Featured Poet: Nicholas A. Virgilio Edited by Alan Pizzarelli

Reading Nick’s letter now, years later, I can fully appreciate the truth of his words. The hard work ethic is especially relevant and essential to the seemingly simple poetic genre of haiku.

I first met Virgilio back in December of 1974, when we appeared on a television show in Philadelphia, along with Cor van den Heuvel, Bill Higginson and Virginia Brady Young to promote The Haiku Anthology. Later, back in our dressing room, Nick took me aside saying: “You know, you got a gift, kid. Stay with it and you’ll be one of our greatest poets.” “But, Nick,” I kidded, “I already am.”

Nicholas Anthony Virgilio was born at West Jersey Hospital in Camden, NJ on June 28, 1928, “under a full moon” he would later say. He attended Camden City Schools, graduating Camden High in 1946. He served in the US Navy for two years, and returned to Camden attending South Jersey College (now Rutgers University) and then Temple University under the GI Bill. He graduated from Temple University in 1952, and set out into a career in Radio and Sports Broadcasting.

He’s best known in South Jersey and Philadelphia as “Nickaphonic Nick” who worked dances and radio gigs with Jerry Blavat in the 1950s. He began his haiku apprenticeship in 1963, after reading Kenneth Yasuda’s A Pepper Pod.

His first published haiku appeared in The American Haiku magazine in 1963. His most famous haiku:

Lily: out of the water… out of itself

served as a model for original English language haiku form by dropping the common 5-7-5 syllable count in favor of shorter forms. This poem is particularly unusual because the majority of what Virgilio wrote in those early years adhered to the 5-7-5 dictum then prevalent.

In 1971, he co-directed the First International Haiku Festival in Philadelphia. He helped establish the Walt Whitman Center for the Arts and Humanities in Camden, and was its Poet in Residence for five years.

After his Selected Haiku was first published in 1985, Virgilio was interviewed on NPR’s Morning Edition and later become a regular commentator on Weekend Edition Saturday aptly combining his love of haiku and his earlier radio experience.

Nick Virgilio died of congestive heart failure while taping a television interview for the CBS program Nightwatch on January 3, 1989. His well-known "Lily" haiku is engraved upon his gravestone at Harleigh Cemetery, near Whitman’s tomb in Camden.

Though his work has been designated as haiku through the years, among Virgilio’s poems are a number of excellent senryu inspired by urban life and the death of his brother Larry in the Vietnam War.

January 2009 marks the 20th year of Nick’s passing. On January 25, 2009, the Nick Virgilio Haiku Association paid a tribute to the life and work of Nick, hosted by Rutgers University, Camden, NJ.

Simply Haiku joins this tribute and salutes the senryu poetry of Nicholas Anthony Virgilio.

SENRYU

taking a hard look at myself from all angles — the men’s store mirrors

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my spring love affair the old upright Remington wears a new ribbon

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in the singles’ bar magnifying loneliness her thick eye glasses

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my palsied mother pressing my forehead on hers this Ash Wednesday

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Thanksgiving alone ordering eggs and toast in an undertone

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alone on the road in the wake of the hearse dust on my shoes

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Thanksgiving dinner placing the baby’s high chair In the empty space

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telegram in hand the shadow of the marine darkens our screen door

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My gold star mother and father hold each other and the folded flag.

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my dead brother hearing his laugh in my laughter

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adding father’s name to the family tombstone with room for my own

Nicholas A. Virgilio

Credits:

Photograph of Nicholas A.Virgilio, copyright © 1974 by Bob Bartosz, Courier News.

All poems from Selected Haiku, Burnt Lake Press, © 1985 by Nicholas A. Virgilio; by permission of Tony Virgilio.

Grateful thanks are here given to Kathleen O’Toole, Raffael de Gruttola, Henry Brann, Tony Virgilio and the Nick Virgilio Association for their dedicated assistance.

"Trumps Criminal Associates from A to Z”

Donald Trump, Melania Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump, Eric Trump; >>> Greg Abbott, Ali Alexander, Samuel Alito, Rick Allen, Brian Babin, Jim Banks, Steve Bannon, Kathy Barnette, Bill Barr, Tom Barrack, Maria Bartiromo, Glenn Beck, John Bennett, Andy Biggs, Dan Bishop, Christina Bobb, Lauren Boebert, John Bolton, David Bossie, Kevin Brady, Mike Braun, Mo Brooks, Taylor Budowich, Ted Budd, Aileen Cannon, Madison Cawthorn, Tucker Carlson, Matthew Calamari, Kenneth Chesebro, Andrew Clyde, Jeffery Clark, Robert Cheeley, Chris Christie, Chris Collins, Susan Collins, James Comer, Kellyanne Conway, John Cornyn, Thomas Bryant Cotton, Kevin Cramer, Dan Crenshaw, Steven Crowder, Raphael Edward Cruz, Ken Cuccinelli, Warren Davidson, Louis DeJoy, Carlos DeOliveira, Ron DeSantis, Betsy DeVos, Lou Dobbs, Byron Donalds, John Eastman, Larry Elder, Jenna Ellis, Michael Ellis, Tom Emmer, Boris Epshteyn, Julie Jenkins Fancelli, Nigel Farage, Tom Fitton, Harrison Floyd, Michael Flynn, Matt Gaetz, Bob Gibbs, Newt Gingrich, Rudy Giuliani, Louie Gohmert, Sebastian Gorka, Paul Gosar, Trey Gowdy, Lindsey Graham, Charles Grassley, Mark Green, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Ric Grenell, Kimberly Guilfoyle, Alina Habba, Harriet Hageman, Misty Hampton, Liz Harrington, Nikki Haley, Scott Hall, Sean Hannity, Josh Hawley, Jody Hice, Hope Hicks, Thomas Homan, Richard Hudson, Duncan Hunter, Laura Ingraham, Kay Ivey, Ronny Jackson, Jim Jordan, Mike Johnson, Ron Johnson, Alex Jones, Fred Keller, Keith Kellogg, Mike Kelly, Bernard Kerik, Charlie Kirk, Kim Klacik, Kenneth Klukowski, Jared Kushner, Trevian Kutti, Tomi Lahren, Kari Lake, Cathleen Latham, Bill Lee, Mike Lee, Stephen Lee, Mark Levin, Corey Lewandowski, Christopher Liddell, Mike Lindell, Billy Long, Barry Loudermilk, Cynthia Lummis, Nick Luna, Nancy Mace, Paul Manafort, Roger Marshall, Thomas Massie, Douglas Mastriano, Angela McCallum, Kevin McCarthy, Mitch McConnell, Ronna Romney McDaniel, Kayleigh McEnany, Johnny McEntee, Mark Meadows, Molly Michael, Chris Miller, Jason Miller, Stephen Miller, Barry Moore, Steven Mnuchin, Rupert Murdoch, Greg Murphy, Heather Nauret, Waltine Torre Nauta Jr., Peter Navarro, Carl Nichols, Kristi Noem, Ralph Norman, Oliver North, Devin Nunes, Bill O’Reilly, Candace Owens, Stefan Passantino, Kash Patel, Dan Patrick, Rand Paul, Ken Paxton, David Perdue, Scott Perry, Rick Perry, Mike Pence, Judge-Jeanine Ferris Pirro, Mike Pompeo, Erik Prince, Vladimir Putin, Sidney Powell, Kim Reynolds, Karrin Taylor Robson, Michael Roman, Chip Roy, Marco Rubio, Anthony Sabatini, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, George Santos, Steve Scalise, Dan Scavino, Rick Scott, Tim Scott, Jeff Sessions, David Shafer, Ben Shapiro, Bill Shine, Kyrsten Lea Sinema, Ray Smith lll, Victoria Spartz, Sean Spicer, Todd Starnes, Elise Stefanik, William Stepien, Shawn Still, Roger Stone, Jason Sullivan, Clarence Thomas, Virginia (Ginni) Thomas, Tommy Tuberville, Mike Turner, James David (JD) Vance, Herschel Walker, Kelli Ward, Jesse Watters, Allen Weisselberg, Matthew George Whitaker, Susan Wiles, Ben Williamson, Chad Wolf, Lin Wood, Todd Young…Just to name a few. “Vote Blue in November: In numbers too big to rig, in numbers too real to steal….

