August 2015 Murfreesboro Pulse

2006–2015: Celebrating 10 Years

MURFREESBORO

FOOD

MUSIC

Sweet Treats: Area Ice Cream, Fro Yo, Custard and Italian Ice Shops

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

John Elefante Concert Benefits Doors of Hope, Branches Recovery

August 2015 Vol. 10, Issue 8

FREE For You!

A Hidden Gem

|||TAKE

ALSO IN MUSIC

A COOL DIP IN RUTLEDGE FALLS|||

BOROSTOCK, THE LACS, MUDDY ROOTS & MORE + ENTER TO WIN TICKETS TO OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW!

Contents

DEAR READERS: WIN!

8

31

ON THE COVER

18

EVENTS Community Events 4 August Gun and Knife Show, Hot Chicken & Jorts, Vintage Baseball, Business Connection and more!

SOUNDS

6

7 8 9 0

AUGUST CONCERTS Entertainment Calendar Karaoke, Bingo, DJs and Live Trivia Music Notes The Lacs, Sludge Fest, Borostock and more Album Reviews Michael Jacobs, AMAC Inc. and the Board The Sogno Project John Elefante concert benefits Doors of Hope, Branches Recovery Center

ART

w r

A Passion for Painting John Smith discovers his artistic talent late in life.

Art Events Moxie exhibits Mollenkopf; “Still Life” at MTSU; Walker paintings at Center for the Arts, and more.

s

The Boat Dock A place to visit with neighbors, lost loved ones and a bygone era.

Rutledge Falls Coffee County gem makes for a great day trip.

Homeless in the ’Boro Levi doesn’t wear denim: Blind Murfreesboro man caught in cycle between homelessness and hotel living.

Farmers’ Market Education Series Plant your fall garden.

PULSE

LIVING

Publisher/Editor in Chief: Contributors: Dylan Skye Aycock, Bracken Mayo Gloria Christy, John Connor Coulston, Nader Hobballah, Tony Lehew, Art Director: Zach Maxfield, Darcy Payne, Robert Sarah Lankford Mayo Ritch, Edwina Shannon, Christy Advertising Reps: Simmons, Cecilia Sinkala, Jay Spight, Don Clark, Jeff Brown Andrea Stockard, Sam Stockard, Copy Editor: Steve Morley Norbert Thiemann, Phil Valentine

y i

CREW

p

FOOD

4

26

Review f Restaurant The Alley on Main

Treats h Frozen Cool off with a sweet treat.

REVIEWS

k Movies Ant-Man, Trainwreck l

Living Room Cinema The living history of the South Video Game Batman: Arkham Knight

THEATER

; Comedy Cash Cab host Ben Bailey to perform at MTSU. z

ONSTAGE IN AUGUST

OPINIONS Mysteries of International Trade x Lots of concerns surround trade pact.

The Stockard Report v Sheriff’s Office supervisors remain on leave after

b n m

exposed business dealings.

Phil Valentine: Views of a Conservative Abandon corporate welfare of the Export-Import Bank.

Business Builder Analyze your business and articulate its vision.

Music Through the Decades The Hoedown bands

SPORTS Talk with Z-Train , Sports Lion lives matter; Rowdy Ronda Rousey

To carry the Pulse at your business, or submit letters, stories and photography: bracken@boropulse.com 10 N. Public Square, Murfreesboro, TN 37130 (615) 796-6248

Copyright © 2015, The Murfreesboro Pulse, 10 N. Public Square, Murfreesboro, TN 37130.

Proudly owned, operated and published the first Thursday of each month by the Mayo family; printed

by Franklin Web Printing Co. The Murfreesboro Pulse is a free publication funded by our advertisers. Views expressed in the Pulse do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. ISSN: 1940-378X

Sign up to receive our weekly digital newsletter at BoroPulse.com/Newsletter

WELCOME TO AUGUST. We have some ice cream and waterfall news for you here, a preview of a big benefit concert coming up featuring John Elefante, a look at the Alley on Main (a great downtown spot for steak, pasta, fish and thoroughbred pie), a profile on a local gentleman named Levi and lots of various events coming up: get out and attend MTSU’s Football Fan Day, The Lacs performing at Tempt, Sludgefest, Borostock, Hot Chicken and Jorts, the free First Friday Concert on the Square, comedian Ben Bailey’s appearance at MTSU, a toy tractor show, a vintage baseball game, a theatrical production or concert. There are lots of talented and creative individuals and organizations in the ’Boro, and the Pulse wants to introduce you to some.

On the presidential trail, Donald Trump is making a mockery, a circus, out of our political system, his critics say.

American politics was totally this honorable thing full of wellrespected people not in it for their own self-interest before Trump came around? Come on. He says some nutty stuff, but I do enjoy the fact that he can seemingly offend and upset nearly everyone, but is somehow leading the Republican polls. Shake up the establishment, President Donald.

He has a legitimate shot to be the best president in my lifetime. OK, maybe my judgment here is a little off, and there has been a pretty poor collection of presidents in my lifetime; but “Make America Great Again,” Trump.

Here locally, your county commissioners have once again raised the property tax rate. The county leaders could not seem to properly manage over $400 million last year, so why not squeeze some more out of the people? And re-elect the commissioners, right?

And the Murfreesboro Planning Commission is heroically coming to everyone’s rescue over those harmful stickers in store windows, citing safety, safety, safety as the reason to take on the scourge of window stickers.

Thanks for your concern, but I’m not sure I’ve found a case where anyone’s safety was actually jeopardized (actually jeopardized, and not theoretically, make-believe jeopardized) by a store window decal.

On a global scale, this mysterious Trans Pacific Partnership is raising some eyebrows on issues from environmental protection to worker safety standards to copyright protection.

And our once-Christian community has become so tolerant and asleep that a great evil has been allowed to creep in and infiltrate our town. Yes, I am referring to The Goat, as featured in last month’s restaurant section, and after further research, yes, it is indeed a symbol of the dark lord Satan.

This widespread approval of the occult is a symptom of our society . . . (disclaimer: joke).

After mulling over a few other hot button issues from this past month, I have come to the opinions, 1: If you don’t believe in gay marriage then don’t get gay married (seriously, on this one, I’d say let’s stop requiring anyone to obtain a marriage license, and let people name whomever they want as their insurance beneficiary); and 2 (on the recent rise of, and struggle against, the Confederacy): Let’s keep history in the past!

Until next time, thanks for your continued support of the only independent, local family-owned publication in Rutherford County, proudly operated by MTSU alumni. Be grateful you have a Pulse.

Peace, Bracken Mayo Editor in Chief BOROPULSE.COM

* AUGUST 2015 * 3

Events COMPILED BY

ANDREA STOCKARD

Send event information to murfreesboropulse@yahoo.com

AUG. 7 MAIN STREET’S FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE CONCERT SERIES Enjoy this month’s Main Street Friday Night Live Concert with a performance by Skyline Drive at the Murfreesboro Public Square, Friday, Aug. 7, 6:30–9:30 p.m. Bring a lawn chair. Admission is free. For more information, call (615) 895-1887 or visit downtownmurfreesboro.com.

You do not have to drink a beer to participate in the yoga class, nor do you have to be 21 or over, however, expect to be carded when you order. Bring your own mat, water and hand towel. Space is limited; to register or for more information, find a Yoga+Beer@Mayday event on Facebook.

AUG. 10–14

AUGUST 7 AND 8

MARROW REGISTRY DRIVE

HEART OF TENNESSEE FARM TOY SHOW Check out vendors from Tennessee, Missouri, Kentucky and Indiana featuring farm toys, as well as toy trucks and construction toys, at Lane Agri-Park (315 John Rice Blvd.)

Friday from 5–8 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m.–2 p.m. Admission is $5; children under 10 are free. For more information, contact (518) 307-2864 or vellovette@yahoo.com.

AUG. 8

Help save a life and get placed on the “Be The Match Marrow Registry” in honor of International Coworking Week (107 W. Lytle St.). Free kits will be on hand all week with simple cheek swabs from 8 a.m.–5 p.m. If you are matched, Be The Match will contact you directly. The donation process is a simple 4-hour procedure that does not require anesthesia or a hospital stay. For more information, call (615) 203-6084 or find a Be the Match Marrow Drive event page on Facebook.

H.O.M.E. BOUND PROGRAM BOWLING TOURNAMENT

AUG. 11

MOVIES IN THE PARK Enjoy Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day with family or friends at the Rotary Soccer Park (300 Soccer Way, Smyrna). Gates open at 5:30 p.m. and the movie starts at dusk. Inflatables and train rides available. Admission is $1 per person.

For more information, call (615) 459-9773.

Join Murfreesboro Strike and Spare (941 NW Broad St.) from 2–6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, in support of the non-profit H.O.M.E. Bound Program, helping homeless individuals in the area gain housing, employment and support. For more information and to register, visit homeboundtn.org.

HALLOWED GROUND: A LANTERN TOUR OF THE STONES RIVER NATIONAL CEMETERY Spend an hour walking through the Stones River National Battlefield cemetery (1563 N. Thompson Ln.) by lantern light while hearing stories of soldiers and civilians conveying the terrible cost of the Civil War. Walk begins at 7:45 p.m. Admission is free.

For reservations or more information, call (615) 893-9501 or visit nps.gov/stri.

COMMUNITY YARD SALE AT CANNONSBURGH VILLAGE Bring your unwanted items to sell or just shop with over 50 booths from the surrounding area at Cannonsburgh Village (312 S. Front St.) from 7 a.m.–noon Saturday, Aug. 8. Cost is $10 per 10-by-10 booth space. For more information, contact (615) 890-0355 or shodges@murfreesborotn.gov.

YOGA+BEER Love yoga? Love beer? Mayday Brewery (521 Old Salem Rd.) invites you to enjoy both with a one-hour yoga class followed by a pint of your choice from 1–2:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8 ($10 at the door includes both).

4 * AUGUST 2015 * BOROPULSE.COM

DONATION DROP FOR RESCUE MISSION WOMEN’S SHELTER Drop off donations at Cultivate Coworking (107 W. Lytle St.) for the Murfreesboro Rescue Mission as member Darla Campbell explains the plans for a new women’s shelter.

Cash donations go towards the purchase of their building estimated to open in the next six months. Volunteers are also needed to provide meals for the mission serving dinner and breakfast every day of the year. Things that are needed (but not limited to) include: new pillows, twin sheet sets and blankets, Pack ’N Plays, baby blankets, diapers, wipes, bottles, brushes, tampons, paper towels, toilet tissue, travel size toiletries, clothes and more. For more information, call (615) 203-6084.

AUG. 9 TENNESSEE VINTAGE BASE BALL DOUBLE HEADER Enjoy games that bring the history of baseball to life at Historic Sam Davis Home and Plantation (1399 Sam Davis Rd.) on Sunday, Aug. 9, with Lightfoot Club of Chattanooga vs. Phoenix of East Nashville at noon and Nashville Maroons vs. Stewart’s Creek Scouts at 2:30 p.m. Bring a chair or blanket. Admission is free. For more information, call (615) 459-2341 or visit tennesseevintagebaseball.com.

AUG. 12 SHARE THE LIGHT Share the Light is a Community Group meeting the second Wednesday of every month at Yoga on the Square (423 Lytle St.) beginning at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 12, for practitioners in the healing, wellness and consciousness-creating arts, and those interested in holistic and integrated healing modalities. Participate in a social hour for sharing and networking, followed by a presentation from a featured healer. For more information, contact (615) 295-8739 or EverestEnergetics@gmail.com, or visit everestenergetics.com/share-the-light.

AUG. 14 MUSIC AT THE MILL Enjoy music by My July Band at Gregory Mill Park (390 Enon Springs Rd., Smyrna) at 6:30 p.m. with food vendors, inflatables and more. Admission is free. For more information, call (615) 459-9773 or visit townofsmyrna.org.

AUTHOR JUNE HALL McCASH TO SPEAK AT BOOK EXHIBIT Oaklands Historic House museum (900 N. Maney Ave.) hosts celebrated author and poet June Hall McCash as she reads from her latest book The Thread Box at 5 p.m.

Dr. McCash has authored over 10 books and has published more than 40 articles for newspapers, magazines and journals.

Currently a full-time writer, she has also been an instructor at Emory University, chair of the Department of Foreign Languages at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro and professor of French and Humanities.

Reservations are required. Admission is $8 per person. Enjoy the museum’s one-nightonly rare antique book exhibit featuring books dating from 1830 while you’re there.

For more information, contact (615) 8094776 or events@oaklandsmuseum.org.

AUG. 14–15 5TH ANNUAL QUILTS IN THE ’BORO SHOW Enjoy this year’s quilt exhibit and competition at Lane Agri-Park Community Center (315 John Rice Blvd.) with cash prizes, free demonstrations (with admission), vendors, bed-turnings of vintage and antique quilts daily, The Bees General Store, door prizes and more. Admission is $5; free parking. For more information, call (615) 898-7710.

AUG. 15 WILD ARTS DAY Enjoy student art, professional art, art by animals, puppet shows, an art scavenger hunt walking trail, wild animals, making your own creative walking stick, live music and more at this exciting festival full of wildlife and art at

the Wilderness Station at Barfield Crescent Park (697 Veterans Pkwy.) from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15. For more information, contact (615) 867-7244 or culturalarts@ murfreesborotn.gov. Admission is free.

ARRINGTON VINEYARDS TO BENEFIT MONROE CARELL JR. CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL Join Arrington Vineyards for an exciting day of wine and music with their very own Kix Brooks performing live starting at 6 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 15. Proceeds benefit Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

Admission is free.

Gates are open from 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Must be 21 and up. Seating for the concert is on a firstcome-first-served basis (chairs and blankets are welcome) as well as wine tastings (wine tastings end at 5 p.m.). Simply Living Life’s Food Cottage offers freshly prepared meals for purchase from 11 a.m.–8 p.m. For more information, visit arringtonvineyards.com.

sential outdoor equipment. For more information, visit 10times.com/gunknife-shows.

AUG. 26–SEPT. 5 77TH ANNUAL WALKING HORSE NATIONAL CELEBRATION Witness the premier Tennessee Walking Horse event, where the breed’s World Grand Champion and 20 World Champions are named at Celebration Show Grounds (1110 Evans St., Shelbyville). For more information, call (931) 6845915 or visit twhnc.com.

MAIN ST. SATURDAY MARKET Get local and organic foods every Saturday from 8 a.m. until noon around the Rutherford County Courthouse. Among the available fare are fresh fruits, vegetables, breads, meats and more. For more information, visit downtownmurfreesboro.com.

SMYRNA FARMERS’ MARKET Get local fresh produce including fruit, vegetables, dairy, meat and more at the Smyrna Depot Farmers’ Market (98 Front St.) every Saturday from 8 a.m.–noon. For more information, call (615) 330-0516.

BICYCLE TOURS

AUG. 21 3RD FRIDAY NIGHT CONCERT Enjoy the 3rd Friday Night Concert at Cannonsburgh Village (312 S. Front St.) from 7–9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21. Admission is free.

For more information, call (615) 890-0355.

the door (plus 2-drink minimum for those over 21). For more, call (615) 479-9722.

JDRF ZUMBATHON

Join the Murfreesboro City Schools at their annual Back-to-School Bash at Cannonsburgh Village (312 S. Front St.) on Aug. 15 from 10 a.m.–1 p.m., as the village offers entertainment, games and giveaways alongside Cannonsburgh history. Bring a picnic and a camera and enjoy the day. Admission is free.

For more information, contact (615) 8932313 or candy.clifford@cityschools.net.

COFFEE WITH THE VETERANS Join Operation Adopt a Hero at Cultivate Coworking (107 W. Lytle St.) on the third Friday of each month from 7:30–9 a.m. for Coffee with the Veterans, an informal, social networking for local veterans and their community. Enjoy coffee, pastries and the chance to meet and mingle with our service members and their families.

