The Leader of the group and an incredibly strong and strategic leader, Damian has what it takes to lead the girls into battle, and who he needs to control those who refuse his charm. But he also has his flaws, flaws which could easily cause his downfall, and he's made a lifelong enemy of Eddie Kingston.
"If you agree to this plan, I'll keep you alive."
Name
Full Legal Name: Damian Reginald Lum
First Name: Damian
Meaning: From the Greek name 'Damianos', which was derived from Greek 'Damazo' meaning 'To Tame'
Pronunciation: DAY-mee-an
Origin: English, Polish, Romanian, Dutch
Middle Name: Reginald
Meaning: From Reginaldus, a Latinized form of Reynold
Pronunciation: REHJ-ie-nald
Origin: English
Surname: Lum
Meaning: From the name of towns in England called 'Lumb', probably from Old English 'Lum' 'Pool'
Pronunciation: LUH-mb
Origin: English
Alias: The King of Hell, Damien Lucifarian
Reason: As a Christian, Damian would prefer to call himself 'The King of Hell' rather than 'The Devil'
Children-In-Law: Quentin Nye (43, Viola’s Husband), Kestrel May (40, Ulysses’ Wife, Née Coy), Heath Ott (37, Wanda’s Husband), Gardenia Lum (34, Tristan’s Wife, Née Day), Titus Aaron (31, Xavia's Husband)
Grandkids: Adam Nye (22, Grandson), Paulette Nye (19, Granddaughter), Benjamin Nye (16, Grandson), Olivia Nye (13, Granddaughter), Charles Nye (10, Grandson), Earl May (19, Grandson), Jane May (16, Granddaughter), Flint May (13, Grandson), Imogen May (10, Granddaughter), Magnolia Ott (16, Granddaughter), Laurence Ott (13, Grandson), Naomi Ott (10, Granddaughter), Daisy Lum (13, Granddaughter), Vance Lum (10, Grandson)
Great Grandkids: None
Wrestling
Billed From: The Underworld
Trainer: None
Managers: None
Wrestlers Managed: The Lucifarian Sisters
Debut: 1977
Debut Match: Damien Lucifarian VS Yorath Rhydderch. Damien won by pinfall.
Retired: N/A
Retirement Match: N/A
Wrestling Style: Technician
Stables: The Lucifarian Family (1999-)
Teams: Post
Regular Moves: Body Scissors, Double Leg Takedown, European Uppercut, Frog Splash, Headbutt, Moonsault, Belly to Back Suplex, German Suplex, Sleeper Hold
Finishers: Seventh Circle (Double Ankle Lock), Keylock
Refers To Fans As: The People, The Peasants, My Loyal Subjects
Extras
Backstory: Damian has been divorced twice but is married to Nicole Lum and has been so for thirty-six years. Damian has been a wrestler since he was eighteen and married Viola’s mother, Marion, when he was nineteen. He has a total of nine kids, but only Viola wrestles. He got the idea of being the King of Hell when Viola started working with him, when she was twenty, from rereading the bible while drunk and asking Viola if she was his pride and joy. She jokingly replied 'I’m definitely your pride’.
MATERIAL WORLD: THE GRID
Grid your loins, it's Dave Ball (left) and Richard Norris
Picture: Roger Sargent
NME magazine, 30 October 1993 — full article text bellow
WHERE ARE YOU NOW AND HOW DO YOU FEEL?
RICHARD: In the Village Inn as usual, unshaven, post-remixing lag
DAVE: The Village Inn, tired and emotional
FIRST RECORD YOU EVER BOUGHT?
R: ‘Blockbuster’, The Sweet
D: ‘Love Grows Where My Rosemary Goes’, Edison Lighthouse
WHO WOULD DIRECT THE ‘TEXAS COWBOYS’ MOVIE?
R: Andy Warhol, if he was alive, Lonesome Cowboys 2
D: Sam Peckinpah – lots of fake blood
WHICH CHARACTER WOULD YOU HAVE PLAYED IN THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY?
R: Clint – for the stubble and cheroots
D: Lee Van Cleef. He wears black clothes, smokes cigars – my kind of guy
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SAW MARC ALMOND AND WHAT WAS HE DOING?
D: On TV, doing a costume-change at Royal Albert Hall
DESCRIBE EACH OTHER IN THREE WORDS?
R: Jolly Uncle Jack
D: Griff Rhys Jones
WAS VIC REEVES AS SURREAL IN REAL LIFE?
R: Haddock
FONDEST MEMORY OF YOUR NME DAYS?
R: Jack Barron ranting, Fred Dellar (gawd bless ’im) and two weeks in Ibiza on expenses
MOST EMBARRASSING RECORD IN YOUR COLLECTION?
R: A double LP of Barbara Woodhouse teaching dogs to sit. Walkies!
D: ‘In The Night’ by Tony Blackburn
HOW DO YOU SEE THE FUTURE OF SPAGHETTI DISCO?
R: Take That doing ‘Rawhide’
BEST THING ABOUT PERFORMING LIVE?
R: Watching the wide-eyed and legless
WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
R: Punk rock, disco
D: Everything
WORST FLYING EXPERIENCE?
R: Being in economy class
D: Flying from LA to London on acid; flying from London to the South of France with Depeche Mode, dropping 1,000 feet when we hit an air pocket
WHO WOULD BE YOUR DREAM COLLABORATION?
R: Iggy Pop
D: A film score with John Barry/Angelo Badalamenti
IF YOU HAD A LABEL WHICH TWO ROCK ACTS WOULD YOU SIGN?
R: AC/DC, Nine Inch Nails
D: Zodiac Mindwarp, The Ramones
WHAT DID YOU THINK WHEN THEY DESCRIBED YOUR MUSIC AS “JUNGLE” ON CORONATION STREET?
R: Smashing, chuck
D: I liked it so much I sampled it
FIRST BANDS?
R: The Innocent Vicars, The Fruitbats, The Wild Kitchen, East Of Eden
D: Soft Cell
HOW MANY TELEVISIONS DO YOU OWN
R: About 20. I got a fine for not having a license
DESCRIBE YOUR TOTP EXPERIENCE?
D: Tedium-tastic
THREE GREAT THINGS ABOUT THAILAND AT CHRISTMAS?
R: The sky at night, bats, blue-capped evenings with neon fish
HOW WOULD YOU SPEND AN IDEAL SUNDAY AFTERNOON?
R: Horizontally, after a bad game of golf
D: Lunch with friends and good wine
WHAT'S THE WEIRDEST SITUATION YOU'VE EVER BEEN IN?
R: Being surrounded by Hackney constabulary with Genesis and Paula P Orridge at 5am after imitating a Sunday People reporter
D: Running naked down a Madrid hotel corridor with Stevo, wielding two replica Flintlock pistols, chasing two Spanish girls
FAVOURITE PEOPLE?
D: Richard & Judy, Paul Merton, Dennis The Barman
CAN YOU RETIRE ON THE MONEY ‘TAINTED LOVE’ MADE IN AMERICA?
D: No, but I'm, sure our American lawyers and A&R men could!
WHAT DID MADONNA DO WHEN YOU UPSTAGED HER IN NEW YORK?
D: She forgave me the next morning
CHOOSE A RECORD TO WAKE UP TO/SLEEP TO/HAVE SEX TO
R: Wake up: ‘Cobalt Blue’, Michael Brook. Sleep: ‘Music For Airports’, Brian Eno. Sex: ‘There's A Riot Goin' On’, Sly And The Family Stone
D: Wake up: ‘Rise And Shine’, The Flintstones. Sleep: ‘Very/Relentless’, Pet Shop Boys. Sex: ‘Neroli’, Brian Eno
WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO?
R: Write a mean paragraph. I could be an A&R man if I was really desperate
D: Top oarsman and not a bad cook
SCREAMING! . . . So f*cking proud of the entire Firstness Family! 📷📷📷 I'm so grateful, BLESSED, and honored to be a part of this beautiful family and this stunning story. Thank you Outfest, Deadline, and Firstness Fam, especially Brielle and Judy for bringing me on board! . . . Directed by Brielle Brilliant! Cinematography by Ben Mullen! Produced by Judy Febles! ... Partial list of Lovely Cast: Spencer Jording Tim Kinsella Caleb Cabrera Anna Zhang Amy Blackburn Susan O'Doherty Xiomara Bernard Max Lipchitz Michael Bricker Partial list of Lovely Crew: Harley Foos Sommer Rodriguez Ellie Hall Glenn McDougald . . .
Enter
San Francisco - my favorite city in the world!
The bands, the music, the songs are all here, in this playlist I created.
I threw in a bit of Sac and went south by San Jose, Monterrey and up past Sausalito. Can we make it to 250 songs? Let me know what bands/songs I left out.
Have I left out a song or a band in this San Francisco playlist?
Let me know!
Cheers!