381 Comments https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SY8rIL3xUKc

Kaden LaShare: Choosing to Serve His Country

“Only one percent of our population today will ever wear the uniform of this nation in any of its incarnations—soldier, sailor, airman, Marine, active, Guard or Reserve … That one percent, those sons, and daughters of our citizens, are the treasure of this nation.” Those words were uttered by then Air Force Gen. Paul J. Selva back in 2018 when Gen. Selva served as the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In America’s all-volunteer armed services, only those called, and willing, to serve do so. No one is forced to join. In 2022, there were 1.3 million active-duty military personnel, meaning the number of Americans currently answering the call is far less than one percent—more like less than a half percent. Those willing to answer should be lauded and celebrated for their decision and, it’s with that in mind, that Wheeling Park High School recently held such a celebration. WPHS recently held its inaugural Military Signing Day to honor 14 of its seniors who will make the transition from civilians to soldiers upon graduation. Fourteen of Park’s Class of 2023 have already or soon will sign on the line to join their brothers and sisters in service. Those students include 11 future members of the National Guard (Corbin Cutlip, Eddie Connor, DaeShawn Gordon, Gillian Connors, Naliah Lekanudos, Kaden LaShare, Delaney Walter, Christian Bryan, Bre’Onna Milbert, Jaden Palmer, Bryanna Nally); two future air force members in Brooke Carney and Zachary Brady, and one Marine in Alan Rojas. West Virginia Army National Guard Sgt. Andrea Gump, the school’s military career counselor, who has helped these students along their journeys, spoke during the ceremony. Each student has walked his or her path that led them to this decision—one none of them undertook lightly. Most students have “college, college, college” drilled into their heads throughout their scholastic educations. More recently, vocational education has been promoted as a viable alternative future for students. Military life has always been an option for students to explore. But given the less than one percent of the population currently serving, how and why does a young man or woman decide to make that call? For WPHS senior Kaden LaShare, he admitted it was a combination of real-world examples, and virtual fun and exploration. Yes, Kaden plays video games. He’s one of the millions of players of games like Call of Duty, which puts the player in the shoes of an individual in the military, fighting in battles on land, air, and sea. For most, it’s an escape, a release, a chance to unwind and enjoy some free time. But for LaShare, it began to foster a sense of genuine interest in taking those virtual experiences and transforming them into real-world experiences by joining the military. He’s also met and interacted with many veterans throughout his young life. Their stories, too, helped convince him that a calling to the military was one he seriously considered answering. He’s just one young man amongst his peers deciding to put his country and his countrymen ahead of himself by answering the call to serve. Each of these 14 students, and countless like them across the country, has a story of the hows and whys they put pen to paper and signed up. This is a sneak peek into his. The students who participated in WPHS' Military Signing Day. Front row, from left, are Eddie Conner, DaeShawn Gordon, Jaden Palmer, Corbin Cutlip, Zachary Brady, and Alan Rojas. Back row, from left, are Bryanna Nally, Kaden LaShare, Christian Bryan, Gillian Connors, Naliah Lekanudos, Bre'Onna Milbert, and Brooke Carney. Not pictured is Delaney Walter. Who or what first introduced you to the idea of joining the armed services? Where did you first go to get more information and what drew you in to get more info and further consider joining up? My first introduction to the armed forces was video games.  I grew up on Call of Duty and always saw myself potentially being an Army Soldier.  Throughout my years I’ve had the privilege of speaking with a few veterans and always greatly enjoyed their stories.  They got to see the world, and that was something I had always dreamt of doing. What set the particular branch apart that you joined from the others? What appealed most to you? Not going to lie for years I was all for the Marines.  Their grunt lifestyle and what seemed to be pure strength.  I even talked to a couple of Marines’ recruiters, but the further I dove into the Marines, the more I realized it just wasn’t for me.  SGT Gump just happened to be a recruiter we have at Wheeling Park High School, so I reached out and we started discussing some options.  I very quickly decided based on her story and who she was, that the National Guard had more to offer based on who I was as a person.  Their benefits seem to out way any other branch.  They also still have time for a very normal life. How long did you sign up for/what type of commitment is required for your initial enlistment? Is this something you could potentially see yourself re-upping or getting further involved in? I will be signing up for a 6-year contract.  Your commitment is pretty typical and expected when serving your country.  “Defend your state and country”, and help others.  I’ve always been one that people called for help so I figured why not do it at a bigger scale.  That is one of my bigger reasons for enlisting.  I love to help.  I definitely see myself re-enlisting. How will this help you in your career and life down the road? The National Guard opens up so many different paths and possibilities.  They give you something to stand on.  It is definitely a good boost into life, and I truly believe it can get you ahead of your peers if you take advantage of the opportunity.  What were your thoughts on WPHS’ doing the enlistment signing ceremony? Who came up with the idea? I believe SGT Gump came up with the idea for the signing day ceremony.  My personal opinion is that the whole thing truly was amazing.  It felt good to be recognized for our commitment.  I feel as though most schools just push for college, so I am very proud of WPHS as a whole for embracing the kids who decided to enlist in our country’s military.  What would you tell someone weighing their options about potentially enlisting? Were there any initial questions or hang-ups that you had? If I am completely honest there’s only so much advice you can offer someone when it comes to the military.  It really is a huge commitment, and you can’t do it based on what someone else thinks.  You just have to be willing to reach out to recruiters and explore your options.  Always do your research and be diligent.  I truly believe that you will know very quickly whether or not the military is for you.  There’s a reason we’re sometimes referred to as the “one percenters”.  Anyone who even considers joining the military has my respect for that reason.  Commitment, it’s one word but has a huge meaning when it comes to life.  If you can give something your all, there’s no doubt you’ll succeed. Read the full article

Escuchando... Al cabo de un rato alzo otra vez el hacha

      Listening... After a while,   I take up my axe again

se alisa el agua: un cangrejo de río invade los huecos de mi cara

the water stills: a crayfish enters      the hollows of my face

una página de Shelley avivándose, apagándose al paso de las nubes

    A page of Shelley brightens and dims         with passing clouds

se empaña el espejo, un nombre escrito hace mucho reaparece vago

the mirror fogs, a name written long ago faintly reappears

Rod Willmot

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lilas blancas antes del alba lucen solas

white lilacs before sunrise their own light

Virginia Brady Young

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esperando para hacerlo de nuevo, lluvias de abril

while we wait to do it again, the rains of spring

donde tres se ahogaron las aguas del lago cabrillean de mañana

where three drowned the lake water sparkles in the morning

sale la luna... ojos de ratones de bolsas orillan el barranco

moonrise... eyes of rock mice rim the dry gully

gato muerto... la boca abierta al chaparrón

dead cat... open-mouthed to the pouring rain

Michael McClintock

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fugaz ojo de ballena... las islas en el horizonte se hunden y boyan

passing whale's eye... the islands on the horizon sink and rise again

clarinar de gansos hondo en el espejo una puerta minúscula

sound of honking geese   deep in the mirror      a very small door

Larry Gates

Post 0278

Mikel Brady, North Carolina inmate 1403339, born 1989, incarceration intake at age 24, sentenced to death

Murder, Conspiracy

Convicted on four counts of first-degree murder, filed in connection with an attempted prison break that left four prison employees dead.  One week later the same jury sentenced Brady to death, for those crimes.

Brady was one of four prisoners charged in the brutal incident. According to news accounts at the time of the break—called the deadliest in the state’s history—the four prisoners used a hammer and scissors that Brady had managed to procure, via his job at the prison, to murder the guards. The men, who also wounded several others and set a fire as a diversion, were apprehended shortly afterwards.

The incident occurred at the Pasquotank County Correctional Institution in the northeast corner of North Carolina, not far from the Virginia border.

Brady had been in custody at Pasquotank for shooting a North Carolina state trooper during a highway stop. The trooper survived the shooting, despite being shot at close range. At the time, Brady was on the lam from felony charges pending against him in Vermont.

In his defense, Brady’s public defender attorneys underlined his difficult childhood, which included the murder of his father, when he was just 12. Brady, the attorneys said, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder at a young age.

Brady’s name first appeared in The Herald in 2002, when he was 12, after his father and uncle were both stabbed to death in Connecticut, as they tried to protect a relative from an aggressive ex-boyfriend.

Just seven years later, his name started appearing regularly—in police releases, court reports, and news articles—related to a series of crimes that resulted in a slew of charges.

He was one of a number of young men in the area eventually charged for operating a burglary and drug ring that had about 100 victims. Later Brady was arrested on federal charges, for stealing 209 sticks of dynamite from the Rock of Ages quarry in Bethel. As those cases were working their way through the courts, Brady and another suspect in some of those crimes, Josh Hill, fled to Mexico. The two were subsequently captured, extradited back to Vermont, and sent to prison in 2009.

After serving his minimum sentence and earning a “good behavior” report, Brady was released from prison in 2012.

However, after a short spell when things seemed to be stabilizing for Brady, he was named as a suspect in a deer poaching incident in Royalton.

That brought a warrant for his arrest, and certain jail time, as he was, by that time, a convicted felon, and one in possession of a gun, a federal offense.

With that incentive to run, Brady again fled Vermont.

He dropped off the radar of Vermont authorities, when the North Carolina state trooper pulled him over for a seatbelt violation.

Brady, who shot the officer four times and left him for dead, was subsequently captured, after an intense manhunt. He has been in North Carolina prisons since then.

2m

all my life the silence of the sun - Virginia Brady Young

💗 i would like a list of all 3 million potential pairings please 🙈

my god, i would love to take the time out of my day to give that to you, and just know that we can ship literally anybody and everybody because that’s all we ever do in the first place and you know how much i love doing that with you too. my favorite writing partner everybody, bre is hands down the best partner in the whole world, and i’m lucky enough to be able to have her at all. she’s mine and i’m never going to let her go because i love her so much! she’s literally the best thing to ever happen to me and i know i wouldn’t be here through the shitty times and all without her! everybody better go follow her right now and send her all the love i swear to god, because she’s the only person on this hell site that shows me the attention that i deserve! also that list of potential pairings is below the cut, and don’t say i didn’t warn you. 👀

send 💗 if you’re open to the possibility of a romantic ship eventually happening between our muses

all these characters are up for shipping with all your characters:

