to me I would do everything I could invited to attend a secret school, a school to get hold of Heisman winner Marcus similar to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft Mariota, and there will be a few other teams and Wizardry. Instead of studying magic, students learned the history and the origin of that think the same way. Just stay away from everything sports. My grandfather excelled so the moronic Jameis Winston. He can play, but good Lord, it’s as obvious as pie that quickly at the university that the professors he is an idiot. If I were betting, I would put became fearful of his knowledge, so he was my money on the Titans taking the top deexpelled from the school. After expulsion he fensive player in the draft and then attempt went into the world and shared his knowlto steal away or sign another quarterback edge of sports with all. My great-grandfather available (possibly Jay Cutler?). grew old and his secrets and understanding First, you find the signal caller to even of all things sports stayed in the family, passbegin putting the pieces together. You can’t ing from generation to generation. So here find the right pieces if you don’t have the we are in 2015 and, thanks to my superior guy, and trust me, the guy is not one of the bloodline, I am honored to share my knowlcurrent signal callers. Do the Titans go excitedge with you. So let’s talk sports! ing and flashy with a move toward the top Its trivia time. So, what can’t pass, can’t quarterback in the draft, or do they go boring run, can’t coach, and wouldn’t be able to and safe with a defensive player, hoping they defend a nut from a squirrel if lives were at can find their signal caller elsewhere? Whatstake? The answer is the 2014 Tennessee ever they do, I just hope they start winning Titans. The Titans ended the season with games, smashing opponents’ skulls, opening a loss to the Colts and a very embarrassholes. Spread it out, come on Titans, this city ing 2–14 record. The only bright spot on doesn’t want another dud in 2015. the team worth mentioning is the play of So, it’s 2015. Let’s say goodbye to 2014. tight end Delanie Walker. He has shown Let’s reminisce on some of the top stories of unexpected speed for his size: six feet tall the past year. Of course, we can start with and 248 pounds. Walker ended the season some men beating women; man, I hate those with 890 receiving yards, a franchise record stupid “No More” commercials the NFL puts that surpasses Frank Wycheck’s remarkout, especially the one with Chris Carter cryable 1998 season. Frank was surrounded by ing. Then Eli pops up on screen looking half players such as Air McNair, Derrick Mason retarded. Don’t get me wrong—I have sense, and Eddie George, and the fact that Delanie and anyone with a lick of sense despises dowas surrounded by players that will be so mestic abuse, but I hate those commercials. quickly and eternally forgotten makes it It really blew up mainstream when Ray that much more amazing. Any true fan of football knows that Walker was snubbed out Rice cold-cocked his wife in an elevator and a video surfaced. It took a video to of the Pro Bowl this season; it’s a popularity get people really talking. Greg Hardy, a contest where the fans vote and being part defensive end for Carolina, was convicted of a 2–14 team didn’t help his cause. by a jury in June for choking, and making So, the Titans ended the season with 10 threats to kill, his girlfriend. Cardinals runstraight losses, but at least LP field has a rening back Jonathan Dwyer was arrested for cord to be proud of, selling out 164 straight an assortment of charges; he reportedly sent games. Tickets may be getting sold, though

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Delanie Walker was one of the few bright spots for the Titans this season.

threatening messages to his girlfriend and a picture message of a knife. Idiot! I love this one: Aldon Smith was angry while going through a security screen at the L.A. airport, he then started yelling that he had a bomb. No good, Aldon! Adrian Peterson also caused a stir after whipping his 4-year-old boy with a switch from a tree as punishment for acting up. No doubt we saw the pictures and they looked bad for the boy. One thing here kept me on Peterson’s side, he never denied anything. And he was truthful in all aspects of why he did it. Me, I would never punish my child that way, but Peterson’s child is not my kid. All of these incidents do have something in common; all these individuals play football in the NFL. The commissioner, Mr. Roger Goodell, was pressured by many in 2014 to resign; people called him a liar, blamed him of covering up evidence and blasted him for the way he handled the Ray Rice case. I say give him another year like 2014, and Goodell won’t last through 2015. Let’s get away from football and domestic abuse. How about some more strange 2014 incidents: Former NBA center Robert Swift had all the potential in the world for a long career, but the 7-foot center imploded in 2014. Police were called to an apartment where they found Swift and his roommate high on heroin and Lord knows what else. In Swift’s room they found a sawed-off shotgun and a grenade launcher. Yeah, a grenade launcher. I always seem to root for the bull when I see someone messing with it, slapping it or literally bullfighting. I always want the matador to get gored by the bull. Well, it happened this year in May at Madrid’s San Isidro festival, one of the largest bullfights in the world. This event hasn’t been forced to end early since 1979, but the bulls got the better of all three toreros. The first bull, weighing more than half a ton, immediately gave the matador two serious gashes, ending his night. Minutes later the second matador was caught on the horns, and then the same bull did the same to the third matador. A

