December 2013 Murfreesboro Pulse

MURFREESBORO

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

ONLINE AT: BOROPULSE.COM

Christmas Tree Lighting, Parades, Frosty Fun Run page 5

Christmas Tree Lighting, COMMUNITY EVENTS

Bee Gee’s Barry Gibb visits MTSU page 18

Bee Gee’s Barry MUSIC

2013HOLIDAY

SHOP LOCAL GIFT GUIDE& Giveaway!

page 14

Vol. 8, Issue 12December 2013

FREEGift for you!

LaPALABRA

The true story of St. Nicholaspage 28

C H E C K O U T E V E R Y T H I N G O L D C H I C AG O H A S T O O F F E R !

GAMEDAY SPECIALS Stop in and catch all the college and pro games!

$2.50 Miller Lite Pints and $3.25 Blue Moon and Leinenkugel Pints on Gamedays.

MONDAY RO-SHAM-BO TOURNAMNET Compete every Monday night in our Ro-Sham-Bo tournament for a chance to win weekly prizes,

and a Grand Prize of a 50” TV and a Home Theater System.Specials on select 10oz. drafts all day Monday’s for $1.75

TUESDAY NIGHT TRIVIATwo mind-bending sessions every Tuesday starting at 9pm. Compete to win great OC Gift Cards and Free Pizza,

and enjoy $2.50 Blue Raider and Traditional Long Island Iced Tea while you play!

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT!Join us every Wednesday Night for live music starting at 9:30pm.

Featuring select World Beer Tour Wednesday Pints at $2.49.

MURFREESBORO 1835 Old Fort Parkway • 615.225.3200

www.oldchicago.com

2 * DECEMBER 2013 * BOROPULSE.COM

BOROPULSE.COM * DECEMBER 2013 * 3

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WELL WELL, ANOTHER YEAR is almost in the books. Good job on your new year's resolutions! I trust you remembered them all. Renew them in 2014 if need be.

May your tree be stocked with nuts for the cold months ahead, and your team hold on to the pigskin.

Do something nice for someone, not just around the holidays, but all of the time. It seems around Christmas a lot of folks will do-nate to the bucket by the bell ringer, volunteer to help those in need, drop off a toy for Toys for Tots or otherwise help out some area children, and that's great! Please give how you feel led.

Keep that spirit all through the year, though. Don't let a token deed of generosity in the winter suffi ce for all year. Volunteer in April. I'll remind you then.

Here is your latest Pulse edition, all wrapped up in a neat little package for you. (But where’s the bow?!)

We got your Frosty Fun Run, got your Beth-lehem Marketplace; read about the Blue Raid-ers and area art exhibits. A Bee Gee came to the ’Boro, Read to Succeed has unveiled the latest One Book selection and a new Call of Duty is out. Find hope in the story of the Christmas truce of 99 years ago, or the Bible, then take in some St. Nicholas, consumerism-resistance, Celebrate Recovery and global warming information.

Win stuff!!Check out the gift guide right in the middle

of this here publication, and there’s a chance to score a guitar, a killer shaving set, clothing, oddities and endities, MTSU gear, toys, collect-ibles and much more from our loyal sponsors (you know, the awesome group of area busi-nesses responsible for the Pulse continuing to roll off the press). Gifts for you!

Make your gift exchanges about joy and giv-ing, not greed and consumerism.

I believe respect for others would solve most of the problems in the world. Just think of the Golden Rule, think of the other individual, not just yourself, and your words, actions and work will have a positive impact. Respect all of your fellow humans, animals and nature. Each person and sunrise is a miracle!

Do what your’re good at and passionate about, create something wonderful, and then let the Pulse know about it. We will try and share it with our audience. There's more to the Pulsethan dead trees and soy-based ink. It's ideas and fun and community!

Anyone want to start the Murfreesboro Informal Athletic Association? We'll play some football, volleyball, go on some runs, organize some friendlies (recreational soccer matches). Let's do it. [email protected].

Well, I've rambled on enough. Ya'll ramble on now.

Peace,Bracken Mayo Editor in Chief

DEAR READERS:

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

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To carry The Pulse at your business, or submit letters, stories and photography: [email protected] North Walnut St., Murfreesboro, TN 37130(615) 796-6248

CONTENTSEVENTS

5Community CalendarSanta at the Courthouse; Parade; Bethlehem

Marketplace; Frosty Fun Run and lots more.

LIVING

8The Christmas TruceFind hope in the trenches of wartime 1914.

REVIEWS

0MoviesThor: The Dark World; Delivery Man.Living Room CinemaDIY Punk: Death and The Minutemen.

qVideo GameThe latest in the Call of Duty franchise, Ghosts.

wRead to Succeed’s One BookThe Last Policeman.Sinister SplashplayBook released by local poet David S. Pointer.

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTIONe

The Reason for the Season Read the Christmas story from Luke 2.

r2013 Holiday Shop Local

Gift Guide & Giveaway!Unique local Christmas gift ideas,

plus the chance to win them all!

SOUNDS

iAll Gibb, No GlibMTSU hosts Bee Gee Barry Gibb

for performance, honorary presentation.

a CONCERT LISTINGS

sAlbum Reviews

Danny Wildcard, Aye Mammoth.

dKaraoke, Trivia and Theater Listings

Find a trivia or karaoke night for fun with friends.

SPORTS

fSports Talk with Z-TrainThe Titans season is finished.

MTSU Awaits Bowl Selection Men’s basketball team puts Murphy Center

win streak to the test.

OPINIONS

hLiving Green

Give wisely this year.

jPhil Valentine

It’s the sun, stupid!

kLa PalabraDon’t Elf with St. Nick.

lRecover RutherfordThe Holidays: A Relapse Trigger.

ART

;Exhibits“Between the Light and Me” at the

Center for the Arts; "Blended" showcases MTSU ceramics students’ work.

Publisher/Editor in Chief: Bracken Mayo

Art Director: Sarah L. Mayo

Advertising Rep: Don Clark

Copy Editor: Steve Morley

Music Editor: Jessica Pace

Contributing Writers: Gloria Christy, Ryan Egly, Nader Hobballah, Tony Lehew, Zach Maxfield, Jessica Pace, Cameron Parrish, Jay Spight, Andrea Stockard, Justin Stokes, Norbert Thiemann, Phil Valentine

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13Sign up to receive our weekly digital newsletter at BoroPulse.com/Newsletter

2013HOLIDAY

SHOP LOCAL GIFT GUIDE& Giveaway!& Giveaway!

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EVENTSSend event information to [email protected]

THROUGHOUT DEC.CHRISTMAS IN DOWNTOWN MURFREESBOROSanta arrives to light the official Rutherford County Christmas Tree at Main Street’s annual Celebrate Christmas Downtown festivities Friday, Dec. 6, with music begin-ning on the east side of the Courthouse at 5:30 p.m. Enjoy music by Homer Pittard Campus School Choir, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Choir, Dance Theatre of Tennes-see, Bradley School of the Arts, Cason Lane Academy and The Dancers’ School. Each weekend before Christmas, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be in the historic Ruth-erford County Courthouse on Friday nights from 6–8 p.m. and on Saturdays from Noon–4 p.m. Professional photography by Shacklett’s Photography will be available at the Courthouse on Friday, Dec. 13 and 20. Main Street will provide free horse-drawn carriage rides on Dec. 6, 13 & 20 from 5:30–8:30 p.m. For more information, visit downtownmurfreesboro.com or call (615) 895-1887.

DEC. 9-13SPONSOR A SPECIAL KIDS FAMILY FOR CHRISTMASLocal nonprofit Special Kids invites you to help sponsor those in need this holiday season as part of its annual Cornelius Christmas program. Sponsors range from individuals and families to employee groups and Sunday school classes who join hands to provide for an individual family. Dona-tions can include coats, shoes, blankets and household goods such as paper products, cleaning supplies and gift cards for gas, groceries, and prescriptions. Volunteers are also needed to help collect and distribute the gifts during the week of Dec. 9-13. Sign up at specialkidstn.com/sign-up-form or by contacting [email protected] or (615) 893-4892. Volunteers can also contact Special Kids at (615) 893-4892 or [email protected].

THROUGH DEC. 14CHRISTMAS TREE AUCTION TO BENEFIT UNITED WAYReeves-Sain Drug Store (1801 Memorial Blvd.,), BombShells Hair Studio and Spa (803 N. Thompson Ln.) and Hylabrook Antique Mall (204 Chaffin Pl.) will auction off decorated Christmas trees to benefit United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties. Each location will decorate the

tree and provide items to go along with the tree for the auction. Bids can be placed visiting the three locations up until Dec. 14. For more information, call United Way at (615) 893-7303.

THROUGH DEC. 21OPERATION: ADOPT A HERO This Christmas Day, Reveille Joe (113 N. Maple St.) will spend the day at the Tennessee State Veterans Home (345 Compton Rd.). Pick up a “boot” with a vet’s name on it, as well as a Christmas stocking that can be filled with a hand-written note, drawing or card showing gratitude, up to $20 in goodies, a gift card or a stocking decoration. Return the stockings no later than Dec. 21 at 8 p.m. to be presented on Christmas Day. For more information, call (615) 849-1222.

DEC. 5GRIEF SEMINARThe holiday season can be a very difficult time if you’ve lost a loved one. Alive Hos-pice’s Grief During the Holidays Seminar helps deal with grief through tips and strat-egies from professional grief counselors at First Presbyterian Church (210 N. Spring St.). Reservations are required. RSVP at alivegriefsupportservices.eventbrite.com or by calling (615) 346-8680. For more information, visit AliveHospice.org.

DEC. 5–7, 12-14CHRISTMAS AT CANNONSBURGHCelebrate the Christmas season by taking a leisurely hayride through Cannonsburgh Village (312 S. Front St.) and enjoy a Christmas display consisting of over 21,000 lights. All participants will receive a complimentary cup of apple cider. Admis-sion is $2 per person (2 and under free)

from 6–9 p.m. Dec. 5-7 and 12–14. For more information, call (615) 890-0355.

DEC. 7TOY SHOWVendors will display a variety of toys and collectibles for sale at a show at the Smyrna Rescue Building on Saturday, Dec. 7 from 8 a.m.–2 p.m. Exhibitor tables are $10. The Rescue Squad Building is located at 203 S. Front St., Smyrna. For more information, call (615) 355-5422.

DEC. 730TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CANDLELIGHT TOUR OF HOMESProceeds from the Candlelight Tour of Homes benefit the care and preservation of the historic Oaklands House Museum while featuring beautiful and historic private homes, a distinctive church, historic school-house and more in the East Main St. area. Admission is $10 per person 21 years and older, $8 for students, $5 for ages 6–12, and free for ages 5 and under. Enjoy Julia’s HomeStyle Bakery Food Truck with hot holiday beverages and seasonal pastries. For more information, call (615) 893-0022 or visit oaklandsmuseum.org.

DEC. 7LA VERGNE PARADE AND TREE LIGHTING CEREMONYThe night time La Vergne Christmas parade will travel down Murfreesboro Rd. and end at City Hall. Following the parade, the official tree lighting ceremony will take place at Veterans Memorial Park (115 Floyd Mayfield Dr., La Vergne). Admission is free. For more information, call (615) 793-3224, or visit lavergnetn.gov.

DEC. 72013 HELP-PORTRAIT EVENT The Experience Community Church (521 Old Salem Rd.) holds The 2013 Help-Portrait Event, Murfreesboro, founded by celebrity photographer Jeremy Cowart to give back to communities through a group of photographers. To volunteer, visit taraspradley.com/help-portrait. If you need your photo taken, arrive between 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Hairstylists and make-up artists on site and will be offering free professional portraits to anyone who comes by, though the event is geared mainly for those who are in need. For any questions, call (901) 674-3239 or visit help-portrait.com.

