Daniel's Heroin after the accident

He has been clean from heroin for 11 months now, but currently lives on the streets. However, the most positive part about his story is the fact that he is indeed clean.

Daniel lives in Murfreesboro and for the most part, keeps to himself. His first taste of heroin came a couple of years after a car accident.

It was the car accident that landed him on prescription pain pills. When the doctor stopped writing prescriptions for the pills, he said that he needed to continue… so he did, eventually with heroin.

Daniel’s Story (Below) 6 MIN and 50 SEC:

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Shelbyville, Tennessee on October 28, 2017

My pictures and the environments I deliberately place myself in are often not my views on life. The setting is many times an uncomfortable place.

Shelbyville, Tennessee on 10/28/17: Do young men like these that include in one photo of a person who appears to be a boy standing like Hitler and wearing a fake mustache - understand the Holocaust? I would venture to guess no. I would go as far as stating that most have no idea what really occurred in Germany and because of that I look at them with sadness as do many others as opposed to anger.

This type of action would be like mocking the attacks on innocent children at Columbine High School where an April 20, 1999 school massacre left 15 dead and 24 injured along with countless others to face mental illness for the remainder of their lives. Of course, the mocking seen in these photos that are filled with hate, are much more devastating because of what they represent.

In these photos I see smiles as hate is yelled.

Holocaust Facts:

• Over 1.1 million children died during the Holocaust.
• The most intensive Holocaust killing took place in September 1941 at the Babi Yar Ravine just outside of Kiev, Ukraine, where more than 33,000 Jews were killed in just two days. Jews were forced to undress and walk to the ravine’s edge. When German troops shot them, they fell into the abyss. The Nazis then pushed the wall of the ravine over, burying the dead and the living.
• Between 1933 and 1945, more than 11 million men, women, and children were murdered in the Holocaust. 
• Over one million people were murdered at the Auschwitz complex
• Those who survived Dr. Josef Mengele’s experiments were almost always murdered and dissected. Many children were maimed or paralyzed and hundreds died.
• Between 1933 and 1945, more than 11 million men, women, and children were murdered in the Holocaust.
• Between 1933 and 1945, more than 11 million men, women, and children were murdered in the Holocaust.
• Over one million people were murdered at the Auschwitz complex.
• The soldiers who patrolled and operated concentration camps were known as Totenkopfverbande, or “Death’s Head” detachments. They wore skull-and-crossbones insignias on their uniforms to reflect their namesake.
• Those who survived Dr. Josef Mengele’s experiments were almost always murdered and dissected. Many children were maimed or paralyzed and hundreds died.
• During the Holocaust, the Nazis looted everything they could from their victims, including wedding rings, watches, precious stones, and eyeglasses.
• Children of African-German origin and the mentally or physically handicapped were surgically sterilized, often brutally.
• Thousands of infants and babies were killed by Nazis before their births could be recorded.

Almost a fight

At a rally, ordinary people may do unordinary bad things. While that may sound grim, it is quite true.

Take for example, this man with the beard. He was preaching and on a roll. Word after word about how this is bad verses this is good.

Regardless of what “This” maybe about, ordinary people around him started to criticize his words. The criticism grew louder and louder as some criticism turned into challenges of fighting.

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One young man stepped before him and invited him to throw the first punch with a slew of words that most would not want our children to hear. As the challenge grew, others in the crowd encouraged the punching as if that was all of a sudden okay to do in society.

Another man stood directly in front of him as well - expecting a fight to take place. However, no fight occurred as the older man had no intention to strike, only to speak and be heard.

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If you simply slowed your anger and listened to the words of the older man, you recognized that he spoke out of a troubled past and just wanted to be heard. He talked about living on the streets while being homeless in Nashville. He talked about murderers and how some in the crowd know of dark secrets, but have yet to admit to them. It was obvious to some that he spoke out of sadness in his past and instead of accepting his words, others felt attacked by them although they were not directed at any one person.

Actions of one following the crowd happen quickly and turn into group violence’s and rioting. That of course explains the psychology behind the show of a strong police presence at such an event. Regardless of the cost to produce such force, it is sometimes necessary to deescalate a situation before it has the water to grow.

During rallies like the one held in Murfreesboro and Shelbyville on October 28, 2017, you could easily witness ordinary everyday people break out of their norm and say things they normally would not say. They may not realize it or admit it, but those in attendance had the potential to do great harm while following the masses in large groups.