crowd of 23,000 people had to depart as the event was called off for the first time in 35 years. I imagine they weren’t too upset. Three matadors getting gored and gouged sounds much more entertaining than a bunch of dead bulls. I am not a fan of this sport, but I wish they would bring something similar to the bull run to America. Love it! There is nothing wrong with a bunch of idiots being chased and mauled by bulls. It would unite us as a country. That’s it! I just solved the problem that all these protesters have been crying about. This would unite us like football does, except maybe more: adrenaline, blood and sweat while running from bulls. Maybe even some police officers could get involved in the American bull run, and then maybe some of these protesters would have a little more respect for them. It sounds like a good time. We all could sit around after the run and eat Rocky Mountain Oysters and drink beer: white, black, yellow, cops, brown, orange, members of the LGBT community. All colors and all people would be welcome to the party. Imagine a world with no racism, no problems, sitting around eating deep-fried bull testicles (that’s what the Rocky Mountain Oysters are). Sounds like a party! That’s it, my friends, the end is here, but the new year has just begun. It seems to me that sports are about the only thing, realistically, that this country as a whole can come together and enjoy. I wish that weren’t so, but it shows you the power of sports. I hope this year that we can end all this blah, blah, blah and get back to hard work and people helping people. Hard work will get you whatever you want in this country, and that goes for any race, any gender, anyone! A little kid said not all cops are killers, not all whites are racist and not all blacks are criminals. I liked it. It shows the ignorance of people who assume they can judge a book by its cover. There are many people making this world a better place. So, sit down and enjoy sports. Football playoffs are here, and January is a good month for football and people coming together. Choo-choo! BOROPULSE.COM

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OPINIONS Court Clerk Computer Debacle Continues; New ‘Family’ of Recovering Addicts to Move In A MILLION-DOLLAR DEBACLE: That’s what the suspended computer project for the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office is becoming. And it could grow even more expensive as legal fees piles up if Rutherford County files suit against the vendor, Utah-based NewDawn, for not being able to make the software work. County Mayor Ernest Burgess told county commissioners recently that he’s working on the matter daily with the county attorney and that as soon as he has a recommendation, he will bring it. “It might be in executive session,” Burgess warned. Those are closed meetings in which the county attorney advises commissioners of their legal situation. County Commissioner Doug Shafer, who serves on the county’s budget committee, echoed Burgess, saying, “We’ve got a chance it could be a nice long legal battle.” That’s not what county officials were hoping for two years ago when they agreed to fund a $730,000 computer software program designed to update the clerk’s system and give the county more control over its information, instead of leasing a computer system. (Personnel and overtime payments have bumped the cost close to $1 million.) But that appears to be where it’s heading. The odd thing is that nobody will say, so far, who is at fault. Of course, if the county sues NewDawn, then they think the vendor is at fault, or at least that’s where they’re putting the blame. But county officials apparently didn’t understand how complex the process would be for transferring all the information in the old system into a new one and making it work for the thousands of people who go through the court system each week and month. The general public doesn’t understand how much money runs through that office, thousands and thousands of dollars every day, for fines, court costs, etc. People also depend on the court clerk’s office for payments such as child support and court decisions. In fact, one woman who didn’t receive her October payment for a class-action lawsuit verdict wound up receiving a visit from Mayor Burgess. After the clerk’s office computer system mistakenly sent her check to a man in Smyrna, she called the mayor’s office, and he wound up delivering it to her personally. “We have to take responsibility,” the mayor said, confirming that he did make the delivery. County commissioners weren’t exactly kept up to date on the project, either. They didn’t

