June 2019 Murfreesboro Pulse by The Murfreesboro Pulse

IN MUSIC

SUGAR LIME BLUE / KIN OF LEGENDS / NEPTUNE THE MYSTIC / RAISE A HALLELUJAH / EVERYBODY DRUM SOME JUNE 2019 / VOL. 14, ISSUE 6 / FREE

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

EXPERIENCE MUSIC PRESENTS ANNUAL WORSHIP NIGHT JUNE 14

BRUNCH in the Boro

From the Mill to the Stillhouse, the Goat to Maple Street, discover the area’s best brunch locations

MAYDAY, CULTIVATE HOST PET PHOTO BOOTHS JUNE 20–21

RIDE JONAH RIDE EVENT IN HONOR OF JONAH GUIDER, JUNE 22

K ids Karate Par ty! B I R T H D AY

KICK IT WITH THE MOST FUN BIRTHDAY IN MURFREESBORO!!! B

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FOR JUST $198

YOUR BIRTHDAY BOY OR GIRL WILL RECEIVE:

Kick...i your fr t with iends!

 1 Hour of Karate Games and Drills for Them and Their Friends  A Black Belt Quality Uniform  30 Delicious Cupcakes  A Special Birthday Gift from Us  Every Child in Attendance will Receive Exclusive Discounts for Karate Training  30 Minutes of Party Time for Gifts and Cake

$198 Fee covers up to 10 children. $10 per additional child in attendance.

Punch...and other tasty drinks! N. M’BORO | 1820 NW Broad Street | 615-893-6003

S. M’BORO | 1911 Business Campus Drive | 615-890-6755

B S KO N L I N E . C O M

Contents

28 16 FEATURES

IN EVERY ISSUE

5 Events

EVERYBODY DRUM SOME Community rhythm event returns to Old Fort Park for Make Music Day, June 21.

MEOWFREESBORO Catfeine combines kitties and coffee in a delightful cafe experience.

RIDE JONAH RIDE Motorcycle event keeps Jonah Guider’s memory alive, raises funds for PHA.

BRUNCH IN THE BORO Discover the area’s best brunch locations.

CALENDAR Farmers’ Markets, Yoga, MoonPie Fest, Co-woofing, Lantern Tour at Stones River Battlefield and more!

EVENTS Poetry in the Boro

9 Sounds

Pfeilstorch Incident at Center for the Arts

CONCERTS World Famous Thursday Night Blues Jam, Jackillacs, Rockvale Blue, Mark Henes, Entice and more

UNITED WE STYLE Storytellers, hairstylists and musicians join forces for United Way fundraiser.

PROPERTY TAX HIKE Murfreesboro City officials propose 40 percent property tax increase, many residents suggest cutting spending.

MUSIC NOTES Bonnaroo returns; Raise a Hallelujah Worship Night; Kin of Legends ALBUM REVIEWS Sugar Lime Blue; Neptune the Mystic

16 Living GARDENING The delightfully delicious tomato

Advertising: Don Clark, Leslie Russell-Yost Art Director: Sarah Mayo Publisher/Editor in Chief: Bracken Mayo

22 Art

Copy Editor: Steve Morley

Boro Art Crawl Focus on the Boro photo exhibit

Fun Home: the Musical at Murfreesboro Little Theater

32 Movies REVIEWS John Wick: Ch. 3 – Parabellum; Always Be My Maybe

NEW RELEASES Dark Phoenix; Toy Story 4; Secret Life of Pets 2; Shaft and more

36 News

CAT RESCUE Rutherford Co. firefighters rescue kittens from structure fire.

Contributors: Blake Becker, Sarah H. Clark, Daniel Dibnah, Jennifer Durand, Jordan Hall, Joseph Kathmann, Laura Lindsay, Zach Maxfield, Liane Ojito, Edwina Shannon, Jay Spight, Andrea Stockard, Phil Valentine, Kory Wells, Michelle Willard

BUSINESS BUZZ Juicy Seafood, Krispy Kreme, Big Daddy’s Burger Bar, Seafood Sensation, Acapulco Burrito, Kneucraft Jewelry and more

42 Opinion STARS ALIGN Show respect and properly display Tennessee tri-star logo

PHIL VALENTINE China on quest for world domination through manufacturing. LIVE . . . WELL! Purge and purify using a simple meditation technique. SPIRITUAL MATTERS Sanctuary, sanctuary! READING Ecce Deus SPORTS TALK Transgender sports madness continues.

Copyright © 2019, The Murfreesboro Pulse, 10 N. Public Square, Murfreesboro, TN 37130. Proudly owned, operated and published the first Thursday of each month by the Mayo family; printed by Franklin Web Printing Co. The Pulse is a free publication funded by advertisers. Views expressed in the Pulse do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. ISSN: 1940-378X

10 N. Public Square, Murfreesboro, TN 37130 • 615-796-6248 To carry the PULSE at your business, or to submit letters, stories and photography: bracken@boropulse.com SIGN UP to receive our weekly digital newsletter at BOROPULSE.COM/NEWSLETTER FOLLOW US:

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THE NEW PULSE IS HERE, bringing you all the portmanteau news. You know, “brunch,” “Catfeine,” “Co-woofing,” “rom-com” and that sort of thing. Mash up two words into one, both the sounds and the meanings of the words, and you have yourself a portmanteau. Combine breakfast and lunch, you get brunch. Mash up cats and caffeine and make a new word. Chillax, Brangelina, staycation, Jackalope, tomacco—all sorts of fine portmanteaus pull from two different words to make a new grandtastic creation. Did you know: a moped is a motor pedal, bionic combines the biological and the electronic and smoke + fog = smog? A big thanks goes out to State Rep. Mike Sparks, State Sen. Bo Watson, Gov. Bill Lee and the entire Tennessee General Assembly for being friends to small business and free expression. Our governor signed “Bracken’s Law” on May 24, a date that the generations will look back upon in celebration and triumph for many years to come. Formally known as HB 0899, this act expands the exemption from sales tax on periodicals distributed twice monthly or on a biweekly or more frequent basis to periodicals distributed no less frequently than monthly. In the past, publications printed on newsprint distributed on a monthly basis in Tennessee had to pay state sales tax each time they paid a printer to produce an edition of their periodical; while those that came out every week, or every other week, did not. Thankfully, our state leaders saw fit to put an end to this oppressive, hateful and unjust policy and to introduce some reason, fairness and parity into the state’s taxation of monthly periodicals printed on newsprint. I had no idea how many steps—committees, subcommittees, readings, considerations and reviews—a state bill had to go through before it became a law and a recorded part of Tennessee Code, even a measure like this that had little to no opposition, until I followed this act’s progress over the past five months. That lengthy, multi-step process is part of the system of checks and balances of government, I suppose. An organization that has demonstrated it is not such a friend to small business and free expression is Facebook. The social media giant has become increasingly bolder with banning and censoring a whole variety of ideas and individuals that someone in the company with power simply doesn’t like. Whether it’s information on hemp, the text of the Declaration of Independence, a simple emoji in response to the wrong post or link, Alex Jones, or the banning or limiting of a whole slew of political or religious posts and individuals based on “vague content rules and arbitrary enforcement” as one technology reporter recently put it, Facebook has made it obvious that it is not an open forum for free discourse, but an agenda-driven, power-hungry player in modern media, politics and society. To be clear, I support Facebook’s right to ban and censor whomever it wants. I also support everyone’s right to leave Facebook alone and to share conversations and photos elsewhere. Your dollar is a vote, and if you support Facebook, feel free to pay them, but be aware of the monster that you feed. How many localized, independent media outlets does Facebook take revenue from when so many boutiques, political campaigns, restaurants, fitness centers and stores across the country choose to spend their advertising dollars and their time with Facebook rather than a local publication? “Oh, we just advertise on Facebook.” I guarantee more than one business owner has said that to more than one local media outlet. Well, fine, if you think that benefits you, as I’ve said before, act in your own self-interest, but your decisions matter and will impact tomorrow’s society, and other small businesses around you. Happy Make Music Day! Come out to Old Fort Park on June 21 if you are able and drum some. And remember to make music every day.

Peace, BRACKEN MAYO Publisher/Editor in Chief

A Big Hair, Big Hearts Storytelling Event

June 20th

6:30PM

The Walnut House VIP Preshow + Silent Auction — 5:30PM

Info & Tickets — YourLocalUW.org

Read more about local music at

boropulse.com/category/music

COME DRUM SOME

Everybody Drum Some Returns to Old Fort Park on Make Music Day, June 21 BY BRACKEN MAYO

MURFREESBORO DRUMMERS, music fans and community members will gather once again in Old Fort Park on June 21, as Everybody Drum Some will host its annual Make Music Day community rhythm event tradition. June 21 is worldwide Make Music Day, a celebration of music that started in France in 1982, which also coincides with the summer solstice. In Murfreesboro, Ross Lester, the man behind Everybody Drum Some, uses this day to encourage anyone and everyone to come out and join in a group percussion session, regardless of their experience. Spencer Baker, a frequent participant in Everybody Drum Some group drumming sessions and a friend of Lester’s, says the community rhythm events are one of his favorite community activities, a way to meet interesting local people and to enjoy 12 * JUNE 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

some time outdoors. “The drum events are really fascinating,” Baker says. “They are so open. Anyone who walks by can join in.” Though he wouldn’t call himself a seasoned drummer or a technical master instrumentalist, Baker, and many other Murfreesboro rhythm enthusiasts, find the seasonal Everybody Drum Some community rhythm events very enjoyable, a great way to engage with others in town, to relax, to groove and to express some creativity. “Sometimes folks come to these events not quite knowing what to expect,” Lester said. “They may think to themselves, ‘Everyone playing drums all at once? How can that work?’ Then they are surprised and delighted to find that when all of the participants get on the beat together, we can make some truly amazing music!” Lester really does invite anyone and everyone who would like to participate to join the percussive group, comprised of both young and old, with widely varying levels of musical proficiency. “It proves his mantra that you don’t need formal training to make music together,” Baker says. The Everybody Drum Some events feature some of the widest age ranges of any musical ensemble. “It can be hard for parents or grandparents and teens or young kids to find

some common ground and find things they like to do together,” Baker said; but the participants at the all-ages Murfreesboro community rhythm events may very well be aged 2 or 80. Sharon Stephens, a recreational therapist at the Murfreesboro VA, has attended and participated in some of the Everybody Drum Some community percussion sessions. “Group drumming helps reduces stress and anxiety, it improves mood, builds camaraderie,” she says. “Recreational drumming is very therapeutic. It helps encourage self expression and has many health benefits.” It’s more than just noisy fun—it’s science! While Lester has plenty of rhythmic ideas prior to each community drumming session, each occurrence takes on a unique life and character of its own. “What’s amazing is that from the beginning of the evening to the end of the evening, the whole group really grows together in their ability to communicate musically,” Lester said. He and his drum disciples will have the rhythmists calling and responding, crescendoing and decrescendoing, accenting in unison and free-styling. While collaboration and community are critical to these events, that social and

musical framework does allow for some individual self-expression and creativity. “Everybody has something to say, something to contribute. The drum circle is an opportunity for each person to express themselves as an individual, and yet for all of us to join our voices into one song. It’s community communication,” according to Lester. All are welcome to come join the community in making some joyful music together. The Murfreesboro Community Rhythm Event will take place on Make Music Day, Friday, June 21, starting at 6:30 p.m. at Old Fort Park between the playground and outdoor tennis courts. It’s free to participate and those of all ages are invited to come join the session, or to spectate. Participants can bring drums, shakers, tambourines, wood blocks or percussive instruments of any type, but even those who have no instrument may come out and use one from the extensive Everybody Drum Some collection. To learn more about Everybody Drum Some, visit everybodydrumsome.com; learn more about Make Music Day at makemusicday.org.

ALBUMS BY JORDAN HALL

SUGAR LIME BLUE

NEPTUNE THE MYSTIC

Soul is the essence of rock ’n’ roll, and it’s easy to find by listening to Narcoluptuous by Sugar Lime Blue, a group who spent a couple of decades developing its sound. The album sounds like a step back in time, dripping with soulful mojo and inspired by the ’60s and ’70s, a treasured era when mainstream music was painted by rock royalty. Sugar Lime Blue aren’t new kids on the block. Dave and Ashley Beth started the band in 1999. Bands such as The Allman Brothers, The Grateful Dead and Fleetwood Mac influenced the band’s vintage rock sound, one without an expiration date. Narcoluptuous, the third studio album in Sugar Lime Blue’s discography, should strike a flame in the hearts of veteran classic rock fans with tracks like “Dancing in the Sunshine.” “Laying off the Breaks” features a drum opening reminiscent of John Bonham’s rapid-fire snare rolls heard on Led Zeppelin’s first few albums. There are plenty more nuggets of rock glory as if SLB is carrying on a conversation with ghosts of old. Ashley Beth’s tender vocal style gives Sugar Lime Blue a great touch. It meshes well with the emotional energy of the band and we get a sense of the band’s journey through her effortless delivery. It’s the glue, and the band is tight and relentlessly hip, staying hooked on the groove. Emotional guitar solos are a huge part of the sound. Just about every song features epic, but tasteful, guitar breaks. The guitar parts don’t distract or take over. In fact, many of them effectively rub right against the edge of Ashley’s smooth vocal delivery. Although this album is enjoyable, there’s little innovation and the sound seems to duplicate styles of decades past. Nevertheless, just about any classic rocker in the area should fall in love with Sugar Lime Blue. A vinyl pressing of Narcoluptuous is coming this summer! Visit sugarlimeblue.com for more.