alex gardiner (paul rudd) alexander hamilton (lin-manuel miranda) alex mullner (brant daughterty) alice liddell (madelyn cline) alisha khara (jameela jamil) annie abel (luna blaise/anya chalotra) antonia moreno (victoria justice) apollonia levine (anastasia karanikolaou) arthur pendragon (niall horan) ashley spinelli (ursula corbero) aspen rhodes (sofia black-d'elia) astrid porter (karlie kloss) audrey ramirez (selena gomez) august khalil (rami malek) axel turner (charlie weber/skeet ulrich) aziz hassan (riz ahmed) bailee rose (jenny boyd) bambi prince (lachlan watson) barbie roberts (kate upton) barley lightfoot (michael clifford) beatriz velasco (camila cabello/diane guerrero)  beau hester (froy gutierrez) beck collins (joe keery) bellatrix lestrange (carmela zumbado) belle dubois (margaret qualley) belle summers (candice king) berliouz bonfamille (alex fitzalan) bernard davenport (gavin leatherwood) billie groves (kiana lede/emmy raver-lampman) billy hargrove (dacre montgomery) bindi culver (meg donnelly/rachel mcadams) bo-peep ‘bo’ patterson (amanda seyfried) brady gardiner (nathaniel buzolic) brielle stewart (alexandra daddario) bronwyn pierson (madelaine petsch) buzz lightyear (paul mescal/chris pine) calliope jung (phillipa soo) camille aguilar (jeanine mason) carl fredricksen (tye sheridan) celeste quintana (rosalia/maite perroni) chandler armstrong (iwan rheon) cinderella tremaine (lily james) clementine ahn (jamie chung) cliff egan (stephen amell) colleen lowell (jodie comer) connor catrell (thomas doherty) copper slade (nick jonas) cordelia goodwin (ryan destiny/candice patton) coriander thompson (dacre montgomery/chris evans) cornelius robinson (simon baker) cruella de vil (melanie martinez) cyrus quinney (owen joyner) daisy vaughn (isabella gomez/aimee carrero) dakota atkins (amber midthunder) dale monks (keiynan lonsdale) dalton davis (harris dickinson) daniela ‘dani’ costello (becky g/eva longoria) dash parr (jaden smith) delilah diaz (camila cabello/diane guerrero) delphine washington (antonia thomas) delta montgomery (manu gavassi) denver koch (thomas elms) devon montgomery (iain de caestecker) diego hargreeves (david castaneda) dorcas meadowes (ariela barer) dory blau (julia louise-dreyfus) duke blaise (ashley graham & matthew daddario — reincarnated)  duncan traeger (zac efron) edmund whittaker (richard madden) edwin orwell (nicholas galitzine) elena flores (jenna ortega) eleonora moretti (benedetta gargari) eleven (millie bobby brown) elio montgomery (noah schnapp/brendon urie) elisabeth ‘elsa’ andersson (candice king) elliott murdoch (kj apa) eloise thompson (taylor hill/zoey deutch) elwood leith (sam claflin) emerson wheaton (beau mirchoff) emily sondheim (eve fraser) emmy silverstein (nat wolff/michiel huisman) ericka ‘ricki’ santos (danna paola) esmeralda guybertaut (priyanka chopra) everest sorenson (adam driver) ezekiel ‘zeke’ bauer (neels visser) fa mulan (awkwafina) felix dawson (lukas gage) ferris rockwell (joshua bassett) five hargreeves (aidan gallagher/rob raco/john mulaney) florence prata (barbie ferreira) flynn rider (jacob elordi/steven r mcqueen) frank castle (jon bernthal) gabrielle dupres (louriza tronco) genevieve rizzo (troian bellisario) gill moorish (harrison ford) godwin vivar (diego boneta) grainger anslow (justin hartley) grant wesley (keanu reeves) griffin price (liam hemsworth) guinevere ‘gwen’ flores (ester exposito/ana de armas) gulliver kennedy (robert sheehan) gunner mccoy (miles heizer) halston krogen (nick robinson) hamish duke (thomas elms) harper graves (sydney sweeney) harry potter (alberto rosende) harvey wolff (joaquin phoenix) hawke bradbury (brenton thwaites) helen parr (megan thee stallion/kerry washington) hendrix palmer (mark fischbach) henley howell (dylan everett/paul wesley) henrik nilsen (herman tommeraas/chris evans) hercules sabri (aubrey joseph) hermione granger (quintessa swindell) holden krogen (jack falahee) holly la stella (olivia holt) honey lemon (irene ferreiro) hudson reid (jaeden lieberher/paul mescal/james mcavoy) irving reid (matty healy) isobel evans (lily cowles) jacoba ‘cobi’ abernathy (geraldine viswanathan) jake bennett (joe jonas) jake breckenridge (landon liboiron) james potter (noah centineo) james ‘sully’ sullivan (hozier) jane porter (zoe sugg) jasmine agrabah (naomi scott) jessica jones (krysten ritter) jim hopper (david harbour) johanna ‘jo’ gardiner (carlson young) josefine olive (lili reinhart/maika monroe) joseph ‘joey’ carnegie (chris o'dowd) juliette russo (camila mendes) juno nicks (gideon adlon/linda cardellini) justin miller (michael b. jordan) keaton green (charlie plummer/austin butler/alexander skarsgard) keifer fry (nathan parsons) kennedy sutherland (florence pugh) khalid farid (mena massoud) kiernan jost (jack barakat) kiki penn (natalie alyn lind)  kim possible (karen gillan) kit dempsey (aaron taylor-johnson/michael sheen) kristoff bjorgman (ben hardy) kuzco inca (tommy martinez) lady alvarez (camila cabello/diane guerrero) lake montgomery (jace norman/casey deidrick/jeff goldblum) lazarus (sean teale/tom ellis) lennox wells (billie piper) leonardo ‘leo’ light (armie hammer) levi wesley (gerard butler) liam wheaton (lucas lynngaard tonnesen/dominic sherwood) lilac montgomery (sophia lillis/deborah ann woll) lila pitts (ritu arya) lilo pelekai (courtney eaton) lola carver (carla gugino) macy merritt (kylie jenner) madeline hawkins (rowan blanchard/kaylee bryant) madison bloomfield (gwyneth paltrow) maggie wheaton (virginia gardner) maria deluca (heather hemmens) mariana de la cruz (victoria justice/salma hayek) marianne darden (elizabeth olsen) marisol torres (alexa demie/salma hayek) marlene phan (brianne tju) matilda franks (brooke markham) matthew murdock (charlie cox) max tian (chloe bennet) mckenzie whitman (danielle rose russell) megara creon (ashley moore) melanie carter (brenna d'amico/zooey deschanel) melody burns-newman (camren bicondova) mercutio bellini (giancarlo commare) merida dunbroch (bree kish) michael ‘goob’ yagoobian (dylan o’brien/andrew scott) mickey hader (shawn mendes) miguel rivera (diego tinoco) mike wheeler (finn wolfhard) mildred ‘millie’ brantwood (stella maeve) milo martinez (itzan escamilla/tyler posey) milo thatch (jason ralph) minerva ‘minnie’ winslett (jenna coleman) mischa locklear (jenny slate) moana motunui (auli'i cravalho) molly wheaton (saoirse monica jackson/kristen bell/kristin chenoweth) monet bugg (annie murphy) mordecai ‘cai’ baird (joseph morgan) murray bauman (brett gelman) nadja (natasia demetriou) naomi phillips (hunter king) natalie fuller (krysten ritter) nate gardiner (tom holland/thomas hayes/joe keery/adam scott) nemo fisher (nick robinson) nick novak (jon bernthal) nick wilde (jake johnson) nina baxter (laura harrier) nolan van ness (louis hynes/benjamin wadsworth) nymphadora tonks (kennedy walsh) odessa barnes (inanna sarkis) osbourne russo (oliver jackson-cohen) otis richardson (finn jones) owen monroe (zachary levi) paloma katz (brittany o'grady) paxton gardiner (douglas booth) pearl turner (maia mitchell/aubrey plaza) penny proud (sarah jeffery) perdita ryan (alisha boe/zoe kravitz) perrie wheaton (ariela barer/jessica alba) peter pan (rudy pankow) peter pettigrew (alex lawther) phil mcdermot (leo howard/dylan o’brien) phineas flynn-fletcher (michael provost) piper donahue (millie bobby brown/katherine langford/felicity jones) pippa mei (amy okuda) pollux isola (camila mendes) portia sadler (hayden panettiere) prairie gallagher (lucy boynton) quaid ‘q’ wright (jake gylenhaal) quinton saunders (jamie dornan) rain montgomery (nick jonas) ramona montgomery-wallis (lana condor/ashley park) reed knightley (arthur darvill) reign fentworth (madison bailey/vanessa morgan) reno thames (joshua bassett) richie tozier (finn wolfhard/bill hader) river montgomery (jack griffo/tyler blackburn) robin buckley (maya hawke) roger holtz (ben platt) roger radcliffe (aaron tveit) romy reyes (carmela zumbado) ronald ‘mac’ mcdonald (rob mcelhenney) roosevelt banks (spence moore II) rowan burke (andy biersack) roxanne sutton (lady gaga) rush mccoy (cody fern) russell montgomery (ian harding/hugh jackman) russell montgomery II (jack dylan grazer/timothee chalamet/adam brody) sable rosales (catherine bascoy) saint fentworth (reece king) sally finklestein (marina ruy barbosa) salvador ‘sal’ mendoza (jorge blanco) samson gardiner (cole sprouse) sandy diamandis (christina hendricks) sawyer bell (penn badgley) seamus kennedy (aria shanghasemi/michael sheen) seb seif (zeeko zaki) selena hada (camila cabello/diane guerrero) severus snape (rob raco) shawn taggart (ben barnes) shay strauss (chris wood) shia zoheir (rami malek) shiloh young (devery jacobs) shiri madani (inbar lavi) simba king (john boyega) sloane shapiro (diana silvers/linda cardellini) sofia ramirez (camila cabello/camila mendes/morena baccarin/fluvia lacerda) stefani vidal (louriza tronco) stella romero (adria arjona) steve harrington (joe keery) stevie wagner (anne hathaway/jennifer garner) sutton reiser (katherine langford/kat dennings) tandy hawthorne (giorgia whigham) tanner cohen (ross lynch) tarrant ‘mad hatter’ hightopp (hale appleman) tarryn fischer (giorgia whigham/perry mattfeld) tatum barton (ben schwartz) teddy flood (james marsden) tex navarro (bad bunny) thad abraham (dylan sprouse/chris evans) the handler (kate walsh) thomas gardiner (felix mallard/paul rudd) tierney kennedy (maisie williams) timothy ‘tigger’ trigger (jeremy allen white) tinker bell (sabrina carpenter) tj lieberman (armie hammer) tommy burns (will poulter) topher larkin (alexander hogh andersen) trey turner (jonathan daviss) ursula celia (normani/lizzo) vaughn abel (max greenfield) veronica lodge (camila mendes) vidia viento (emma dumont) vivica lang (madison pettis/tessa thompson) wanda cowell (brenda song) warren wentz (robert pattinson) wendell langston (link neal) wilbur robinson (david mazouz) winnie knox (sophie turner/jessica chastain) wren green (alexander calvert) wynona winstead (sarah hyland/cristin milioti) xander talbot (g-eazy) york pemberton (heather baron-gracie) yusef barlas (zayn malik) zack abrams (alex fitzalan) ziggy (taron egerton) zoey matthews (olivia munn)

The Art Of Love | 1

Pairing :Kim Taehyung x reader

Genra : Romance, Young adult.

Author Note :

This is a novella kind of a story. I hope you guys enjoy reading this.

Comment share love.

STORY

I walk up the stairs of my dorm campus. The building is quite old obviously the university is old and quite prestigious.

It's all new for me, a new university, a new city hell it's even a new country. I feel a little nauseated. Not even a single known face. As I near the dorm room my thoughts become blurred by the adrenaline. I am the first one to arrive. I am sharing this room with three more people. The common room is quite huge. There's one door at the other end of the hall thad closes and another arch way that leads towards a door and one more archway on the left hand. The archway leads to the kitchen and the two doors two our rooms.

I see my name written on a thin rectangular paper on the door that's after the archway and I enter the room.

The room is spacious if you know how to manage the space and one thing that growing up in india teaches you is makeing the most of the smallest spaces.

On the farthest corner near the window Is a bed and the other one is somewhere a little towards the door. There are two desk one on the foot of the bed near the window and other one is in the middle. There are two dresser adjacent to each other on the door wall in the middle of the room. I guess we have to rearrange the room so I do, at least my part.

I first arrange the dresser which is surprisingly light to the dark corner for which I had to move the bed a little next to the dresser and directly under the window I place my desk and on the other dark corner I place the bed. Then I arranged all my belongings which were not much cause I figured I'd go shopping once I am settled.

