October 2013 Murfreesboro Pulse by The Murfreesboro Pulse

INMUSIC MUSI

MURFREESBORO

Voice Winner Javier Colon Plays at MTSU

Al-Rayan: A Hidden Gem BBQ Battle in the ’Boro

page 22

Tour De Folk page 24

INFOOD MUSI:

page 16

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

ENTER IF YOU DARE

Vol. 8, Issue 10 October 2013

FREE Happy Fall

Middle Tennessee Haunted Attraction Guide 2013 page 14 PLUS

October Events

Pumpkin Patches, Corn Mazes, Hayrides and More! page 12

ONLINE AT: BOROPULSE.COM

2 * OCTOBER 2013 * BOROPULSE.COM

EVENTS

DEAR READERS:

CONTENTS 

October Community Events Jr. Meat Goat Classic; Express Fest; Pink on Purpose

MOVIES

Reviews Prisioners; VIDEO GAME: Reus

Living Room Cinema Halloween Transgressions

SPORTS

Sports Talk with Z-Train Nate Washington is the Titans' franchise receiver.

Blue Raiders set for Homecoming MTSU enters contest with East Carolina at 3-2.

Run Strong October means the Middle Half.

LIVING

Living Green Halloween consumerism and slave-labor chocolate

Read to Succeed Book Review Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls by David Sedaris

Fall Farm Fun Lucky Ladd Farms, Walden Farm, the Maize at Milton

Enter if You Dare Middle Tennessee Haunted Attraction Guide 2013

FOOD

A Hidden Gem Al-Rayan serves absolutely delicious Arabic food from inside a convenience store. BBQ Battle in the 'Boro Rotary Club hosts barbecue contest at Cannonsburgh.

COVER STORY

SOUNDS

i p s f

Fly Free Fest Wealth of Tennessee talent to perform at Adams festival. Album Reviews John Salaway, Justin Kline, Feelings Eraser, Sunracer

LIVE MUSIC, KARAOKE, TRIVIA AND DJ CALENDARS Music Notes: Cycle Around for Tour De Folk Judd Hall, DJ John Mayer to perform at Brewsboro.

THEATER

October Performances Aida, Sweeney Todd, Cinderella, Bent

Just a Conversation Murfreesboro comedy podcast Beards and Bullshit

OPINIONS

La Palabra Murfreesboro's Most Haunted

Phil Valentine The Syrian rebels we are supporting are terrorists.

Frank Shepard Don't waste your energy on retaliation.

Recover Rutherford Repairing, apologizing for "hurt"

ART

;

Art Foundations Exhibit includes variety of MTSU student work

CREW

PULSE

COVER PHOTO BY CHRISTY SIMMONS

Publisher/Editor in Chief: Bracken Mayo

Photographer: Christy Simmons

Contributing Writers: Gloria Christy, Art Director: Sarah L. Mayo Ryan Egly, Mark Henes, Nader Hobballah, Advertising Rep: Don Clark Robert Lawrance, Tony Lehew, Zach Maxfield, Cameron Parrish, Frank Copy Editor: Steve Morley Shepard, Andrea Stockard, Justin Stokes, Music Editor: Jessica Pace Norbert Thiemann, Phil Valentine

To carry the Pulse at your business, or submit letters, stories and photography: bracken@boropulse.com 116-E North Walnut St., Murfreesboro, TN 37130 (615) 796-6248

Copyright © 2013, The Murfreesboro Pulse, 116-E N. Walnut St., Murfreesboro, TN 37130. Proudly owned, operated and published the first Thursday of each month by the Mayo family; printed by Franklin Web Printing Co. The Murfreesboro Pulse is a free publication funded by our advertisers. Views expressed in the Pulse do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. ISSN: 1940-378X

THE LEAGUE OF THE SOUTH says it will stage demonstrations in Murfreesboro and Shelbyville on Oct. 12 in "opposition to the demographic displacement of the Southern people in central Tennessee, an area which a short time ago was homogeneously Southern. Tens of thousands of immigrants from Islamic countries in the Middle East and Africa have been brought to the area by the Federal Government using your tax dollars. This has been done as part of the U.S. Federal Government's 'refugee' resettlement program . . . The Feds attack countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya and then bring vast numbers of the people from those countries and place them in places such as Shelbyville— greatly altering the demographics, culture and politics of such places," the group said in a statement. OK, for one, anyone who claims that the heritage and tradition of this land that we now call Tennessee has anything to do with Caucasian people must not have a brain capable of comprehending anything earlier than 200 years ago. You hypocrites! You're concerned about your culture being infiltrated with other religions, colors of skin, languages and traditions? What do you think happened to the Cherokee and other nations? Go back a few hundred years and you will see a real example of an outside culture invading the indigenous people as your European Christian forefathers came to this land and slaughtered, killed, waged war and pushed people aside. Your culture is being displaced today!? Pitiful. Laughable. You have already made it very hard for me to take you seriously. However, this is a conversation worth having. There are some strange cultural factors at play in our country, and the Feds do seem to have an agenda of pitting the people against one another and controlling them all. Hey, I'm fine with the South becoming its own country once again, I'm fine with ending crazy U.S. taxpayer-funded war. But I'm not OK with hatred, or fear, or intimidation. I can understand hotels banning this group; it is good PR to kick an unpopular group out of your place of business. But exclusion of a person or group based on their political ideas is not American, and most likely it adds fuel to the fire, gives the whole outfit a bunch of publicity, draws unnecesary battle lines and oversimplifies the matter. While many didn't even realize this group was coming, now they feel they must "pick a side" because war is on. People have a right to gather; people have a right to their ideas. Let's listen to all ideas and really hear what the individual is saying. If they are rooted in hate, paranoia, studipity and violence, if they call for harm or death against someone, let's stand against those ideas, but let's have a real conversation and not knee-jerk reactions. Finally, if you come to the conclusion that the group staging this demonstration is based on hatred, please do not hate them in return. You will have already lost. You will have sunk to their level. What if some people of other races, of other beliefs, of other colors, of other languages came to this group and instead of arguing, protesting, and fighting simply offered them a sandwich and lemonade and said to them "You will not harm anyone, you will not intimidate anyone, but if you want to come to Middle Tennessee, come on, because the people of Middle Tennessee welcome people and respect people and help people, and I love you because you are a person." How powerful would that be? Peace, Bracken Mayo Editor in Chief BOROPULSE.COM

OCTOBER 2013

EVENTS compiled by ANDREA STOCKARD

Send event information to murfreesboropulse@yahoo.com

THROUGH OCT. 25 STUDENTS RECYCLE PHONE BOOKS FOR PRIZES Recycle Rutherford and the Rutherford County Solid Waste Department encourage students and the city to recycle and win a cash prize for their classrooms now through Oct. 25 with their annual telephone book collection. The drawing for the winners will be at Recycle Rutherford’s semi-annual meeting Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. in the Rutherford County Courthouse (20 N. Public Square). Drop-off locations include: Smyrna Town Hall parking lot (315 S. Lowry St.), Haley Road Recycling Center (1140 Haley Rd.) and MTSU Recycling Center (1500 Greenland Dr.). If you wish to contribute, contact recyclerutherford@yahoo.com. To join, volunteer, or request more information, visit recyclerutherford.org.

curriculum and inspire an appreciation of local history. Bring your own blankets and sack lunches. Public, private and home school groups welcome. Admission is $5 per person. For more information and reservations, contact (615) 893-0022 or mb@oaklandsmuseum.org, or visit oaklandsmuseum.org.

OCT. 4–5 JUNIOR MEAT GOAT CLASSIC Open to Tennessee youth only. Pee-wee to Senior High school can participate in the 3rd Annual Heart of Tennessee Junior Meat Goat Classic at Tennessee Livestock Center (1720 Greenland Dr.) Oct. 4–5. Categories include showmanship, skillathon and class placing. For more information, contact mmote1@utk.edu or (615) 898-7710, or visit hotmeatgoatclassic.com.

THROUGH OCT. 31

OCT. 6

A HOUSE IN MOURNING

SAM DAVIS’ BIRTHDAY

The Sam Davis Home (1339 Sam Davis Rd.) will host “Cult of Mourning,” which was at its peak between 1850 and 1890. The house will be prepared for a funeral, with mirrors draped in black cloth and clocks stopped at the time of death. View the Mourning artifacts and learn the history of this practice to respect and mourn for the deceased. For more information, call (615) 459-2341 or visit samdavishome.org.

Help Sam celebrate his birthday with a visit to the Sam Davis Home and Museum (1399 Sam Davis Rd.) with free admission and family fun. Families will experience a day in the life of Sam Davis through games, toys, storytelling, chores and hands-on activities while hearing stories about Davy Crockett and other legends that Sam would have heard. Practice gathering eggs from live chickens before learning about the anatomy of the egg. For more information, please call (615) 459-2341 or visit samdavishome.org.

OCT. 1–6 AQHA EAST NOVICE CHAMPIONSHIP AQHA East Novice Championship includes equitation, reining, trail shootout, western riding, showmanship, horsemanship, barrels, poles and stakes at Tennessee Miller Coliseum (304-B West Thompson Ln.) Tuesday at 8 a.m., Wed.–Sat. at 7 a.m. and Sunday at 8 a.m. Admission is free. For more information, call (615) 494-8961 or visit aqha.com/Showing/Novice-Championships/East/East-Schedule.aspx.

OCT. 4 AUTUMN IN THE OAKS Teachers and parents can spend their fall field day at Oaklands Mansion (900 N. Maney Ave.) Oct. 4 from 9 a.m.–1 p.m. while guiding children through activities, games, and pastimes of the harvest season. Explore the science, nature, history and art of the season through this self-guided experience designed to enhance classroom 4 * OCTOBER 2013 * BOROPULSE.COM

OCT. 6 “HEROES IN HEELS” SURVIVOR FASHION SHOW EVENT YMCA of Murfreesboro presents 40 breast cancer survivors modeling Belk departmentstore clothing with country artist and songwriter Kelsey, performing the debut of “Hero in Heels,” a song co-written with Rob Wolf

OCT. 12 HISTORIC HAYRIDE AT EDGAR EVINS The 8th annual Historic Hayride at Edgar Evins (1630 Edgar Evins State Park Rd., Silver point, TN) heads out of the park’s Visitors Center Oct. 12 beginning at 2 p.m. and lasting until 6 p.m. Costumed actors and actresses will portray historical characters and past events of the area along the one-and-a-half-hour ride. To reserve your seats, call (931) 858-2114 or visit tn.gov/environment/parks/reservations. For those who wish to stay overnight, there are cabins and campsites at the park. For more information on Friends of Edgar Evins, visit foeesp.alturl.com or find them on Facebook. for breast cancer survivors. For ticket information, please contact the YMCA of Middle Tennessee, Rutherford County, at (615) 895-5995 or mcavender@ymcamidtn.org.

OCT. 6–12 NATIONAL 4-H WEEK SCHOLARSHIP FUNDRAISER Support Rutherford County 4-H Wing Eating Contest and Corn Hole Tournament Oct. 6 at 3 p.m. at Kirkenburt’s Smokehouse Grill (517 Cason Ln.) in honor of National 4-H Week. One wing = $1 pledge. There will be two divisions, adult and youth. Sponsors can pledge any amount. Contestant coming closest to their pledge amount wins a $25 prize. There’s a $5 entry fee per team. To enter, contact wdirl@utk.edu or call (615) 898-7710.

OCT. 7, 14, 21 & 28 BASIC PHYSICAL DEFENSE FOR WOMEN R.A.D. (Rape Aggression Defense) teaches realistic self-defense tactics and techniques to give women options in the case of an attack. R.A.D teaches risk awareness, risk reduction, risk recognition and risk avoidance strategies and self-defense techniques against abduction or sexual assault. Class size is limited to 25 students. Each class builds on the previous class. All classes will be at the Murfreesboro Police Department Annex Training Room (302 S. Church St.) from 6–9 p.m. For more information, or to enroll, contact (615) 895-3874 or 0316@ murfreesborotn.gov.

OCT. 14–31 MANSION IN MOURNING Explore the unusual mourning customs and creepy superstitions of the Victorian era at Oaklands Historic House Museum (900 N. Maney Ave.). Guided tours of the mansion with our mourners are available Oct. 14–31, during regular visiting hours, Tues.–Sat. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. and Sundays 1 p.m.–4 p.m. with the last tour leaving at 3 p.m. Regular admission rates apply. For more information, contact info@oaklandsmuseum.org.

OCT. 11 FAMILY CONSUMER EDUCATION CULTURAL ART CLASSES FCE teaches cultural art classes from 10 a.m.–noon at Lane Agri-Park (315 John R. Rice Blvd). Learn a new skill and make some new friends with chicken scratch embroidery, dimensional Christmas ornaments and broomstick knitting. Cost ranges from $3–10. For more information contact (615) 898-7710, pwitak1@utk.edu or llindqu1@utk.edu.

OCT. 12 FALL FASHION BANQUET Come out to the Embassy Suites (1200 Conference Center Blvd.) Oct. 12 at 5 p.m. for festivities while seeing the latest fashions hit the runway. Along with the fashion, food & fun, enjoy family-friendly vendors. For more information, call (615) 525-1412.