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know it wasn’t working until November. Anyway, I was discussing this matter recently with former Sheriff Truman Jones on WGNS’s “The Truman Show” when a woman called in and asked about the matter. I had written an article quoting former Circuit Court Clerk Laura Bohling, who said she offered to help new Clerk Melissa Harrell with the computer system project when it went live in early September, also when Harrell took office after winning the election. Bohling said Harrell never returned her calls and that, in fact, nobody in county government had communicated with her, even though she had been in charge of the project for two years. The radio caller wanted to know why Bohling wasn’t asked to help. Apparently because Harrell, who as an elected official is ultimately responsible for that office, didn’t ask for her help. The local court system is also a mish-mash of state and local authority and money. But considering the County Commission paid for the computer system, instead of the clerk’s office, the new clerk should be urged or compelled to bring Bohling in to help finish the job. Of course, the project is on hold for now and the county has gone back to its old system. But it might be worth a shot to hire Bohling as a consultant for a short period to try to finish the job before giving up and going to court. Incidentally, she has taken an administrative job with a Brentwood law firm. County Commissioner Robert Stevens also wants to have a committee investigate the matter to try to figure out what happened. That might be necessary, sort of like a congressional inquiry. Here’s another view: hackers can shut down the Internet in North Korea, bring Sony to its knees over a new movie, steal money from your bank account and find a way into your personal information. But Rutherford County can’t change the clerk’s office to a new system? You gotta be kidding me.

REHAB LAWSUIT

A “family” isn’t what it used to be, at least not by the government’s definition. Typically, a family is considered to be parents and children, whether natural, adopted or foster, possibly grandparents, maybe Uncle Joe, and, of course, throw in a couple of dogs, cats and gerbils. But now the definition of “family” in Murfreesboro includes up to eight people who are disabled because they’ve been through drug and alcohol addiction treatment or mental

The

STOCKARD REPORT BY SAM STOCKARD

health treatment. That’s how the city came to approve a group rehabilitation home at the home formerly owned by County Attorney Jim Cope on Southeast Broad Street. As a result, two Southeast Broad Street residents, Margaret Todd and John Hawk, are suing the operators, JourneyPure of Brentwood, the owner, Jui-Lien Chou Ho of Lubbock, Texas, and the city of Murfreesboro. The case recently transferred to Circuit Court from Chancery. The neighbors contend that the rehab home will hurt their neighborhood and their property values and that the “transitional” home and commercial operation there violates the city’s zoning ordinance and restrictive covenants. The plaintiffs also argue that city officials participated in a civil conspiracy in approving the group home. The city contends that the residents meet the definition of “family” in the zoning ordinance and that it isn’t a “transitional home.” Furthermore, the city and JourneyPure argue that not allowing the residents there would violate federal laws by discriminating against people with disabilities, and that applies to those who’ve been through mental health treatment and drug and alcohol addiction treatment. The company also contends that the residents’ lawsuit is “itself a violation of the Fair Housing Act.” Murfreesboro already has several homes in city neighborhoods where veterans live in small groups. Now, apparently, group homes for people emerging from drug addiction and alcoholism are allowed. It may be similar to how halfway houses are set up to help citizens escaping addiction problems. Whatever the case, most people probably don’t realize that addictions are considered disabilities. But the federal law has been that way for years. Whatever the ultimate ruling, the Copes probably made more off their home by selling to Chou Ho than to most buyers, and I’m sure Jim did his legal research. They sold the 4,828-squarefoot house in April for $530,000, even though it appraised with the county for $360,000, documents show. Clearly, the buyer knew she would be able to make a nice chunk on it. After all, the patients are paying $19,500 a month, which is just a tad more than I can afford for rent.