Then I moved the other desk below the other window on the adjacent wall on the other corner and left the bed and dresser as they are.

I went to the common room and saw a girl with bright green eyes, dark hairs standing there.

"Hi." I started " I am Y/N L/N."

She gives me huge smile. "Hi Y/N" she says in a posh accent and I can easily see that she is British by the way she said my name. "I am Annette Pitt. But call me Anni."

I in return nod with a smile that matches hers. Suddenly the door opens with a huge bang and a girl, her hairs colored purple on the ends, tattooed arms, enters.

"Yo peeps. Meet your new roommate Alexandera Rose Sanderson." -"Thats a mouth full"- Anni whispers- "A.K.A Loxi".

"She is a handful." I play fully say. "I m so liking it."

Alexandera smirks at me. She makes her way to the door direct in the corner and smiles widely.

"Which one of you has the pleasure to share this with me." She says and me both laugh

"Me your highness." Anni says.

"See you in a bit. Toodles."

"Okay she is the most inconsistent person I've ever met." I announced

"Well you haven't met the girl next door then I assume. " Anni says

I shrugged In answer.

All three of us sat in a circle and talked about ourselves for hour. Alexa is from Virginia which 4 hours drive from here. She has 3 brothers all older she hasn't decided on her major yet which I think is not surprising at all. Anni on the other hand is majoring in sociology. She is from a small town near London and her mom was american and studied here.

I am majoring in Studio Arts. And I am form a small town in south india.

My roommate has still not arrived. Its almost noon so we order lunch which was pizza. As soon as we finished pizza a small timid girl arrived her hair were neatly tied up in a french braid she looked asian but with her a little girls entered with a man who both look quite american. "Hi um..." she hesitated for a moment "I am Harumi Jo smith."

We all introduce ourselves and her dad and her sister help's her move in and so do we.

She went down to say down to both.

"Let's go shop for our dorm." Alexa suggests.

"Mumm..." Anni says

"Okay." I say "I was gonna do shopping any way. ..come on anni it will be fun."

"Plus I have a car we can go in." Alexa adds.

"Fine" Anni sighs out.

We all make our way out after closing up and getting everything we need. We met Harumi on the way and she agreed to join us too.

After shopping and getting everything we need and many things we didn't, we found a place to have dinner, which was a maxican restaurant right down the alley from the campus.

We ordered and started talking when a loud group of boys. Around our age enter. There were six of them and all them were quite good looking. As they came closer I could see them even better. One of them caught my eyes. He had blonde hairs blue eyes and was built quite well.

One of the guys catches the eye of alexa and his eyes widen "Lexi" he says and Lexi smiles wide "Brady." She sequels

"You finally decided to join huh." The Brady guys says and alexa nods but shrugged.

"Well these are my mates, this is." He points at a guy who looked asian I notice 3 out of them did. "Park jimin."

"Hey" he says with a little nod and a wave.

"This is " he pointed at the blonde guy "James Brown."

"Hello." James says with a flirty smile. I know his type play boy

"This one." He points at another of asian guy quite tall dark hair he was quite beautiful I mean I cant explained how he looked he had intense eyes and tight jaw but relaxed and open posture "Kim taehyung."

He just nods softly with a smile.

Then Brady points at the guy next to this kim guy and say "this is Kim Namjoon."

"Hi." He says with a nod

And then he points at the guy to his right "this is John miller."

Then Alexa introduced us girls and by the time food had arrived. And they ordered.

"See you in classes if we do." Alexa says as we leave.

PART 2 

wardrobe + other favs!

bc bully for you if you think i’m going to make yet another graphic! i’m really just gonna recycle my playlist one too! y’all i’m really bad at graphics!

FAVORITE OUTFIT: Does she have a direct favorite outfit? Certainly not! But she’s gotta make up for missing the early-mid 90s flannel craze! Anything flannel, straight cuffed jeans, graphic band shirt or crop tops, Doc Martens, denim shorts above leggings... 

FAVORITE MOVIE(S): A Fish Called Wanda, but she’ll settle for anything Jamie Lee. True Lies? An awakening moment. Halloween? Her favorite horror movie! Prom Night? ...Her second favorite horror movie! Also keen on comedies such as The Brady Bunch Movie/A Very Brady Sequel, Clue, and Airplane. If she wants to actually think, though? Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (which, yes, she knows started as a play) is That Bitch™.

FAVORITE BOOK(S): As a plot-twist, even for pre-spiral, Absalom, Absalom! by William Faulkner is a big one, as are The Ballad of the Sad Café by Carson McCullers and Wise Blood by Flannery O’Connor. She read A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce, liked it, found out about his sc*t k*nk, and never picked it up again (idk how comfortable some of y’all are with this so I won’t say more, but please hit me up if you want to see the letters he wrote to his wife... this is like chainmail, I have to pass the curse on). The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin is yet another one! But if she wants a ‘light’ read? Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann.

FAVORITE SHOW(S): Well, the parody movie couldn’t be a favorite if she hadn’t watched The Brady Bunch in her youth! As for shows she currently enjoys, though -- definitely a fan of The Twilight Zone, even though it only shows every so often. The Nanny is, without a doubt, her favorite sitcom. She also began watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer and would be so sad if she knew that there was this thing she couldn’t have because it hasn’t been invented yet: a DVR.

Glenda Farrell (June 30, 1904 – May 1, 1971) was an American actress. With a career spanning more than 50 years, Farrell appeared in over 100 films and television series, as well as numerous Broadway play. She won an Emmy Award in 1963 for Outstanding Supporting Actress for her performance as Martha Morrison in the medical drama television series Ben Casey.

Farrell began acting on stage as a child and continued with various theatre companies and on Broadway before signing with Warner Bros. Embodying the brassy blonde character of the early talkies. Farrell was a signature 1930s Warner Bros. star, starring in films such as Little Caesar (1931), I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932), Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933) and Lady for a Day (1933). Starting with Smart Blonde (1937), Farrell played Torchy Blane, the hard-boiled, wisecracking reporter in a series of popular films; which later was credited by comic book writer Jerry Siegel as the inspiration for the DC Comics reporter, Lois Lane. After leaving Warner Bros. in 1939, Farrell remained active in film, television and theatre throughout rest of her career.

Farrell was born in Enid, Oklahoma, to Wilhelmina "Minnie" (nee Messer, 1879-1931) of German descent and Charles A. Farrell (1873-1937) of Irish and Cherokee descent. Farrell was the only daughter and had two younger brothers, Eugene and Richard. After her family moved to Wichita, Kansas, Farrell began acting on stage with a theatrical company at age seven, playing the role of Little Eva in the play Uncle Tom's Cabin. Farrell's mother had never achieved her desire of being an actress, encouraged and supported her daughter's acting interests. When her family moved to San Diego, California, a teenage Farrell joined the Virginia Brissac Stock Company. Farrell made the third honour roll in Motion Picture Magazine's "Fame and Fortune Contest". Her picture and biography were featured in the magazine's April 1919 issue, which also stated that Farrell had some experience in the chorus, vaudeville, and camp entertainments. Farrell received a formal education at the Mount Carmel Catholic Academy.

In 1928, Farrell was cast as the lead actress in the play The Spider and made her film debut in a minor role in Lucky Boy. Farrell moved to New York City in 1929, where she replaced Erin O'Brien-Moore as Marion Hardy in Aurania Rouverol's play Skidding. The play later served as the basis for the Andy Hardy film series. By April 1929, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported that she had played the role 355 times. Farrell appeared in a number of other plays, including Divided Honors, Recapture, and Love, Honor and Betray with George Brent, Alice Brady, and Clark Gable.

In 1930, she starred in the comedy short film The Lucky Break with Harry Fox, and in July 1930 Film Daily announced that Farrell had been cast in Mervyn LeRoy's film Little Caesar as the female lead, Olga Stassoff. Afterward, she returned to Broadway and starred in On the Spot at the Forrest Theater. At the time, Farrell conceded that motion pictures offered immense salaries, but felt the theater was the foundation of the actor's profession.[6] She appeared in several more plays.

In 1932, Farrell starred in the hit play Life Begins. Her performance caught the attention of Jack Warner, who signed her to a contract with the Warner Bros. film studio and cast her to recreate the role in Warner Bros.' film adaptation of Life Begins later that year. Farrell did not return to the stage until 1939.

In her first two years with Warner Bros., Farrell starred in 17 films, including Girl Missing (1933), Gambling Ship (1933), Man's Castle (1933) opposite Spencer Tracy, and Columbia Pictures' Lady for a Day (1933) by director Frank Capra. Farrell sometimes would work on three pictures that were shooting at the same time and managed to transition from one role to another effortlessly. She worked in over 20 movies between 1934 and 1936, starring in films such as Go into Your Dance (1935), Little Big Shot (1935) and High Tension (1936).

Farrell was close friends with fellow Warner Bros. actress Joan Blondell,[8] and throughout the early 1930s, they were paired as a comedy duo in a series of five Warner Bros. movies: Havana Widows (1933), Kansas City Princess (1934), Traveling Saleslady (1935), We're in the Money (1935) and Miss Pacific Fleet (1935). She also appeared with Blondell in the Academy Award-nominated Gold Diggers of 1935 and Gold Diggers of 1937 musical film series. Farrell and Blondell co-starred in a total of nine films. Together, they came to personify the smart and sassy, wisecracking dames of '30s and '40s film.

In 1937, Farrell began starring as Torchy Blane, the fast-talking wisecracking newspaper reporter.[9] Warner Bros. had started to develop a film adaptation of "MacBride and Kennedy" stories by detective novelist Frederick Nebel in 1936. For the film version, Kennedy is changed to a woman named Theresa "Torchy" Blane and is in love with MacBride's character. Director Frank MacDonald immediately knew whom he wanted for the role of Torchy Blane. Farrell had already proved that she could play hard-boiled reporters in Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933) and Hi, Nellie! (1934); and was quickly cast as Torchy with Barton MacLane playing detective Steve McBride in the first Torchy Blane film Smart Blonde (1937).

