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blissfully unaware of the potential diffi culties that face native Ugandans attempting

luxuries presently remain beyond reach. Phillmon, a smart, college-educated man with a young family of his own, was doing the best he could with limited resources. In 2018 an American supporter created a Go Fund Me campaign that is currently active. Over $15,000 has been raised since June of 2018, though even with the extremely low cost of living in Uganda, that amount falls signifi cantly short of the $1,500 needed per month for food, supplies and staff payroll. The orphanage, anchored by a school for children ages 3 through 13, owns the property it occupies, thanks to donors. Colorful block buildings provide serviceable classSTEALING FROM THE MOUTHS OF ORPHANS rooms for all, and children are daily served three meals consisting of simple but nutritious staples. Available housing, however, can currently accommodate only about half of the 491 kids who attend school there. Additionally, a smaller campus in a nearby village accommodates 250 children, totaling Local donors get a peek inside scams affecting Ugandan and had felt moved to make donations from time to time as fi nances would allow. In time, she and I would directly encounter an attempt by a scammer to intercept a donation we sent to Hope Orphanage. pansion goal is to build enough on-campus housing so that children can sleep onsite instead of at the homes of family members. Leaving the premises incurs risk, including road accidents or even abductions. children in need Over time, Brenda began chatting via Facebook Messenger with the orphanage’s So, wait a minute—if these kids have family, even extended family, then why are BY STEVE MORLEY founder and director, a Ugandan man in his early 30s named Mbaju Phillmon. A they in the care of an orphanage? Hope Orphanage takes in full orphans, halfTHE WORLD IS RIFE with challenges friendly and industrious fellow, Phillmon orphans (children with one living parent), unique to 2020, though there is no shortwas forthcoming about both the Christian street kids, disabled kids . . . essentially, any age of problems that predate the Year of basis of his work and the ongoing need for needy child. More than 80 percent of imthe Pandemic. Humanitarian need, for fi nancial support. These individual appeals poverished Ugandan children fall under the instance, has long stood as a gaping hole in for assistance initially seemed a bit too forheading of “social orphans,” having family still-developing, poverty-challenged counward and a bit suspicious to me, especially members but lacking basic support. And tries where food and basics are often in in these times when scams like the popular the number of these is staggering. short supply. The use of social networking “Nigerian Prince” phishing email and Of Uganda’s roughly 46 million resiand other internet resources has become fake charities are commonly seen online. dents, nearly one-half are under the age of more of a lifeline than ever for charities and However, Brenda had carefully vetted the 15. The average birth rate is between fi ve humanitarian organizations that rely on doorphanage early on. Upon request, she was and six children to each Ugandan female, nations. Simultaneously, though, criminal given two American references who spoke who commonly begin motherhood in their abuses of the internet continue to increase with her and affi rmed the orphanage’s lemid-to-late teens. This explosion of births, in number. In America alone, complaints gitimacy. For good measure, Phillmon also combined with poverty and skyrocketing of internet-based fraud rose about a half sent a photo of the facility’s license. numbers of unemployed or underemployed a million between 2015 and 2019, totaling A website and a more professionally Ugandans, leaves millions of children who nearly 1,700,000 last year. operated marketing campaign would be cannot be properly cared for. And that’s

Until fairly recently, I had remained more trustworthy and effective, but such if they even have a family; many children almost 750. Phillmon’s most pressing exto legitimately serve the vast population of orphans and other minor-age children in need. My wife, Brenda, fi rst took notice of Hope Orphanage and Outreach Centre on More than 80 percent of impoverished Ugandan children fall under the heading of ‘social orphans,’ having family Facebook in 2017. She’d mentioned being touched by the many photos of the children at the facility, located in Kasese, Uganda, members but lacking basic support. And the number of these is staggering.” lose parents to fl oods, violent confl ict in the nearby Congo region, and diseases such as AIDS, cholera and ebola.

Mbaju Phillmon is one of many individuals laboring to provide a solution to what seems an unsolvable problem. Compounding the challenges is the work of scammers who exploit existing orphanages, even borrowing their good names to create homes where children suffer mistreatment while donations go into the pockets of scam operators. Phillmon has been spared the worst of such exploitation, but signs of potential scammer activity started showing up when his Facebook page began disappearing from view. It’s happened four times, two of those since the beginning of 2020.

The shutdowns not only robbed Phillmon of crucial access to supporters but required the painstaking process of starting over with only an older model cellphone. Phillmon never received an email from Facebook regarding the shutdowns, so it’s likely that they were caused by someone with nefarious intent, though clues remain elusive. Clear evidence of phishing did show up, though, when the orphanage director’s email account was hacked. My wife and I found this out fi rsthand.