Industrial rock powerhouse Neptune the Mystic blends an interesting marriage of hard rock and symphonic metal on its recent LP, Visions and Nightmares. The album is a downward spiral of really potent metal; however, the band tosses in splashes of other various musical influences to even out the sound. It’s a lot to take in, but Visions and Nightmares may represent one of the most experimental bands in Murfreesboro. Power, ethereal and symphonic are just a few of the metal subgenres used to describe Neptune the Mystic. According to some fans, “werewolf music” is a fair descriptor as well. Hayden C. Gist (guitar), Colin George (drums) and Raphael Borjas (vocals) founded the band in 2013. The trio later became a full five-piece band when Gentry George (synth/keys) and Kaleb Trench (bass) joined. The release captures some sophisticated sonic complexity. It’s composed, arranged and organized like a professional album should be. It follows a narrative of sound from beginning to end. Some bands miss this key element when it comes to making albums. The track list, with its variety of moods, screams versatility. Neptune the Mystic lists Ghost, Rammstein, Nine Inch Nails and Radiohead as a few of the band’s influences. Certain tracks also bring Muse to mind. Songs with mountains of vigor include everything from spacious synth to impactful drums. The vocalist, Borjas, delivers a lot of heart behind his lyricism. Rhythmically, the members are locked on target, and Gentry George plays otherworldly synth leads over the top. It’s a solid project that sounds professionally mixed and mastered. However, while the recordings are all fantastic and punchy, the songwriting could be a little stronger and at times, certain verses come off slightly generic. Though none of the individual songs on the album really hooked me in a memorable way, as a band, they’re instrumentally ferocious and Neptune the Mystic has incredible potential. Find more at neptunethemystic.com.

Narcoluptuous

A CLASSIC OUTSTANDING

Visions and Nightmares

AVERAGE BELOW AVERAGE

AVOID AT ALL COSTS DEAD

Living MEOWFREESBORO

Catfeine Combines Cats and Coffee in Welcoming Space BY BRACKEN MAYO | PHOTOS BY SARAH MAYO IF YOU PREFER having your coffee in the company of kitties, Murfreesboro’s Georgetown Park Shopping Center now houses the purrrfect place to visit with new feline friends. Taura and Curtis Byrd opened Catfeine Cat Cafe in April 2019, and said the community response has been fantastic over the first couple of months of operations. “It’s always fun to see how happy people are when they come in,” Taura said. Some will first look at the business model with skepticism; “you have to pay to come in and pet cats?” they question. But almost all who enter will soon have smiles on their faces as they get drawn into the cute kitty world. Guests first enter the cafe area of the establishment, where a variety of coffee, snacks and cat-themed gear and merch is available. Then, after arranging to purchase a block of time in the main area, through another door visitors will find the cat hangout—a large living room-

16 * JUNE 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

like place, with lots of comfortable seating, a huge mural along one wall depicting Tennessee and cat imagery, various cat toys, tunnels, perches, climbing trees and beds, and at any given time about a dozen felines roaming around and doing what cats do. “We try to cap it at 10–12 people,” Taura said. She’ll often have to help patrons schedule another time to visit the cafe, to avoid the room’s human to cat ratio getting off balance. About five years ago the Byrds learned of the cat cafe idea on Shark Tank, she said. Taura and Curtis decided to bring the concept to Murfreesboro, or “Meowfreesboro,” as she and her cat friends like to call the town. Catfeine patrons can purchase a half-hour visit with the cats for $7. For a facility with many cats running around, it smells quite pleasant in there. “We had a huge exhaust system put in,” Byrd said, and all of the litter boxes

PHOTOS BY DANIEL DIBNAH

are in a private area in the back, where the cats can access them through a small pet door. While many guests have a great time playing with the Catfeine cats for a brief time and heading home, the mission is to place some of the cats into permanent homes. The facility partners with many different shelters and animal rescues in the Middle Tennessee area. “We are not the rescue,” Byrd stresses. “We act as a temporary foster home.” Catfeine does provide a warm, comfortable environment where potential future cat owners can interact with adoptables in a home-like setting. And if a patron shows an interest in claiming a cat, the Catfeine crew will connect them with the corresponding rescue where the cat came from. Each rescue has its own application, fees and adoption process. Generally, the adoption fee for a cat is around $85 “When you get a cat here, they have had all of their vaccinations and all have been spayed and neutered,” Byrd said. Catfeine has already helped find homes for 22 cats in its first two months of operation, Byrd said, as visitors commented on two little black and white kittens. “They were pulled from a euthanization list in Tipton County,” she said. Adding to the fun, Byrd plans for Catfeine to soon host trivia and open-mic nights and other activities. The establishment has already hosted some yoga sessions alongside the cats.

Adopted Bulldog Ace Becomes Smyrna High School Mascot Ace, the mascot of Smyrna High School, comes to work with Assistant Principal Mike Messerly daily. His routine consists of hanging out under Mr. Messerly’s desk, roaming the hallways and attending events like football games and graduations. Ace can chill at sporting events in his custom air conditioned dog house, donated by Craig Kuhnle and LP Building Products. Ace recently celebrated his #gotchaday, the anniversary of his adoption, with a breakfast of doggie pancakes. Ace was adopted from Bullies 2, a Rescue in North Carolina. Find more information on that group at bullies2therescue.com. What a success story—from a caged puppy mill to an official school mascot! Follow Ace on Twitter @TheSmyrna Mascot.

Catfeine Cat Cafe is located at 1602 W. Northﬁeld Blvd. #500. Find more information at catfeine.net.

Smyrna Event Venue Remington Room Named for Owner’s Dog Sir Remington Beauregard, a 3-year-old MatliTzuChon, is a well-known hound about town. He’s a regular on the business networking scene with his mom, Becky Lanham. In addition to being owner of The Warehouse and Dance Murfreesboro, Lanham also recently opened The Remington Room. As you might guess, Smyrna’s newest event venue is named for Remy himself. “He’s just awesome,” Becky says of Remy as the two were at The Remington Room. You can follow Remy on instagram at @sir_remington_beauregard.

Human Animal Bond in Tennessee Brings Dogs into Various Agencies for Animal Assisted Therapy HUMAN ANIMAL BOND in Tennessee, better known as HABIT, has recently expanded to Middle Tennessee. As an outreach program of the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, HABIT has been “changing lives, one visit at a time” since 1986 by bringing the joy of pet visitation to people throughout East Tennessee. In 2018 HABIT opened its Middle Tennessee office with the goal of increasing the reach of animal assisted therapy beyond the settings of nursing homes and schools to also work with people who have experienced trauma, violence, child abuse or sexual assault. HABIT coordinates volunteers who have well-mannered, friendly dogs, cats or rabbits (but mostly dogs) with agencies that want animal visits for their clients or staff. All animals must complete a behavioral evaluation which looks at its temperament and training,

as well as the owner’s handling skills. While HABIT is a volunteer based organization, HABIT also has staff that provides guidance regarding pet visitation, program development and evaluation ensuring good fits for everyone involved—not all therapy dogs are the same! Anyone who would like to be involved with HABIT, either as a volunteer or to have HABIT dogs visit your agency, may attend an information meeting. There are two of these (humans only) meetings in Murfreesboro scheduled in June: June 12 at 4:15 p.m. at the Linebaugh Public Library, 105 W. Vine St., in the second floor board room, and on June 22 at 1:30 p.m. at the Technology Engagement Center, 306 Minerva Dr. For more on HABIT, call 615-6260313 or email habitmt@utk.edu.

Living

“Go Big” Storytellers, Hairstylists and Musicians Join Forces for Annual United We Style BY LAURA LINDSAY The Tangerine Team, from left: Matthew Henry, Kara Kemp, Jim McCarrall and Melissa Kanaley. PHOTO BY ANGEL PARDUE

THE BIGGEST HAIR AND THE BEST TALES ARE WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT. The sixth annual United We Style, an elevated hair show and storytelling event, is scheduled for Thursday, June 20, at The Walnut House, located at 116 N. Walnut St. “Go Big” is all about how people have gone big with their service to our community. The Dolly Parton backdrop fits the bill. “Dolly is also a philanthropist and she says ‘the higher the hair, the closer to God,’” says storyteller Mark Lamb, who will tell his award-winning story “A Boy and his Dolly” at the show. Dolly certainly thinks big. “I really wish that y’all could have seen the look on my lawyer’s face 24 years ago when I told him I wanted to start a theme park and call it Dollywood,” Parton said in 2009 at the University of Tennessee. Tangerine Salon and Spa, in partnership with other area spas, is presenting the United We Style show, which benefits the United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties. The featured stylists are Melissa Kanaley and Connie Lopez of Tangerine, Lindsey Grider and Stevie Beech of L. Grinder Salon, Kheanne Fontaine and Haley Gann of Roosters Grooming, Alicia Beckett and Emily Webb of Urban Image, and 18 * JUNE 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

Emily Robertson of The Social Chair. “This is my third year and I am probably going to do a big old up-do,” Kanaley said. “I am excited. It’s pretty cool with the storytellers and music playing while we hang out in the crowd doing hair.” Local musician Jonny Gowow will perform and provide music for the show. “We’re planning on doing some Dolly Parton, and we’re working with the storytellers to come up with songs that support their work,” he said. Everything will be woven together for a great night, Kemp said.

“This year I am the MC and I am working on surprises and interactive fun for our guests,” said Kemp, who is an actress and general manager at Tangerine. “The show will carry you through like a roller coaster. There is some humor. There will be some real poignant stories.” This year’s featured storytellers are Kemp; Jim McCarrall, owner and stylist at Tangerine Aveda Lifestyle Salon and Spa; Diane Thurman, MTSU associate athletic director; Ronnie Martin, Murfreesboro city councilman; Jason Scales, pastor at Believers Faith Fellowship; and, Robin Seay, agent for Bob Parks Realty.

“We have some great tellers this year,” Kemp said. “Councilman Ronnie Martin. Diane Thurman is a real firecracker and an inspirational go-getter. We have a fellow named Jason Scales who is the pastor out at Believers Faith Fellowship Christian church, then Jim McCarrall, our owner, who we have finally convinced should tell his story because he has a really fabulous story. Robin Spade, she is a mover and a shaker. And then last but definitely not least, Mark Lamb will be back, returning from his national win at Jonesborough last year.” Lamb, of New York City, is coaching all of the storytellers. He has won several awards for his storytelling including the 2018 Jonesborough National Storytelling Festival Slam Winner. “These are their true stories,” Kemp said. “Mark has worked with them by phone to coach them and when he gets in town he’ll coach them again one on one. He is helping them develop their own personal stories about how they have gone big for the community. We chose people who pour their hearts into our town and asked them to do a story on how they do that. It is fun.” Lamb’s story “A Boy and his Dolly” has been sanctioned by Dolly Parton herself and is an official part of the Dollywood Foundation. “I’m thrilled I can tell my story here as a fundraiser for United Way,” Lamb said. “And, I really love the layering in this show.” A VIP party will start at 5:30 p.m. It will be catered by the Alley on Main and there will be drinks from local craft brewer, The Brewsters, who won the Battle of the Brews this year. Cedar Glade Brews will have samples, and there will also be some sangria. The show will start at 6:30 p.m. Everything goes back to the United Way,” Kemp said “We have also tried to choose people to speak who have either been involved in the United Way or have somehow benefited from the United Way—and who are brave enough to tell their story.” Kemp says the best way to purchase tickets is online at the United Way website yourlocaluw.org. Tickets are also available at The Alley on Main, 223 W. Main St. General admission tickets to the show are $15. Tickets including the VIP PreShow Party and special seating are $40. “This show is always fun and being a part of the community is important,” said Tangerine owner Jim McCarrall. “Kara does a good job setting up this event. Come on out and see it. It is a great event.”