OCT. 12 HARVEST ARTS AND CRAFTS SHOW AT PATTERSON PARK Patterson Park will host its annual arts and craft show again this year on Saturday, Oct. 12, from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Patterson Park Community Center is located at 521 Mercury Blvd., next to Bradley Elementary School, and the craft show will be held on the large multi-purpose field in the front of the building. The event will be moved inside should inclement weather threaten. This non-juried event provides an opportunity for artists to showcase their talent. All merchandise sold must be crafted or designed by the vendor. For more information, contact Trina Pullum at tpullum@murfreesborotn.gov or (615) 893-7439.

OCT. 17 GIRLS NIGHT OUT Join Murfreesboro Medical Clinic for useful tips on health, beauty and wellness with great door prizes, fabulous goodie bags and a “Fall into Fashion” show (1272 Garrison Dr.) Oct. 17 from 6–9 p.m. The GNO event is free, but space is limited, so sign up now at mmclinic.com. For more information, call (615) 893-4480.

OCT. 18-19, 25 & 26 GHOST TOURS AT THE SAM DAVIS HOME Ghost Tours offers an answer to the commonly asked question: “Is the Sam Davis Home haunted?” Visitors board a haunted hayride where they are told grim tales of history on the property and in the surrounding area until they are dropped off at the front walk of the historic Sam Davis Home (1399 Sam Davis Rd.). Storytellers tell hauntingly true tales of ghost encounters experienced by visitors, staff and volunteers while guided along dark, winding trails by lantern light. Hayrides depart between 7 and 10 p.m. Parental discretion is advised. This event is not recommended for children under the age of 10. Admission is $5 per person. For more information, call (615) 459-2341 or visit samdavishome.org.

OCT. 18 HOMESCHOOL CEMETERY AND MANSION TOUR Get into the spirit and journey among the tombs of legends and heroes in their final resting place at Evergreen Cemetery (900 N. Maney Ave.) from 10 a.m. to noon. Guests may participate in tombstone rubbings and a cemetery scavenger hunt while learning of Victorian mourning customs such as widow’s weeds and appropriate mourning times for family members. Reservations are required and can be made to mb@ oaklandsmuseum.org. Admission is $5. For more information, please call (615) 8930022 or visit oaklandsmuseum.org

OCT. 18 “THE LIVING MATRIX” Enjoy free popcorn and a free screening of a film on the new science of healing at 7 p.m. at Unity of Murfreesboro (130 Cannon St.). Empower yourself with information on how you can enliven your body’s own self-healing capabilities and transform your ideas about how to get well and stay well. From the quantum physics of the human body field to heart coherence and informational health care, this full-length feature film explores the intricate web of factors that determine our well-being. For more information, call (615) 907-6033.

OCT. 19 DREAMCATCHERS 10TH ANNUAL FALL ROUND-UP Come out for games for all ages, hayrides, bonfire, pony rides, musical entertainment, food and drinks at DreamCatchers (257 McNeil Dr.) Oct. 19 from 5–9 p.m. DreamCatchers provides comprehensive Pediatric Therapy services to children in a family-centered manner offering traditional occupational therapy, speech therapy, hippotherapy, aquatic therapy, and therapeutic listening all in a multisensory environment. For more information, call (615) 631-6691.

OCT. 26

OCT. 23–27

RUTHERFORD’S BEST DOCTORS HEALTH FAIR

CYNOSPORT WORLD GAMES, USDAA DOG AGILITY

Nearly 100 physicians from all specialties will be in attendance, along with dozens of free health screenings, seminars, giveaways, demonstrations, and more, Oct. 26 from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. at Lane Agri-Park Community Center (315 John R. Rice Blvd.). There will be informational booths explaining what to expect when Health Care Reform takes effect, as well as instructional classes to make sure you and your family are prepared. The Health Fair is 100 percent free. For more information, call (615) 898-1496.

Competitors race against the clock as they direct their dogs to jump hurdles, scale ramps, burst through tunnels, traverse a see-saw and weave through a line of poles in an obstacle course configuration designed to challenge a handler’s competitive and training skills at Tennessee Miller Coliseum (304-B W. Thompson Ln.). For more information, please call (615) 4948879 or visit usdaa.com/events.cfm.

OCT. 26 OCT. 19 MURFREESBORO WALK TO CURE DIABETES The JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes is a fun and healthy way to show your support for all those living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and to raise funds for JDRF—the leading global organization focused on T1D research. Murfreesboro Walk to Cure Diabetes is a 1.2 mile loop charity walk-a-thon Oct. 19 from 8:30–11:30 a.m. at St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital (1700 Medical Center Pkwy.). For more information, please contact (615) 3322575 or jclark@jdrf.org, or register at jdrf. org.

OCT. 21 SCIENCE AND SPIRITUALITY DISCUSSION GROUP Is the sense of wonder that science instills actually a spiritual experience? Or can it lead to a spiritual experience? For all those who are interested in exploring the relationship between the two, the Science and Spirituality Discussion Group meets the third Monday of each month from 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. (Oct. 21) at Unity of Murfreesboro (130 Cannon St.). For more information, call (615) 907-6033.

OCT. 25 PINK ON PURPOSE Ignite Murfreesboro hosts Pink on Purpose beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 25, to raise funds for the American Institute for Cancer Research. The event will include a fashion show, comedy by Renard Hirsch, music by DJ Gina Sutton, food and drinks, and giveaways. The Walk In Closet and Friends plan to rock the runway at Ignite with local designers, models and artists to celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Month and “pay it forward.” Tickets are available at The Walk In Closet (1224 NW Broad St.). Call (615) 867-7255 for more information. Ignite is located at 810 N.W. Broad St.

OCT. 25 PINK PARTY Lox Salon’s Pink Party is an event to raise money for two breast cancer awareness

funds—Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation, through purchasing Paul Mitchell’s limited-edition pink products, and the Liz Mitchell scholarship foundation. There will be appetizers donated from a local restaurant and wine provided, Oct. 25 from 6:30–8 p.m. (132 St. Andrews Dr.). Raffles and prizes to be won! For more information, call (615) 617-3389.

OCT. 26 BBQ BATTLE IN THE BORO CONTEST BBQ Battle in the Boro Contest & Harvest Days at Cannonsburgh Village (312 S. Front St.) offers BBQ, music, hayrides, vendors, crafters and food vendors, Oct. 26 from 10 a.m–5 p.m. Admission is free. Click here for more information.

OCT. 25–27 OFF THE BEATEN PATH STUDIO ART TOUR During the last full weekend in October, the artists of the Off the Beaten Path Studio Art Tour open their studios to the public for a firsthand look at the materials, methods and settings that empower their creativity at more than a dozen studios across Middle Tennessee at 5 p.m. (1618 Cripps Rd., Liberty, TN). Take a tour of 14 fine art studios here in Middle Tennessee and participate in the most interactive art crawl our region offers, with original creations in clay, glass, wood, fiber and other media. Admission is free. To find their works, visit offthebeatenpathtour.com. For more information, contact MauriceWatkinsWilliams@gmail.com.

OCT. 26 HARVEST DAYS AT CANNONSBURGH VILLAGE Celebrate fall in true pioneer fashion with old-time music and dance, hayrides, pottery demonstrations, local crafters and food vendors, broom making, blacksmithing, art and antique auto exhibits at Cannonsburgh Village (312 S. Front St.) on Oct. 26 from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, call (615) 890-0355.

EXPRESS FEST 2013 Express Fest is a vendor event offering a unique boutique style shopping experience. Located indoors at The Walnut House (116 N. Walnut St.), Oct. 26 from 9 a.m.–2 p.m., stop by and shop on your way to/from the last weekend of the Farmers Market on the square! Accepting new artisans and vendors daily; call (615) 719-4860 to be a part of the show.

OCT. 26 YOUTH CANNING AND FREEZING CLASS Learn how to preserve food by water-bath canning and freezing at Lane-Agri Park (315 John. R. Rice Rd.). Take home what you make. Open to students in grades 4–12 Oct. 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cost is $30. Limit is 10. For more information, please contact bdavenp4@utk.edu or (615) 898-7710.

OCT. 26 GREAT PUMPKIN FESTIVAL Wizards and witches and hobbits, oh my! Dress as your favorite fantasy literature character and join Discovery Center (502 S.E. Broad St.) in a fun, family-friendly Halloween event! For more information, call (615) 890-2300 or visit discoverycenteronline.org.

OCT. 31 TRICK OR TREATING AT THE MANSION As the doors of Oaklands Mansion (900 N. Maney Ave.) creak open to reveal the dimly lit main hall, you will hardly be able to help wondering how many funerals have been held in the majestic front parlors. Bring your little ghosts and goblins to offer their most haunting greeting. The flickering lights and the family dressed in mourning will be sure to intrigue you enough to return for a full tour of the once-vacant and vandalized mansion now restored to its original splendor. Trick-or-treating on Halloween is open to the public and will last from 4 p.m. until candy is given away. Contact info@oaklands museum.org for more information. BOROPULSE.COM

OCTOBER 2013

MOVIES

OCTOBER RELEASES

REVIEWS

Playing this month:

PRISONERS Starring: Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Terrence Howard Directed by Denis Villeneuve

Rated R One of the most horrifying thoughts a parent can have is imagining their child missing. No note, no sign of location or clue as to their whereabouts. They simply vanish. Prisoners, the 2013 thriller from Denis Villeneuve starring Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal and Terrence Howard, offers this scenario, as two families celebrating Thanksgiving together each lose a daughter. Jackman and Howard, distraught fathers on a hunt for their kids, become desperate in a race against time when the only suspect in the investigation is released. Taking it upon himself to get the answers he needs, Jackman abducts the suspect to torture information out of him. But things

OCT. 3: Gravity

aren’t what they seem, as one dedicated cop pushes himself to the limits trying to bring these little girls home . . . This movie was a fresh concept with great actors playing out the disturbing consequences of an atrocity. It also seems to have a subtle-yet-strange superhero subtext that only comes into play when you look at the history of the cast and their involvement with costumed crusaders. That

might sound like I’m grasping at straws, but look at the perceived failure of law enforcement, the tragic beginnings of the film, and the fact that Jackman and Gyllenhaal are two good men on the edge driven to abandon their traditional moral codes, trading them in the wee hours of need. This was a decent film, but like a child with too many toys it feels overwhelmed. You spend most of the time watching Jackman

VIDEO GAME

REUS Reus is an interesting little god game that came out recently. Since I enjoy god games, I decided to pick it up, and I was not disappointed. Behind the cute, deceptively simple interface is a surprisingly deep game that will suck hours out of your day. The premise of Reus is that you are mother earth, in command of four giants: the Rock Giant, Swamp Giant, Ocean Giant and Forest Giant. Your goal is to build human civilization through the interaction of these Giants and their powers. When you start a new game, you go through The Beginning mode. Here you are taught how to manipulate the world, attract settlers and grow your community. You are then presented with Era mode, where the main game lies. Here you progress from 30-minute game

RATINGS:

modes to 60-minutes to 120-minutes as you unlock developments, such as building certain projects or reaching a certain population goal. What is surprisingly compelling about Reus is how its simplicity leads to some pretty deep choices in how you terraform and build your civilization. For instance, if you want a desert civilization you will need to create a mountain which spawns desert tiles next to it. However, if there is an ocean nearby and the mountain is not directly next to it, you will have

A CLASSIC

6 * OCTOBER 2013 * BOROPULSE.COM

forest tiles popping up instead. To add, the various resources can also be upgraded, or transmuted as the game calls it, to new and different resources; for instance, stone can be transmuted into salt or copper. These transmutations are only possible through completing projects. Depending on the villages (there are three types: desert, forest and swamp), each gives their own ambassador, which in turn unlocks specific abilities for each of your giants. The villages themselves add

OUTSTANDING

AVERAGE

unravel instead of the mystery itself, which has become all too obvious by the time Gyllenhaal starts looking for suspects. I’d recommend it if you’re wanting something more toned down, but I can’t truly say the film feels organic, because of my reservations about the ending. Just take a look and get back to me. Oh, and don’t let your kids play in the street.

OCT. 11: Captain Phillips

— JUSTIN STOKES

another layer to the game. If they get too greedy, they may start attacking other villages. You can prevent this by either easing up on how many resources you give them, or increasing their danger level through planting dangerous animals in their territory. The former is tricky because if you do not handle their concerns they may turn on you and start attacking the Giants. The latter requires some caution as well, for if you increase their threat too much, the village will slowly die off. Some projects even ask you to destroy other villages using your Giants’ powers, which lead to the conundrum of whether the end justifies the means, depending on how developed the targeted village is and whether you had another development to achieve in mind. Reus, in the end, is a very charming and addictive game, and at under $10, it is practically a steal. If you are in the mood to be a world of your own, do not hesitate to pick up Reus. — NADER HOBALLAH

BELOW AVERAGE

OCT. 11: Machete Kills

OCT. 18: Carrie

OCT. 25: Jackass Presents:

Bad Grandpa

AVOID AT ALL COSTS

DEAD

LIVING ROOM CINEMA column by NORBERT THIEMANN

facebook.com/livingroomcinema

Halloween Transgressions

ou might consider celebrating this Halloween season by taking in these boundary-smashing ﬁlms of ﬁlth and indisputable bad taste. You, too, can be the weird person in your neighborhood by recounting what you’ve just seen.