Play the songs here at this link:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-iHPcxymC1-HLG9q5rZLsqs8EYh6bhu-
San Francisco
001 The Dillinger Escape Plan w/Mike Patton - When Good Dogs Do Bad Things
002 Night flight Orchestra - California Morning
003 Quincy Jones - Call Me Mister Tibbs OST (Main Title)
004 James Taylor Quartet - Dirty Harry theme song
005 Faith No More - Seperation anxiety
006 Streets of San Francisco TV show theme song
007 Santana - Evil Ways
008 High on Fire - Electric Messiah
009 Metallica - Disposable Heroes
010 Hammers Of Misfortune - Dead Revolution
011 Buddy Guy - Hello San Francisco
012 Faith No More - Jungle
013 Isaac Hayes - Shaft
014 Orange Peels - Back In San Francisco
015 Idris Ackamoor and the Pyramids - Message To My People
016 Thee Oh Sees - The Dream
017 Merle Haggard - Here In Frisco
018 Audrey Horne - California
019 Journey - Lights
020 Death Angel - Hatred United / United Hate
021 Mel Tor Me - Got The Date On The Golden Gate
022 Duke Ellington - Tourist Point Of View
023 Sons of Anarchy - This Life (Sons of Anarchy Theme Song)
024 Larry Graham's Central Station - Earthquake
025 LARD - I Wanna Be A Drug Sniffing Dog
026 Machine Head - California Bleeding
027 Neurosis - The Doorway
028 KING WOMAN - Utopia
029 Lalo Schifrin - Magnum Force OST Main Title
030 Forbidden - Adapt Or Die
031 DBUK - In San Francisco Bay
032 Jack Name - Werewolf Factory
033 John Carpenter - Theme from "The Fog"
034 Khiis - Saboor
035 Richie Havens - San Francisco Bay Blues
036 Metallica - Battery
037 Autopsy - charred remains
038 ExTREMITY_-_Crepuscular_Crescendo
039 The Otherside - Streetcar
040 Quincy Jones - Ironside (TV Theme)
041 Megadeth - Back in the Day
042 Sly and the Family Stone - Stand!
043 Faith No More - From Out of Nowhere
044 Willie Hutch-Vampin (The Mack OST
045 Orchid - Mouths Of Madness
046 Lalo Schifrin - Bullitt OST - On The Way To San Mateo
047 Vince Guaraldi - Woodstock's Dream
048 Fantomas - 4-11-05
049 Violation Wound - Fearmonger + State of Alarm
050 Primus - Those Damned Blue-Collar Tweekers
051 The Flower Pot Men - Let's Go to San Francisco (Part.1-2)
052 Bosse-de-Nage - Crux
053 Rod McKuen - The Beat Generation
054 Dionne Warwick - Do You Know The Way To San Jose
055 The Watchers - Sabbath Highway
056 Possessed - the eyes of horror
057 Scott McKenzie – San Francisco (Be Sure to wear flowers)
058 Tower Of Power - Oakland Stroke
059 Big Trouble In Little China OST - Pork chop express
060 Vio-lence - Calling In The Coroner
061 Black Oak Arkansas - The Big Ones Still Coming
062 Mr. Bungle - Love Is a Fist
063 VUUR - The Fire - San Francisco
064 Testament - The Haunting
065 Electronicat - Frisco Bay
066 Y&T - Mean Streak
067 Thee Oh Sees - Toe Cutter/Thumb Buster
068 Sweet - California Nights - Promo Clip (OFFICIAL)
069 Sadus - Swallowed In Black
070 Chuck Berry - San Francisco Dues
071 Sammy Hagar - Keep on rockin'
072 Fuzz - Sleigh Ride
073 Otis Redding - Sittin' on The Dock of the Bay
074 Pleasure Leftits - The Gate
075 BL'AST - Sometimes
076 Santana - Samba de Sausalito
077 Acephalix - Upon This Altar
078 Sun Ra - Lady With The Golden Stockings
079 Chris Isaak - San Francisco Days
080 Pointer Sisters - How Long (Betcha' Got A Chick On The Side)
081 High On Fire - Carcosa
082 Will Haven - When The Walls Close In
083 The Coup - Laugh/Love/Fuck
084 King Khan - Teeth Are Shite
085 Deafheaven - Irresistible
086 Glitter Wizard - Blood of the Serpent
087 Jefferson Airplane - It's No Secret
088 Cannonball Adderley - This Here
089 The Warlocks - Can't Come Down
090 Squirmy Sax Man - I Still Believe
091 Acid King - Coming Down from Outer Space
092 George Duke - Sausalito
093 The Lost Boys - Cry Little Sister (Theme From The Lost Boys OST)
094 Betty Davis - [They Say I'm Different] He Was a Big Freak
095 Fever Tree - San Francisco Girls
096 The Dillinger Escape Plan w/ Mike Patton - Pig Latin
097 Build Them to Break - Lucky Strike
098 Montrose - Rock Candy
099 PRIMUS - THE TOYS GO WINDING DOWN
100 Joe Satriani - Big Bad Moon
101 Sleater Kinney - Jumpers
102 GRUESOME - Dimensions Of Horror
103 Sly & the Family Stone - Everday People
104 Huey Lewis and the News - Back in Time
105 Hammers Of Misfortune - 2 17th Street
106 Jerry Fielding - Prologue _ Main Title (The Enforcer OST)
107 Metal Church - The Dark
108 Deftones - Ohms
109 John Lee Hooker - Frisco Blues
110 DRI - Go Die
111 16th & Valencia Roxy Music- Devendra Banhart, What We Will Be
112 MC Hammer - Too Legit to Quit
113 Dead Kennedys-Police Truck
114 Rancid - Adina
115 San Francisco's Shiver - Up My Sleeve
116 Bernard Herrmann - Vertigo OST - The Bay
117 Faith No More - Last Cup Of Sorrow
118 Blackburn & Snow - Stranger In a Strange Land
119 The Doobie Brothers - What A Fool Believes
120 The Grateful Dead - Sugar Magnolia
121 Cab Calloway - San Francisco Fan
122 The Charlatans - codine
123 Buck Owens - Want To Live In San Francisco
124 Sleep - Dragonaut
125 Death Angel - 5 Steps Of Freedom
126 Neil Young - Heart of Gold
127 Vastum - Reveries in Autophagia
128 Dead Kennedys - Moon Over Marin
129 EchoBrain - Colder World
130 Riz Ortolani - Lombard Street
131 Waylon Jennings - San Francisco Mabel Joy
132 Con Funk Shun - Confunkshunizeya
133 Chic - Hes the Greatest Dancer
134 Peace Creep - Radio Free Alcatraz
135 ABBA - Santa Rosa
136 Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks - San Fransisco
137 Together Band - California Curl California Girl
138 The Hellers - It's 74 In San Francisco
139 Pat Todd - No Place Like Home
140 Nancy Wilson - I'm Always Drunk In San Francisco (And I Don't Drink At All)
141 Anathema - San Francisco
142 Blue Cheer - Fool
143 Exhumed - Gravewalker
144 Darondo - Let My People Go
145 Exodus - Blood In Blood Out
146 Lalo Schifrin Dirty Harry OST - Scorpios Theme
147 Johnny Cash - Folsom Prison Blues
148 Wild Light - California on my mid
149 Herbie Hancock - Man-child - Hang Up Your Hang Ups
150 Fantomas - Spider Baby
151 The Lord Weird Slough Feg - Headhunter
152 The Animals - San Franciscan Nights
153 Twilight - Dance with Me
154 THE POINTER SISTERS - Yes We Can Can
155 Residents - Hello Skinny
156 CCR HEADCLEANER - Eat This Riff
157 LEON WARE - Thats Why I Came To California
158 Creedence Clearwater Revival - I Put A Spell On You
159 Comorant - The First Man
160 Bosse-de-Nage - The Trench
161 Hell Fire - Free Again
162 Riz Ortolani - Golden Gate Bridge
163 Fleetwood Mac - You Make Loving Fun
164 Uther Pendragon - San Francisco Earthquake
165 Melvins - Zodiac
166 La Luz - California Finally
167 The Wyatt Act - Push
168 Santana - Soul Sacrifice
169 Cheap Trick - On the Radio
170 Electric Wizard - Venus In Furs
171 Led Zeppelin - Misty Mountain Hop
172 Tommy Castro - Callin' San Francisco
173 Viscious Rumors - Digital Dictator
174 Ghoul-Off With Their Heads
175 Diesel - Sausalito Summernight (Single Version)
176 Sheila E - A Love Bizarre
177 Starship - Nothings Gonna Stop Us Now
178 Jeffry Osboune - I Really Don't Need No Light
179 Nazareth - Alcatraz
180 Freak of Nature - Rescue Me
181 Metallica - Crash Course In Brain Surgery
182 10000 Maniacs - Hey Jack Kerouac
183 Faith No More - Get Out
184 URSA - Wizard's Path
185 Jefferson Airplane - Aerie (Gang of Eagles)
186 Tower of Power - Just Enough and Too Much
187 Fred Hughes - san francisco is a lonely town
188 Mamaleek - Eating Unblessed Meat
189 Moby Grape - Naked If I Want To
190 Exodus - Metal Command
191 Pig Destroyer - Alcatraz Metaphors
192 the Donnas - You Make Me Hot
193 Hot Tuna - True Religion
194 Heathen - Opiate of the Masses
195 Fanny - Come and Hold Me
196 Sadus - Hands Of Fate
197 Negative Trend - Meathouse
198 Forbidden - Forbidden Evil
199 Spazz - Crush Kill Destroy
200 Testament - The Preacher
201 HEXX - Morbid Reality
202 Vio-Lence - Phobophobia
203 Dead Kennedys - One Way Ticket To Pluto
204 Tom Waits - Get Behind The Mule
205 CRETIN - It
206 RAMONES - Judy Is A Punk
207 Full House - Intro
208 Willie Alexander and the Boom Boom Band - Kerouac
209 Primus - Dirty Drowning Man
210 Wooden Shjips - Motorbike
211 The Tony Williams Lifetime Ego - Clap City
212 Middle of the Road - Sacramento (A Wonderful Town)
213 Green Day - At the Library
214 Slayer - Gemini
215 Tetema - Cutlass Eye
216 Defiance - Death Machine
217 Brisco County Jr theme
218 Doug McKechnie - Crazy Ray
219 Ulthar - Furnace Hibernation
220 Mr. Bungle - ANARCHY UP YOUR ANUS
