Welcome to a new issue; welcome to a new month!

We have crab legs, we have auto racing, we have local business news, fundraisers, hummingbirds, an inspiring story from the owner of a local flail blade manufacturer, and concerts—all in this here edition of the Murfreesboro Pulse. The new Joanie’s on the Square is looking great, the Howl at the Moon 5K is set for Aug. 21, restaurants continue to come to town, the Peach Cobbler Fest is set for this month, and football season is basically upon us.

Whatever you do: making a pupusa, tricking out a car, photographing wildlife, taking a walk, composing a tune, planting a tree, throwing a frisbee, spending time with a friend, child or associate, playing a game, digging a hole, unclogging a drain, building a chair or printing a shirt, do it to the glory of God, and I expect you will find some peace, joy and fulfillment.

What a time to be alive—a network of Flock cameras spying on citizens all over the country, here in Rutherford County local leaders acting upon the desire to seize someone’s land and construct an even larger jail than the one the county already has (we can use the Flock cameras to help populate it!), chemtrails fill the sky, data centers are being built all over, the world seems on the brink of nuclear war, humidity is in the air, and a probable political plot to assassinate the beloved Charlie Kirk continues to unfold from day to day.

So, with these Flock license plate readers, if the taxpayers are funding this new surveillance network, which tracks and archives each time a vehicle’s license plate passes by each camera, why not make the database of all of this activity available for all? Should be simple enough, right? Just have the searchable report on the internet for anyone to access at any time. Wait, that would be a dangerous invasion of privacy where anyone could stalk anyone else? Exactly.

Bracken Jr. and I have committed to this year’s Titans Foundation 5K in September. I have always wanted to do that. And now it’s the last year of the old stadium. We’ll finish the race strong out on the 50-yard line of an NFL field.

Junior and I also got the opportunity to serve as judges at this year’s Murfreesboro Hot Chicken Festival, held on the Square in July. The Pulse accepted the gracious invitation from Murfreesboro Markets and Events, the festival organizer, with the understanding that we may not survive participating in the final round of judging.

The first two rounds—Most Creative and Best in the Boro—were a great experience, extremely enjoyable. We got to eat some delicious, creative creations—there was a pineapple upside-down cake-type of dish topped with hot chicken, a caramel sauce and some rosemary or something herby going on. We had a gold flake-topped wing and all sorts of fine fried chicken. Just a little bit of burn in the first and second rounds.

But after some tiny, tiny samples in the final round—the “Hottest of the Hot”—the Pulse judges declined to continue, in the interest of their stomachs and their desire to not ruin their next two days. “I’m tapping out,” Bracken Jr. said after finding out what the second entry in the Hottest of the Hot round was all about.

The annual event was a success once again, with plenty of delicious options for chicken eaters of all spice preferences to enjoy.

Otherwise, lately it’s been Mega Man and Mario Kart, sausage gravy and spinach smoothies.

Through recent conversations, I have realized that a capybara, chupacabra and kookaburra are all vastly different creatures.

The print industry lives! Printed periodicals are alive and well; at least the Murfreesboro Pulse continues rolling off the press. The people love it.

Thanks to everyone who is involved, reading, writing, distributing, picking it up, advertising, editing, sharing the stories, and giving us tips, events, news, information and support.

Unless you are reading this on our website, reading the Pulse involves no battery, no Wi-Fi, no algorithm, no data retention, no location tracking—just old-fashioned paper and ink in your hands.