Alexis Burchfield hosts a Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Zumbathon as part of a senior project in hopes of raising $1,000 for JDRF. Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 5, Burchfield invites everyone to this Zumbathon at Oakland High School (2225 Patriot Dr.) from 2–5 p.m. (registration at 1:30 p.m.) with the area’s top Zumba instructors and a hip-hop intermission.

Healthy snacks and water will be provided.

Admission is $10. To register, visit jdrf-zumbathon.ticketleap.com.

AUG. 20

AUG. 22

AUG. 29–30

THE BUSINESS CONNECTION

HOT CHICKEN & JORTS

GUN & KNIFE SHOW

Middle Tennessee small business owners have joined forces for the launch of a local entrepreneurs club. Billed “The Connection,” this evening of professional networking and business brainstorming will continue the third Thursday of each month at 5 p.m. at Mayday Brewery, 521 Old Salem Rd. The next installment will be Thursday, Aug. 20. All Middle Tennessee entrepreneurs are welcome to attend this casual event where they can meet other small business owners and tap into one another’s experience and energy. A discussion is facilitated by Robert Ritch, an entrepreneur and business consultant. The participants’ only obligation to be involved is to try to help another small business overcome a challenge or frustration it is facing, and to offer some ideas to others on how they may be able to increase profitability.

Topics covered include expressing your business’ vision, pricing and financing strategy, writing an operations manual for your business, offering free blogs and information to the public, advertising, marketing, asking for referrals and more. For more information, contact justin@maydaybrewery.com.

Mayday Brewery invites the community to release their inner redneck for its inaugural Hot Chicken & Jorts South celebration. Yes, that is “jorts,” as in blue jeans cut into shorts.

Held from 1–9 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 22, at Mayday, the event will serve as a fundraiser for The Oasis Center, a Nashville-based nonprofit for at-risk teens. Participants are invited to play corn-hole in between bouts of Hattie B’s Hot Chicken and cold Mayday and Jubilee brews. Those with a more competitive spirit can try their hands at a bracket-style Rock, Paper, Scissors contest. The winning trophy consists of a Mayday Jug of Fun. Mayday will also crown Trailer Park King and Queen during the event. Additionally, the party will feature live music by Dagger Blue and Red Wine Hangover. For more information email justin@maydaybrewery.com.

Gun & Knife Shows Murfreesboro comes to Mid-TN Expo Center (1209 Park Ave.), from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Sunday. Featured will be firearms, knives, archery supplies, guns and various other es-

BACK-TO-SCHOOL BASH

SATURDAYS IN AUGUST

Join a ranger for a 90-minute bicycle tour of the Stones River National Battlefield (1563 N. Thompson Ln.) Saturdays at 9 a.m. Admission is free. For more information, call (615) 893-9501 or visit nps.gov/stri.

TUESDAYS & FRIDAYS RUTHERFORD COUNTY FARMERS’ MARKET Purchase a variety of local fruits and vegetables, meats, eggs, baked and canned goods, plants and more from over 20 Tennessee counties every Tuesday and Friday at the Lane Agri-Park (315 John R. Rice Blvd.), 7 a.m.– noon. For more information, see page 22.

THROUGHOUT AUGUST HUMAN PLUS: REAL LIVES + REAL ENGINEERING Join the Discovery Center (502 S.E. Broad St.) to explore a range of both low- and hightech tools that extend human abilities. Ride a mono-ski in a simulated ski race, control a DJ station using a wheelchair, engineer unique solutions to design challenges, and discover how neuroprosthetic limbs can be controlled by a user’s thoughts. For more information, call (615) 890-2300 or visit explorethedc.org.

AUG. 29 ROCKIN’ 4 RESCUE Mayday Brewery (521 Old Salem Rd.) invites you to have a good time for a good cause with Operation Education Live Music Silent Auction from, 6–10 p.m. $10 donations at BOROPULSE.COM

* AUGUST 2015 * 5

Concerts AUGUST 2015

 IF YOU GO: PULSE PICK

Send show listings to listings@boropulse.com

THURS. 8/6

BUNGANUT PIG

Daphne & the Mystery Machines

NACHO’S

Ivan LaFever

THE BORO

All-Star Jam with Stuart Montez

FRI. 8/7 BUNGANUT PIG

Backlit

CARMEN’S TAQUERIA

FRI. 8/14

Noisecult, Young Wolves, Mangog, Sovereign, Aye Mammoth, Midmourner, Koza, Howling Giant, Neurotic Fox

HIPPIE HILL

Zone Status

CARMEN’S TAQUERIA

MAYDAY BREWERY

HIPPIE HILL

MURFREESBORO PUBLIC SQUARE

MAYDAY BREWERY

Richard Gowen Skyline Drive

THE BORO

Dendra Blood Bath, Setzer, Justin Daniels

THE GREEN DRAGON

Uncle Don Clark

SAT. 8/8

BUNGANUT PIG

Zone Status

CARMEN’S TAQUERIA

Joe West

COCONUT BAY CAFE

DJ TruFX

GEORGIA’S SPORTS BAR

Bonhoeffer’s 610 Dill Ln., 907-2890

AUTOGRAPH REHEARSAL STUDIO

BUNGANUT PIG

Open Mic Night

Autograph Rehearsal Studio 1400 W. College St. 631-2605

Goose Hollow, Henry Daggs, Nick Carpenter, Alex Cunningham

Joe West

COCONUT BAY CAFE

Marshall Creek Band Joe West

Open Mic Night Jordan Umbach

TEMPT

Leah Culver, Out of State, Niraya, Lost Charters, J-Ma

THE BORO

The Main Street

SAT. 8/15

AUTOGRAPH REHEARSAL STUDIO

Iron Man, Season of Arrows, Silent Monolith, Sheep Shifter, Flummox, Greywoods, Hexxus, Thothamon, The Moose, Brother Ares

Bunganut Pig 1602 W. Northfield Blvd.

893-7860 Carmen’s Taqueria 206 W. Northfield Blvd.

848-9003

SATURDAY, 8/15 @ MAYDAY BREWERY Murfreesboro’s own Mize and the Drive will bring their rock/soul roots to Mayday Brewery on Saturday, Aug. 15, beginning at 6 p.m. Since 2009, the group’s maintained a relatively strong local following and have performed at many regional festivals, including Manchester’s pre-Bonnaroo party, known as Music Tree Fest, in 2014. With their sophomore album in the works, it’s likely the seven-piece ensemble will test out a few new tracks as well as break out their signature saxophone sound for a fun evening of live music.

THE BORO

Cryptic Calling, The Bohannons, Hurts to Laugh, Ostrich Primer

FRI. 8/21

BIRDSONG STUDIO

Stephen Simmons

BUNGANUT PIG

Sideways

CARMEN’S TAQUERIA

Joe West

COCONUT BAY CAFE

HIPPIE HILL

BUNGANUT PIG

HIPPIE HILL

MAYDAY BREWERY

CARMEN’S TAQUERIA

MAIN STREET MUSIC

Open Mic Night Ravenhill

Roy Schneider Duo First Avenue Joe West

TEMPT

COCONUT BAY CAFE

THE BORO

HANDLEBAR

Audien

Jared Minnix and Friends

THE POUR HOUSE

Evil Twin

WALL STREET

The Punknecks

SUN. 8/9

BUNGANUT PIG

Reilly's Writers Night

MON. 8/10

THE POUR HOUSE

The Al DeLuca Jam

TUES. 8/11

BUNGANUT PIG

Jon Myers

WED. 8/12

BUNGANUT PIG

Delyn Christian

THURS. 8/13

BUNGANUT PIG

Suits & Boots

NACHO’S

Ivan LaFever

THE BORO

All-Star Jam with Stuart Montez

WALL STREET

Chris Darby,

Karaoke with Hitman

Renegade Canyon Open Mic Night

Psychopathic Daze, A Threat to the Enemy, Beside the Silence, Iraconji

Remains of Jade

MAYDAY BREWERY

Roses Unread, Black Sky Tribe, Stack, Horava

THE BORO

MAIN STREET MUSIC MAYDAY BREWERY

Mize and the Drive

THE POUR HOUSE

Renegade Canyon

Coconut Bay Café 210 Stones River Mall Blvd.

494-0504

MIZE AND THE DRIVE

BIRDSONG STUDIO

Wreckless Behavior

Hadley Kennary

Jay Wright, Dos Palmers, Flummox, Silent Monolith

THE POUR HOUSE

Mt. Eden

Debi Lynn and the Jr. Brown Band

THE WHEEL

Renegade Canyon

SUN. 8/23

BUNGANUT PIG

Reilly’s Writers Night

THE BORO

Don Clark, Runaway Rock, Blood Sausage, GT

MON. 8/24

THE POUR HOUSE

The Al DeLuca Jam

TUES. 8/25

COCONUT BAY CAFE

Zone Status

MAYDAY BREWERY

The Palm in the Cypress

MAIN STREET MUSIC

Penny Rae

SAT. 8/29

AUTOGRAPH REHEARSAL STUDIO

Random Conflict, Undefeated, Murdered in a Record Shop

BUNGANUT PIG

Ragged Co

CARMEN’S TAQUERIA

Joe West

BUNGANUT PIG

COCONUT BAY CAFE

THE BORO

HIPPIE HILL

Anitra Jay

Ashes of Folly

WED. 8/26

BUNGANUT PIG

Shane Douglas

THURS. 8/27

$cottFree

Open Mic Night

The Festivus Players

BUNGANUT PIG

NACHO’S

THE POUR HOUSE

SUN. 8/16

CARMEN’S TAQUERIA

THE BORO

WILLIE'S WET SPOT

GEORGIA’S SPORTS BAR

TEMPT

SUN. 8/30

BUNGANUT PIG

Reilly’s Writers Night

MON. 8/17

THE POUR HOUSE

The Al DeLuca Jam

TUES. 8/18

BUNGANUT PIG

The O'Donnells

WED. 8/19

BUNGANUT PIG

Rockslide

THURS. 8/20 BUNGANUT PIG

Dino & the Dinosaurs

NACHO’S

Ivan LaFever

6 * AUGUST 2015 * BOROPULSE.COM

Joe West

Chris Freund, Lauryn Snapp

HIPPIE HILL

Open Mic Night

MAIN STREET MUSIC

Twang and Round, Scott Lindsey, Blackford Creek, Franklin Embry

MAYDAY BREWERY

Dagger Blue, Red Wine Hangover

WALL STREET

All-Star Jam with Stuart Montez The Lacs

FRI. 8/28

BUNGANUT PIG

Mulch Brothers

HIPPIE HILL

Open Mic Night

THE BORO

Clydesdales

CARMEN’S TAQUERIA

Joe West

Vampire Bleach Bomb

THE BORO

Blue Matches, Ashes of Folly, Aye Mammoth, Pandam!

THE POUR HOUSE

View Concert Listings Online:

Journey Point Church 1267 Middle Tennessee Blvd., 896-9272 JoZoara 536 N. Thompson Ln. 962-7175 Level III 114 S. Maple St. 900-3754 Liquid Smoke #2 Public Square 217-7822 Main St. Music 527 W. Main St. 440-2425

MTSU Wright Music Building 1439 Faulkinberry Dr. 898-2469

THE BORO

Ivan LaFever

Hippie Hill 8627 Burks Hollow Rd. 796-3697

MAYDAY BREWERY

Oblivion Myth, Vahalla, Doc Sinister, Flawless Pursuit

SAT. 8/22 Rockslide

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

Mayday Brewery 521 Old Salem Hwy. 479-9722

BUNGANUT PIG

Charleyhorse

Eisenhouser 1209 Twin Oak Dr.

MAIN STREET MUSIC

WILLIE'S WET SPOT

d.Franey

Arts Center of Cannon County 1424 John Bragg Hwy. Woodbury 563-2787

Vamptones

Double Image Level 77

BUNGANUT PIG

Reilly’s Writers Night

MON. 8/31

THE POUR HOUSE

The Al DeLuca Jam

THURS. 9/3

MTSU TUCKER THEATER

John Elefante, Sixwire

Nacho’s 2962 S. Rutherford Blvd.

907-2700 Tempt 211 W. Main St. 615-225-7757 The Boro Bar & Grill 1211 Greenland Dr. 895-4800 The Green Dragon 714-F W. Main St. 801-7171 The Pour House 2404 Halls Hill Pk. 615-603-7978 Wall Street 121 N. Maple St. 867-9090 Willie’s Wet Spot 1208 S. Lowery St., Smyrna 355-0010

ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

DJ, Bingo, Trivia & Karaoke NIGHTS IN MURFREESBORO

 MONDAYS

MELLOW MUSHROOM Live Trivia, 8 p.m.

NOBODY’S Live Trivia, 7 and 9:30 p.m.

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

WOODY’S BBQ Live Trivia, 7 p.m.

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

LA SIESTA (GREENLAND) Trivia, 7 p.m.

MT BOTTLE Karaoke, 9 p.m.–3 a.m.

WHISKEY DIX DJ Cliffy D, 8 p.m.

 TUESDAYS

 THURSDAYS

OLD CHICAGO Live Trivia, 9 p.m.

COCONUT BAY CAFÉ Live Trivia, 7:30 p.m.

THE POUR HOUSE DJ, 7–11 p.m.

NACHOS Live Trivia, 7 p.m.

NOBODY’S Bingo, 7 p.m.

THE BOULEVARD Karaoke, 7 p.m.

TGI FRIDAY’S Live Trivia, 7 p.m.

 SATURDAYS

CAMPUS PUB Live Trivia, 8:15 p.m.

COCONUT BAY Karaoke, 8 p.m.

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

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

SPORTS SEASONS Live Trivia, 7 p.m.

THE POUR HOUSE Karaoke, 9 p.m.

WHISKEY DIX DJ Cliffy D, 8 p.m.

CAMPUS PUB Karaoke, 10 p.m.–2:30 a.m.

NACHOS Live Trivia, 7 p.m.

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

WHISKEY DIX DJ Cliffy D, 8 p.m.

 WEDNESDAYS

 FRIDAYS

CAMPUS PUB Karaoke, 10 p.m.–2:30 a.m.

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

BUNGANUT PIG Live Trivia, 7 p.m.

THE POUR HOUSE DJ, 7–11 p.m.

AHART’S PIZZA GARDEN Live Trivia, 7 p.m.

 SUNDAYS O’POSSUMS Live Trivia, 8 p.m.

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

THE POUR HOUSE DJ, 7 p.m.

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

HEAR WHAT MURFREESBORO SOUNDS LIKE 

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

Sounds

MUSIC

NEWS

GLADE CITY ROUNDERS

MUDDY ROOTS BRINGS BIG BLUEGRASS NAMES TO COOKEVILLE SEPT. 4–7 HICK-HOP DUO THE LACS TO PLAY TEMPT Music fans who prefer their rap with a twang will be pleased to hear that “hickhop” duo The Lacs will be playing TEMPT later this month. The Georgia natives’ notable songs include “Keep It Redneck” and “Country Boy Fresh,” which have over 10 million views on YouTube combined. The duo will perform on Thursday, Aug. 27, in support of their latest release, Outlaw in Me. To find out more about the show, visit facebook.com/temptmurfreesboro.

The annual Muddy Roots Festival returns to Cookeville in early September, with acts including Dr. Ralph Stanley, Ricky Skaggs and Bobby Bare. The annual celebration of American roots music brings together punk, bluegrass and country fans for a weekend of music and community. Murfreesboro acts performing at the festival include The Hardin Draw and The Glade City Rounders. For more information on the festival, head to muddyrootsrecords.com.

BOBBY BARE

ASHES OF FOLLEY

 OHIO ROCK BAND REMAINS OF JADE TO PLAY HIPPIE HILL BENEFIT AUG. 15 The latest Hippie Hill Productions benefit concert will feature Youngstown, Ohio, hard-rock band Remains of Jade. The three-piece group, whose influences include Linkin Park and Tennessee’s own Saliva, have been touring throughout Ohio and Pennsylvania this summer and will make their way to Dewayne’s Handlebar on Saturday, Aug. 15. All proceeds from the show go towards paying the attorney fees of James Shaffer, a community member whose family members worry isn’t receiving proper medical attention while behind bars. There will also be an auction held at the event. Handlebar is located at 2601 E. Main St. For more information on the benefit, head to facebook.com/hippiehilltn.