DEC. 7IT WAS A CHRISTMAS OF REMEMBRANCE Step into 1863 as the Davis family mourns the loss Sam Davis at the Sam Davis Home and Museum (1399 Sam Davis Rd.). Visit the historic house and watch the Davis family prepare their home for a jolly Christ-mas. The youngest children play a special Christmas game, the string maze, while the older boys head outside to shoot mistletoe down from the tree limbs above. Admission is $5 per person. For more information, call (615) 459-2341 or visit samdavishome.org.

compiled by ANDREA STOCKARD

DEC. 7–8BETHLEHEM MARKETPLACE Take part in the re-enactment of the town of Bethlehem. Witness biblical-period sights such as Roman soldiers, live camels and other animals, tent-makers, weavers, carpenters and merchants in costumes at Southeast Baptist Church (708 Minerva Dr.) from 1–5 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, call (615) 896-0940 or visit sebaptist.org.

DEC. 7–8OUTER LIMITS CHARITY TOURNAMENTSOuter Limits (810 N.W. Broad St., Suite 248) invites you to a series of charity tournaments benefiting Toys for Tots Dec. 7–8 beginning at 10 a.m. Entry into each of the events will be a new, boxed toy to be donated. Take part in games such as Pokemon Constructed (beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday), Magic: the Gathering (beginning at 5 p.m. Saturday) and Heroclix (beginning at 11 a.m. Sunday). Lots of prizes are up for grabs. For more information, visit outerlimitsboro.com or call (615) 867-4211.


DEC. 8MURFREESBORO CHRISTMAS PARADEHave a blast this year at the annual Murfreesboro Christmas Parade full of floats, candy, marching bands and more. The parade will start at East Main St. and Middle Tennessee Blvd. at 2 p.m. and end at West Main St. and Walnut St., For more information, call WGNS at (615) 893-5373 or visit wgnsradio.com.

DEC. 9-19VICTORIAN HOLIDAY TOURS FOR SCHOOL GROUPS Experience Victorian holiday customs through decorations and tales from the past as you tour the elegant Oaklands Mansion (900 N. Maney Ave.) including a video presentation, special tour of the mansion and historic ornament workshop (with ornaments to be taken home). This program is available for school and home-school groups. Reservations required. For more information, call (615) 893-0022 or visit oaklandsmuseum.org.

DEC. 13–14SPARKLE POP-UP SHOP The Center for the Arts is thrilled to an-nounce the first Sparkle Pop-Up Shop, a holiday shopping event and fundraiser. The Shop will feature the work of local

artists, designers and craftspeople as well as local edible goods. Work from local artists such as Ramsey Hall jewelry, Katie Vance knitlaces, Holler Design wood goods, tea from Positiffitea and more. A portion of all sales will directly benefit improvements to the gallery at the Center for the Arts. The Sparkle Pop-Up Shop will be open Friday and Saturday, Dec. 13–14, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. For more information, contact Meagan Hall at 615.904.2787 or at [email protected].

DEC. 14VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS BALL Feel elegant in your finest Victorian ball gown and black-tie suit as you dance

the evening away in Oaklands’ elegant Maney Hall (900 N. Maney Ave.). Res-ervations required. For more information, contact [email protected] or (615) 893-0022, or visit oaklands-museum.org.

DEC. 16SCIENCE AND SPIRTUALITY DISCUSSION GROUPAre you interested in exploring the rela-tionship between science and spiritual-ity? Science and Spirituality Discussion Group meets the third Monday of each month (Dec. 16) from 7–8:30 p.m. at Unity of Murfreesboro (130 Cannon St.). For more information, call (615) 907-6033.

DEC. 19SYMPHONY CONCERT: SOUNDS OF CHRISTMASGet in the Christmas spirit by joining the Murfreesboro Symphony and Chorus at First United Methodist Church (265 W. Thompson Ln.) for a stunning production of traditional fanfare that surrounds Christmas. For more information, call (615) 898-1862 or visit murfreesborosymphony.com.

DEC. 26 – JAN. 2151ST ANNIVERSARY PROGRAMSJoin rangers and volunteers at Stones River National Battlefield (1563 N. Thompson Ln.) for a variety of walks, talks, tours and living history demonstrations that will tell the story of one of the most signifi-cant battles of the Civil War, the Battle of Stones River. For more information, call (615) 893-9501 or visit nps.gov/stri.

DEC. 31COUNTDOWN TO NOON Join Discovery Center (502 S.E. Broad St.) for the biggest pajama party in Murfrees-boro. Enjoy fun activities as you countdown to noon in 12 time zones across the world from 10 a.m.–noon. Admission is $6 for ev-eryone 2 and up. For more information, call (615) 890-2300 or visit explorethedc.org.

DEC. 14FROSTY FUN RUNThe Stones River Country Club will host the 2013 Frosty Fun Run at 7 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 14, with 2-mile and 4.5-mile options. Run through the golf course, then enjoy post-race waffles and coffee provided by Waffle House, all to benefit Court Appointed Special Advocates. No timing system, just a fun run, with raffle items and prizes. Pre-registration fee is $25 with an unwrapped gift or $35 without a gift. For more information, call (615) 494-3141 or e-mail [email protected]. Online registration is available at at signmeup.com


With the holidays upon us, it’s fitting that we take the time to try and find some “reason for the season” in our lives. Something other

than that perfect Christmas present or the outright naked greed of Black Friday (the one day of the season I refuse to shop). For me, I found it in my niece this year. Last year, I put on a Santa suit and played Santa for her. Much to my dismay, this very bright child recognized me through the wild flowing beard, white hair and two pillows under my Santa suit. This sent the child into a tail-spin of Christmas confusion, as in, “Does Santa exist?”; “Why is Bubba (her nickname for me) dressed as Santa?”; and, “Why is he trying to fool me with it?” But, my younger sister is quick witted and, without missing a step, explained to her that I was in fact one of Santa’s elves and was filling in for the very busy Saint Nick. This explanation she was happy with, but it gave rise to many more questions. Since then, she has bombarded me with tons of questions about what it means to be, and how can she become, an elf? I explained that being an elf means giving more than it does receiving, that Christmas meant a lot more than just presents and that being an elf was a year-round job that required dedicating yourself to be a good girl. So, she has enthusiasti-cally embraced the spirit of elf-hood and pledged to help others and try to be good all year round. We’ll see how well that goes when she does not get to go swimming as much as she wants this summer.

This foray into all things elf-like has extended to include my girlfriend, Shannon, who has been dubbed an elf also. So we’ve had to corroborate our stories and describe to her just how we earned our elf shoes. We did so by regaling her with tales of Christmas niceties with which Shannon and I had both been involved over the years. It is my belief that the Christmas spirit

should stay intact for all of us as long as it possibly can, and child-hood is when the magic is stron-gest. Someday soon, my very bright niece will stop believing in Santa, but for now, the magic remains.

It is with the adult version of the Christmas spirit that I submit the following true story to you. During the Christmas season of 1914, most of Europe was at war. At this point, America was not totally involved in the conflict, so the following story is not widely known to most Americans. The British, French and their allies launched attack after attack but could not break through the German lines, nor could they outflank them. The Germans had

similar results with their attacks, so the war settled into a stalemate and the iconic trenches we associate with WWI were dug. For months, the war drug on, men butchering men over “No Man’s Land” in be-tween the trenches. Unimaginable suffering and sickness decimated both sides. No hope or human spirit could be found in such a place . . . or could it?

In the weeks leading up to Christ-mas of 1914, unofficial ceasefires took place all along the Western Front. This was done to collect the dead and wounded or for the mercy of allowing both sides to briefly leave the muddy trenches that had become their living cof-fins. On Christmas Eve, parties of German and British soldiers began to exchange seasonal greetings

and songs between their trenches; on occasion, the tension was reduced to the point that individu-als would walk across and talk to their opposite numbers, sometimes bearing gifts. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, many soldiers from both sides—as well as, to a lesser degree, from French units—independently ventured into No Man’s Land, where they mingled, exchanging food and souvenirs. As well as conducting joint burial ceremonies, several meetings ended in carol singing. Troops from both sides were also friendly enough to play games of football (soccer to us Americans) with one another. Though there was no official truce,

roughly 100,000 British and Ger-man troops were involved in unof-ficial cessations of fighting along the length of the Western Front. The truce started on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 1914, when German troops began decorating the area around their trenches in the region of Ypres, Belgium and particularly in Saint-Yves. A British captain, Bruce Bairnsfather, described the truce.

“The Germans began by placing candles on their trenches and on Christmas trees, then continued the celebration by singing Christmas carols. The British responded by singing carols of their own. The two sides continued by shouting Christmas greetings to each other. Soon thereafter, there were excur-sions across No Man’s Land, where small gifts were exchanged, such

LIVING

The Christmas Truce: A Tale of HopeBY TONY LEHEW


as food, tobacco and alcohol, and souvenirs such as buttons and hats. The artillery in the region fell silent. The truce also allowed a breathing spell where recently killed soldiers could be brought back behind their lines by burial parties. Joint services were held. The fraternization carried risks; some soldiers were shot by opposing forces. In many sectors, the truce lasted through Christmas night, but it continued until New Year’s Day in others.” (From wikipedia.org)

Captain Bairnsfather, who served throughout the war, later wrote: “I wouldn’t have missed that unique and weird Christmas Day for any-thing . . . I spotted a German officer, some sort of lieutenant I should think, and being a bit of a collector, I intimated to him that I had taken a fancy to some of his buttons . . . I brought out my wire clippers and, with a few deft snips, removed a couple of his buttons and put them in my pocket. I then gave him two of mine in exchange . . . The last I saw was one of my machine gun-ners, who was a bit of an amateur hairdresser in civil life, cutting the unnaturally long hair of a docile Ger-man, who was patiently kneeling on the ground whilst the automatic clip-

pers crept up the back of his neck.”Can you imagine that? In the midst

of war, sworn enemies that had spent the last year trying to kill each other and would soon be trying to kill each other again, were exchanging gifts and playing games. You could make the argument, and I would partially agree, that it is a good description of the insanity of war, more than a testa-ment to the human spirit. But what if someday the entire human race just said no to killing each other? No more trenches, no more killing in the name of a God or just murder in general. I think if that happened, it would begin in a foxhole or a trench. If 100,000 can do it in the middle of a world war, then there is hope that someday the entire human race can find a way to live in peace. That’s a future I’d like to see for my elf niece.

“But what if someday the entire human race just said no to killing each other? No more trenches, no more killing in the name of a God or just murder in general.”

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Punk-rock by its nature is a do-it-yourself endeavor. These bands were destined to play together

from childhood, and epitomized what could be done in a short time. Take the ride and bask in the spirit of raw and unpretentious rock ’n’ roll.

A Band Called Death(2013) is directed by Mark Christo-pher Covino and Jeff Howlett. It is the unlikely story of three brothers whose contribution to the origins of punk-rock went virtually unnoticed for decades. It is interesting to see their start-up story, and what caused it to fade away. Their rebirth is all the more miraculous.

We Jam Econo: The Story of the Minutemen(2005) is directed by Tim Irwin. Minimalists from the start, The Minutemen etched out their original-ity against the opposition of a forged genre. The rhythms and arrange-ments still keep their music fresh and relevant. The documentary is blessed with lots of great music and com-mentary.

DIY Punk

LIVING ROOM CINEMA column by NORBERT THIEMANN

facebook.com/livingroomcinema

David Wozniak (Vaughn) is a bumbling meat delivery man whose disappointments to his family, friends, and love of his life are only second to his own sense of self-worthlessness. Already swimming in debt to sharks, Wozniak fi nds out that his sperm donations from de-cades previous have resulted in him fathering 533 children, and a class-action lawsuit demand-ing to know his identity. Feeling lost, Wozniak starts to perform seemingly random acts of kind-ness to get to know the children

that he fathered, ignoring the advice of his attorney and friend and getting more attached than he hoped to be . . .

When I fi rst saw the trailer for this fi lm, I had zero hopes of this being a worthwhile view. And

in the spirit of being fair, this fi lm has a tremendous amount of fl aws. For starters, this is a malnourished concept that had a tremendous amount of oppor-tunity that simply wasn’t used. You could have had some of these

kids doing really funny Vaughn impressions, or simply share whatever exaggerated character-istics that would fi t the bill for a funny performance. This fi lm also had an opportunity to make several statements about the hu-man condition, including weigh-ing in on the “nature vs. nurture” debate, or actually explain why 142 of the 533 children Vaughn fathered might be entitled to know the identity of their father.