 Nekromantik (1987) is directed by West Germany’s Jörg Buttgereit. A body collector satisﬁes his girlfriend’s carnal desires with an outﬁtted human corpse. Her pleasure dissipates later when she learns that he’s been canned. Although evidence suggests that Buttgereit’s intention is to sicken his audience, he also has a love for his invention. The movie came about during a pivotal time for Germany and its disenfranchised youth. Be warned, Nekromantik is still banned in several countries for its transgressive subject matter and graphic content.

 Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter (2001) is directed by Lee Gordon Demarbre. JCVH is an outrageous, tonguein-cheek musical about the return of Jesus to wage war against the vampires who are preying on our vulnerable lesbians. To embolden his ﬁght, he makes use of Kung-Fu and the assistance of a masked Mexican wrestler. The tagline reads, “The Power of Christ Impales You!!!” Clearly not for everyone, but cult ﬁlm lovers embrace it accordingly. BOROPULSE.COM

OCTOBER 2013

SPORTS

FALL AND FOOTBALL IN FULL SWING

SPORTS TALK column by Z-TRAIN

titanman1984@ yahoo.com

hat’s up Murfreesboro? The Train Daddy is back with the Pain Daddy and once again ready to hit you in the mouth with sports knowledge in a sexy yet undefined kind of way … so let’s kick this shiz-nit off! So, my mighty Titans stand at 3-1 with wins over the Steelers, Chargers and Jets, and a blown woulda-couldashoulda overtime loss versus the Texans. My thoughts and prayers will be with my man Jake "the Snake" Locker, who has gained the respect of all Tennessee fans and the NFL; that injured hip should heal faster than the doc’s diagnosis, with Jake being young and physically sound. Let’s hope so. It’s October and the fall season is upon us. That means Sam Adams Octoberfest is now available and the leaves will be turning; it’s haunted house time, and football is in its

prime. I love this time of the season. Let’s get into some sports talk now, and break down Kenny Britt versus Nate Washington. I thought about doing Jacoby Jones versus Sweet Pea the Stripper, but I think the stripper won after she broke a champagne bottle over the head of the Ravens’ wide receiver. So, here are the facts and my personal opinions on these two Titans wide receivers, Kenny Britt and Nate Washington. Let’s start with Britt, who was drafted in the first round of the 2009 draft by the Titans, a former star out of the University of Rutgers and a four-star prospect projected by rivals. com. Then we have Nate Washington, who is out of Tiffin University and was signed as an undrafted free agent in ’05 by the Steelers. So why do I feel the need to break down these two receivers? Because it is important to realize potential never beats out consistency. Kenny Britt is a cancer and no good for the future of this team, unlike Washington, who is a stand-up act. Kenny Britt has been causing a stir in Nashville and has shown and tweeted his frustrations publicly, stating he believes this will be his last season as a Titan. Britt has even compared himself to Jared Cook, stating that he is getting blamed for mistakes he is not making. Ultimately he is crying. Titans General Manager Ruston Webster has asked Britt to stop taking all of his frustrations to social media. The fans of Tennessee expressed their feelings towards Britt when he dropped the first pass of the Chargers

game, as the stadium erupted into boos and explicit language. On the other hand, Washington, a team captain, was quoting lines from the movie 300 to get his team hyped, ultimately ending in a beautiful win over the Chargers. Nate has mainly stayed healthy since signing with the Titans and Britt is always getting injured: his leg, his pinky, his toe, whatever, he gets hurt. Since both players signed with the Titans in ’09, Nate has more yards, more touchdowns and more respect. Kenny Britt in 2011 was arrested on three counts including a felony for following an alleged car chase with police, though charges were reduced. In 2012 Britt was charged with resisting arrest, and in 2013 the troubled Titan rushed his just-stabbed friend to the hospital and then refused to explain anything to police. In all, Kenny Britt has been involved with the police nine times since joining the Titans. Nate Washington has never been involved in anything more harmful than a charity event.

“Potential never beats out consistency. Kenny Britt is a cancer and no good for the future of this team, unlike Washington, who is a stand-up act.”

Nate Washington

I had to do a story on this. I am tired of the antics, and I care about my team as do many other loyal fans — you know, those people who make the NFL what it is. The Titans have quietly put the word out, and if the right offer comes prior to the trade deadline, I believe Britt will be gone. I don’t believe anything worthwhile will be presented for the former first-round pick, so we’ll see what happens, but ultimately it’s time to get rid of the thug. So let me end this segment by expressing my gratitude to Nate; Britt can screw off! Moving into something else, Peyton Manning is on fire, breaking records left and right; 16 TDs and zero interceptions through four games … nasty! Tennessee Titans receiver Justin Hunter, another former Volunteer standout, has two receptions for two touchdowns. Those are solid numbers, ha-ha! Justin Hunter may not be known as a route runner, but he is strong and big, a young talent whom I believe will blossom over the years. The NFL has expressed interest in having a team in London. What? The

BLUE RAIDER RECAP  MTSU FOOTBALL TO FACE EAST CAROLINA ON HOMECOMING The Blue Raiders enter October at 3-2 with hard-fought victories so far over Florida Atlantic, Memphis and Western Carolina, and the only losses on the road at North Carolina and BYU. Murfreesboro’s Floyd Stadium will host a homecoming Conference USA showdown between MTSU and the East Carolina Pirates, squaring off at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5. ECU is coming into the contest off of a victory against North Carolina. 8 * OCTOBER 2013 * BOROPULSE.COM

NFL loves the idea because it makes them richer, but there is one group who hates the idea: the players! Would high draft picks refuse to go, like Eli Manning or John Elway did? The Bills had to overpay Mario Williams $96 million to come play; how much money would it take for an elite free agent to sign overseas? I believe if this became a reality a London team would become a team of misfits, players that were rejected by the other teams. Look into the news of a team in London, very interesting. It’s simple for me: let’s keep American football in America. Okay, I spent most of an article ranting about how Britt sucks, so let me say one good thing about him. In 2009 Britt did catch a game-winning touchdown from Vince Young on a fourth down as time expired in their contest with the Cardinals. On that drive, three fourth downs were converted in one of the most exciting games I have ever been to. Thank you for that memory, Britt. Other than that, you are still a bum! That’s it, the Train Daddy is out the station.

The Blue Raiders then continue the C-USA slate, traveling to North Texas on Oct. 12, facing Marshall in the Thursday night contest at home on Oct. 24, and then heading to Birmingham the following week to face UAB on Nov. 2.

 C-USA VOLLEYBALL SEASON HEATS UP In volleyball, the MTSU squad swept Conference USA opponent Rice on Sept. 27 in the Blue Raiders’ first C-USA match in program history. Following the win, and a subsequent loss to Noth Texas, MTSU enters the month of October at 9-6. The Lady Raiders soccer team enters the month with a record of 4-4-2. For more on the MTSU Blue Raiders, visit goblueraiders.com.

RUN STRONG BY BRACKEN MAYO

MIDDLE HALF RUNNERS HIT THE STREETS OCT. 12 MURFREESBORO’S HALF-MARATHON, the Middle Half, takes off from Greenland Drive just outside of MTSU’s Dean Hayes Track and Soccer Stadium the morning of Sat., Oct. 12, and runners will cross the finish line inside the stadium later that day after meandering through the streets of Murfreesboro surrounding MTSU.The event’s 3,000 running spots sold out just hours after registration opened on June 1. The ﬂat terrain of Murfreesboro makes for some fast half-marathon finishing times. The course has an elevation variation of only 41 feet over the 13.1-mile race, and in 2012, state records were broken in eight age classes. Although the race is closed to entries, organizers want the public to be aware of the road closures that day, as the course affects quite a few area roadways. The route winds through the neighborhood between MTSU and the Square, passing by Oaklands Historic House and the Rutherford County Courthouse, before heading East down Main Street to Tennessee to Mercury to Rutherford to Old Lascassas. Additionally, spectators are encouraged to observe the race and cheer the runners on; a word of wisdom from the race’s website, though: “Don’t say ‘You’re almost there!’ unless they are at least on Old Lascassas Hwy.” For more information on the event and the route, visit themiddlehalf.com.

OCTOBER

RACES  Rutherford Romp 5K Sat., Oct. 5 • 7:30 a.m. Gateway Island Park, 1275 Garrison Dr. $25 Benefiting The Child Advocacy Center of Rutherford County rutherfordromp.com  The Middle Half Sat., Oct. 12 • 7 a.m. Greenland Drive SOLD OUT • themiddlehalf.com

 Monster Dash 5k Sat., Oct. 19 5:30 p.m.; Fun run at 4:30 p.m. Gateway Island Park, 1275 Garrison Dr. $25 for 5k; $10 for fun run Benefiting The Rutherford County Foster Parent Association. Register at rcfpa.net  Lambert Dillard Memorial 5K Sat., Oct. 19 • 8:30 a.m. Fun run at 9:30 a.m. Sharp Springs Park, Smyrna Held in memory of Angi Ross Lambert and Carla Dillard $30 for 5k; $5 for fun run Register at ymcamidtn.org

BOROPULSE.COM

OCTOBER 2013

LIVING

Rather than engaging in conspicuous consumerism, a real treat would be making the world better for all.

SLAVE-LABOR CHOCOLATE An afﬂuent child's treat should not be the product of an impoverished child's misery.

According to UNICEF, 40% of the world’s coFALL IS UPON US, and I propose that we coa comes from farms along the Ivory Coast, don’t wait until Jan. 1 to become resolute. Now where hundreds of thousands of children are is a great time to engage in a meaningful commitment, and with Halloween (a contraction of employed. A CNN investigative report from 2012 reported on one 10-year-old and states: All Hallows’ Evening) just around the corner, When Abdul’s mother died, a stranger there is just the right opportunity. brought him across the border to the farm. In the most recent edition of YES! magaAbdul says all he’s given is a little food, the torn zine, a publication not to be missed, one clothes on his back, and an occasional tip from article investigates the true nature of fair trade the farmer. Abdul is a modern child slave. chocolate. Another by Annie Leonard, the creTo feel the full impact, perhaps one could ator of the video Stuff that went viral six years show the video interviews to a group. Before ago, challenges us to redefine our relationship the video begins, pass out a bag of mini Kitwith consumption. Both topics converge on Kats. It would be a mean the ghoulish holiday, where trick, but one long past due. cheap chocolate-like candies The purpose of the CNN and kitschy commercial merinvestigation was to assess chandise abound. the effectiveness of the 2001 “The Chocolate Fix,” the Harkin–Engel Protocol, also first article mentioned, becolumn by RYAN EGLY known as the Chocolate gins with a confession. Auegly@boropulse.com Protocol. In 2000, a number thor Kristy Leissle, who reof documentaries were aired ceived her PhD in a program that explored the “origins, trade, and politics” that exposed the slave labor and trafficking that defined much of the cacao industry. The of chocolate, is a self-professed addict. Unlike Cocoa Protocol was a 6-part plan to address the majority of chocolate lovers, her passion “the worst forms of child and forced labor.” carries her past hedonistic indulgence to the The most telling result of the 2012 effort seems supply chain. This might appear to take the to have been, as they say, the deafening silence. romance out of the elixir, but only superfiThe farmers in the interior of western African cially so. How can a candy bar taste sweet countries had heard nothing of the protocol, when produced by near-slave labor, people and responded often with a humble laugh of who earn $2 to $4 a day and barely survive? disbelief when told the selling price of their Although the focus of YES! trends toward the crop. On average, farmers in West Africa earn 6 positive and practical, other sources paint percent of the final selling price of chocolate. a clearer picture of what life is like for the What I am writing is the result of reading invisible farmers of our commonplace luxury.

LIVING GREEN

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and watching, not being on the ground. If any of this moves you, stop reading and immediately type “chocolate slavery” in YouTube. The second article, “The Human Cost of Stuff,” packs an awful lot into 4 pages. With a deeper look than the usual but vital message of “stop consuming,” Annie Leonard chooses the example of Haitian textile workers to highlight the gross inequality between what American consumers pay and what the producers earn. The particular example concerns T-shirts being made for Disney, but the same idea is widely applicable (search “Mickey goes to Haiti” on YouTube for a bit of the magic). Even with the promise of harassment and sub-poverty wages, Haitian workers flee the desolate countryside for urban centers. Leonard links free-trade agreements, which are the scourge of the indigenous Haitian farming economy, with low-priced and disposable North American goods. Haitian workers receive “one-half of one percent of the U.S. retail price of each garment they sewed.” The chocolate workers would appear to fare quite well when compared with this model. It is particularly sad that we hand out the products of downtrodden children to affluent children halfway around the world. A shiny

wrapper may obscure the dubious origins of the Snickers bar, but it cannot silence them without our compliance. A plastic Donald Duck mask might save time, effort and the need to be creative, but it embodies none of what a holiday can be. The most important part in affecting change is to not act alone. By limiting yourself to the conscious consumer mindset you become defined solely as a consumer. True power lies in group action. Here are a few ideas for this Halloween: • Take pride in making your own costume, and make a point of mentioning it • Avoid the orange aisle popping up in nearly every store; the byproduct of a Halloween party should be happy or possibly scared people, not a trash can brimming with orange • Bake the seeds from your pumpkin, compost the pumpkin after the holiday • Do more than just personally boycotting Mars, Hershey, Cadbury, etc., by reverse trickor-treating, hand out items with a brief note • Talk with others, encourage them • Guerrilla labeling can be a very successful tactic. A note is secretly placed in between bars at a grocery store. The most famous example of this is the “Raise the Bar” campaign, which is directed at Hershey’s.

Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls, Essays, Etc. by David Sedaris The book title contains everything that makes David Sedaris such a popular author: his musings, health and weirdness. This is what makes the author such a delightfully wicked read. He often writes about what we wish we could say—or do. And the cost is a trip through his often quirky, strange and hilarious world. Let’s Explore Diabetes With Owls is no exception. With that in mind, this offering by Sedaris should probably not be the first book for a newcomer to the author. It is that very eccentric world which limits this book to hardcore Sedaris fans. Newcomers may be put off by some of the material. For the Sedaris fans, however, there are several jewels to be found. The window to the author’s mind and his personality is better than ever, and his ability to find insight in even the strangest situations makes this book worthwhile for the diehard Sedaris fan. The stories that will probably stand out most to readers are the ones which are most idiosyncratic to Sedaris. The book starts with a full-fledged account of the author finding a dentist in France. Bleeding gums, numerous visits and his hypochondriac tendencies are handled in the standard David Sedaris fashion—witty and weird blended together. Reader can’t fail to catch the joy of his dentist visits: “I’ve gone from avoiding dentists and periodontists to practically stalking them, not in some quest for a Hollywood smile but because I enjoy their company.” Other stories stand out at classic Sedaris as well. He details his first colonoscopy and ends with a wickedly funny story: lying to his father that he has colon cancer. Again this is classic Sedaris—pulling a joke we, in our manners, would never attempt. Readers new to Sedaris would be understandably offended. But Sedaris readers are familiar, even comfortable, with the humor that explores the less tasteful side of our nature. Sedaris fans, and even first-timers, gain a wonderful insight into his nature and way of viewing life. The author’s ability to find insight and juxtapose it with by ROBERT LAWRENCE weirdness is illustrated in “Loggerheads.” A young David details the mysterious slow descent of his clutch of sea turtles to Davey Jones’ locker. Of course, the raw ground beef he feeds them might have been the cause. At the same time, Sedaris’ friend, Shaun, experiences the death of his father. And as Shaun sits on the back porch after the funeral, looking down the scope of his cherished BB gun, the mature David looks back, reflecting. “I tried to see what I imagined he did: a life on the other side of this, something better, perhaps even majestic, waiting for us to grow into it.” Sedaris digs deep for insight in the desperate, and strikes gold. I could go on, but the jewel is “Standing By,” Sedaris’ adventures in an airport. From the old men in golf shorts to Rastafarian families, to hearing Adolf Hitler getting paged for a courtesy call, this is David Sedaris at his best. Newcomers to the Sedaris canon should put off reading this until they know him better through his other works. However, for the Sedaris fan, Let’s Explore Diabetes With Owls is another insightful look into the mind of its author.

READ TO SUCCEED

BOOK REVIEW

Robert Lawrence is an instructor at Middle Tennessee State University, where he teaches Freshman English and reads obsessively in his spare time. Read To Succeed is the community collaborative created to promote literacy in Rutherford County. The objective of this partnership between schools, area agencies, and businesses is to support local programming and raise awareness about the importance of literacy. For more information and to find out how you can make a difference in Rutherford County’s literacy rates, visit readtosucceed.org. The opinions expressed in this book review are not necessarily representative of Read To Succeed

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LIVING Homegrown Fun

The pumpkins are plump and a few local farms are in full fall celebration mode this month.

Walden Farm

8653 Rocky Fork Rd., Smyrna, has plenty of pumpkins available for picking and purchase, along with gourds, Indian corn and other fall harvest items. Walden offers hayrides and treats such as pumpkin fudge, roasted pumpkin seeds, funnel cakes, crafts, a corn maze, a hay mountain, a 40-foot slide and many other activities. Hours through Oct. 31 are 3–6:30 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; 9 a.m.–6:30 p.m. Saturdays; and 12–4 p.m. Sundays. For more information call (615) 220-2918 or visit waldenfarm.biz.

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Lucky Ladd Farms

4374 Rocky Glade Road, Eagleville is open through the spring and summer featuring a playground, petting zoo and splash pad, but fall is when the pumpkin princess comes out. Pumpkin picking and wagon rides are part of the fun, and Lucky Ladd also offers scavenger-hunt style games for kids in the corn maze, where participants use clues and animal tracks to solve a mystery. Giant tire swings, mega slides, lawn checkers, a huge playground and more make the farm a fun family destination. Hours are 9:30 a.m.–3 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays; 9:30 a.m.–6 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturdays; and 12-5 p.m. Sundays. For more information, call (615) 274-3786 or visit luckyladdfarms.com.

Maize at Milton

11132 Lascassas Pike, Milton is remembering the Battle of Stones River with its corn maze this year. This attraction includes campfires, hayrides and a pumpkin patch as well. Hours are 4–10 p.m. Fridays; 10 a.m.–10 p.m. Saturdays; and 1–6 p.m. Sundays. For more information, call (615) 273-MAZE.

A map of this year's Maize at Milton, taking on a Battle of Stones River theme this season.

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STILL TO EXPLORE:

LIVING

CREEPY HOLLOW HAUNTED WOODS

2133 Joe Brown Rd, Spring Hill (931) 796-5937 $17 | creepyhollowwoods.com

ast year, the Pulse put together a team of gore hounds and rated each haunt, getting lost in quiet industrial areas and old woods that would make Jigsaw and Jason Voorhees feel right at home. We survived, and are back for another year. This was a tough list to put together, as almost all of these haunts put forth great effort and really care about scaring the community. Keep in mind, this article will be updated online at BoroPulse.com/Haunts with even more haunts through the month.

And now, push through that first door into the lurking darkness, and …

ENTER IF YOU DARE! 3rd Place— NASHVILLE NIGHTMARE

1st Place—MONSTER MOUNTAIN 273 McMurtry Rd., Hendersonville monstermountain.net (615) 338-4632 Price: $15 | Grade: A Monster Mountain kept the same approach as last year, and our team feels that it still works. We really do run the gamut here, going through a truly diverse lineup of terrors. I’m not saying anything else, as you should go there to feel the fear for yourself. Go there, if you dare.

2nd Place—HAUNTED HELL

3930 Apache Trail, Antioch hauntedhellnashville.com (615) 680-9343 Price: $15 | Grade: A From the fine folks who brought you Devil’s Dungeon comes a haunt that came out of nowhere, like a specter in the night. This attraction took a minimalistic approach that actually pays off. It also puts monsters in places you don’t really expect them, so when they jump out you weren’t really able to see them. Its vortex tunnel and maze win points for being unique twists on familiar tricks. I have never seen so many people run halfway across a parking lot after leaving a haunt. People were legitimately afraid here.

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1016 Madison Square, Madison nashvillenightmare.com (615) 752-5663 Price: $17 for Night Terrors or $23 for Night Terrors and Dark Descent | Grade: A– Delivering the fear with two haunts at one location, Nashville Nightmare sets the bar pretty high for other haunts. You’ve got makeup maestro Rick Prince (Nashville’s hero of Face Off fame) working as a coordinator to “Bad” Brad Webb’s Hellish vision of thirteen different nightmares. Top-notch acting and a great location add to an already well-oiled killing machine. This monstrous haunted house has several great realms ranging from a mortuary to a meat-packing plant. Then Dark Descent brings to us perhaps the coolest idea for a haunted house ever. You have an abandoned CDC facility which received a mysterious container, effectively putting the area on quarantine. Exploring the haunt on behalf of Necrosis Inc., you and crew are given a light bar to protect you from what lurks in the darkness. Exceptional production value adds to a space that sought quality over quantity. Points for originality, Death Yard. You definitely made a haunt worth visiting.

DEAD LAND HAUNTED WOODS

7040 Murfreesboro Rd., Lebanon (615) 519-3116 Single trail: $15, 3 attractions: $30 deadlandwoods.com

EVILUTION SLAUGHTERHOUSE

423 6th Ave. So., Nashville slaughterfest.com (615) 248-0019 Price: $15 | Grade: B Nashville’s longest-running haunted attraction is still playing some of the best music outside. It also has the coolest outside mascot (we won’t give it away), a Michael Myers who plays to his true nature as The Shape, and great use of fog. Of particular note was its “Voodoo Witch Doctor” and the incorporation of the infamous Captain Spaulding’s Murder Ride. A fun time

DEVIL’S DUNGEON

510 Davidson St., Nashville devilsdungeon.net (615) 256-0053 Price:$15 | Grade: BOur host opens with a joke about masturbation. We move to an aborted baby hanging out by an umbilical cord, later to arrive in a room with a gay male stripper. I’m thinking back to my review last year, trying to justify my comment about the haunt not being that controversial. But I’m jaded, so maybe that’s why I feel that way. The 3D portion of the haunt was used much more effectively this year, and that damn maze came back to bite us…

GORE HOUSE

118 Mid Town Ct., Hendersonville gorehouse.net (615) 530-4673 Price: $13 | Grade: BWes Cornwell, the bloody boss man who oversees Gore House, and crew seemed to push the envelope in ways both shocking and subtle. This feels very much like a similar haunt experience to last year, and, since I commended Gore House for its secret passages and unique layout, that’s not a terrible thing. The maze is also pitch-black this year, and took me forever to get through.

NIGHTMARE HOLLOW

2595 New Hall Rd., Greenbrier Check out Nightmare Hollow on Facebook Grade: C+ This is an amusement with some of the freshest ideas Middle Tennessee has seen and does a pretty good job of throwing you off-kilter several times in your trek. There’s a great aesthetic that feels organic here, especially with the Spider’s

7091 Hwy. 41-A S., Pleasant View $13 | evilutionhauntedwoods.com

MILLER'S THRILLERS

1431 Carters Creek Pike, Columbia $15 | millersthrillers.net

MEYERS CREEK HAUNTED WOODS

3800 John Bragg Hwy., Murfreesboro $15 facebook.com/MeyersCreek HauntedWoods

SCREAM CREEK

1765 Martins Chapel Church Road, Springfield (615) 382-7593 $15.95 | screamcreek.com Den and Demonic Attic Space. The only reason why this score wasn’t higher was because of the Friday the 13th bad luck: it’s an outdoor haunt which faced a storm right before we got there, and some of the lights/terrain had been exposed to the elements. So, I’m going to go ahead and tell you—on faith—that this is a good haunt and whatever warts we saw will be fixed.

DEATH ROW SANITARIUM OF SLAUGHTER

418 Harding Industrial Dr., Nashville deathrowhauntedhouse.com (615) 833-1433 Price: $12 | Grade: D Like a horde of zombies, the problems with this haunt are overwhelming, relentless and they infect the whole experience. Starting with the title, you have “death row” and “sanitarium of slaughter,” components that feel as clumsily cobbled together as Frankenstein’s monster. The majority of the tour is a medical hospital, and since these scenes don’t really fit the title and become quite repetitive, this seems like a poor decision. The set is neat to look at because of how multi-textured and busy the experience can be, but the majority of these sets are behind the walkway, turning our undead safari into a petting zoo. There are a few jumps here, and we had one major scare when a clown left his scene and followed a female member of the team the last fifth of the journey, which reeked of desperation and got old quick. Thanks to Mid South Haunts, a mysterious Facebook entity from beyond the grave, for help on this piece.

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FOOD

THE DISH: WHERE:

Al-Rayan ADDRESS:

1107 Memorial Blvd. PHONE:

(615) 494-5977

BY TONY LEHEW

Daily Entrée Rotations

I ﬁrmly believe food to be the elixir of life and I truly enjoy meeting like-minded people. One such kindred spirit is George Smith, aka Dr. Bar-B-Q. The moniker is a bit of a double entendre, since Dr. Smith is a career physician. Now, I am no stranger to the art of smoking meat, and I can recognize someone who understands the passion of doing it correctly. “There is an old saying; it is so good it falls off the bone. If it falls off the bone,” said George, “it’s overcooked. It should only come off the bone where you bite into it.” His vivid descriptions of how to properly smoke meat was in itself enough to make you hungry. I asked George to give our readers the details of the upcoming event. “The ﬁrst BBQ Battle in the 'Boro will be held in conjunction with Heritage Days at Cannonsburgh on Oct. 26,” George said. “There will also be live music with Larry & Gay Pinkerton and The Hardin Draw. The entry fee for competitors is $100 per team.” There will be 36 teams, and as of press time, there is still room for more entries.

MONDAY:

Lamb Stew with Green Beans or Okra TUESDAY:

Kufta

WEDNESDAY:

Stuffed Cornish Hen THURSDAY:

Fried Tilapia FRIDAY:

Hidden Gem

Al-Rayan serves up delicious Shami fare from a humble convenience store location. story and photos by CHRISTY SIMMONS

have recently come to realize that there’s a hidden gem in Murfreesboro that I had no knowledge of. There is a little store with a bright yellow awning in a strip mall on Memorial Boulevard, right across the street from O’Charleys. I drove past it all the time, thinking it was nothing more than a convenience store. It used to be a convenience store; now it is a Middle Eastern grocery with a small café in the back. When I was told of the existence of the café, I figured it was just another gyro joint catering to Americans who like to think they are eating ethnic food without actually having to eat ethnic food. I mean, it’s in the back of a convenience store! They probably serve gyros alongside microwavable burritos and two-week-old hotdogs on rotating skewers. I am so pleased to inform you that I was wrong. So wrong. This place is amazing. The only thing I regret about my experience was that I had gone this long without knowing this was available. This café is Saudi Arabian—not Greek—and they cook all the food in the Shami style, which means that the recipes are from the region that includes Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine and Syria. All that means to me is that the food is authentic, which is my biggest criteria in a good ethnic restaurant. My family started with the following appetizers: hummus—a dip made from ground chickpeas, garlic and tahini; and fresh tabouleh—a salad made with chopped parsley, cracked bulgar, tomatoes and lemon juice. This was served with fresh-made pita bread. Yes, I said fresh-made. They make everything here: Pita bread, tahini sauce, even their yogurt, are all made fresh daily.