ENTER TO WIN TICKETS AT BOROPULSE.COM/OCMS

AUTOGRAPH STUDIO TO HOST TENNESSEAN SLUDGE FEST  Local metal fans rejoice; the first-ever Tennessean Sludge Fest will be held at Autograph Rehearsal Studio on Aug. 14 and 15. Twenty doom-, sludge- and stonermetal acts from across the country will be performing during the two-day event.

Local artists playing the festival include Sovereign, Neurotic Fox and Battle Path. For more information visit facebook.com/ autographrehearsalstudio.

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NEUROTIC FOX

BOROSTOCK IS BACK  The Boro Bar and Grill’s annual 4-day celebration of local music is back, set for Aug. 20–23. As has been the tradition, there is no cover charge any day of Borostock. The Boro is located at 1211 Greenland Drive.

HERE IS THIS YEAR’S FULL BOROSTOCK LINEUP: Thursday, Aug. 20 9 p.m. – Cryptic Calling 10 p.m. – The Bohannons

11 p.m. – Hurts to Laugh 12 a.m. – Ostrich Primer Friday, Aug. 21 9 p.m. – Jay Wright 10 p.m. – Dos Palmers 11 p.m. – Flummox 12 a.m. – Silent Monolith Saturday, Aug. 22 9 p.m. – Blue Matches 10 p.m. – Ashes of Folly 11 p.m. – Aye Mammoth 12 a.m. – Pandam!

Sunday, Aug. 23 9 p.m. – Don Clark 10 p.m. – Runaway Rock 11 p.m. – Blood Sausage 12 a.m. – GT

ALBUM REVIEWS

MICHAEL JACOBS

AMAC INC AND THE BOARD

Resisting Shadows

Due to High Call Volume 3 3.54

3.5

Michael Jacobs is an acclaimed Native American singer-songwriter whose music emphasizes positivity, self-fulfillment and changing the world for the better. His latest full-length release, Resisting Shadows, displays these qualities to their fullest.

Jacobs, who recently moved to Murfreesboro, blends traditional acoustic stylings with Americana and Native American influences for a well-rounded, straightforward singer-songwriter release. This new album, recorded at Prime Cut Studios in Nashville, sees him backed by diverse, rich instrumentation that shines through on tracks like “Almost There,” which features a combination of acoustic guitar and light organ, and upbeat roots-rockers “What You Gonna Do” and the title track.

One of the album’s most memorable sonic choices comes on the instrumental “Invocation.” The arrangement relies solely on a Native-inspired melody played on flute, with the natural sound of a waterfall behind it. It’s a welcome, tranquil interlude on the album that you can put on when you need to relax.

While the instrumentation on Resisting Shadows is strong, what stands out the most are Jacobs’ lyrics.

He delivers an optimistic message with hope for positive social transformation. The tracks “What You Gonna Do” and “Can’t Stand By” cry out for the listener to contribute to a happier, more peaceful world and feature lyrics such as Stop waiting on the world to change on its own and A world at war, in pain and poverty . . . we can’t let all those precious lives be cut to pieces by the unsatisfied. These progressive messages fill the album, not only lobbying for global change but also for improvements in individuals’ lives.

The most memorable song on the album is “When You Are Dancing,” the incredibly catchy kickoff cut. Its chorus relies on a tribal-esque chant that will be hooked into your head after one listen, while the verses discuss the joys of connecting to the world around you through dance.

Resisting Shadows is available at sacrednation.com.

— JOHN CONNOR COULSTON

RATINGS: AVERAGE

Before the May release of McMinnville-based AMAC INC and the Board’s debut album, Due to High Call Volume, lead singer and songwriter Angela Cantrell “strummed and sang” to the beat of her own drum. Instead of letting anyone else find success recording her music, Cantrell called upon a group of talented musicians to start a band.

Joining her on the record are Jack Holland, (guitar, keyboard and vocals), Richard Swim (bass), Bud Holland (drums) and other guests from the region.

While the intergalactic background on the album cover isn’t representative of the country/folk sound found inside, it’s an introspective nod to the band’s considerable creativity. Self-described as “Southernfried Northern soul,” the four-piece powerhouse is derivative of folk and traditional country with a western flair, but with enough versatility (and impressive fiddle solos) to attract fans of both genres. Cantrell and company deliver each track in a rumbling yet ethereal manner, starting with the western opener “Four Day Binge.”

“You’re Worth the Wait,” a slow Southern stomper, is distinguished by Malinda Fields Stenberg’s fiddle and Tim Colwell’s roaring guitar solo in addition to a strong vocal turn from Cantrell. Whether it’s her deep, resounding pipes or the instruments that enhance them, each complements the other in fine fashion. “Redeemed” and the country polka “Winter Haze” are highlights, exemplifying the passion poured into the record by both the songwriter and the musicians.

Due to High Call Volume is a well-written, raw first effort that serves as a solid base to build upon with future releases. That’s not to say it doesn’t have its kinks, such as Cantrell’s vocal levels being mixed too low at times, but overall it ranks pretty high.

While no shows are currently scheduled, check the band’s Facebook page in the future for show announcements and new material.

— DYLAN SKYE AYCOCK

A CLASSIC BELOW AVERAGE

OUTSTANDING AVOID AT ALL COSTS

DEAD BOROPULSE.COM

* AUGUST 2015 * 9

Sounds

WIN! Visit BOROPULSE.COM to enter to win 2 VIP tickets to the concert, PLUS a meetand-greet with Elefante at a post-show event at the Boulevard.

was received very well by most, but there were those who blasted me for writing it. Some people wished and said horrible things about me personally because this is a very controversial subject to most, as you know, but I did not set out to write a pro-life song; I set out to write my daughter’s story.

NOT IN KANSAS ANYMORE John Elefante to headline Sogno Project benefit at Tucker Theatre.

STORY BY DYLAN SKYE AYCOCK

C

lassic rock and country music will fill Middle Tennessee State University’s Tucker Theatre as part of The Sogno Project’s (pronounced Sewn-Yo) second annual benefit concert on Thursday, Sept. 3. Murfreesboro resident and MTSU alumna Kelly Lee Culbreth started The Sogno Project two years ago with a mission to raise money for the community while bringing awareness to music and the arts. This year’s concert will benefit two local organizations, Branches Recovery Center and Doors of Hope, and will feature performances by both local and regional acts.

John Elefante, former lead singer of American rock band Kansas, will bring over 30 years of musical experience as headliner for this year’s event. Since the 1980s, Elefante—a vocalist, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer and more—has crafted a career-spanning resume including four Grammy Awards, several Dove Awards and credits on more than 100 major label albums.

In addition to his time with Kansas during the ’80s, Elefante experimented with songwriting by forming the rock outfit Mastedon with his brother, Dino, with whom he’s maintained a close working relationship throughout his career. It was around this same time that John added “producer” to his list of talents. Along with Dino, John produced pioneering Christian rock group Petra’s Grammy award-winning 1986 album Back to the Street, which sparked the two brothers’ success as in-demand Nashville producers.

For the past 20 years, Elefante’s spent most of his time as a solo Christian artist and has four albums in his repertoire, including his ’95 solo debut, Windows of Heaven.

10 * AUGUST 2015 * BOROPULSE.COM

 IF YOU GO

We spoke with Elefante last month about his prolific career, the success of his latest album and The Sogno Project.

MURFREESBORO PULSE: I’d like to start off with your 2013 release, On My Way to the Sun, which had a very successful Kickstarter campaign. A lot of artists are now using crowdfunding sites to help make their album. What was your experience like?

ELEFANTE: Really great. At first I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do a Kickstarter campaign.

I felt like I was kind of begging and pandering, but after I got it underway I discovered folks loved being a part of the CD. Folks who pitched in really inspired me.

While we’re on the subject, what was the making of this album (writing, producing, etc.) like compared to your other solo albums?

I felt inspired to make one of the best records of my career because over 400 folks were waiting for a great piece of music. It was also different because, unlike other records I’d done, I played most of the guitar.

I know you’ve spoken a lot about the album’s track “This Time,” with its back story striking very close to home.

Can you talk about its message and how it has been received by others?

It is very dear to my heart. The song was inspired by how my adopted daughter came into the world, and how she almost didn’t. I had the music and melody recorded without any lyrics at first and wrote and sang the lyrics one line at a time totally on the fly. The song

How does your creative process differ as a solo artist compared to when you worked with other groups?

Solo albums are much harder for me because normally I am writing everything, programming demos that eventually turn into masters, engineering, editing, playing many of the instruments and of course singing lead and background vocals. You could say I’m pretty hands-on when it comes to my solo albums.

You’ve received a lot of attention in the music industry, with a successful career as a writer, performer, producer and more. You have a few Grammy Awards and Dove Awards in your collection as well. When and how did you discover your wide range of talents?

Fortunately at a very young age, maybe 8 years old, I wanted to play drums, so my parents bought an inexpensive drum set at a pawn shop. I would lock myself away and practice like mad. I soon did the same when it came to guitar and keyboards. Incidentally, I wasn’t concerned with becoming a singer. I could sing a little, but singing happened by default when the singer in our first band with my brother and two cousins quit the band after he performed on The Lawrence Welk Show. I remember my manager saying to us, “He doesn’t need you guys, he’s going places . . . this band won’t do anything for your singing career.” As it turns out, his career faded very quickly as our band, The Brotherhood, went on to become an extremely popular Top 40 band playing throughout [Southern California] constantly with stints at Disney, Knott’s Berry Farm and a record deal with Capitol Records.

WHAT: Benefit concert for Branches Recovery Center and Doors of Hope WHO: John Elefante, Sixwire, Dew Pendleton and Kelly Lee Culbreth WHEN: 7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 3 WHERE: Tucker Theatre (MTSU) TICKETS: $25–45, VIP tickets $150 ONLINE: sognoproject.com winning three Grammy Awards. Also there are moments like doing duets with Lou Gramm, Natalie Grant and Sandi Patty.

I’ve read that you’ve tried to take time off from the music scene a few times, but it seems to always draw you back in. Why do you think that’s so?

I feel it’s what I do best, so why not do what you do best and share it with others? Yes, I have tried a few hiatuses, but I get bored and have to get going again.

You’ll be performing in Murfreesboro in September as part of The Sogno Project. Can you talk about your involvement with the event?

I could never say no to such a worthy project.

I’m all about giving back, and I’m honored that I was asked to do The Sogno Project.

Is there any new music in the works?

Yes. I am working with Kerry Livgren on some new music, as well as starting to write for a new record. Depending on which directions the writing [will] take me, I’m not sure if it will be a solo record or a Mastedon record.  Along with Elefante, the upcoming show will feature Sogno Project founder KELLY LEE CULBRETH, rock/soul singer-songwriter DEW PENDLETON and SIXWIRE, a country quintet frequently featured on ABC’s Nashville. During the concert, Murfreesboro artists BETH BOUDREAUX and KELLY LAMURE will paint onstage and auction off each painting following the concert.

The number of artists you have worked with and your list of credits goes on and on. Can you talk about some of the projects that stand out the most in your career?

I would have to say working with David Foster on the soundtrack to St. Elmo’s Fire. Of course, Kansas and co-writing with Kerry Livgren, producing many Petra records in which I got to do a lot of co-writing, KELLY LEE CULBRETH

SIXWIRE

DEW PENDLETON

BOROPULSE.COM

* AUGUST 2015 * 11

Art

“Billy”

Pain†ing with a

Passion John Smith shares his ‘suddenly’ moment.

T

STORY & PHOTOS BY DYLAN SKYE AYCOCK

wo canvases. both bare and tightly bound by cellophane—set in Murfreesboro resident John Smith’s home office, the first of the pack used by his daughter, who painted a portrait of the family dog, Savannah.

Today, no one’s home and Smith, whose artistic background solely includes helping with his children’s art projects, sits down at his Lshaped cherry wood desk and clears the canvas of the remaining packaging. He’s always loved to draw, but has never gone far beyond a few sketches on the back of an old receipt or napkin.

An hour and a half later, though, Smith is staring at a transformation—a fresh oil painting of an ocean wave crashing down, swirling in deep blue and seafoam green. He’s shocked. And as if it were a fluke, he reaches for the second canvas to try again.

“My wife kept asking me and encouraging me to take an art class,” Smith says. “But for months I kept saying no, because there was no way I thought I could do it.”

Smith didn’t take the advice, and after presenting the painting to his wife and children, he was left amazed by how he possessed a talent that, for years, he never believed he had.

“The truth of the matter is that I’m a Christian guy,” he explains. “I think it’s funny how God has had a way of revealing this kind of talent through an average guy like me.”

Art, family and work intersect

Smith lives in Murfreesboro with his wife and three daughters. During the week he commutes to Nashville and works as the general manager of Mt. Olivet Cemetery, a historic Confederate burial ground located 2 miles east of downtown.

After a long day of work, he comes home, helps his children with homework and sits down for a family meal, something he says is one of the most important aspects of his day.

It isn’t until later in the evening when Smith has the chance to break out his oil paints and 12 * AUGUST 2015 * BOROPULSE.COM

start working again.

“I usually paint until my eyes give out,” he says. “After 50 to 60 hours of work each week, I still make time to do this.”

Most of the paintings take four or five months to finish, so Smith says he fills in the rest of his time with simple paintings while working on the complicated and time-consuming pieces.

“A lot of pictures I can knock out in in a relatively short amount of time,” he says, referring to the ocean scene paintings. “The hometown collection is what seems to take the longest, especially the one of City Cafe.”

The painting he’s referring to is one of the first of his 10 paintings dedicated to local attractions in Murfreesboro, and he says he spent around 250 hours on this particular painting before its completion.

“It takes time,” he says. “I don’t know how long a piece will take when I start on a clean canvas, but over time everything falls together.”

More than a signature

John Smith says it himself, his name is simple

and “doesn’t quite stand out.”

When faced with the personalization of his signature, he says he prayed about it, ultimately reaching a conclusion that mirrors his faith.

“This is my testimony,” Smith says, pointing the signature on his first painting. “In my eyes, God gave me this gift, so I want to give him the glory in return . . .

That’s when I started praying about how to sign my name.”

Smith signs his name in the right-hand corner of each painting in red, which he says represents “the blood of Christ,” and he intersects the “J” and “t” to form a cross.

Finding passion

Smith has painted close to 160 paintings in just more than two years. It’s his true passion, he admits, and every painting takes him back to his “and then suddenly” moment, a instance his mother promised him, provided he abide by one stipulation.

“My mom used to tell me, ‘You need to grab the word of God and run into the dark-

ness,’” he recalls. “She said, ‘If you live life with God, you’ll have an “and then suddenly” moment one day,’ and as it turns out, I did.”

He says his hobby-turned-passion is gaining a lot of attention, but it’s not the attention on himself that fuels him. It’s the opportunity he’s been granted to spread his faith in an artistic form, a way that can be appreciated by others.

“I don’t know exactly where this is going to go,” he says. “It may lay flat, and it may never go anywhere, but it’s happening right now and not by any doing of my own . . . I’ve given God all the credit for it.”

From the moment he picked up the first paintbrush, Smith has seized his gift and now realizes it’s his true passion. He says he will continue to create works of art for as long as time allows, and is “forever appreciative” of his support system and “the grace of God.” “I can now say I know what passion is,” he says. “There’s a big difference between enjoying something and having a passion. It took me 45 years to find it, but I can now say I have one.”

To view more pieces in Smith’s collection, visit jsmithartworks.com or find some of his work at B. McNeel’s on Church Street.

BOROPULSE.COM

* AUGUST 2015 * 13

Art

 AUGUST ART EVENTS

MOXIE TO EXHIBIT WORKS BY MIKA MOLLENKOPF  THIS MONTH MOXIE ART SUPPLY WILL HOST A NEW EXHIBITION by Mika Mollenkopf, winner of Best in Show in the 2015 Student Art Alliance Spring Student Art Competition.