The day after we sent a sizeable contribution via Western Union (to ensure speedy and direct receipt), Brenda got an email from Phillmon’s address. The sender—using language that sounded exactly like Mbaju’s previous communications—said that he couldn’t claim the donation due to an expired ID card, and asked for the donation to be resent to a different person, whose name he provided. Brenda did as requested and then texted Mbaju, who expressed confusion and explained he hadn’t emailed her, nor had he made any such request. We quickly fi gured out we’d been scammed, and alerted Mbaju to the misuse of his email account.

The payment was stopped in time and redirected to Mbaju as intended, but we learned to be more vigilant about potential deception. Should you be moved to make a contribution, I can personally vouch for the sincerity and integrity behind Hope Orphanage, as well as its worthy work and legitimate, immediate needs. To donate, search for “The Children Need Your Help – Uganda” on the home page of gofundme.com.

Meanwhile, Mbaju has a message to impart: “Love from the orphanage,” he says in an email typed through his aging cellphone. “Our motto is ‘God is in control.’”

Panther Creek, El Guache, Empanada Sonata, Uptown Cheapskate, Uncle Bud’s, Nash Family Creamery

BY MICHELLE WILLARD

PANTHER CREEK BREWS will bring its beers to the people from a new taproom on West Main Street.

Members of the Mid-State Brew Crew, the Panther Creek team—J.T. Gowen, Jeremy Taylor and Melvin Stewart—fi rst tried their hand at home brewing together in 2008. The three dudes with a beer and a dream have worked to realize Panther Creek for more than a decade.

“We started out on his porch,” Stewart said motioning to Taylor, “and upgraded to a garage. Now we’ll have this.”

The spot the boys have landed in is the former home of The Green Dragon Pub and Brewery in the old creamery at 714 W. Main St.

Over the years, they have developed their own style and recipes. They just needed a place to call home. To help build a following, Panther Creek has spent years brewing on contract at other craft facilities across Middle Tennessee. Last year they released Panther Scratch, a hoppy brown IPA, for wider distribution through a partnership with BrairScratch Brewing. They’ve also brewed batches at East Nashville Brew Works and Little Harpeth Brewing.

The newly remodeled taproom, which opened to the public with a grand opening on June 20, will now be open Thursdays through Saturdays.

Panther Creek has also recently released its new double IPA, Dedication, brewed in 20-barrel batches at Little Harpeth Brewing and only sold in cans.

Gowen explained that they named it Dedication because that’s what they’ve needed over the years to fi nally realize their dream.

Along with giving the Panther Creek treatment to the tap room, they will also be adding state-of-the-art brewing equipment in the bay behind the bar, which they hope to have up and running sometime in August, and will also soon release a new brew called Unity.

“We are here for the community. We want to be a part of the community,” Taylor said.

AROUND TOWN ’BORO BUSINESS BUZZ

Flavors from Puerto Rico and Cuba have parked in downtown Murfreesboro. EMPANADA SONATA, which started as a food truck, has opened on West Main Street (in the former home of Nick Newton’s and Spinelli’s). The food comes from owner Marlyse Moran’s childhood days of holding onto her mother’s apron strings and learning the ways of the kitchen. Empanada Sonata started as a food truck and has found its brick-and-mortar home in Murfreesboro at 211 W. Main St.

If you’re looking for a deal on new styles, UPTOWN CHEAPSKATE opened on Old Fort Parkway near Planet Fitness. The shop is a trendy young adult fashion resale exchange, specializing in buying, selling and trading gently used clothing, shoes and accessory items. Find more information at uptowncheapskate.com/location/murfreesboro.

NASH FAMILY CREAMERY opened a restaurant and store in Chapel Hill. Fourth-generation dairy farmer Cody Nash brought his skills from California to Chapel Hill, where he and his family make ice cream in small batches with high-quality ingredients in fl avors such as Southern pecan and caramel corn. Take-home ice cream is available in pints and half gallon sizes.

After selling it to Nashville-based Bangkokville, the owners of FAR EAST CAFE are resuming ownership and operation the restaurant near MTSU, and will bring back the original menu and fl avors as well.

ASCEND FEDERAL CREDIT UNION, the largest credit union in Middle Tennessee, opened its newest location in early June in Murfreesboro. Located at 3250 Memorial Blvd., this location is Ascend’s 26th Middle Tennessee branch and its fourth in Murfreesboro. Members can visit the

EL GUACHE ICE CREAM SHOP, a Mexican ice cream and paletas shop, has opened next to Mi Patria on Stones River Mall Boulevard. The shop offers mangonadas, fruits, drinks, chicharrones, milkshakes, tortas, chocobananas and other sweet and spicy treats. See page 17 of this issue for El Guache coupons. Memorial Boulevard location for a full suite of services, including checking and savings accounts, youth accounts, money market and certifi cate accounts, auto and recreational loans, credit cards, signature loans, signature line of credit loans and business accounts and loans.