PHOTOS COURTESY RICH GUIDER

RIDE JONAH RIDE

June 22 event keeps Jonah Guider’s memory alive, raises funds for PHA BY SARAH H. CLARK

RICH GUIDER HAS A MISSION: he wants to make his son, Jonah, a hero. Jonah Guider passed away at age 10, a victim of pulmonary hypertension. Now, says Rich, “I want to keep his memory alive. And a secondary benefit is raising money to fight pulmonary hypertension.” That’s what Ride Jonah Ride is all about. The event, which is the fourth annual, will take place this year on Saturday, June 22, at Hop Springs Beer Park. The event will begin with a charity motorcycle ride, followed in the evening by an all-ages party that will celebrate Jonah’s life with food, drinks, live music and fun. “We live in an amazing, close-knit community—especially in our neighborhood,” Rich says. “They’ve been our backbone since our loss. If we did anything to raise money in Jonah’s name, they were there.” Every year, the neighborhood gathers on Jonah’s birthday for Papa John’s pizza, Dr. Pepper and mint chocolate chip ice cream—Jonah’s favorites. “And everything is in red, because that was Jonah’s favorite color,” says Rich. Rich’s wife Sheri organized an event called Run Jonah Run, a 5k race that raised money for the Pulmonary Hypertension Association. The event was a success. Then, the first autumn after the Guiders lost Jonah, one of their neighbors suggested to Rich that they also organize a charity motorcycle ride. “Several of us [in the neighborhood] had motorcycles and would go out driving together pretty frequently,” Rich explains. He loved the idea of doing a ride for Jonah. “I had never been to one until then. We threw it together for the following June not really knowing what we were doing,” Rich says. “But I knew what I wanted—an afternoon ride followed by an evening celebration.” That’s just what they did, and the event was so popular they decided to do it again.

This year, they’re expecting around 100 to 150 motorcycles and around four to five hundred to attend in the evening for the second phase of the event, Rock the Red. Riders will receive a free lunch provided by Hunt Brothers Pizza, then go for a ride throughout Middle Tennessee that will end back where they started, at Hop Springs. The evening event starts at 6 p.m. and will include barbecue provided by Batey Farms smoked on site, beer from Hop Springs, prizes and silent auction items (including a red fiddle signed by Charlie Daniels). For the kids, there will be games and root beer floats, and live music will be provided by Mixtape. “Every dime we raise that night goes to PHA,” says Rich. “The donations we raise beforehand from our amazing local sponsors pay for the event itself.” He and Sheri are also grateful to Hop Springs and co-owner Mark Jones. “He said basically, whatever you need for the event, we’ll supply it as a sponsorship,” Rich says. “He caught the vision immediately, and also saw an opportunity to expand their ties in the community.” Jones invited both Ride Jonah Ride and Sherri’s event, Run Jonah Run, to take place at Hop Springs. Run Jonah Run will be held on Nov. 9. Learn more and sign up for Ride Jonah Ride at www.phaevents.org/ ridejonahride.

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Fun. With a Twist. The World’s #1 Wing Coaster, the World’s 2 Longest Water Coasters and the #1 Wooden Coaster in the Nation are one thing. But free soft drinks, free parking and free sunscreen? That’s just the twist you’ve been looking for.

Living

Farmers Market Education Series BY EDWINA SHANNON

WOULD ANYONE ARGUE the deliciousness of a garden fresh tomato? Backyards, farmers’ markets and produce bins showcase the locally grown beauties. Originating in western South America, the Spanish introduced them to Europe. Today, they are the most popular home garden edible. How are your tomatoes growing? Tomatoes grow best in fertile, organically enriched soil with a pH between 6.0 and 6.5. They need plenty of sun. Tomatoes love warm, not parched, soil. So if you have not yet done so, now is a great time to mulch them. Of course, mulching conserves water but equally important is its role in preventing the soil and soil-borne diseases from splashing up on the plants. When the plants get to be about three feet tall, remove the lower leaves. They would be the first leaves to develop a fungus problem. You’ve seen it: leaves losing their greenness to a mottled yellow and brown spot, a curling leaf with brown tips. That is a fungal disease that you don’t want to spread. When you water, focus on watering the roots in the soil, not the plants themselves. Two reasons for this method are minimizing fungus and mold growth plus maximizing the use of your water. They need water regularly. Try to water deeply several times a week rather than a light water every day. A deep watering helps the roots grow down into the soil, extracting nutrients while absorbing water. Irregular watering leads to blossom-end rot and cracked tomatoes. Start watching out for the suckers. These growths are takers and offer no fruit or benefit to the plant. Suckers can be identified as leaf growth that comes out of the joint of two branches. They just take energy away from the plant. The suckers are different than the actual leaf growth. Don’t be removing too many healthy, green leaves. They are needed for photosynthesis and the production of sugars, making the tomato sweet. What if your tomatoes don’t flower? Pinching off the stems of the main plant will encourage the plant to flower. Oddly, later in the season, pinching again will encourage the fruits to ripen. Also in the fall, or upon removal of the plant, minimize next year’s blight by removing all of the finished plant and any dropped leaves and branches. Try to keep the plants off the ground. 20 * JUNE 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

Market Activities in June

The Delightfully Delicious Tomato For me, tomato cages are neither big nor strong enough. If you get a roll of four foot tall fencing and cut it at about three feet, you can make sturdy cages. Roll the fencing and clip it together. They take up a lot of room in the winter but are so useful in supporting the plants. I also use these homemade supports for peas and beans. If you are container gardening, put in one plant per large pot. Make sure your plants get a minimum of 6–8 hours of sun per day. Do not overwater the container. Keep the plant moist, not damp or soggy. If you have a few basil plants, go ahead and plant them near the tomatoes. They are companion plants. Many gardeners outline a tomato area with marigolds. The wives’ tale says that they help to keep the bugs away. Scientifically, the tomato is a fruit, as it develops from the ovary of the flower and contains the seeds of the plant. They are a major dietary source of the antioxidant lycopene with concentrations increasing with the redness of the fruit. They are also a great source of vitamins C and K, potassium and folate, giving a nutritional benefit to every delicious bite. There are hundreds of tomato varieties in the world. What are the basic differences and uses? From NatureFresh Farms, I got these descriptions: Many consider the GRAPE TOMATO to be the perfect balance between acid and sugar,

creating a delicious taste. They are meaty and versatile and can be used in salads, for snacking, in sandwiches, or for grilling and roasting. RED BEEFSTEAK tomatoes are considered the King of the Tomatoes. It is the tomato for salsas. They are juicy with a mild flavor and the traditional tomato taste. Best used in sauces, salsas, grilling, dips and burgers. GREEN BEEFSTEAKS are tart and crunchy. They can be used in sandwiches, desserts, salsas, sauces, juices, pickling and grilling. CHERRY TOMATOES have a candylike sweetness. Often used for snacking, also consider use in salads and sauces or for grilling and skewers. COCKTAIL TOMATOES have an herbaceous aroma with a sweet, fruity aftertaste. They are soft-walled, meaty with few seeds. Use them in sauces, roasting, stuffing, salads and pasta. ROMA TOMATOES have a full-flavored, tangy, traditional taste. They are meaty, so use in sauces, sandwiches and salads. HEIRLOOMS liven up a menu. They vary greatly in color, texture and flavor. Enjoy!

THE RUTHERFORD COUNTY FARMERS’ MARKET is held from 7 a.m. to noon each Tuesday and Friday at the Lane Agri-Park Community Center, 315 John R. Rice Blvd., Murfreesboro. It is a producer-only market. FREE Classes are held at the Community Center Classroom each day the Farmers’ Market is open. They start at 9 a.m. and last about one hour. JUNE 4 4-H STEM – Build a Boat JUNE 7 Organic Fertilizers for Yardeners JUNE 11 Freezing Foods JUNE 14 Butterﬂy Gardening JUNE 18 4H STEAM JUNE 21 Low-Input Landscapes JUNE 25 Seasonal Eating JUNE 28 Dairy Product Fermentation JULY 2 Cooking with Kids JULY 5 Vermicomposting Additionally, the MAIN STREET SATURDAY MARKET on the Square is held each Saturday through October from 8 a.m. to noon. And the SMYRNA DEPOT FARMERS’ MARKET opens June 15 and will continue each Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon on Front Street in downtown Smyrna.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 45

Art

 POETRY

BY KORY WELLS

‘Roller Coaster of Emotions’ Caused Denise Wilson to Write; Poetry in the Boro June 9 DENISE SATTERFIELD WILSON first began writing to express a “roller coaster of emotions” following the murder of her son’s best friend, Darius Dobbins, in 1986, when the friends were only 17. More than 30 years later, the Murfreesboro resident is still writing. She has shared her poems and short stories at numerous schools and colleges, churches, prisons, coffee houses, the Tennessee Women’s Theater Project and the Southern Festival of Books. Published in journals such as Contempora and Calliope Magazine, Denise is the author of one chapbook, Sassy Thoughts, Sweet Memories and Poetic Vibes. She’ll be bringing those poetic vibes to Poetry in the Boro at its June event. Also catch a new young adult book club and a poetry workshop this month.

ter to participate online. And if you want to get a headstart on July’s reading, that selection is We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal.

JUNE 9 Poetry in the Boro Sunday evening, June 9, poets, writers and actors will convene at Murfreesboro Little Theatre, 702 Ewing Blvd., to hear Denise and enjoy “In Other Voices,” which features actors reading poetry that attendees submit. Poems may be attendee’s own work, or poetry published by others. This event is free. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the program starts at 7. For more details, see Poetry in the Boro on Facebook.

I’m from those Murfreesboro cotton fields my Grandpa slaved in at the ripe old age of 5, his tiny fingers dripping drops of crimson that trickled back to Egyptian shores, his caramel face speckled with freckles from endless hours in the scorching hot sun. I’m from a wealth of stories my Grandma told me, passed down from her mother’s mother, of ancestors long dead and gone, whose dreams of a fantasy called freedom gave them the strength to carry on. Denied an education because of the color of their skin, they died an owned piece of property . . . went to their unmarked graves as slaves. I’m from a childhood filled with pick-up sticks, cat eye marbles, jacks & hopscotch, rubber balls, Bolo Pads, Betsy Wetsey dolls, BB bats, Western Fliers, moon pies and mud pies, jaw breakers & Sputnik Bubblegum that turned my lips & mouth turquoise blue.

JUNE 13 New YA Book Club The Murfreesboro Barnes & Noble store has summer selections for a young adult book club posted online. June’s selection, Again, But Better by Christine Riccio, is a coming-of-age story with thought-provoking themes related to anxiety, independence, and entitlement. The discussion will take place at 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 13. Learn more or regis22 * JUNE 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

JUNE 22 Staging the Page Workshop Murfreesboro Poet Laureate Kory Wells and actress, director and AcTEENg founder Jamie Stevens are hosting a workshop at Murfreesboro Little Theatre. “Staging the Page: Cultivating Your Poetic Voice” will help participants make the most of a poem on both the page and in spoken delivery. A two-hour session from noon to 2 p.m. will offer critique and tips on both written and spoken delivery in a small group setting. Following a short break, participants who wish to rehearse their pieces for additional feedback may do so. The session will conclude by 4 p.m. A minimum $25 donation to benefit Poetry in the Boro and AcTEENg is requested. Find more details on Facebook. Pre-registration by emailing poetryintheboro@gmail.com is requested.

Where I’m From

Excerpt of a poem by Denise Wilson

Art! Wine! Fun! Smyrna Depot DiStrict Art CrAwl  SaturDay, June 8, 2019  6–9 p.m. a free, family-frienDly, Self-guiDeD tour of art in 3 Smyrna locationS What Who Where When A free, family-friendly, self-guided tour of art (over 200 paintings, photography, sketches, graphic design and more!) from Middle Tennessee artists of all ages. Take your time and explore each of the 3 locations at your leisure. Peruse and purchase works directly from exhibiting artists. Place a vote for your favorite entry. Sample wine from local wineries. Live music, dinner, drinks, coffee and dessert are just steps away on historic Front Street.

DePoT BuiLDing  98 FronT ST.

Hosted by the Town of Smyrna Arts Commission in partnership with Carpe Artista and the Tennessee Arts Commission.

Smyrna, Tennessee’s Historic Depot District The Historic Depot Building 98 Front St. Town of Smyrna Assembly Hall 110 Front St. Carpe Artista Training Center 101 Front St. Free Parking on Lowry St.

CArPe ArTiSTA TrAining CenTer  101 FronT ST.

THe SMyrnA ArTS CoMMiSSion strives to connect art, culture and community through advocacy, awareness and celebration. Discover the thriving arts scene in Smyrna - a vibrant and growing scene that is both receptive and friendly. The Smyrna arts community is made up of serious full-time working artists, hobbyists, designers, makers and art lovers. Join us!

More info at www.depotdistrictartfest.com

Saturday, June 8, 2019, 6–9 p.m. rain or shine. People’s choice awards immediately following the crawl in the Carpe Artista Training Center.

ASSeMBLy HALL  110 FronT ST.