THAT’S NOT SMOKE IN YOUR EYES

Shocking. Well, maybe not so much. Has anyone seen the YouTube video of the former Rutherford County jail inmate who was confined and pepper-sprayed in the face in late 2013. It looks like something out of a Russian gulag. Anyway, one minute Demario Harris Jr. was being arrested for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest by Murfreesboro police. The next he was being confined and sprayed (at least they

were kind enough to put a cover over his face). Sheriff Robert Arnold said earlier this year that Harris was uncontrollable, kicking and spitting before he was strapped into the seat. The sheriff declined to comment after Harrison filed a federal lawsuit against Arnold and Deputies James Vanderveer and Jessica Leigh Green, claiming he was subject to cruel and unusual punishment, a violation of his constitutional rights. Harris probably did continue to resist when he was brought to the jail. But here’s the question: Once he was subdued and strapped in, what purpose did it serve to pepper-spray him? The lawsuit filed by Harris’ Nashville attorneys says even after his release a few days later, he still suffered from blurred vision and pain. He is seeking a total of $300,000 in punitive and compensatory damages against Arnold and the deputies, in addition to attorney fees and court costs. Incidentally, Vanderveer, who is the sheriff ’s nephew, resigned from the sheriff ’s office in February 2012, a day before he was charged with DUI. The sheriff later rehired him. Next thing you know, he’s pulling out pepper spray. A few years ago, a jail inmate died while being subdued, including pepper-sprayed and possibly hit with a Taser. That was a disaster. So what do you do? On the one hand, an unruly suspect has to be contained. But once under control, should he be punished? Seriously, the video looks like something from a Third World country, not our beloved 940 New Salem. Or is it?

ON A BRIGHTER NOTE

2014 marked my first contributions to the Pulse. I enjoy the journalistic give-and-take with Publisher Bracken Mayo and look forward to writing many more columns. There appears to be no end to odd and interesting news around here.

FAREWELL TO AYDELOTT

Love him or hate him, Murfreesboro Planning Director Joseph Aydelott had one of the toughest jobs in town for 23 years. He had the unenviable job of overseeing growth in one of the fastest-growing places in the country. As the city’s philosophy changed from accepting just about everything that came along with few restrictions to suddenly putting new and tougher requirements on just about everything, Aydelott was seen by some as a villain. He could be a little short at times, no doubt, and had to work on it. But Aydelott acknowledges that he embraced development and at the same time had to keep a handle on it, making sure it fit Murfreesboro’s new outlook. As Murfreesboro embarks on a 20year planning tool, Aydelott says it may be time for “new blood.” Still, he played a key role in a fast-moving time in the city’s history.

Agitators are Bypassing the Justice They Say They Want

hould anyone be surprised that policemen were killed in the wake of the protests over Ferguson and New York? Does anyone not understand that New York Mayor de Blasio fanned the flames of violence against the police? This is what happens when leaders like de Blasio and Obama choose to divide rather than unite in a time of unrest. Let’s not forget the famous words of former Obama White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel who said, “You never let a serious crisis go to waste.” People like de Blasio and Sharpton and Jackson say there should be justice. What does justice look like? Justice is when the judicial system takes a case and puts it before people in the community just like you. It’s called a grand jury. These are citizens who come from the same community as the people they serve. They’re ordinary working people whose racial and ethnic makeup match the community at large. They are tasked with poring over evidence and listening to testimony and determining whether or not someone VIEWS OF A in their own community, one of their own, should stand trial. column by That’s what happened in Ferguson and New PHIL VALENTINE philvalentine.com York City. A grand jury, made up of ordinary citizens, looked at each case and made a decision based on what they saw and heard. That’s as close to justice as anyone could ask. The problem is, they didn’t reach the decision that folks like de Blasio and Sharpton and Jackson wanted. Instead of explaining to the people that this is what justice looks like, these same so-called leaders called justice and injustice. They besmirched the grand jury system and the grand jurors themselves. Mayor de Blasio launched into a tirade about how this was a continuation of centuries of racism. When there were blacks and Hispanics on the grand jury! This is not To Kill a Mockingbird, Mayor. This is 21st-century New York. Not only did he insult the grand jury system but he suggested that all cops in America are racists by saying that they all need to be “re-trained.” Meanwhile, Al Sharpton is out there leading the cry of injustice and racism. Even the widow of the man who died while being arrested in New York said this had nothing to do with racism. Still, the raceaholics can’t get enough hatred. Each event was louder and more vitriolic than the last. The police are racists! America is racist! And then it happens. One of those in their crowd decides he has to do something about it so he assassinates two cops on the streets of New York. And where is de Blasio? He’s at the funeral, acting as though he had nothing to do with it. Patrick Lynch, president of the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, said it best. He said the blame for the officers’ blood “starts on the steps of City Hall, in the office of the mayor.” De Blasio should be removed from office immediately. Anyone with as little sense as he displayed has no business being mayor of any city. But Barack Obama is not without blame, either. He had dozens of chances to bring this country together but chose to rip it apart. Even before there was a Ferguson grand jury decision, he was meeting with the agitators. He never met with the police. But that’s what a professional community agitator does. They’re never about fixing problems. They’re all about exploiting them. Now two officers are dead. The country is more divided racially than it has been in decades. So much for the post-racial presidency of Barack Obama.