Following the masses in social psychology is called Deindividuation. It is the loss of identity or self-awareness, usually in a group setting. People lose self-awareness and feel less responsibility of ones’ actions. An example would be a riot where all present mindlessly follow along. This can easily trap good people and convince them to follow along in beatings, vandalism, stealing and even murdering.

A similar word used in psychology is emotional contagion. Emotional contagion is the tendency to feel and express emotions similar to and influenced by those of others; also, the phenomenon of one person’s negative thoughts or anxiety affecting another’s mood.

Actions, challenges, sarcastic replies or strong words by someone who may normally be viewed as wise will make them look like a fool in protest settings. Especially when challenging someone to a duel whereas that same person would never do such in a typical setting.

"It is the peculiar quality of a fool to perceive the faults of others and to forget his own." - Cicero, Roman politician, lawyer, orator, and writer. (106 BC - 43 BC)

The Star of David

What is often referred to as the Star of David is traditionally a Jewish symbol, but is also called or used as the Seal of Solomon, usually when it is encircled by a thin line in Islam. It is also called the Shield of David.

The star had grave meaning during the Holocaust as the Nazis used it to identify Jews, which is one reason it is often seen by those with opposing views at rallies that include White Supremacist, as captured in Murfreesboro, Tennessee on October 28, 2017.

It has been said to represent the shape of King David's shield, which stood for protection and force when needed. It is also a symbol thought to bring good luck by some of those in the Middle East.

“Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy.” ― Anne Frank

An unrealistic feeling

In·fe·ri·or·i·ty com·plex: an unrealistic feeling of general inadequacy caused by actual or supposed inferiority in one sphere, sometimes marked by aggressive behavior in compensation.

Murfreesboro, Tennessee square on 10/28/17.

A day filled with hate, not love

Today in Murfreesboro I witnessed so many things, most of which I found sad. 

Some people like this man speaking into a microphone connected to a speaker, was using words from the Bible to hurt, anger or tear down others. I witnessed the rage that stared down the Bible scriptures, which is inconsistent with what Christianity is about. 

Today, I saw young men literally pick fights with older men because they disagreed with an opinion. 

Today, I saw a father who brought his son to the rally in Murfreesboro. The young boy, not knowing what was happening, was simply sitting on the ground playing with a toy as his father watched the crowd in anticipation of a fight. 

Today, I saw where a young black woman was not told she was entering the gates on the wrong side of the protest and she could not cross over once inside… surrounded by angered white supremacist she bravely snapped a photo on her phone and I said, “Be careful over here.” As I walked away she quietly said, “Don’t leave.” 

Today I spoke to a white supremacist and asked why he came to Shelbyville, TN today and he turned his head and said no comment. 

Today I witnessed those who suggested they were on the Murfreesboro square to show love while holding signs that sounded sweet… only to hear them spew words of hate towards those standing on the opposite side of a fence. 

Below is a soundclip of the above man preaching into a loudspeaker: 

“I shall allow no man to belittle my soul by making me hate him.” - Booker T. Washington

Hiding who you are

If you have to wear a mask to do what you consider good, you’re probably not doing good. The group is known for vandalism and violence in America. Their name: Antifa (anti-fascist).

“The theory of Communists may be summed up in the single sentence: Abolition of private property.” ― Karl Marx, The Communist Manifesto

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Vietnam Veteran Served in the US Navy

Today I met Vietnam Veteran Ralph J. Gervasio, Jr. He was drafted into the military many years ago and talked to me about the carnage he witnessed when his ship was hit with friendly fire while simultaneously being attacked by Vietnamese gunfire. Gervasio served in the U.S. Navy.

The carnage witnessed by Gervasio was grim as he tried to resuscitate a shipmate whom had already died. He talked about how some personnel on the ship were missing limbs, fingers and more.

The following day he was asked to retrieve something out of the ships freezer… next to the food was the body of the man he tried to save the day prior.

When he was released from the military in the early 1970’s, he had to wear his civilian clothes on the flight home. The military command he was with actually told him to do so because too many reports of returning war time veterans being spit on or attacked prompted the civilian clothes order.

He never admitted to serving in Vietnam until the 1980’s out of fear of not being hired or being fired from his civilian job because he was a U.S. Veteran. Times were much different in the 70’s and 80’s for those who served out country.

Gervasio told me that you never get over things seen in Vietnam.