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BBQ Battle in the ’Boro set for Oct. 26

Mansaf (yogurt soup with lamb, rice, potatoes and pine nuts) SATURDAY:

Chicken Biryani SUNDAY:

Breakfast

We also sampled their falafels, little balls of ground chickpeas and fava beans fried and served with tahini sauce, and their fattir, a bread dough stuffed with either meat or cheese, folded and baked. We had the chicken fattir, which had curry and warm spices throughout; in a word, delicious. When it came to the entrees, we asked just to be given a sample of everything they had available that day. They have things like their baked chicken on a daily basis and then they have other specials that change daily, and I was told that sometimes they add an extra entrée if something sounds particularly good that day (see below for a list of the regular daily specials rotation). Since I went on a Tuesday, they also had kufta, a sort of meatloaf with spices like cumin, cardamom and cinnamon, topped with sliced potatoes and tomatoes and baked. We enjoyed that and the baked chicken, which is marinated overnight in a special spice blend and then dry-rubbed before it goes in the oven. Both dishes are served with saffron rice. We also tried the chicken shawarma, a sandwich with marinated chicken, grilled to order and rolled up with pickles, lettuce, tomatoes and homemade garlic sauce in a soft ﬂatbread. After eating, I wandered around the store to look at the offerings there. Being an avid cook, I was delighted to see things that I thought would be near-impossible to get in Murfreesboro without having them shipped to me from someplace else. Rose and orange blossom waters, bags of whole cardamom pods, ghee (clarified butter), sheep’s milk cheeses … all this and more can be found there. They even have a whole section of European candy, which includes some of the candy bars I fell in love with while in London, and some delicious Italian chocolate hazelnut wafer cookies that I hadn’t been able to find anywhere. Are you a hookah aficionado? They’ve got you covered in that department as well, with gorgeous hookahs and any ﬂavor of shisha tobacco you could want. The last things of note regarding this place is that there is a drive-thru that you can use to get food or anything else in the store if you are in a hurry. They also cater any event, big or small—you can even get a whole stuffed lamb, cooked on a spit.

George continued, “There will be two categories: chicken and ribs. You can use any means to cook that you want, and the meat will be judged on appearance, taste and tenderness . . . Entries will be scored by a panel of 36 judges . . . Each category has 3 prizes, ﬁrst place is $500, second place is $300 and third place is $200. And there is a Grand Champion prize of $600.” George said he could see Murfreesboro hosting a nationally sanctioned contest. “Maybe by this time next year we will be doing just that,” he said. The BBQ Battle in the 'Boro is presented by the Rotary Club, “an international, community service organization comprised of local businessmen and community leaders, with chapters all over the world.” For more information on the big battle, visit borobbqbattle.com. There will also be a BBQ dinner on Fri., Oct. 11, for sponsors at Events 96 East, 9901 Lascassas Pike, Lascassas. I love barbecue so I plan to attend both; hope to see you there. Read more of the conversation with George at boropulse.com.

BOROPULSE.COM

OCTOBER 2013

* 17

SOUNDS

SPREAD YOUR WINGS

Tons of Tennessee talent gather on the banks of the Red River for inaugural Fly Free Festival. story by ANDREA STOCKARD

WHEN COLLEEN PETREE was proposed to in July 2012, her one request was to have a music festival for the wedding. Although this may have not happened, husband and wife Colleen and Corey Petree have dedicated the past year to giving us all the wonderful experience of Fly Free Music and Art Festival in Adams, Tenn., Oct. 11–13. Fly Free Fest, a 3-day riverside camping, music and arts festival, features The Floozies, RJD2, Moon Taxi, JEFF the Brotherhood, Papadosio, Polish Ambassador and more. Named after Colleen’s family reunions, Family Fun Fest (FFF), the duo encourage everyone to be themselves, have fun and to “ﬂy free” for the weekend. “I wanted something nostalgic that resonated with something small, family and community-like,” said Colleen. “Some people can be skeptical to a first-year festival, but we have received a lot of excitement from people who have been looking forward to a smaller festival with a diverse lineup.” Fly Free Fest has already sold tickets in over 30 cities around the United States which means attendees will be traveling from afar for this eccentric forest festival. In association with IMMIX Music Group and others, the team has put together huge stages and an unconventional, peaceful environment with lights and whimsical tree decorations. Guests can also take a shuttle during the day and canoe the Red River back to the festival! Not only does the quirky festival have stages with cloud names (Cumulus, Stratus and Nimbus) but it also has themed costume days named Historical Figures, Spirit Animals and Halloween. Fly Free Fest offers a silent disco, bubbles, bonfires, fire performers, aerial performers, sustainability workshops, yoga and belly dancing workshops, and more. It will feature PPRWRK, Inner Ascension, Embers Enlightenment, live painter Jake Tessendorf, belly dancer Lacy Jo, festival dancing workshop leader Thomas Anderson, live painter Steven Kruse and others. “We want people to get in tune with who they are deep down and be the person that they can’t really be in an office setting,” said Colleen. “A tight-knit, small setting really helps bring people together. The daily themes 18 * OCTOBER 2013 * BOROPULSE.COM

will be nice, too, because they’ll be a great conversation starter.” With some of the bigger festivals you don’t make that many friends anymore because you just stick with your own group. But with a smaller festival, if it’s all one big group, then conversation ﬂows more easily. It will also be nice to have more space at shows to dance and to be a weirdo. I’ll still be up close though. I’m a diehard music fan! For tickets or more information on Fly Free Fest and how to get a $20 off a student ticket, visit ﬂyfreefest.com, facebook.com/FlyFreeFest or Twitter @FlyFreeFest. Sign up to volunteer and get a free ticket!

1 Fly Free

Music and Arts Fest Poster

2 The Kingston Springs

3 Opposite Box 4 Moon Taxi 5 This is Art 6 Jeff the Brotherhood

BOROPULSE.COM

OCTOBER 2013

* 19

ALBUM REVIEWS

FEELINGS ERASER

SUNRACER

The Night Ghost by Feelings Eraser, released in July of this year, is the soundtrack to a 1980s crime thriller starring James Caan that does not exist. But it should. These 12 tracks, composed primarily with a Roland HS-60 synthesizer and “designed to play with the windows down, alone, on the long way home,” capture the beloved ridiculousness and campiness that was the ’80s, that over-thetop decade of film, fashion and music that you love to hate and hate to love. And The Night Ghost, which sounds like something Nic Cage would be all over, provokes some thought about the narrative power of tone and timbre. And James Caan is trumped by no one, except maybe Harrison Ford. Open scene with “The Bus.” With its nervous, uncomfortable pitch, it at first sounds more like a Daniel Craig thing, almost The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, but then cue the heavy drum and we plunge into the heart of the ’80s with an aerial shot of a dismal city, we’ll say Pittsburgh, getting drizzled on by the foreboding clouds of what’s to come. Next comes “The Venue,” rife with bad hair and coke, where two men stare at one another across a table. Their faces are stoic, basked in a red glow, and neither acknowledges the crotch full of singles dancing up next to them. In “The Getaway,” neon lights ﬂash and we see the whole city in a frenzy of rushing cars, sirens, neon lights and hookers jumping out of the way before it all comes to a crashing halt when the culprit’s vehicle goes careening over a bridge. Everything’s on fire, Caan is somehow unscathed and everybody’s got to clean all this shit up. It’s finally over in “The Dream.” Caan is home, in his bachelor pad, in bed drifting off when it hits him —some offhand remark heard a week ago becomes significant, and he realizes his partner Jerry, loveable Jerry who’s had his back for years, Jerry, whose wife Margaret sends him a Christmas card every year, is a double-crossing bastard. Caan is off to save the woman he’s going to bed later, find the $500 million and take care of Jerry in “The Castle,” and this will take cunning. By the time we get to “After,” James Caan is spent. He makes a wry joke, saying his vacation is long overdue, and the movie closes with a salve, but not a total resolution, and so the stage is set for The Night Ghost 2, hopefully with Harrison Ford in it. Find The Night Ghost by Feelings Eraser at feelingseraser.bandcamp.com. — JESSICA PACE

The new release by Murfreesboro's Sunracer, titled Moon Vibes, is now available. Featuring six audio tracks, the album summons the sensation of lying back, closing your eyes, and forgetting you are here . . . Noticeable aesthetic use of auto-tune with the hint of an arpeggiated vocoder is distinctively heard from the beginning of the opening song “Get Loose.” Smooth backing vocals and layered percussion shine through the musical landscape and display Sunracer’s uniqueness on this track, creating a nice introduction. “Get Loose” should set you free by the end of its play; if not, “Moon Vibes” is certain to have an effect. From the start you feel the pulsation of the auto-pan effect being pushed through, creating a mixed swell plus a tremolo effect with robust depth coming through both channels. An excellent track to listen to with ear buds, and perhaps it isn’t a coincidence that the track is a solid four minutes and twenty seconds long. No doubt these guys had an idea of what they were getting into on this track . . . sitting back and find a nice spot to relax. This track also features Darius Shelton, giving a ﬂuid discourse in what would likely be described as new-age hip-hop, if you had to assign it a genre. “Aimless Aimer” is the point of ethereal awakening. This track displays creative use of Ryan Chesney’s vocals. His versatility, ranging from a low growl to an upper tenor range “aaauuuuooohhh,” doesn’t stop there, but instead takes you to an almost pleading angelic register. As the name implies, “Interlude” is an instrumental, with extensive percussion from drummer Ben Korous; ambient guitar swells, feedback, and delays from Anthony Mitchell; and a tight, walking bass line from Stephen Hemphill. Nostalgia is the word that comes to mind with “Chasing Circles.” The reverse effect from the beginning makes you think you are riding a merry-goround, but around a minute and fifteen seconds in, you want to ask yourself: did you take the right ride? The final track of the album gives an introspective outlook, stimulating the sense of self. You can give Sunracer the key to a musical ride, and like a beautiful road trip, you might find Moon Vibes takes you by surprise. You are the passenger. Find Sunracer on Spotify, Facebook and Reverbnation. — MARK HENES

The Night Ghost

20 * OCTOBER 2013 * BOROPULSE.COM

Moon Vibes

JOHN SALAWAY

JUSTIN KLINE

John Salaway is one of those artists people around here tend to know but may not really know. His name pops up frequently on Murfreesboro music venue calendars, his name ﬂoats around the Nashville area and he has performed with lots of high-profile musicians. Yet the musically adroit multi-instrumentalist (who produced, recorded and sang every song on his latest record) is still not yet a household name. Be that as it may, the craftsmanship and sonic charisma of The Song in the Air, recorded at RCA Studio B in Nashville, can’t be denied. The roster of artists with whom Salaway has worked is extensive; he has performed with Peter Frampton, Ben Folds, Paris Delane, Gordon Kennedy, Guitar Shorty, Mystery Trip Beatles Revue, Marion James, Maynard Ferguson, Beatles tribute act Sixty Four and many more. A music business and recording industry graduate from MTSU, Salaway knows the industry and has done the Music City routine of writing with other songwriters in Nashville, but his latest album proves his worth as his own songwriter and one-man band. The 10 tracks on The Song in the Air have a tonal charm with a just-opened-your-eyes combination of sleepy and happy to be newly awake. It’s fairly ridiculous to compare anyone to The Beatles. Virtually any musician that followed The Beatles’ era was inﬂuenced by them; they were the language and bands that followed them are dialects. There are a few, however, that champion the particular tra-la-la breeziness, like Salaway on his understatedly chipper album. His most poignant admonition is Turn off the news and you just might feel something beautiful—a resonant message in today's melancholia. Songs like the title track, “Something Beautiful” and “Only Love Can Save Us Now” possess the “Dear Prudence” vibes and provide a breath of fresh air—feathery, uplifting and easy—which was the artist’s intent: “My goal was to write about positive change in ourselves and in our world and these were the songs in the air when I was writing it,” he says. Find Salaway’s performance dates, the new release available for purchase and more at johnsalaway.com. — JESSICA PACE

Justine Kline’s musical style is an antithetical combination of bright power-pop and sad-bastardry, locked in a ceaseless game of rock-paper-scissors; are his songs neon-pink happy, or unbearably miserable? One certainty is that if you hear Kline once, you’ll decide immediately whether you love him or can’t stand him. A multi-instrumentalist, he performed guitars, bass, keys, drums, percussion and his emotive, wide-eyed vocals on his latest EP, Doormat, whose four little tracks may have found the middle ground between two previous bipolar records the Pulse reviewed in past years. In 2010, there was the Triangle EP, which was like sucking sour candy, so intense was the sugar-coated despair. The powerful Cabin Fever Songs followed in 2012, a gem of a misery record in the same conceptual vein of Bon Iver’s breakthrough album. On Doormat, released earlier this spring, Kline sets the bar with a hooky opening title track: I’m made of colorful designs/Woven with threads not hard to ﬁnd/I’m getting stepped on half the time/Working at the drop of a dime/I’m your doormat, baby/It’s not fair, believe me/ That I’m your doormat, baby. The almost too self-aware “I Wanna Feel Normal,” in which he laments sucking so bad at life, follows along with the words of encouragement to a Mr. Victor. Hooky, wry and sonically energized, Kline is equal parts disaster and cheeriness, like kittens, Pop Rocks and Mr. Rogers all in the same room with roadkill, divorcees and a long winter. With Doormat, Kline proves once again nobody’s happier to be sad. — JESSICA PACE

The Song in the Air

RATINGS: AVERAGE

Doormat

A CLASSIC BELOW AVERAGE

We’re working hard to promote good music in Middle Tennessee. Bands: Send your albums and promotional materials to The Murfreesboro Pulse, 116-E North Walnut St., Murfreesboro, TN 37130.