Despite the wobbly nature of this narrative and the fact that it really doesn’t get interesting until the second act of the fi lm, I actu-ally found myself enjoying it. At the very least, it’s worth a view if you happen to be bored and come across the fi lm on Netfl ix. You won’t be completely disappointed.

— JUSTIN STOKES

A CLASSICRATINGS: OUTSTANDING AVERAGE BELOW AVERAGE AVOID AT ALL COSTS DEAD

REVIEWS

Thor: The Dark World is the second headlining act for the eponymous hero-god, but fol-lows after the events of the Mar-vel Universe’s property conver-gence known as The Avengers, a.k.a. the Voltron of superhero movies. That The Avengers was such a rousing success speaks not only to its makers but also to the quality of its parts; the in-dividual franchises of The Hulk, Captain America, Thor, and Iron Man. And with Tony Stark’s last outing leaving a bitter taste in this publication’s mouth, Thor stands poised to overthrow ole shell-head as leader of the pack with The Dark World.

This movie fi nds Thor a reluc-tant Asgardian war hero (no lon-ger a showboating warrior man-child), an unstoppable force who has brought peace to the

nine realms, groomed to be king after his father, Odin (Anthony Hopkins), and wanting none of it. His post-battle reveries have turned to half-hearted good cheer masking a pensive long-ing for his one true love back on earth. Meanwhile, back on earth!, Jane Foster (Natalie Port-man) tries to resign herself to the idea that Thor isn’t coming back for her by going on a blind

date with Chris O’Dowd. Later, while exploring an abandoned building for strange quantum anomalies, Jane stumbles into a dark otherworld where she contracts a worlds-threatening Evil known as the Aether. This, in turn, awakens an ancient evil elf named Malekith (Doctor Who’s Christopher Eccleston) who is hell-bent on using the Aether to extinguish all light

among the nine realms.This hyper-typical comic book

plot is the framework for a breezy and exhilarating fantasy adven-ture, one whose thrills are evenly tempered with laughs, never taking itself too seriously or too lightly. Thor’s and Jane’s exploits are bolstered by a strong support-ing cast; comedic Kat Dennings, stoic Idris Elba, sinister Christo-pher Eccleston, pants-less Stellan Skarsgård, and the incorrigible scene-thief Tom Hiddleston as Thor’s brother/enemy, Loki. Director Alan Taylor comes off of directing a murderer’s row of acclaimed television shows (think HBO, AMC), a mostly auteur-less medium that encourages its directors to be both excellent and invisible, a perfect match for a movie in the ever-expanding Marvel series. These elements make for yet another fun, well done superhero romp. Hopefully Marvel can keep up its winning streak next year with James Gunn directing Guardians of the Galaxy, which looks to make the Marvel world a little weirder, based on the sneak peek during The Dark World’s end credits.

— JAY SPIGHT

THOR: THE DARK WORLD

Starring Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Hopkins,Natalie Portman, Christopher EcclestonDirected by Alan TaylorRated PG-13

DELIVERY MAN

Starring: Vince Vaughn, Chris Pratt, Cobie SmuldersDirected by: Ken ScottRated R

REVIEWSREVIEWSREVIEWSMOVIESREVIEWS


CALL OF DUTY GHOSTS

It is that time of year again. With November comes another Call of Duty, and with it, all the scorn, vitriol, and downright hate to-ward it. Call of Duty Ghosts will not change that. If you hated this series before, there is nothing here that is going to change that. If you like it, you will more than likely like this one, though some are disappointed.

At least for this reviewer, the most disappointing aspect of Ghosts is its cam-paign. The story goes that you are part of an elite squad known as the Ghosts who are fi ghting back against the Federation, an alliance of South American countries who have managed to signifi cantly weaken the U.S. and gain a strong foothold in the south. While the premise may seem ridiculous, my hopes were pinned on the writer, Stephen Gaghan, who did one of my favorite political thrillers, Syriana, and who had also won an Academy Award for Traffi c. Unfortunately those hopes were dashed. The story does not compel you to care. It is predictable; the people you meet and fi ght with are, for the most part, stoic. Even the voice acting is bland and lacks passion. Ironically, the non-human, Riley the dog, ends up being more engag-ing than the humans.

On the fl ip side, the set pieces continue to amaze, and some of the more creative levels of this franchise can be found here, from gun battles in space, battles under the sea, to very smooth tank battles, and even an engaging stealth sequence in a bog. Oh, and you get to sic the dog on soldiers!

Whereas the campaign falls short, the multiplayer portion is where Ghosts stands back up. A contextual lean element and a slide mechanism are clever gameplay elements that players will have to learn and master. New modes such as Cranked and Blitz bring some variety, and character customization where players can input their own personalities into the characters.

The fi nal and most unique addition to Ghosts has to be Extinction mode; you and up to three others must destroy alien hives while also holding off alien foes.

If you are looking for major shakeups to the Call of Duty formula, you won't fi nd it here. However, if you are looking for re-fi nement to the series in a slick package, Ghosts is the game for you.

— NADER HOBALLAH

4

VIDEO GAME REVIEW


READ TOSUCCEED

ONE BOOK SELECTION

“The Last Policeman” Chosen as This Year’s One Book SelectionIF YOU’RE ONLY GOING TO READ ONE BOOK THIS YEAR, Read To Succeed’s One Book of Rutherford County program suggests Ben H. Winters’ The Last Policeman. Written in the style of the detective crime novel, the story focuses on Detective Henry Palace, who, despite more than a few distractions around him, keeps moving steadily forward, doing his job, demanding justice in a world gone mad.

The Edgar Award-winning mystery novel opens with Palace called to the scene of an apparent suicide. He arrives at a local McDonald’s to fi nd a man who’s died of asphyxiation. He’s hanging by his own belt from the horizon-tal grab bar in a handicapped stall.

Everyone, from the offi cer who fi rst found the deceased to the assistant attorney general, believes it’s an open and shut case of suicide. Another “hanger,” they say. It’s happening all over as humankind faces a collective death sentence.

Winters’ book is pre-apocalyptic. An asteroid is hurtling toward Earth, set to strike in six months. Scien-tists agree it will be the end of the world. Around the globe, people are responding to the impending hit in various ways. Some leave their jobs and families to fulfi ll their own per-sonal bucket lists. Some can’t stand the stress and take their own lives. Some turn to God. Others enjoy more earthly pursuits.

Palace is one of the few who just keeps on going, doing his job, de-spite the pushback from those around him.

The One Book committee spent all summer reading possible book choices until the group fi nally agreed on The Last Policeman. The com-mittee based the choice on results of a survey in which local readers overwhelmingly said they would like to read a book that featured a male protagonist.

“After reviewing the feedback from a multitude of Rutherford County readers, many people indicated that they would love to have a mystery selected this year,” says One Book Committee Co-Chair Michelle Palmer. “After two previous selections with strong female characters, Henry Palace and The Last Policeman seemed an ideal fi t—an award-winning novel starring an honest, hard-working man just trying to do the right thing.”

Winter’s book also deals with some themes that should inspire conversation. After all, what would you do if you knew the world would end in six months?

In the coming months, the One Book committee will announce activities designed to get the discussion started. And the popular One Book Crossing, in which copies of the book are scattered throughout the com-munity for readers to pick up, take home and read before passing along to other readers, will get underway right after the holidays.

“We are very excited about year three of our Book Crossing,” Palmer says. “Stay tuned for more informa-tion on locations, contests and other details with this fun program.”

For One Book updates, check with readtosucceed.org or the Read to Succeed Facebook page. Readers are also asked to leave comments on the site after they’ve read the book to share their thoughts about the selection.

Sinister Splashplay David S. Pointer

In 2007, local poet and author of multiple chapbooks David S. Pointer entered a surgical technology program, which

undoubtedly added a distinct clinical touch to the works of Sinister Splashplay as well as some not necessarily subtle sexual and macabre tones that often hint at sadism.

Described as a “literary semi-post-apocalyptic steampunk

nightmare,” it’s absolutely true that the poems are sometimes nightmarish, sometimes seem-ingly set in a post-apocalyptic world—and they are also adven-turous, foreboding and erotic in their evocation with a musical quality in the syntax.

BOOK REVIEW by JESSICA PACE

3.53.5

The tongue enjoys the feel of describing the ghosts in “Air Trackers”: sometimes they/take a fl oatation bath/fi guring out how to/kill us all on the way/to bone dust mountain or the fate of some unfortunate character for which “Miss Splattitude” was named: she’ll end unzen an/elongated stain/under a hearse’s/heavy exhaust, or vapor tails fi shtailing fantas-tic in “All For Song.”

There are guitars, ships, embalming, diesel fuel, lights, dancing, pirates, planets, petroleum, napalm, Marie An-toinette one time and alcohol coloring in a futuristic, science fi ction world. For all the clini-cal speak and often celestial imagery, the language of Sinis-ter Splashplay is not academic, mechanical or remote, but very familiar, and very sensual. This steampunk motif is only

a vehicle and a setting that ac-centuates the slight but deeply humanistic glimmerings; the unearthly is likened to the earthly, and creates a sort of other-dimension normalcy—even in a sci-fi world, there are still parties, beer and bands.

Uncomfortable imagery is medical, visual and simultane-ously tangible—to ducts creat-ing bowel blisters like fat red bullets bleeding out on “Over-head Monitors”—and Pointer uses italics and boldface to depict color, tone and sound effects on “Anti-Reservation Research.” The poems evoke all the colors of anger, sex, fear and enjoyment, splashing and oozing in black, silver and red.

Overall, the collection comes off like a weird fetish-ist’s dream, and it tastes won-derful to read.

LUKE, CHAPTER 2: 8–148 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fi elds, keeping watch over their fl ock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For

there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will fi nd a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:14 “Glory to God in the highest,And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

The Pulse and the following sponsors wish you peace, love and joy this Christmas season.


GIFTS OF NOSTALGIAfrom DIGITAL PLANET

Every Christmas, new gadgets and technology are all the rage, but still there is nothing like that warm vintage sound of the needle hitting the record. Vinyl has been making a comeback in a big way in recent years; while MP3 sales have taken a big bite out of the CD market, vinyl sales have actually doubled, with many modern artists issuing new releases on vi-nyl alongside classic reissues. Digital Planet, located at 215 Robert Rose Dr., boasts a great selection of music, movies and games, but the new vinyl rack has been quite popular as of late.WIN a copy of the How the Grinch Stole Christmas soundtrack on vinyl from Digital Planet at BoroPulse.com/Win.

2013HOLIDAY

SHOP LOCAL GIFT GUIDE& Giveaway!

SUPPORT YOUR INDEPENDENT MERCHANTS, MURFREESBORO. Want to shop local this holiday season? Here are some suggestions for some gems around the Murfreesboro area, if you need a point in the right direction. Plus, win an item or gift certifi cate from each; if you win, keep it for yourself as a Christmas bonus, or give it to a loved one on your list. That’s what this section is all about: the joy of giving!

SWEET VINTAGE BIKESfrom SMOOPY’S VINTAGE BICYCLES

2602 E. Main St., has fun accessories for bicycles in ad-dition to some beautiful custom vintage bikes, and a bicycle repair shop. Whether you need a tire, seat or chain for a bike-lover’s stocking, or have an older bike in need of some love, Smoopy’s helps keeps Mur-freesboro’s wheels turning.WIN a $100 gift cer-tifi cate from Smoopy’s at boropulse.com/win.

CHRISTMAS TURKEYfrom KIRKENBURT’S

A nice bird should always be the main at-traction at Christmas dinner, and if you don’t want to purchase, store, thaw, prep and cook your own . . . Kirkenburt’s Smokehouse Grill offers ’em whole, either deep fried or hickory smoked. Just call 893-FOOD to place your order.WIN a turkey for your family’s holiday feast from Kirkenburt’s at boropulse.com/win.