221 Dirty Ghosts - Let It Pretend
222 They Might Be Giants - San Francisco (In Situ)
223 Metallica - The Shortest Straw
224 OM - Unitive Knowledge of the Godhead
225 Laaz Rockit - City's Gonna Burn
226 Autopsy - Skullptures
227 Mordred - Spectacle of Fear
228 Sly & the Family Stone - Luv N' Haight
229 Possessed - Seven Churches
230 Machine Head - The Rage to Overcome
231 Thelonius Monk - San Francisco Holiday
232 The Units - The Mission Is Bitchin
233 Del Tha Funkee Homosapien - Mistadobalina
234 Arnocorps - Dead lift
235 The Grateful Dead - The Golden Road
236 DRI - All for nothing
237 Jim Martin - Disco dust
238 Thee Oh Sees - I come from the mountain
239 Death Angel - Discontinued
240 Starship - We Built This City
241 Captured! by Robots - Endless Circle of Bullshit
242 Pins Of Light - My revenge
243 Sun Ra - We Travel the Spaceways
244 Faith No More - caffeine
245 David Lee Roth - Just like paradise
246 San Francisco Fog Horns by Golden Gate Bridge
247 Abscess - Tormented
248 Mortuous - Bitterness
249 Dead Kennedy's - California uber alles
250 Twitch Angry - San Francisco
666 Neurosis - Water Is Not Enough
So, hop on a cable car, grab ice cream at Swenson’s or bark back at the seals down by Pier 39. Catch a Bear’s game at Berkeley and do some squirmy sax moves in the Haight after you down some beers at the Toronado and play my San Fran playlist!
Here are the songs in the link:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-iHPcxymC1-HLG9q5rZLsqs8EYh6bhu-
The United States vs. Billie Holiday: The Federal Bureau of Narcotics Was Formed to Kill Jazz
https://ift.tt/3smcRhE
This article contains The United States vs. Billie Holiday spoilers.
Federal drug enforcement was created for the express purpose of persecuting Billie Holiday. Director Lee Daniels’ The United States vs. Billie Holiday focuses a cinematic microscope on the events, but a much larger picture is visible just outside the lens. Holiday’s best friend and one-time manager Maely Dufty told mourners at the funeral that Billie was murdered by a conspiracy orchestrated by the narcotics police, according to Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs by Johann Hari. The book also said Harry Anslinger, head of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, was a particularly virulent racist who hounded “Lady Day” throughout the 1940s and drove her to her death in the 1950s.
This is corroborated in Billie, a 2020 BBC documentary directed by James Erskine, and Alexander Cockburn’s book Whiteout: The CIA, Drugs, and the Press, which also claims Anslinger hated jazz music, which he believed brought the white race down to the level of African descendants through the corrupting influence of jungle rhythms. He also believed marijuana was the devil’s weed and transformed the post-Prohibition fight against alcohol into a war on drugs. The first line of battle was against the musicians who partook.
“Marijuana is taken by… musicians,” Anslinger testified to Congress prior to the vote on the 1937 Marijuana Tax Act. “And I’m not speaking about good musicians, but the jazz type.” The LaGuardia Committee, appointed in 1939 by one of the Act’s strongest opponents, New York City Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia, ultimately refuted every point made in the effective drug czar’s testimony. Based on the findings, “the Treasury Department told Anslinger he was wasting his time,” according to Chasing the Scream. The opportunistic department head “scaled down his focus until it settled like a laser on one single target.”
Federal authorization of selective enforcement should come as no surprise. Just this month, HBO Max released Judas and the Black Messiah about how the FBI and local law enforcement targeted the Black Panthers and put a bullet in the back of the head of Fred Hampton after he was apparently drugged by the informant. In MLK/FBI (2020), director Sam Pollard used newly declassified files to fill in the gaps on the story of the U.S. government’s surveillance and harassment of Martin Luther King, Jr. Days ago, The Washington Post reported the daughters of assassinated civil rights leader Malcolm X requested his murder investigation be reopened in light of a deathbed letter from officer Raymond A. Wood, alleging New York police and the FBI conspired in his killing.
During the closing credits of The United States vs. Billie Holiday we read that Holiday, played passionately by Andra Day in the film, was similarly arrested on her deathbed. She was in the hospital suffering from cirrhosis of the liver when she was cuffed to her bed. They don’t mention police had been stationed outside her door barring family, fans, and well-wishers from offering the singer comfort as she lay dying. They also don’t mention that police removed gifts people brought to the room, as well as flowers, radio, record player, chocolates, and any magazines. When she died at age 44, it was found that Holiday had 15 $50 bills strapped to her leg, the remainder of her money after years of top selling records. Billie intended to give it to the nurses to thank them for looking after her.
As The United States vs. Billie Holiday points out, the feds had been watching Holiday since club owner Barney Josephson encouraged her to sing “Strange Fruit” at the integrated Cafe Society in Greenwich Village in 1939. Waiters would stop all service during the performance of the song. The room would be dark, and it would never be followed by an encore.
The lyric came from a three-stanza poem, “Bitter Fruit,” about a lynching. It was written by Lewis Allan, the pseudonym of New York schoolteacher and songwriter named Abel Meeropol, a costumer at the club. Meeropol set the words to music, and the song was first performed by singer Laura Duncan at Madison Square Garden.
Holiday and her accompanist Sonny White adapted Allan’s melody and chord structure, and released the song on Milt Gabler’s independent label Commodore Records in 1939. The legendary John Hammond, who discovered Holiday in 1933 while she was singing in a Harlem nightclub called Monette’s, refused to release it on Columbia Records, where Billie was signed.
The song “marked a watershed,” according to David Margolick’s 2000 book Strange Fruit: Billie Holiday, Cafe Society, and an Early Cry for Civil Rights. Influential jazz writer Leonard Feather called the song “the first significant protest in words and music, the first significant cry against racism.”
Holiday experienced the brutally enforced racial segregation of the Jim Crow laws during her trips south with her bands, according to Billie Holiday, the 1990 book by Bud Kliment. She was also demeaned at the Lincoln Hotel in New York City in October 1938 when management demanded she walk through the kitchen and use the service elevator to get on the stage. Holiday also caught flak for being considered too light skinned to sing with one band, and was on at least one occasion forced to wear special makeup to darken her complexion.
Holiday was 18 years old when she recorded her first commercial session with Benny Goodman’s group at Columbia Records, but knew firsthand that an integrated band would be more threatening than an all-Black group. According to most biographies, Holiday began using hard drugs in the early ’40s under the influence of her first husband, Jimmy Monroe, brother of the owner of Monroe’s Uptown House in Harlem.
Anslinger, the first commissioner for the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, was an extreme racist, even by the standards of the time, according to Chasing the Scream. He claimed narcotics made black people forget their place in the fabric of American society, and jazz musicians created “Satanic” music under pot’s influence.
The United States vs. Billie Holiday doesn’t shy away from the drug czar’s blatant racism, but Garrett Hedlund’s Harry J. Anslinger doesn’t capture the full depths of the disgust the man felt and put into practice through his selective enforcement. Hedlund is able to mouth some of the epithets his character threw at ethnic targets, but most of the actual quotes on record are so offensive there is no need to subject any audience to them today. The film barely even mentions the strange and forbidden fruit imbibed in slow-burning paper that Anslinger obsessed over almost as much as Holiday’s song.