Despite the hard times, he now volunteers to help younger veterans returning from war zones.

Hear the entire interview by Scott Walker (19 Min):

Ed helped to train the bodyguards that surrounded Elvis Presley

Imagine knowing the King! Even better… tackling the King in football! (Scroll down for audio)

Elvis Presley was almost exactly three years older than Ed Johnson in Memphis, TN. The two were only two grades apart in school. Johnson said that he would play football with Elvis along with other teens in the area.

Elvis attended Humes High School in Memphis. He was part of the 1953 graduating class. Ed described Elvis as just another kid.

Red West, another high schooler from Memphis, was also a friend of Ed’s. Red was one of the tough guys who eventually became the bodyguard of Elvis. In fact, Red taught Ed how to train other bodyguards that surrounded Elvis once he became the icon of Rock N’ Roll.

Ed was eventually drafted into the U.S. Army, about the same time as his buddy Elvis. The 101st Airborne took in Ed who gained his wings to become a parachutist. He was active duty for two years after being drafted, but was in the reserves for another eight years.

Ed will turn 80 on February 15, 2018. He told me that he will go parachuting on his 80th birthday and that will be his new tradition every birthday after.

As for Elvis, he would have turned 83 one month before Ed turns 80 if he were still alive. Who knows, if Elvis were still around he may have parachuted with Ed.

Audio Below: Listen to this short, but interesting interview with Ed Jordan where he remembers his days growing up in Memphis with Elvis. He also talks about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and being drafted into the Army:

"I never expected to be anybody important," - Elvis

Urban Decay: The death of an amusement park

It was like walking through a bad movie set in California… At the same time, it felt as if someone was watching my every step.

I was at Guntown Mountain Amusement Park in Cave City, Kentucky. The park opened in 1969 and closed down a number of years ago. It was later purchased by a Louisville, KY businessman who had big dreams in 2015. Will Russell renamed the park “Funtown Mountain” and reopened it with the idea of a multi-million dollar renovation plan set for the near future.

While the park was once again opened in 2015, the renovation plan was never executed.

The Courier Journal newspaper reported that Mr. Russell saw his plans threatened after a severe manic episode related to bipolar disorder. Later that year, the Cave City Police Department shut down Funtown after vandalism and looting were reported on the property. The article suggested that Will Russell somehow instigated the crime, but failed to report as to why that accusation was made.

The newly named Funtown was quickly closed for good when bank payments could not be made on loans to keep the park active. It was later sold at Auction in April of 2016 for less than $300,000. The new owner had grand plans of turning the property into a resort complete with zip lines, cabins and an indoor water park. Those grandiose plans have yet to materialize and the park sits like the movie set of an old Friday the 13th movie.

“We're all lonely for something we don't know we're lonely for. How else to explain the curious feeling that goes around feeling like missing somebody we've never even met?” 
― David Foster Wallace, American Writer (1962-2008)

In search of life under the Lebanon, TN square...

After hearing people talk about homeless living “Under” the Lebanon, Tennessee square in a cave of sorts, I grew more and more curious about the scenario. I then searched online to find any information I could eventually locating an article in the Lebanon Democrat newspaper from 2013.

The article started with, “While it may come as no surprise to long time Lebanon residents, others are shocked to learn that an underground cavern runs along the creek bed beneath the Lebanon Town Square.” So, that got me even more curious as to what or who was under the Lebanon square.

For those who know me I am sure you also know what is next… I had to see for myself. Why? Well, because if you hear something or read something, you cannot take it as truth until you see that something with your own eyes.

Yes, I went to the Lebanon square with my friend Jeff Paul who is an avid cave explorer. With words like “Cavern” in an article, what cave explorer would not be in!

Cavern: a cave, or a chamber in a cave, typically a large one. Or used in similes and comparisons to refer to a vast, dark space.

Jeff and I made our way down an old concrete wall and descended into the creek. A small water snake scurried away and under a rock as I landed into the slop that was about 2 inches deep.

Headed towards the square we made our way under the decrepit Gay Street bridge. I say decrepit because those who travel over it likely don’t see the aging condition of it from below. The cracks, how it sits uneven, etc.

From Gay Street we make our way under a paved parking area beneath Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center. You can see where past floods have washed debris under the bridge and parking pad, but no signs of people.

