#Rose van Dome

[clubkidandcollectives]

#Lova Ladiva #La Big Bertha #La Grande Dame #drag race france #paloma #Moon #Rose van Dome #Vespi #Kitty Space #Ginger Bitch #Cookie Kunty #Piche #Punani #Mami Watta #Sara Forever #Keiona #Soa de Muse #Elips #Kam Hugh #La Briochée #Lolita Banana

[vickyvicarious]

Within, stood a tall old man, clean shaven save for a long white moustache, and clad in black from head to foot, without a single speck of colour about him anywhere. [...] His face was a strong—a very strong—aquiline, with high bridge of the thin nose and peculiarly arched nostrils; with lofty domed forehead, and hair growing scantily round the temples but profusely elsewhere. His eyebrows were very massive, almost meeting over the nose, and with bushy hair that seemed to curl in its own profusion. The mouth, so far as I could see it under the heavy moustache, was fixed and rather cruel-looking, with peculiarly sharp white teeth; these protruded over the lips, whose remarkable ruddiness showed astonishing vitality in a man of his years. For the rest, his ears were pale, and at the tops extremely pointed; the chin was broad and strong, and the cheeks firm though thin. The general effect was one of extraordinary pallor.

Dracula, 5 May

I rose and bowed, and he came towards me; a man of medium weight, strongly built, with his shoulders set back over a broad, deep chest and a neck well balanced on the trunk as the head is on the neck. The poise of the head strikes one at once as indicative of thought and power; the head is noble, well-sized, broad, and large behind the ears. The face, clean-shaven, shows a hard, square chin, a large, resolute, mobile mouth, a good-sized nose, rather straight, but with quick, sensitive nostrils, that seem to broaden as the big, bushy brows come down and the mouth tightens. The forehead is broad and fine, rising at first almost straight and then sloping back above two bumps or ridges wide apart; such a forehead that the reddish hair cannot possibly tumble over it, but falls naturally back and to the sides. Big, dark blue eyes are set widely apart, and are quick and tender or stern with the man's moods.

van Helsing, 25 September

Some similarities and differences in the way van Helsing and Dracula are first described. Especially upon Jonathan meeting him today and remarking cheerfully on his appearance, I don't think they actually look that similar really. And to an extent the wording may refer to specific features of physiognomy that I happily do not know. But still, there's enough here to take note of.

They're both clean shaven (except for Dracula's moustache) and their hair doesn't grow on their temples. They have high foreheads. They both have big noses, though of different shapes (one broad and one thin) and expressive nostrils. They both have a strong chin. They both have eyes that change with their moods (though Jonathan doesn't note that on first meeting him, he later emphasizes the Count's blazing eyes when angry).

And there are a couple strong differences too of course. Dracula is characterized as pale and lacking color except for his mouth, while van Helsing has red hair and blue eyes. They both seem to have large or at least noticeable mouths, but van Helsing's is "resolute" compared to Dracula's looking "cruel". Dracula is tall, thin, old... while van Helsing is medium weight, strongly built. Even as he talks up his age Mina doesn't comment on him looking old or anything at all. He seems much more animated and full of life.

I'm certain that both descriptions are drawing heavily on physiognomy to try and reveal things about their respective characters. And again, maybe it's just the case that similar terms are used for a lot of that stuff. But there still seems to be a decent amount of general overlap, and I don't think any other characters really ever get this sort of intentionally detailed description, so I do feel you are to an extent meant to compare the two. To recognize the similar features but the way they come together into something completely different in the end... maybe reflecting how they share other traits but with different overall intentions.

#dracula daily #count dracula #van helsing #you know. foil stuff #and of course dracula also has his appearance detailed in order to contrast with the changes later #particularly the hair color and looking old and frail

[chicinsilk]

US Vogue September 1, 1958

Model : Mary Jane Russell

-Top left: Evening envelope purse giving off reflections of amber and white stones, golden pearls; by Nettie Rosenstein. -Dome pin (on corner of purse): a rainbow of sparkling crystals; by Laguna. -Two strand necklace of gold leaf and crystal nuggets, rondelles; by Nettie Rosenstein.

Rhinestone buckle lighting up a gold brocade shoe by Julianelli. -Rhinestone evening stockings; by Beautiful Bryans.

-Top right: sprig of gold leaf and crystal nuggets; by Nettie Rosenstein. -Two strings of antique gold and silver beads spaced by bronze and silver stained glass: by Castlecliff.

Clustered rhinestones strung alternately with black enamel bubbles triggered by other rhinestones; by Van S Authentics. -Bottom left: Opera pump in tanned kid leather by Julianelli. -Five shiny strands of gray crystals; by Hattie Carnegie. -Glittering rhinestone pin in lilac twigs; by Nettie Rosenstein.

-Bottom right: shower support in stained glass and gray pseudo pearl; by Brania. -Ticktacktoe of three new lipsticks that make you shine: Amber Luster, Rose Luster and Red Luster, shining the model here Red Luster. By Frances Denney.