Read more
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By Tony Sokol
Commissioner Anslinger came to power during the “Reefer Madness” era, and shaped much of the anti-marijuana paranoia of the period, according to Alexander Cockburn’s Whiteout: The CIA, Drugs, and the Press. His first major campaign was to criminalize hemp, rebranding it as “marijuana” in an attempt “to associate it with Mexican laborers.” He claimed the drug “can arouse in blacks and Hispanics a state of menacing fury or homicidal attack.”
Anslinger promoted racist fictions and singled out groups he personally disliked as special targets. He said the lives of the jazzmen “reek of filth,” and the genre itself was proof that marijuana drives people insane. On drug raids, he advised his agents to “shoot first.” Anslinger persecuted many black musicians, including Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and Duke Ellington. When Louis Armstrong was arrested for possession, Anslinger orchestrated a nationwide media smear campaign.
The Federal Bureau of Narcotics’ “race panic” tactics had a double standard. Anslinger only had a “friendly chat” with Judy Garland over her heroin addiction, suggesting she take longer vacations between films. He wrote to MGM, reporting he observed no evidence of a drug problem.
Anslinger ordered Holiday to cease performing “Strange Fruit” almost immediately after word got out about the performances. When she refused, he sent agent Jimmy Fletcher to frame the singer. Anslinger hated hiring Black agents, according to both Whiteout and Chasing the Scream, but white officers stood out on these investigations. He did insist no Black man in his Bureau could ever be a boss to white men, and pigeonholed officers like Fletcher to street agents.
Donald Clark and Julia Blackburn studied the only remaining interview with Jimmy Fletcher for their biography Billie Holiday: Wishing on The Moon. That interview has since been lost by the archives handling it. According to their book when Fletcher first saw Billie at the raid on her brother-in-law’s Philadelphia apartment in May 1947, “She was drinking enough booze to stun a horse and hoovering up vast quantities of cocaine.”
Fletcher’s partner sent for a policewoman to conduct a body search. “You don’t have to do that. I’ll strip,” Billie said before stripping and marking her territory in a provocative show of non-violent defiance by urinating on the floor (another action Daniels’ movie glosses over). Holiday was arrested and put on trial for possession of narcotics.
According to Hettie Jones’ book Big Star Fallin’ Mama: Five Women in Black Music, Holiday “Signed away her right to a lawyer and no one advised her to do otherwise.” She thought she would be sent to a hospital to kick the drugs and get well. “It was called ‘The United States of America versus Billie Holiday,’” she recalled in Lady Sings the Blues, the 1956 memoir she co-wrote with William Dufty, “and that’s just the way it felt.” Holiday was sentenced to a year and a day in a West Virginia prison. When her autobiography was published, Holiday tracked Fletcher down and sent him a signed copy.
When Holiday was released in 1948, the federal government refused to renew her cabaret performer’s license, which was mandatory for performing in any club serving alcohol. Under Anslinger’s recommended edict, Holiday was restricted “on the grounds that listening to her might harm the morals of the public,” according to the book Lady Sings the Blues.
The jazz culture had its own code. Musicians not only wouldn’t rat out other musicians, they would chip in to bail out any player who got popped. When it appeared Fletcher, who shadowed Holiday for years, became protective of Holiday, Anslinger got Holiday’s abusive husband and manager Louis McKay to snitch.
Two years after Holiday’s first conviction, Anslinger recruited Colonel George White, a former San Francisco journalist who applied to join the Federal Bureau of Narcotics. The personality test given to all applicants determined White was a sadist, and he quickly rose through the bureau’s ranks. He gained bureau acclaim as the first and only white man to infiltrate a Chinese drug gang.
White had a history of planting drugs on women and abused his powers in many ways. According to Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs, after White retired from the Bureau, he bragged, “Where else [but in the Bureau of Narcotics] could a red-blooded American boy lie, kill, cheat, steal, rape and pillage with the sanction and blessing of the All-Highest?” He “may well have been high when he busted Billie for getting high,” according to Chasing the Scream.
White arrested Holiday, without a warrant, at the Mark Twain Hotel in San Francisco in 1949. Billie insisted she had been clean for over a year, and said the dope was planted in her room by White. Bureau agents said they found her works in the room and the stash in a wastepaper basket next to a side room. They never entered the kit into evidence. According to Ken Vail’s book Lady Day’s Diary, Holiday immediately offered to go into a clinic, saying they could monitor her for withdrawal symptoms and that would prove she was being framed. Holiday checked herself into the clinic, paying $1,000 for the stay and she “didn’t so much as shiver.” She was not convicted by jury at trial.
Afterward White attended one of Holiday’s shows at the Café Society Uptown and requested his favorite songs. After the show was over, the federal cop told Billie’s manager “I did not think much of Ms. Holiday’s performance.”
In 1959, Billie collapsed while at the apartment of a young musician named Frankie Freedom. After waiting on a stretcher for an hour and a half, Manhattan’s Knickerbocker Hospital turned her away, saying she was a drug addict. Recognized by one of the ambulance drivers, Holiday was admitted in a public ward of New York City’s Metropolitan Hospital. She lit a cigarette as soon as they took her off oxygen.
In spite of being told her liver was failing and cancerous, and her heart and lungs were compromised, Holiday did not want to stay at the hospital. “They’re going to kill me. They’re going to kill me in there. Don’t let them,” she told Maely Dufty.
Billie went into heroin withdrawal, alone. When Holiday responded to methadone treatment, Anslinger’s men prevented hospital staff from administering any further methadone, even though it had been officially prescribed by her doctor. Drug cops claimed to find a tinfoil envelope containing under an eighth of an ounce of heroin. It was found hanging on a nail on the wall, six feet from Billie’s bed where the frail and restrained artist could not have reached it.
The cops handcuffed her to the bed, stationed two policemen at the door and told Holiday they’d take her to prison if she didn’t drop dime on her dealer. When Maely Dufty informed the police it was against the law to arrest a patient in critical care, the cops had Holiday taken off the list.
Outside the hospital, protesters gathered on the streets holding up signs reading “Let Lady Live.” The demonstrations were led by the Rev. Eugene Callender. The Harlem pastor, who built a clinic for heroin addicts in his church, requested the singer be allowed to be treated there.
Holiday didn’t blame the cops. She said the drug war forced police to treat people like criminals when they were actually ill.
“Imagine if the government chased sick people with diabetes, put a tax on insulin and drove it into the black market, told doctors they couldn’t treat them, then sent them to jail,” she wrote in Lady Sings the Blues. “If we did that, everyone would know we were crazy. Yet we do practically the same thing every day in the week to sick people hooked on drugs.”
Holiday’s social commentary didn’t end with “Strange Fruit.” She wrote and sang about racial equality in the song “God Bless the Child,” her voice captured the pains of domestic violence. Most of Holiday’s contemporaries were too scared of being hassled by the feds to perform “Strange Fruit.” Billie Holiday refused to stop. She was killed for it. But never silenced.
The United States vs. Billie Holiday is streaming on Hulu now.
Twin Peaks Recap, Extra Special Edition: “Fire Walk With Me: The Missing Pieces”
OK pals, here’s what’s up: I hadn’t planned on tracking down the rumored ‘missing pieces’ cut of Fire Walk With Me for this project, but as it turns out, the Criterion streaming site has it on the page for the film. If it was going to be that easy (I shelled out for a subscription as a birthday present to myself), I thought I might as well. Since it is essentially an edited-together collection of deleted scenes, it fits my usual note-taking style a little better than the film, which is an added bonus. If you’re looking for a reason to watch it beyond mere curiosity, it retroactively clarifies some details in the original series and the film, and sets up quite a bit of business for The Return (which I will be covering in the coming weeks, or...months...or whenever I get around to it...). Let’s dive in, shall we?
Part One: “Her name is Irene, and it is night. No need to make anything more out of it. There’s nothing good about it.”
-We open with Agents Desmond & Stanley leaving Teresa Banks’ autopsy. Stanley says, “I didn’t realize so many hours had passed.” Desmond doesn’t dignify this with a response. We see a little more of the Hap’s Diner scene; Desmond questions the guy in the entryway about Teresa--she had no friends, and/or never mentioned any, according to him.
-Desmond fistfights Sheriff Cable to persuade him to hand over Teresa’s body so they can take it to Portland. In Portland, we see a familiar face-- our own Dale Cooper, standing in the doorway of an office, talking to...Diane. Diane doesn’t answer, nor do we see her, but as far as I’m aware, this is the only moment in the original series that establishes Diane as a real person (beyond a margin of debate, which is settled in The Return...)
-Coop questions Agent Stanley, who shows him the ‘T’ they found embedded under Teresa’s fingernail.
-Another familiar face: Philip Jeffries, shown here at a hotel in (I assume) Miami. He asks the concierge if “Judy” is there, and takes a message. We flash to the room ‘above the store’, where the Man from Another Place is saying, “From pure air we have descended.”