CRACKER BARREL announced it will be testing wine and beer at locations in Tennessee, Kentucky and Florida; both Murfreesboro locations are on the list. Cracker Barrel’s drink menu includes beer and wine along with orange and strawberry mimosas. Looks like they are trying to get a piece of the brunch action. I’ll bet a strawberry mimosa will pair well with pancakes.

The Tennessee Valley Authority has approved the proposed merger between the Murfreesboro Electric Department and MIDDLE TENNESSEE ELECTRIC in early June. TVA’s regulatory review and approval was the last step needed to fi nalize the merger. The regulatory review process was required to determine if the transaction created value for all ratepayers, since TVA supplies wholesale electric power to both not-for-profi t distributors and has oversight over such transactions. MTE will pay $245 million for MED. With interest, the total payment will be $302 million over the course of 15 years.

National chain PIER 1 IMPORTS announced it was seeking court approval to close all of its stores. The retailer fi led for Chapter 11 protection back in February. The news isn’t surprising following announcements from Bath & Body Works, Signet Jewelers, Gap, Victoria’s Secret, Zara, Chico’s, JCPenney, Macy’s, Express, Nordstrom, Forever 21, New York & Co., GameStop, Logan’s Roadhouse and a host of other national names expecting closures in the near future.

UNCLE BUD’S announced that it is closing its Murfreesboro location.

“It has been a tough three or four months for all of us. We have struggled with a limited capacity dining room and staffi ng during this crisis. We haven’t been able to during this crisis. We haven’t been able to operate at the level we all expect here at operate at the level we all expect here at Uncle Bud’s,” a Facebook post announcing Uncle Bud’s,” a Facebook post announcing the closing said. the closing said.

The post recommended Uncle Bud’s Donelson location at 2719 Old Lebanon Rd., Donelson location at 2719 Old Lebanon Rd., Nashville, for catfi sh and fi xins. Nashville, for catfi sh and fi xins.

John Dickerson fl oating, courtesy of CBS News

John Lennon

Floativation Part 8

BY STEVE MORLEY

Turn off your mind, relax and fl oat downstream . . . (“Tomorrow Never Knows,” The Beatles) This 1966 track from The Beatles’ Revolver album, composed by John Lennon, was a watershed moment not only in that band’s evolution but for popular music in general. Built on a single-chord drone and utilizing a pulsing, tribal rhythm, the unearthly sounding track emulated the experience of taking psychedelic drugs. Lennon’s own use of mind-altering substances was symbolized by the altered sound of his voice, using a rotating speaker enclosure to lend it a foggy, swirling effect.

Looking at Lennon’s life in retrospect, it’s evident that he was seeking relief through whatever means were available to him at any given time. As a member of the world’s most commercially successful and critically acclaimed band, there was little that wouldn’t have been available to him.

According to a 1988 biography on Lennon, the famed musician turned to a fl oat tank in the 1970s. Lennon was said to have adopted the practice of fl oating in conjunction with breaking an addiction to heroin, and that the tank’s therapeutic effects aided him in staying clean. The tank afforded the world-famous musician a respite that he likened to the emotional and psychological relief of taking drugs—without, of course, the dangers of exposing himself to addictive substances or unpredictable chemicals.

More recently, studies have indicated that fl oating is indeed a useful tool in breaking addictions ranging from opiates to alcohol and cigarettes. In this respect, Lennon may well have been on the cutting edge, just as he was when he wrote and recorded “Tomorrow Never Knows.” For all the song’s trippy, hallucinogenic haze, though, its most enduring value may be in lyrics that urge the listener to seek inner awareness and lay down all thoughts. Though Lennon didn’t know it at the time, his opening admonition in the song to turn off your mind, relax and fl oat downstream was foreshadowing the fl oat tank, a tool that would most safely and conveniently provide the mental and emotional release he had so actively sought through drugs and therapy.

Float Into Deep Rest While the list of proven benefi ts includes relief from physical pain, pregnancy fatigue, stress, anxiety and depression, the bottomline benefi t of fl oating is its ability to bring users into a zone of deep rest that is more than merely physical. It does this by placing the user in sensory deprivation. Don’t make the mistake of misinterpreting that phrase. In this case, “deprivation” is a positive, not a negative. It means that your brain and nervous system get a long-deserved break from handling the continuous input and crackling static of daily life. The elimination of all physical and mental stimulation, which happens when you’re effortlessly suspended atop body-temperature water in a private, soundproof environment, provides refreshment you’d forgotten you needed, if you ever even knew it was possible.