The show will display a mixture of flat work and three-dimensional work to demonstrate the different perspectives of a single idea as well as the connecting threads throughout the body of work.

Mika Mollenkopf is a multidisciplinary artist concentrating in sculpture. She is currently working on completing her BFA at Middle Tennessee State University, graduating in May 2016. At MTSU she has received various awards and scholarships and her work has been shown in multiple national exhibitions.

Mika describes her work as the “tangible act of questioning the objects, beings and moments” around her. Her work is intended to be an experience, a moment all in its own.

Most recently she has been working on developing works around the idea of individual perception by playing with light and shadow and taking specific characteristics of memory, immersing those “replications” in different environments.

Scattered Thoughts of Tiny Endeavors will be open for viewing Aug. 15–Sept. 30, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Moxie is located at 302 W. Vine St. in Murfreesboro.

STILL LIFE: AN EXHIBIT INSPIRED BY MOONSHINE STILL LIFE: THE ART OF MOONSHINE IS A THEMATIC JURIED EXHIBITION curated by and including the art of Dr. Brian Harnetty and studio artist Elias Hansen. It also features work from the faculty of the MTSU Department of Art and artifacts from the Tennessee State Museum.

The exhibit, on display at MTSU’s Todd Art Gallery, explores the far-reaching and ongoing history, stereotypes, methods and mythos of an iconic American symbol, moonshine, as depicted through the interpretive eye of the contemporary fine artist.

While the production of unregulated spirits is not limited to the United States, its meaning to the American mindset serves as allegory within the pantheon of ideas for what we consider truly “American.”

Still Life will include a variety of media, including ceramics, painting, sculpture, illustration, photography, film, mixed media and music.

This exhibition seeks to also highlight alternative media, such as sound art, poetry and performance. Organizers sought songs and works that record the clattering of stills and clinking of bottles, pieces and performances that ask the question “What is the sound of moonshine?”

The exhibit opens at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 26, with a reception and announcement of awards, and continues through Sept. 10.

For more information on the exhibition and the Todd Art Gallery, call (615) 898-5653.

RECLAIMING OURSELVES ART EXHIBIT EMPOWERS SURVIVORS OF ABUSE JEN WALKER ART EXHIBIT THE QUIRKY ANIMAL ARTWORK of Jen Walker is available to view and purchase Tuesdays through Fridays in August from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m.–5 p.m. at Center for the Arts (110 W. College St.). Admission is free and open to the public. For more information, call (615) 904-2787 or visit boroarts.org.

14 * AUGUST 2015 * BOROPULSE.COM

RECLAIMING OURSELVES IS A MULTIMEDIA artist showcase created by survivors of domestic and sexual abuse in order to provide an opportunity for fellow survivors to share and exchange their experiences through artistic expression. MTSU’s Todd Art Gallery will host the exhibit, scheduled for Aug. 16–28.

Featuring paintings, music, photography, short stories and more, Reclaiming Ourselves serves as the spark to an open conversation of not only how to address the problem of domestic and sexual violence in our community, but how to care for its victims. A cornerstone of Reclaiming Ourselves’ mission is to create awareness of this issue and its victims, as well as to help generate resources for the local organizations that care for them.

The showcase, through donations and sales of artwork, will benefit the Domestic Violence Project, a shelter and crisis center in Murfreesboro devoted to preventing violence, and protecting and empowering its victims.

For more information on Reclaiming Ourselves, or to submit art to be considered for the exhibit, email reclaimourselves@gmail.com.

BOROPULSE.COM

* AUGUST 2015 * 15

Living

“For me, the healing process began right there, and I made up my mind that I would treat the boat and all that came with it with the same reverence and zeal that my father had done.”

The Boat Dock A place to visit with neighbors, lost loved ones, a bygone era. STORY AND PHOTOS BY TONY LEHEW

M

y father passed away in March of this year. This story is not about his passing. Truth is, I’m not ready to talk or write about that yet. This story is about part of the legacy he left for my sister and me.

Dad was always full of life; in fact, he was larger than life. And he did it so effortlessly. He stays on my mind a great deal and, sometimes—although he wouldn’t have wanted it—it makes me sad. I expect that will be the case for the rest of my days. However, there is one place that I do not ever feel the sadness of his passing, only the joy and the happiest times of his life on his boat, at the dock and out on the lake.

Dad left my sister and me a houseboat and a pontoon boat. They are docked at Fate Sanders Marina on dock E. When we first started dealing with Dad’s estate, the idea was tossed around to sell the boats. That thought only lasted a couple of minutes. Becky (my sister) and I came to the same conclusion almost instantly: Dad would have wanted us to keep and use those boats. The lake was Dad’s happiest place to be. He spent almost all his weekends there and wanted his family to join him as often as they cared to. Truth be known, I didn’t spend enough time there. Dad wanted me to learn about the boats and how to navigate the lake; to be a bigger part of his lake life. But I had my own irons in the fire and I’m terrible at budgeting time. So, I’m sad to say, I didn’t spend enough time with my father on the lake.

After the funeral, when life began to find a somewhat normal rhythm again, I decided to go down to the dock and just “be there.” I was worried about what my own state of mind 16 * AUGUST 2015 * BOROPULSE.COM

would be when I got there. There was a good chance I was going to be a crying mess, or at least sad. But, to my surprise, the boat was the one place where I did not feel sad. There were so many good memories on that boat that I couldn’t feel sad. Every time sadness tried to creep up on me, a funny memory or quote from my dad would come to mind and I would smile or just laugh outright. For me, the healing process began right there, and I made up my mind that I would treat the boat and all that came with it with the same reverence and zeal that my father had done. That meant I had a lot of repairs to do.

To be honest, up to this point I have only fixed one (and there were several) water leaks and that’s just the beginning of it. There is an old saying that a boat is a hole in the water that you dump money in. That’s funny and true, but if you love it, it don’t matter. I paid a friend

and good marine mechanic to fix the leaks on the house boat. He has also performed a lot of work on the pontoon boat and isn’t finished yet. The last year of Dad’s life, he wasn’t able to maintain the boats the way he always had, he was just too ill. I will share this with you about my father’s passing: the last conversation I had with my dad, we made a plan to go to lunch and go check on his boats. We never got the chance; he went to the emergency room that night and never saw his boat again. So, there were a lot of routine repairs and matters of maintenance that are still in progress.

One of the best surprises about spending time at the dock is the sense of community that exists there. There are people who spend their weekends there and some live there year-round. Some have big boats and some have smaller ones. Dad’s boat was a smaller one, but it is big enough for two people to

be comfortable in and it was large enough to entertain several landlubbers, except for the shower—it is so small you have to step outside of it to wash between your toes. That is something I will upgrade someday soon.

No matter the size your boat, you are part of the gang if you are on E dock. I imagine it’s like that on the other docks as well, but as of this writing, I haven’t spent any time on the other docks. I have often jokingly referred to the dock as a “floating trailer park,” but, I have to add, there isn’t a trailer park, or mansion, I’d rather be in. Growing up, in the days before easy access to mass media, I remember playing in my neighborhood with children of families we knew well. Parents would walk around the block and stop and talk to each other. They knew each other on a first-name basis. If someone walked past your porch, they would be offered a sweet tea or a beer, if the men were in the garage. Everyone talked to each other about the day’s events and the news, and everybody complained about the heat. It is my opinion that those days of community and neighbors have been replaced by 160-plus cable channels, Facebook and Twitter. It is my opinion that if you know and regularly speak to more than one of your neighbors on a regular basis, you are the exception to the rule. That’s just the way life is today, except for dock E. Somebody is always cooking something, and you can have some. Have a seat on someone’s boat and they will offer you a beer or a sweet tea, depending on your preference (usually beer).

Everybody on the dock knows everyone else on a first-name basis. And if you don’t live there full-time, they are generally pleased to see you when you do show up (again, bring beer).

That’s a good feeling that is honestly missing in most of the world today. I’m not saying that this sense of community is exclusive to the dock; I’m sure there are neighborhoods where it still exists, but it’s not commonplace anymore. One of my favorite things to do at the dock is sit on the back of Dad’s boat and watch the sun go down. It is an exceptional sight to watch it go down over the lake.

I went to our family cemetery on Father’s Day and visited with Dad. I noticed that, at dusk, the view from the top of the hill where he rests looks a great deal like the view from the back of the boat. There is a picture of Dad on the headstone, and he is smiling. He picked his own spot for interment, and after watching the sun set from his graveside, I think I know why.

There are so many things I owe thanks to my father for, but today, I am thankful to him for leaving such a place to enjoy my free time, same as he did. My weekends are busy at the moment, but I think, at least one day this week, I will go down to the dock, sit on the back of the boat with a cold beer and a cigar, watch a beautiful sunset and talk to Dad.

BOROPULSE.COM

* AUGUST 2015 * 17

Living Take A Cool

SPLASH (Left) The cool waters below Rutledge Falls provide a refreshing escape from the summer heat; (above) an iron statue, formerly on display at the Tennessee State Capitol, overlooks the falls.

Coffee County’s Rutledge Falls makes for a great day trip.

STORY BY BRACKEN MAYO | PHOTOS BY SARAH MAYO

A

few miles off of I-24 in Coffee County flows one of Middle Tennessee’s hidden gems.

Rutledge Falls is not a state park, so there are no clear signs directing travelers to the falls, nor is it heavily promoted as a scenic destination.

Rutledge Falls is a beautiful sight: a waterfall, swimming hole and creek under a shady canopy of old trees.

A small parking area across from Rutledge Falls Baptist Church signifies that you have found the right place.

The land surrounding the the falls is private property, but the owner was nice enough to leave an opening in the fence and create a pathway to the falls. A sign welcomes visitors and requests that they simply have a little common sense and basic respect for the place: don’t leave trash, be careful on the slippery rocks, leave at dark and so on.

The very short trail leads to the forest, where visitors get a glimpse of the waterfall.

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A small iron statue, a figure of a woman, gazes over the falls from above. (Come to find out, this statue was once on display at the Tennessee State Capitol.)

Though the descent is slightly steep and rocky, with a little caution, almost anyone can make it to the base of the falls.

Picnickers and photographers surround the swimming hole at the bottom. Those wanting to relax sprawl on rocks and just listen to the sound of the falls, while the more adventurous swim or even climb to the top of the falls, nearly 40 feet above the surface, for a daring plunge into the water.

Just below the waterfall, a rock ledge extends for a few feet before dropping off into a deeper swimming hole that looks to be 6 to 10 feet in depth.

The area around the base of the falls is heavily shaded, so even on a midsummer day with temperatures in the ’90s, the air temperature is comfortable, and the consensus among those at the waterfalls is that the water is actually cold.

But that doesn’t stop a handful of swimmers of various ages from taking a little dip.

Crumpton Creek, the body of water feeding the falls, eventually empties into Normandy Lake and the Duck River, great spots in themselves for some summer fun on the water.

To check out Rutledge Falls, take I-24 to Exit 111 and turn left, heading towards Tullahoma; travel 5 miles and take a right on Belmont Rd.; after a little more than a mile, turn left on Rutledge Falls Dr.; turn right on Rutledge Falls Rd. at the church, and you are there. Go enjoy the cold waters while the summer is still upon us.

BOROPULSE.COM

* AUGUST 2015 * 19

Levi Doesn’t Wear Denim

Murfreesboro Motel resident and her blind son transition into homelessness.

HOMELESS IN THE ’BORO

A

STORY BY DARCY PAYNE

petite, elderly lady scurries towards my car outside the Murfreesboro Motel on a day in May. I plan to have a picnic outside with one of the residents here today. The lady’s extra-large Pop Rocks candy T-shirt is swaying in the wind while her jeans clamp tightly to her small legs. I roll my window down as I hear her mumbling words meant for me to comprehend.

She stops at the front of my car with eyes so wide that I can see them perfectly through her thin-frame glasses. Perhaps she is trying to decipher who is in the car.

After realizing who I am, the elderly lady— Debbie is her name—scampers over as fast as she can on the two twigs that are her limbs.

She crosses her arms as she leans against my windowsill, her grey curls and slightly furry face just inches from my own.

“Levi wants to see you inside,” says Debbie.

I can feel her warm breath against my cheek.

Levi is the man I initially came to see today for a picnic.

She pauses from speaking, only after shoving my window back down as I try to roll it up.

Debbie wants to keep talking, but I persuade her that we should go see Levi and that I need to lock up my car now. She waddles back to the motel room as I follow.

Levi, 33, is Debbie’s blind son. Levi became blind from untreated cataracts 24 years ago.

He was homeless with Debbie for three months during 2013. They both lived in a camp together with 10 others until they decided to be secluded.

“Isolation never hurt anyone,” says Levi. “I

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guess everyone else would call it solitude.”

Debbie and Levi later moved to a different campsite and eventually transitioned into the Imperial Inn. Later, they both transferred to the Murfreesboro Motel. The usual transition out of homelessness is a move into a local motel. Although individuals living in motels are no longer homeless, they are living week to week. Debbie and Levi are combining their disability checks to afford a one-bedroom motel. This lifestyle is difficult to surpass, considering the daily rent payments.

Although Levi is visually impaired, he has learned to adapt to the lifestyle. Levi explains how camping is more enjoyable than living in a one-bedroom apartment with two occasional residents. The two residents are Debbie and her boyfriend, who helps pay rent.

Because Debbie and Levi live from paycheck to paycheck, sometimes they live outdoors as homeless individuals. If they don’t have the money they need for Murfreesboro Motel, they are homeless.

Levi leans against the bulky television in his dimly lit motel room for two. Light from the window pours onto his pale skin and prickly hair as he pours Busch beer into his mouth and offers me a beer. Levi’s dark beard is beginning to show some grey, but his green outfit compensates for that. His camouflage hat, vest and pants bring out his youth. Levi wears camouflage clothing nearly every day.

Levi’s favorite place in the city is the Murfreesboro Billiards Club on NW Broad Street.

He plays pool with a spotter, which is a person

PHOTOS BY SCOTT WALKER; LEVI IN THE GRASS BY DARCY PAYNE

Living

acting as his eyes. Levi also enjoys firing guns at a shooting range with a spotter.

It’s time for our planned picnic, so Levi grabs his sunglasses and walking stick. He is well oriented to his room and has little trouble finding his belongings, usually. Although, he did just put the groceries I gave him (that are meant for the fridge) onto the stove.

Because he has a spotter to take him out today, he picks out his largest stick from the three he owns. His regular guide cane needs to be repaired.

“I’m sure you’re a handsome man,” says Levi to his spotter, “just don’t hold my hand.”

He takes his spotter’s arm as we make our way to an open field next to the motel. Levi explains that he doesn’t walk alone when he isn’t familiar with a location. Another way he adapted to being blind was by taking training courses to acquaint himself with his surroundings.

Levi is extremely gifted with survival mechanisms. For example, it is about to rain today and he can tell by the air pressure and temperature.

Levi firmly believes he could live outside against

the elements and fully sustain himself. He carries a large army knife encased on his belt along with his camouflage-themed apparel.

He stops and pokes his head a little closer to the clouds.

“Someone has a campfire around here,” Levi says, panting.

Levi has it in his head that he is older than he actually is. He gets tired easily, has chronic back pain and doesn’t like to walk for very long.

While walking to the picnic location, Levi describes his life minimally. Seven years ago, Levi lost his daughter. She was a 5-month-old twin.

He talks mostly of his past wife, but his deceased daughter still holds his heart. Occasionally, Levi will go to his daughter’s gravesite with the help of a spotter. He can run his hands over the headstone, but it is quite the adventure to find the grave initially. One of his daughters (the other twin) is still living, so he is trying to establish contact with her to rekindle their relationship.

When asked what Levi’s next goal is, he says he doesn’t change his goals. He only adjusts them.

“I really don’t know,” says Levi. “I want to better my environment. Camping would be bettering it.”

Levi thinks the people around his motel are very negative, so he would rather be isolated.