-Jeffries appears in Philadelphia, in an extension of the scene from the film. He tells Gordon, “Judy is positive about this” and begins to explain. He mentions “the ring”, before laying his head down on Gordon’s desk and moaning in pain.
Part Two: “The Norwegians are coming!”
-Quite a bit here, but most notably, Sarah Palmer and Laura interacting like a relatively normal mother and daughter. Sarah even says, “You can tell me anything.” (Having been a teenage girl myself, let me just say this is rarely the comfort that people think it is...) Leland arrives, in buoyant spirits, telling them about the Norwegian delegation that’s coming to look at Ben Horne’s Ghostwood project. He teaches Laura and Sarah a Norwegian greeting, and it’s all...horribly...painfully...ordinary. That’s part of the tragedy, of course-- in a different world, the Palmers would have been a happy family.
-A few more glimpses into town life: Pete Martell (!!!) on the job at the Packard sawmill, helping Josie deal with the irate old banker upset that his 2x4s are not exact. (This reminded me of a story my mom, who works in a bank, told once-- a customer complained that he had measured his new checks with dental calipers, and they were noticeably thinner than the old ones, and how could they justify using such cheap paper...)
-At the RR, Ed & Nadine drop in for a cup of coffee, but Nadine runs out to avoid Norma, meanwhile, Norma gently nudges Shelley to help Laura with the Meals on Wheels. The diner is empty except for giggly Heidi nursing her bloody nose, and Norma sits down in a booth to cry.
-Laura, in shock from spying on Leland, runs to the Heywards. Donna brings her inside, and it turns out Eileen’s in the kitchen with a fresh batch of huckleberry muffins. Doc arrives, attempting a little magic trick with a red scarf. He teases Laura about her smoking, and she teases him back. She’s safe here, with these good people who love her...
-On the stairs at home, Laura has a vision of the Lodge. She’s brought out of it by Sarah, who looks noticeably disheveled. Laura and Sarah go into the living room, and Sarah keeps saying, “It’s happening again.” (In the timeline of the film, this is the night she dreams of the white horse...)
Part Three: “Looks like it’s just us girls.”
-Norma and Ed get snuggly in Ed’s truck!
-A clarification: in the film, it looks like Laura, Donna, the two johns, and Jacques just go into another part of the Roadhouse, or somewhere nearby, but this shows them driving some distance to another dive, clearly established as being on the Canadian border. The door to the back room has a sign: “The Power & the Glory.”
-we see Philip Gerard/the One-Armed Man sitting amongst a circle of candles, intoning, “Fire walk with me...”
-flashback to Teresa Banks’ liaisons with Leland; this is the most we see of her character, and she seems sharp and competent. After Leland bails, Teresa joins Laura and Ronette in the motel room, triumphantly waving the money. Then she calls up Jacques, asking him about Laura and Ronette’s fathers. Finally, a call to Leland, which unfortunately sets her fate.
-Forward again, to the Twin Peaks sheriff’s office. Joey, the biker with the curly hair, has alerted Hawk and Sheriff Truman that Bernard Renault is the one ferrying the cocaine across the border. I knew the bikers were important, especially once we see Joey at the Book House in S2.
Part Four: “Who am I talking to?”
-The morning after Bobby shoots the Deer Meadow deputy, he hands Laura the $10,000 to put in her safety deposit box. Later in the day, he discovers that the deputy gave them laxative powder.
-Laura gets a call from Dr. Jacoby, who tells her, “You’re going to have to deal with all of this,” and asks her for another tape.
-At the Briggs house, when Laura stops by, the Major is reading to Betty from the Book of Revelation while Bobby sulks in the basement. (I say this entirely as a compliment: Dana Ashbrook does some damn fine sulking in this series.) This plays more or less the same in the film-- Bobby saying to Laura, “You don’t want me; you want the blow, don’t you?” The thing is, Bobby’s a dreamer, and he’s quite upset that his fantasy has turned into a nightmare.
-Poor Margaret Lanterman, sitting alone in her house with the lights off, cradling the log as she hears the distant screams from the woods...
-”Some months later” we’re at Glastonbury Grove, then at Calhoun Memorial as Annie Blackburn, injured but alive, is rushed inside.
-in the Lodge, Cooper and the Man From Another Place are standing by the marble table, and the jade ring has vanished. “Someone else has it now,” the Man tells Coop. Annie, in recovery, repeats the speech from Laura’s dream. The nurse waves her hand in front of Annie’s face, but gets no response. She then steals the jade ring from Annie’s finger.
-Cooper/BOB, in the bathroom at the Great Northern, sinks to the floor as Doc Heyward and Harry burst in. They help him to his feet, and Doc tells him sternly, “You’re going right back to bed.” In a cold, flat voice, Cooper insists that he hasn’t brushed his teeth yet, and explains what happened. “It struck me as funny, Harry,” he growls, covered in blood.
The thing is, I don’t need to know everything. David Lynch and Mark Frost created a mystery; I’m not going to sit here and complain about not having the answers. But, in watching this full series again, I do want to pick up what I can, and now that I’ve seen this, I have more of an idea what I want to look for. So, onward and upward....
Mr. Raynard Arnold Eller, age 94 of Purlear passed away Sunday, October 13, 2019 at his home.
Funeral Services will be held 2:00 p.m. Thursday, October 17, 2019 at Wilkesboro Baptist Church with Dr. Chris Hefner officiating. The family will receive friends from 12:30 until 1:30 PM prior to the service at the church.
Burial with Military Honors by Marine Corps League Brushy Mtn. Detachment # 1187 will be in Mountlawn Memorial Park.
Mr. Eller was born July 12, 1925 in Wilkes County to Percy and Ora Mae Eller. He served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II and was a recipient of the Purple Heart. He was a member of Wilkesboro Baptist Church.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Jo Angelyn Blackburn Eller, five brothers, James M. Eller, twin brother Raymond Eller, Edward G. Eller, Max P. Eller and Rex J. Eller.
He is survived by one daughter, Bettie Kroutil and husband Bob of Santa Fe, New Mexico and two sons, Ron Eller and wife Beth of Huntersville and Rich Eller and wife Patty of Franklin, TN, four grandchildren, Josh Eller, Alison Eller, Jack Fornadel and Abbie Richard and three great grandchildren, Sterling Richard, Kyrie Richard and Edye Sandvick, three sisters, Christine Eller and Haline Eller both of Wilkesboro and Nancy Barnes of Tega Cay, SC and one brother, Kent Eller of Pulear.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Mountain Valley Hospice and Pallative Care, 401 Technology Lane, Suite 200, Mt. Airy, NC 27030 or Wilkesboro Baptist Church, PO Box 61, Wilkesboro, NC 28697.
Grayson Fender, 72
Mr. Grayson Mack Fender, age 72 of Traphill, passed away Saturday, October 12, 2019 at Woltz Hospice Home in Dobson, NC.
Funeral services were , October 15, at Old Roaring River Primitive
Baptist Church, Austin Traphill Road with Elder John Lyon, Elder Lowell Hopkins, Elder Carlton Brown, Elder George Paul and Elder Tommy Pegram officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery. .
Mr. Fender was born February 12, 1947 in
Alleghany County to George Lundy and Gladys Clyde Dowell Fender. He retired from Chatham Manufacturing in Elkin and Textiles, Inc. in Ronda and was a member of Old Roaring River Primitive Baptist Church for 24 years having served as a Deacon for 23 years. Grayson dearly loved his family, neighbors and friends from church. He loved helping his family, neighbors and hunting and fishing. He also loved farming.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Mr. Fender is survived by his wife; Rachel Lyon Fender of the home, a daughter; Charlotte Mae Fender Sloan and husband Matthew of Traphill, a son; Randel Mack Fender and wife Etta of Traphill, three grandchildren; Jordan Fender and wife Maygan, Austin Sloan and Garrett Fender and wife Lakyn, three step grandchildren; Tiffani Galloway, Rachel Higgins and Luke Higgins, expecting two great grandchildren in December and April, two brothers; Jim Fender and wife Ellen of Sparta and Bob Fender of Elkin and special friends; Billy Dowell and Bobby Dowell.
Pallbearers were Guy Brown, Jordan Fender, Garrett Fender, Austin Sloan, Keith Lyon, David Spicer, Micky Durham and Derek Brown.
The family wishes to give a Special Thanks to Mtn. Valley Hospice for their care of Mr. Fender.
Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Woltz Hospice Home 945 Zephyr Road, Dobson NC 27017.
Harold Eller, 70
Mr. Charlie Harold Eller, age 70 of Purlear passed away Tuesday, October 8, 2019 at his home.
Graveside Services were October 9, 2019 at New Hope Baptist Church Cemetery in Purlear with Rev. Dean Crane officiating.