Clinical neuropsychologist Dr. Justin Feinstein is a leading authority and researcher working with fl oat tanks in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The internet is loaded with videos both compact and meaty in which Dr. Feinstein shares fi ndings and information about the many therapeutic applications of fl oat tanks. A four-minute excerpt titled “Floating and the Brain” takes a look at various regions of the brain and their respective functions, while Feinstein explains why fl oating renders them temporarily inactive.

A clip of a CBS This Morning story features the neuropsychologist meeting the show’s co-host John Dickerson at the Tulsa-based Laureate Institute for Brain Research, where cameras roll as Dickerson experiences his maiden fl oat, outfi tted with an EEG, heart rate monitor and bloodpressure cuff. Readings are taken during the fl oat to confi rm the body’s measurable signs of relaxation. While the majority of fl oats are done in enclosed tanks, or pods, the open pool (which best served the goal of videotaping Dickerson as he fl oated) was originally designed for Feinstein’s lab. Enclosed tanks, he learned, were often too intimidating for the clinically anxious patients he worked with.

Float Alchemy, Murfreesboro’s mightily equipped community health and chill-out center, offers the open-pool option in a soundproof room, as well as enclosed tanks of differing sizes. I’ve tried all three, and if you’ve been following this series, you’ve learned about my personal journey as a fl oater and heard some of the material I’m revisiting this month. My own story (in several installments available at boropulse. com/fl oativation) has been shared in order to report the benefi ts fi rsthand, pull back the curtain for the residents of Rutherford County and remove the potential apprehension some might feel about trying an unfamiliar offering like fl oating. You won’t get any benefi t if all you do is read about it.

Incidentally, Dr. Feinstein recently responded to a personal email I sent him with questions about my own fl oating experience. When I bring closure to my story next month, I’ll share what he had to say. The respected neuropsychologist was interviewed in 2018 for Art of the Float, a podcast series co-hosted by Float Alchemy’s own Amy Grimes. (She’s no newcomer, folks.)

Anyhow, for me, a guy whose mind tends to bounce all over the place, it’s been a real treat to experience a slowing-down of thoughts in the tank. This occurs because fl oating promotes theta brain waves, a notch above the brain waves accompanying sleep, permitting a calm, relaxed yet conscious state. These kinds of brain waves are increasingly less typical in our society, due to the constant fl ow of external stimuli: phones, dinging text messages and Facebook posts, traffi c and GPS directions, omnipresent music, disembodied voices at drive-thru restaurants and banks . . . and in these days of social distancing there’s even more noise and artifi cial communication going on than usual. Usual was already more than enough.

So, this profound relief from life’s Tilta-Whirl is what makes fl oating something special, regardless what your specifi c goals might be. In response to our announcement of a free one-hour fl oat at Float Alchemy in last month’s issue, we heard from readers with a variety of reasons for wanting to try the tank, from neck, back and joint pain to rheumatoid arthritis, from fi bromyalgia to anxiety, depression and stress. Statistical evidence affi rms that fl oating offers relief for every one of these conditions.

Recent Float Giveaway Not enough folks evidently understand the true value of a fl oat, based on the only 20 or so responses to the giveaway that appeared on the Pulse‘s Facebook page. But that’s good news for those who entered, because the odds of winning were pretty fair. Sincere apologies to those who fell on either side of the randomly generated number that determined our winner—so many of you had excellent and compelling reasons for wanting to try out the tank—and congratulations to Lindsay Binkley, whose post mentioned how the chaos of today’s cultural landscape was increasing her anxiety. I’d be willing to bet that there are plenty of others reading this who can relate.

I will personally purchase a fl oat for you, Lindsay, as testament to my satisfaction with the wonderful folks and facilities at Float Alchemy, and your name will be, as they say, “at the door.” Practice your deep breathing in the meantime, and may your fi rst fl oat be an experience you’ll look forward to repeating, as well as telling your family and friends about!

As always, may the freedom of the fl oat be with you all. Or, as John Lennon once sang, turn off your mind, relax and fl oat downstream . . .

Find previous installments of this series on the therapeutic resources at Murfreesboro’s Float Alchemy at boropulse.com/fl oativation.

Save $ 1,000 in 120 Days Without Getting a Second Job

SAVING $1,000 IN 120 DAYS MIGHT seem unrealistic to some, but with hard work and discipline it can be done. That’s $250 a month, or $8.33 per day for 120 days. It doesn’t appear too expensive when given a daily amount. It is possible!

Everything hinges on your mindset and, more importantly, determining your habits and/or triggers. Let me be very clear: if you do not unearth your root issues (whatever it is that causes you to continuously make poor decisions, fi nancial or otherwise), no matter how tough they are, you will have a hard time moving forward with anything in life, not just saving money.