CONSERVATIVE

“Barack Obama is not without blame either. He had dozens of chances to bring this country together but chose to rip it apart. Even before there was a Ferguson grand jury decision, he was meeting with the agitators.”

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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Murfreesboro’s Music Through the Decades BY GLORIA CHRISTY

Crossing Into A New Meaning of “Yankee Doodle”

arly American history has been dimmed— transformed by urban sprawl, the passing of time, and revisionists. One can only imagine; dream of a moment in time when small towns and villages across the American landscape were dotted with hand-hewn log structures and houses of block and fired brick. Buried is the centerpiece of our unique American cultural heritage. It begins to surface where, only two and a half centuries ago, settlers cut their way through heavily timbered forests, cane and grape vines. Presently, narrow roads and trails have been replaced with Interstates, malls and shopping centers. Beneath the mask of well-being and economic prosperity is our need to find the story and tell it at full volume! For remembrance is the story of George Washington’s Crossing the Delaware River and the most American melody ever written, “Yankee Doodle.” In the fall of 1776, six months after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, America’s colonies were on the verge of military defeat. General George Washington and the Continental army had lost every battle at the hands of the British in the New York campaign. At Fort Lee, the army had barely escaped and was forced to leave behind its store of provisions and ammunition as well as many of its weapons. A sense of defeat had settled around Washington as he was forced to retreat across New Jersey in November and finally to Pennsylvania on Dec. 8, 1776. Even before the Revolutionary War during the French and Indian War, American colonists in their furs and buckskins had been a target for ridicule and mockery. Emerging before the war, the British sung despairingly an old English folk song with lyrics that mocked the colonists making fun of their appearance. Tradition has 36 * JANUARY 2015 * BOROPULSE.COM

it that the song, “Yankee Doodle,” one of America’s oldest and most enduring marching airs, was written in part by a British doctor, Richard Schackburg, to make fun of the ragtag militiamen. “Doodle” referred to a trifling fellow, simpleton or fool. On the other hand, “dandy” described a gentleman with fine manners, dress and hairstyle. So, for the most part, by December the British had considered that the war was over. By Dec. 11, the only reason that the British had not taken Philadelphia, the seat of the Continental Congress, was that Washington had ordered every boat on the Delaware River on the New Jersey side to be brought to the Pennsylvania side, thus denying the British army transportation. Washington knew that once the river iced over, the British would be capable of resuming an offensive by crossing the Delaware. In keeping with their “Yankee Doodle” reputation, these tattered soldiers were beyond weary—without tents or proper clothing, and suffering from starvation. Their numbers had diminished due to desertions and expiring enlistments. Washington had expected much from his troops using his authority by demonstrating his own personal strength. He demanded that his soldiers be disciplined examples of the American cause, yet he was not so strict to expect virtue alone. Although he was patient, Washington had to be a realistic leader. Overwhelmed with these obstacles, the prospect of defeating the most accomplished army in the world was doubtful. Even though he had refused a salary for himself and had spent his own money buying items for the war, Washington’s poor military record had sparked debate about his leadership. There even talk among members of the Continental Congress about replacing him. Washington and his morale-beaten troops slogged