Mr. Eller was born January 5, 1949 in Wilkes County to Clyde Thomas and Nora Belle Faw Eller. He was a member of New Hope Baptist Church and retired from Gardner Glass.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by two sisters; Ernestine Wiles and Arliene LeFever, three brothers; Franklin Eller, Willie Eller and Jimmy Eller, three sisters-in-law; Mazie Eller, Jewel Eller and Judy Eller, two brothers-in-law; Glenn Wiles and Fred LeFever.
He is survived by his wife: Linda Wyatt Eller of the home, one daughter; Michelle Ann Hogan and husband Paul of Hope Mills and one son; Christopher "Chris" Harold and wife Carene of Ferguson, five grandchildren; Kasey Bolick, Elizabeth Lentz, Ashley Hogan, Rebecca Hogan and Steven Hogan, four great grandchildren; Harmony Swaenepoel, Makenzie Murph, Lillian Murph and Daniel Murph, three sisters; Loriene Castle and husband Lloyd of Wilkesboro, Christine Edmonds and husband Bill of Abingdon, VA. Maxine Johnson and husband Tony of Traphill, four brothers; Filmore Eller and wife Alberta of Wilkesboro, Richard Eller of Purlear, Marvin Eller of Wilkesboro and Max Eller and wife Janice of Hays and two sisters-in-law; Betty Eller and Annie Lee Eller both of Wilkesboro.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Mountain Valley Hospice and Pallative Care, 401 Technology Lane, Suite 200, Mt. Airy, NC 27030
Johnny Shepherd, 72
Johnny Ray Shepherd, age 72, of Archdale, passed away Monday, October 7, 2019 at High Point Medical Center. Johnny was born June 26, 1947 in Wilkes County to Harlie C. and Della Stamper Shepherd. He was owner of JR Shepherd Electrical Repair. Johnny enjoyed playing the guitar, the harmonica, fishing, and his performance cars. He especially loved spending time with his family. Mr. Shepherd was preceded in death by his father and his mother, Della Stamper Shepherd Frazier.
Surviving are his son, Brian Shepherd and spouse Melissa of Thomasville; grandchildren, Blake and Luke Shepherd both of Thomasville; brother, Buster Shepherd and spouse Peggy of Jamestown; and sister, Marie Shepherd Fite and spouse Bobby of Flint, Texas.
Funeral service was October 9, at Miller Funeral Chapel with Rev. Gene Shepherd officiating. Burial followed in Mountlawn Memorial Park. Flowers will be accepted.
Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements. Online con
Edward Brown, 87
Edward Eugene Brown, age 87, of North Wilkesboro, passed away Sunday, October 6, 2019 at his home. Edward was born February 13, 1932 in Wilkes County to Ray and Maude Prevette Brown. Mr. Brown was a member of Second Street Baptist Church. He loved to farm his cattle when he was able; loved his children and grandchildren. Edward was preceded in death by his parents and nine siblings.
Surviving are his wife, Betty Renegar Brown; daughter, Wanda Cleary and spouse Ronnie of Hays; son, Tommy Brown and spouse Rebecca of North Wilkesboro; grandchildren, Samantha Lusk and spouse Freddie of North Wilkesboro, Kristy Cothren and spouse Marty of Hays, Amanda Robinson and spouse Stephen of Asheville, Daniel Brown and spouse Keri of North Wilkesboro; great granddaughters, Sydney Massengill, Mary Cothren and Katie Cothren; several nieces and nephews.
Funeral service was October 9, at Haymeadow Baptist Church with Rev. Danny Dillard, Pastor Michael Golden and Daniel Brown officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery. Flowers will be accepted.
Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.
Callie Haynes, 88
Mrs. Callie Mae Johnson Haynes, age 88 of North Wilkesboro, passed away Sunday, October 6, 2019 at her home.
Mrs. Haynes was born January 16, 1931 in Wilkes County to William Beshears and Belva Johnson. She was a member of Oak Grove Baptist Church. For over 60 years she was the Co-Owner of the Beauty Bazaar in North Wilkesboro.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband; Edgar Gray Haynes, Sr. and a sister; Minne Rae Ashley.
She is survived by a son; Edgar Gray Haynes, Jr. and wife Angela M. Haynes of North Wilkesboro, two grandchildren; Heather Lynn Haynes and Alicia Dawn Haynes and a niece; Jenny Sale.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate that memorials be made to Wake Forest Care at Home Hospice 126 Executive Drive Suite 110 Wilkesboro, NC 28697.
Patty Hendren, 67
Mrs. Patty Sue Link Hendren, age 67 of Hays, passed away Saturday, October 5, 2019 at her home surrounded by her family.
Funeral services were October 10th, at Reins Sturdivant Chapel with Brother Larry Adams and Mr. Kevin Prevette officiating. Burial was in New Light Baptist Church #1 Cemetery.
Mrs. Hendren was born September 12, 1952 in Wilkes County to William Baxter Link (Bill) and wife Thelma Marie Kelly Link. She was retired from Tyson Foods. Mrs. Hendren was a member of Welcome Home Baptist Church in North Wilkesboro.
In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by a son; Russell Lee Hendren and a brother; Larry Link (Bill).
She is survived by a daughter; Dotty Cheek of Hays, a son; Mickey Hendren and wife Denise of Greeley, CO, five grandchildren; Bethany Hendren, Justin Caudill, Justin Hendren, Jasmine Johnson and Darius Jackson, a twin sister; Kathy Prevette and husband Perry of North Wilkesboro and a special nephew Kevin Prevette.
The family wishes to thank all those that helped Patty during her extended illness. All of the friends, caretakers and visitors during that time are too many to name but each one is greatly appreciated by the family. Thanks also to Medi Home Health and Hospice.
Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to the Wilkes Humane Society PO Box 309 North Wilkesboro, NC 28659 or Window World Cares St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital 118 Shaver Street, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659.
It’s a long list of characters so the specific requests aren’t overly detailed, please draw at will from my general likes and general fandom likes in addition or as an alternative to any of those!
All requests are art or fic - for art, the stuff I like is the kind that depicts the characters doing something. I’ll aways be happier with a very simple drawing of two characters walking together or sharing a cup of coffee than with an ambitious composition that looks like an Avengers poster.
They are also all for tricks and treats, except for The Swapper which is just tricks, but ignore at will for extra gifts.
Likes: worldbuilding, slice of life (doubly so if the event the fic focuses on is made up but canon-specific), missing moments, 5+1 and similar formats, bonding and emotional support/intimacy, physical intimacy, lingering touches, loyalty, casefic, surrealism, magical realism, established relationships, future fic, hurt/comfort or just comfort from the ample canon hurt, throwing characters into non-canon environments, banter, functional relationships between dysfunctional individuals, unexplained mysteries, bittersweet moods, journal/epistolary fic, dreams and memories and identities, canon-adjacent tropey plots, outsider POV, UST, exploration of secondary bits of canon, leaning on the uniqueness of the canon setting/mood, found families, characters reuniting after a long and/or harrowing time, friends-to-lovers, road trips, maps, mutual pining, cuddling, wintry moods, the feeling of flannel and other fabrics, ridiculous concepts played straight, sensory details, sickfic, places being haunted, people being haunted, the mystery of the woods, small hopes in bleak worlds, electricity, places that don’t quite add up, mismatched memories, caves and deep places, distant city lights at night
Cool with: any tense, any pov, any rating, plotty, not plotty, IF, nerdy canon references, unrequested characters popping up
Twin Peaks: Harry Truman, James Hurley, Frank Truman, Albert Rosenfield, Tammy Preston, Monica Bellucci, Margaret Lanterman, Denise Bryson, Cynthia Knox, Constance Talbot, Bosomy Woman, Annie Blackburn, Jade, Wally Brando, Diane Evans, Doris Truman, Lucy Moran
The mystery of the woods. How do they relate to the woods, what do they gain and what do they lose in the woods. Case fic but they don’t find out jack shit, someone disappears, David Bowie was there, it’s complicated. Fragmented, shifted, mirrored identities. New Lodge spaces. The risks of staring into the void for too long. Gentle illusions. Transcendence. The moon. Static buzzing. Any title from the s3 ethereal whooshing compilation used as a prompt, actually. For treats, all these spooky things can remain in the background while the warmer hues of canon (all the food and cute friendships and Canadian geese and sparks of joy) take center place!
AUs and fusion AUs are great for this fandom! I have Final Fantasy on my mind a lot recently so any FFVI, VII, T, IX, X, XII or XIII reimagining would be fantastic, but also regular fantasy, space opera, sci-fantasy… anything fancy!