OUTSTANDING AVOID AT ALL COSTS

DEAD BOROPULSE.COM

OCTOBER 2013

* 21

IF YOU GO:

SOUNDS

OCTOBER CONCERTS Send your show listings to listings@boropulse.com

THURS, 10/3 BUNGANUT PIG Luke Dolahenty JOZOARA Rik Gracia THE BORO The HooDooMen WILLIE’S WET SPOT Shane Douglas & Lenny Grasso

FRI, 10/4 BUNGANUT PIG Phoenix Rising FANATICS Miranda Louise ROOSTER’S Zone Status THE BORO Redstone WILLIE’S WET SPOT Back Lit

SAT, 10/5 BUNGANUT PIG Fender Bender CENTER FOR THE ARTS The Cash Kings FANATICS Ivan LaFever MAIN STREET LIVE Ill Gates, Bare Noize MAYDAY BREWERY Goodbye June, Black Market Research, Static Revival, Nava Hotel, Rocktoberfest READYVILLE MILL Johnny B & the Balladeers ROOSTER’S Johnny Crow and Janalog THE BORO Sheep Shifter WILLIE’S WET SPOT Hump & the Blackouts

BUNGANUT PIG Franklin & Farris ROOSTER’S Writers Night with Mike Short WILLIE’S WET SPOT VDJ Mikeymike

THURS, 10/10 BUNGANUT PIG Sabrina JOZOARA Rik Gracia WILLIE’S WET SPOT Shane Douglas & Lenny Grasso

FRI, 10/11 BUNGANUT PIG Midnight Highway FANATICS Max Tapp Radio MAYDAY BREWERY Lance Allen Rooster’sMike Oldham THE BORO Lilak Sunset, New Wave Rebellion WALL STREET Redstone WILLIE’S WET SPOT Evil Twin

SAT, 10/12

WILLIE’S WET SPOT VDJ Mikeymike

BUNGANUT PIG Zone Status FANATICS Jon Gower MAYDAY BREWERY Lucas Wilson READYVILLE MILL Johnny B & the Balladeers Rooster’sFarCry THE BORO Jere Potts Benefit feat. Iraconji, DoomFactor WALL STREET The Future WILLIE’S WET SPOT Stoopid Kool

MON, 10/7

SUN, 10/13

ROOSTER’S Wendy Stephenson

WILLIE’S WET SPOT VDJ Mikeymike

TUES, 10/8

TUES, 10/15

BUNGANUT PIG Delyn Christian ROOSTER’S 2Country4Nashville

BUNGANUT PIG CJ Vaughn Trio ROOSTER’S 2Country4Nashville

WED, 10/9

WED, 10/16

3 BROTHERS Ryan Coleman’s Writers Night

SUN, 10/6

View Concert Listings Online: 22 * OCTOBER 2013 * BOROPULSE.COM

BUNGANUT PIG Trevor Finlay & Jennifer Friend ROOSTER’S Writers Night with Mike Short WILLIE’S WET SPOT VDJ Mikeymike

THURS, 10/17 BUNGANUT PIG Charleyhorse JOZOARA Rik Gracia ROOSTER’S Vagabond Train WILLIE’S WET SPOT Shane Douglas & Lenny Grasso

FRI, 10/18 BUNGANUT PIG Greez Monkeez FANATICS Zone Status MAYDAY BREWERY Eight O’ Five Jive ROOSTER’S Mike Allen & Friends THE BORO Kadyroxz WILLIE’S WET SPOT Rebel Rulz

SAT, 10/19 BUNGANUT PIG Reckless FANATICS Greez Monkeez MAIN STREET LIVE Glow Rage MAYDAY BREWERY Valley Roots READYVILLE MILL Johnny B & the Balladeers ROOSTER’S FarCry THE BORO Red Mouth WALL STREET Fallopian Tube Tops, Tetsuo, Josephine & The Wildfront, WILLIE’S WET SPOT Double Image

SUN, 10/20 MAIN STREET LIVE Copper Into Steel MTSU TUCKER THEATER Javier Colon WILLIE’S WET SPOT VDJ Mikeymike

3 Brothers 114 N. Church St. 410-3096

PUL SE PICK

JAVIER COLON

SUN., OCT. 20 @ MTSU TUCKER THEATER Javier Colon, winner of NBC's The Voice in the series' first season, will perform at MTSU's Tucker Theater on Sunday, Oct. 20. The Sogno Project, created to bring awareness to music and the arts, presents the concert. Kelly Lee Culbreth will open the evening, with the show slated to begin at 6 p.m. All proceeds will go to Branches Recovery Center and Doors of Hope. For tickets, visit sogno.ticketbud.com/mtsu.

THURS, 10/24

WED, 10/30

JOZOARA Rik Gracia WILLIE’S WET SPOT Shane Douglas & Lenny Grasso

3 BROTHERS Ryan Coleman’s Writers Night BUNGANUT PIG Trevor Finlay & Jennifer Friend ROOSTER’S Writers Night with Mike Short WILLIE’S WET SPOT VDJ Mikeymike

FRI, 10/25 BUNGANUT PIG Karl & The Undertones FANATICS Pimpalicious MAIN STREET LIVE J Rabbit, Singularity MAYDAY BREWERY Halloween Party ROOSTER’S Crusty Veterans THE BORO An Abstract Theory WILLIE’S WET SPOT KGB

SUN, 10/25 WILLIE’S WET SPOT VDJ Mikeymike

SAT, 10/26 BUNGANUT PIG Stones River Pilots FANATICS John Salaway MAYDAY BREWERY Kent Goolsby READYVILLE MILL Johnny B & the Balladeers THE BORO Soul Thieves

TUES, 10/29 BUNGANUT PIG Delyn Christian ROOSTER’S 2Country4Nashville

THURS, 10/31 BUNGANUT PIG Halloween Party with The Boro Band JOZOARA Rik Gracia MAIN STREET LIVE High 5 Fright Fest featuring Rittz, Snow The Product, Jarrard Benton ROOSTER’S The Mulch Brothers THE BORO Jonny Gowow presents Talking Heads WILLIE’S WET SPOT Shane Douglas & Lenny Grasso

FRI, 11/1

Bonhoeffer’s 610 Dill Lane 202-3517 Bunganut Pig 1602 W. Northfield Blvd. 893-7860 Fairways Golf & Grill 127 SE Broad St. 962-7853 Fanatics 1850 Old Fort Pkwy. 494-3995 First United Methodist Church 265 West Thompson Lane JoZoara 536 N. Thompson Ln. 962-7175 Liquid Smoke #2 Public Square 217-7822 Main St. Live 527 W. Main St. 439-6135 Mayday Brewery 521 Old Salem Hwy. 479-9722 MT Bottle 3940 Shelbyville Hwy. 962-9872 New Life Christian Church 343 Rucker Rd. 977-3770 Nobody’s Grill & BBQ 116 John R. Rice Blvd. 962-8019 Readyville Mill 5418 Murfreesboro Road 563-MILL

FANATICS Miranda Louise

SAT, 11/2 FANATICS Ivan LaFever THE BORO Static Revival, Plastic Friends WALL STREET Fat Box

Social 114 N. Church St. 904-7236 Temptation Club 2404 Halls Hill Pike 217-0944 The Boro Bar & Grill 1211 Greenland Dr. 895-4800 Wall Street 121 N. Maple St. 867-9090

TUES, 10/22 ROOSTER’S 2Country4Nashville

WED, 10/23 3 BROTHERS Ryan Coleman’s Writers Night BUNGANUT PIG Franklin & Farris ROOSTER’S Writers Night with Mike Short WILLIE’S WET SPOT VDJ Mikeymike

Aura Lounge 114 S. Maple St. 396-8328

PUL SE PICK

JONNY GOWOW

THURS. OCT. 31 @ THE BORO BAR AND GRILL Nothing like David Byrne and company to help make things a little weird this Halloween. Jonny Gowow will be bringing you the Talking Heads concert film Stop Making Sense tonight at The Boro.

Walking Horse Hotel 101 Spring St., Wartrace (931) 389-7050 Willie’s Wet Spot 1208 S. Lowry St., Smyrna 355-0010 Wright Music Bldg. 1439 Faulkinberry Dr. 898-2493

OCTOBER KARAOKE, DJ AND TRIVIA NIGHTS CAMPUS PUB Karaoke 10 p.m.–2:30 a.m. MELLOW MUSHROOM Trivia 8 p.m.  Bobby Howard presides over trivia night at: NOBODY’S Live Trivia 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

MONDAYS

THURSDAYS

BREW U Live Trivia 7 p.m.

NOBODY’S Karaoke 9:15 p.m.–12:30 a.m.

BUNGANUT PIG Live Trivia 7 p.m.

THE POUR HOUSE Karaoke 9 p.m.–1 a.m.

THE POUR HOUSE DJ 7–11 p.m.

SAM’S Live Trivia 8 p.m.

TUESDAYS

WALL STREET Live Trivia 8 p.m.

IGNITE Karaoke 8 p.m.–12 a.m. 3 BROTHERS Live Trivia 7pm

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

MT BOTTLE Karaoke 9 p.m.–3 a.m. BREW U Karaoke 7 p.m.–10 p.m.

SATURDAYS NOBODY’S Karaoke 9:15 p.m.–12:30 a.m. CAMPUS PUB Karaoke 10 p.m.–2:30 a.m.

SUNDAYS SAM’S Sports Trivia 6:30 p.m. O’POSSUMS Live Trivia 8 p.m. WALL STREET Team Bingo 5–7 p.m. THE POUR HOUSE DJ 7–11 p.m. To be included in the listings, or even for information on setting up your own Karaoke night, contact zek@tnkaraoke.com.

OLD CHICAGO Live Trivia 9 p.m. COCONUT BAY CAFÉ Live Trivia 7:30 p.m. THE POUR HOUSE DJ 7–11 p.m.

WEDNESDAYS SAM’S Karaoke 8 p.m.

BOROPULSE.COM

OCTOBER 2013

* 23

'Boro Bike Riders and Musicians will Tour De Folk OCT. 25—MURFREESBORO BICYCLE AND MUSIC ENTHUSIASTS will go folk themselves Oct. 25 for the inaugural Tour De Folk. The event is a spinoff of Meth Dad member Tyler Walker’s brainchild Tour De Fun, an annual bike ride/house show series he started in Murfreesboro in 2010 before taking the name to Nashville this year. Thus, Tour De Fun became Boro Fondo this year, with more than 1,000 in attendance. While the talent and diversity of Murfreesboro’s music scene is old news, its burgeoning cycling scene has found an outlet through Tour De Fun/Boro Fondo, and now Tour De Folk. “Tour De Folk’s main goal is to have fun while spreading the word of new bands and artists from Middle Tennessee. There are mass bike rides between all the venues, because we want to raise awareness of the growing cyclist population,” said Eric DeTorres, a local who also had a hand in organizing Boro Fondo earlier this spring. “Tour De Folk is to start a tradition of two bicycle/music festivals per year,” Eric said. Details are still emerging, but Tour De Folk will begin at Smoopy’s Vintage Bicycles at 1 p.m. Friday with stops at Rack City and The Pour House, ending with an afterparty on Harrison Avenue that goes til midnight. The lineup is still in progress. — JESSICA PACE

Brewsboro Fest Returns to The Avenue OCT. 12—THE THIRD ANNUAL BREWSBORO FEST has been scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 12, at The Avenue Murfreesboro. The event will be held from 2–7 p.m. and is expecting a sell-out crowd of 2,500. Attendees will be able to sample brews from local, regional, national and imported breweries in their souvenir mugs. Live music begins at 2 p.m. with JUDD HALL (right), who will play until DJ John Mayer takes over at 4:30 p.m. The day will also include a cornhole tournament. Free parking will be available at The Avenue Murfreesboro near the Belk store. Tickets are available at The Humidor/Liquid Smoke on the Murfreesboro Public Square and at brewsborofest.com. Tickets are $25 in advance but may be purchased at the event for $30 if it has not sold out. Admission to the event includes all beer samples and a souvenir mug.

24 * OCTOBER 2013 * BOROPULSE.COM

LOCAL MUSIC VIDEO

Scan Here 

to view a video of Murfreesboro band Megajoos’ song “I Can’t Stop This Way I’m Feeling.” Look for more videos from Hoy Poloy on BoroPulse.com. Bands, if you are in need of mobile recording and video services, find out what the Hoy Poloy can do for you. Find Hoy Poloy Productions on Facebook and Hoy Poloy noise on YouTube.