Smart Blonde was a surprise hit and became a popular second feature with moviegoers. Warner Bros. starred her in several more Torchy Blane movies opposite Barton MacLane. She portrayed Torchy in seven films from 1937 to 1939. The films took Farrell's popularity to a new level. She was beloved by the moviegoing public and received a huge amount of fan mail for the films. On her portrayal of the Torchy Blane character, Farrell said in her 1969 Time interview: "So before I undertook to do the first Torchy, I determined to create a real human being—and not an exaggerated comedy type. I met those [news-women] who visited Hollywood and watched them work on visits to New York City. They were generally young, intelligent, refined, and attractive. By making Torchy true to life, I tried to create a character practically unique in movies."

Along with starring in the Torchy Blane series, Farrell appeared in a number of other films, including Breakfast for Two (1937), Hollywood Hotel (1937), and Prison Break (1938). Additionally, she performed in several radio series, including Vanity and Playhouse in 1937, and Manhattan Latin with Humphrey Bogart in 1938.

Farrell was elected to a one-year term as the honorary mayor of North Hollywood in 1937, beating her competition Bing Crosby and Lewis Stone by a three-to-one margin. Even though it began as a Warner Bros. publicity stunt, Farrell took the job seriously, attending functions, presentations, and ceremonies. She was also put in charge when the North Hollywood Chamber of Commerce announced that it wanted to put sewers along Ventura Highway and started the groundwork for that project.

In 1939, Farrell left Warner Bros. when her contract expired. Several factors resulted in her decision including, feeling Warner Bros. was typecasting her as a newspaper reporter, a disagreement by Jack Warner for a pay rise, and wanting to return to the theatre. Farrell later told syndicated columnist Bob Thomas in 1952: "There's something more satisfying about working in a play. You get that immediate response from the audience, and you feel that your performance is your own. In pictures, you get frustrated because you feel you have no power over what you're doing".

In July 1939, Farrell starred in the lead role in the play Anna Christie at the Westport Country Playhouse, then followed that with a summer stock production of S. N. Behrman's play Brief Moment. She co-starred with Lyle Talbot and Alan Dinehart in the long-running play Separate Rooms at Broadway's Plymouth Theater for a successful 613-performance run throughout 1940 and 1941. In April 1942, she starred in the Broadway play, The Life of Reilly.

Farrell returned to motion pictures in 1941, starring in director Mervyn LeRoy's film noir, Johnny Eager. Throughout the '40s, '50s, and '60s, Farrell continued to appear in numerous films, including the Academy Award-nominated The Talk of the Town (1942), Heading for Heaven (1947) and the 1954 Charlton Heston adventure epic Secret of the Incas.

Farrell made her television debut in 1949 in the anthology series The Chevrolet Tele-Theatre. She appeared in over 40 television series between 1950 and 1969, including Kraft Theatre, Studio One in Hollywood, The United States Steel Hour, Bonanza, and Bewitched.

In 1963, she guest-starred in the ABC medical drama series Ben Casey as Martha Morrison in the two-part episode "A Cardinal Act of Mercy". She won the Primetime Emmy Award for outstanding performance in a supporting role by an actress. Farrell co-starred with her son Tommy Farrell in two comedy films in 1964: Kissin' Cousins with Elvis Presley and Jerry Lewis in The Disorderly Orderly.

Farrell briefly retired in 1968, but soon decided to return to acting. Farrell's final work in her long career was the Broadway play Forty Carats. She was appearing in Forty Carats at the Morosco Theatre until ill health forced her to leave the play a few months later. Farrell was eventually diagnosed with lung cancer.

In 1920, Farrell was hired to do a dance routine at a Navy benefit ball in San Diego. There she met her first husband, Thomas Richards. They were married from 1921 to 1929. Their son, actor Tommy Farrell, was born in 1921. In 1931, she was engaged to Jack Durant of the comedy duo "Mitchell and Durant" but never married him. She dated screenwriter Robert Riskin a few years later.

In 1941, Farrell married Dr. Henry Ross. The couple met when Farrell sprained her ankle during a performance of the play Separate Rooms and was treated backstage by Ross, who had been called forth from the audience. Ross was a staff surgeon at New York's Polyclinic Hospital and West Point graduate, who later served as chief of the public health section on General Eisenhower's staff. Farrell and Ross remained married until her death 30 years later. Farrell was a devout Catholic.

In 1971, Farrell died from lung cancer, aged 66, at her home in New York City and was interred in the West Point Cemetery in West Point, New York. When Ross, who did not remarry, died in 1991, he was buried with her.

Comic book writer Jerry Siegel credits Farrell's portrayal of Torchy Blane as the inspiration for the fictional Daily Planet reporter and Superman's love interest, Lois Lane. Siegel also named June Farrell, one of the characters in his Funnyman comic book series, after Farrell.

On February 8, 1960, Farrell received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contribution to motion pictures, at 6524 Hollywood Boulevard.

In 1977, Farrell's husband Dr. Henry Ross donated 38 acres of land to the Putnam County Land Trust, establishing the Glenda Farrell–Henry Ross Preserve.

The FBI warned for years that police are cozy with the far right. Is no one listening?

Mike German

I was an FBI agent who infiltrated white supremacists. Too many local police don’t take the far right seriously – or actively sympathize

Fri 28 Aug 2020 22.47

For decades, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has routinely warned its agents that the white supremacist and far-right militant groups it investigates often have links to law enforcement. Yet the justice department has no national strategy designed to protect the communities policed by these dangerously compromised law enforcers. As our nation grapples with how to reimagine public safety in the wake of the protests following the police killing of George Floyd, it is time to confront and resolve the persistent problem of explicit racism in law enforcement.

I know about these routine warnings because I received them as a young FBI agent preparing to accept an undercover assignment against neo-Nazi groups in Los Angeles, California, in 1992. But you don’t have to take my word for it. A redacted version of a 2006 FBI intelligence assessment, White Supremacist Infiltration of Law Enforcement, alerted agents to “both strategic infiltration by organized groups and self-initiated infiltration by law enforcement personnel sympathetic to white supremacist causes”.

A leaked 2015 counter-terrorism policy guide made the case more directly, warning agents that FBI “domestic terrorism investigations focused on militia extremists, white supremacist extremists, and sovereign citizen extremists often have identified active links to law enforcement officers”.

If the government knew that al-Qaida or Isis had infiltrated American law enforcement agencies, it would undoubtedly initiate a nationwide effort to identify them and neutralize the threat they posed. Yet white supremacists and far-right militants have committed far more attacks and killed more people in the US over the last 10 years than any foreign terrorist movement. The FBI regards them as the most lethal domestic terror threat. The need for national action is even more critical.

In recent years, white supremacists have engaged in deadly rampages in Charleston, South Carolina, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and El Paso, Texas. More ominously, neo-Nazis obtained radiological materials to manufacture “dirty” bombs in separate cases in Maine in 2009 and Florida in 2017, which were only avoided through chance.

But in June 2019, when Congressman William Lacy Clay asked the FBI counter-terrorism chief, Michael McGarrity, whether the bureau remained concerned about white supremacist infiltration of law enforcement since the publication of its 2006 assessment, McGarrity indicated he had not read it. Asked more generally about this infiltration, McGarrity said he would be “suspect” of white supremacist police officers, but that their ideology was a first amendment–protected right.

The 2006 assessment addresses this concern, however, by summarizing supreme court precedent on the issue: “Although the First Amendment’s freedom of association provision protects an individual’s right to join white supremacist groups for the purposes of lawful activity, the government can limit the employment opportunities of group members who hold sensitive public sector jobs, including jobs within law enforcement, when their memberships would interfere with their duties.”

More importantly, the FBI’s 2015 counter-terrorism policy, which McGarrity was responsible for executing, indicates not just that members of law enforcement might hold white supremacist views, but that FBI domestic terrorism investigations have often identified “active links” between the subjects of these investigations and law enforcement officials. But its proposed remedy is stunningly inadequate. It simply instructs agents to protect their investigations by using the “silent hit” feature of the Terrorist Screening Center watchlist, so that police officers searching for themselves or their white supremacist associates could not ascertain whether they were under FBI scrutiny.

Of course, one doesn’t need access to secret FBI terrorism investigations to find evidence of explicit racism within law enforcement. Since 2000, law enforcement officials with alleged connections to white supremacist groups or far-right militant activities have been exposed in Alabama, California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia, among other states. Research organizations have uncovered hundreds of federal, state and local law enforcement officials participating in racist, nativist and sexist social media activity, which demonstrates that overt bias is far too common.

Law enforcement officials actively affiliating with white supremacist and far-right militant groups pose a serious threat to people of color, religious minorities, LGBTQ people and anti-racist activists. But the police response to nationwide protests that followed the murder of George Floyd in May 2020, includes a number of law enforcement officers across the country flaunting their affiliation with far-right militant groups.

A veteran sheriff’s deputy monitoring a Black Lives Matter protest in Orange county, California, wore patches with logos of the Three Percenters and the Oath Keepers – far-right militant groups that often challenge the federal government’s authority – affixed to his bullet-proof vest.

A 13-year veteran of the Chicago police department with a long history of misconduct complaints was investigated for wearing a face covering with a Three Percenters’ logo while on duty at a recent protest. A supervisor pictured with him at the scene apparently did not order him to remove it.

In Philadelphia, police officers failed to intervene when mostly white mobs armed with bats, clubs and long guns attacked journalists and protesters. The district attorney has vowed to investigate the matter. The following month, however, Philadelphia police officers openly socialized with several men wearing Proud Boys regalia and carrying the group’s flag at a “Back the Blue” party at the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge.

Police officers casually fraternizing with armed far-right militia groups at protests is confounding because many states, including California, Illinois and Pennsylvania, have laws barring unregulated paramilitary activities and far-right militants have often killed police officers. The overlap between militia members and the Boogaloo movement – whose adherents have been arrested for inciting a riot in South Carolina, and shooting, bombing and killing police officers in California – highlights the threat that police engagement with these groups poses to their law enforcement partners.

Law enforcement agencies must do more to strengthen their anti-discrimination policies, improve applicant and employee screening, establish reporting mechanisms, and protect and reward officers who report their colleagues’ racist misconduct.

Prosecutors also have an important role in protecting the integrity of the criminal justice system from the potential misconduct of explicitly racist officers. Prosecutors keep a register of law enforcement officers whose previous misconduct could reasonably undermine the reliability of their testimony and need to be disclosed to defense attorneys. This register is often referred to as a “Brady list”.

The Georgetown law professor Vida B Johnson has argued that evidence of a law enforcement officer’s explicitly racist behavior could reasonably be expected to impeach his or her testimony. Prosecutors should be required to include these officers on Brady lists to ensure defendants they testify against have access to the potentially exculpating evidence of their explicitly racist behavior.