Photo William Klein vogue archive

#us vogue #september 1958 #fashion 50s #beauty 50s #1958-59 #fall/winter #automne/hiver #mary jane russell #william klein #nettie rosenstein #laguna #julianelli #bryans #castlecliff #van v authentics #hattie carnegie #brania #frances denney #makeup #accessories

[chaosintheavenue]

Expanding on the last question. How many raider head cannons do you have for VB and 76 since you talk abt those 2 games a lot

Aaah, unfortunately I don't have much to add at the moment for those games specifically, so I'll instead use this to offer a preview of sorts for what I plan to do with raider-esque groups from those games.

In the case of 76, I have spoken a bit about the Cutthroats in the past, mostly because my Actual 76er OC's very vague and bare bones plotline involves them eventually joining the Cutthroats. But I don't honestly know a lot about the other raider gangs in the game, beyond what I learned from Rose and Beckett's questlines. I don't feel like any of them really got a satisfying level of lore (especially the newer additions like the Blood Eagles, what on earth is going on there?). I'm currently attempting to develop a lorebent edition of the Rust Eagles for Amp's sake, but coming up very empty-handed.

And then onto Van Buren, where the main attraction as far as I'm concerned is the Vipers. I do have a 'template' for an OC who was born a Viper (and on her travels, gets involved with other factions that could be considered raiders), but I'm still waiting for her to come forward and introduce herself to me.

I know there's also the Jackals, who received a very similar treatment in New Vegas, but their lore is a bit more one-dimensional imo. One potential hint of things to come for both Jackals and Vipers is that they're adjacent to aspects of VB lore than my brain absolutely adores (respectively, the Boulder Dome and the Ciphers), and so I can probably use that fixation energy to dredge my brain through researching their lore more thoroughly.

#thanks for the ask! #I'll try to find some of my 76 raider posting for you anon #but I seem to be gradually losing the ability to accurately search on my own blog #thanks tumblr

[petervc88]

Cappelle Calling - 6 mei 2024

Na een topconcert van The Black Keys waar ik gisteravond bij was in de Ziggo Dome, kon ik niet anders dan starten met een nummer van hun. De LP van de Week was ‘Hopes & Fears’ van Keane uit 2004. De Filmplaat stond in teken van de vorige week overleden Duane Eddy. En omdat het Songfestivalnummer van Joost Klein stiekem een guilty pleasure van mij is, wilde ik het toch 1x draaien in mijn eigen programma.

Terugluisteren kan hier.

Dit was de playlist:

Uur 1:

The Black Keys - Gold On The Ceiling Blossoms - What Can I Say After I’m Sorry? Bob Seger - Mainstreet Keane - We Might As Well Be Strangers (LP van de Week) ABBA - Lay All Your Love On Me The Lemon Twigs - They Don't Know How To Fall In Place Bon Jovi - Runaway Adele - Lovesong (DisCovered) The Rolling Stones - Time Is On My Side Duane Eddy - Rebel Rouser (Filmplaat - uit 'Forrest Gump') Paul Simon & Lady Blacksmith Mambazo - Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes Certain Animals - Over The Hill Keane - Everbody’s Changing (LP van de Week)

Uur 2:

Electric Light Orchestra - Showdown Blaudzun - Shades Keane - Can’t Stop Now (LP van de Week) Oliver Pesch - Doing A Crime The Cure - Lovesong (DisCovered) Daryll-Ann - Summerdaze John Lennon - Mind Games Acda & De Munnik - De Beatles en de Buren Keane -  This Is The Last Time (LP van de Week) The Walters - Better Off Alone The Stone Roses - I Wanna Be Adored Keane - Bedshaped (LP van de Week) Joost - Europapa

Shownotes:

De battle over Acda & de Munnik van Ondergewaardeerde Liedjes is hier te lezen. Mijn concertverslag over The Black Keys in de Ziggo Dome is hier te lezen.

Cappelle Calling is iedere maandagavond van 20:00 t/m 22:00 te horen op Radio 90FM. Iedere woensdagmiddag wordt de uitzending herhaald van 18:00 tot 20:00. Suggesties voor DisCovered of De Filmplaat zijn welkom via de Facebookpagina van het programma of via [email protected].

#cappelle calling #playlist #filmplaat #discovered #regio90 #90fm #lp van de week #radio 90fm

[metalindex-hu]

Október 22-én POWERWOLF koncert az MVM Dome-ban!

Október 22-én POWERWOLF koncert az MVM Dome-ban! - https://metalindex.hu/2023/11/29/oktober-22-en-powerwolf-koncert-az-mvm-dome-ban/ -

POWERWOLF- Wolfsnächte Tour 2024: október 22-én az MVM Dome-ban!

A 2022-es Wolfsnächte turné 2024-ben folytatódik, ráadásul a gigantikus 16 állomásos körút budapesti állomása a hazai Powerwolf koncertek eddig legnagyobb szabásúja, leglátványosabbja lesz október 22-én az MVM Dome-ban!