“Just gotta find a good place to camp,” he says.

Finally, we make it to an open field to eat our sandwiches. Levi settles into the grass in a lounging position.

After lunch, Levi’s spotter begins guiding him back to the motel. Levi says that, years ago, he could run a mile in less than six minutes, so he starts running. Levi is best at never letting his handicap get in the way of his goals. ~~~ Now it’s August, just a few months later.

Debbie and Levi are homeless again. They are living under a local bridge. Although their homeless cycle continues, Levi is optimistic.

Levi and Debbie are only one example of people suffering from the seemingly endless cycle of homelessness/motel living. If you would like to help homeless persons who have transitioned to motels, you can volunteer at Last Call 4 Grace, which provides food to individuals in three local motels on Wednesdays and Fridays at 7 p.m. Along with feeding the residents, the Last Call team establishes long-term relationships. For more information, visit lastcall4grace.org.

BOROPULSE.COM

* AUGUST 2015 * 21

Living FARMERS’ MARKET EDUCATION SERIES

on two sides, allowing it to fall to the ground on the other two. You do want to harvest or heavily mulch your root crops before a hard freeze (below 30° F).

Some of the leafy vegetables can be planted up through mid-September. Most have to go in now for a decent fall crop. Enjoy and experiment. I recommend keeping notes so you know what was a success for next year.

by EDWINA SHANNON

Upcoming Farmers Market Classes:

Start a

FALL VEGETABLE GARDEN

and extend the productive season.

IN THE MIDST OF THE HEAT and humidity of summer, the cool air of fall is nonetheless forthcoming, which means that now is the time to think about autumn vegetable gardening.

Vegetables that can be grown in the fall are similar to the ones that you plant in the spring: beans, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, cucumber, kale, kohlrabi, leaf lettuce, mustard, Irish potatoes, radish, spinach, summer squash, some tomato varieties and turnip greens.

The key to success of fall planting is to select varieties that will have time to mature.

In Murfreesboro, the average date for the first frost is Oct. 13. Warm-season vegetables should meet their mature date at least two weeks before the frost date. Cool-season vegetables are able to withstand frost at least two weeks after the first frost.

There is a method for determining the time frame for the last planting dates. Most seed packs will give you the average number of days required for harvest. For fall gardening, add 10 days to this number to compensate for the cooler, shorter days of fall. Start with the expected first frost date of Oct. 13 and back the date up by two weeks, allowing for maturation of the vegetables. This brings the date to Sept. 30. Then look at the seed pack. If it requires an estimated 40 days to harvest (summer squash), add 10 for fall 22 * AUGUST 2015 * BOROPULSE.COM

planting. Take this 50-day count and back it up from the Sept. 30 date. Seeds need to be in the ground by Aug. 12. That will provide a two-week window for harvesting from the expected mature date of Sept. 30 through to the expected first frost of Oct. 13.

It is tough to get a fall garden going. Fall varieties germinate in long, dry days and mature in short, cool, moist days. The seeds that thrive in the fall could be different than the spring varieties that you plant. You are combating the weather, water conditions, insects and diseases. Successful fall gardens need close attention.

The University of Tennessee publication SP291G does provide several tables that are useful in planting a fall garden, including a list of suitable varieties. Most varieties, except broccoli, are best planted directly into a garden. To assist in the sprouting of the seeds, consider covering them with cardboard until they poke through the soil. Mulching and watering is necessary during the heat.

Many of the cool vegetables, like lettuce, arugula, peas, cabbage and greens, will endure a frost or two. When there is a frost warning, consider protecting your crops by covering the plants with burlap, sacks or inverted pots. Of course, a cold frame is a more permanent solution to extending the growing season. I had great success with a heavy plastic sheet that I clothes-pinned to the fence

Farmers’ Market Education classes continue to be held in the Community Center at the Agricultural Park on John R. Rice Blvd. They are free and start at 9 a.m. Tuesdays and Fridays.

AUG. 4 – Tiffany Schmidt, Ext. Program Assistant: Cooking with Kids Introduce young ones to the joys of cooking fun and healthy snacks.

AUG. 7 – Mitchell Murphree, Chef @ Five Senses Restaurant: Five Senses Cooking Demo Sample “Southern gourmet” dishes and pick up tips from one of our local professional chefs.

AUG. 11 – Jennifer Joines and Brenda Davis, CMGs: Warm up to Gardening Exercises and stretches to help you avoid injury and alleviate common gardener aches and pains.

AUG. 14 – Quilts of Valor Quilts of Valor is a nonprofit organization that makes quilts for wounded soldiers. Sew a pre-cut block or observe and sign one that has been pre-made.

AUG. 18 – Richard Lee, CMG: Intensive Gardening Techniques Keep your garden growing all season with continuous plantings.

AUG. 21 – Cynthia Allen, MTSU Stormwater Coordinator: Harvest the Rain! DIY Rain Barrels Conserve the environment and your money by building your own rain barrel! Visit ours onsite and leave with plans for your own.

Pre-made barrels also available for order.

AUG. 25 – Carla Bush, Ext. Agent: Seasonal Eating: Tomatoes Tips are offered for selecting and preparing the “Queen” of garden veggies.

AUG. 28 – Mitchell Mote, Ext. Agent: Fall Lawn Care

Getting your lawn ready for winter will increase your chances of a lush lawn in spring.

SEPT. 1 – Carol Reese, CMG: Homegrown Bouquets Spruce up your home with quick and easy arrangements!

SEPT. 4 – Linda Lindquist, CMG: Using Herbs Around the Home Herbs keep pests away, freshen the air and make great decorations.

 There are a few other events and classes going on at the Extension Office during the month of August.

Call the office at (615) 898-7710 to register!

So You Want to Be a Farmer?

This two-day workshop will help you learn how to get started, provide resources and information to help you make decisions about what you want to do. The event will be held on Friday, Aug. 28, 6–9 p.m. and Saturday, Aug. 29, 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Cost is $40 (includes class materials, lunch and refreshments).

Quilt Trail Tour Departure on the Quilt Trail Tour will be 9 a.m. Friday, Aug. 14, from Lane Agri-Park.

Reserve your place now, as there is limited seating available on the small bus. Cost is $30, which includes the tour and lunch.

Diabetes Workshop Improve your health, one step at a time!

This free six-week workshop will take place Aug. 12, 19 and 26; and Sept 2, 9 and 16 from 2–4 p.m. in the Community Center Building. Participants receive the book Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions and a relaxation CD. Advance registration is required so we will have enough class materials.

Grass Master Lawn Care Academy The Grass Master Lawn Care Academy will be Aug. 17 through 20 from 6–8 p.m. Learn about the different kinds of turf grasses we can (and can’t) grow here and how to manage them, options for establishing a new lawn, renovation tips for existing lawns, weed control, fertilization, organic lawn care options and more.

BOROPULSE.COM

* AUGUST 2015 * 23

Food

THE DISH NAME: The Alley on Main LOCATION: 223 W. Main St. PHONE: (615) 203-3498 HOURS: Mon.–Thurs.: 11 a.m.– 9 p.m.; Fri.–Sat.: 11 a.m.–10 p.m.

PRICES: Bone-in ribeye (16 oz.): $25.99; filet (10 oz.): $35.99; sirloin (8 oz.): $12.99 (steaks served with salad and side); spaghetti with meatball: $12.99

STEAKS OFF THE SQUARE

ONLINE: alleyonmain.com

STORY AND PHOTOS BY CHRISTY SIMMONS

THE ALLEY ON MAIN offers fantastic meals, from salad to dessert.

T

he Alley on Main took over the space vacated by Roosters months ago, and I still hadn’t been there, so I decided that it was time I went. It’s touted to be a steakhouse, and my friends had told me it was excellent and had good lunch specials, with all the food being made in house. Needless to say, I was excited and had high expectations.

From the website and logo design, I was expecting the decor to be completely different from what it turned out to be. I anticipated it being sleek and stylish, with an understated elegance.

Unfortunately, when you walk inside, it looks like three people tried to decorate without talking to each other. It’s eclectic, but in a disjointed manner. The walls are a muted gray-blue color from top to bottom and there are Mason-jar lights hanging over the tables. There are random things made out of wine corks on the walls, along with crooked photos of people whom I am assuming are family members grouped in clusters on the wall. Despite this, the walls manage to look completely empty. They should have let their graphic designer decorate. (Or turn me

24 * AUGUST 2015 * BOROPULSE.COM

loose in there; I have a ton of ideas!)

But I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: you can’t eat the decor. So on to the food. We went during lunch, but ordered from the dinner menu so we could get a better idea about the offerings.

For our appetizer, we chose the Shrimp Wontons—shrimp wrapped in cheese and bacon, covered with a wonton and deep fried. Delicious.

It’s served with a cherry mustard sauce that is far tastier than it sounds. You get four per order.

By the way, can anyone else attest to how awkward it is when you have three people at a table sharing a four-piece appetizer? You each eat your one piece, find it completely amazing, and then cast sly glances at the lone piece of food sitting on the plate. Each of you wants to grab it, but the manners your mama beat into you as a kid demand that you let someone else take it.

Anyway, I digress.

For the entrées, I ordered the 8-ounce sirloin with garlic mashed potatoes, and my companions ordered the blackened catfish and the spaghetti and meatball. Each of our meals also came with a house salad. The salads were awesome. I

got the avocado ranch dressing with mine and it was delicious, redolent with fresh herbs. I would go back to the Alley just for those salads. The meals came out in a timely fashion. The mashed potatoes were good once salt was added, and my steak was cooked pretty close to what I had asked for (medium). The seasoning on the steak was excellent, but chewing it gave my jaw a workout.

Of course, with sirloin, that’s always a possibility. It’s like playing steak roulette. Sometime I’ll try the filet. The blackening spices on the catfish were tasty and not too spicy, but I don’t really like catfish unless it’s fried, so my views really don’t count much. Then there’s the spaghetti and meatball. Meatball. Singular. Meaning pasta topped with marinara sauce and a homemade meatball as big as my fist. This is what I am

ordering the next time I go. The bite I had of the ball o’ meat was delicious. It’s served with a piece of garlic toast and a scoop of homemade ricotta cheese, one of my favorite things.

For dessert we chose the Thoroughbred Pie, which is like a Kentucky Derby pie: pecan pie with the inspired addition of bourbon and chocolate. I don’t think a better combo exists in my world than bourbon and chocolate. The pie was delicious and the fact that the crust was homemade added bonus points for me.

While I was waiting on my companions to arrive, I overheard one of the owners, Christy, telling the table behind me that it’s a good idea for patrons to ask their server about the foods that are available but aren’t on the menu. That day, for instance, you could get chicken parmesan. I also hear The Alley is soon going to start offering crab cakes on Fridays.

Overall, the experience was good and I’m exceedingly happy to welcome Christy and her crew to the restaurant scene in Murfreesboro.

Plus, it doesn’t hurt that she has an excellent first name. *wink*

BOROPULSE.COM

* AUGUST 2015 * 25

Food Frozen

TREATS

Beat the heat with a sweet treat at these cool local shops.

STORY BY BRACKEN MAYO PHOTOS BY SARAH MAYO

FROZEN TREATS FROM MARS THEATER  LOCATION: 123 S. Church St. HOURS: 12–10 p.m.

COST: Ice cream cone with 1 scoop: $3 ONLINE: frozentreatsfrommarstheater.com

Right on the Murfreesboro Public Square, Frozen Treats from Mars Theater offers delicious ice cream flavors such as peanut butter with Reese’s cups, lemon raspberry and carrot cake, featuring an excellent cinnamon flavor.

Opened this year by the group behind the Popcorn from Mars shop (right around the corner) and the proposed Mars drive-in theater, Frozen Treats from Mars also has Italian ice selections; if you like Shock Tops, try the sour apple, sour grape and sour raspberry mix of Italian ice. The shop has placed flat-screen TVs at each booth, so you don’t have to force conversation with your date. While the ice cream is tasty, the scoop sizes at Mars are much smaller than Earth’s standard.

W

Junior Publisher Bracken samples chocolate custard on a waffle cone at Rita’s.

 KARIN’S KUSTARD & HAMBURGERS LOCATION: 470 S. Lowry St., Smyrna COST: Medium cone or cup—$2.49;

here’s your favorite place to stop in for ice cream, frozen yogurt, Italian ice, custard or whatever your favorite frozen snack might happen to be?

Check out a few of these Murfreesboro area shops when you need something cold and sweet.

BRAIN FREEZE  LOCATION: 2042 Lascassas Pk., Ste. A6 HOURS: Sun.–Thurs. 11 a.m.–9 p.m.; Fri.–Sat. 11 a.m.–10 p.m.

COST: Eight-ounce, self-serve frozen yogurt (all you can fill plus toppings) –$3.85; Regular ice cream–$1.99 ONLINE: brainfreezeboro.com Brain Freeze has a varied ice cream selection at its counter, plus a large self-serve frozen yogurt dispensary wall and a toppings bar. The price is right at $3.85 on the 8-ounce, small all-you-can-fill yogurt cups; just mix and match flavors, with selections ranging from pistachio to espresso, and then add the toppings of your choice.

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medium shake—$3.49 ONLINE: Find Karin’s Kustard on Facebook Smyrna’s independent burger and ice cream stand, Karin’s Kustard, sells soft-serve in vanilla, chocolate, strawberry or lemon, as well as sundaes and other treats such as the Twinkie Delight, a deep-fried Twinkie topped with ice cream, hot fudge, whipped cream and a cherry.

LIL MIKEY’S GOURMET ITALIAN ICE  LOCATION: 1720 Old Fort Pkwy. at Stones River Mall HOURS: 12–9 p.m.

COST: One scoop–$3; Two scoops–$5 ONLINE: Lil Mikey’s Gourmet Italian Ice on Facebook This Italian Ice store at Stones River Mall (near Sam’s) offers lots of unique Italian ice flavors, such as matcha green tea, coffee, blackberry, Arnold Palmer (tea and lemon), marshmallow (with chunks of vegan marshmallow), cucumber, chocolate chip cookie (tastes like frozen cookie dough) and pineapple.

PALETAS LA DESI  LOCATION: 1679 Middle Tennessee Blvd.

HOURS: 3–8 p.m., Tuesday through Friday;

12–9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday COST: Water-based popsicle: $2; Milkbased popsicle: $2.25; Mangonada (chica/ small): $3.50 ONLINE: Paletas la Desi on Facebook Paletas la Desi offers ice cream in Gansito, pine nut and tequila varieties, among many others, and lots of fruity, tropical popsicles. The store, in the shopping center at Mercury and Middle Tennessee, also serves the mangonada, a creation combining mango ice cream, sweet chili sauce, lime juice and chili powder.

 RITA’S ICE CUSTARD HAPPINESS LOCATION: 2018 Medical Center Pkwy.

HOURS: Mon.–Thurs. and Sun. 12–9 p.m.; Fri.

and Sat. 12–10 p.m.

COST: Regular gelati: $3.79 ONLINE: ritasfranchises.com

After a winter break, Rita’s is back, offering rich and creamy soft-serve frozen custard in vanilla, chocolate or swirl, as well as Italian Ice in various fruity flavors, such as a strawberry watermelon blend. Another tempting option is the shop’s cream ice, a concoction with the consistency of Italian ice, only creamier (Rita’s has also been known to produce some horchata cream ice, based on the classic Mexican rice-and-milk beverage). Try a gelati for two types of deliciousness; this tantalizing creation layers the Italian or cream ice with layers of custard above and below. Choose your combination: pineapple Italian ice with vanilla custard, perhaps, or coconut cream ice with chocolate custard. They’ll also “Blendini” it up for you with your favorite toppings such as M&M or cookie, or if you prefer your ice cream smooth, their classic frozen custard milk shake might be more your style.

U-SWIRL FROZEN YOGURT  LOCATION: 2333 Memorial Blvd.

HOURS: Sun.–Thurs. 10 a.m.–10 p.m.; Fri.–Sat. 10

a.m.–11 p.m.