My 1992 undercover investigation didn’t reveal any connections between the neo-Nazi bombmakers and weapons traffickers and law enforcement. In fact, the local law enforcement officers that worked with me on the investigation were consummate professionals who I literally trusted with my life. There are many more just like them.

But, however small, the presence of active white supremacists in law enforcement must be treated as a matter of urgent concern. As Professor Johnson has argued, the criminal justice system “can never achieve its purported goal of fairness while white supremacists continue to hide within police departments”.

part of me wants some new threads, another part of me knows that I should do my damn drafts. but also - 

like this for a starter. let me know if you want a specific muse too. muse pages are here, here, and then this list of muses that haven’t been added yet and are still new/in progress:

Erik Hawkins - Dom Sherwood fc (bi) (actor)

Hannah Brady - Victoria Justice fc (25)

Harper Allen - Crystal Reed fc (bi-curious) (mob daughter)

Kayla Brookes - Zendaya (actress)

Kori Neal - Virginia Gardner fc (bi) (intern/journalist)

Landon Hart - Daniel Sharman fc (bi) (nurse)

Lindsey Collins - Hailee Steinfield fc (22)

Madelyn Collins - Lydsey Forseca (spelling?) (lesbian)(28)

Madison Fitz - Danielle Campbell fc (hetero)

Mason Haynes - Chris Wood fc (bi) (cop)

Mika Lee - Arden Cho fc (lesbian)

Miles Hunter - Alberto Rosende fc (gay) (stripper)

Myles Cross - Jordan Fisher fc (bi)

Paisley Rogers - Johanna Braddy fc (bi-curious) (advertising executive)

Parker Young - Ross Butler fc (gay) (columnist)

Samuel Sutton - Matthew Gray Gruber fc (hetero) (up and coming writer)

Shane Riley - Tyler Young fc  (bi)

Simon Reed - Aaron Tveit fc (pansexual) (actor)

Tripp Caldwell - Nick Robinson (pan)

Tyson Sinclair - Tom Maden fc (bi)

Ximena Molina - Ester Exposito fc (hetero)

Valerie Myst - Lili Reinhart fc (stripper/law student) 23

Victoria Mann - Olivia Munn fc (hetero)

Vaster than the prarie - this wind. - Virginia Brady Young

Jan. 29, 2020: Obituaries

Frances Gay, 99

Mrs. Frances Allie Curtis Brendle Gay, age 99 of North Wilkesboro, passed away Sunday, January 26, 2020, at Rose Glen Manor in North Wilkesboro.

Funeral services will be held 2:00 PM, Thursday, January 30, 2020 in the fellowship hall of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church with Rev. Brady Hayworth and Rev. Phil Chapman officiating. The family will receive friends from 12:30 until 1:30 prior to the service in the fellowship hall. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Mrs. Gay was born January 17, 1921 in Wilkes County to Joel Curtis and Grace Viola Parsons Curtis. She retired from Wilkes Hosiery and was a member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. Frances lived served and honored the Lord her family and her community until God called her home at the age of 99.She was a second mother to her brothers and sisters and had a work ethic to provide. Frances read the Bible through 30+ times and was a former Sunday school teacher at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church.

       She loved her care from her Home and family at Rose Glen Manor. She was known for her quick sense of humor and her strong independence. Frances loved spending time with her family and working crossword puzzles. She was loved by all who knew her and will be dearly missed.

       In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband; Ed Brendle and second husband; Lathian W. Gay, a sister; Grace Vaught, two brother; Junior Curtis and Edwin Curtis and a brother in law; Fred Ferguson.

       She is survived by a sister; Helen Ferguson of Millers Creek and two brothers; Basil Walker and wife Gail of Hilton Head Island, SC and Bobby Walker and wife JoAnn of Wilkesboro, two sister in laws; Maxie Curtis of Millers Creek and Lou Curtis of Elkton, FL, a stepson; David Brendle and wife Frances of Greensboro and many nieces and nephews.

       Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Mtn. Valley Hospice 401 Technology Lane Suite 200 Mt. Airy, NC 27030 or Rose Glen Manor 240 South Independence Ave. North Wilkesboro, NC 28659.

 Denise Eller,  63

Denise Eller, age 63, of Wilkesboro, passed away Friday, January 24, 2020 at Wake Forest Baptist Health-Wilkes Regional. Denise was born February 7, 1956 in Wilkes County to George H. Eller, Jr. and Oma Jean Mitchell Eller.                                                She was a member of Bethel Baptist Church. Denise loved to attend all the youth sports teams, attending all the games she was able. She was a big North High Vikings and a Carolina Tarheels basketball fan. Denise loved her cats and had a special love for all cats. Ms. Eller was preceded in death by her parents.

Surviving are her Aunt, Dare Cothren of Thomasville; Lots of Cousins; life-long friend, Pam Rhoades of North Wilkesboro; and her loving cat, Tempe.

       Funeral service was January 28,  at Bethel Baptist Church with Pastor Donnie Shumate officiating and eulogy by Randy Rhoades. Burial  followed in Mountlawn Memorial Park.  Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Bethel Baptist Church, PO Box 679, Hays, NC 28635. Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

       Pallbearers were Seth Rhoades, Mark Anderson, Neal Anderson, Joseph Edmiston, Kenneth Ireland and Joe Reeves. Honorary pallbearers will be Christopher Edmiston, Will Rhoades and Levi Rhoades.

  Gladys Gilbert,  94

Mrs. Gladys Wilma Greer Gilbert, age 94 of Wilkesboro, widow of Bobby Gilbert, died Friday, January 24, 2020 at Wake Forest Baptist Health - Wilkes Medical Center.

       Funeral services was January 27, at Reins-Sturdivant Chapel with Rev. Sherrill Wellborn officiating.  Burial was in the Full Gospel Mission Church Cemetery.  

       Mrs. Gilbert was born March 1, 1925 in Watauga County to Albert and Rebecca Carlton Greer.  

       Mrs. Gilbert was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Bobby Gilbert; seven sisters, Edna Hampton, Maggie Clawson, Lily Triplett, Ora Watson, Bernice Cox, Ruth Miller, and Melba Hayes; and four brothers, Virgil Greer, Sherman Greer, Vaughn Greer, and Bynum Greer.

       She is survived by her daughter, Betty Greene Keels and husband, Edward, of Wilkesboro; her son, Bill Greene and wife, Christine, of Wilkesboro; her four grandchildren, Debbie Blevins, Sandra Mastin, Lisa Austin, and Scott Keels; six great-grandchildren, Richard Shew, Zack Blevins, Patrick Blevins, Kayla Bennett, Chris Mastin, and Natasha Brown; and five great-great-grandchildren, Aliza Blevins, Forest Mastin, Finley Mastin, Tyler Brown, and Tristan Blevins.

       Flowers will be accepted.

 Ransome Patrick, Jr. 64

Mr. Ransome Joe Patrick, Jr. age 64 of Hamptonville, passed away Thursday, January 23, 2020 at his home.

       Funeral services were  January 25, at Reins Sturdivant Chapel with Rev. Matthew Vannoy and Rev. Justin Norman officiating. Burial was in the Patrick Family Cemetery.                                    Mr. Patrick was born June 1, 1955 in Wilkes County to Ransome Joe Patrick, Sr. and Oma Kathleen Smithey. He was the Vice President of Operations for Spevco, Inc. and a member of Welcome Home Baptist Church.

       He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant brother; Charles Patrick.

       Mr. Patrick is survived by a son; Sherman Joe Patrick and wife Nikki of North Wilkesboro, a daughter; Brandi Patrick and husband Freddie of Wilkesboro, six grandchildren; Taylor South and wife Emily, Garrett Patrick, Russell Patrick, Caydan South, Brody Patrick and Kaison Patrick, a great grandchild; Ransome Joe South, a sister; Kay Patrick Ashley and a brother; Scott Patrick and wife Jennifer of Clemmons and his devoted and loving girlfriend; Annie Lee Pierce of Jonesville.

       Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Race Against Cancer c/o Diane Roberts 8167 Mertie Road Millers Creek, NC 28651.

 Robert Vaught, 85

Mr. Robert James Vaught, age 85 of North Wilkesboro, passed away Wednesday, January 22, 2020 at his home.

       Graveside services with Military Honors by the United States Army and Veterans of Foreign Wars was January 25,  at Mountlawn Memorial Park with United States Army Chaplin officiating.

       Mr. Vaught was born February 9, 1934 in Rural Retreat Virginia. He was retired from the United States Army after serving 20 years as a Platoon Tank Sargent during the Korean and Vietnam Conflicts. Mr. Vaught was an active member of the NRA and the VFW Post 1142 and retired teamster's long haul truck driver.

       In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife; Johnnie Culler Vaught and a sister; JoAnn Bess.

       He is survived by a daughter; Regina Dawn

Vaught of Traphill, a son; John Ernest Vaught of North Wilkesboro, three grandchildren; Joanie Summer Vaught, Taylor Dawn Wiles and Johanna Hope Alexander, a great grandchild: Bailey Beatrice Wilson, a brother; Charlie Vaught of Georgia, a brother in law; Harry C. Steele of Winston Salem and several nieces and nephews.

       Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Disabled Veterans 1601  Brenner Ave Salisbury, NC 28144 or NRA 11250 Waples Mill Road Fairfax, VA 22030.

 Henry Blunt, 64

Henry "Petie" Carroll Blunt, age 64, of Millers Creek, passed away peacefully Tuesday, January 21, 2020. He was born February 2, 1955 in Richmond, Virginia to Ashby Fernando and Ruby Gladys Mann Blunt. He was preceded in death by his parents.

       Surviving are his siblings, Lorraine Smith of North Wilkesboro, Cecil Blunt of Millers Creek, Shirley Prescott and spouse Bill of Newport News, Virginia, Gladys Church of Millers Creek; many special nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews; two great great nephews; aunts and cousins.

       Graveside service was January 24,  at Mountlawn Memorial Park. Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.  

 Kristie Young,  64

Mrs. Kristie Lee Young, age 64 of Wilkesboro passed away Tuesday, January 21, 2020 at Atrium Health in Charlotte.

       Memorial services will be held 1:00 PM Saturday, February 1, 2020 at Reins-Sturdivant Chapel with Pastor Roger Hull officiating.  

       Mrs. Young was born February 12, 1955 in Davenport, IA to Evett Jerome and Shirley Mae Shoemaker.