A BLUE CHRISTMASfrom LIGHTNING’S LOCKER ROOM

Pay the offi cial MTSU store a visit to get your blue on, or for that perfect gift for that Blue Raider fan you know. Offering a great selection of MTSU-adorned shirts, hats, jackets, license plates, and a ton of other items, LLR is located at 910 Ridgely Rd.WIN a $50 gift card to Lightning’s Locker Room, plus tickets to a Blue Raider basket-ball game at boropulse.com/win.


THE GIFT OF GOOD GROOMINGfrom NEXGEN BARBERSHOP

Nexgen is where tradition meets the modern man, and the Old Fort Parkway shop perfectly blends time-tested barbershop tradition with modern style and technology to create a fashionable but genuine place for men to relax and get their hair and beards done. Nexgen is the place for men of all ages and styles to get that hair under control. In addition to the barbershop services, Nexgen also offers a small retail area with shaving supplies.WIN an ultimate shaving kit gift basket with razors, balms, creams, lotions, aftershave and more, PLUS a signature 9-step shave and haircut from Nexgen, for an opportunity to learn more about your new shaving supplies at boropulse.com/win.

AN ENCHANTED CHRISTMASfrom ENCHANTED PLANET

This colorful Lytle Street shop is the spot for tapestries, posters, artwork, clothing, even hammocks, unique and fun items of all sorts. Stop by and get something Enchanted for a loved one, or WIN a $40 gift card to spend at Enchanted Planet at boropulse.com/win.

THE GIFT OF MUSICfrom MURFREESBORO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

There are still three performances re-maining in the Murfreesboro Symphony Orchestra’s season— “Sounds of Christ-mas” on Dec. 19, “Wicked Divas” on March 6 and “The Magic of Elgar” on April 24. Attend the holiday concert this month, which includes carols, the “Suite From The Polar Express,” excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker Suite” and Alfred Reed’s “Russian Christmas Music,” or put some tickets to a future performance in someone’s stocking.WIN a pair of tickets to all 3 per-formances at boropulse.com/win.

GIFTS OF SMOKE AND MIRTHfrom LIQUID SMOKE / THE HUMIDORFor a great selection of tobaccos and beers, these neighboring shops on the historic Mur-freesboro Public Square have what you crave. Cigars, tobacco blends, pipes and acces-sories from the Humidor make great stocking stuffers, and the store next door has one of the best collections of beer in town; enjoy a few at Liquid Smoke, or take them to go.WIN a $50 gift card to Liquid Smoke / The Humidor at boropulse.com/win.

For a great selection of tobaccos and beers, these neighboring shops on the historic Mur-freesboro Public Square have what you crave.

sories from the Humidor make great stocking

WIN a $50 gift card to Liquid Smoke /

REVVING IT UPfrom BLUE THUNDER RACING COLLECTIBLES

Blue Thunder, located at 179-C N. Lowery St. in Smyrna, is a local business all about NASCAR. The shop has LOTS of both 1:24 and 1:64 scale modal diecasts, autographed memorabilia and more.WIN an American Muscle 1953 Corvette 1:18 scale diecast from Blue Thunder at boropulse.com/win.


A HOLIDAY BOUQUETfrom VALLEY GROWERS

Valley Growers, located on Tennes-see Boulevard near the Co-Op, is still growing, with live Christmas trees, wreaths and more this month. They always have a house full of beautiful red poinsettias around the holidays, so pick up a few and brighten some-one’s day with a fl ower.WIN Christmas poinsettias from Valley Growers Garden Center at boropulse.com/win.

STYLE THAT SPARKLESfrom PENNY’S CLOSET

This fabulous boutique at 1602 W. Northfi eld Blvd. in Georgetown Park is your shopping destination for ladies apparel, unique jewelry (including an excellent selection of crosses and spiritual-related piec-es), great comfy shoes and gifts that you won’t fi nd anywhere else in the ’Boro! It’s Murfreesboro’s source for Pandora, Brighton and many other great lines such as Johnny Was, Joseph Ribkoff, Hale Bob, NIC+ZOE, Sympli, Ayala Bar, Firefl y, Spartina 449 and more! Stop by Penny’s Closet as you shop local this season! You will be thrilled with Penny’s suggestions

for unique gifts and their special complimentary gift wrapping.WIN a $50 gift card from Penny’s Closet, visit boropulse.com/win.

TENNESSEE TRADITIONfrom SHORT MOUNTAIN DISTILLERY

They’re making moonshine the old fashioned way up on Short Mountain, and mak-ing quite a name for themselves as one of the few legal distilleries in Tennessee. Look for Short Mountain Moonshine in your favorite establishment, visit shortmoun-taindistillery.com for more info, or for a chance to WIN a new Short Mountain Distillery hoodie and hat at boropulse.com/win.

MUSICAL MERRY-MAKINGfrom THE MUSIC STOP

You know the musi-cian on your list needs guitar strings, picks, reeds, drumsticks, sheet music . . . what-

ever the instrument, the Music Stop has what you need. From guitars to tubas and lots more, stop in to this great local business, currently located on West Main Street just off of the Square, while you’re shopping this season.WIN a Jasmine by Takamine acoustic guitar from The Music Stop at boropulse.com/win.

SPORTS INDOORSfrom SAM’S SPORTS GRILL

Winter means football season is in prime time, with basketball and hockey just underway, and it’s cold. Plus, you know you don’t want to cook before the big game; so, since Sam’s Sports Grill, adjacent to Stones River Mall, has big screens all over the place, and a great selec-tion and quality of food and drink, stop in some time, catch a game or happy hour and leave the cooking up to them. An evening there could be a nice vacation for the sports and food fan.WIN $50 of Sam’s bucks at boropulse.com/win.

SPORTS INDOORS

season is in prime time,

to cook before the big game; so, since Sam’s

2013 HOLIDAY SHOP LOCAL GIFT GUIDE CONTINUED . . .


TOYS, TOYS, TOYS!from HOBBY TOWN USA

Hobby Town offers a wonderful variety of hobby supplies and toys, from model cars, paint and parts to rocket sets, kites and puzzles, games, Legos, toys and dolls at its Thompson Lane loca-tion. Unfortunately, the store will be shutting its doors for good after December 2013, but for the smart Christmas shopper that means incredible discounts throughout this, the store’s fi nal month.WIN a Calico Critters Milky Mouse Family set at boropulse.com/win.

A TRAIN FOR UNDER THE TREE & MORE!from THOR’S

Thor is a train man, and everyone should stop in his one-of-a-kind shop, 416 Medical Center Pkwy., and you may just leave with a beautiful model train to travel around your Christmas tree. In addition to Lionel and other fun train related products, Thor’s also fea-tures lots of locally made fur-niture—shelves, bookcases, porch rockers and more.WIN a porch rocker of your own, plus a beau-tiful set of Lionel tree ornaments from Thor’s at boropulse.com/win.

HIP FASHION, RECYCLEDfrom THE WALK IN CLOSET

Find great deals anytime on men’s and women’s clothing, boots, bags and more at the Walk In Closet on Broad Street. Just because the inventory is on consignment doesn’t mean it’s cheap quality; it simply means it’s a local business where you can fi nd great deals on fashionable, name-brand items for anyone on your list.WIN a $50 gift certifi -cate to Walk In Closet at boropulse.com/win.

BOROPULSE.COM

Find great deals anytime on men’s and women’s clothing, boots, bags and more at the Walk In Closet

because the inventory is on consignment doesn’t mean it’s cheap quality; it simply means it’s a local business where you can fi nd great deals on fashionable, name-brand items

WIN a $50 gift certifi -cate to Walk In Closet at

SOMETHING DIFFERENTfrom LIME TIGER EMPORIUM

Murfreesboro’s only curiosities shop, and vintage boutique, offers local art and sculpture, unusual antiques and col-lectables, vintage clothing for men and women, handmade jewelry, novelties and oddities. Family-owned and operated, they also offer custom portraits, illustrations, and gifts, specializing in the hard-to-shop-for. Lime Tiger is in the heart of downtown Murfreesboro at 619 N. Maple St.WIN a $25 gift certifi cate to Lime Tiger at boropulse.com/win.

THE MAGIC OF THE MOVIESfrom MALCO

A trip to the movies can be a magical escape in the winter, or any time of year. Malco’s Smyrna Cinema offers lots of fi rst-run movie fun, and a coffee bar, plus they offer gift cards for a holiday surprise for the movie lover.WIN a total of 10 movie passes to Malco Cinema at boropulse.com/win.

THE GIFT OF RELAXATIONfrom YOU KNEAD A MASSAGE

Tension can get the better of us sometimes. What better way to show someone you care than helping them rid their bodies of ten-sion, stress and discomfort? You Knead a Massage offers various types of massage, at reasonable rates and will even come out to you. Find out more about You Knead a Massage by calling (615) 967-8818, or WIN a 90-minute massage courtesy of You Knead a Massage at boropulse.com/win.

boropulse.com/win.

A TRAIN FOR UNDER THE TREE & MORE!from THOR’S

Thor is a train man, and everyone should stop in his one-of-a-kind shop, 416 Medical Center Pkwy., and you may just leave with a beautiful model train to travel around your Christmas tree. In addition to Lionel and other fun train related products, Thor’s also fea-tures lots of locally made fur-niture—shelves, bookcases, porch rockers and more.WIN a porch rocker of your own, plus a beau-tiful set of Lionel tree ornaments from Thor’s at boropulse.com/win.


It was Monday Night Fever.

On Monday, Oct. 28, students and staff at MTSU had the pleasure and privilege of hosting Barry Gibb, founding member of the Bee Gees and a songwriter and pro-ducer unparalleled in the overall breadth

and success of his 50-plus-year career. That evening, at MTSU’s Tucker Theatre, Gibb ac-cepted the Inaugural Fellowship of the Center for Popular Music from Dr. Dale Cockrell, director of the campus’ world-class research facility and archive, and Ken Paulson, Dean of MTSU’s College of Mass Communications.

The moment was met with a roaring ovation from a crowd of more than 900 (intimate, re-ally, by international pop-star standards).

Cockrell said that Paulson “is in-terested in gaining wider visibility and appreciation for the work of the Center for Popular Music. The idea [for the Fellowship honor] was his,” said Cockrell, “and it took me a nanosecond to see that this was a good idea.”

Now, thanks to MTSU and its world-class pop-music research center, Murfreesboro has a per-sonal friend in Barry Gibb. If that isn’t enough to make you want to leap from the Barcalounger and get down with some of the dapper disco moves immortalized by John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever, you may need to check your pulse.

The pulse rate of this writer was running higher than usual when he . . . that is, I (let’s drop the formalities, shall we?) . . . found out on Monday morning that Mr. Gibb was going to be appearing just down the road. Free. Imagine that. It also sped up a tad when I happened upon the pop legend being ushered toward the stage door entrance as I walked past, carrying an album I was wishfully hop-ing he might autograph. Oh, well. It was only a glimpse, but I noticed there seemed to be no airs, no aloof celebrity body language. It was an accurate impression, as I would soon fi nd out while listening to Gibb share music and talk openly with MTSU faculty member Beverly Keel about his life, his career and his

equally famed brothers. At one point, he spoke vulnerably about the Bee Gees’ outrageously huge success in the ’70s, when disco madness elevated and then devastated the trio’s career.

True confession: I was once a Bee Gees turncoat, a true-blue appreciator of their work who hitched a cheap ride on the Disco-Sucks bandwagon once Saturday Night Fever reached epidemic proportions and intolerant rockers like myself revolted en masse. I have since reevaluated my formerly thickheaded opinion (though I still faithfully avoid K.C. and the Sunshine Band whenever possible), and in fact defended Gibb and his once-maligned siblings in a recent feature story for SyndicatedNews.net, where you can read an in-depth account of Gibb’s MTSU appearance that serves as a brief overview of the Bee Gees’ career.