Art

 EXHIBITS

 Artwork by Shelby Rehberger, and Bruce Frazier 

Next Boro Art Crawl Event Set for June 14  THE BORO ART CRAWL RETURNS to downtown Murfeesboro on Friday, June 14. The June event features several new venues, some new to the crawl, some new to town. The event, held Friday evening from 6–9 p.m., features local and regional artists displaying and selling their artwork. The June crawl will include live painting exhibits, live music, refreshments, food trucks and more at various downtown venues. Artists participating in the June 14 event include E. Roy Lee, Victoria Vega, Becky Dickovich, Amberly Clemmons, Gregory Lannom, Jeff Carlton, Brette Leonardson and many others. Focus on the Boro, a community photography show and competition, will be on display in the Murfreesboro City Hall Rotunda through July 5. The artists reception for that exhibit will occur during the June Art Crawl. The Boro Art Crawl is held the second Friday of every other month at local businesses and venues in and around downtown Murfreesboro. Artists can submit their work for consideration of inclusion in future crawls through boroartcrawl.com. The project is a community endeavor, with local businesses, artists, sponsors, supporters and media all playing a role. Email boroartcrawl@gmail.com for sponsorship opportunities. View the official Boro Art Crawl Map on page 25.

PHOTO BY JODY HOEVELMANN

Focus on the Boro Community Photo Project on Display Through July 5 Find the latest custom Murfreesboro Pulse newsrack, displaying art by John Dixon, at Hop Springs. The box, done in black, white, grey and silver, features intricate and pleasing geometric mandala patterns, swirls and floral bursts. The rack is the latest in the series of Pulse display cases found around town decorated by local artists. 24 * JUNE 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

NEARLY 100 LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHERS submitted over 260 images to the 2019 Focus on the Boro project, a community endeavor designed to encourage photographers of all skill levels and ages to shoot, enjoy and display their photography. The Rotunda Gallery at Murfreesboro City Hall will display an exhibit featuring the works through July 5. Judges will view the works the first week of June, and select contest winners in various categories. Organizers will announce winners at a reception on Friday, June 14, from 6–9 p.m. Many of the photographers, ranging in age from 7 to 80, will be present at that event, and the evening will include live music and refreshments. Murfreesboro City Hall is located at 111 W. Vine St. For more information on Focus on the Boro, contact Jessica Nelson at photographyconnectmboro@gmail.com.

event map / Friday, June 14, 2019 / art / music / poetry / local 1

rt Crawl

 GReeN Curated by Art Crawl organizers with art for all ages  PuRPLe Self-curated galleries

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Read more about local restaurants at

BoroPulse.com/Category/Food

Let's Do BRUNCH

Boneﬁsh Grill  505 N. Thompson Ln. A dependable, upscale food chain, mainly known for its seafood, now offers brunch. Their signature item is the Surf and Turf Benedict and, best of all, they offer endless mimosas.  Maple Street Eagleville 161 N. Main St., Eagleville It’s a great place to enjoy quality food in a picturesque town, and in contrast to the historic small town surroundings, the interior is modern. Great attentive service, the owner even came to ask how I enjoyed my meal. Maple Street Grill serves Sunday brunch from 10:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. with rich selections like country fried steak, a doughnut burger, crab cakes, a Monte Cristo wafﬂe and the Redneck Benny, a creation featuring biscuits topped with bacon or sausage, scrambled eggs and sausage gravy.

in the Boro

From the Mill to the Stillhouse, the Goat to Maple Street, discover the area’s best brunch locations BY LIANE OJITO MURFREESBORO’S BUSTLING FOOD SCENE is expansive and brunch-ready. Although National Brunch Day is coming up the second Sunday in June, many in Murfreesboro celebrate brunch—that lovely meal that can include sweet french toast, savory hot chicken, protein-packed eggs, mimosas and cocktails, fruit, sausage, grits, cheese, muffins, steak, coffee, pancakes and just about anything—all throughout the year. Here are my thoughts on some of my favorite Murfreesboro establishments I had the pleasure of brunching at, and a roundup of so many more I haven’t yet had the chance to try.

 CJ’s Restaurant 352-A W. Northﬁeld Blvd. CJ’s serves the classics on its brunch menu. They can be extremely full and sometimes a tad slow, that’s because it is so popular. I did enjoy their live piano playing on Sunday. Find steaks, french toast, chicken tenders, pancakes, omelettes and even a dish featuring fried catfish and grits at CJ’s. 28 * JUNE 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

Goodness Gracious at the Mill  5418 Murfreesboro Rd., Readyville I encountered this historic and scenic brunch spot by happenstance, and boy, was I pleased. Not only will you enjoy great food and great service but you can take a stroll along the beautiful grounds complete with a riverfront view. The signature Goodness Gracious item is their grits and shrimp. Though they don’t serve alcohol, guests are welcome to bring their own champagne and wine. The only drawback to this wonderful place is they aren’t open every day, so make sure to look up their schedule and inquire about reservations.  Puckett’s Grocery 114 N. Church St. This Tennessee chain is dependable and conveniently located on the Murfreesboro Public Square. Puckett’s serves breakfast daily from 7–11 a.m. and they offer a weekend brunch buffet, available on Saturdays and Sundays from 7 a.m.–1 p.m. Their full bar is available for mimosas and bloody marys any time. They offer classic breakfast platters and a local “Build a Biscuit” brunch favorite. CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 28

 Short Mountain Stillhouse Restaurant 8280 Short Mountain Rd., Woodbury Stillhouse Restaurant serves brunch every Sunday from 10 a.m.– 3 p.m. Their signature brunch item is their bourbon french toast with farm fresh eggs and the place also offers a build-it-yourself bloody mary bar.

 Parthenon Grille 1962 S. Church St. For an elegant, upscale brunch experience, this is the place to go. The food was great and the service wonderfully attentive. This family owned Greek-themed steakhouse takes the time to present its food beautifully. Find some classics and some unique creations.

Let's Do BRUNCH

in the Boro

 Wall Street 121 N. Maple St. Located on the Square, this bar turns into a breakfast spot from 7–10:30 a.m. Monday through Friday and features brunch on weekends from 11 a.m.–2 p.m. They feature biscuits, breakfast bowls and build your own omelettes.

 Mimi’s Cafe 2625 Medical Center Pkwy. Another popular chain, with breakfast everyday and very popular weekend fare that draws a large crowd. Mimi’s offers a mushroom and brie omelet, an in-demand carrot-raisin-nut bread, and if you like mimosas, they are bottomless everyday for $15 per person. Metro Diner  711 N. Thompson Ln. This fun retrothemed diner serves up all the classics, with all-day breakfasts and features favorites like chicken and wafﬂes and spicy bloody marys, among varying specials. 30 * JUNE 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

Bar Louie 2615 Medical Center Pkwy. 615-410-4120

Mimi’s Cafe 2625 Medical Center Pkwy. 615-893-1352

Blue Cactus 2805 Old Fort Pkwy. 615-962-7220

Parthenon Grille 1962 S. Church St. 615-895-2665

Boneﬁsh Grill 505 N. Thompson Ln. 615-217-1883

Party Fowl 127 SE Broad St. 615-617-3909

CJ’s Restaurant and Catering 352 W. Northﬁeld Blvd. 615-964-0390

Puckett’s Grocery & Restaurant 114 N. Church St. 629-201-6916

Farmers Family Restaurant 1958 Old Fort Pkwy. 615-867-7717 First Watch 1970 Medical Center Pkwy. 615-867-2525 Goodness Gracious at the Mill 5418 Murfreesboro Rd., Readyville 615-563-6455 Hank’s Honky Tonk 2341 Memorial Blvd. 615-410-7747 Hickory Falls 999 Industrial Blvd, Smyrna 615-459-3900 Maple Street Grill 161 N. Main St., Eagleville 615-274-2001 Metro Diner 711 N. Thompson Ln. 615-671-7909 Miller’s Grocery 7011 Main St., Christiana 615-893-1878

Romano’s Macaroni Grill 2535 Medical Center Pkwy. 615-893-6670 Short Mountain Distillery 8280 Short Mountain Rd., Woodbury 615-563-1243 The Alley on Main 223 W. Main St. 615-203-3498 The Goat 2355 Adwell St. 615-203-8245 The Green Dragon Pub and Brewery 714-F W. Main St. 615-801-7171 The Pfunky Griddle 525 N. Thompson Ln. 615-410-3980 Wall Street 121 N. Maple St. 615-867-9090 Call for hours and details.

Movies

REVIEWS

difference, but that’s why someone like me (who couldn’t care less about the John Wick lore at this point) keeps coming back to this franchise. In a post-Bourne Identity world, where so much of what’s considered “action films” is inhibited by Marvel doing whatever they feel like with whatever budget they want, few franchises pay this close attention to detail while making every cent of their production budget count. That said, the budget of this film clearly

went to the stunts and action sequences, because the lore continues to be completely uninteresting to me. Sadly, much of the second act of this film investigates said lore of this franchise, and for people like myself who don’t care it was very boring. On a surface level the lore is interesting, but it contorts itself to service the protagonist John Wick at every turn, which makes it ridiculous and unbelievable. Keanu Reeves’s portrayal of John Wick has lost the pizzazz it once had, an unfortunate result of the fact that there’s now three of these films. Long gone are the iconic lines of previous installments. However, that’s a rather marginal complaint for the film and franchise. After all, you come for the breathtaking action sequences and tolerate the lore as a trade-off. Because of how much time this film spends on its lore, I don’t think Parabellum will do a good job bringing in new fans, (start with John Wick: Chapter 2 if you’re new to the franchise), but for those who are already dug in, Parabellum delivers exactly what you’re looking for: mesmerizing action scenes with a mediocre story as the backdrop. — JOSEPH KATHMANN

sure to use the best ingredients. Ali Wong mostly worked in TV and animation before this lead turn, but is probably most famous for her excellent stand-up specials (also on Netflix). She’s great as Sasha, exhibiting the archetypical successful workaholic trope in a realistic, non-caricature, kind of way (read: not humorless). Randall Park (Fresh Off the Boat, Veep, Ant-Man and the Wasp) continues

to shine as Marcus. After losing his mother in an accident shortly before his and Sasha’s fallout, Marcus remains in stasis: living at home with his dad, smoking weed and playing in the same band at the same club nearly a decade and a half later (his band, Hello Peril, is actually quite good, especially considering they are a fictional movie band). Michelle Buteau as Sasha’s friend Veronica deserves some credit too. Veronica is funny and helpful, but in a well-rounded way antithetical to most romcom “best friend” types who don’t seem to exist beyond the lives of the main characters. As Always Be My Maybe hits the required beats of the genre, it remains grounded, witty and breezy. It could coast along on the strength of its script and talent alone, but a little over halfway through, the film throws in an extended cameo more inspired than Bill Murray in Zombieland. This not-so-secret appearance (IMDB somehow gives this person top billing) makes for two of the most hilarious back-to-back scenes in an already funny movie, like wrapping scallops in bacon. — JAY SPIGHT

JOHN WICK: CH. 3 PARABELLUM DIRECTOR Chad Stahelski STARRING Keanu Reeves, Halle Berry, Laurence Fishburn, Ian McShane, Anjelica Huston RATED R

The latest installment in the unexpectedly solid John Wick franchise is exactly what you’d expect: more of the same. Now, is more of the same a good or a bad thing? Did you like the first two John Wick films? Then it’s safe to say you’ll like this one. Did you not care about, or not watch, either of the previous two films? This probably isn’t the place to start. That said, I fall squarely into the former category, and, as you may expect, I had a ball of a time here. At its core, John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum is a phenomenally choreographed action movie with some breathtaking visuals. This franchise is the pillar for what a modern action film should look like, second only to the Mission: Impossible franchise

for best action movie franchise in Hollywood today, (sorry, James Bond / Fast and Furious). At its core is its heart-stopping fight sequences. These sequences showcase the very best of what Hollywood can do in 2019, with cinematography that actually allows you to see the action unfold. Who knew doing something as simple as shooting your action sequences with as few cuts as possible and giving us wide shots so we can see everything would make such a huge

ALWAYS BE MY MAYBE DIRECTOR Nahnatchka Khan STARRING Ali Wong, Randall Park, Michelle Buteau RATED PG-13

With Crazy Rich Asians setting the precedent that an all-Asian-cast, all-Asian themed romcom can find huge success in the American market, it’s a little odd that Netflix would decide to limit Always Be My Maybe to such a small theatrical release (one theater in L.A. at the time of writing this review). But, lucky for us they did, because Always Be My Maybe is an equally delightful, if not funnier, com-rom (little more “com” than “rom”) than last year’s megahit, and, if you subscribe to Netflix, is far cheaper to watch as well. Co-written by its co-stars, Always Be My Maybe stars Ali Wong and Randall Park

as Sasha and Marcus, two childhood best friends who awkwardly hook up in their late teenage years. That ill-timed night leads to a 16-year estrangement until they reunite when (now celebrity chef ) Sasha returns to San Francisco to open a restaurant and Marcus ends up repairing her A/C. Like an old family recipe, the film sticks to a tried and true formula, while making

A CLASSIC

32 * JUNE 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

OUTSTANDING

AVERAGE

BELOW AVERAGE

AVOID AT ALL COSTS

DEAD

OPENING IN MAY PLAYING THIS MONTH

JUNE 7 Dark Phoenix The Secret Life of Pets 2 I Am Mother

JUNE 14 Men In Black International Murder Mystery Shaft The Last Black Man in San Francisco