From Quick Lane we ventured under the sacred Capitol Theater. No, it’s not really sacred, but it is pretty cool to still have a movie theater on your town square. Especially one that sits inside of a building that was built in 1900, according to property records.

The 10,665 square foot theater sits about ten feet above Sinking Creek. The building is supported with thick concrete and iron girders likely from pre-1900.

At some point, a concrete ceiling was added in the tunnel under the theater allowing for water to pass without actually touching the beams supporting the building. Over the years, that concrete chipped away now exposing a mixture of steel rebar, iron and/or steel.

Still looking for signs of life and a cavern… as in the large room of a cave – we have found nothing and we were not under the main portion of the Lebanon square yet.

Turning towards the square we ventured under several boutique type shops that occupy buildings on South Cumberland Street (231 South) at Highway 70 or West Main Street that all date back to the early 1900’s if not before. I question the property assessor’s dates as many buildings in counties all over the state are labeled as being built in 1900 even though they were actually built sometime before that date.

As we step through water sometimes up to our knees, we make our way under the Southwest side of the square… or at least the buildings on the Southwest portion of the Lebanon Square.

The first thing Jeff notices on the rear of one of the buildings (Public Square 132), is a door to nowhere. The door is on the rear of the building 15 feet above our heads. If you were inside the structure and decided to step out for a smoke, you would fall into the creek bed below that we were standing in.

Jeff Paul points out the metal workings of what was once was a walkway, a fire exit with steps or perhaps a bridge to the neighboring movie theater. But, there is no rear door on the theater building which is maybe 10-feet from the rear of the building on the Southwest corner of the square.

We then venture towards and then under West Main Street. The tunnels grow darker, the water deeper. At this point, there is no dry spot for anyone to live. Openings every 40 to 50 feet are on one side of the tunnels allowing for storm runoff water to enter from above.

An orange extension chord hangs above our heads going from the underbelly of one building connecting to another about 100-feet away. Tree limbs washed down by floodwaters cling to the edge of the walls and a mixture of rock, concrete and mud sit on the floor covered by water. Still, no campers and few dry spots.

The structures above are made out of wood, no iron or steel beams… only wood with concrete and brick sides lining the tunnels at this point. Keep in mind, the above buildings date back to the 1900’s if not before.

Lebanon, TN was incorporated in 1801 and named after the cedars of Lebanon in the Bible. By 1850, the city had a population of 1,554 residents. It grew to 3,659 in 1910 and by 1960, a little over 10,500 people called Lebanon home. Today, the population is closer to 32,000.

As for the Lebanon Square, which we were partially under at this point, it dates back to the 1850’s. Early photographs are stored at the City of Lebanon Museum and History Center along with the Vise Library at Cumberland University. Some photos are also at the Tennessee State Library of Archives.

One photo is believed to be from 1859 and shows the northeast corner of the town square. Perhaps the Southwest corner also dates to the 1850’s… which is wild to imagine we were standing in a historic creek under historic buildings that are over 100 years old – 167 years old to be more precise.

Walking in water we made our way under what is now labeled “Betty’s Couture,” a small clothing store on West Main Street. The tunnel was dark and emptied into a swampy mess behind a row of businesses that front Highway 70 or West Main Street. We then took a right to head deeper and again, back under the Lebanon Square.

Stepping over what looked to be the old tile floor from years past, we made our way down another dark tunnel of water.

Could this be the way to the cavern that is noted in that 2013 article found in the Lebanon Democrat? Unfortunately, no. There was no vast cavern in a cave. It was only the cavern of tunnels and places for storm water to drain under the town square.

But wait… At the end of the last tunnel with the Neddy Jacobs Cabin above our heads, we found the opening of what looked to be a deep underwater cave. However, it would take diving equipment and more to venture into the deep waters.

No one is currently living under the Lebanon square and we did not see anything that would lead us to believe someone had been living under the buildings. If they were living under the buildings in the past, they have since moved on.

Are local squares in communities known for diversity?

It is amazing to look back at history and see the variety of events that have taken place on the square in Murfreesboro, TN. While the history is not always pretty, it is still intriguing to consider the magnitude of events that literally touch every race, background, religion or belief.

The first documented execution on the local square took place in 1813, according to research dug up by County Historian Greg Tucker. The deceased was described as a black male known only as “Jess.” The Sheriff at the time conducted the execution.

During the Civil War the Union Army took control of Murfreesboro and used the courthouse as an observation and signaling tower in 1862.