Here in the friendly neighbor-hood Pulse, though, I’ll seize the opportunity to publicly thank the very nice lady seated next to me, who noticed folks rushing the stage for autographs and urged me to run like the dickens to get my vintage LP signed as Gibb be-gan his exit (something I’d have probably waffl ed about doing had she not egged me onward before my super-ego could protest). There were more outstretched

arms along the front of the Tucker stage than the apologetic star could reasonably accommodate, but my original copy of the Bee Gees’ Odessa turned out to be the very last item he signed. Thanks much, Murfrees-boro-ma’am, for the push. I needed that.

Signed vinyl in hand, I walked back to my car quietly satisfi ed and thinking about my big brother, who in 1969 had hoofed it down to the local Woolworth’s to buy the now-collectible double-album with the red-fl ocked and gold-lettered jacket. I’ll bet it wasn’t more than fi ve bucks, if that much. I drove home (with Bee Gees’ 1st in the CD player), inspired to have witnessed the sincerity and accessibility of a true pop music giant and grateful that MTSU was a place where something like this could happen. Welcome to the ‘Boro, Barry Gibb.

ALL GIBB, NO GLIBA Bee Gee brings glee to Middle Tennessee.

story by STEVE MORLEY

SOUNDSReverb, short for reverberation, is a series of dense multiple refl ections of a sound created by multiple, blended and random repetitions of that sound. Think of a person singing in a room, maybe a bathroom. After the initial sound, their voice bounces around the room really quickly, creating ambiance. Reverb is an attempt to create this naturally occurring ambiance.

There are many types of reverb units. Some of the earliest forms were acoustic chamber reverbs, in many cases just a bathroom or stairwell with a separate mic catching refl ected sounds that were then mixed with the original dry signal. From analog to digital models, the choices are vast. Most studios now have a plethora of digital choices, but many larger studios still offer plate reverbs or chambers.

Reverb is an incredibly important effect that can add life to a track. How you use it is totally up to you. Reverb can be subtle or blatant, sound natural or add interesting fl avors to the mix through an exaggerated use of the effect. Using it effectively takes skill, experience and knowing the right techniques, but it is not a diffi cult effect to understand and use well.

Although most have a good idea what reverb is, some still stick to presets and shy away from programming their own vir-tual spaces. Only a little work is needed to learn the basics to achieve a truly bespoke sound through personalizing your reverbs.

Typical parameters of reverb units in-clude room type, such as hall, room, plate and possibly cathedral. The size controls the size of the room; hence the longer the reverb time, the larger the room simulated by the effect. Decay time is the time it takes the effect takes to return to “silence.” Pre-delay is the delay time between the sound and the effect. In natural situations, it takes time for the sound to reach a wall or surface and then return, so sometimes playing with this level can help create a natural-sounding reverb. Diffusion is the thickness or denseness of the reverb.

One of the most important controls on reverb units is the wet/dry mix. This controls how much of the original signal is returned with the effected sound. Wet refers to the effected sound and dry refers to the original uneffected sound.

Find this column on boropulse.com for some tips to try when working with reverb. In closing, working with reverb can add space and life to your recordings, making them more natural sounding or sending them deep into space. Until next time, ex-plore new ways to bust out of your ruts and you’ll often be pleasantly surprised.

The classic Odessa album: bought in 1969, signed in 2013

MTS

U P

HO

TO B

Y A

ND

Y H

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Barry Gibb is interviewd by Beverly Keel after being presented with the Inaugural Fellowship of the Center for Popular Music at MTSU

Reverb((( FIX YOUR MIX )))

BY JACOB SPAULDING


SOUNDS

THURS, 12/5BUNGANUT PIG

Dustin Martin & the Ramblers

JOZOARARik Gracia

NACHO’SIvan LaFever

ST. MARK’S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

MTSU Flute ChoirMTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

Flute Studio recital, Nadgir's studio student piano recital, Strings & Friends student chamber recital

FRI, 12/63 BROTHERS

Jason Clutter, Sugar Lime Blue, Hooteroll?, Shelby Lowe Band

BUNGANUT PIGFar Cry

FANATICSJohn Salaway

MAIN STREET LIVEHayStak, Jelly Roll

MAYDAY BREWERYYoungest Daughter

THE BOROThe Stoves

WALL STREETHaunted Device

SAT, 12/7BUNGANUT PIG

Fender BenderCHAIS MUSIC HALL

Midnight Special BandFANATICS

Ivan LaFeverJOZOARA

Penny Rae & Friends Christmas Show

MAYDAY BREWERYJosephine & the Wildfront

READYVILLE MILLJohnny B & the Balladeers

THE BOROSovereign, Soursol

WALL STREETAye Mammoth, Now the Never,

Battle Path, A Secret Policeman's Ball

MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

Jamila McWhirter, voice; Joseph Walker, piano; faculty recital

TUES, 12/10BUNGANUT PIG

SabrinaTHE BORO

Specter

WED, 12/113 BROTHERS

Ryan Coleman’s Writers Night

BUNGANUT PIGAdrianna Freeman Band

THE BOROCulture Cringe Xmas Party

MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

Silver Sounds of Christmas, MTSU Flute Choir


John D'AmatoJOZOARA

Rik GraciaNACHO’S

Ivan LaFever

FRI, 12/13BUNGANUT PIG

Casual ExchangeFANATICS

Markey Blues BandJOZOARA

Cason Lane Academy Chorus

MAYDAY BREWERYAnthony Adams & the Nite Owls

NACHO’SRonnie McDowell

THE BORORajhi Gahler

SAT, 12/14READYVILLE MILL

Johnny B & the Balladeers

BUNGANUT PIGZone Status

CHAIS MUSIC HALLLeroy Wells, Joe Peters

CUMBERLAND CAVERNS

Tom Mason & the Blue Buccaneers

FANATICSMichael Vance

JOZOARARoot Road

MAYDAY BREWERYAn Abstract Theory

THE BOROArmed Ideas, Redline


CJ Vaughn Trio

WED, 12/183 BROTHERS


BUNGANUT PIGAdrianna Freeman Band


CharleyhorseFIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Murfreesboro Symphony Orchestra

JOZOARARik Gracia


FRI, 12/20BUNGANUT PIG

Mojo MedicineCHAIS MUSIC HALL

Annie SellickFANATICS

Zone StatusMAYDAY BREWERY

cKenzi

SAT, 12/21BUNGANUT PIG

JunkboxJOZOARA

Battle & Rest, Mileah Milstead, Tanner Hills

MAIN STREET LIVEThe Corbitt Brothers, El Dorado Special

MAYDAY BREWERYStatic Revival, Sherbert

READYVILLE MILLJohnny B & the Balladeers


Scattered PiecesJOZOARA

Rik Gracia


FRI. 12/27BUNGANUT PIG

Vicki Reid BandFANATICS

Miranda Louise

SAT, 12/28READYVILLE MILL

Johnny B & the Balladeers

BUNGANUT PIGDennis & the Menace

FANATICSJohnny Gowwow

MAYDAY BREWERYWabash Revival


Phoenix RisingCHAIS MUSIC HALL

Midnight Special BandTHE BORO

MantraMantraMantra, Boyfriend, Creature Comfort, Subnovas, Crayons & Antidotes

WED, 1/13 BROTHERS


View Concert Listings Online:

Send your show listings to [email protected] CONCERTS

IF YOU GO:3 Brothers114 N. Church St.410-3096

Bunganut Pig1602 W. Northfield Blvd.893-7860

Chais Music Hall101 Spring St., Wartrace(931) 389-7050

Cumberland Caverns1437 Cumberland Caverns Road, McMinnville (931) 668-4396

Fanatics 1850 Old Fort Pkwy.494-3995

First United Methodist Church265 W. Thompson Ln.898-1862

Hippie Hill8627 Burks Hollow Rd.(615) 796-3697

Ignite810 NW Broad St. 962-8352

JoZoara536 N. Thompson Ln.962-7175

Liquid Smoke#2 Public Square217-7822

Main St. Live527 W. Main St.439-6135

Mayday Brewery521 Old Salem Hwy.479-9722

MTSU Wright Music Building1439 Faulkinberry Dr.898-2469

Nacho's2962 S. Rutherford Blvd. 907-2700

Readyville Mill5418 Murfreesboro Rd. Readyville563-MILL

Rooster's Lonestar BBQ223 W. Main St.867-1836

St. Mark's United Methodist Church1267 N Rutherford Blvd. 893-3455

The Boro Bar & Grill1211 Greenland Dr.895-4800

The Pour House2404 Halls Hill Pike 603-7978

Wall Street121 N. Maple St. 867-9090

Willie’s Wet Spot1208 S. Lowry St., Smyrna 355-0010

TACKY SWEATER/CAMO CHRISTMAS PARTYSAT., DEC. 21 @ MAIN STREET LIVE

Don your tacky and camouflaging apparel; snowflake sweaters and camo pants are appropriate tonight at Main Street Live for the second annual Tacky Sweater and Camo Christmas party, hosted by The Corbitt Brothers and El Dorado Special. A success at Wall Street last year, it’s moved to Main Street Live this year.

TOM MASON & THE BLUE BUCANEERS SAT. DEC. 14 @ BLUEGRASS UNDERGROUND, CUMBERLAND CAVERNS

There’s nothing like a Christmas cave show, and this afternoon Tom Mason & the Blue Buccaneers, whose instrumentalists have toured or recorded with every-one from John Prine to Bobby Keys, will be playing Cumberland Caverns, pulling from their new release A Pirates Christmas as well as A Slide Guitar Christmas.

PULSE PICK

PULSE PICK


Danny Wildcard, formerly the front man for the “ship-hop/alt-country/punk” hybrid The Wildcard Family Revival, which also featured Johnny Food-stamp, a Rubik’s Cube and Agnus Headrush Sr., start-ed playing solo and released some infl uentially similar but barer tracks on this year’s full-length, Structure, a title somewhat contradictory given Wildcard’s ten-dency to play around with musical forms. It becomes more and more obvious that the record is, for all in-tents and purposes, a punk record in its demeanor, its carelessness, its humor, its lyrics and its abrasiveness; just imagine the acoustic instrumentation replaced with electric guitar on Structure’s 12 tracks and speed them up, and it’s easier to see.

Wildcard’s vocals are scratch-ing, raw, a little bit strangled and sometimes pubescent-sounding, and cracking, which all works out for Structure and pairs appropri-ately with his acoustic strum-ming. The banjo is resonant, tart and has a distinct metallic taste, and that’s a constant throughout an album that toys with musical genres that cross eras and occasional continental boundar-ies. “Changin’ Winds,” the opener, starts off in basic slipshod folk format but gives way to setting some varied musical moods, like on “Devil’s Playground,” which, though it’s contradictory to say, has an or-ganic, backwoods techno vibe to it.

The bareness, the distant sound of Wildcard’s vocals and the overall under-produced sound of “Ev-erything Crumbles” manifests the spirit of early ’50s rock ’n’ roll. “Gift of Gab” bears the rhythm of a folk dance, and tunes like “Low Little Lady,” which chastises a loose woman, and “Shake Shake” bring to mind Colonel J.D. Wilkes’ swampy and forebod-ing musical landscapes, stomping rhythms and vocal snarling. Structure certainly has some because the tracks are all rooted in a jangly, ramshackle folk style, but the record still has some aural surprises.

DANNY WILDCARDStructure

Aye Mammoth’s eponymous release from last May is the epitome of late ’70 rock, mirroring their infl u-ences so closely that the songs are almost campy and take on the feel of parody in the sense that I can too easily picture David St. Hubbins putting his own lyrics to the backdrop of this record’s shredding guitar and rumbling bass, but I guess what’s the problem with that? Black Sabbath, Motorhead and Iron Maiden, to name a few on the top rung, are at the head of this musical family tree of infl uence with a few future generations like Queens of the Stone Age mixed in, and those bands run prominently

through Aye Mammoth’s veins. So if that fl oats your boat, it’s doubtful you won’t like their debut album.

From this endeavor in hard rock come heavy riffs from Micah Loyed and an ominous pounding of drums from Phil Stem along with Brian Wil-liams’ (who needs to grow a

Derek Smalls mustache) bass lines, which send a thick and foreboding current jolting through the 10 tracks. Their impetus, force, energy and enthusiasm resound as convincingly as Aye Mammoth’s prede-cessors, topped off with Loyed’s prestigious deadpan that echoes zombie-like through the record.