JUNE 21 Toy Story 4 Anna Childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Play JUNE 26 Annabelle Comes Home JUNE 28 Yesterday Ophelia

News Murfreesboro City Officials Propose 40 Percent Property Tax Increase Many residents suggest cutting spending STORY BY BRACKEN MAYO AS THE MURFREESBORO CITY Council considers City Manager Craig Tindall’s proposed 2019–20 budget—one which calls for a significant property tax increase for those residing in Murfreesboro— many voters say that city leaders should keep the rapid growth of city government under control. The proposed budget, if adopted in its current form, would raise the Murfreesboro property tax rate from about 94 cents per $100 of assessed value to a rate of $1.31 per $100 of assessed value, an increase of about 40 percent. “Leave property taxes alone,” said Murfreesboro resident Susan Westerfield. “We are being robbed as it is!” She referenced the recent institution of a Murfreesboro trash pick-up fee, a mandatory $60 per year per garbage can that residents must now pay and a mechanism that critics say was really a property tax increase in disguise. “The simple fact is,” said Steve Lane, “this council, led by [Murfreesboro Mayor Shane McFarland], has engaged in profligate spending that has far outpaced the city’s ever-increasing revenues.” The proposed Murfreesboro rate of $1.31 per $100 of assessed value would compare to tax rates of .417 in Franklin, .607 in Lebanon and .758 in Hendersonville, according to comptroller.tn.gov. (Those figures reflect the city’s tax rate only; all homeowners must also pay a county property tax as well, which is $2.099 per $100 of assessed value in Rutherford County; Davidson County residents pay $2.755, while Cannon County residents pay $2.383.) Jeff Rainwater noted that Murfreesboro’s city tax rate is already far higher than those of surrounding towns, “And we need to pay more? I think we should be discussing how much of a tax cut should be implemented this year. I compared us to Hendersonville, Lebanon, Franklin, Smyrna and Mt. Juliet. They have sports facilities. If I was a company looking for a home, I would stay 34 * JUNE 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

away from a city with irresponsible spending habits. We have a spending issue, not a revenue issue,” Rainwater said. “If you want more money, do the right thing—put it to a referendum. Let the people decide before you start taking more money out of families’ budgets,” Rainwater posted on the Mayor McFarland Facebook page, where the mayor and Murfreesboro constituents engage in discussion of city topics. “It is time to scrutinize every dollar with no sacred projects or departments.” City officials say that even with the increased property tax rate in the proposed 2019–20 budget, the Murfreesboro property tax rate would still be lower than it was 20 years ago. Though, with a much larger tax base and higher property values, city manager Tindall’s budget would grow the annual general fund expenditures from $172 million to $188 million (this does not include schools, water and electric departments, which are presented in separate budgets). The proposal also calls for an additional 39 full-time City of Murfreesboro employees, with 25 of those going to the police department, and six going to the parks and recreation department. The proposed general fund budget would primarily go to: Police – 27% Public Works (transportation, engineering, streets, parking garages) – 21% Fire – 16% Community Services (parks, golf, senior center, recreational buildings) – 13% Administration – 10% David Criswell cites figures that show while Murfreesboro’s population has increased 27% since 2010, the city’s budget has increased over 80% in those same years. “There is plenty to cut. You just don’t want to cut it. It’s bragging rights for the city to have a golf course and soccer fields and airplane hangars. And so, here we are,

deeper in debt, talking about raising taxes. I’m not advocating we cut teachers’ pay or do away with parks services,” Criswell said. “I’m talking about cutting airplane hangars, golf courses, etc. If the airplane hangar business is so great, I bet you’d have folks lined up to build them. So let them! Don’t put that on the backs of the citizens. “Where was all this tax increase discussion when you were voting on $58 million for airplane hangars and soccer fields?” Criswell continued on Mayor McFarland’s online forum. “You knew people would be furious if you proposed a tax increase surrounding those issues. So what do you do? Pass it, then come back and ask for the money for schools a month later. “You spent your grocery money on a trip to Disney World, and now you are crying about how you can’t afford to feed your kids!” Numerous local voters do say that they enjoy living in a city such as Murfreesboro with great parks, a good standard of living, plenty of activities and businesses, low crime and, for the most part, quality services, and say the administration is doing a fine job growing the area into a larger town. Some property owners state they wouldn’t mind paying more taxes for the right to reside in a quality city. On the other extreme, Brandon McNaughton says “Property tax is immoral. It implies that the true owner of a property is not the deed holder, but the government. Fail to submit, and the property is stolen from the deed holder.” Many seem to simply want a rational government that protects and serves the area residents without taxing and spending too frivolously. “There are things the city chooses to become involved in that should be left to

private enterprise,” John David Floyd said. “Perhaps we should examine where our tax dollars are being spent. I for one see no need for multiple municipally owned golf courses, tennis courts, nor do I see a reason for city government to own land and give it away to prospective successful employers in the form of corporate welfare. Why should government compete with private citizens who wish to sell their private property? Hard to compete with free land versus paying a fair market price.” Danny Pitts asks the council and the mayor to “please reconsider” such a drastic property tax hike. “We are taxed to death already— sales tax, wheel tax, gas tax, federal tax, SS, Medicare, city property, county property.” With all of the new property owners in the city limits over the past 10 years, Tyler Weaver says he feels “There should be an excess of funds.” Many residents want the city to raise the fees on new home construction, and to have those constructing and residing in the new homes in the city pay more of what their impact would cost, rather than placing such a burden on the existing property owners to fund the price of the growth caused by new residents and development. “We have a study out right now on impact fees. We have been working and discussing this for almost six months to figure out a fair way to address,” Mayor McFarland posted. Find the City of Murfreesboro Proposed Annual Budget for FY 2019– 2020 and contact and meeting time information for the City Council on murfreesborotn.gov. The City Council will hold a public comment hearing on Thursday, June 6, from 7–9 p.m. at Murfreesboro City Hall, 111 W. Vine St.

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From left: Firefighter Will Farris provides oxygen to a rescued kitten; firefighters Jonah Fettig and Jason Baird

Rutherford County Firefighters Save Kittens from Structure Fire ON THE AFTERNOON OF MAY 17, members of Rutherford County Fire & Rescue, Lascassas Volunteer Fire Department and Almaville Volunteer Fire Rescue Department responded to a structure fire on Bennett Street in Murfreesboro. The crews soon discovered that a dozen kittens were still inside the structure. Capt. Larry Sloan directed crews to rescue “these rambunctious and frightened little precious fur babies.” All kittens were safely removed, revived with oxygen as needed, and “loudly proclaiming their gratitude,” according to Capt. Sloan. Following the incident, RCFR public information officer Lisa Sloan supplied some pet fire safety information to the Pulse, based upon American Fire Administration guidelines. According to the AFA, house fires affect approximately 500,000 pets each year. Make sure you know how you can keep your pets safe from fire dangers. PREVENT FIRES The first step is to make sure your pet does not start a fire. Pets are drawn to flickering candles like moths to a flame. Besides the risk of being burned, your pet can start a house fire if they accidentally knock the candle over. Never leave lit candles unattended, especially if they are

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within reach of your pet. Also be careful with halogen lamps and space heaters that can start a fire if knocked over by a wagging tail or a curious cat. Finally, be mindful of dangling electrical cords that can strangle your pet or electrocute them if chewed upon. Chewed and damaged cords should be replaced immediately since they can be a fire hazard. BE PREPARED 1. Be sure you have plenty of smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors in your home. 2. Check your smoke and carbon dioxide detectors regularly and change their batteries at least twice a year. 3. Make sure all of your pets wear a collar with identification tags and have a microchip implanted. Taking these precautions can avoid the heartache of a lost pet during these times of chaos. 4. Create an evacuation plan for your family and pets. Make sure everyone in your family knows the escape routes. 5. Keep leashes, pet carriers and treats by an exit. You will need these to help evacuate your pets during a fire. Unfortunately, no matter how hard we try, we can’t prevent or predict every emergency, but what we can do is to be prepared. Being prepared is the best way you can improve your chances for a safe outcome.

AROUND TOWN ’BORO BUSINESS BUZZ

Hop Springs, Upscale Male, Juicy Seafood, Seafood Sensation, Revintaged Lemon, Smash Bowl, Garage Barre, Kneucraft

While it’s not moving, WOODSVIKING BARBER SHOP is expanding. Perhaps the manliest barber in town, Woodsviking is taking over the space next to them, former home of Two-Tone Tattoos.

BY MICHELLE WILLARD Murfreesboro now officially has a new beer park, after HOP SPRINGS celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting Thursday, May 23, at the venue’s operations just off John Bragg Highway. Rutherford County Mayor Bill Ketron, venue founder and co-owner Mark Jones, MTSU fermentation science program director Tony Johnston and others proclaimed Hop Springs, which had a soft opening in late December, officially open. The crowd then ventured outside for a ceremonial ribbon-cutting ceremony. The event included music, food and beverages, and tours of the new analytical and fermentation science labs in Hop Springs’ building space. The MTSU degree program, which recently graduated its first class, has gained interest from prospective students from all across the country. The recent grads had internships with Yoplait yogurt, Hop Springs and other companies. Jones, an MTSU School of Agriculture alumnus, and business partner Derrick Morse opened their venture and partnered with MTSU to provide lab space in the large facility that features soon-to-open Steel Barrel Brewery. Fermentation science has had its first graduating class of six students, all of whom are now working in the industry. In addition to numerous craft beers, customers can purchase a craft root beer and extremely popular MTSU chocolate milk along with a menu of food items. To learn more, visit hopspringstn.com or call 615-628-8776. OTHER BUSINESS NEWS KNEUCRAFT FINE JEWELRY & DESIGN has leased a 1,484-square-foot retail space on the ground floor of One Fountain Plaza at Fountains at Gateway. Kneucraft Fine Jewelry & Design is a family owned and operated custom jewelry store that designs and hand-makes bridal, special-occasion and casual jewelry as well as high-end, one-of-a-kind pieces. The store 38 * JUNE 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

also carries upscale watch lines. Kneucraft has been in operation for 28 years in upstate New York, in the city of Plattsburgh. Owners Shawn and Kimberly Kneussle and their son and head jeweler Ryan Kneussle are relocating the business to Murfreesboro. The build-out of Kneucraft Fine Jewelry & Design is underway and slated to open in mid-June. Kneucraft is known for its old-school hand fabrication which includes hand carving and the creation of wax models, a proven tradition that guarantees accuracy down to finite detail. The jeweler also uses the latest CAD design technology, which pinpoints accuracy and balance in the design. Visit kneucraft.com for more information. The Fountains at Gateway also got its coffee shop when a Just Love Coffee location opened in early May. JUST LOVE COFFEE CAFÉ serves a full menu of its

specialty drip coffee, traditional espresso, cold brews, and signature lattes as well as a wide range of breakfast, lunch and dinner entrees, sandwiches, salads and sweets. MOVING AROUND A few downtown businesses have found new homes or expanded the ones they already had. REVINTAGED LEMON has moved across downtown. The sophisticated farmhouse decor shop closed up its little yellow house on North Walnut Street and moved into the former location of Moxie Art Supply. ReVintaged Lemon is now at 302 W. Vine St. in Murfreesboro. GARAGE BARRE vacated its storefront on the west side of the Square for new digs on the east side. The fitness studio is now located in the spot at the Vine and Church intersection last occupied by Smotherman Antiques.