I ship Coop/Albert/Harry and all sides thereof, Laura/Donna, Tammy/Cynthia, Lucy/Andy, Gordon/Phillip, Chet/Sam. I love & for all of the above and Harry&Frank, Bookhouse Boys in general, Margaret&Hawk, James&Shelly, Margaret&Trumans, Albert&Frank, Albert&Doris, Tammy&Albert, Tammy&literally any woman in the cast, Denise&any Blue Rose, Cynthia&Constance, Constance&Twin Peaks cast, Annie&Audrey, Annie&Shelly, Wally&Coop&Laura, Diane&Albert, Diane&Phillip, Lucy&Margaret. $character&Laura is the free space here, when in doubt add Laura.
Canon-specific DNWs: any singular Dreamer being the ‘source’ of canon, BOB (let alone Judy) being forever defeated in the finale, Judy being an active malevolent presence in the characters’ lives, clear explanations for canonical ambiguities, ‘Odessaverse’ being the reality layer, the Fireman’s House by the Sea being the White Lodge
Harry Truman: his life in remission or something with animals
Frank Truman: maybe he’s a tulpa or maybe he came back to a town he doesn’t recognize anymore
Albert Rosenfield: splitting identities post-canon, leaving the FBI, something about his jazz collection
Tammy Preston: Tammy infodumping 101, meeting legacy characters, trying not to implode like previous generations of blue rose
Monica Bellucci: just give me your headcanons about whatever the hell that was about, possibly not as a retelling. Was she actual Monica, a masking memory for a different spirit, something else entirely...
Margaret Lanterman: playing off any character we never see her share a scene with in canon, environmental activist, saplings enthusiast
Denise Bryson: actual undercover FBI means she’s now part of office shenanigans, right? Or coming back to Twin Peaks years later
Cynthia Knox: Garland’s legacy in the USAF is a heavy burden. going through an initiation of her own not unlike Tammy
Constance Talbot: visiting Twin Peaks for whatever reason, being shaken by some supernatural event
Bosomy Woman: who is she, where does she come from. is she friends with Phil. I’m down with her being Lois Duffy or not
Jade: two things I love about her are that she comes out unscathed from a brush-in with the supernatural and that "Jade” is an alias she got from Invitation to Love. Expanding on either topic would be great (Invitation to Love fandom fic?)
Wally Brando: the absolute coolest. That is unironically all. Tell me more about how cool he is, in the woods or on the road.
Diane Evans: defragmenting her self somehow, in and out of the red room
Doris Truman: what’s she like, who is she friends with. A coincidence in Hastings’ website makes me wonder if she’s an UFO enthusiast and interested in the zone
Lucy Moran: Lucy's way of perceiving the world as a gateway to deeper truths which she may or may not be aware of. Also raccoons.
I am very interested in various characters finding about the erased timeline, but not getting their memories back, and having to live with being told about what they did but never remembering it. All what-ifs welcome (what if they managed an acceptable happy ending but didn’t reset the timeline, what if a different party went back to the past and kept their memories, what if Alma’s ghost stuck around…) Also open to AUs here, especially for generic fantasy or sci-fi settings or the Final Fantasy ones I prompted for Yuletide .
I ship Alma/Cabanela/Jowd, Alma/Jowd and Cabanela/Jowd and like all the & relationships in the game and more. Lots of love to Sissel and Missile always. (and Alma/Cabanela if Jowd isn’t around for some reason! Just don’t ignore him please!)
Cabanela: graciously accepting some type of defeat, or being rightfully stubborn about something. Maybe situations in which he knows he doesn’t have to lead
Jowd: time-displaced and touch-starved, or getting to the bottom of the morbid humor barrel. Knowing he’s at the center of everyone’s attention. (for the record, that beard is at the center of my attention. it is very nice)
Alma: would be nice if she had a personality of her own. Ghost Alma with or without powers? Teaming up with Cabanela or Lynne? Maybe she has trouble communicating with them but she’s there?
Pigeon Man: how do he and Lovey take to Sissel. Friendship with Cabanela in the new timeline.
Emma: her plotting process, or her activist leanings, or both. Is she friends with Alma?
Bailey: I like how simple he is, and his panic dance of course. Throw him at another character of your choice and see what happens? Cabanela, for example?
The Last Remnant: Kate, Pagus, Emma, David Nassau, Zolean, Sibal, Maddox
I’m very interested in post-game exploration, and getting a clearer feeling of any of the cities and assorted places. I like characterization based on battle quotes, red bubble dialogues, and even their unique stat (‘authority’ is a natural fit for David but ‘romance’ tells me something new about Sibal!) Character interaction. Bit of worldbuilding. What’s another festival they celebrate? Do they erect something else instead of the Valeria Heart? Any fun discoveries down in Siebenbur? Where the hell IS Veyriel, anyway, do they go look for it and if so what do they find out? End of an age. Old bonds.
I ship David/Rush (wouldn’t want it as the main focus of a David fic, but as background there or anywhere it’s great) and Pagus/Sibal/Maddox. David&Rush and Pagus&Sibal&Maddox are also great. I also love Torgal, Caedmon, Allan, Irina, Glenys, Sheryl, Roberto and the Duke of Ghor, but everyone, really.
Kate: any expansion of her tulpa narrative? Maybe while she makes a friend of your choice?
Pagus: my history-loving nerd. I’m also not over the fact that it’s stated canon that for a Qsiti, he’s an absolute catch. What a babe.
Emma: let her be grumpy at someone... maybe teaming up with David à la good cop bad cop
David Nassau: nice things happening to David postcanon, please? He’s been through a lot and I love him. Who can understand him, what can give him purpose?
Zolean: I need someone to adopt this sad fish now that he knows that his friend is gone. Military experience and lost friends preferred but not required.
Sibal and/or Maddox: give me all the Qsiti worldbuilding, Siebenbur worldbuilding, Remnant daydreaming, backstory with Pagus, old men reunions after the ending...
Dark Souls: Solaire, Siegmeyer, Sieglinde, Logan, Gough, Artorias
I’m only familiar with the first game! It’s probably relevant to mention that I think that linking the fire is kind of a dumbass move, Gwyn is an ass, Kaathe has his own agenda and there’s no winning move in this world, or at least no obvious one. Feel free to deviate from anyone’s canon endings, to make things happen that’ll stave off their hollowing. I am interested in any of these people meeting and possibly striking up a friendship, and also in exploring Lordran’s temporal/dimensional fuckery, where it’s possible to meet people who have been gone for ages...
Solaire: tragic, lovable, doomed, pure of heart dumb of ass and all. Ways in which his search for his sun intersects with the bigger mysteries and tragedies? What if he accidentally talked to Kaathe instead of Frampt in his quest?
Siegmeyer: just let him be jovial and helpful? Traveling with someone and being a good buddy?
Sieglinde: (almost) unstoppable can of whoop-ass, what’s it like to be basically the only non-undead in Lordran?
Logan: he grump. Maybe he learns something interesting in the Archives. I am also interested in deets on him going mad there, at the end of his quest for knowledge. Sounds eldritch, poignant and intriguing.
Gough: get him out of gay baby jail, poor thing, what’d he do! Or, at least: who goes to visit him, what does he feel for his people who appear to be more or less enslaved. Why does Gwyn allow him to languish in that tower?
Artorias: much like with Solaire, I am intrigued by this paragon of virtue in a world that's really harsh on that sort of thing. He’s also... not human? Sif and Alvina always welcome.
Oh the burning found family feelings, the revolutionary passion, the divide between topside social constraints (moreso for liberated exiles, thrust into heroic roles after the revolution) and the kind of freedom allowed by the downside! Mere distance cannot separate our spirits! Noxalas! ...any cutesy activity lifted from the game would be great, like X doing laundry with Y. Thoughts about the Plan, about the Scribes, about being considered the reincarnation of the Scribes, about finding oneself at the end of an age, as everything crumbles down to form something new. The titan stars. Exploring literally any corner of the Downside. Any postcanon very welcome with any combination of endings as long as the revolution was peaceful. I love everyone so much. Please do lean in on the xeno details if you’re writing nonhumans! Even for gen, I like to read what it’s like to be something other than human.
I ship Volfred/Tariq, Volfred/Oralech, some form of Oralech/Volfred/Tariq (more of a Volfred-centric V but I would like to be convinced of the Oralech/Tariq side of things), Celeste/Jodariel, Reader/Sandra, Hedwyn/Fikani and Pamitha/Bertrude. All & pairs welcome. I do NOT ship Jodi/Ignarius, Celeste/Tariq and *ae/Almer.
Oralech: so many intense emotions, just pick one and run with it! His topside ending made me cry. Finding the pristine blackwagon, books and sigil he would deem the True Nightwings’? Learning to let go of he bundle of hatred and prejudice he’d used as a shield, one thread at a time? Bonding with a character of your choice?
Sandra: butting heads with any character of your choice, ideologically and also because she’s understandably pissed off 24/7? Volfred was Reader before us, what was their relationship like? And I’m sure that post-game the Reader brings her along to Nightwings meetings when she feels like it?
Bertrude: witchy snek doing witchy snek things please. Her reluctant bonding is great
Milithe: also witchy snek doing witchy snek things but on a grander, more primeval scale? Her drive to explore the Downside touches me.