       In addition to her parents she was preceded by a sister; Gayle Davisson.

       She is survived by her husband; Desmond Alan Young of the home, two sons; Derek Thomas Outlaw of Mission Viejo, CA and Douglas Neal Outlaw of San Antonio, TX, two step-daughters; Nicola Jayne Alexander and husband Steven of Wilkesboro and Adele Louise Wilson and husband Russell of San Diego, CA, six grandchildren; Scot Jackson and wife Kristen, Cody Jackson, Aaron Shaver, Laurel Angeline Wilson and Jacob Wilson and Serenity Mae Alexander, one great grandchild; Leighton Jackson and one brother, Bradley Shoemaker and wife Elaina of Cedar Rapids, IA.

 Kyle Bumgarner, 77

Mr. Kyle Gentry Bumgarner, 77, of Millers Creek, passed away on Tuesday, January 21, 2020.

       Kyle was born on July 2, 1942 in Wilkes County to James Talmadge Bumgarner and Virchew Yates Bumgarner.  

       Kyle is preceded in death by his parents, step mother Odessa Pilkenton Bumgarner; brothers, JR, Howard, Wayne, Jim, Hobert Bumgarner; sisters, Ruth Bumgarner, Lois McGuire and Hazel Eller.  

       Kyle is survived by: his wife of 44 years, Betty Jean Wyatt Bumgarner; daughter, Sally Marshall and husband, Nick of Millers Creek; grandchildren, Keila Marshall of Louisana, Logan Eller of Moravian Falls, and Austin Marshall of Millers Creek.  

       The family  conducted a memorial service  at Union Baptist Church in Millers Creek with Rev. Steve Faw officiating.  

       In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be given to Adams Funeral Home of Wilkes P.O. Box 396 Moravian Falls, NC 28654 to help with final expenses.

       Adams Funeral Home of Wilkes has the honor of serving the Bumgarner Family.

  Jewell  Lambert, 86

Jewell Gail Lambert, age 86, of Millers Creek, passed away Monday, January 20, 2020 at Wake Forest Baptist Health-Wilkes Regional. She was born March 9, 1933 in Ashe County to George and Vergie Jones Eller. Mrs. Lambert was a member of Cricket Baptist Church and enjoyed gardening. She was preceded in death by her parents; and her husband Vernie Lambert.

��      Surviving are her sons, Steve Lambert and spouse Kristie of Millers

Creek, Mark Rash of Wilkesboro; daughters, Carolyn Auville and Kitty Rash both of Millers Creek; sister, Charlene Lambert and spouse Gary of Hays; six grandchildren; five great grandchildren; four great great grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.

       Funeral service was January 23,  at Cricket Baptist Church with Rev. Randall Millsaps, Rev. Arvil Glen Perry and Rev. Joe Farmer officiating. Burial  followed in Mountain Park Cemetery.   Flowers will be accepted. Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

 Edna  Watson, 96

Edna Key Blackburn Watson, age 96, of North Wilkesboro, passed away Sunday, January 19, 2020 at Westwood Hills Nursing and Rehab Center. Edna was born August 19, 1923 in Wilkes County to Clarence C. and Oma Haynes Key. She was a member of Flint Hill Baptist Church and attended Bethel Baptist Church for many years. Edna loved making crafts, doing puzzles and walking. She worked for 30 plus years and retired from Modern Globe as an inspector. Mrs. Watson was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Senter Blackburn; her second husband, Paul Watson; brothers, Raymond Key, Ransom Key, Henry Key; and sisters, Betty Key and Ruth Absher.

       Surviving are her sisters, Margie Shepherd, Mazie Miller, Virginia Dancy all of North Wilkesboro; brother, J.C. Key and spouse Marie of Greensboro; step-sons, Jimmy Watson and Larry Watson; many nieces and nephews.

       Funeral service was January 23,  at Miller Funeral Chapel with Pastor Donnie Shumate, Rev. Marvin Blackburn and Pastor Gene Shepherd officiating. Burial  followed in Flint Hill Baptist Church Cemetery.   Flowers will be accepted. The family has requested no food, please. Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.  

 Martha Nichols, 78

Martha Marler Nichols, 78, died Sunday morning at Mountain Valley Hospice in Yadkinville, NC, January 19 of cancer, surrounded by her family. She was a beloved wife, mother, aunt, cousin, grandmother and friend. Martha was born and grew up in Winston-Salem, NC the daughter of Ralph H. Marler and Jeanne Lalance Marler, a member of First Presbyterian Church, attended RJ Reynolds High School, and then Converse College in Spartanburg, SC. She married James P. Barksdale, JR of Rocky Mount, NC, a Presbyterian minister in 1962 and lived in Kannapolis, NC, Charlotte, NC, and North Wilkesboro, NC with churches that he was called to serve. After his death in 1981, Martha married Ward H. Nichols, a renowned artist and returned to live in North Wilkesboro, NC.

       From the beginning of her adult life as a Presbyterian minister's wife, Martha was a devoted supporter of her husband and his career, but she also had outside interests and took art and history courses while in Charlotte and North Wilkesboro. An artist herself, she taught watercolor and drawing classes at Wilkes Community College, volunteered at the Wilkes Art Gallery and became the gallery's director in 1976. Following this work, Martha served as the Director of ExperienceWorks, the Director of Retired Senior Volunteers Program, a Commissioned Realtor with Caldwell Banker and Apple Realty, and lastly as the Marketing Director of Rose Glen Manor, the organization from which she retired.

       When Martha's mother died, she became a consummate gardener to work through her grief and before limitations in her mobility, had over 200 roses in her garden, was an award-winning master rosarian and was a member of the Winston-Salem Rose Society and American Rose Society. Valentine's Day would signify the delivery of her roses to many friends and loved ones throughout Wilkes, Caldwell, and Forsyth Counties. Also inspired by her mother's lifelong hobby of quilting, Martha became more than an avid quilter, making over 50 quilts and prayer blankets, most of which she gave to friends in celebration of a joyous occasion, or to friends who faced serious or terminal illnesses.

       In fact, Martha sought out people who were experiencing terminal illness, becoming their friend and counselor, and providing whatever comfort she could give. In 1980 when her first husband was diagnosed with cancer, Martha created what she called a home-grown hospice program since hospice was not yet widely available.  This led to her contributions towards hospice in Wilkes County, culminating in 1984, first with a speech and presentation to a group of clergy from western NC and subsequently to another group of oncologists in the area. She became well known for her lecture, "The Impact of Cancer on the Family Unit: Psychological and Theological Emphasis" and sharing her experiences were instructive in enhancing their understanding.

       The arts helped bring Martha and Ward together, and Martha's life with Ward provided another ongoing connection to the arts. Ward claims that Martha was his biggest advocate and supporter, often naming his paintings and providing constructive feedback.  She also managed the business affairs of his work, helping to organize most of his shows and always serving as a consummate host to out of town guests and collectors. They were married for more than 35 years, and their lives included an international trip almost every year and to every state in the continental US. Ward and Martha were members of North Wilkesboro Presbyterian Church and attended regularly, and Martha served as an Elder and on the membership and personnel committees. Martha's involvement in the community was extensive, and she was particularly proud of Vision2020, a long-range planning effort in Wilkes County during the 1990's.  Ward and Martha also frequently visited Charleston, SC, West Virginia and Isle of Palms, where Martha's children would join them for a week at the beach.

       While Martha had a full career and many interests and hobbies, she would claim her most important accomplishment was her family, with her first husband, Jim Barksdale and their three children, and then her marriage with Ward Nichols, which coincided in time with the arrival of her four grandchildren. Martha created an intimate family whose members have always deeply supported each other, teaching them how to love and to cherish, particularly during difficult times. Her values were very clear, she was a fervent advocate for the underprivileged, and donated her time and money to the homeless and the poor. Several causes stand out; she created the Ralph H. Marler, JR Award for the Wilkes Art Gallery in memory of her brother, and the Katie Fund for the Wilkes Animal Hospital in memory of her beloved cocker spaniel.

       In addition to her parents, Martha was preceded in death by her first husband, Rev. James P Barksdale, JR and her brother, Ralph H Marler, JR. She is survived by her husband, Ward H Nichols; and her three children, James P Barksdale III, Elisabeth S Barksdale (Laura E Clay), and grandson, Kip H Barksdale, John M Barksdale (Katina M Barksdale), and grandchildren, Ellis A Barksdale, Finn P Barksdale, and Catherine M Barksdale.

       A memorial service will be held on February 1 at 2:00pm, at the North Wilkesboro Presbyterian Church, with a celebration of life to immediately follow in the church fellowship hall.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to any shelter for the homeless, or to one of the funds inspired by Martha.

Thomas Eaton, 69

Mr. Thomas Frederick Eaton, age 69 of Kernersville passed away Sunday, January 19, 2020 at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.

       Funeral services were, January 24, at Reins-Sturdivant Chapel.  Burial with military honors by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1142 wasin Scenic Memorial Gardens.  

       Mr. Eaton was born June 12, 1950 in New Jersey to Henry J. and Regina K. Eaton.   Mr. Eaton served in the United States Air Force from 1972 until 1980. He loved airplanes, the beach, Bugs Bunny, Disney World, his cats; Stars and Stripes, his family and friends.  It seemed later in life his biggest joy was spending time with his grandchildren. He was formerly employed by RF Micro Devices.

       In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his first wife; Kathleen E. Yeashvich Eaton and his second wife: Cynthia Diane Eaton.

       He is survived by sisters; Mary Anne Eaton, Susan J Locker and husband John, nephews; Eric J. Sneath, Christopher T. Sneath and wife Laurie, niece; Megan A. Locker, great niece; Sianna J. Sneath, sister-in-law; Joan Beem and niece; Karolyn B. Turcotte and husband Andre and their children; Sebastian and Sydney, step-daughter; Crystal Keener and husband Bucky, step-son; Jody Barbour and wife Anita and grandchildren; Kris, Harley, John, Olive, Emily, Gus and Charlie.

       Flowers will be accepted.

Edward Brown, 44

Mr. Edward Kenneth "Kenny" Brown, 44, of Wilkesboro, passed away on Friday, January 17, 2020.

       Kenny was born on March 27 1975 in Wilkes County to Kenneth Edward Brown and Shirley Louise Martin Brown.

       Kenny is preceded in death by his parents and sister, Kimberly Dare Brown.