LOOKING FOR A JOB? MURFREESBORO TECH COUNCIL recently launched a local job board in support of its community jobs initiative. The job board allows applicants to create a résumé profile and search for available jobs in Murfreesboro and allows Murfreesboro business owners create a business profile and to post open positions on the board free of charge as long as they are a member of the Tech Council. Creating a profile on the website will link to the business owner’s website creating an external link (which aids the company’s SEO.) To sign up for membership and to use this free local business tool, register at murfreesborotechnology.com. Support and more information is available from the MTC Team at info@murfreesborotechnology.com. FOOD NEWS We may be landlocked, but that doesn’t mean we don’t need a boatload of seafood restaurants. Smyrna has one that is getting ready to make landfall. JUICY SEAFOOD is set to occupy the old Shoney’s restaurant at 267 N. Lowry St. in Smyrna. According to its website, Juicy Seafood, which has a location in Hermitage, serves Louisiana-style fare. Joining the party, Murfreesboro will soon be home to SEAFOOD SENSATION, which is slated to open in August. The restaurant will be located at 123 S.E. Broad St., former home of The Block restaurant. I wish them luck, but I think that spot may have bad mojo. The Murfreesboro shop will be the third in Middle Tennessee for Seafood Sensation, which offers dishes like conch fritters, lobster tails, giant crab legs, salmon, crab fingers, gator bites, and a good old-fashioned crawfish boil. Don’t like seafood? The old Bobo Chinese restaurant now houses a new concept, ACAPULCO BURRITO. Located at 1312 N.W. Broad St., this is the third spot for the authentic Mexican minichain. Acapulco Burrito also has locations in Donelson and Antioch. The menu offers typical Tex-Mex dishes CONTINUED ON PAGE 40

After more than a year of waiting, KRISPY KREME located at 2231 Medical Center Pkwy., has ﬁnally opened to the people of Murfreesboro. Keep your eye out of the “Hot and Ready” sign, the restaurant will be serving your favorite 16 Krispy Kreme flavors and specialty coffees.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 38 along with items like menudo, pupusas, tortas, mole and beef caldo. Another family chain (this one out of Georgia, Alabama and southern Tennessee) plans to open a new store in Murfreesboro. With plans to open by the end of the year, a new LAS TROJAS CANTINA serves “authentic Mexican dishes,” a company spokesperson said. The 10,501-square-foot restaurant will be built off Medical Center Parkway between the Holiday Inn and Marriott Hotel. Set to open sometime this summer, SMASH BOWL hopes to capitalize on Murfreesboro’s health-conscious community. The restaurant serves a “combination of organic, exotic superfoods that is packed with nutrition,” owner Mike Westcott said. If you aren’t into healthy eating, BAD DADDY’S BURGER BAR has an alternative for you. The menu offers a dozen different burger options with a variety of toppings as well as wings, salads, nachos and sliders. The upscale bar and grill is set to open in late summer at 2243 Medical Center Pkwy. Nashville’s RED BICYCLE COFFEE & CREPES recently announced plans to add a Murfreesboro location to its spots in Germantown, The Nations and Woodbine. The cafe is renovating 2,000-square-feet in the shopping center at 1733 St. Andrews Dr. The shop could be opened by August. According to its website, Red Bicycle offers 40 * JUNE 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

high-end roasted coffee, a variety of both savory and sweet crepes and sandwiches. OTHER NEWS While it can’t be named at this time, plans for a new “major retailer” were approved for a store at The Avenue. Blake Nelson, senior vice president of CMH Architects Inc., The Avenue’s architect, said the store can often be found in “high-end centers.” The new store will be located in the existing building next to Talbots, which will be expanded to accommodate the retailer. UPSCALE MALE SPA & SKINCARE CENTER has replaced cucumbers with bourbon and opened on Church Street. The men’s grooming center offers haircuts, waxing and manscaping, skincare and massage. I’d like to congratulate SOLE COLLECTIONS for its third anniversary. Catering to sneaker culture, the store buys, sells and consigns sneakers from its location on Vine Street in downtown Murfreesboro. CLOSING CORNER National retailer DRESSBARN is closing all 650 of its stores, including its Avenue location in Murfreesboro. The company’s chief financial officer, Steven Taylor, said Dressbarn has not been operating at an “acceptable level of profitability in today’s retail environment.” The women’s clothing chain has been around for nearly 60 years and employs about 6,800 people.

Opinion When Will the Stars Align for Tennessee? Show respect to the tri-star logo when displaying state pride YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE a historian to understand that the state of Tennessee has a vast and visible living history. A quick trip around downtown Murfreesboro by car, bicycle or on foot will expose the many historic plaques and signs that explain the area’s remarkable past. As residents of Murfreesboro, We are both blessed and cursed to have the

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Stones River National Battlefield as well as a portion of the Trail of Tears residing within our city. These places of significance remind us that others fought, died and were forcibly removed from their ancestral lands, for the freedoms and liberty we current immigrant residents enjoy today. Plaques, statues, signs and historical buildings play an important role in helping us learn about the rich histories of our states and cities. Tennessee, sometimes referred to as the Tri-Star State, unfortunately has a significant problem with how it displays its historic plaques. While traveling

around Tennessee, it has come to my attention that most if not all of the tri-star logos on Tennessee’s historic plaques are not in the proper alignment. The directive asserting the orientation of the tri-star logo was made law in 1905 by the Tennessee legislature: whereas the highest star shall be the one nearest the upper confined corner of the flag. I have taken note of the tri-star logos in different orientations on these plaques throughout Middle Tennessee. The Sparta Rock House features one of these plaques, #2D 35. The orientation appears to be exactly mirror-opposite of the intended orientation. I wonder if this error was because the maker of these plaques made the mold incorrectly, or for another reason I am not aware of. Recently, I reached out to the Tennessee Historical Society about this finding and received this response via email, along with an image of the official alignment: “As you have discovered, many people do not check to see what the official alignment of the three stars is before they create plaques and other images featuring this element from the Tennessee state flag. . . . The variations from the official alignment are the result of a failure to do proper research.” As my investigation continues into the Tennessee tri-star logo, I have come to learn that it is regularly not displayed correctly, even by those who should know better. The Tennessee flag has been documented flying upside down at the State Capitol on numerous occasions. I recently visited the state of Tennessee’s historical commission website: (tn.gov/ environment/about-tdec/tennesseehistorical-commission.html), where low and behold historic plaque

“Many people do not check to see what the official alignment of the three stars is before they create plaques and other images featuring this element from the Tennessee state flag. . . . The variations from the official alighnment are the result of a failure to do proper research.” #3A 223 is displayed in all of its glory with the tri-star logo in the improper orientation. I reached out by email to Linda Wynn, the assistant director for the State Historical Markers Programs, hoping to receive a

response or explanation. My concern and annoyance does not end with our state’s administration not knowing how to properly display the State’s tri-star logo. As I travel, I am constantly barraged by decal displays of the misaligned tristar logo on vehicles. I’m sure the people who drive these cars and trucks are proud sons and daughters of Tennessee, the other decals these citizens display work to convince me of that. I urge anyone who wishes to display our great state’s tri-star logo to do their due diligence and research the logo’s proper orientation. Many of our northern-, eastern- and western-state neighbors seem to see the people of the southern states like Tennessee as under-educated, backward thinkers. Let’s work to show them we know enough to be better. Sincerely, Blake Becker, Murfreesboro

Tariffs on Goods from China Could Motivate Companies to Move Factories to Other Countries

here’s too much developing in the Chinese trade issue to ignore. Chinese state media is now calling for a “people’s war” accusing the U.S. of “greed and arrogance.” This is a sure sign of desperation. The trade imbalance between our two countries is gargantuan. We export about $120 billion worth of goods to China. We import $539 billion. Our biggest import from China is computer equipment. Their biggest import from us is transportation equipment. But transportation exports only amount to the 6th-largest import from China, which is fabricated metal. In other words, we are the customer, they are the seller. That puts us in the driver’s seat. As this trade war escalates we’re now looking at two likely scenarios. Either China will buckle or we’ll take our business elsewhere. The latter would be just fine with me. President Trump tweeted, “Tariffs can be completely avoided if you buy from a non-tariffed country.” Too many experts are ignoring that little passage. I think it’s very telling. President Trump has been negotiating from a position of strength with the Chinese since he took office. As a businessman he knows the ins and outs of trade. He understands negotiating. He also realizes that the Chinese have been eating our lunch for decades. Why? Because too many politicians fear that if they make China mad they’ll stop selling us cheap junk. How is that even a possibility in someone’s mind? That’s like saying if you don’t continue to overpay at the Chinese restaurant down the street they’ll tell you you can’t eat there anymore. Guess what. There are plenty of other places to eat. You don’t have to continue to get gouged at the Chinese restaurant. You can eat Mexican, or Taiwanese or South Korean. That’s exactly what’s about to happen. American companies can source their products from a different country at the drop of a hat. Tariffs start

VIEWS OF A

CONSERVATIVE

PHIL VALENTINE

philvalentine.com

to squeeze profits from China, they just relocate their factory to Taiwan. The Chinese are bound to know this. They just didn’t know we did. Not until they started dealing with Trump. Trump’s historic resetting of trade policy may have lasting positive repercussions for generations to come. Imagine if we stopped doing business with China. We are, by far, their largest trading partner. We’re almost doubling the business of number 2, which is Japan. The bottom line is if they lose our business they’re in big trouble. Think of us as their client. They have others, but we’re the big cheese. If they lose us they’ll still have the others, but they’ll have to close the doors. China has been on a quest for world domination. They planned to do it through manufacturing, making countries dependent on them for cheap goods. Use slave and near-slave labor if you have to. Let the Chinese government step in and subsidize Chinese goods to run everybody else out of business. Dominate with trade and you rule the world. Trump is about to put a stop to all that. If you didn’t know better you’d think Trump was trying to bring communist China down, just like Reagan did with the Soviet Union. Talk about something that would have a lasting impact. Imagine a billion and a half people suddenly free from a brutal dictatorship. Imagine what the Chinese could do if they had a truly capitalist society. You don’t have to imagine. Just look at Hong Kong. It’s a microcosm of what the Chinese looks like without the yoke of communism.

“China has been on a quest for world domination. They planned to do it through manufacturing, making countries dependent on them for cheap goods. Use slave and near-slave labor if you have to.”

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.

Live Exceptionally...Well! BY JENNIFER DURAND

Purge and Purify YOU’VE HEARD THE TERM “spring cleaning.” That’s when you start cleaning out things you’ve thrown into a room, closet or other storage space—things you’re not ready to let go of, or think you might need “someday.” This physical practice is similar to our mental practice. We store useless and sometimes even false information and think we will have a discussion about it “when the time is right.” Or we hold on to our emotions and feelings rather than try to sort them out and deal with the people and situations that are affecting our thoughts and actions. What happens when you start storing more than you have a capacity to hold? Overflow, clutter, congestion, disease, filth, laziness, resentment, blockage, etc. Then, when we have a need for an item that we are sure we’ve put in a closet somewhere, we start digging and searching. We notice all kinds of other things we’ve held on to for “just the right occasion” and realize we don’t have any more space, or the inclination to use such items has lost its relevance. We can’t breathe for the amount of clutter we’ve created. Similarly, if we hang on to stories or beliefs we haven’t questioned, we end up “collecting” emotions or feelings and storing them in our mind to deal with them at some later time. We often convince ourselves that there is no good resolution in sight, so we might as well bury what we are really thinking, rather than add to an already difficult situation perhaps with no positive outcome. Once you have filled your mind (or home) with more than you can handle at one time, things start to get crowded and can look and feel more chaotic and stressful than they need to be. So what can you do? The best thing to do is to take time to purge and purify—physically and mentally—creating space. Just space. Throw away things you haven’t touched (except to move out of the way!) in over a year. Chances are it is not something you need. When you clean nooks and crevices you will begin to feel the air change. It will be cleaner, brighter. Ahhh! “Google came of age when search was inefficient and cluttered, and made it simple and easy to find what you wanted online.” — Om Malik To prove this point, an example of this happened a few years ago at one of our establishments. We had a cleaning service that came regularly. Over time staff would comment that things “just weren’t clean” like they thought they should be. There was a heaviness in the air. It looked clean on the surface but didn’t feel clean. One day I personally took on the task of investigating and discovered all kinds 44 * JUNE 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

of dust (and things I won’t mention) buried behind furniture, appliances and in cupboards. The layer of garbage that was revealed confirmed why the space felt so dirty and heavy. It was simply in the air. Only the surface, or obvious places, had been getting cleaned. The rest of the space was being compacted, closing up the space with unnecessary clutter and impurity. Once this was all deeply tended to, purged and purified, the atmosphere changed. The space felt light, fresh, weightless. Again, this same practice with our mental cleanliness is paramount to keep our mind free from being bogged down with heaviness and clutter. Let go of guessing, blaming, fault, fiction, anger, frustration. If these feelings serve you in some uplifting way, then they may be worth keeping. More than likely though, they are the dust and clutter that are bogging your mind down and decreasing the fresh air your mind needs to be free and happy. “Start every day off with a smile and get it over with.” — W.C. Fields The following is a simple meditation practice (from Meditation Express by Nancy Butler-Ross and Michael Suib). Held Up? Hand It Over This meditation is a handy way to release old baggage that is full of toxic, entangling emotions. Relief is literally at your fingertips—fast. Each finger represents a specific emotional release. You can do this detox meditation anytime, at a stoplight, before bed or while you’re washing your hands. With your left hand, grasp your right thumb and hold it for a moment. Gently pull out imaginary cobwebs of worry from your thumb. Hold each of your fingers individually, pulling out the corresponding emotional cobweb. Other fingers, beginning with the index, correspond with fear, anger, sadness and try-tos. As you pull out each cobweb, allow your finger to be filled with a sense of freedom, vitality and refreshment. Repeat the process with your other hand. “If you clear your mind, you can fill it with your character. If it is cluttered, if it is anxious, if you’re thinking about your date, about your dinner, about filling your refrigerator, there’s no room. There’s no room for the character you’re trying to build.” — Henry Winkler Jennifer Durand is the owner and operator of The Nurture Nook Day Spa & Gift Shoppe. Learn more by calling 615-896-7110 or visiting nurturenook.com.

yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth (Isaiah 53:7). BY RICK For Jesus’ part, the road to the MALONE cross was a silent journey. Just as Isaiah prophesized seven hundred years earlier, Jesus says very little to His accusers. But what He does say can lead to no other conclusion but that He is the Christ. “If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I ask you, you will not answer. But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” If the leaders of Israel were unbiased in their evaluation, they knew Jesus was the long-awaited Redeemer of Israel. But their evaluation was struck with the blindness of carrying out justice, and for protecting the their fall and with the searing providence of innocent and the helpless. For, as the prophet God. For had it not been, as the Apostle Paul Micah tells us, “What does the Lord require of says in his first letter to the Corinthians, you but to do justice and love mercy” . . . (Mi“they would not have crucified the Lord of cah 6:8). But in their hands, there was no proglory” (I Corinthians 2:8). tection for the Christ. There was only a grave We also see this truth in the third chapter miscarriage of justice. The verses prior to Luke of Acts, as Peter speaks to the crowd on the 22:66 tells us that the Elders had turned Jesus over to the mob, and all the previous night was day of Pentecost. He says: “now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did spent in mockery and torture of the innocent Son of God instead of protection in the sanctu- also your rulers. 18 But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his ary. And then day comes, and the wheels of Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled” (Acts this grave miscarriage of justice begin to turn. 3:17–18). Luke tells us, “The assembly of the elders . . . God fulfilled His purpose in redemption led him away to their council.” After the night through the blindness we see in these leadof ridicule and torture, the shepherds of Israel ers of Israel. And this road of humiliation is put Jesus through the pretense of a trial with the path to Jesus’ exaltation. For Peter again a guilty outcome already determined. Their tells us in his first letter to the church, that, purpose for the trial was only to find a way to “through the resurrection, Christ has gone get Jesus to incriminate Himself. into heaven and is at the right hand of God, And so, they press Him—hard. “If you with angels, authorities, and powers having are the Christ, tell us.” But Jesus makes no been subjected to him (I Peter 3:21–22). defense for Himself. He barely responds. He These unrighteous shepherds of Israel silently absorbs the injustice that is hurled at Him. It wasn’t simply that their false charges knew what Jesus was saying when He spoke did not dignify a response. Rather, Jesus will- of being seated at the Father’s right hand. And so, they retort with the accusation, “Are ingly placed Himself beyond the boundaries you the Son of God, then?” But this stateof acquittal. For He knew that this hour of injustice was the very hour He had come into ment, which was meant to be an accusation, was at the same time, the affirmation of this world for, and that through the injusthe truth they couldn’t grasp. And so, Jesus tice of His cross He would bring to pass the simply replies, “You say that I am.” In this restoration of all things. And so, He is silent. affirmation, Jesus gave the Jewish leaders As the prophet Isaiah tells us: what they were looking for. So, they felt He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,

SPIRITUAL

MATTERS

Sanctuary! Sanctuary! 66) When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes. And they led him away to their council, and they said, 67) “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, 68) and if I ask you, you will not answer. 69) But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” 70) So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.” 71) Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips.” 1) Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate (Luke 22:66–23:1). I can vividly remember the first time I saw the great actor Charles Laughton play his unforgettable role of Quasimodo in the Hunchback of Notre Dame. As a young child, this movie made a great impression on me, as this poor soul who was relegated to living in the bell tower of that great cathedral rescues the beautiful Esmeralda from the gallows. She was there because of a grave miscarriage of justice. Using a rope tied to a scaffolding, Quasimodo swings onto the hangman’s platform, grabs Esmeralda, and brings her within the hallowed walls of Notre Dame, all the while crying out, “Sanctuary! Sanctuary!” To realize that within the walls of the church a person could find sanctuary from whatever crime they were accused of amazed me. Even if a person was guilty, they were, in some way, under the protection of the grace of the gospel. This holy house of God was a house of sanctuary and salvation for sinners. I believe there was a great lesson in this for me as a child. The setting of our verses from Luke’s gospel is also at the holy house of God, the temple in Jerusalem, and yet we see a very different story. It was the final week of Jesus’ life, and instead of finding sanctuary at the temple, Jesus finds His unjust condemnation. Jesus finds Himself in the hands of the Elders of Israel, those who should be the most responsible for 46 * JUNE 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

“To realize that within the walls of the church a person could find sanctuary from whatever crime they were accused of amazed me. Even if a person was guilty, they were, in some way, under the protection of the grace of the gospel. This holy house of God was a house of sanctuary and salvation for sinners.”

justified in their evil actions. They say to one another: “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips.” And so, thy drag Jesus to Pilate to get their evil intentions accomplished. The truth that Christ endured the ultimate miscarriage of justice is for more than just our minds to contemplate. Christ allowed Himself to take the injustice of the punishment that justly belonged to us. He substituted His innocent self in our guilty place to take our death. And in His silent journey to the cross, He gave up His right to sanctuary in order to become our sanctuary. He forfeited His refuge, so that we may find refuge—in Him, refuge from death, refuge from sin and refuge from the injustice of our own hearts and our own self-righteousness. As a result of Quasimodo bringing Esmeralda within the walls of the great cathedral of Notre Dame, she found sanctuary. The greater truth which this symbolizes is that within the walls of the spiritual cathedral of Christ Himself we find true sanctuary. Within the walls of the spiritual cathedral of Christ we find His justice and His mercy. How loudly does Christ’s silent journey to the cross speak to us? Do we truly look only to Him for sanctuary? Do we find the means within Him to live a new life in this world, a life of love and justice and mercy? For such a life is only found in Him. How loudly does Christ’s silent journey to the cross speak to the church? Are we His body in this world? Do we see our calling as a place where Christ is set forth as the only sanctuary for sinners? For the whole world is guilty before God. And in Christ, like within the walls of the great cathedral in Paris, we, the guilty, find ourselves under the protection and saving power of the grace of His gospel. Postscript: I’m sure most of you know that great cathedral Notre Dame recently burned. And I am saddened. For going to see that great cathedral was one of those bucket-list things for me, for I have never seen it. Now, I never will see it, as it was. But there is a great lesson for me in this too. Christ’s church is so much more than stone and mortar. It is His living presence in this world, changing this world, bringing grace to this world, bringing God’s justice and mercy to this world, no matter what building it is found in. And so, His church is really untouchable by any of the natural powers of this world, whether fire or flood or anything else. And even if they fail to rebuild Notre Dame, Christ assures us that He is ever building His church, as He spreads the glory of His forgiveness over the world. myspiritualmatters@gmail.com

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Ecce Deus

Essays on the Life and Doctrine of Jesus Christ BY JOSEPH PARKER (1867)

Ch. XV

Eternal Punishments It is held by many to be a hard thing that any man should be damned for not believing “these sayings of mine.” The conclusion must have been reached through a most incomplete apprehension of the term “belief.” In the course of this argument we have had repeated occasion to state that a man’s belief is that by which his whole life is governed—the foundation of his character, the very vitality of his manhood. It can hardly be repeated too often that belief is not a mere mental asset to a proposition, but the resting and consequent risking of the whole life upon the truth of that proposition. By setting aside, for the moment, the term “belief,” on the account of the narrow theological associations which have been unjustly gathered around it, the point may to some extent be elucidated by another word which has no such associations attached to it—that word is character. Now as we have found ourselves at liberty, on the authority of Christ himself, to reason from the human towards the divine, let us in a familiar manner try what can be done by an analogical process. Is there anything in the constitution of human society which will throw at least an edge of light around the awful mystery of endless punishment? It will not be denied, at the outset, that there are many persons whom a virtuous man would not admit to his confidence or hospitality. Ask the reason, and the answer will be, “The persons have lost their good character— they are dissipated, vicious and altogether unworthy of respect or confidence.” Here then, is a point to begin at. It is conceded by this answer that purity of character is the indispensable qualification for admission into virtuous society, and by so much it is shown that a bad man is “damned,” ostracized (or soften it into unrecognized), solely on the ground of vice. But what is vice? It is not the practical side of belief? The man believes in vice as a principle, or a policy, or an enjoyment, and therefore he

pursues it. But by pursuing it he becomes socially a condemned man; he that believes not (he that is not virtuous) is damned. It may be urged that a man may have many heterodox [non-standard] notions about religion, and yet his social repute may be irreproachable; and on the other hand, that a man’s notions about religion may be orthodox, while his life is sinful. This is true, but it merely throws us back upon a definition already laid down: namely, that belief is not intellectual but moral: “with the heart man believeth unto righteousness,” so that religion is not a question of mere notions, but the expression of the entire spiritual life. It would be as logical to contend that a man is going on a journey because he can explain the construction of an engine, as to contend that a man is going to heaven because he can correctly answer theological questions. Salvation turns upon spiritual vitality, and spiritual vitality is represented by the right use of the term faith. It must never be absent from the mind that religion is not a set of opinions, but life in Jesus Christ. So far, then, we find society doing precisely what God does: namely, drawing a broad line of demarcation between virtuous and the vicious—in other words, “establishing a system of rewards and punishments based exclusively on morals. Society has found this to be necessary to its own preservation and prosperity; for all history has gone to show that, apart from every theological system, the moral element has always determined the true value of civilization. Virtue has meant safety; vice has meant danger. This is a fact of immense value in an inductive inquiry respecting rewards and punishments. It is now proposed to show that, in the matter of endless punishment for sin, society does, in its degree, precisely what Almighty God is declared in the Christian writings to do. If God punishes the finally impenitent for ever, man does the same thing, and does it necessarily—necessarily because of the demands of the moral universe without, as well as the exactions of the moral principle within. In other words, the very constitution of the moral universe demands and necessitates the endless punishment of the impenitent. How we may work our way to this conclusion will now appear. It is objected that there is no proportion between time and eternity, and consequently, that to punish man eternally for doing wrong in his short lifetime is inequitable. While it is not denied that punishment is merited, it is contended that there should be some propor-

tion between the crime and the penalty. In answer to this objection, let us examine the law of proportion in the light of social laws. Does the idea of proportion amount roughly to this, that a day’s crime should be met by a day’s punishment; that a man who does wrong today should be punished tomorrow, and restored to confidence the day after? The objector will probably say, “No, not exactly that; but say that a day’s crime should be met by a month’s punishment, or a year’s; only let there be some proportion between the crime and the penalty.” The answer does not relieve the difficulty. What is the moral proportion between one day and a month, or one day and a year? Does nothing depend on the nature of the crime? For example: a man commits a petty larceny; would the objector say that a month’s imprisonment would be enough? Another man, say, commits murder; would the objector say that a year’s punishment would suffice? But why should the one criminal be punished a month and the other a year? It is urged that the nature of the crime determines that. Let this be granted; then it will appear that the proportion is really not one of time, but of turpitude [wickedness]. In reality society proceeds upon the principle that the extent of time occupied in the perpetration of a criminal act is not to be taken into account in considering the punishment which is to be awarded. Nor ought it to be accounted of. Less time may be occupied in taking away a life than in committing a burglary; but on the principle of strict proportion (which sophistically proceeds on the idea of mere duration), the burglar should undergo a longer punishment than the murderer. But society will not allow this; its moral instincts overrule its sentimentalities, and demand that the gravity of the crime should determine the gravity of the punishment. An illustration may be useful here. Thirty years ago, let it be supposed, a criminal forged the reader’s name to a check for a thousand guineas. He did it in a few moments; a stroke or two of the skilled pen, and the deed was done. The criminal never confessed the act; never uttered a penitential word; he suffered imprisonment for 10 years; and now for 20 years he has been at large. Has the reader forgiven him? Has he restored him to confidence? Has he invited the offender into his family circle? Has he replaced him at the commercial desk? The reader says, “No.” But what becomes of the agreement proportion? Let it be remembered that the criminal was imprisoned 10 years for a crime committed in less than 10 minutes. Was not the punishment sufficient? Think of 10 minutes being multiplied into 10 years, and then say whether more can be reasonably demanded. But it may be urged that the criminal is impenitent; he never owns his sin, never asks forgiveness, and treats the injured man as if he himself had been

injured. The injured man is so far philanthropic as to say that he will meet the criminal on the first sign of his contrition—he only waits to acknowledgement of the guilt, and promise of better behavior. Nothing can be more humane—nothing more reasonable—and the point to be specially remarked is, that this is the very principle upon which the Divine government in relation to sin proceeds: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.” Man’s own heart being witness, he proceeds upon the very principle of adjunction which he condemns in the government of God. The sum of the answer is this: If a criminal continue to be impenitent resecting any crime, he is as guilty of that crime on the last day of his life as he was in the very hour of its committal, though he may have survived that hour 50 years. Time has no mitigating influence upon guilt. The question between the criminal and society is not one of time, but of penitence, and, so long as he is impenitent, society must, by compulsion deeper than all formal law, mark and avoid him. Society does this. If particular members of society do not do so, they are immoral—connivance with unreported guilt being an affront to the spirit of virtue. Society punishes (more or less lightly, more or less directly) all impenitent offenders against its laws, and punishes them throughout their whole lifetime, which is as much of eternity as its retributive influence can encompass. In very grave cases, indeed, society will not allow the penal shadow to pass from the reputation even after death; so truly is this the case that there are names which cannot now be pronounced, though they represent long extinct lives, without bringing a frown upon the countenances of all who hear them. Is this eternal punishment or is it not? The question of proportion may be looked at in another light. A citizen who has maintained a good reputation for half a century as a pure, upright, noble man; who has figured on subscription lists as a generous benefactor of the poor; whose name obtained the highest credit on the Exchange—has been proved guilty of a crime: the crime was being perpetrated in imagined secrecy; the criminal had no idea that any eye was upon him; the fact, however, becomes known; and the question is, how does society treat the tower which was fifty years in building? Society razes the very foundation, and forgets half a century of unchallenged life in one day’s discovered villainy. But where is the law of proportion? Why not deduct one day from the fifty years’ reputation, or regard the crime but as a spot on the disc of a brilliant life? The law of proportion founded on mere duration would, if strictly interpreted, require this deduction; but society happily forgets its formal logic when under the influence of high moral inspiration, and in its own arbitrated decisions reproduces the government of God. CONTINUED ON PAGE 49 BOROPULSE.COM