Funny Conversation

THEATER

MURFREESBORO PODCAST FOCUSING ON COMEDY BY JUSTIN STOKES

PHOTO BY JESSICA MAY

SWEENEY TODD

OCTOBER PERFORMANCES AIDA 7:30 p.m., Oct. 18, 19, 25 and 26 and Nov. 1 and 2; 2 p.m., Oct. 20, 27, Nov. 3 Murfreesboro Center for the Arts 110 W. College St. boroarts.org

JACK HEIKLE II, A STAY-AT-HOME father, is a movie buff, a political junkie and a fan of generally just “shooting the shit,” a good listener who can throw a conversation right back at you. Back in January of 2012, Jack decided to take his love for entertainment and his ability to converse and turn them into a podcast called Beards and Bulls**t. Heikle says, “My disdain for FM radio, and the ability to sit and listen to something . . . and actually feel like I’m a part of it” is the major reason why he got into podcasting. The original focus of the podcast was on the political news, which then developed into an appreciation for music and comedy, finally forming into a podcast which dealt mostly with comedy. It was around the time Heikle made comedy a focal point for the podcast that he became a player in the comedy circuit of Middle Tennessee, making appearances at venues from Out Front on Main to places like Nashville’s The High Watt and Zanies Comedy Club. Jack later went on to share that the Beards and Bulls**t podcast “only has three simple

rules for what we do. One, no hate speech. We’re not going to tolerate going after someone publicly. Two is not being a dick. And three,” he says, “is just be yourself.” “That’s why so many comedians love doing the show. It’s different. When a comedian comes into town, they have to go do radio station appearances, and act this part. They have to be energetic at 4:30 in the morning.” The appeal of the podcast is that it allows the guest to discuss with the hosts (Heikle and co-host Lee Roy Diggler) topics that aren’t necessarily “radio-friendly.” That is not to say that the topics are vulgar, offensive or don’t have intellectual merit, but that the podcast is not simply plugging the guest’s appearance at a venue. “It’s just a conversation with grown folk. We always want to make it feel like you’re sittin’ in the room with us . . . We want to try and make that day better for people.” His guests have included Jay Mohr, Doug Stanhope, Marc Maron, Greg Proops, and a slew of other talented comics. You may not be familiar with every guest, but you’ll certainly be glad you listened; he’s got a few show-stoppers lined up for later this year, and you’ll definitely want to tune in. Be sure to keep up with the latest listening exploits at beardsandbullshit.com. Otherwise, you won’t know Jack . . .

SWEENEY TODD 7:30 p.m., Oct. 18, 19, 25, 26; 2 p.m., Oct. 20, 27 The Arts Center of Cannon County 1424 John Bragg Hwy. artscenterofcc.com RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S CINDERELLA 7:30 p.m. Oct. 4–5 Springhouse Theatre 14119 Old Nashville Hwy, Smyrna springhousetheatre.com

PET OF THE WEEK: “Rajah” Himalayan and Egyptian Mau

BENT 7 p.m., Oct. 11, 12, 18 and 19; 2 p.m., Oct. 13 and 20 Murfreesboro Little Theatre 702 Ewing Blvd. mltarts.com

Hi, my name is Rajah, and I am a neutered, male, gray and white Himalayan and Egyptian Mau. The Mau is known for having what is considered a loyal, friendly personality. The staff at PAWS think I’m about four years old. All I know is that I’ve been at PAWS since Aug. 30. I really would love a good, loving forever home with a family to love me. To find out more information on pets up for adoption, call (615) 898-7740 or visit petharbor.com. — MARISSA ALBERTSON

BOROPULSE.COM

OCTOBER 2013

* 25

OPINIONS La PALABRA Una columna del idioma español por CAMERON PARRISH

Murfreesboro’s Most Haunted

IN ENGLISH:

that will validate its place on this prestigious list of haunted places in Murfreesboro.

THE MURFREESBORO’S MOST HAUNTED list presented here was assembled based on the experiences of local paranormal investigators, reader submissions and my own personal explorations in search of the unknown. Here’s what made the list: Stones River Battleﬁeld – It’s the site of more than 3,000 deaths and one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. Numerous sightings of ghastly apparitions have been reported for decades in and around this historic area. Entire troop formations that disappear without a trace have been witnessed here. Social (formerly Blue Rooster and Bluesboro) – I saw some pretty frightening things at this bar when I used to hang out there. But according to the Shadow Chasers of Middle Tennessee, a number of electronic voice phenomenon or EVPs (alleged ghost noises) have been recorded in the basement, which sound like people playing billiards in an area with no pool table. Center for the Arts – Another submission from my friends at Shadow Chasers, the Center for the Arts is said to host more than just live performances. It seems the dead also perform their own kind of show at night and that the voices of children laughing have been captured by recorders. Davis Market – Many know of the “curse of Davis Market” and that it’s actually the center of the universe. But there’s more to this place than these urban legends. Some employees have experienced strange happenings like objects moving, doors slamming and calculators running numbers with nobody around. Black Fox Camp Springs – This general area is where some of the first settlers in Rutherford County made their homes. It’s located along the Nickajack trace, an ancient Native American highway which ran all the way down to Spanish Florida. According to legend, Chief Black Fox escaped an attack by diving into the spring and emerging three miles away at Murfree Springs. I’ve heard drums beating here on more than one occasion and was unable to identify the source. The Black Cat Tavern – This aban26 * OCTOBER 2013 * BOROPULSE.COM

Lugares más embrujados de Murfreesboro

EN ESPANÓL: La lista de sitios más embrujados de Murfreesboro que se presenta aquí fue compuesta por las experiencias de algunos investigadores paranormales, los lectores y mis propias exploraciones en busca de lo desconocido. Veamos la lista:

doned underground speakeasy from the days of prohibition is not just a little spooky; the first time I went inside the cave I heard voices and what sounded like music coming from somewhere deep underground. Smotherman’s Antiques – Melinda Blick of Stones River Paranormal considers this local antique store to be a paranormal hotspot. It makes sense that it might manifest some activity. This business houses a collection of items belonging to dead people in a building that has its own lengthy history. The old MTMC Hospital – Although the lot where the old hospital stood is now empty, some vivid accounts were shared with me by former employees of the old hospital. These included witnesses seeing ﬂoating objects as well as phantoms which appeared to comfort the dying. Big B Cleaners – The haunted dry cleaners might not sound so spooky. But Big B was once the site of a local taxi service back in the 1920s. It was during this period that a murder took place, and it’s believed that the victim may still be lingering. Investigators who have probed this location have witnessed mysterious lights and sounds coming from the building. Oaklands Plantation – Although it has never been formally investigated (to my knowledge), this stately home from the early 19th century made the list by default. The location was home to a large number of slaves and was the site of an engagement between Union and Confederate forces during the Civil War. Perhaps the Oaklands Association will someday allow an investigation of the house

Campo de Batalla del Stone’s River Lugar al que se le atribuye más de 3000 muertes y una de las batallas más sangrientas de la Guerra Civil. Han reportado numerosos avistamientos de horribles apariciones durante décadas en y alrededor de esta zona histórica. Formaciones de tropa entera ha sido vista aquí por testigos, tropas que desaparecen sin dejar rastro. Social (anteriormente el Blue Rooster y Bluesboro) – vi algunas cosas bastante aterradoras en este bar cuando solía pasar por ahí jeje. Pero según los Shadow Chasers of Middle Tennessee, se han registrado una serie de fenómenos de voz electrónica (EVP) (presunto sonidos fantasmas) en el sótano, donde suena gente jugando al billar en un área donde no hay mesa de billar. Centro de las Artes – Otra recomendación de los Shadow Chasers, sobre el Centro de las Artes se dice que dan más que las presentaciones en vivo. Los muertos parecen querer también realizar su propio espectáculo por la noche y que las voces de risa de los niños han sido capturadas por las grabadoras. Davis Market – muchos saben de la “maldición del mercado Davis” y que es el “centro del universo”. Pero hay más que leyendas urbanas en este lugar. Algunos empleados han experimentado extraños sucesos como objetos que se mueven, golpeando puertas y calculadoras ejecutando números por si solas. Black Fox Camp Springs – esta zona es donde algunos de los primeros colonos en el Condado de Rutherford hicieron sus hogares. Se encuentra a lo largo de la traza de Nickajack, una carretera antigua de los indios que antiguamente llegaba hasta la

Florida española. Según la leyenda el jefe Zorro Negro escapó de un ataque zambulléndose en el manantial y surgiendo en Murfree Springs a tres millas de distancia. Yo he oído tambores (bidones) que golpean aquí en más de una ocasión y era incapaz de identificar la fuente. La Taberna del Gato Negro – Esta taberna subterránea y abandonada a partir de los días de prohibición de alcohol no solo es misteriosa, la primera vez que entre en la cueva oído voces y sonaba música proveniente de algún lugar profundo bajo la tierra. Smotherman’s Antigüedades – Melinda Blick de el grupo Stone’s River Paranormal considera este anticuario local como fuente de actividad paranormal y es lógico que pueda manifestar cierta actividad. Este negocio alberga una colección de objetos pertenecientes a personas muertas en un edificio que tiene su propia larga historia. El Viejo Hospital (MTMC) – Aunque el terreno donde se encontraba el antiguo hospital ahora está vacío, algunos relatos vívidos fueron compartidos conmigo por ex empleados del antiguo hospital. Éstos incluyeron testigos de ver objetos ﬂotantes así como fantasmas que aparecieron para consolar a los moribundos. Big B Cleaners – Puede ser que una lavandería embrujada no suene muy espeluznante. Pero Big B una vez fue el sitio de un servicio de taxi local en 1920. Durante este período ocurrió un asesinato, se cree que la víctima aún puede ser persistente. Los investigadores que han sondeado esta ubicación han presenciado misteriosas luces y sonidos que provienen del edificio. La Plantación de Oaklands – Aunque nunca se haya formalmente investigado (que yo sepa) esta casa majestuosa a partir de principios del siglo XIX hizo la lista automáticamente. La mansión fue patria de un gran número de esclavos y lugar de batalla entre las fuerzas militares del Unión y Confederadas durante la Guerra civil. Quizás la Asociación de Oaklands permitirá algún día una investigación de la casa que validará su lugar a esta lista prestigiosa de sitios más embrujados de Murfreesboro.

The U.S.-Supported Syrian Rebels are Terrorists

y now you’ve heard about the Kenyan mall massacre where innocent people were asked by terrorists to tell them the name of Muhammad’s mother. Those who could not were executed on the spot, including children as young as five years old. These are the types of animals we’re at war with. This is the unspeakable horror of daring not to conform to their radical vision of Islam. The story, of course, gained international attention.

American people are being spoonfed what the administration wants them to know. The news media are no longer the watchdogs of the government. They’re the lapdog of the government. I’ve often said that media bias isn’t so much in what they tell you, it’s in what they don’t tell you. We’re not being told nearly enough about who the Syrian rebels really are because if the American people knew the truth they would be outraged. People like Sen. Ted Cruz have tried to tell the people. John McCain despises Cruz because he dared speak the truth on the proposed Syrian air strikes when he said America should not become “al Qaeda’s air But what about the terrorists in Syria force.” McCain has actually been meetwho were going house-to-house in Christian ing with Syrian rebel generals and whined villages and slaughtering anyone who did that the terrorist rebels feel abandoned by not profess a belief in Islam? Where was Obama. Hard to understand how when the outrage from the United States? Where Obama is sending them weapons. was the condemnation from our president? McCain was called on the carpet by Fox There was none. Why? Because this presi& Friends when they aired a video of Syrian dent, through the CIA, is sending guns to rebel terrorists shooting at an airplane and these animals. You see, these terrorists who yelling “allahu akbar,” the trademark scream have been indiscriminately killing innocent of terrorist suicide bombers the world over. people all across Syria are McCain acted as though the Syrian rebels. These the host, Brian Kilmeade, VIEWS OF A are the same Syrian rebels was some kind of IslamoObama is helping. These phobe scolding him that column by are the same barbaric yelling “allahu akbar” PHIL VALENTINE bastards who Sen. John was no different than a philvalentine.com McCain sees as moderates. Christian saying “thank I fear for our country. I fear for our future. God.” The difference is Christians saying We have so lost our way that we can no “thank God” don’t walk around sporting longer tell good from evil. People like McCain dynamite vests. Of course, this is the same and Lindsay Graham and Obama want so McCain who traveled all the way to Egypt to much to depose the Assad regime that they’re meet with the Muslim Brotherhood, another willing to literally make a pact with the devil. terrorist organization that has had meetings Did you catch this headline? “Syrian Rebwith Obama in the White House. But underels Attack Christian Village, Behead Priests.” stand this. The Syrian rebels we are supportOr, how about this one: “Syrian Rebels ing right now are no different from the mall Slit Throat of Christian Man Who Refused terrorists in Kenya who killed children with to Convert to Islam.” Probably not. These one exception. McCain and Graham and headlines were found throughout the interObama haven’t met with them yet. But just national media and on conservative sites like give them time. breitbart.com and townhall.combut got very little play in the mainstream media. Phil Valentine is an author and nationally Here’s what’s frightening about all of this, syndicated radio talk show host with Westaside from the fact that we’re aiding this wood One. For more of his commentary and human debris. What’s frightening is that the articles, visit philvalentine.com.