COST: $10 for 2 all-you-can-fill cups, Mon.–Wed. ONLINE: uswirlboro.com Max Patel, the former owner and operator of the Beer Depot on Main Street, has gone from the beer game to frozen yogurt and chocolates. His shop, located in the O’Possum’s shopping center on Memorial, has various flavors of nonfat and sugar-free soft-serve frozen yogurt, as well as truffles and more from the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Company. Guests can pay by the ounce, purchasing as little or as much yogurt as they like.

BOROPULSE.COM

* AUGUST 2015 * 27

Reviews

LIVING ROOM CINEMA column by NORBERT THIEMANN

facebook.com/livingroomcinema

Living History of the South

ANT-MAN 4 DIRECTED BY Peyton Reed STARRING Paul Rudd,

I

dolizing symbols and ideologies which represent treason, subjugation, hate and genocide is certainly a terrible thing. History should be preserved in context, though, so that mistakes from the past are not repeated. Movies can also help provide sources for context and empathy.

Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas RATED PG-13

Marvel fatigue set in for me just prior to the second Avengers movie. That their streak of well-above-average movies has continued this long is one of the more unbelievable things about the legendary brand. After a swath of evil aliens, demolished cityscapes and end-of-the-worldstakes, the smaller-scale story of Ant-Man feels novel.

At its core, Ant-Man is a heist movie. Paul Rudd plays the titular character, a charming cat burglar named Scott Lang who, after being imprisoned for a Robin Hood-esque caper, is released and wants to go straight.

Scott is recruited by the creator of the Ant-Man suit and shrinking serum, the aged scientist Dr. Hank Pym (Douglas) and his reluctant daughter Hope

MOVIE (Lilly). When it becomes clear that Dr. Pym’s former protégéturned-nemesis Darren Cross has replicated both the suit and the serum, it is up to Scott Lang: master thief, to take up the mantle of the Ant-Man and steal Dr. Cross’s technology. Becoming Ant-Man is easier said than done, however, as Scott must learn not only how to control his shrinking and re-embiggening with precision, but also how to control the army of ants at his disposal.

A screenplay credit is given to the originally slated director Edgar

Wright (the Cornetto trilogy, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World), and his trademark tone can be felt throughout. Paired with Rudd’s innate affability and director Peyton Reed’s comedic background (Bring It On, Upright Citizens Brigade), the film achieves an effortless ebullience, more so than in any previous Marvel output, Guardians of the Galaxy included.

This is in no small part due to the supporting cast as well. Douglas remains vivacious in his later years and House of Cards’ Corey Stoll nails “imminently unlike-

able” once more as Dr. Cross.

Michael Peña shines as Scott’s silly friend and partner-in-crime, Luis, and Evangeline Lilly (Lost) grounds her estranged daughter role in real emotions and, even better, a real knack for levity.

Ant-Man is the anti-Marvel antidote, a palate-cleanser full of Bullseye jokes, both verbal and visual, with a small-scale story that is exciting without being bogged-down by a big cast and even bigger action sequences (at which the film gleefully pokes fun). The only thing curbing my enthusiasm for Ant-Man is that I’m still a little fatigued.

— JAY SPIGHT

could handle the predictability if Trainwreck worked simply as a romantic comedy, but it doesn’t.

Schumer and Hader are incredible talents but neither of their roles plays to their strengths as performers, and both come off seeming restrained by the material. Their romance is largely unconvincing due to a lack of chemistry and poor writing. Aaron is constantly talking down to Amy, which creates an uncomfortable imbalance in their

relationship that makes them difficult to root for.

The film’s director, Judd Apatow, made his name with movies like The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up but has struggled to match those movies ever since. That struggle continues with Trainwreck, which is just not very funny. Every joke is extended for maximum laughs but the jokes are so drawn out that they cease to be humorous.

It’s ironic that the funniest performances in the movie are from non-comedians. LeBron James, John Cena and a practically unrecognizable Tilda Swinton all give sincere and hilarious performances that rise above the mediocre material.

Trainwreck isn’t terrible but it is bland. And with a cast and crew capable of so much more, that’s a much harsher verdict.

— CECILIA SINKALA

TRAINWRECK 2

DIRECTED BY Judd Apatow STARRING Amy Schumer,

Bill Hader, Colin Quinn, LeBron James, John Cena, Tilda Swinton RATED R

I’ve never been the biggest fan of Amy Schumer, but what I’ve always appreciated about her humor is how it directly challenges gender roles. The best example is her Comedy Central show, Inside Amy Schumer, which consistently satirizes, subverts and, occasionally, outright shames society’s ridiculous expectations of women. She typically never toes the line, which is why Trainwreck disappoints by being utterly conventional.

Trainwreck is about Schumer, who, from childhood, had been taught by her father (Colin Quinn) that monogamy isn’t realRATINGS:

istic and has taken that lesson to heart. She goes through life partying hard and pole-vaulting away from commitment until she’s assigned an article on a successful sports doctor named Aaron Conners (Bill Hader). They begin dating and Amy soon realizes that this relationship could upend her entire life philosophy.

If you’ve ever seen a romantic comedy, then you already know how this movie will play out. I A CLASSIC

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OUTSTANDING

AVERAGE

BELOW AVERAGE

Sherman’s March (1986) is a documentary directed by Ross McElwee. Although the declared topic of the film is entertainingly diverted, there are key moments which speak to both the modern and historical South. McElwee takes the opportunity to work through problems in his personal life, and showcase an array of Southern women in his travels.

To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) is directed

by Robert Mulligan, and stars Gregory Peck.

A small-town lawyer risks his entire livelihood by representing a black man in Alabama during the 1930s. To Kill a Mockingbird is one of the finest adaptations, derived from Harper Lee’s masterpiece bearing the same title.

In the Heat of the Night (1967) is directed by Norman Jewison, and stars both Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger. A traveling black police officer from the North is detained after a murder occurs in a small Mississippi town. His qualifications far exceed that of the sheriff and his men in solving the case.

AVOID AT ALL COSTS

DEAD

G AME Batman: Arkham Knight 3.5

IT IS HALLOWEEN. Gotham is under siege. Its people have fled. The police have but a foothold left in the city. There are drones patrolling the roads and the sky, armed mercenaries dug in, rioting thugs, and supervillains running amok. Only one man has the power to stop this. The Batman!

Arkham Knight is the fifth and final chapter in the Arkham series. Rocksteady, the developer, has pulled out all the stops, giving us the biggest, boldest incarnation of the Dark Knight to date. And it succeeds—enough.

Picking up nearly a year after the events of Arkham City, The Batman finds himself struggling with his inner demons over his failure to save those he loved. His friends and allies worry about him as his inner conflict is slowly coming to a boiling point. At the same time, The Scarecrow has gathered The Batman’s greatest supervillains together in one big swoop to take over Gotham, with aid from a new mysterious figure known as The Arkham Knight.

Arkham Knight is huge!

Four years of work shows, as Gotham is massive and beautiful. The audiovisual presentation is stunning with incredible animations, great voice work, a haunting soundtrack and fine detail, down to individual buildings and characters.

Seeing the rain pour down the Batman’s cape is quite a sight. There are all kinds of Easter eggs, dialogue events and overwhelming amounts of fan service even including references to the Justice League.

Narrative-wise, the game has one of the most intriguing narratives of the series, maybe even the most intriguing. While not giving away anything, Batman’s inner conflict comes to the surface in some very literal ways. The story is separated into the main mission, facing off against The Scarecrow and The Arkham Knight, and many side missions. The side missions involve a whole host of often interesting and fun quests, from rescuing firefighters to taking down militia checkpoints, and solving The Riddler’s various riddles and puzzles. Arkham Knight is packed with things to do.

Unfortunately, the plot does suffer from a number of problems. First and foremost, is how heavy- and ham-handed it is. Aside from a couple of good twists, you can pretty much see everything coming. The game

is insistent upon its themes, overly so. The Batman not being able to kill is very much a core part of his persona, but Arkham Knight is constantly beating you with this fact. All around you characters are continuously reminding you about who you are, what the stakes are and it oftentimes comes off as unnatural and excessively expository. The structure is not much better. Whereas the first half of the game takes its time to build up and flesh out the story, the second half ’s execution of all that buildup comes off as rushed and forced. This also applies to the side missions, where many of the outcomes are anticlimactic, particularly one mission that really disappointed me as a fan of the villain involved.

The one big elephant in the room though, is the Batmobile. Advertised as the new gameplay mechanic in practically every trailer and interview, the car is meant to be the hammer against the various nails your foes represent. Sadly, you end up hitting your thumb more often than not. When The Batmobile is working with you (changing the control scheme helps tremendously), it is a blast!

Blowing up drones, chasing down thugs and just being an unstoppable tank cruising down Gotham is a mighty fine feeling.

Yet again, though, the game’s insistence bleeds over, forcing you to utilize the Batmobile in nearly every instance you encounter. The most egregious use of the Batmobile has to be the Riddler challenges, particularly the racing sequences. The ridiculousness of the challenge on top of the Batmobile’s unstable nature leads to some of the most angerinducing bits of trial and error I have had to deal with in a video game. Frankly, it seems like while Rocksteady was designing the game, someone who really liked the Batmobile was over their heads, insisting (there is that word again) that they put it there and there and there.

Fortunately, when not in the Batmobile, the rest of the gameplay is solid. There are new gadgets, methods and exquisitely designed levels to bring justice down upon foes. The environment is now part of the action. In combat, you can electrocute foes against power generators or bring down lanterns upon them. Arkham Knight is not the best among the Arkham series, though if you are a fan of these games, you have no reason not to pick it up.

You may just elect to fly and admire the beautiful world Rocksteady created, instead of watching it pass by in a blur from the Batmobile. — NADER HOBBALLAH BOROPULSE.COM

* AUGUST 2015 * 29

Theater Cash Cab Host Ben Bailey to Perform at MTSU in September

BY JOHN CONNOR COULSTON STAND-UP COMEDIAN and Cash Cab host Ben Bailey is set to perform at MTSU’s Tucker Theatre on Friday, Sept. 4, as a part of the university’s Week of Welcome.

The Bowling Green, Ken., native is known for his time on Discovery Channel’s game show Cash Cab, on which unsuspecting taxi passengers answered trivia questions for cash prizes while traveling to their destinations.

But Bailey has been performing standup long before his time as a game show host.

He moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career, but he could only find work answering phones at the famous Comedy Store on the Sunset Strip. One night while sharing stories in the green room with some of the performers, he impressed a local booker and was invited to perform the next weekend.

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Bailey, who had never done stand-up before, reluctantly agreed and soon caught the comedy bug.

“I got a couple of laughs right out of the gate,” Bailey told the Pulse in a phone interview. “Nothing huge, but enough to make me go, ‘All right, this is it. This is what I’m gonna do.’”

His stand up career soon started to gain traction, and he appeared on shows like Comedy Central’s Premium Blend and NBC’s Last Call With Carson Daly.

In 2005, Bailey auditioned to host Cash Cab, and after five callbacks, a background check and New York City taxi driver’s test, he was

ready to hit the streets of NYC. The show ran for six seasons, with Bailey picking up two Daytime Emmys for “Outstanding Game Show Host” in the process.

Since the show went off the air, he’s toured, hosted several shows and partnered with grocery chain Aldi for a series of “Cart Smarts” shorts that have racked up almost 750,000 views on YouTube in just two weeks. He’s just recorded a new stand-up special, Ben Bailey: Live and Uncensored, and the series’ cab can now be found at his New Jersey home, which is also where he plans to launch the next chapter of his career.

“I’m getting geared up to basically run a (production) studio out of my house and shoot all kinds of different things,” Bailey said. “Web series, shorts, Vines, sketches, crazy Cash Cab videos, a couple of podcast ideas, there’s a feature and there are two longformat TV series . . . I’m just gonna do all of it now and put it up and see what happens.

Maybe people will go look at it and say, ‘Oh my God, this is terrible. What is this?’ but at least I’ll have done it and posted it and gotten it out there.”

This newfound independence has given the 44-year-old comedian the freedom to develop projects he wants to pursue, including recording music with his group the 3B Band, without relying on big-budget studios.

“It’s just become clear to me that I don’t have to wait for someone to say ‘yeah, we’d love for you to make these for us,’” he said.

“It’s so different that I have a hard time adjusting my mind to that, I don’t have to go and try to sell things anymore. I can just make my own content. It’s amazing.”

Even though he’s prepping his own productions, Bailey has no intentions of quitting

stand-up. While he loves the world of TV and film, he says nothing beats the feeling of interacting with a live audience.

“I really love working on TV and film because everybody’s so together in the goal of making something great. . . . whereas (with) standup there is no everybody, it’s just you,” he said. “But nothing’s more instantly rewarding than standup is. To get the crowd’s feedback, to get the rush of that, they’re just very different in my mind.”

Bailey’s Murfreesboro performance won’t be the first time the comedian has visited Middle Tennessee, as he sees family in Columbia, Tenn., quite often. He even has a favorite spot to visit when he’s in the Nashville area, but sadly, it’s changed a bit over the past decades.

“I used to go to Opryland (theme park) when I was a kid, and then they just closed it,” Bailey said lightheartedly. “[Now] it’s a pretty cool mall, but where are the roller coasters? It’s like the end of Vacation if the park just wasn’t there.”

As for what fans can expect at his Week of Welcome show, Bailey’s live act is a bit different from his hosting gigs. He’ll mainly be focusing on material from his upcoming special, as well as some bits tailored for a college crowd.

“It won’t be Cash Cab,” Bailey said with a laugh. “I won’t be up there asking trivia questions, and I will probably not be as clean as they expect me to be.”

Ben Bailey will perform at MTSU’s Tucker Theatre on Friday, Sept. 4 at 7 p.m. All current students get in free with their MTSU ID.

 IF YOU GO WHO: Ben Bailey WHERE: Tucker Theatre (MTSU) WHEN: Friday, Sept. 4 at 7 p.m.

TICKETS: Free for MTSU students with ID ONLINE: mtsu.edu/events

ONSTAGE IN

AUGUST AN EVENING WITH THE STARS Center for the Arts 110 W. College St. 6 p.m. Aug. 14, 15, 21 and 22 boroarts.org

GHOST THE MUSICAL

The Arts Center of Cannon County 1424 John Bragg Hwy., Woodbury 7:30 p.m. Aug. 7, 8, 14, 15, 21 and 22; 2 p.m. Aug. 9 and 16 artscenterofcc.com

HANK & MY HONKY TONK HEROES The Arts Center of Cannon County 1424 John Bragg Hwy., Woodbury 7:30 p.m. Aug. 29 artscenterofcc.com

MLT ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING AND AWARDS

Murfreesboro Little Theatre 702 Ewing Blvd.

6 p.m. Aug. 8 mltarts.com

BOROPULSE.COM

* AUGUST 2015 * 31

News THE MYSTERIES OF GLOBAL TRADE AGREEMENTS

Others are concerned it may result in increased regulation of the Internet. For example, Trans Pacific Partnership members could order an American’s web page to be taken down, or even levy fines against someone for ideas expressed on the Internet, without the alleged criminal going through due process or the U.S. justice system.

“Thanks to public rebellion, corporations hoping to lock up and monopolize the Internet failed in Congress to pass their repressive Stop Online Piracy Act. However, they’ve slipped SOPA’s most pernicious provisions into TPP,” newsman Jim Hightower wrote in his Hightower Lowdown.

Critics say Trans Pacific Partnership’s tentacles extend well beyond trade.

WISH LIST FOR THE 1 PERCENT

BY BRACKEN MAYO DURING THE SUMMER OF GAY MARRIAGE and Confederate flag removal (both subjects that lend themselves to plenty of debate and passionate viewpoints), another matter that could have global implications for decades is slipping under the mainstream radar.

Leaders of Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam, along with the United States, have been negotiating the Trans Pacific Partnership for years.