I did not grow up in a household where we discussed money, fi nances or credit. In fact, we were in survival mode most of the time, and when you’re in survival mode you’re trying to make it through the day or week. As an adult I had to truly analyze why I had a tough time saving money. I often paid bills late, I never had a budget, loved to shop, ate out on a regular basis, was an impulse buyer and tried to live my life through my kids and buy them everything. How many can relate? When I peeled back the layers, most of these poor habits stemmed from my childhood. I am not pointing the fi nger of blame at anyone, but I had to acknowledge my “why?” and deal with these issues. Do the same and look at your bank statements. You will see patterns and determine your current spending habits.

Too often, we use our debit or credit cards, and there is a true disconnect between a plastic card and paper money. When you swipe your card, the amount you’re spending is not tangible because you can’t see or feel the amount. Typically, you will spend 30 to 40 percent more when you swipe your card. On the other hand, when you are spending cash, money is leaving your hands. If you pay for an item and you have a $50 or $100 bill you almost hate to use the larger bill because you know when you “break” that larger bill, it’s as good as gone.

Determine your spending habits and know what your triggers are. Do you shop when you are lonely, depressed or emotional, or believe you are deserving despite having bills that are due? It will be challenging, but after 120 days you will look back and feel great about what you have accomplished.

According to the Associated Press, twothirds of Americans would not be able to cover a $1,000 emergency . . . that’s huge! When you don’t have it saved it can wreak havoc on your life. Here’s how you can start building an emergency fund.

1Create a budget or spending plan. Write down all your expenses for the month and your income. It is very important you notate the due dates as well. It’s not uncommon for most of your bills to be due at the fi rst of the month. Understand there is not a right or wrong way to create a budget. You must do what works best for you.

Track your spending. I also recommend that your spending plans are not extremely strict in the beginning. I set small goals for clients to accomplish and we build incrementally on their successes.

2Cut back on eating out and plan meals. You would be amazed how much money you spend. I am a crockpot queen, which allows me to create meals in advance. I do not suggest you eliminate dining out altogether. Put yourself on a cash budget for eating out and once the cash is spent for the week you do not spend more money on restaurant meals.

Check All Recipes for slow cooker recipes. Plan meals around sales. Circulars for grocery stores usually update each Wednesdays.

Leave your credit and debit cards at home. If you don’t have the debit or credit cards, you can’t spend any extra money.

Pack snacks, bottled water and juice boxes in the car for your kiddos.

3Modify your cellphone plan. Many companies are offering deals without contracts and low-cost deals without contracts and low-cost monthly plans—Metro PCS, Straight Talk, Boost Mobile and Cricket or Tracphones which are sold at local grocery stores, CVS, and Walgreens. Boost Mobile has a graduated plan. If you stay with their company, your bill will be reduced by $5 per month and capped at the lower price.

4Check your homeowners, rental and car insurance? There is a strong likelihood your insurance premiums are high and you might be overpaying. First, call your insurance carrier to determine if your rate can be adjusted. If not, be prepared to hit the road. It’s very important before switching to fi nd out the insurance ratings (for example, AAA) You can determine a company’s rating by contacting the Better Business Bureau. An insurance broker can shop various companies and could possibly offer competitive or cheaper rates.

5Get rid of cable television. I personally have a basic Internet package, purchased a Google Chromecast stick and ordered Netfl ix. Also check out Amazon’s Fire TV Stick or Maono which can be ordered on Amazon as well. I have counseled numerous people and they are paying upwards of $200 or $300 for cable. That’s bananas!

6Automate, Automate, Automate. First, open a savings account at a different bank or credit union, preferably one that is not easily accessible. Next, set up automatic deductions from your paycheck and have a set amount transferred to the savings account at the other bank. Other options are apps you can download on your phone to help you save. Qapital is an app that will allow you to save automatically based on goals. The Digit app links to your bank account and transfers a certain amount of money on a daily basis. You set the parameters and can easily transfer the money back to your checking account. Another option is an old-fashioned water jug. Stash your change, or dollar bills. Also, your bank may have a coin counter, eliminating the cost of this service.

7Cut back on extracurricular activities for a brief period. This is pretty tough, but understand that everyone will have to make sacrifi ces to accomplish the family goals. Having counseled numerous clients and reviewed their budget, I found that they are spending massive amounts of money on extracurricular activities while struggling to make ends meet. I am all for involving children in various activities, but a short-term sacrifi ce can have huge long-term benefi ts for your family.