Celeste: the fixed star learning not to be fixed anymore, and being a person, while her counterpart has something of a 830 years head start and no-one seems to be on her wavelength. She’s intense and burning and uncompromising and how do you live like that?
Volfred: early days in exile, bonding with any of the old Nightwings, or living as prime minister giving his all to the new society he’s building, which has to be demanding and tiresome. Idealistic, self-assured and a little manipulative is one of my ideals so just send him Volfred-ing around and I’ll be happy.
Tariq: he keeps it all under the surface and if you get a peek past it there’s something of an eldritch depth to him and isn’t that so sweet. I think we need more Tariq whump but also Tariq nursing sick Nightwings, Tariq having nice days and just all-around more Tariq, is all.
Pamitha: it’s hard to break that self-loathing but she could get a break maybe? If she stays Downside, what does she find at the far borders of this land?
The Last Guardian: any
The boy & the very good boy… I’d like to read about a distant reunion. I was surprised by the boy being the combo breaker after the former Ueda protagonists cast their societies behind. He gets to live his life with his people, apparently, but what makes him leave and find Trico again? What’s their bond like, years later? Or is it Trico who comes back to search for him?
And what about the being in the coffin? Got any headcanons on the relationship between it, the master of the valley, the alien-looking white tower and the rest of the vall... well, crater, presumably? Are they dead? Does some part of their conscience stick around? Were they in some sort of cryostasis and the destruction of the master of the valley woke them up?
I really like the setting of the game so laying it thick with the environmental focus is always appreciated.
As an aside and since SotC and ICO are in the tagset, I don’t generally like to think about direct, rational connections between the three games, placing them in a timeline etc. Even so, if you read the TLG artbook: what the hell was Ueda going on about, talking about SotC “as if through a mirror” or whatever that quote went like? Iirc he was talking about TLG’s mirror and SotC’s pool having some sort of symbolic... inverted... connection...? If you have ideas about some crackpot surrealist connection between TLG and SotC, the kind fever dreams are made of, I’m all ears!
The Swapper: any
I fell in love early on with this indie gem and its take on cloning, communication and the loss of self and I’m thrilled to see it in the tagset. I love narratives that explore solitude, alien mindsets, rejection of society, fractured consciousness - you can see how The Swapper struck a chord (the stellar puzzles and graphics helped). So the first thing I’d like to read in this nonexistent fandom with no fic is something, anything, focused on any of these themes. What of our protagonist, or what is left of her (WHAT is left of her?), after the ‘planet’ ending? But an exploration of the 'spaceship’ ending also works, keeping in mind that I see it as by far the creepiest and less consolatory option (not that the plot has any business being consolatory or black and white in the fist place, but if I HAD to slap a ‘good end’ ‘bad end’ label, planet ending is the good ending for me). What interests me about the Scavenger - I’m mostly talking about the main playable character(s), but the original one is also very interesting - is mostly what the game puts her through. Delving into her background, not so much.
I would also love any setup that offers a focus on the Watchers, just… exploring their point of view on this whole business and on life, the universe and everything as a whole. Luv me them rocks. I’d really like to get into their mindset. The two scientists can come too of course.
Took my first solo walk around Blackburn this summer. Just wanted to share a few of the sites I saw around town and give a shout of appreciation to my local friends who welcome and adopt me into their lives every year I visit England. 💗 Special thanks to Tom & Judy for opening their home to me, and especially Tom for always looking after me and organizing things for our scenic adventures around the UK. 🗺🇬🇧 #acrossthepond #Blackburn #Manchester #England #appreciation #vanlife #roadtrips #exploreuk (at Blackburn) https://www.instagram.com/p/CWF5BpzMJaW/?utm_medium=tumblr
Day #8 marked our final day of scheduled activities as tomorrow will be mainly a travel day back to Marshall. Please pray for our safe return back to ETBU and that all travel logistics will go smoothly. We began this Wednesday eating breakfast at Ms. Gloria’s cottage and left for St. James Infirmary at 9:30 am. Our mission today was to bring as much joy and Jesus as we could to these elderly Jamaicans that were sick, destitute, and some with special needs. We learned from the organization’s director that the individuals ranged from 35-95 but anyone placed there was an individual that could no longer take care of themselves for one reason or another. They were divided into male and female huts/shelters that only had beds inside and were not air-conditioned but were ventilated. We went and met the elderly males for the first 30 minutes and then the ladies for the remaining time. I enjoyed getting to know Dee, Stanley, and Dunlap in our brief 60 minutes with them. Dee wore an old wooden cross around his neck, which made for an easy spiritual conversation with him to which we ended praying together. Stanley, was completely blind but his name was written on the wall above his bed so people could speak to him and know his name. Today being my nine year anniversary with my wife, Whitney, we talked about his family and wife quite a bit. He told me the secret to his 65 year marriage before she passed was that they went to church together very regularly. We also prayed together specifically about the unseen wonders of heaven, certainly in both of our futures, where we would someday reunite. Dunlap held a special place in my heart as she reminded me of my two wise grandmothers whom both contributed greatly to my personal spiritual growth and development as a young boy. We talked about Jamaican and American society and the legacies we would like to leave behind as we work to help be the change for God’s kingdom and our respective countries. All three were very inspiring and motivating conversations and prayers, but so were the many other handshakes, smiles, and hugs. As we drove off, I couldn’t help but think about the individuals only in their 30’s and 40’s that will now likely live out their remaining 40-60 years in their beds with no great sense of purpose left, however, maintaining such a joyful spirit through it all. Many of our players related to them well and even had strong fond memories/stories of their grandparents to share. How blessed we are as Americans, Texans, and members of the ETBU community to have the blessings, resources, family, and friends that we do. We had lunch back at the cottages before going to the beach for several hours and enjoying the sunset really for the first time this trip. These young ladies and staff have really worked hard and poured their hearts and wisdom out to advance the kingdom of God, this team’s chemistry, and amongst the people of Jamaica, so it was great for them to relax and enjoy God’s scenic creations this afternoon. Overall this trip has greatly had an impact on my life. The Lord has sent me to the books of 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy to study thoroughly while I have been here and opened my eyes to quite a few different areas in which I can improve, help my family improve, and help disciple our basketball family in the near future. 1 Timothy 1:5 says: “Now the goal of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.” I believe these are wise words from Paul on how to disciple the people we are directly responsible for so that they may go out and more effectively and efficiently witness to others for the kingdom. Many have read much about the many different orphanages, shelters, and infirmaries we have visited, served, and witnessed in the past eight days from some of our players’ perspective. From a coaches viewpoint, our players have learned to not let their youth or inexperience hinder them as the profess the name of Jesus Christ as it talks about in 1 Timothy 4: 9-14. They have set an example for all believers with their speech, life, love, faith, and purity and they certainly have not neglected their gifts while doing so. We all have been genuinely changed for the better by this experience. I sincerely believe this is going to be a great foundation for our program as we head into year two and the upcoming season as it relates to humility and thankfulness. In 15 years of being a part of college basketball programs in many capacities and levels, I have not been a part of a team that is going to enter the fall semester this connected. I pray we can use that as a springboard to get off to a great start, but will take great intentionality and prayer to maintain the focus, discipline, and love as the momentum of this trip wears off. It is hard to imagine how this could have been any more impactful spiritually for the individuals involved, and I cannot wait to see how the seeds we planted will sprout in our lives and in the Jamaicans lives as God provides the metaphorical rain to give it nourishment and life in His time. The vulnerability of our players and the great leadership and organization from Judy Fox, Lisa Seeley, and Coach Rainbolt have been what has made this trip so highly successful. Coach Rainbolt, as always, has done a great job preparing this team spiritually before/during/after each day, and we are very thankful for him. I also want to thank Ryan Erwin and Dr. Blackburn for their leadership and vision to make these life changing trips possible. Finally, I want to thank all of the donors who contributed financially and all of our supporters that prayed for us continually. We will miss these people and this beautiful country as we head home tomorrow, but we return strengthened, united, and experienced as we go forth for the kingdom of God. Caleb Henson Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach
“Firstness” written & directed by Brielle Brilliant, got picked up by Gravitas Ventures!!!! It begins streaming on Apple TV+ on 2/22/22–details coming soon. Pre-orders on Apple TV now up (link in bio) & first 50 pre-orders come w/ a limited edition Firstness book!
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Cinematography by Ben Mullen
Produced by Judy Febles
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Partial list of Lovely Cast:
Spencer Jording
Tim Kinsella
Caleb Cabrera
Anna Zhang
Amy Blackburn
Susan O'Doherty
Xiomara Bernard
Max Lipchitz
Michael Bricker
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Partial list of Lovely Crew:
Bridget Botchwav
Harley Foos
Sommer Rodriguez
Ellie Hall
Glenn McDougald
(Please let me know if I left anyone out)