through the dead of winter and encamped nine miles away at McConkey’s Ferry. Many had silently cursed the seemingly endless cold and sunless days. Most had considered that “freedom” from England was simply an unattainable dream, yet this night the worn-down soldiers slept peacefully in silence. For Washington, sleep simply would not come. Snowflakes swirled beneath a cathedral of pines which crackled under the weight of clinging ice. He crouched in contemplation, gazing into fire while the sputtering flames hissed as smoke curled atop the ghostly ice-sculpted branches. As Washington huddled by the campfire, he began to consider that he would not take part in holiday celebrations this year. There would be no tolling church bells, gaily wrapped presents, arched hallways decked with holly and pine, or piping-hot, delectable platters as folk sang and round-danced. Washington had been driven by thoughts of liberty. Now he felt trampled by thoughts of betrayal and loss. His vision of freedom was now blurred and frozen in a snowy haze. Calming his inner furies had been an arduous task for Washington. In his younger days, circumstances like these would have driven him to angry outbursts. The valuable lessons learned growing up in the wild American wilderness had been an intervening, sustaining force in his life. Through the years, although his faith had been a private source of strength, it had given him direction. Without a sound as he knelt by the fireside, he began to earnestly pray for a new strategy. Cascading snowflakes fluttered down so perfectly, framing his universe in surreal tranquility. For a moment, the fire beckoned him to dream and wander down a path to his childhood. Having lost his father at age 11, there were many nights of terror in the backwoods. During countless winter nights, he felt completely safe cradled in his mother’s arms while she tenderly stroked his forehead by a warm fireside. His mother had been his spiritual role model and mentor. Washington recalled the many times that he would find her praying while perched on her favorite rock above the river below. Her profound influence had taught him that answers come only when there is communion with God. In the distance like this determined soldier, an old church bell, still and full, pealed. It filled the cold air with its lamenting sound. As Washington listened by the sputtering, smoking fire, revelation came hollowing through the woods and into his consciousness: “I will gather my generals together with this plan for victory!” Energized by this inspiration, Washington returned to his tent and by candlelight penned this note to Colonel Reed written Dec. 23, 1776: The bearer (of the letter) is sent . . . to inform you that Christmas day at night, one hour before day is the time fixed upon our attempt in Trenton. For heaven’s sake keep this to yourself, as the discovery of it may prove fatal to us, our numbers, sorry to say, being less than I had any conception of: but necessity, dire necessity, will nay must justify, an attempt. Washington’s plan was to take the offensive and cross the Delaware River on Christmas night and attack the Hessians garrisoned at Trenton, New Jersey. Against all odds, Washington and his men successfully completed the crossing and marched on the morning of Dec. 26, 1776. Washington and his army achieved a resounding victory over the Hessians, capturing over 900 of them. By moving ahead with his bold and daring plan, General George Washington reignited the cause of freedom and gave new life to the American Revolution.