There’s little to say other than that these songs are odes to the infl uencers of its creators. Aye Mammoth is solid. It’s rough. It’s grating. It’s easily summarized by its song titles, which range from “Thunderbolt” and “Wolf of the Iron Wood” to “Awaken Giants” and “Rattle Your Bones.” Aye Mammoth is all those things and old school in their execution, which doesn’t really-fail unless the instrumentalists can’t play—and they can.

Aye Mammoth perform frequently in the 'Boro, and their upcoming shows can be found on their Facebook page, along with a collection of live vid-eos that can be viewed on their offi cial website.

AYE MAMMOTHAye Mammoth

A CLASSICRATINGS: OUTSTANDING

AVERAGE BELOW AVERAGE AVOID AT ALL COSTS DEAD

Bands: Send your albums and promotional materials to

The Murfreesboro Pulse, 116-E North Walnut St., Murfreesboro, TN 37130.

We’re working hard to promote good music in Middle Tennessee.

by JESSICA PACEALBUM REVIEWS

3.53.5 3


DECEMBER THEATER THE HOMECOMING7 p.m. Dec. 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21; 2 p.m. Dec. 8, 15 and 22Murfreesboro Little Theatre702 Ewing Blvd.mltarts.com

CHRISTMAS MY WAY: A SINATRA HOLIDAY BASH6:30 p.m. Dec. 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21; 1 p.m. Dec. 8 and 15The Arts Center of Cannon County1424 John Bragg Hwy.artscenterofcc.com

A TUNA CHRISTMAS7:30 p.m. Dec. 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21; 2 p.m. Dec. 8, 15 and 22Murfreesboro Center for the Arts110 W. College St.boroarts.org

THE BEST CHRIST-MAS PAGEANT EVER7:30 p.m. Dec. 6, 7, 12–14; 3:30 p.m. Dec. 8 and 15Springhouse Theatre14119 Old Nashville Hwy, Smyrnaspringhousetheatre.com

KARAOKE AND TRIVIA NIGHTSMONDAYS

Brew ULive Trivia 7 p.m.

Bunganut PigLive Trivia 7 p.m.

The Pour HouseDJ 7–11 p.m.

TUESDAYS

IgniteKaraoke 8 p.m.–12 a.m.

3 BrothersLive Trivia 7 p.m.

Old ChicagoLive Trivia 9 p.m.

Coconut Bay CaféLive Trivia 7:30 p.m.


WEDNESDAYS

Campus PubKaraoke 10 p.m.–2:30 a.m.

Mellow MushroomTrivia 8 p.m.

Nobody’sLive Trivia 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

Sam’sLive Trivia 8 p.m.

THURSDAYSNobody’sKaraoke 9:15 p.m.–12:30 a.m.

The Pour HouseKaraoke 9 p.m.–1 a.m.

Campus PubLive Trivia 8:15 p.m.

Wall StreetLive Trivia 8 p.m.

FRIDAYSNobody’sKaraoke 9:15 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

MT BottleKaraoke 9 p.m.–3 a.m.

Brew UKaraoke 7 p.m.–10 p.m.

SATURDAYS

Nobody’sKaraoke 9:15 p.m.–12:30 a.m.

Campus PubKaraoke 10 p.m.–2:30 a.m.

SUNDAYS

O’PossumsLive Trivia 8 p.m.

Wall StreetTeam bingo 5–7 p.m.


To be included in the listings, or for infor-mation on setting up your own Karaoke night, contact [email protected]

39 Steps


SPORTSTHE TITANS ARE FINSHED

CHRISTMAS IS JUST AROUND THE CORNERand the Titans can suck my eggnog. For anyone who knows me, reads me, disputes me, or is just entertained by my writing, well, you know my heart lies with the sport of football; I love it, study it and respect it. I have spoken of the fi ner things in life in my articles and sim-ply defi ne them as the 5 F’s, in this order: Faith, Family, Football, Food and Friends. With the Christmas holiday just around the corner, it is the time of year that the 5 F’s, well, they are alive and well in my home.

So, last month’s issue and story on predicting the Titans’ remaining season was a bust. Hey, I’m not perfect. The Titans gave the Jacksonville Jags their fi rst victory of the season—the Jags’ fi rst victory since Nov. 25 of last season, when their opponent was also the Titans. “Come on, man!”

The Titans also managed to go 0-2 versus the Colts this season, and with a new owner and disgruntled fans, the future looks bleak for the Titans’ current staff. That’s enough Titans talk for now; let’s talk about something a little more positive, like Coach Stockstill and the MTSU football squad. The Blue Raiders fi nished the month of November with a per-fect record, and on Senior Night fi nished their season with a 8-4 record for the second year in a row, bowl-eligible for the third time in the past four years.

I love seeing MTSU moving in the right direction, they have a coach who turned down more money, and decided to stay in the ‘Boro, and players and fans who believe in his system. What will it take to make Mur-freesboro MTSU football-crazy? We have the stadium, the alumni, a large student body and plenty of history. I am very happy for the program, but I have attended some games with a lot of empty seats. This season was a step in the right direction, but I want to see growth every year; I want to see Murfreesboro crazy for MTSU football! I know I am far from a marketing genius, but imagine Murfreesboro being Saturday-crazy, MTSU apparel fl ying off the shelves, and fans who don’t take no crap. Freedom! That’s all I have to say about that; now, let’s make fun of some Alabama fans who still have sore butts.

I love SEC football, I love the fact that no one can argue its power, no one can argue its talent, and it is just a fact that it is the toughest conference in college football. Alabama has been riding its high horse for way too long, and fi nally someone has shot and killed that horse: the Auburn Tigers. On a 109-yard fi eld goal return, a two-time defending national champion had its three-peat hopes destroyed, on a play we rarely see. Auburn will play Missouri in the SEC championship game, and that should be a reminder to ‘Bama fans, greatness doesn’t last forever.

Alabama lost a heartbreaker that should have gone

into overtime, and that loss is on the shoulders of Nick Saban. I respect what Alabama has done over the years, but someone always slays the giant, and I am rooting for the demise of this program, at least for a few years! Maybe it makes me feel better making fun of Alabama blowing such a big game, because I remind myself of how many jabs I have taken from ‘Bama fans over the years. Being a true Volunteer fan, I have every right to smile; it’s a rivalry from way back, and Tennessee has been, well, not good.

Let the best teams play for a national title, that’s all I ask for! The SEC champion vs. Florida State, that’s the game that fans deserve. It would be a dandy!

So why do the Titans suck right now? A word that has been fl oating around the Titans locker room is fi nish; well, it is sad for me to say, but the Titans are fi nished. Jake “the Snake” Locker getting injured was the start to this tumbleweed, topped off with a lack of passion at the head coach position. I realized the Titans had taken a step back after the Thursday Night match-up versus the Colts. It was fresh off a miserable loss to the Jags and then you blow away a win to the Colts at home. The Colts have won 11 of the last 12 and 5 straight against the Titans . . . yuck! Someone has to fi x this. I love the play of Justin Hunter, and the receivers. My man Delanie Walker has been killing people, taking helmets to the face . . . he is a beast. Chris Johnson has even been run-ning hard, but Fitzy Patrick, as I call him, has grit, but not enough. If Jake stays healthy, the sky’s the limit, but Ryan Fitzpatrick is not the future, we all know that. Hopefully injury-prone Locker can make a comeback, but the Titans should look to adding another piece to the board at the quarterback posi-tion for next season.

Sorry Titans fans, if that wasn’t what you wanted to hear. I am a true Code Blue-bleeding fan who re-ports my thoughts on the team. I know you see what I see on Sundays, a bunch of woulda, coulda, shoulda stuff that makes you yell at the television. I hope they can turn it around, but with some tough losses and unhappy fans, change is a must.

I hope all of you have a Merry Christmas. Enjoy your family and friends’ company; there is nothing better than watching a game with family and friends. This is the Z-Train, out the station, choo-choo!

At least we have MTSU and an SEC ChampionshipBY ZACH “Z-TRAIN” MAXFIELD

Auburn’s Chris Davis takes a failed fi eld goal attempt for a walk-off TD in the Iron Bowl.


WHERE WILL BLUE RAIDERS BE BOWLING?MTSU SPORTS

THE MTSU BLUE RAIDERS fi nished the 2013 college football regular season with fi ve straight wins, to post a record of 8-4, and are now awaiting Bowl Selection Sunday, Dec. 8, to see what their post-season assignment will be.

With a 325-yard performance in the the last game of the regular season, a 48-17 drubbing of Texas-El Paso, senior quarter-back Logan Kilgore became the fi rst player in school history to throw for more than 2,000 yards in three consecutive seasons.

MTSU rushed for over 200 yards in all fi ve of the season-closing victories, which consisted of down-to-the-wire contests with Marshall and Alabama-Birmingham, and one-sided victories vs. Florida Interna-tional, Southern Miss and UTEP.

Middle fi nish tied for second in the Eastern Division of Conference-USA, in MTSU’s fi rst season of C-USA play. Marshall took fi rst place in the East (Marshall’s only in-conference loss came at the hands of the Blue Raiders), while Eastern Carolina fi nished tied for sec-ond with MTSU. Rice took fi rst in the West.

Marshall will face Rice in the C-USA championship on Saturday, Dec. 7.

INSIDE THE MURPHY CENTERIn basketball news, the MTSU women stand at 3-3 to close out November, with victories against Miami, Southeastern Louisiana and Wright State, and all of the losses against SEC opponents Tennessee, Arkansas and Kentucky.

The men actually have the longest regular season home winning streak in the nation, with MTSU’s last regular season loss in Murfrees-boro coming back in the 2011 season. The Blue Raid-ers stand at 6-1 to close out this season’s fi rst month of play, with their lone loss coming against SEC op-ponent Florida.

The Blue Raiders have a huge contest coming up with Belmont on Dec. 3 that will put the home win streak to the test. Belmont was the last team to defeat MTSU in Murfreesboro in a regular season contest, back in November of 2011. Belmont also defeated MTSU in Nashville last year. MEN’S BASKETBALLDec. 3 Belmont, 7 p.m.Dec. 9 Fisk, 7 p.m.Dec. 14 @ Ole Miss, 4 p.m.Dec. 17 Tennessee Temple, 7 p.m.Dec. 21 @ Cincinnati, 1 p.m.Dec. 29–30 Dr. Pepper Classic, Chattanooga WOMEN’S BASKETBALLDec 4 @ Austin Peay, 11 a.m.Dec 12 Kennesaw State, 11 a.m.Dec 16 @ UCF, 6 p.m.Dec 18 @ USF, 6 p.m.Dec 21 South Dakota State, 1 p.m.Dec 29 @ Clemson, 1 p.m.

OPINIONS

IF THERE IS A COM-PANY more relentless than Apple in over-hyping new product releases, I have yet to hear about it. During the re-cent release of the latest iPad, a device hardly as functional as a laptop at a lower price, advertisements of “20 percent thinner” and “.4 pounds lighter” were proudly trumpeted. Each iteration of the iPhone spawns long lines of devotees for an increasingly marginal gain in features. Nexus, Samsung, Asus and Sony are a few of the other many brands competing neck and neck to shave off a few millimeters or add a few minutes of battery life. These corporations are the public-facing end of a very long and dirty supply chain.

Although luxury consumer electronics are an easy target, the same line of thinking applies to the majority of what will make its way from dis-tant mines and forests, through an obscure for-eign manufacturing process, across the ocean and along a dizzying web of truck transporta-

tion before taking a pit stop as a shiny lump under a tree, likely of the same origin. I say pit stop because the well-lit nest under the tree is hardly the fi nal destination. No, that shiny bundle will probably

end up back in its country of origin in a scrap pile, to be burned after a thorough picking over for rare earth metals by the children of the poor. All of this for a religious holiday most certainly unrecognizable to the founder of the religion, and that many Americans face with dread.

Is there a way out? A start might be to em-brace different values than those with a market-ing budget this season and give intentionally.