       Kenny is survived by his sisters, Dawn Stanley (Ronnie) of N.Wilkesboro, Donna Byers of Wilkesboro; nieces, Shana Dollar (Robert), Melissa McGinty all of North Wilkesboro; nephew, Michael Byers (Olyvia) of Wilkesboro and good close friend Vera Vickers of Hickory.  

       The family  conducted a memorial service  January 25, at Westwood Hills Nursing Facility.

Rev. Steve Smith will be officiating.

In lieu of flowers donations may be given to the American Diabetes Association P.O. Box 11454 Alexandra VA, 22312 or a charity of the donor's choice.  

Condolences may be sent to:  www.adamsfunerals.com

Adams Funeral Home of Wilkes has the honor of serving the Brown Family.

“Like a DMV visit; meaningful and important but perhaps not interesting” UFC Fight Night: Benavidez vs Figueiredo Preview

Joey

February 26th 2020

So how about a meh card from Norfolk, Virginia with some serious real shit level consequences attached to it? The UFC heads to Norfolk with a title fight, what feels like an unofficial #1 contender tournament with four featherweights and a bunch of high level filler, DWCS dudes and the return of Tom Breese! It's just a shame that the UFC is not treating this flyweight reboot with a little bit more urgency and fanfare with such a substandard card but at the very least, it's a good thing 125 lbs has a future. For now at least. Let's run through the tape and try to break this bad boy down:

2020 Stat-O-Matic:

Debuting Fighters (5-3): Norma Dumont, Kyler Phillips, Darrick Minner, Aalon Cruz, Spike Carlyle, TJ Brown, Steve Garcia Main Event Exemption:

Short Notice Fighters (5-4): Darrick Minner, Spike Carlyle, Steve Garcia Main Event Exemption:

Second Fight (3-6): Zarah Faim, Brendan Allen, Gabriel Silva, Sean Brady Main Event Exemption (): Zarah Faim Vs Debutantes (0-1):

Cage Corrosion (Fighters who have not fought within a year of the date of the fight) (6-2): Tom Breese Main Event Exemption (1-0):

Undefeated Fighters (2-5): Norma Dumont, Sean Brady Main Event Exemption (0-1):

Fighters with at least four fights in the UFC with 0 wins over competition still in the organization (3-3): Tom Breese Main Event Exemption ():

Weight Class Jumpers (Fighters competing outside of the weight class of their last fight even if they’re returning BACK to their “normal weight class”) (2-4): Main Event Exemption ():

Twelve Precarious Ponderings

1- So is there a back up in mind should Deveison have a rough weight cut? He's a guy who admittedly has cut from lightweight range before. I believe in the fight vs John Moraga he cut close to 20 lbs the week of in order to get down to the flyweight limit. It was so much in fact that the UFC were talking to Deiveson Figueiredo about going up in weight BEFORE the weight class was being considered for consolidation. There's no flyweight on the fight on the cards other than this one so I wonder what the story is here.

2- I don't think it's wrong to suggest that the UFC was really clinging to the idea that Joseph Benavidez was going to win the flyweight title's inaugural tournament back in 2012. They didn't seem prepared for what would happen if Demetrious Johnson won and spent the first few years on the defensive while trying to figure out how to present Mighty Mouse as champion. Benavidez worked his way back up to a secondary title shot and came up short again, this time getting flattened out by Demetrious Johnson. Essentially blocked off, Joseph Benavidez has casually built one of MMA's greatest resumes where he just sort of ran through every prospective #1 contender including current champ Henry Cejudo in a contentious fight back in 2017. Minus a slip up to Sergio Pettis, Benavidez is undefeated in non title fights and owes wins over just about every other qualified contender. This is really the best chance he'll ever have to make good on the belief that emerged ten some odd years ago in the WEC that Benavidez was the next Team Alpha Male legend. Not that it should be a doubt but a title win would make it hard to deny Benavidez as a genuine hall of even by even the most cynical critic. On the other hand, it'd feel just like Benavidez to come up short once again in the biggest title fight ever in the easiest of the challenges (vs Cruz, vs Mighty Mouse).

3- It hasn't been a problem much recently BUT for a good stretch of 2016 to 2018, there were moments where it looked like Benavidez's durability was beginning to slip. He was rocked by both Cejudo and Sergio Pettis as well as buzzed a few times by the likes of John Moraga. To his credit, Joseph Benavidez has only been finished ONCE in his ridiculously long MMA career but he's stepping up big time in terms of power vs Figueiredo who is a damn big time fight finisher at 125 lbs.

4- Is this the big cage or the small cage? One of those greatly figures Figueiredo and one of those probably makes it a wrap that Benavidez wins  by decision.

5- Can Figueiredo fight with any semblance of composure if the fight starts to get away from him? He really struggled with that vs Jussier Formiga once he started to have difficulty vs Formiga and it made it even easier for Formiga to take him down and control him, dipping under wild telegraphed shots for easy work.

6- How pissed will people be if Megan Anderson gets a title shot with a win over Norma Dumont?

7- This card is LOADED with DWCS guys from all three seasons and some are quite good and some not so good. Grant Dawson is clearly the best of the bunch and rounding out his game into becoming a genuine borderline top 15-y featherweight. Brendan Allen is probably the second best guy and he figures to cap out as an Ian Heinish-esque middleweight. The rest are all crapshoot guys like Aalon Cruz (super explosive but flawed), TJ Brown (a pseudo journeyman on a bit of a run prior to DWCS) and guys who are probably at their peaks like Jordan Griffin.

8- Speaking of Brendan Allen, I'm not really sure if this is the right fight for him at this stage in his career. To this point Allen feels like your traditional AAAA fighter. He's wiped out regional competition without much hassle but his two losses were to UFC competition (Eryk Anders, Trevin Giles) and his last fight was the first fight where he beat a real solid opponent in Kevin Holland. Now LFA champs have a pretty good streak of making it in the UFC, especially at higher weights, but there's a chance that Allen's style of having more guts than brains will eventually backfire. Brees is big, hits REALLY hard and fights with great patience and composure. This could be a really bad matchup for Allen.

9-  Ismail Naurdiev vs Sean Brady is WAY too good to be the show opener. A solid welterweight scrap between two ascending prospects. Brady kind of has a bit too much rigidity in his stand up for my liking but he hits hard and keeps a pretty solid pace, reminding me a bit of a less mobile Paul Felder. Naurdiev is the super prospect who gave Michel Prezares hell in his debut and has since bounced between Ls and Ws. Still very young and talented though.

10- Sergey Spivak vs Marcin Tybura is one of the best fights on the whole calendar. Complain elsewhere about it.

11- I'm glad they found somebody for Luis Pena to fight in Steve Garcia; a pretty competent guy who has fought as low as 135 lbs and now is making his debut at lightweight. After missing weight in both weight classes prior, I imagine this may be a potential one and done for Garcia in the UFC barring an impressive performance.

12- Kyler Phillips vs Gabriel Silva has some intriguing fight potential at 135 lbs. Worth going out of your way to see it on the prelims if ya can.

Charting the Gesbian

Up and down the east and west coasts, rumors have been flying about a "new kind" of lesbian — not necessarily better, but very different.

It seems that what had started as small clusters of girls getting together and behaving most incorrectly, has turned into a full-fledged trend. Not knowing what to call themselves, they clung together amid the stares and reprobation of the women's community-at-large. Then, on Pride Day, they stood on the Great Lawn and heard a voice from the podium:

"This is a day when gesbians ...uh, gay men and lesbians ..."

That was it! The "gesbian" was born.

Seeing as "gesbianism" is so young, it is a difficult sub-subculture to theorize about. In general, a gesbian is a post-modern, post-Stonewall sort of girl who's decided that she can have some of what the boys have without being "co-opted by the patriarchy." So, for the convenience of the uninitiated, bewildered and deadly curious, here is an at-a-glance guide to the gesbian in comparison to the community as it stands.

— Liz Tracey, OutWeek Magazine No. 7, August 7, 1989, p. 46.

Table transcript:

Gesbian Lesbian Dress: anything but sensible: leather, denim, lace, stockings, boots, white T-shirts, 501s (usually a dress-for-sexcess look) dresses for comfort, not style: Polo shirts, birkenstocks, back packs, hip pouches, Reeboks, haircuts that are painful to look at Idols: Butch gesbian: Jeff Stryker, Torri Wells, Rosalyn Dane, Taylor Dane, Elvis Presley, Patricia Field, Barbara Stanwyck, Alice from "The Brady Bunch," Marlene Dietrich, She-ra Princess of Power, Jim Morrison, Salt ’N Peppa

Femme gesbian: Marilyn Monroe, Madonna, Edie Sedgwick, Susan Ainsworth (doorperson), Josie (from Calvin Klein), nuns, House of Field, Diana Ross, Louise Brooks, Greta Garbo, De La Soul, Mary Poppins, Marlo Thomas (circa That Girl) Martina Navratilova, Whitney Houston, Joanne Loulan, Virginia Woolf, Gertrude Stein, her spinster Aunt Martha ·who had. to be a dyke" Sex: hot and heavy, having taken lessons from her gay male friends; lots of toys, videos, unusual positions; basically kinky (and safer) sees penetration as "heterosexist"; prefers mostly mutual masturbation and oral sex (only if there is a commitment); thinks gay male porn is sleazy Music: rap, house, Prince, Madonna, old Motown, Betty, Grace Jones, 70s disco, anything in clubs played by deejays she knows women's, classical, early 80s pop when throwing a party; will venture into new wave if it's played at a women's dance Nighttime: dinner in the East Village/Chelsea; drinks at Cubby Hole, The Bar; clubbing on weeknights (Mars, Love Machine, Pyramid, Sound Factory); home on the weekends with the VCR/girlfriend(s) dinner in West Village; drinks at Cubby Hole/D.T.'s Fat Cat/Duchess; home early to get up for work or home with VCR and/or girlfriend; political meetings; weekend pot lucks Jobs: bartending, deejaying, student, retail, freelance anything, catering, waitressing (very rarely upwardly mobile) systems analyst, consultant, lawyer, political activist (paid), therapist, professor (you get the idea) Vocations: political activist (unpaid), writer, artist, actress (see Jobs) Marital Status: if there is a steady girlfriend, you know there's someone lurking close behind; otherwise she's "dating" (read "sleeping with") three or four friends probably a steady girlfriend; is still in contact with every lover she ever had; sometimes longs to get wild. If unattached, she is hanging out at the Cubby Hole on the notorious Wednesday pick-up night