* JUNE 2019 * 47

SPORTS

TALK

COLUMN BY “Z-TRAIN”

titanman1984@gmail.com

Madness of Men Competing in Women’s Sports Continues THE TRAIN DADDY is back with sports news, life lessons and politically incorrect talk. All aboard! Once upon a time it was 1984 and a little boy named Zach was born. The following year, the greatest movie ever was released—Back to the Future—and 34 years later, here we are! Now it’s 2019 and that little boy has grown into a man named the Train Daddy, a dude cooler than Marty McFly and a dude who writes genius articles. A dude who was born a dude. Can you imagine going back in time and telling others that men were being allowed to claim womanhood and compete in professional sports with biological woman? Can you imagine Doc Brown trying to comprehend the madness of such an idea. His brain would probably produce 1.21 JIGGAWATTS of “what the hell?” Let’s discuss a few recent sports stories and the Equality Act recently passed by house Democrats. Listen to the words of Duke professor of law Doriane Coleman: “it will be the end of girls’ and women’s-only sports.” This crazy act would give the federal government power to enforce ideological conformity on one of the most controversial social issues. Last issue we discussed the Titans’ draft picks. This issue I could talk about how the Predators had one of the most frustrating seasons I have ever watched, or I could talk about how the NHL Playoffs have been amazing. The editor in chief of the Pulse may prefer that I did. Here is a quote from the captain of the Pulse: “I love some March Madness, love some World Cup, but the playoffs for Lord Stanley’s Cup is the greatest sports tournament in the world!” Personally, I love hockey, I love NFL and college football, I dig international soccer and I am enthralled with NCAA basketball. You can take the NBA and MLB and give them 48 * JUNE 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

away for all I care. But I have a deep appreciation above all for history and the integrity of sports, and right now it’s under attack. So, let’s get into the beef of this enchilada, discuss a few recent stories and give a few opinions. Recently over this Memorial Day weekend something very unfortunate happened in the world of female sports. A transgender woman who competed as a man as recently as last year just won an NCAA women’s track national championship. CeCe Telfer was born Craig and competed on the Franklin Pierce University men’s track & field team his first three years of college. Yet the new and testosterone-filled female CeCe won a D-II national championship women’s 400-meter hurdles race. As a man CeCe, I mean Craig (sorry, I know it’s confusing), wasn’t even mediocre. In 2016 and 2017, Craig was ranked 200th and 290th respectively among the other men in the 400-meter hurdles. Then—boom-shaka-laka!—Craig becomes CeCe in less than a year, dominates the field of biological women and is now considered a national champion. The idea that Craig Telfer can change identity practically overnight become CeCe and immediately become a national champion is proof to why this is a big deal and if feminists truly cared about women’s athletics, more voices would be raised. Polls overwhelmingly show people have problems with this, but the liberal agenda has taken root and many are afraid to speak out. If we truly are okay with men being allowed to play sports with women, we should just abandon gender leagues completely and have one league. I bet the feminists would fight for the integrity of women’s athletics then. Here’s one more recent story regarding transgender athletics. Let me first say this, before people email me at titanman1984@ gmail.com telling me I am transphobic and

sexist, let me express my 100-percent-honest feelings that any person in this world has a right to live their life as they see fit without fear that they’re going to be threatened. I absolutely know I would personally fight to help any gay or transgender person if they were being assaulted physically or verbally. That said, I am still willing to voice an opinion. Regarding organized athletics, I believe that many female athletes work too hard to have a biologically stronger, larger, naturally born male unfairly join their ranks. The examples are becoming numerous. Just a few weeks ago, Mary Gregory competed in a local weightlifting event, checking the female box. After months of training, Mary stunned spectators and fellow powerlifters by not only winning, but literally breaking world records for her age and weight class. The weightlifting community is serious, and they took notice. Mary took to social media after the event stating, “What a day 9 for 9!” “Masters world squat record, open world bench record, master’s world dl record, and master’s world total record! Still processing.” Shortly after the event, news of the transgender lifter who broke records began circulating the internet. Then just a few days later, Mary was stripped of her records and title. Paul Bossi, president of 100% RAW Powerlifting Federation, stated “she’s not female, not biologically anyway.” He went on to clarify “In our rules, we go by biological, according to the rules, she can only lift in the men’s division. I am not trying to hurt anyone’s feelings, but I have to follow the rules.” He even claims that no one knew she was transgender, after winning the event and breaking records Mary was forced to take a post-match drug test and, wink-wink, they saw a wink-wink. Tennis legend Martina Navratilova, who in 1981 risked her career and sponsorships after coming out as a lesbian, is currently an outspoken feminist, an outspoken Trump hater, an outspoken anti-gun advocate, and is surprisingly leading the fight against transgender athletes. Martina recently stated, “You can’t just proclaim yourself a female and be able to compete against women. There must be some standards and having a penis and competing as a woman would not fit that standard.” Soon Martina will be hosting a new documentary on trans athletes called Trans Athletes: A Fair Playing Field? Martina is already being bashed for what her critics call transphobic conservative talking points. Martina fights daily and constantly post online in support for left-wing policies, yet she stands strong in her opinion that transgender athletes make for an unfair playing field. All right, I should stop before I decide

I would rather live my life as a female. I mean it would be nice, I would call myself Zacherina. I would win a gold medal as a USA female hockey player and I would be a princess. We all can have dreams, I reckon, but they can’t always become reality. One last subject—ESPN. Recently new ESPN President Jimmy Pitaro made news by stating, “Without question our data tells us fans do not want us to cover politics.” That’s surprising, right? It’s not. It’s all about the Benjamins, and after years of liberal discourse and ratings decline, it makes sense. ESPN became increasingly liberal under former President John Skipper (who recently left the network due to a drug dealer attempting to extort him by using his cocaine habit against him). Once more than 100 million paid subscribers strong, ESPN has declined to 80 million and the studies show liberal bias as a main factor. Maybe ESPN has learned a lesson? I don’t mind some political discourse during daytime TV, but not during live games and not when the opinions all sound like a recording. I would like to think the anchors at ESPN could handle a few conservative voices added to the discussion. You can’t have anchors calling the president a white supremacist or Stephen A. saying Tiger Woods isn’t black because he thinks a certain way. You had the Michael Sam circus, Caitlyn Jenner winning the Arthur Ashe Courage Award, to the shaming of Curt Shilling. I could go on and on but will leave it there and truly hope ESPN has learned a lesson. So, let’s wrap this article up with some quick hits! The Stanley Cup is in full swing right now. I am rooting for the Blues, I am just glad Chicago nor Pittsburgh will be adding a Cup to their resume. The NBA Finals are also in motion, but I am a rather suspicious NBA fan. I find myself unable to root for the super-team Warriors and I can’t root for anything Canadian unless its maple syrup or John Candy. How I love the movie Canadian Bacon, an all-time classic. I can’t wait for the NFL season to kick off. I am so excited to see the Titans’ new additions in action, specifically future fan favorite Adam Humphries along with a hungry Derrick Henry. I imagine this is Mariota’s last chance to prove he can stay healthy. It’s his final year on contract. If you have any comments, email me at titanman1984@gmail.com. I truly would like to hear my readers’ opinions, and I always reply. That’s it, the Train is rolling into the station. Enjoy the summer, grill some food, play outdoors and, above all else, hold family and friends close, because life is to short not to embrace it and enjoy every moment. Choo-choo!

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* JUNE 2019 * 49

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 47 The argument of proportion as to time is obviously fallacious. No crime is selfcontained. All actions are influential. What is done in an hour may affect society through many generations. Long after the pebble is at the bottom of the lake, the circles multiply and expand on the surface. The lifting of a hand sends a vibration to the stars. A second objection will afford an opportunity of still further exposing the fallacy of the argument of proportion. It has been urged that, as virtue is its own reward, and vice its own punishment, the criminal is sufficiently punished while upon earth, and need not, therefore, have hell added on top of this. The argument, if valid in relation to hell, is equally valid in relation to heaven; hence, as virtue is its own reward, the virtuous man is sufficiently rewarded on earth, and needs not a superadded [added to itself ] heaven. By parity of reasoning this latter position is impregnable. The logic which closes hell annihilates heaven. Without, however, pressing the sophist (one who reasons with clever but fallacious arguments) too severely to accept the results of his premises, the whole answer may be included in one fundamental and fully illustrated principle—that punishment is not regenerative. All penalty is negative. It may appease the more public demands of society without making any good impression on the moral nature of the

criminal. Take an instance: a felon who has undergone a term of imprisonment may leave the prison as great a criminal as he entered it. The mere fact of having been in jail for a series of months or years does not make the criminal an honest man. The law could touch his body only; so that at the very moment of his keenest smarting under the penal rod he might be plotting deeper schemes of crime. Punishment per se is not a regenerator. Hell itself, if intermediate instead of final, could not convert men to Christianity. It might terrify them; it might impose strong restraints upon them, originating in the lowest and most uncertain motives; but, as to regeneration, it might be as impotent as a passing storm. Virtue founded on fear is only vice in a fit of dejection. Does not the objector himself proceed upon the principle that punishment is not regenerative? Imagine the objector seated in a public vehicle. He is holding pleasant intercourse with a fellow traveler; he likes the man, is pleased with his intelligence, frankness and civility: at one point of the journey, however, he is given to understand that his interlocutor is a ticket of leave man; does he during the remainder of the journey feel as comfortable as he did at the beginning? Does he, or does he not, involuntarily lay his hand upon his property? Is there, or is there not, a development of suspicion? But why? The criminal has, indeed, broken the laws of his country, but he has

suffered the legal penalty, or escaped a portion of it by his credible conduct; why, then, should not the objector invite the well-behaved convict home, and introduce him to the confidence of his sons and daughters? Why should the convict be punished forever? Where is the proportion between a day’s crime and a life-long infamy? The objector’s philosophy succumbs to his moral instincts. He begins to think of contamination, and mentally to run over all the possibilities of having had something like friendly intercourse with a returned convict. Yet he would have God’s infinite holiness do what his own faded morality cannot do. He would have the sun overlook defects which his own rushlight [a kind of torch] brings into startling prominence. He fails to see that the case appeals not to benevolence, not to philosophy, but strictly to the moral sense; and if man, whose moral faculty is so liable to perversion, recoils from the idea of confiding in an impenitent convict, how can God look with complacency on an unclean heart? Does the objector say that, if he knew the returned convict to be a truly penitent man, he would give him another chance in life? Then let him recall the words just quoted—“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.” The objector seems forgetful of the fact, that the doctrine of vice being its own punishment is necessarily overridden in all the penal arrangements of society, otherwise society would

be insecurely guarded against outrage. If vice be its own punishment (not only individually, but socially, in a full degree), why should the thief be imprisoned or the murderer executed? Why not leave each to the tormenting remorse of his own conscience? Why not be satisfied with the scorpion sting of memory? The fact is, that there is a practical sophism in the doctrine that vice is its own punishment in an imperfect state of society. By repetition of crime conscience is hardened, so that actually he who has done most is punished least. The young thief, trembling in inexperience, hesitates as he approaches the lock at midnight, but the veteran burglar is as steady in darkness as at noonday. The criminal, therefore, would have merely to repeat his crimes to escape their punishment; for he who now blushes in anger may one day be calm in murder! Vice is its own punishment only when all alleviating circumstances are removed, as will be the case in the next world. There nature will be so quickened, and so thoroughly thrown back upon itself, that vice will in the fullest sense of the term be its own tormentor; but as earthly society is now constituted, there would be so many counterbalancing influences brought to bear upon the criminal that his reflections might be modified or entirely overpowered. The same principle has its obvious bearing on the doctrine that virtue is its own reward. . . . Read unabridged at boropulse.com