There are numbers that I fi nd much more compelling than “20 percent thinner.” The graphic above highlights a few that might make a more riveting headline. Guilt, perhaps a close second after price, is a useful motivator when looking at these numbers. Rather than diving deeper into the topic of ecocide by popular

demand, there is a more convincing and imme-diately gratifying angle: there is a good chance that the recipient has no interest in the gift you give. Economist Joel Waldfogel in his book Scro-ogenomics estimates that around $12 billion is wasted each year on unwanted Christmas gifts. The main idea is that if you have $50 to spend, you know much better what you would want with it than a friend or co-worker.

A 2007 article by Bill McKibben got right to the point by identifying that in a culture of immense material excess, the best gifts can never be material. Instead, consider gifts of time. These can take the form of services, such as a visit by a landscaper or a window washer. A wonderful option might be a share in a local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). Every time that the recipient goes to pick up lo-cal, healthy food, they will think fondly of loved ones. Avalon Acre Farms is one in the Murfrees-

boro area. You can fi nd a listing of their weekly pickup locations by searching for your zip code at localharvest.org. Both half and full share options are available and come to a weekly cost of $20-$55. Happy Harvest and Sinking Creek also offer CSA programs. There is also an in-creasing number of products from Middle Ten-nessee showing up at local stores, the patronage of which does much more to support the local economy than any of the warehouse type stores that continue to invade the ‘Boro.

There is one point that I want to be clear on: technology has a place. Tackling health, energy and climate issues on a global scale would be unthinkable without it. But it is strangely out of place under the Christmas tree, as its very existence tends to co-opt the holiday. A dif-ferent vision of Christmas will take creativity and patience. But once free from the gospel of consumption, you’ll never look back.

LIVINGGREEN

column by RYAN [email protected]

GIVE WISELY THIS CHRISTMAS

TONS of e-waste produced each year

13%Amount of e-waste that

is recycled each year

50% Amount of e-waste handled informally in China, Pakistan, Vietnam, and the Philippines where it is shredded, burned and dismantled.

The process is disastrous to the health of man and the environment

40 MILLION 29th Apple’s environmental and health ranking awarded by the Institute

for Public and Environmental Affairs in Bejing. (29 companies were ranked).

Number of computers expected to be in use world wide by 2020Number of computers expected

4 BILLION

Sources: The Impact Of Electronics, The Green Electronics Council; Apple Ranked Last Of 29 Technology Companies, Bloomberg, Jan. 20 2011


It’s the Sun, Stupid!

One of the lighter moments in our movie, An Inconsis-tent Truth, is when

we’re making the point that of all the factors global warm-ing alarmists point to they ignore that big, burning ball of fire in the sky. We conclude the segment with a para-phrase of political guru James Carville: It’s the sun, stupid.

Sometimes there’s a point when scientists are so immersed in the science that they can’t see the obvious. The proverbial not being able to see the forest for the trees. I believe the great global warming debate will go down in history as one such example.

The French news agency, AFP, recently ran a story on how the sun has been surpris-ingly quiet lately. Scientists like to package things as chaotic as the sun into nice, little packages that can be studied and presented in nice, little peer-reviewed papers. The only problem is the sun is unpredict-able. Usually we can ex-pect around 120 sunspots per day in a “normal” 11-year cycle, they tell us. The most recent cycle was forecast to peak at around 90 sunspots per day. It’s coming in at about half that, or roughly a quarter of the 250-year average.

Interestingly enough, scientists tell us the last time this happened was around 1650 to 1715. They refer to that as the Maunder Minimum, named after a 19th century husband-and-wife scientific team who discovered the anomaly. Many scientists now believe the Maunder Minimum sparked what is now referred to as the Little Ice Age, a period of prolonged cooling that ran from about 1650 to 1850.

And guess what happens after you come out of a little ice age? You start to warm a bit, as we have since 1850. Now that the sun is quiet it would make sense that we’d begin

another cooling phase, as many scientists now predict. Instead of common sense another theory captured the imagination of scientists, and that is a theory that man-made CO2 is now driving climate change. The only problem with that theory is there doesn’t seem to be any correlation.

No one is denying that carbon dioxide levels have risen substantially over the last 100 years. The problem with the theory is the temperatures haven’t followed the rise in CO2. In fact, as we point out in the movie, if you go back and closely examine the historic record you’ll find that temperature rise precedes the rise in carbon dioxide. In other words, as the planet heats the ocean temperatures rise and give off more CO2.

It’s interesting that in the final week of November, much of the nation has been go-ing through a cold snap. We must be careful that we don’t confuse weather change with climate change. The global warming alarm-ists are famous for this. Any time there’s an unusual heat wave they trot out their theory of global warming. On weeks like this

they’re conspicuously quiet except for those who call this “extreme weather” and blame it on humans.

The odd thing is there is no scientific scenario in which CO2 would cause

dramatic cooling. This whole theory of CO2 causing weather extremes is non-sense. Either additional carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is causing the planet to heat up or it’s not. The greenhouse ef-fect is just that. Greenhouses get warmer, not colder or wetter or dryer or stormier. These folks are so determined to blame humans that they ignore common sense and even science itself.

There is basically one dominant factor that determines whether we’re going to be warm or whether we’re going to be cool.

It’s the sun, stupid!

Phil Valentine is an author and nation-ally syndicated radio talk show host with Westwood One. For more of his commen-tary and articles, visit philvalentine.com.

“No one is denying that carbondioxode levels have risen substantially over the last 100 years. The problem with the theory is the temperatures haven’t followed the rise in CO2.”

VIEWS OF A CONSERVATIVEcolumn byPHIL VALENTINE philvalentine.com


La PALABRAUna columna del idioma español por

CAMERON PARRISH

OPINIONS

IN ENGLISH:

SANTA CLAUS, A.K.A. ST. NICHOLAS, is one of the most recognizable symbols of the Christmas season. He is lauded by many as a gift-giver and bringer of joy to children. Still, by others he is labeled a pagan distraction from Jesus whose birth the Advent is meant to commemorate. But just who is the real man behind the beard? Regardless of whether you are a fan of Santa or a Santa hater, you probably don’t know much about the real St. Nick. What I’m about to share with you may totally change the way you see him.

Early Church records indicate that Santa was a real person. He was born to a wealthy Greek family in the 3rd century near the city of Myra in what is presently Turkey. His parents died and he used the family fortune to rescue people in need. One famous story surrounding old St. Nick is that he is said to have secretly put gold in stockings to save young ladies from a life of prostitution by giving them a dowry and thus making them eligible for marriage. In other words, Santa made it rain on them (would-be) hoes long before Lil Wayne threw his fi rst dollar bill at a stripper. Could this possibly explain his laugh?

Santa was made a bishop at a young age but was known for much more than just his generosity. He had some serious street credibility among his Christian brethren. In fact, dur-ing the reign of Roman emperor Diocletian he spent time in jail, where he was tortured for being a leader in the Church. Torture methods used by Romans were notoriously brutal and left him disfi gured. But Santa took it like a boss and never cracked. Christians who survived torture without de-nying their faith were called “confessors.” It’s uncertain how many tattoos he received while locked up, but it’s probably where he picked up smoking.

Some protestant Christians don’t like Santa because they view him as a pagan symbol derived from Norse mythology. It’s true that both Odin and Santa enjoy fl ying and have epic beards. But that’s where the similarities end. The earliest historical traditions demonstrate that he was no friend of the pagan religions. During his time as Bishop of Myra, we are told that he directly challenged the old Roman gods at the Temple of Artemis and accounts tell us that “evil spirits fl ed howling before him.” Santa was pretty much a Jedi knight.

Do you still want to call him a pagan? You better watch out. In fact, after Santa was released from prison he at-tended a meeting of church leaders in the year 325 called the Council of Nicea. At that meeting St. Nicholas is said to have knocked a brother out during a rather serious theologi-cal disagreement. This assault landed him back in jail until, according to legend, God spoke to one of the Church fathers in a dream and ordered St. Nick released from prison. Evi-dently Santa was super-tight with the Almighty.

All of these accounts make for a substantial contrast to our popular image of Santa in America which is principally

derived from his depiction in the 1823 Clement Moore poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas.” It seems as though the real Santa has more in common with the Batman than his modern portrayals would have you believe. He was not a fat, jolly old guy but a heroic and generous individual. Of course. he shouldn’t replace Jesus as the focus of Christmas, but I think he deserves a lot more respect than he receives. So don’t elf around with Santa and you’ll stay on his good list this year. Merry Christmas!

EN ESPAÑOL

SANTA CLAUS, TAMBIÉN CONOCIDO como San Nicolás es uno de los símbolos más reconocibles de la época navideña. Él es alabado por muchos como un dador de regalos y portador de alegría a los niños. Todavía por otros está etiqu-etado como una distracción pagana de Jesús cuyo nacimiento pretende conmemorar el advenimiento. ¿Pero quién es el hom-bre detrás de la barba? Independientemente de si eres un fan de Santa o un envidioso Santa, probablemente no sabes mucho sobre el verdadero San Nicolás. Lo que voy a compartir con usted puede cambiar totalmente la forma de percibirlo.

Los archivos de la iglesia temprana indican que Santa era una verdadera persona. Nació de una rica familia griega en el 3er siglo cerca de la ciudad de Myra en lo que es actual-

mente Turquía. Sus padres murieron y el usó la fortuna de la familia para rescatar a la gente en la necesidad. Una historia famosa que rodea a viejo S. Nick es que se dice que ha puesto en secreto el oro en unos calcetines para salvar a señoritas de una vida de prostitución dándoles una dote y así haciéndolos elegibles para el matrimonio. En otras palabras, Santa “lo hizo caer en esas putas”(aspirantes) mucho antes de que Lil’ Wayne tiró su primer dólar a un bailarina de exótica. ¿Podría posiblemente explicar su risa famosa de hohoho?

Debido a su ministerio Santa fue consagrado Obispo en una temprana edad, pero era conocido por mucho más que su generosidad. Había credibilidad entre sus hermanos cristianos. De hecho, durante el reinado del emperador ro-mano Diocleciano, Santa pasó un tiempo en prisión, donde fue torturado por ser un líder en la Iglesia. Los métodos de tortura usados por los romanos eran notoriamente brutales y le dejaron desfi gurado. Pero Santa lo aguantó como un tronco y nunca se rajó. Llamaron “confesores” a los cristia-nos que sobrevivieron la tortura sin negar su fe. Es incierto cuantos tatuajes recibió mientras cerrado, pero es probable-mente donde comenzó a fumar.

A algunos cristianos protestantes no les gusta Santa porque le ven como un símbolo pagano sacado de la mitología nórdica. Es verdad que tanto Odin como Santa disfrutan de volar y tienen barbas épicas. Pero esto es donde las semejanzas terminan. Las tradiciones históricas más tempranas demuestran que no era ningún amigo de las reli-giones paganas. Durante su tiempo como el Obispo de Myra, nos dicen que directamente desafi ó a viejos dioses romanos en el Templo de Artemis y las cuentas nos dicen que “los espíritus malignos huyeron gritando antes de él. ”Santa era un caballero Jedi de StarWars.

¿Usted todavía quiere llamarlo un pagano? Es mejor tener cuidado. De hecho, cuando Santa fue liberado de prisión, asistió a una reunión de los líderes de la iglesia en el año 325 el Concilio de Nicea.En esa reunión se dice que San Nicolás dio un golpazo a un hermano durante un desacuer-do teológico bastante serio. Este asalto lehizo pasar años en la cárcel hasta que, según la leyenda, Dios habló a uno de los Padres de la Iglesia en un sueño y ordenó que S. Nick sea liberado de la prisión. Claramente Santa era superenchufado con el Todopoderoso.

Estas cuentas hacen para un contraste con nuestra imagen popular de Santa en América que principalmente se saca de su pintura en el poema “A Visitfrom St. Nicholas” de Clement Moore de 1823. Parece que el verdadero Santa tiene más en común con el Batman que sus representaciones modernas le harían creer. No era un tipo gordo y muy viejo, pero un indi-viduo heroico y generoso. Por supuesto no debería sustituir a Jesús como el foco de la Navidad, pero creo que merece mucho más respeto que recibe. En otras palabras no se juegue con Santa y se quedará en su lista buena.