8Learn to say “no.” No is one of the fi rst words we learned as children and was used quite frequently. As adults we use this word less and less, and commit to things we do not want to do or can’t afford. I’ve been there! Face it, we are sometimes overwhelmed with birthday parties, holidays, weddings, etc. and sometimes we simply can’t afford to participate. It’s okay to say “no.” Remember, short-term sacrifi ces result in long-term gain. It’s only for a season, and perfectly okay to share with family and friends that your family has set some fi nancial goals and although you would like to participate, you must respectfully decline. Those who know and love you will understand.

9Bank on your skills or talents. It amazes me how creative people can be, and how they operate in their gifts so naturally, never realizing these very skills that are natural to them can be quite bankable. As an example, you might bake really good cakes, be a great proofreader, or like to babysit. Turn these talents into a side hustle.

Take these tips and apply them to your everyday life, ultimately making them habits. Whether you are single or part of a couple, I would suggest carving out some time to look over your fi nances, without any distractions from the kids, cellphone or social media. Review your budget, at a minimum, weekly.

Create the budget in pencil and, once an item is spent, return to the budget and write, in ink, the actual amount spent. In turn, you will be able to see if you overspent in some areas and underspent in others. If you spent less than was allocated for a certain item, you can always apply it to savings.

As you can see, I am not asking you to get a second job, but to reallocate money you are already spending, a simple awareness. Remember this is a process. Stay the course and stick to the plan, and short-term sacrifi ces will lead to long-term gain.

Shaterial Starnes is a fi nancial coach and the owner of The Starnes Group. Her organization helps individuals and businesses address behaviors that lead them to poor fi nancial choices. For more information, call 615-593-2135 or visit coachstarnes.com.

Opinion

Live Exceptionally...Well! BY JENNIFER DURAND

Always Exist, Spirit View

BEFORE YOU WERE EVER CONCEIVED at who matters and who doesn’t; who is essential in and born, you existed. You have been an idea with this life, and who isn’t. I would say this certainly dequalities, expressions and importance in eternity. pends on the circumstance at the moment. However, This is a Divine law that cannot be changed. You this is always subject to change. If you understand were perfectly created beyond any earthly control. that you have always existed, the deeper meaning of You matter. You make a difference. There is no one the present moment won’t feel like you are being relike you! In some way, perhaps many ways, we are jected or inconsequential. We all have our moments, all connected to a power and presence we canand some of them are to simply be present, to particinot see. We can feel it, though. It shows up in our pate, support or to lead. You will feel less like there is being, actions, conversations, thoughts and even nothing you can do when you allow this deeper sense in our stillness. We feel this as our heart swells of being to emerge. Then lean into it. Feel the power with happiness in moments of witnessing achievein the moment, instead of worrying about the next ments, feeling loved, or feeling like we belong to moment, and the next, and so on. There is always a something greater than ourselves. If troubled by way to be involved—and sometimes that means not thoughts of sadness, lonelibeing involved. ness, confusion or anger we can quiet our minds in order to feel this calming presence. When we are quiet, ideas come and remind us of an intelligence that exists to give us answers or solutions. “If you understand that you have always existed, the deeper meaning “I took a deep breath and listened to the old brag of my heart. I am, I am, I am.” — Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar Your existence is revealed when you look inward. All the

Ideas are endless and they of the present outer suggestions, experiences are alive, even though you can’t see them before you. When you move to action, moment won’t feel like you and infl uences are what guide you to discovering who you are. You. The individual, unique the ideas come to life in their are being being that has always been and individual forms and expressions. Just like you. Sometimes people don’t know why they rejected or inconsequential.” always will be. You know instinctively what is right for you. If you are struggling, however, exist, or for what purpose. This you are probably not wanting can certainly be a struggle at times, but when we to listen to the nagging voice inside that is trying to live with the knowledge that we have existed and guide you. Experience will repeat itself until what always will, it can lessen the blurry feeling of not you need to learn becomes the louder voice that you knowing the immediate “why.” listen to. Continue to think about the fact that you

Once you tune in to the fact that you have always have already been created and all you need is within existed and always will, you can go from being you. Listen more to the voice inside and less to the tossed on the waves, to riding the waves, then voices that are simply noise and confusion. You are becoming the waves. important. You matter. You make a difference. There

When we can begin to look beyond the surface of is no one like you! Simply go and just BE. each person we come into contact with, regardless of circumstance, with the knowledge that they were “Become what you are.” — Friedrich Nietzsche created just as we were—by a Divine law of being and existence—we will see their individual uniqueJennifer Durand is the owner and operator of ness. Fear, envy, jealousy, apathy, even neglect will The Nurture Nook Day Spa & Gift Shoppe; she have less weight in how we project our misunderis a certifi ed QiGong and Breathe Empowerstandings onto another. This doesn’t come easily ment instructor, and is licensed in massage most of the time. You have to ask yourself “how do therapy, body work and somatic integration. I want to see myself in eternal existence?” Visit nurturenook.com or facebook.com/

There are far too many injustices that point fi ngers nurturenookdayspa or call 615-896-7110.