But just now, as commentators are saying the pact talks are reaching their endgame, are major U.S. news outlets finally giving coverage to what could be one of the largest trade agreements ever; citizen.org labels the Trans Pacific Partnership “NAFTA on steroids.”

Some critics say this “trade” deal may supersede U.S. wage, worker safety laws and environmental protections.

From citizen.org: Although it is called a “free trade” agreement, the TPP is not mainly about trade. Of TPP’s 29 draft chapters, only five deal with traditional trade issues. One chapter would provide incentives to offshore jobs to low-wage countries. Many would impose limits on government policies that we rely on in our daily lives for safe food, a clean environment, and more.

Our domestic federal, state and local policies would be required to comply with TPP rules.

The member nations would all be bound to the same set of regulations, as outlined in the treaty. Would this raise the standards of the nations with lower labor, human rights and environmental standards? Would it lower those of the U.S.? Both?

“The developed nations at the talks remain concerned about labor rights in Mexico, Vietnam and Brunei; human trafficking in Malaysia; deforestation in Peru; and several other tough issues,” according to a recent piece in The New York Times by Jonathan Weisman.

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Some commentators and officials have labeled the TPP a “wish list for the 1 percent,” written by multinational corporations and their legal teams with the goal of increasing their profits without regard for the masses, and have expressed concerns that this agreement would create “tribunals” where a small panel of corporate lawyers would be authorized to order member governments to transfer money to companies to cover their cost of “compliance” with the new regulations.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren wrote an opinion piece on the TPP in February 2015: One strong hint is buried in the fine print of the closely guarded draft. The provision, an increasingly common feature of trade agreements, is called “Investor-State Dispute Settlement,” or ISDS. The name may sound mild, but don’t be fooled.

Agreeing to ISDS in this enormous new treaty would tilt the playing field in the United States further in favor of big multinational corporations. Worse, it would undermine U.S. sovereignty.

ISDS would allow foreign companies to challenge U.S. laws—and potentially to pick up huge payouts from taxpayers—without ever setting foot in a U.S. court. Here’s how it would work: Imagine that the United States bans a toxic chemical that is often added to gasoline, owing to its health and environmental consequences. If a foreign company that makes the toxic chemical opposes the law, it would normally have to challenge it in a U.S. court. But with ISDS, the company could skip the U.S. courts and go be-

fore an international panel of arbitrators. If the company won, the ruling couldn’t be challenged in U.S. courts, and the arbitration panel could require American taxpayers to cough up millions—and even billions—of dollars in damages.

Conservatives who believe in U.S. sovereignty should be outraged that ISDS would shift power from American courts, whose authority is derived from our Constitution, to unaccountable international tribunals. Libertarians should be offended that ISDS effectively would offer a free taxpayer subsidy to countries with weak legal systems. And progressives should oppose ISDS because it would allow big multinationals to weaken labor and environmental rules.

Hightower also wrote extensively on the TPP: This thing is a supersized and nuclearized NAFTA, the 1994 trade scam rammed through Congress by Bill Clinton, Wall Street’s Robert Rubin, and the entire corporate establishment.

They promised that the “glories of globalization” would shower prosperity across our land.

They lied. Corporations got the gold. We got the shaft—thousands of factories closed, millions of middle-class jobs went south, and the economies of hundreds of towns and cities (including Detroit) were hollowed out. (Most Mexicans got the NAFTA shafta, too. U.S. grain traders like ADM dumped corn into Mexico, wiping out millions of peasant farmers’ livelihoods, and thousands of local businesses were crushed when Walmart invaded with its Chinese-made wares.)

Twenty years later, the corporate gang that stuck us with NAFTA is back, hoping to fool us with an even more destructive multinational deal.

This time we really must pay attention, because TPP is not just another trade deal. First, it is massive and open-ended. It would hitch us immediately to 11 Pacific Rim nations, and its door would remain wide open to lure China, Indonesia, Russia and other nations to come in. Second, note that many of those countries already have trade agreements with the U.S. Hence, this amazing fact: TPP is a “trade deal” that mostly does not deal with trade. In fact, of the 29 chapters in this document, only five cover traditional trade matters!

The other two dozen chapters amount to a devilish “partnership” for corporate protectionism. They create sweeping new “rights” and

Thanks to public rebellion, corporations hoping to lock up and monopolize the Internet failed in Congress to pass their repressive Stop Online Piracy Act. However, they’ve slipped SOPA’s most pernicious provisions into TPP.” — Jim Hightower

escape hatches to protect multinational corporations from accountability to our governments . . .

Any of our government’s food safety regulations (on pesticide levels, bacterial contamination, fecal exposure, toxic additives, GMOs, non-edible fillers, etc.) that are stricter than “international standards,” as most are, could be ruled as “illegal trade barriers.” (hightowerlowdown.org)

AL JAZEERA KEEPING TABS

Another news outlet recently called out Obama on his trade strategy.

In August 2007, then–presidential candidate Barack Obama vowed that, if elected, he would “immediately” amend the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which the U.S. signed with Mexico and Canada 13 years earlier.

“Our trade agreements should not just be good for Wall Street. It should also be good for Main Street,” he said, objecting to the influence of corporate lobbyists over labor unions and other groups in negotiating trade agreements.

Six years later, with NAFTA still untouched, Obama faced the decision to appoint the chief U.S. negotiators for the two largest trade agreements in history.

And he picked Wall Street bankers for the job. . . . Consumer and environmental advocates are worried that the trade deals could weaken consumer protections—particularly in light of recent scandals about the import of toxic pet food, poisonous toothpaste, the labeling of beef ’s origin and dolphin-free tuna.

This is hard-hitting American journalism, right, keeping tabs on our president’s promises? The above passage was from Al Jazeera, the now-global Arabic news organization owned by the government of Qatar.

While major American “news” outlets are presenting coverage of their particular network’s reality shows as “news,” and are busy drumming up racial tension among Americans, Al Jazeera’s on it.

FROM OUR CONGRESSMAN

With all of this alarming information surrounding the agreement, I asked U.S. Rep. Scott Desjarlais, who happens to be a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the House Committee on Agriculture, his thoughts on the Trans Pacific Partnership— specifically about the tribunals, the pact’s labor and environmental standards potentially superseding those of the U.S., open Internet issues, and whether this would be a positive thing for the majority of Americans, or only the richest Americans.

His message in the brief statement he issued seemed to be “don’t worry, the government has everyone’s best interests in mind”: The Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) is an important trade agreement that is negotiated by the administration and approved by Con-

gress. Specifically, Congress sets the guidelines by which negotiations are conducted and provides consultation and oversight throughout the process.

Once an agreement is reached, Congress has 60 days to review it and can choose to either accept or reject the agreement. The public will also have 30 days to review the agreement, mitigating any concerns that issues not pertinent to trade are not added at the last minute.

With $40 billion of trade exports coming from Tennessee, this agreement will create numerous jobs in our state and bolster our local economy. This is especially true for our state’s agricultural industry, which would

gain greater access to Asian markets. That is why the Tennessee Cattlemen and Tennessee Farm Bureau are strong supporters of TPP. (Rep. Desjarlais, August 2015) It sounds like he very well may vote for it.

If you have an opinion on this matter, or any other questions or comments for our Representative in the U.S. House, visit desjarlais.house.gov.

Lori Wallach, head of Public Citizen’s Global Trade Watch, says she does not expect a final draft to be presented to Congress until 2016, and that her group opposes the TPP.

BOROPULSE.COM

* AUGUST 2015 * 33

Opinion Sheriff’s Office Supervisors Remain on Leave After Exposed Business Dealings RUTHERFORD COUNTY SHERIFF Robert Arnold suspended two supervisors recently for benefiting financially from outside work done on county time and computer equipment.

But amid a state and federal investigation into his administration he’s holding himself unaccountable—at least so far.

After internal investigations, Arnold suspended Detective Commander Maj. Bill Sharp for one week and ordered him to repay $1,625 in training fees for sheriff ’s office personnel who attended one of his company’s seminars.

Arnold also gave a two-week suspension to Capt. John Frost for selling a software program code to a vendor who turned around and sold it back to the sheriff ’s office. Frost, who heads information and technology, made $1,500 on the deal, money he needed to take a trip to Japan.

Arnold initially placed Sharp and Frost on administrative leave with pay, drawing the ire of county officials who were feeling a budget pinch at the time. Administrative Chief Deputy Joe Russell remains on leave with pay—now using sick and personal leave—during an FBI-TBI joint investigation into potential political corruption at the sheriff ’s office. (He recently filed for leave under the Family Medical Leave Act, though someone took pictures of him peddling e-cigarettes at a conference in North Carolina.)

Russell is co-owner of JailCigs, along with Arnold’s uncle and aunt, John and Judy Vanderveer. The company was selling e-cigarettes to local jail inmates through their family and friends, without going through bidding or purchasing protocol, until media found out about it in early April. On a state Ethics Commission form Arnold listed himself and his wife as being investors in the company and receiving income.

In other words, they had a captive audience.

Despite the investigation into JailCigs, JailSnacks (another company Russell co-owns) and a handful of agreements and contracts the sheriff approved outside the county’s process, he has taken no action to remove himself from decisions or the office.

Of course, he did make himself invisible the week the FBI and TBI raided his home and the sheriff ’s office, in addition to Russell’s homes and the Vanderveers’ place. Who would want to go outside when a bunch of TV reporters are waiting to shoot video and ask questions? But otherwise, he’s calling the shots at the S.O. The question is: Why is no internal investi34 * AUGUST 2015 * BOROPULSE.COM

The

STOCKARD REPORT

BY SAM STOCKARD sstockard44@gmail.com

gation being done into Arnold?

After all, Sharp started his company, Sharp Training and Consulting, with sheriff ’s office approval and agreed to give free slots to Rutherford County personnel for his seminar in April 2014. The sheriff ’s office even approved the check to him for $1,625, though according to the internal investigation he had told superiors he wouldn’t charge them. Arnold also put his name on the event as sponsor.

How do you sponsor something and then penalize your detective commander for doing what you ask? Clearly, Sharp used his county email address extensively for his outside company, including planning another seminar this past April and another for later this summer at DoubleTree hotel.

Oddly enough, those were postponed or canceled after I started asking questions.

Likewise, Arnold is suspending Frost for two weeks for selling a computer code to a vendor who used it to set up a sheriff ’s office program for checking warrants and gaining access to dispatch cards from patrol units in the field.

If Frost and Sharp have that knowledge, maybe the sheriff ’s office should just find a way to give them a raise or a bonus. Then, they wouldn’t have to worry about violating policies.

What Arnold and Russell did—or are doing—is no different. They all made money doing business with or through the sheriff ’s office.

Someone mentioned JailCigs caused a stink only because it didn’t go through the county’s bidding and purchasing rules. Well, if it had and county officials found Russell was coowner and Arnold was an investor, either they would have asked for a cut or nixed it.

But seriously, doing business with yourself is nothing new around here. The late Sam Ridley, founder of the town of Smyrna, was ousted from office by the Tennessee Supreme Court because the town was too tight with Ridley Chevrolet. (I might mention I really liked Sam Ridley. He was truly a character.)

That case took years to make its way through the legal system. If Arnold winds up getting indicted for official corruption, it could go on for years as well.

GROWING LIABILITY

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is looking into a December 2013 incident in which the sheriff ’s cousin, Deputy James Vanderveer, apparently pepper-sprayed a confined inmate, purportedly causing damage to his eyes.

TBI recently confirmed it’s investigating the matter at the request of District Attorney General Jennings Jones.

A video circulating on YouTube for more than a year shows Vanderveer and another jailer, Deputy Jessica Leigh Green, participating in the confinement and pepper-spraying of inmate Demario Harris Jr. in late 2013.

It looks like something out of a Soviet gulag.

Harris Jr., represented by Nashville attorneys David Cooper and Aubrey Givens, filed a lawsuit Nov. 26, 2014 in U.S. District Court against Sheriff Arnold, Vanderveer and Green, documents show. Harris contends they violated his constitutional rights under the Eighth and 14th Amendments of the U.S. Constitution, in addition to protections by the Civil Rights Act. The former inmate is seeking a jury trial and a total of $300,000 in compensatory and punitive damages, plus court costs and attorney fees. The incident took place when Harris was arrested Dec. 9, 2013 for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest by Murfreesboro Police and taken to the jail where he was charged with the misdemeanor offenses.

A few years ago, Vanderveer quit the sheriff ’s office after getting charged with DUI. Then, he got rehired, and shortly afterward perpetrated this pepper-spraying of an inmate, which the sheriff, more or less, said was OK because the inmate was unruly. Vanderveer became full-time in October 2014 when a waiver was submitted to the Tennessee Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission for a September 2010 disorderly conduct charge from Cobb County, Ga. Now, he’s a road deputy.

FORREST OUT?

Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest probably wasn’t looking ahead 150 years when he stormed the Rutherford County Courthouse and set free local prisoners. He likely wasn’t considering whether his name would be taken off MTSU’s ROTC hall or his bust out of the state Capitol when his men massacred a good number of black Union troops and white Southern federal loyalists at Fort Pillow during the Civil War or War Between the States or War of Northern Aggression, depending on your bent.

More than likely, he was just trying to win and stay alive in the process. After all, he did have nearly 30 horses shot out from under him.

Oh yes, and he probably wasn’t concerned about his reputation a century and a half away when he helped found the Ku Klux Klan to dissuade black Tennesseans from going to the voting polls. Though he is generally recognized

as the Klan’s first grand wizard, he testified in a congressional inquiry about the KKK that he wasn’t a part of the organization.

He had amassed a fortune as a slave trader, land speculator and plantation owner before the war, but he did make a reconciliation speech years later, seeing the error of his ways and calling for black Americans to enjoy the same rights as their white counterparts.

So here we are early in the 21st century trying to decide whether to remove his name from MTSU’s ROTC hall and his bust from the state Capitol. The debate comes after the South Carolina murder of nine people by a young man who had wrapped himself in the Confederate battle flag, which led to the state removing the banner from statehouse property.

First of all, Forrest would probably say, “To hell with ’em, I’m going to Texas.”

But second, one would have to ask: “Why is his name on MTSU’s hall?” He died in 1877, long before MTSU’s founding, and other than being a great cavalry man who outsmarted Union generals in Murfreesboro, he has no connections to the Blue Raiders or the university.

This isn’t an effort to erase history or Forrest’s exploits in Tennessee. He simply has no history with MTSU. Instead of dwelling on the polarizing figure of Forrest, the university should find an MTSU alumnus with a strong military background and give them the honor.

As for the bust in the Capitol, why is it in there? Sure, he was from Tennessee, and some would consider him a great Tennessean. Many more would not.

Ultimately, he was a hellacious fighting man—a Confederate commander who knew how to get there “first with the most,” though it is disputed whether he said that. In fact, much of what Forrest said or did is disputed, and his life appears to be contradictory at best. Clearly, he had some character flaws but might have tried to make amends late in life.

Still, the question remains: Why is his bust in the state Capitol?

The Tennessee Capitol Commission should determine whether he represents the best of Tennessee and put this matter to rest.

Let’s Abandon the Corporate Welfare of the Export-Import Bank and Return to Free Market Principles

S

o little is known about the Export-Import Bank because, let’s face it, it’s a rather boring subject. That is, until it became a bone of contention between Sen. Ted Cruz and his majority leader, Mitch McConnell. Cruz chastised McConnell on the Senate floor for lying to him and others when McConnell said he wouldn’t allow a vote on reauthorization of the bank in exchange for getting Democrat support for fast-track authority for the president. McConnell did allow a vote and all the Democrats voting supported the Export-Import Bank along with 22 Republicans.

So, what is this Export-Import Bank? It’s a vestige of the Great Depression. Basically, it’s the official export credit agency for the federal government. It finances and insures highrisk loans for companies that can’t get financing in the private sector because the risk is too high. In other words, it’s corporate welfare.

Supporters argue that it helps small business, but 65 percent of the bank’s business went to foreign companies so they could buy Boeing aircraft. Sure, it helps some small businesses but these are businesses that couldn’t get such financing in the private sector. Supporters say that’s why we need VIEWS OF A the Export-Import Bank, but that’s exactly the point. If you can’t get financing in the private sector you don’t column by need to be doing business.