Many stories still circulate about a young stranger who happened upon Murfreesboro where he told a crowd that he would climb the courthouse. The man who came to be known as “The Human Fly” did indeed climb the courthouse in 1923 and made it to the top where he slipped and fell to his death while waving. By the way, his body was never identified.

Men draped in white robes, better known as the notorious Ku Klux Klan, marched around the square in 1987.

Uncle Dave Macon Days started on the lawn of the courthouse with banjo pickin’ fun in 1978 and continued on the square until 1989. At that point the event moved to Cannonsbugh.

In the late 80’s and early 90’s, go cart races happened around the courthouse. When curbs and islands of concrete were installed it killed the racing idea all together.

For years, the square has been the ending point for the annual Murfreesboro Christmas Parade.

Last year, Muslim Youth met on the square and handed out flowers and cards of encouragement to those passing by.

And now for the second year, the square has been the home to Boro Pride, celebrating the LGBT community - which is where this photo was taken this past Saturday.

Astonishing really to look back and simply observe the variety of groups and individuals that would normally clash.

In closing, a little diversity...

"Well I'm not the world's most physical guy
But when she squeezed me tight she nearly broke my spine
Oh my Lola la-la-la-la Lola
Well I'm not dumb but I can't understand
Why she walk like a woman but talk like a man
Oh my Lola la-la-la-la Lola la-la-la-la Lola"

"Well I'm not the world's most masculine man
But I know what I am and I'm glad I'm a man
And so is Lola
La-la-la-la Lola la-la-la-la Lola
Lola la-la-la-la Lola la-la-la-la Lola"

-The Kinks, "LOLA" 1970

Looking Back: Life was a bit different then

Florence Browder was born in Smyrna, TN some 88 years ago in about 1929. Her life was positive and she raised two children… one of whom went on to graduate from college and become a teacher and another who retired from the U.S. Air Force.

Ms. Browder only made it to the 8th grade, which was very common in those days. Despite her lack of book education, she was smart and had dreams for her children, just as she still does today for her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

In 1929, the population of Rutherford County, Tennessee was just under 33,000 residents. Today it has grown considerably with approximately 300,000 residents. If you were to put that into percentages, Rutherford County has grown by 800% since 1929.

Silver Springs School is where Browder received her education and it is also where she went to church as a child. The building served two purposes in the 1930’s and 40’s. “It’s gone, it’s been gone,” she told me when describing where the school was once located on Florence Road. At the time, the school was in the rural country between Smyrna and Murfreesboro.

Silver Springs once boasted an attendance of 88 children in the 1940’s. When 1959 hit, the school saw a jump in students with 185 because another school called the Rosenwald School merged with Silver Springs.

The Rosenwald School was an African-American educational facility that was started in 1927 and eventually closed in 1960.

Looking back to her childhood she told me, “I always tell my great grandchildren that I wish I could swap with them and let them be raised when I was raised, they would’ve been raised better – I mean I’m trying to raise them, but they don’t understand – they don’t pay me no tention.” I told her, “I don’t think it’s you, I think it is everyone around them – society is quite different compared to when you were younger.”

Ms. Browder went on to explain her days as a child, “When the old people spoke you just did what they told you to do and no back talk. But now, the children just back talk and do whatever they want to.” 

In 1930, things were a little cheaper when compared to 2017…

• 1930 Average New Home $7,145… (2017 Average is $406,400 nationwide - 6/23/17)
• 1930 Average Annual Income $1,970… (2017 Average is $46,409 nationwide)
• 1930 Gallon of Fuel $0.10 Cents… (2017 Average is $2.38)
• 1930 New Car Average $640… (2017 Average is $34,968)
• 1930 One pound steak $0.20 Cents… (2017 Average is $5.20 per lb)
• 1930 Refrigerator (Electrolux gas) $144… (2017 there are hundreds from $350 to $5,000)
• 1930 Minimum Wage $0.25 Cents… (2017 Tennessee Min. Wage is $7.25)

“There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.” ― Sophia Loren

Food, Drug and Alcohol Addictions

Scroll down for audio interview

The old saying of you can't judge a book by its cover is quite true today. This is one story where you may look at the photo and later have second thoughts after hearing the message.