Fatherless Homes, Housing Projects Responsible for Many Problems Among Black Americans

Hispanics, Asians, they’re all more susceptible to Want to help the plight of black Americans? Stop

VIEWS OF A CONSERVATIVE pandering and placating. Let’s all address this problem head-on. Let’s stop candy-coating it and acting like slavery has something to do with it. PHIL VALENTINE The epicenter of the problem in the black comphilvalentine.com munity is the Great Society. Well-meaning liberals W hile everyone is focused on the police and so-called large segment of the black population dependent on the government. Ask any cop in any city where the crime is and systemic racism in America, I thought I’d chime in with the candid voice of reason and tell they’ll point to the projects. Ask any successful black person who came from poverty what the key to success is and they’ll tell you it’s getting out of the projects. So why are we still doing it? Why are you what the real problem is. As we still warehousing the most desperate people in protests continued on Father’s society for one-stop shopping for the drug dealers, Day weekend, it’s ironic that few are talking about why black males are far more likely to have a viothe gang leaders, and the pimps? I couldn’t tell you why, but I can tell you this: it’s time to tear down every housing project in America. Now, don’t go thinking that I’m for turning lent run-in with the police. It’s everybody out in the street to fend for themselves. because over 70 percent of black children today are born into a single-mother household. No, but we do need to separate the needy from the greedy. Anyone who’s able-bodied and able-minded needs to get a job. If there aren’t jobs in your city, then the government needs to match people with

The reason black males are more likely to have jobs in other cities and towns. a negative encounter with the police is because Is everybody who’s black on welfare? No, but a disthey have more encounters with the police than proportionate number are. About 39 percent of welany other ethnic or racial fare recipients are white, accordgroup, and that’s primarily because they don’t have a father or even a father fi gure “. . . the negative effects of ing to the Department of Health and Human Services. About 40 percent of welfare recipients are in their lives. fatherlessness black. In other words, whites are Here are some startling statistics from the Department of Justice on children don’t discriminate. White folks, underrepresented and blacks are overrepresented. That’s not because of racism, it’s because from fatherless homes. They Hispanics, Asians, of liberalism. account for 71 percent of all high school dropouts. They comprise 70 percent of the they’re all more susceptible to Liberal politicians know that in order to maintain their grip on black voters they have to juveniles in state-operated denegative outcomes maintain the dependency. So, tention institutions. About 75 percent of adolescent patients in substance abuse centers are when they’re fatherless.” when a wedge like Black Lives Matter comes along, these liberal politicians fan the fl ames fatherless children. They acof discontent and division. count for 63 percent of the youth suicides, and 90 Despite what the media say, racism is not the percent of all homeless and runaway youths. problem. The best thing we can do for all Ameri

What’s interesting is the negative effects of cans, especially black Americans, is put the father fatherlessness don’t discriminate. White folks, back in Father’s Day. tried to right the wrongs of the past by making a negative outcomes when they’re fatherless. It just Phil Valentine is heard each weekday afterhappens to be epidemic in the black community. noon on SuperTalk 99.7FM in Nashville and

A black male born today has a better chance online at 997wtn.com. For more of his comof ending up at the state pen than Penn State. mentary and articles, visit philvalentine.com.

Remember Pat Tillman, Jesse Owens, The Dream Team and Will Smith This Independence Day

THE TRAIN DADDY IS BACK with sports news, life lessons and politically incorrect talk. All aboard!

With one of my favorite holidays around the corner I am going to focus on America and stay positive. I could talk about coronavirus or I could talk about violent mobs destroying statues, attempting to erase history and even defacing Gandhi. GANDHI!

I could talk about how liberal cities across this country have done little to punish criminals as they brazenly commit crimes and put law-abiding citizens in danger. I could talk about how Seattle’s politicians have ruined a beautiful city. I could talk about all the businesses inside the CHAZ. Just imagine being a business owner in Seattle. The police have been told to basically stand down, and the politicians cater to the criminals while Seattle’s mayor jokingly calls it “The Summer of Love.” What a slap in the face to law-abiding citizens needlessly suffering during this time.

I could talk about how the upcoming November election comes down to two choices. You can vote for Joe Biden, who will allow violence to spiral out of control while supporting the idea of defunding the police. Or, you can vote for President Trump, who will continue to support the police in this country and do whatever is in his power to punish people who break the law. Your choice come November: lawlessness or law? All the other antics of these two men are irrelevant when we have lawlessness running rampant. It’s simple for me—please stop the violence!