What are you battling? Has the emotional debris of 2014 left you struggling with feelings of doubt and uncertainty about the future? Are you shrouded by guilt, disappointments and discouraged by past failures? Like Washington, are you afraid of what the future holds? No mortal really knows what the future holds, but we can trust in the God who does know. Sometimes I wonder why the future is not revealed to humans. Perhaps it is because we must learn to trust our future to God, who will work everything out for our ultimate good. If we face our future with courage, we will discover a reliable relationship the One who does knows the future. Consider this: “Our personal battles are not external, but internal.” There is a spiritual battle occurring in our minds to defeat us, and fear is a direct result of those attitudes. It is a weapon used to prevent our progress. Overcoming our daunting fears with total faith in God will change our perceptions. Having confidence in God in the midst of turmoil can give you peace, courage, and motivation regardless of circumstances. Independent from God, our rationalizations, such as “we can do it ourselves,” are simply lies that barricade our minds. In 2015, we must allow God to lift the wall of selfsufficiency and self-determination. Like Washington, however terrifying, we will experience a new freedom as we begin to trust God’s plan for our lives. Thus, we will begin to defeat the battle that rages for our mind, and as with Washington and his troops, victory will be ours! Amid the belittling, as Americans developed culturally and socially, the song “Yankee Doodle” was adopted as their own. Turning the meaning from pitiful to powerful, this prolific song would eventually become a symbol of American patriotism and pride lasting for more than 200 years. It has survived from the mid 1700s up until now and continues to be played by drum and fife corps across the country. The parody proclaiming the colonists as country bumpkins has ironically emerged into an American classic and a symbol of nationalism. With its humble origin, and perhaps questionable in matters of lyrical “taste,” “Yankee Doodle” continues as one of America’s most upbeat and humorous national songs. In the fife and drum state of Connecticut, it is the official state song. In 1904, George M. Cohan revived the tune in his “Yankee Doodle Boy.” (Also known as “I’m a Yankee Doodle Dandy”) It should surprise no one that John Philip Sousa was immensely fond of this work. He employed it in many of his arrangements and patriotic fantasies. He even used it as a countermelody in his march “America First.” Could, at the end of 2014, life’s circumstances have brought you to the “river of an impossible impasse,” like Washington—loss of job, strained relationships, unresolved answers, bound by disappointments and broken dreams? Perhaps with the approaching new year, you have found yourself frozen in an icy emotional stronghold, exhausted, frazzled, overwhelmed, confused and burned out. You may be enslaved by worry and anxiety, with seemingly no direction. You need more than superficial remedies. Go to that secret place in communion with the Most High. As He has done for countless others in ages past, He will give you the courage to continue and persevere even in the midst of your difficulties. Perhaps in 2015, you will discover that hope and revelation will come in a personal relationship with God Himself. “For surely I know the plans for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11). New Year’s blessings to all! BOROPULSE.COM

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Always On: The 24/7 World and the Flexible Work Day BY DR. PHILIP A. FOSTER

RECENTLY I TRAVELED to the West Coast for a conference, passing through three airports within a matter of hours. People everywhere were focused on some form of technology. It is now commonplace to see these tech-zombies wandering hallways and sidewalks while looking downward and focusing on their smart-devices. We live in an emerging globalized mobile world of dispersed cloud workers. More than ever we see individuals trading in the traditional office environments for the coffeehouse office, or what is now known as the Coffice. Even I have to admit my assimilation into this mobile 24/7 world, as much of my work is done on the go. In fact, this article was written from a coffeehouse. If you’ve read any of my work you already know that I am an advocate for flat, agile, open organizational structures which require new attitudes toward work and the humans who produce it. When we think about the realities of a 21st century work environment, we begin to realize that the age of the time-clock is coming to a close. In the United States the idea of an 8-hour work day has been around for nearly 150 years. It has its roots in a labor fight for fairer work conditions, yet it wasn’t until the 1950s that the efforts of labor unions finally succeeded in obtaining a true 8-hour work day. Now that we are emerging into a knowledgebased economy, we are very much witnessing the decay of the 8-hour work day as it transitions into an on-the-go, flexible work schedule. I would argue that the more creative and innovative a company must be, the less likely it is to have a set standard of hours required for its workforce. I believe the idea of a standard day is melting away before our very eyes. Emerging 21st century organizations are going to need their employees to be in their creative sweet space as much as possible. When we begin to mandate specific times of work and work hours, we begin

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to hurt the creativity of the new millennial workers. Flexibility is the key to creating an atmosphere in which each employee can become more excited about where they work and, more importantly, what they are working on. My study of the tech industry has shown that the new knowledge economy outright rejects the idea of the time-clock economics. They don’t operate within the context of a 9-to-5 clock-punching system. As the world becomes more globalized, the need for a flexible cloud-optimized workforce is more evident. While I very much advocate the emergence of the flexible work day, it is not without its challenges. Work-life balance can be a challenge in a flex-optimized work day. Another question we should ponder sooner than later is related to ethics in the self-led era of the open organization. What is certain is that the way we approach and engage leaders and followers is quickly changing. There are challenges ahead as we transition into the new realities of a distributed cloud-based workforce. Will traditional business schools catch on to the evolution of management into self-leadership? Will B-schools be able to stay relevant in a rapidly changing ecosystem? Leading the charge for change are, and will continue to be, our millennials. By the year 2025, it is estimated that nearly 75% of all jobs will be held by this generation. One thing is certain: change will happen whether we embrace it or not.