Ericia Baggett was bullied throughout her school years due to her weight. "People would mistreat me," she said. Nevertheless, she found an escape in artwork. During middle school and high school she won numerous awards for her talent. One of her pictures was even hung in the Governor's Mansion. But, the art would only take her so far and the other children likely failed to notice her talent.

Due to her weight she stated that she "developed" at a young age. That early development lead to additional problems on the daily school bus ride home. "I would get harassed on the school bus and held down and boys would..." she paused and took a breath. She then talked about how such behavior was not handled the same way as it is today. In the 1980's, such behavior received a slap on the wrist. Today, that same behavior ends with an arrest.

At age 20 she got married and soon found herself with a newborn baby. Her artwork was on the backburner while depression took over along with more weight gain. Baggett said that she ate for comfort, "The only way I knew how to deal with things was by eating." She then continued to describe what was later learned to be destructive behavior, "As long as I was eating I was taking care of myself, stuffing those emotions down."

In an effort to feel better about herself, Baggett said that she received surgery to reduce her weight, which had risen to 349 pounds. The art was picked back up and the idea of becoming a tattoo artist was something that was growing for her. However, more problems followed shortly after the operation.

"When I had the surgery it took that feeling away," she said in describing how food once comforted her. After the operation she didn't feel like eating as much. When Baggett ran away from her addiction to food, she turned to alcohol. When the alcohol didn't work for her, she turned to meth, cocaine and crack. Her once healthy escape with art seemed to have disappeared.

Finally, Baggett decided that she needed to fix whatever was hurting. So, she spent time recovering at Cumberland Heights while realizing that the hole she needed to fill lacked God. The 40 year old Nashville native said, "Once I quit doing drugs I was like - What's gonna' fill this spot?" With a pause she finished... "Then I ran to God."

Road blocks were not completely fixed for Baggett. She later practiced in "Cutting" to deal with anxiety and depression. Her upper thigh hidden by her clothing, was marred with multiple small cuts and scars. During that time she started to be bullied again, this time by adults. Of course this time around she knew about healthy verses unhealthy habits which is why she decided to get help right away for the cutting and once again start focusing on art. She also understood that hurting people - hurt people... so the bullying directed at her was because others around her had issues of their own.

Today, her dream is to continue moving forward with artwork and to open her own tattoo studio. Someday, she wants to operate a tattoo studio on a level that is not usually expected in such places... She wants to tell people who look like her, yet are different on the inside, that they too can turn to God as opposed to running from one addiction to another.

To hear the entire 19 MIN and 48 SEC Interview, listen below:

CONNECT: Find her on FaceBook under her tattoo artist name of Alayna Devine at https://www.facebook.com/alayna.devine.79

“When you encourage others, you in the process are encouraged because you're making a commitment and difference in that person's life. Encouragement really does make a difference.”- Zig Ziglar, Motivational Speaker (1926-2012)

Quite the fight in a city park

I always like to stumble across interesting photos or stories. This one was taken in Barfield Park (Murfreesboro, TN).

Medieval combat is a sport that few maybe familiar with. However, you may have seen it unfolding at a local park and you failed to recognize exactly what was going on.

The sport, that involves role-playing as if you were from the Medieval times, is all about taking down your opponent with a sponge sword or perhaps a foam bat of sorts.

A local organization called Dagorhir (pronounced Dagger-Here) meets at Barfield Crescent Park on Sundays and fight. Not fighting that ends in injury, but fighting that ends with a clear winner or a clear loser. It's a game.

In Medieval times there was no acting. Instead, fighters literally fought to the death. Depending on their level of training, some made their fight appear to be a dance the way they jumped, dodged and returned blows with swords and shields in hand.

But in Murfreesboro, they don't fight to the death. They simply reenact such fighting with foam swords and depending on where someone is hit - they either survive and stay in the game or they are, figuratively speaking - killed and are out for the round.

Scott, who goes by the nickname or role-play name of Zaen (Pronounced Zane) stated...

"I'll fight, till from my bones my flesh be hacked." 
- William Shakespeare

Is it a Mountain Lion or Bobcat that Jim Found?

Imagine finding a Mountain Lion in your back yard. Well, that is what happened to Jim Kutz in Lebanon, Tennessee.Needless to say, I had to check it out.

The photo above is of Jim showing me his video. And the video - well, you will have to look at it to decide if it is indeed a mountain lion.

Kutz, who lives at the KOA Campground in Wilson County, saw signs of a possible cougar living on a 200 acre tract of land behind the campground. So, Kutz set up a nighttime wildlife camera and quickly saw a large adult cougar and about three cubs.