I have been doing this article series for 10 years, so my readers know I do not walk on eggshells. I pray for this country, I pray for you. It does not matter what your race, gender or religion is because we all deserve respect and equal treatment. I also pray that we can get back to business. People want to work, eat, provide . . . not watch the mob and destruction on the media channels.

In celebration of Independence Day, I believe reminiscing on some of America’s greatest patriotic moments in sports history is a better way to fi nish this article rather than

PAT TILLMAN

pursuing what I could talk about! Happy July pursuing what I could talk about! Happy July 4th. Grill some burgers, some dogs, chug a beer, blow up some fi reworks and take a moment to remember all the men and women who served so we can continue to live in a free country! Also take a moment and remember a great man, my bro Will Smith! He saved us all from the aliens. Yet we have one man more hero than even Will: Mr. Pat Tillman!

Hero Pat Tillman I have given love to Pat Tillman every year for the past decade in these articles. Tillman gave the ultimate sacrifi ce for us. Pat was an Arizona Cardinal, an NFL safety who turned down $4 million to join the Army after 9/11. Pat was killed in Afghanistan in 2004 and became the face of heroism for so many. God bless you, Pat!

Can we forgive Brett Favre? One of my favorite players of all-time seemingly equated Colin Kaepernick (who kneeled for his beliefs) to Pat Tillman (who died for his) as both heroes. Brett later clarifi ed that he did not intend a comparison, and that Pat deserves the highest honor for giving the ultimate sacrifi ce. Damn right!

Do You Believe in Miracles? I wish I could have celebrated with America in 1980 but I was not conceived until 1984, so all I have are numerous movies, stories and documentaries on this event. Nobody believed a group of goofy college players from America had a chance against the beast that was Soviet hockey; those men were professionals and had played together for years. This game was played in the height of the Cold War and there were rumors that the U.S. would boycott the Moscow Olympics. Yet, somehow, they did it. Maybe the most iconic call of all time was when Al Michaels shouted “Do you believe in miracles? Yes!”

Many give President Reagan the credit for ending the Cold War, but it was really the 1980 USA hockey team that took down the USSR. Many forget this was only a semifi nal game. The U.S. then had to come back and play Finland in the gold medal match. They were down 2–1 heading into the third period when Coach Brooks walked into the locker room and said “if you lose this game, you’ll take it to your grave . . . your [expletive] grave!” The Miracle continued and the U.S. came back to beat Finland 4–2, to win gold.

Icon Jesse Owens Another iconic patriotic moment in sports dates to 1936. Jesse Owens, an African American, shamed Hitler in Berlin. Hitler had planned on showcasing the supremacy of the Aryan race in Berlin. Jesse had other ideas. Jesse, a sprinter, clocked times so fast they would have medaled for the next 30 years. Jesse Owens won a record four track golds. Owens opened many people’s eyes, and although some still shunned him, his achievements equaled progress. Owens’ success is one of the greatest moments in American sports history, even if some didn’t know it at the time.

Remember the 1992 Dream Team? Complete domination—they beat teams by an average of 44 points to win a gold medal for USA Basketball. Names like Jordan, Bird, Magic, Barkley, Ewing, Malone. Those guys could suit up in 2020 and probably win another gold.

Never Forget the Perfect Pitch During game three of the 2001 World Series, 49 days after 9/11, as George W. Bush, wearing a bulletproof vest and holding his head high in Yankee stadium, stood alone on the mound. Many people say he looked like an unbreakable statue that night. Bush threw a perfect pitch from the mound, something not easy to do. The crowd went wild, and it was a feelgood moment for America at a time when we needed it.

Quick Rick Monday This is my fi nal patriotic moment. It was 1976 and Rick Monday stopped two protesters from burning a fl ag on fi eld at Dodger Stadium. One unfurled the fl ag and the other took out a lighter, but Monday was faster and snatched the fl ag away before the act was accomplished. “What they were doing was wrong then, in 1976, and in my mind it’s wrong now, in 2006,” Monday said later. “It was also reinforced by a lot of friends who lost their lives protecting the rights and freedoms that fl ag represented.”

Time to wrap this article up. I will not apologize for saying things most people think yet do not have the courage to say. Sorry if it does not fi t in with the narrative being pushed on us. Last I checked, this is America, and free thinking is encouraged.

I fi nd it baffl ing that saying “all lives matter” can trigger people into utter madness. Some of the kinder comments would contend that I do not understand the struggle and that the struggle is real!

I believe black lives matter, white lives matter and all lives matter. A wonderful statement we all should embrace as a world has somehow turned into the wrong thing to say. If I am unknowingly ignorant about the situation, so be it. I love people and I do my best to treat everyone I encounter with the utmost respect. I think I was raised right and I typically succeed in doing that.

God bless America, and God bless you and your family. Choo-choo!