Don’t “Elf” with Santa No Jueges con Santa


STEP 11: We sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and power to carry that out

As a chilly, December breeze blew quietly across her face; hot, salty droplets gripped her cheeks. With her hands folded tightly, she rocked to and fro, as a river of negative emotions began to fl ood her mind. In the past months, she had come out of so many dark patterns of thinking, learning to take life one day at a time. Yet in a moment, out of nowhere came a dark cloud of emotional discourage-ment and despair. Seemingly, whatever progress that had been made in her new life of recovery was lost.

Her drug of choice was people; her addic-tion was approval. She had fi lled the emptiness caused by low self-esteem with a need for affi r-mation joined by an obsession to be and have everything perfect. As her life was spinning out of control in exhaustion, even affecting her health, she’d only a few months earlier had a moment of clarity recognizing that she was powerless to change herself. She began clear-ing her schedule, taking more walks in the woods and spending meditative quality time with God, and found herself renewed emotion-ally, physically and spiritually. With her new confi dence in God and a determination to allow Him to be her Source, she found her new life exhilarating, fi lled with new potential!

Nevertheless, the holidays were approach-ing. All attempts to maintain positive momen-tum in her recovery seemed impossible. The hustle and bustle, the inevitable stampede to the mall, and the likely-frenetic fury had her tied in a pile of jumbled knots, just like last year’s Christmas lights.

And then there were the family gather-ings—a determination for the pursuit of happiness found in those blissful scenes from a Norman Rockwell or Currier and Ives. Indeed, the holidays were a time for together-ness and harmony with family and friends, yet she dreaded facing them. Always, with these relational encounters, there would be the in-quisition: “How are you doing? What are you doing?” And the most pressing, condescend-ing question—“Are you making it fi nancially?” She began to rehearse her response, “Well, I am just fi ne, everything is just fi ne!” All of this pretending left her lonely, fearful, and full of the “holiday trepidation”!

Her life had been characterized by living under the pressure of performance acceptance. Often, she plummeted into the overwhelming fear of failure. In the performance-acceptance trap, a distorted belief system led her to over-

working and overachieving and never feeling fulfi lled. And then inevitably, she would suc-cumb to feelings of guilt.

What a year-long recovery journey! We have come to a place where we are beginning to understand that turning our lives over to the care of God is the only answer. This truth has begun to set us free, yet it is not a place where we can stop and rest.

Holidays can be tough. This is a key time of the year to guard against slipping back to your old hurts, hang-ups or habits. Here is an out-line for relapse prevention found in Life’s Heal-ing Choices by John Baker, founder of Celebrate Recovery. Take time for a heart check:

H – am I hurting?E – am I exhausted?A – am I angry?R – do I resent anybody?T – am I tense?When we take time to make an honest

evaluation, we also take time to celebrate the victories we have made in the process. Look for progress, not perfection. Remember, God loves us just as we are; however, He will not leave us that way. For someone who is ad-dicted to approval this is HUGE! God loves you and accepts you as His beloved child. This holiday, why not meditate on that thought?

Christmas is also a time for refl ection, a time for recalling stories, scenes and treasured happenings from generations past. Likewise, there are gems of wisdom that smooth out the progress of our recovery found in those beauti-ful stories and songs of Christmas. One story steeped in Southern history and culture is the story of a song, a seasonal classic written in the late 1930s by area farmer R. Fisher Boyce, who was born in 1887 and was raised in the Link community here in Rutherford County. (He would later become a song leader and deacon in the still-standing Mt. Carmel Baptist Church.) According to the late Dr. Charles Wolfe, a former MTSU music professor who was an authority on the history of country and gospel music, “Beautiful Star of Bethlehem”

is the most prominent piece of music to come out of Rutherford County, with the exception of the music of Opry star Uncle Dave Macon.

For more than 70 years, “Beautiful Star of Bethlehem” has been a cherished Christmas carol. The song has been performed and re-corded by many famous contemporary artists including The Judds, Emmylou Harris, Ralph Stanley, Ricky Skaggs, Neil Young and Bill Gaither. My favorite is the riveting, heartfelt version by Patty Loveless (fi nd a video of her performance of it at boropulse.com).

Just like many Christmas tales that have evolved over the years, this is one that has been passed down through oral tradition about how the song was actually written:

Outside, a winter wind blew gently through the branches. The icy frost on the window pane left feathery patterns framing the universe in surreal tranquility. Inside, the air swirled with whiffs of buttery sweet and gingery spice. It was Christmastime and the Boyce family had gathered. The children fi lled the room with cheerful excitement. But the clamor was a distraction for Fisher, who had a sudden burst of inspiration to write a song.

Hence, Boyce went to his milk barn, hoping to fi nd some peace and quiet. He sat down on a bale of hay, pulled his pencil out of his bib overalls, and laid his paper on a wooden table. While reaching to light a kerosene lamp, a display of congregating star clusters began shining and twinkling through the open

planks. Boyce was awestruck by the glimmer-ing display and a sacred moment of divine inspiration followed. Clarity and inspiration came fl owing from beyond. He began to write the Greatest Story Ever Told in a new way—a song, “The Beautiful Star of Bethlehem” then appeared on his paper. Once again, heaven and earth met and God’s message of Love and Light was sent to mankind in a humble barn right here in Rutherford County.

Beautiful Star of BethlehemShining afar through shadows dimGiving the light for those who long have goneGuiding the Wise Men on their wayUnto the place where Jesus layBeautiful Star of Bethlehem, shine on

Oh, Beautiful Star (beautiful, beautiful Star)Of Bethlehem (Star of Bethlehem)Shine upon us until the glory dawnsGive us the light to light the wayUnto the land of perfect dayBeautiful Star of Bethlehem, shine on

Perhaps Christmas 2013 has found you wounded by rough words, persistent broken-ness, sleepless nights and intense worry. A Babe born in Bethlehem, Love’s Pure Light, is ready to appear in the broken hearts of all mankind. He is the answer! His story is the re-covery message for everyone! That message is the same today as it was 2,000 years ago—“Joy to the world, the Lord is come!”

working and overachieving and never feeling fulfi lled. And then inevitably, she would suc-cumb to feelings of guilt.

come to a place where we are beginning to understand that turning our lives over to the care of God is the only answer. This truth has begun to set us free, yet it is not a place where we can stop and rest.

the year to guard against slipping back to your old hurts, hang-ups or habits. Here is an out-line for relapse prevention found in ing ChoicesRecovery. Take time for a heart check:

evaluation, we also take time to celebrate the victories we have made in the process. Look for progress, not perfection. Remember, God loves us just as we are; however, He will not leave us that way. For someone who is ad-dicted to approval this is HUGE! God loves you and accepts you as His beloved child. This holiday, why not meditate on that thought?

time for recalling stories, scenes and treasured happenings from generations past. Likewise, there are gems of wisdom that smooth out the progress of our recovery found in those beauti-ful stories and songs of Christmas. One story steeped in Southern history and culture is the story of a song, a seasonal classic written in the late 1930s by area farmer R. Fisher Boyce, who was born in 1887 and was raised in the Link community here in Rutherford County. (He would later become a song leader and deacon in the still-standing Mt. Carmel Baptist Church.) According to the late Dr. Charles Wolfe, a former MTSU music professor who was an authority on the history of country and gospel music, “Beautiful Star of Bethlehem”

is the most prominent piece of music to come out of Rutherford County, with the exception of the music of Opry star Uncle Dave Macon.

Bethlehem” has been a cherished Christmas carol. The song has been performed and re-corded by many famous contemporary artists including The Judds, Emmylou Harris, Ralph Stanley, Ricky Skaggs, Neil Young and Bill Gaither. My favorite is the riveting, heartfelt version by Patty Loveless (fi nd a video of her performance of it at

evolved over the years, this is one that has been passed down through oral tradition about how the song was actually written:

through the branches. The icy frost on the window pane left feathery patterns framing the universe in surreal tranquility. Inside, the air swirled with whiffs of buttery sweet and gingery spice. It was Christmastime and the Boyce family had gathered. The children fi lled the room with cheerful excitement. But the clamor was a distraction for Fisher, who had a sudden burst of inspiration to write a song.

to fi nd some peace and quiet. He sat down on a bale of hay, pulled his pencil out of his bib overalls, and laid his paper on a wooden table. While reaching to light a kerosene lamp, a display of congregating star clusters began shining and twinkling through the open

planks. Boyce was awestruck by the glimmer-ing display and a sacred moment of divine inspiration followed. Clarity and inspiration came fl owing from beyond. He began to write the Greatest Story Ever Told in a new way—a song, “The Beautiful Star of Bethlehem” then appeared on his paper. Once again, heaven and earth met and God’s message of Love and Light was sent to mankind in a humble barn right here in Rutherford County.

wounded by rough words, persistent broken-ness, sleepless nights and intense worry. A Babe born in Bethlehem, Love’s Pure Light, is ready to appear in the broken hearts of all mankind. He is the answer! His story is the re-covery message for everyone! That message is the same today as it was 2,000 years ago—“Joy to the world, the Lord is come!”

RECOVER RUTHERFORD

THE HOLIDAYS: A RELAPSE TRIGGERcolumn by GLORIA CHRISTY


ART

The Ceramic Works of Carissa Gay and Laney Humphrey

Blended” is an exhibition that showcases the works of ceramics students Laney Humphrey and Carissa Gay, shown in Middle Tennessee State Univer-

sity’s Todd Art Gallery 210, located near the center of campus in Todd Hall.

The exhibition focuses on the juxtaposition of the two artists’ work. It is designed to highlight the contrast be-tween Humphrey’s fi gural ceramic sculptures and Gay’s more formal ceramic vessels. Although both artists use the same tools and materials to cre-ate their work, the end products achieved are entirely distinctive to each respective artist.

Humphrey describes her own work as “gritty and grotesque with mutilated fl esh and bodies, while Carissa’s forms are clean and smooth to create a surface that is recep-tive to chemical fl ashing in the unpredictable saggar fi ring.” She goes on to say, “Both of us seek to push the boundaries of non-functional clay while harmonizing our work with visual similarities such as color, texture, surface, form and technique.”

“Blended: An Exhibition of Ceramic Works” will be on display in the Todd Art Gallery 210, through Dec. 12, 2013. Gallery hours are Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. and all exhibitions are free and open to the public. For more information call (615) 898-5653.

“Between the Light and Me” Brings Color to the Center

The Center for the Arts is presenting a group exhibition in December featuring the contemporary artwork of Brad Adler, Mike Martino and Glenn Merchant.

Entitled “Between the Light and Me,” the exhibit features works in photog-raphy, printmaking and painting. The common thread is the use of vibrant color and images from the artists’ everyday experience.

Brad Adler studied photography and psychology at Middle Tennessee State University. He has traveled the world capturing his images. Adler creates his photomontages in his studio in downtown Murfreesboro.

Mike Martino operates Blue Fig Editions printmaking studio in Nashville. A prolifi c artist, Martino is also an arts educator. He earned his MFA at Louisiana State University.

Glenn Merchant studied painting and sculpture at Middle Tennessee State University. Merchant is an arts organizer and visiting artist. He also owns Moxie Art Supply in down-town Murfreesboro.

An opening reception will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 3 in the Center gallery from 6–8 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

The Center for the Arts is located at 110 W. College St. The gallery is open from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday. For more informa-tion, call (615) 904-2787 or visit boroarts.org.

lended” is an exhibition that showcases the works of ceramics students Laney Humphrey and Carissa

more formal ceramic vessels. Although both artists use the more formal ceramic vessels. Although both artists use the more formal ceramic vessels. Although both artists use the

Vase by Carissa Gay; sculpture by Laney Humphrey

Works by (clockwise, from top left) Glenn Merchant, Mike Martino and Brad Adler are all included in the latest exhibit at the Center for the Arts Gallery.

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December 2013 Murfreesboro Pulse

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