The TWRA states on their website: "This powerful predator ranges from 5 to 8 ½ feet in total length and weighs from 70 to 250 pounds, with males being bigger than females. Their ears are black on the upper side and are a small and rounded with no tufts of hair. The muzzle is white on the end and black where it joins the head."

As for where the cougar (or mountain lion) was spotted... it was in the area of where I-40 and I-840 merge - close to HWY 109 in Lebanon.

According to the TWRA, the cougar is the largest feline animal in North America. Until very recently, there haven't been any cougars in Tennessee since the early 1900's. Similar to Tennessee's wild elk and buffalo, the cougar was near extinct due to over hunting and habitat loss. However, the cougar may be making a comeback in Tennessee.

At 51, Brenda looks back on her child abuse

One look into her icy blue eyes and you can see her pain from years past.

Today, Brenda is 51 and has turned to alcohol, meth and crack cocaine to heal her wounds, which she may not have fully known existed. She turned to prostitution and was even homeless for multiple years and the trajectory of her life was greatly changed when she was only a kid all because of child sex abuse.

Child sex abuse is a major problem in our community and across the country. The scars from the abuse can last a lifetime and Brenda, who just got into housing through the Murfreesboro Housing Authority, can confirm the pain.

According to the United States Department of Justice, only 30% of sexual assault cases are reported. Brenda was one of the cases that never went to police over 40 years ago. Furthermore, many children wait until adulthood to tell of the abuse, which is often too late as alcoholism, drug abuse and more have already manifested itself in the victim.

As for Brenda, her step father later died and she suggested that she confronted him while he was in the hospital. While he never admitted to it, she said he did apologize.

Listen to the full interview below (7 MIN and 26 SEC):

Some good news in the arrests of perpetrators… In years past, child sex abuse was not as heavily investigated as it is today. In the past, false information was promoted by professionals that children frequently reported false accounts of abuse. Over the years it was realized that such ideas lacked systematic evidence that false allegations are common, according to the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.

“The greater a child’s terror, and the earlier it is experienced, the harder it becomes to develop a strong and healthy sense of self.” ― Nathaniel Branden, Six Pillars of Self-Esteem

To report suspected child abuse of any kind in Tennessee, call 877-237-0004 and remain anonymous. You can also report suspected abuse online at https://apps.tn.gov/carat/.  

Monday Total Eclipse Facts (8/21/2017):

Above photo taken on the Murfreesboro, Tennessee Square

Monday Total Eclipse Facts (8/21/2017):

1. Oregon to South Carolina is where the Total Eclipse hit today and most Americans were within a day's drive to the path of totality.
    
2. A solar eclipse is a lineup of the Sun, the Moon, and Earth.
    
3. If you were in an area that was outside of the slice that saw the total eclipse, you at least saw a partial eclipse. In fact, everyone in the continental U.S. should have at least seen a partial eclipse.
    
4. If you were slightly south of Carbondale, Illinois, in Giant City State Park, then you saw the total eclipse for a whopping 2 minutes and 40.2 seconds, the longest time frame in America.
    
5. The sun is 400 times larger than that of the Moon.
    
6. Solar retinopathy can be caused by staring at the sun (regardless of its phase), but few people can stand to look directly at our nearest star for very long without pain.|
    
7. Isaac Newton tried looking at the sun in a mirror, essentially blinding himself for three days and experiencing afterimages for months.
    
8. A total solar eclipse occurred on June 17, 1909. The path of totality crossed the Arctic ocean, Canada, Greenland, central Russia, and central Asia.
    
9. The last partial eclipse visible in Tennessee took place on October 23, 2014.
    
10. The average width for the path of totality in Tennessee is 71.5 miles across.
     
11. Before 2017, the last total eclipse visible in Nashville and Murfreesboro was on July 29, 1478. However, there were annular eclipses at sunrise on Dec. 25, 1628, and Oct. 19, 1865.
     
12. As for the time everyone spent outside watching the sun on Monday, American businesses lost nearly $700 million in productivity, according to an estimate by outplacement company Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

Below photo taken on the Murfreesboro, Tennessee Square

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Fake weed or Synthetics are deadly in Middle Tennessee

A number of years ago, synthetic drugs sold under a variety of names at local gas stations were outlawed in Tennessee. Much of the push to outlaw such items that were labeled as “Incense” or “Bath Salts” came from Rutherford County State Representative Mike Sparks, who lives in Smyrna, Tennessee.