PHIL VALENTINE philvalentine.com For example, the Export-Import Bank gave $10 million in loan guarantees to Solyndra. That solar panel company went belly-up, with a bunch of other taxpayer money as well. Yes, there have been many success stories, and supporters point to all the jobs the bank has helped create. That’s all well and good but the government is not in the business of creating jobs. If that were the case then we’d have the government take everyone who is unemployed and hire them as crossing guards at intersections across the country. Then we could brag about full employment but the cost would be staggering.

Such it is with the Export-Import Bank. Supporters say it makes money but the reality is it loses money. It props up businesses that don’t need propping up, like the oil business and green energy. It gives them access to money they wouldn’t ordinarily have access to because the risk is too great. That alone tells you the bank is nothing more than a welfare program.

Why do so many Democrats support this bank, especially given its history of risky oil ventures. Because they’re Keynesians who ultimately have little faith in the free market.

They love the role government takes in “helping” the economy along. They’re bureaucrats who love being “useful” to their constituents, which gives them a sense of purpose.

The reality is the free market is the best determiner of where capital is allocated. Privatesector businessmen and businesswomen who are held accountable by boards of directors are far more careful with money than government employees whose very existence hinges on how many risky loans they can guarantee.

The Export-Import Bank clings to a Depression-era mentality that the only way the economy can grow is through government subsidy. Many studies now show that the Great Depression was so great because the government intervened and gummed up the works. Economists say FDR prolonged the Depression by at least 7 years with his intervention policies and the Export-Import Bank was one such “solution” he created.

It’s a very simple principle. If others who have money think your enterprise is worth risking their money to bankroll, they’ll loan it to you. We certainly do not need the government short-circuiting that process.

CONSERVATIVE

“Supporters say it makes money but the reality is it loses money. It props up businesses that don’t need propping up, like the oil business and green energy. It gives them access to money they wouldn’t ordinarily have access to because the risk is too great.”

Phil Valentine is an author and nationally syndicated radio talk show host with Westwood One. For more of his commentary and articles, visit philvalentine.com.

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BUSINESS BUILDER

BY ROBERT RITCH

Step 1: Analyze Your Business and Effectively Articulate Its Vision

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he small business owner is generally a busy individual; multi-tasking, juggling, putting out fires. Sometimes he or she faces personnel, website, marketing, customer service and bookkeeping issues all at the same time. But, as the saying goes, don’t be so busy working in your business that you neglect to work on your business.

In other words, don’t get so caught up in the day-today operations of what your business does that you forget the grand vision of why you created the business in the first place. Don’t lose sight of your goals and your business plan to achieve them. You do have a plan, right?

Take a moment each week to sit back, without interruption or distraction, and work on your business.

It’s like going to the gym—sometimes it may seem like hard work. Sometimes you may feel like you have multiple other things you need to be doing, but over time, if you invest regular sessions to work on your business, its plan, vision, strategy and marketing, you will like the results. Require yourself to set aside some time on a regular basis and you will see your business become more profitable.

As a starting point, take a moment to reflect on your business’s strengths and weaknesses. What do you do well? What do you need to improve?

In fact, create lists of the business’s strengths and weaknesses from the perspectives of: 1) Your clients 2) Your staff 3) Your vendors 4) Yourself and your management team Now, what does the overall picture look like? Condense your findings into a brief summary, perhaps a couple of sentences long.

How does the overall picture align with the dream you have for your business?

What great achievements and qualities exist in the strengths section?

What opportunities exist in the weaknesses section?

Be thorough; list at least 10 achievements and 10 areas to work on. Don’t look at the weaknesses as a negative thing, but rather as opportunities for improvement.

Now you have a better picture of where you are. But where do you want to be? Articulate the vision that you have for your clients, your staff, your vendors and yourself.

Taking this a step farther, let’s create a unique vision statement for your business.

You will notice that every major company in the world has a vision or mission statement—a broad idea of what the company will achieve. It’s not about where the organization is now; it’s about what the organization will be, or aspires to be. If your business doesn’t have a vision statement, it needs one. If it does, then this is a good opportunity to strengthen it or make sure it is aligned with the current dream you have for yourself and your company.

By creating a vision statement, you prepare yourself, your business and your staff for the success you are about to make yours.

A vision statement needs to: Describe aspirations and intent Be inspirational for your staff and customers

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Project a compelling story Paint a clear picture Use engaging and descriptive language Be realistic Align with your company’s values A vision statement—once created, agreed to and perfected—should remain consistent and unchanged for several years. And don’t forget: your employees, customers and joint ventures (companies you align yourself with; the most powerful marketing initiative on the planet is a joint venture) all need to believe in the company’s vision, too. A powerful vision statement that your employees can get excited about will motivate, inspire and build morale on the sales floor and in the office.

Take a look at these corporate vision statements so you can get a better understanding of what I’m talking about: Our vision is to be earth’s most customer centric company; to build a place where people can come to find and discover anything they might want to buy online.

(Amazon.com) Google’s mission is to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful. (Google) To develop a reliable wireless network that empowers people with the freedom to travel anywhere—across the hall or across the continent—and communicate effortlessly. (McCaw Cellular Communications) To be America’s best quick-service restaurant chain we will provide each guest great tasting, healthful, reasonably priced fish, seafood and chicken in a fast, friendly manner on every visit. (Long John Silver’s) Write a few sentences that describe the future state of your business. List those in order of priority.

Now, combine those sentences into a cohesive paragraph. Refine your statements so that they are broad and future-oriented, and use words that reflect your values, priorities and dreams, making sure the finished statement is smooth, clear and easy to understand. Make sure it is inspirational but realistic. Include your employees in the vision creation process, and ask them for feedback. Do they understand the vision? Do they support it? Does it inspire them?

Once you have created your vision statement, share it with the world. Your vision is something you have committed to; with it, you can let everyone know where your company is heading. It allows them to see where you want to go, and gives them the opportunity to help you get there. Let’s work to achieve your vision.

Robert Ritch is a successful entrepreneur and business consultant, and has helped many small businesses increase their profits by assisting them in planning the steps they need to take, and in identifying and reaching their target market. He facilitates a business roundtable discussion at Mayday Brewery on the third Thursday of each month at 5 p.m. All Middle Tennessee entrepreneurs are welcome to attend this casual event, Thursday, Aug. 20, where they can meet other small business owners and tap into one another’s experience and energy. Contact Robert at ceo@robertritch. com or visit robertritch.com.

Murfreesboro’s Music Through the Decades

BY GLORIA CHRISTY

The Chicken Band was known for their habit of eating fried chicken after their performance.

The Story of the Hoedown Bands

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ith his fiddle by his side, a wanderer pressed forward through the hills and woods, then onto the newly paved road to the city. The frustrated wayfarer muttered, “If I could just get to Nashville, things and life would get better.” Life on Paradise Ridge had kept him trapped in simple survival, but now he had made the decision to leave his lifestyle near the ravine on the limestone knob. Bringing his folk culture and old songs, he was focused on finding work. He would share his music, creating a better life in Nashville.

In 1925, an entertainer’s connection to the Opry in those early days meant a long drive by car, wagon or buggy to Nashville through the rugged countryside of the hills of Middle Tennessee. The trip meant leaving by car early Saturday, getting to Nashville before noon, unloading, tuning their instruments and performing on WSM 650 AM, followed by the long drive home in the wee hours of the morning. Although the connection was difficult, the early Opry was a pipeline to the rural folk culture that it claimed to celebrate. It was this connection and setting that thrived in those early days with artists like Dr. Humphrey Bate from Gallatin, Sid Harkreader and Jack Jackson from Lebanon, Kirk and Sam McGee from Franklin, Uncle Jimmy Thompson from LaGuardo, and our own Uncle Dave Macon from Murfreesboro.

Radio had come to Nashville rather late in the game.

By 1925, radio stations had already been broadcasting for three years from Memphis, Atlanta and Dallas. WSM went on the air on Oct. 5, 1925. On Nov. 28 of that same year, the Opry (initially called the WSM Barn Dance) was born with the airing of a fiddle performance by Uncle Jimmy Thompson. It was not long after that the station dominated the market with other old-time musical performances.

The key factor was the development of the hoedown bands in the beginning of the Saturday night barn dance show. George D. Hay was the program director and the decision maker who started the barn dance.

The broadcasts of the Opry were steeped in the rural traditions of the South and the old-time tunes with which listeners were familiar. As WSM’s executives began to perceive the dimension and tastes of the audience, old-time music became the basis for the early success of the Opry.

Proving that the programming was on target, switchboards lit up and letters came pouring in from surrounding cities, all of which became the barometer indicating that their clientele preferred banjo and fiddle music—the old tunes that had been played and sung for years.

What exactly is a hoedown? Specifically originating from the Southern tradition, it is generally believed that the word is a literal derivative of putting a “hoe down.” We can well imagine the farmers putting away their spades, scythes and hoes at the end of every long working day, replacing their farming implements with musical instruments. A hoedown has come to represent American oldtime music coupled with buck dancing and clogging.

The hoedown bands on the Grand Ole Opry continued to be a tradition through the 1940s. They became window dressing for the Opry, forming, as Hay would put it, “the backbone, and it would lend a rural flavor to the entire Grand Ole Opry.” He was always careful to schedule the bands in regular intervals throughout the show just in case the other acts became “too uptown or too western.” As Hay would say, the classic old-time tunes played by the old hoedown bands like the Fruit Jar Drinkers, the Crook Brothers, the Gully Jumpers and the Possum Hunters, and Uncle Dave Macon would “get us back to earth the minute they plunk the first note.”

These tunes bring us an uninhibited, joyous expression that is contagious, smoothing over our fear and anxiety, filled with fun and frolic, healthy and healing to the soul.

A glimpse of this happened Saturday night at Uncle Dave Macon Days in 2015, when the entire, thousandsstrong crowd erupted in dancing and singing with The Hogslop String Band.

 Read the full Murfreesboro’s Music Through the Decades series at BOROPULSE.COM BOROPULSE.COM

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Sports Lion Lives Matter; Fantasy Football Time and Rowdy Ronda Rousey

T

he Train Daddy is back and will Uptown-Funk you up, destination Sexy Town. All aboard! As always, I bring sports knowledge, life lessons and politically incorrect talk to you, the loyal reader.

Most look at me as they look at Donald Trump; you never know what I am going to say. But agree or disagree, my words entertain you, the reader, and bring me much satisfaction as a writer. Not long ago I received an email from a reader who had nothing more to say than “The Train Daddy is nuttier than squirrel crap!” Hey, negative comments are part of the gig, even though I loved the squirrel crap comparison. But every negative comment brings me two positive comments.

Let me ask you a question. Is biggame hunting a sport? Well, I don’t much care for it, even though I am an avid supporter of hunting and the

SPORTS TALK

column by ZACH “Z-TRAIN” MAXFIELD

titanman1984yahoo.com NRA; a gift card from Bass Pro will make me squeal like a girl. I would never hunt game for sport. Seeing majestic lions, elephants, buffalo, leopards and rhinoceros killed for a trophy or entertainment pisses me off.

I think what tickles my pickle even more than that is America’s complete outrage over the death of Cecil the Lion. We live in a time in America where the death of a lion 8,300 miles away causes more outrage than sanctuary cities here in America or Planned Parenthood illegally selling human baby body parts. Don’t all lives matter? Democratic presidential candidate Martin O’Malley thought so, but then apologized for saying so.

Martin recently stated “Black lives

matter, white lives matter, all lives matter.” After stating the obvious truth at a conference of mostly black liberal activists, O’Malley was booed off stage, and later apologized. Some say he was downplaying the importance of the black lives matter movement by stating all lives matter. I say “all lives matter” with true conviction. I don’t know the ratio of nuts from crap when talking about squirrel turds, but this country is nuts sometimes.

So enough of all that mess, let’s talk fantasy. I am not talking about two women at once or a Game of Thrones novel, I am talking about fantasy football. The NFL season kicks off Sept. 10, when the Patriots will host the Steelers. Tom Brady, you shouldn’t have destroyed that phone, homie! Most fantasy drafts will take place a couple weeks prior to the kickoff of the NFL season. Some do their drafts online at a set time. The more intense fans will usually do a live draft at a location with a group of 10 or 12 players. It’s no easy thing getting 12 people together at a set time, but it is well worth the effort.

The Train Daddy Mafia league is entering its seventh straight year, a 12-team league with nearly all original members, something I cherish as the commissioner of the league (and a shout-out to Hunter Shank, last year’s Mafia champion).

Fantasy football is easy as long as you love football and study the game, just follow my rules. My No. 1 rule has always worked for me: for your first

two picks, always take two running backs, being a standard league. Some disagree with me, but the position is slim pickings always, and depth at running back is a must. Besides that, study top position charts and do at least three mock drafts online. Also make a list of 10 rookies at every position that you think will break out, and that alone will give you an advantage over the idiots in your league. Make sure you know which star players have switched teams during the past off-season period and what kind of system they will be thrown into.

Let’s wrap this thing up with some Ronda Rousey talk. The 28-yearold Californian and female fighter

Blue Raiders Fan Day Aug. 16 AREA FOOTBALL FANS CAN MEET the 2015 MTSU Blue Raiders and coaches at Middle Tennessee’s annual Football Fan Day on Aug. 16 from 2-4 p.m. on Faulkinberry Drive on campus near Alumni Memorial Gym. The location is where “Raider Town” will take place prior to each home game. Music will be provided by 94 FM the Fish at the Fan Day event, along with free hot dogs and drinks.

Two of the confirmed musical artists are We Are Messenger, a band on Warner Brothers/Word Records, and Middle Tennessee graduate Megan Swindler.

Players will sign autographs and kids can play in inflatables as the community gets ready for the 2015 football season.

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is unbeatable, she is sexy and she is, without a doubt, one of the most relevant characters in the sports world right now. She also does a little acting, starring in The Expendables, Entourage and one of the 100 Fast and Furious movies. Stars like LeBron James, Aaron Rodgers, Kobe Bryant, Sylvester Stallone and The Rock all wished her luck prior to knocking out Bethe Correia. The formerly undefeated Brazilian was defeated on her own turf in Rio de Janeiro recently, and it was bittersweet for Ronda. Correia was talking a lot of trash, slamming Ronda’s character and even her family. Correia stated she hoped Ronda wouldn’t commit suicide after she beat her, a low blow considering Ronda’s dad committed suicide. But Ronda got the last laugh, knocking the cocky beastlylooking woman out in 34 seconds.

Ronda’s last three fights, combined, equal only 64 seconds, all first-round knockouts. Rousey dedicated the fight to “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, the wrestling bad boy who passed away a day prior to the fight and from whom Ronda’s nickname originated. Rousey has stated she plans on retiring undefeated and she looks to be on track. She has defeated all of the Top 5 in her class, and unless some young pup comes along in beast mode, no one can stop her. I am glad to see such interest in women’s mixed martial arts. There just is no competition. Come on, ladies, I would like to see a Rousey fight go at least past the first round.

Look to the next issue for an all-Tennessee Titans breakdown, and lead us to the Promised Land, Marcus Mariota!

Show your Blue Raider pride and pick up 2015 football posters, schedule cards and more. Fans will also be able to purchase 2015 Blue-out shirts.

The Blue Raider ticket office will be onsite for fans to purchase season tickets and the Blue Raider Athletic Association will also be set up to answer questions and sign up new members. Textbook Brokers will sell Blue Raider gear, and several other sponsors will be set up along Faulkinberry Drive.

The women’s soccer and volleyball teams will also be in attendance for autographs and to engage with the Blue Raider fan base. Following Fan Day, everyone is encouraged to go over to the Dean A. Hayes Track and Soccer Stadium for the soccer program’s Blue-White game.

Make plans now to bring the entire family and be a part of this great event as the Blue Raiders embark on their third year in Conference USA.

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