CONSERVATIVE

“

I’ve often said that media bias isn’t so much in what they tell you, it’s in what they don’t tell you. We’re not being told nearly enough about who the Syrian rebels really are because if the American people knew the truth they would be outraged.

”

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OPINIONS

Rodney King, Dr. Seuss and the Cycle of Retaliation column by FRANK SHEPARD | frank@boropulse.com

RETALIATION SHOWS UP in some weird ways. For example, Reginald Denny was pulled from his semi and nearly beaten to death in the ’92 Los Angeles riots as an act of retaliation against the L.A. Police Department’s brutal beating of Rodney King. Denny had nothing to do with King’s beating; he just happened to be white and in the wrong place at the wrong time. Incidentally, it was a black man who drove Denny to the hospital and saved his life. I understand that pent-up anger has to go somewhere. Seeing the recent photos from Syria of displaced fathers holding their hungry or wounded children . . . I can see the rage in their eyes. I would feel the same. Bruce Cockburn’s “If I Had a Rocket Launcher” depicts what an otherwise law-abiding, peaceful man wants to do when confronted with gross injustice: I don’t believe in guarded borders and I don’t believe in hate I don’t believe in generals or their stinking torture states And when I talk with the survivors of things too sickening to relate If I had a rocket launcher . . . I would retaliate On a more domestic scale, how many fist-size drywall patches scar walls that once served as vicarious replacements of someone’s face? It’s a sense of justice and fairness that demands retaliation. The ire has to go somewhere, if not directly back on the offender. Sometimes the urge to retaliate lasts only for that emotional instant when the pain is fresh and time eventually heals that wound; other times the grudge lasts for generations. The definition of retaliation in the legal dictionary reads: “The act by which a nation or individual treats another in the same manner that the latter has treated them.” Doesn’t that sound like another famous rule? It’s the inverse of the Golden Rule. Retaliation is treating others how they treated you, not how you wish they had treated you. Paybacks are hell. They really are. This shows up in less violent ways in social circles. Are you a scorekeeper? Do you say to your friend, “You bought lunch last time; it’s my turn.” Or with spouses or roommates: “It’s your turn to do the dishes.” Be honest. When things get a little lopsided, do you start to feel resentment? Do you feel disrespected, violated? Maybe the next minor quarrel you have explodes into a major one, igniting that short fuse you’ve been trimming down with every recorded abuse. Why are we afraid to talk about it openly? Are we embarrassed to admit we’ve been keeping score? Perhaps if we communicated more honestly, we’d store up less anger and grow tougher skin. Maybe you’ve seen Ricky Gervais’ 2009 movie, The Invention of Lying. The premise is that the human race has never evolved the ability to tell a lie. Everyone tells the absolute truth. There’s no deceit, ﬂattery or fiction. People say exactly what they think. We see brutal honesty in lots of movies. Perhaps screenwriters frequently utilize it

because the fragile public finds it risk-taking and refreshing. In order to translate this fantasy from the silver screen to our real lives we must first toughen up. When we’ve embraced ourselves and our humanness we stop apologizing for being human, we take fewer things personally, we become unoffendable. As such, we’re empowered to embrace the humanness of others; we’re less judgmental. People who do not love themselves are more susceptible to take insults to heart and more likely to dish them out. Hurt people hurt people. Thus the cycle goes on and on. When we’re afraid to be honest, resentment festers. Our “enemies” begin to define us. We can’t see the evil of our own hatred because the fog of “justice” vindicates our retaliation. We can’t feel the other’s pain because our own pain is too great. This happens in the macro (racism, nationalism, tribalism, holy wars, etc.) and the micro (with family, in relationships, even interpersonally). I dream of a world that doesn’t suffer from pandemic separation anxiety. You might think this problem is insurmountable, deeply complicated and here to stay. What if I told you that the wisdom needed to change the future of our species was so simple that it could be found in a children’s book? In the book The Sneetches and Other Stories, Dr. Seuss describes a community divided into “us and them”: Now, the Star-Belly Sneetches had bellies with stars. The Plain-Belly Sneetches had none upon thars. But, because they had stars, all the Star-Belly Sneetches Would brag, “We’re the best kind of Sneetch on the beaches.” With their snoots in the air, they would sniff and they’d snort, “We’ll have nothing to do with the Plain-Belly sort!” Eventually, a man comes to town, Sylvester McMonkey McBean, and offers to tattoo stars on the Plain-Belly Sneetches. And they agree. Soon, no one can tell the difference. This does not set well with the elites. So McBean offers to remove their stars. And they do. And for a while they can tell each other apart again. Quickly, those with newly tattooed stars have theirs removed. Consequently, those with removed stars have theirs put back on. They kept paying money. They kept running through Until neither the Plain nor the Star-Bellies knew Whether this one was that one . . . or that one was this one Or which one was what one . . . or what one was who That day they decided that Sneetches are Sneetches And no kind of Sneetch is the best on the beaches. Retaliation is the same as when an individual selfﬂagellates, as when a nation bombs its neighbor; the bomb sent around the world always deploys on its sender. The same separation anxiety that invokes violence on others will ultimately result in the suicide of our species. We drink the poison and expect our enemies to die. So although it feels good (and right) to retaliate, it’s only because we have fallen for the myth of separation. Who knew that the solution was so simple? Sneetches are Sneetches.

“That day they decided that Sneetches are Sneetches, And no kind of Sneetch is the best on the beaches.”

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RECOVER RUTHERFORD

column by GLORIA CHRISTY

Making Peace STEP 9: WE MADE DIRECT AMENDS TO SUCH PEOPLE WHENEVER POSSIBLE EXCEPT WHEN TO DO SO WOULD INJURE THEM OR OTHERS. Somewhere along the line things went wrong. Mankind became in desperate need of fixing. Simply stated, God needed to speak life into us because we all suffer from the “hurt” in our lives. Much of the recovery process is repairing the brokenness. This requires us to make peace with God, ourselves and with others whom we have alienated. Even the larger-than-life personalities feel the isolation, guilt and shame caused by what has been done to them and what they have done to others. Undoubtedly, at times we will feel alone in the struggle to avoid betrayal, filled with the fear of being hurt. Defensively and instinctively we cut ourselves off from others. When you prepare to make amends, consider making peace with yourself and others by overcoming the isolation. Open your heart to receive the healing power of love that God wants for you so that you can experience the wholeness offered by that love. Everyone needs not only the loving hand of God, but the supportive friendships and strengthening relationships offered through others. One of those larger-than-life personalities, with his deep, resonant baritone voice, was Johnny Cash. With his distinctive, world-weary sound, Cash became one of the most recognizable figures in country music. As Cash’s style evolved between the 1950s and 1970s, he became one of the most imposing inﬂuences in American music, creating a unique sub-genre which was neither rock nor country. For all his personal success, Cash was a tormented soul plagued with unresolved demons stemming from his childhood in Arkansas. Throughout his life, he battled substance and alcohol abuse that at times wore him down and, eventually, nearly took his life. During his most turbulent times, Johnny’s life was filled with pill popping, cancelled shows, arrests and a heap of broken relationships including his first marriage. Consistently, he was severely underweight from his use of amphetamines and other drugs. Once he commented about his condition, “I was a walking vision of death. And that is exactly what I felt about myself!” Amid his obsessive self-loathing and selfdoubt, Cash allowed his calamity to become the catalyst and inspiration for dozens of successful records with which his fans identified, finding

within them forgiveness and empathy. After converting to Christianity, Cash struggled with conﬂicting emotions teetering between rising hope and stiﬂing depression. He had become a self-destructive addict, yet with his almost magical charisma and bad-boy behaviors, he became an internationally known, mainstream superstar. With a promise and a pledge to clean up his old habits, his wife, June Carter Cash, whom he married in 1968, helped him conquer those addictive behaviors. They remained a couple until her death from heart failure on May 15, 2003. Johnny passed away only four months later, heartbroken from her loss, on Sept. 12, 2003, at the age of 71. Johnny once said that June would “lift me Johnny Cash when I was discouraged and love me when I felt alone and unloved. She was the greatest woman I have ever known.” For him, she was that love with skin on! This year marks the 10th anniversary of their passing. Near the end of his life, Johnny recorded one of the most stirring and potently cautionary drug-use songs in the rock canon: “Hurt,” written by Trent Reznor and appearing on the album The Downward Spiral by Nine Inch Nails. ((The needle tears a hole/The old familiar sting/Try to kill it all away/But I remember everything everything) In 2003, just before his death, Cash recorded the song for the album American IV: The Man Comes Around Around. The music video for the track, produced by former NIN collaborator Mark Romanek, captured the essence of Cash in his final days; his fragility as well as his life’s paradoxical story. This work is widely considered to be his epitaph. June’s appearance in the video, adoringly gazing at Cash, is moving and sentimental. She died in May shortly after the filming of the video and just before both song and video were released. Cash’s version of the song “Hurt” has won numerous awards including Single of the Year in 2003 from the Country Music Association. In July of 2011, the music video was named in Time magazine’s “The 30 All-Time Best Music Videos.” Becoming one of the biggest fans of the Cash version of his song, Trent Reznor remarked, “Popped the video in, and wow . . . Tears welling, silence, goose-bumps. [I felt like] I just lost my girlfriend, because that song isn’t mine anymore . . . It really made me think about how powerful music is as a medium and art form. I wrote some words and music in my bedroom as a way of staying sane, about a bleak and desperate place I was in, totally isolated and alone. [Somehow] that winds

up reinterpreted by a music legend from a radically different era/genre and still retains sincerity and meaning—different, but every bit as pure.” For Cash, the song, “Hurt” is a poignant, visual representation of his memories in the shadow of his own death. It is the acceptance of life’s regrets and the foreboding inevitability of age and slowly watching your life come to its end. With its creative symbolism, Cash’s delivery is done with solemn dignity in words. But to witness Cash’s demise under the weight of his pain and sadness is almost too much to bear. One can understand why that death was the only way to free his broken heart. After completing Step 8—made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all—the next logical step is to make those amends if possible, and the suggestion is to do so directly. Returning to someone who has hurt you or whom you have hurt is a scary thing! Perhaps the passing of time, distance and lack of communication, not to mention the anger and pain of all the neglected promises, can no doubt trigger tremendous anxiety, even grief. Just the thought of any face-to-face encounter can elevate the angst. Facing the fear courageously can bring a tremendous sense of relief. Peace and more healing are found in facing that fear with boldness and anticipation. Step 9 is another one of the 12 steps that initially appears most difficult, but the rewards of putting this principle into practice can be immense. The spiritual principle involved is that of

forgiveness, not only from others, but forgiveness of self, which can bring healing to both parties. Simple, but not easy! Those making the amends may find that the person whom they have harmed is more than willing to accept those amends happily—and a healing process begins not only in the relationship, but in each individual. This is not always the case, however. Sometimes the injured party is not willing to forgive and forget. Regardless, spiritual progress for those in recovery depends upon doing their part and making direct amends. This step does carry a condition: except when to do so would injure them or others. If the act of making amends by the act of forgiveness will open old wounds or create new harm, then making direct amends should be avoided. The benefit of making amends to the recovering person does not outweigh the need to do no more harm. As we pray and seek God for wisdom, we can trust that He will relate truth to us through our open spirits and reconcile those personal relationships. Celebrate Recovery is that safe place where people can remove the mask of denial and be open and honest. There are now three Celebrate Recovery meetings in Murfreesboro: one every Monday at 7 p.m. at North Boulevard Church of Christ, one every Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Belle Aire Baptist Church and another every Thursday at 7 p.m. at New Vision Baptist Church. For more information about the ministry call (615) 896-6288.

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ART MTSU Art Foundations Students Show Work FOUNDATIONS SHOWCASE 2013: Select

Works from the Beginning Fine Arts Courses is an exhibition of artwork from the MTSU Department of Art’s Drawing 1, Drawing 2, Two-Dimensional Design and Three-Dimensional Design classes. Collectively these four are grouped as “Foundations” because they develop a proper understanding of the basic principles of art. As such they are required of all students seeking a degree in Art Education, Art History, Graphic Design or Studio Art The showcase will be on display in MTSU’s Todd Art Gallery, located near the center of campus in Todd Hall. This is the second show of its kind in four years to recognize and

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feature first and second year art majors. The work included was compiled by Foundations Professors Charles Clary and Meghan O’Connor. Asked for comment on their curatorial selections O’Connor responded, “We received 20 pieces from each foundations instructor. These are works they consider to be the strongest from their classes. From this body of work, we narrowed it down to fit the Todd Art Gallery space. We chose work that represents the variety within the Foundations program, as well as a strong level of craft[smanship].” The department’s Foundations instructors include Erin Anfinson, Charles Clary, John Donovan, Kim Dummons, Robert Durham, Jarrod Houghton, Ryan Muldowney, Melissa Newman, Meghan O’Connor, Thomas Sturgill and Tonya Tewell. All MTSU Department of Art and Todd Art Gallery exhibits, receptions and lectures are free and open to the public. For more information or directions call (615) 898-5653 or email eric.snyder@mtsu.edu.

Art from Felicia Cannon (upper left; Munny Project, mixed media on vinyl), Tobias Ferrell (above; stenciled spray paint on cork) and Kayla Anderton (left; stenciled spray paint on bamboo) are all part of the latest art student display at MTSU's Todd Gallery.

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