State Representative Sparks knows the problem exists better than most, which is one reason he is so tough of synthetics. Sparks opened up to multiple media outlets in 2012 confirming that synthetics have been a problem in his family noting that one of his sons, 19 at the time, started using synthetics and it almost ruined his sons life.

Despite his efforts to see the drugs outlawed, they are still widely available today. However, they are not openly sold in gas stations and convenient stores. Instead, they are sold on the streets or in some cases, behind the counter at certain stores.

Today, the synthetic drugs that are often called “Fake Weed” are much more dangerous and potent than they originally were.

A woman named Nikki who has been clean from synthetics for about 4 weeks said the drug is a tough habit to break (8 MIN and 45 SEC) below….

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A former user of fake weed in Murfreesboro by the name of Michael said that some convenient stores in Nashville will let you trade a food stamp card for synthetics that are sold behind the counter. Listen to what he says (3 MIN and 8 SEC) below…

Unlike real marijuana, withdrawals from synthetic weed include not only the inability to control bodily functions, but also dehydration caused by sweating profusely with the users core body temperature increasing greatly which can lead to kidney and liver failure.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse claims that synthetic forms of marijuana are the second most widely used drugs among high school students. The number one most used drug is real marijuana.

Learn more at WGNSradio.com

Fears of the homeless are real

Ricky suffers from paranoid schizophrenia, which is tough on someone who lives in the woods. However, he is very open about the condition which allows others around him to better understand the issues he may face.

At times, his mind might not agree with reality, which is common in the world of mental illness diagnoses.

One of his strongest fears is that of people trying to hurt him. Of course, we all have that fear from time to time, but our fear depends on the environment. Ricky could be in any environment and have that fear, which is why he keeps the location of his camp secret. He also has his camp set for traps to warn him of unwanted visitors.

He has many ways of coping with the illness that are quite ingenious. He does a lot of reading for not only relaxation, but to learn about his paranoia and to educate himself on a number of topics - including news.

One fear that continues to plague his thoughts involves someone coming into his camp destined to kill him and maybe other homeless living in the vicinity.  He described the thought as a serial killer targeting homeless camps.

Up until today I never thought about serial killers targeting homeless areas. In fact, it is something that I have not really heard of. I don’t know if such stories were not covered by the national media or if those things didn’t really happen and Ricky simply created the fear in his head.

Upon researching it, apparently it is a bonafide issue which means real fears for some of our homeless community that reads, researches or looks into crimes against homeless as a means to better protect themselves.

It Really Happens: 

In March of 2017, police in Las Vegas used a mannequin dressed as a homeless person as a decoy to lure one killer into their sites. They placed the dummy on the streets in an area where two sleeping homeless men had previously been killed with the notion that the killer would strike again. As luck would have it, Shane Schindler was caught on camera trying to “kill” the decoy. However, he has not been found guilty of killing the two sleeping homeless men as of yet.

A gang that said they were on a "Street cleaning crusade" killed 15 homeless in Moscow, according to reports in June of 2017. One victim was stabbed 171 times while others were struck with hammers.  

In 2016, a suspected serial killer was arrested in California after savagely attacking five homeless during five separate events. If police didn’t hear the screams coming from under a San Diego overpass in July of 2016, then Jon David Guerrero could still be killing. Luckily, officers caught Guerrero in the act and he was apprehended. The California native was accused of burning two victims alive and stabbing others.

In 2014, a man by the name of Aeman Presley was accused of killing two homeless men in Atlanta, GA as they slept. He was also accused of killing a third homeless man near Atlanta and a woman who was a hair stylist, but not homeless. While in a Fulton County, Georgia courtroom on January 20, 2017, the now convicted killer said he thought he was “Helping” at least one homeless man by killing him.

A former U.S. Marine stabbed a woman, her son and four homeless men to death to do the community a "Service," according to Orange County court documents from 2012. Itzcoatl “Izzy” Ocampo reportedly stabbed some of the victims up to 60 times. Ocampo killed himself one year later in jail while awaiting to be transferred to a prison.

The above are just a few of the homeless murders that have occurred in recent years. Sad, but true.

“The more you love, the more love you have to give. It's the only feeling we have which is infinite...” ― Christina Westover