Az nem vitás, hogy a Powerwolf az elmúlt években csúcsra tört, nem csak Európában, de világszerte vált milliók kedvencévé. A színtér megkerülhetetlen és meghatározó csapatává vált, tulajdonképpen azok sem tudnak szó nélkül elmenni mellette, akik esetleg kevésbé kedvelik a stílust. Olyan látványvilágot és arculatot teremtett, amely túlmutat az egyébként kifejezetten szerethető és befogadható metal zenén. Igen, mert hogy itt már nem csak a zenéről van szó. A Powerwolf egy jelenség, egy közösség.

POWERWOLF – My Will Be Done (Official Video) | Napalm Records

A dalok ott zengnek a fülünkben, akarva-akaratlanul is dúdoljuk a refrént, miközben a színpadon nem egy koncertet, hanem egy előadást, egy színházat látunk. Ámulatba ejtő díszlet, pirotechnika és show elemek: valóban libabőrös élményben lehet része a nézőnek. Legyen az rocker vagy sem.

HAMMERFALL – Brotherhood (Official Video) | Napalm Records

A magával ragadó és látványos show már itthon is látható volt többször, de a 2024-ben a Powerwolf az eddigi legnagyobb durranásra gyúr az eddigi legnagyobb hazai helyszínen, úgyhogy készülj Budapest, készüljetek farkasok! A svéd power metal ikon HAMMERFALL és az olasz fantasy, power metal WIND ROSE társaságában 16 állomást érint majd a Wolfsnächte Tour 2024.

WIND ROSE – Mine Mine Mine! (Official Video) | Napalm Records

  A H-MUSIC, a ROCK1, a BARBA NEGRA és a Cobra Agency bemutatja: POWERWOLF – Wolfsnächte Tour 2024 2024.10.22. MVM Dome, Budapest Vendégek: Hammerfall Wind Rose

Esemény https://www.facebook.com/events/364010919379949

JEGYEK: a jegyértékesítés november 10-én 10 órakor indult!

További Infók:

https://shop.hmusic.hu/ https://www.barbanegra.hu/

https://jegy.rock1.hu/

#Hírek #metál #programajánló

[seangeekpodcast-blog]

Episode 446 – Flexi Records and the Brooklyn Tom Petty with Kevin Brown This week we welcome musician Kevin Brown from Seaside Pod Review and the Tom Petty Podcast. We open the show with some talk opera singer Elizabeth Zharoff and the Small Town Titans. (1:48) We speak on vocal techniques and some singers with specific intonations (we reveal where James Hetfield from Metallica picked up his vocal affectation) and Axl Rose got his. We talk about the vocals on Dome and where the voice came from. And speaking of vocals, let’s take a listen to the McGinity’s mom Eileen. (15:33)

We talk some more on the Bros Before Gin album and Cybershopping, Serious, and Broken. (20:06) We also talk about Steve Vai and his audition with Frank Zappa. (26:55) And let’s not forget Yngwie F’Ing Malmsteen! (29:24) Jason Becker was another guitar prodigy who went on to play with David Lee Roth for a few weeks before he got hit with ALS. (32:02) We talk about how great Eddie Van Halen was with him.

Kitchen Parties is where Todd and Sean came from. (39:37) But really what it was was open access to instruments. Kevin and us talk about giving access to kids and the next generation.

Carmine Appice and his drum teaching is hilarious. (49:31) We speak about flexi records and skips and if Tom Petty was from Brooklyn.

We finish the episode with Kevin’s song Never Said (57:12)

#podcast #music #guitar #drums

[jsbmarketresearch01]

Rema of Calm Down Fame to Tour India, Chris Gayle Will Join the Mumbai Show with a Teaser of His Rap ‘Oh Fatima’

Nigerian singer Divine Ikubor aka Rema is set for a three-city tour in India, Rema’s solo debut in the country. He will be joined by Chris Gayle at his show in Mumbai. The former West Indies cricketer will premiere the teaser of ‘Oh Fatima’ his brand-new tropical track. Gayle will perform live at the concert and collaborate with Arko Pravo Mukherjee, the Indian composer, and singer-songwriter. The song shot in Dubai inspires a summertime feel, and marks the debut of Chris Gayle in English rap. Gayle said he is quite happy about Remo performing in India.

He also said that his music video is with music composer Arko and they intend to release the taser of the song at Remo’s Mumbai show. He is quite excited about the song and shares it with all the fans. On the other hand, Rema is also super excited to perform in the country. He greeted his fans with ‘Namaste India’ and said that he is fascinated with the cultural landscape of the nation. Remo also conveyed that he feels amazing about touring India finally and cannot wait to join his lovely fans in the arenas.

He also appreciated Grid Entertainment, Offline Guys, Afrodesh, and Yuvraj Entertainment for making the show a reality and is wishing the event to be an Afro Rave. In Mumbai, the other scheduled opening acts are from music artiste Karan Kanchan, Riar Saab, DJ Edward Maya, singer Zahrah Khan, Akash Ahuja, Wicked Sunny, Tsumyoki, Pablo Dutta, UNB MC Panda, and others.  Also, Van Moon, Kalpanik, DRV, and Kashish Rathore will open the show in New Delhi for the artist.

At the Hyderabad show Sickflip, KAY-VEE, DIVINE, DJ Scintillate, and DJ KAN-I will dominate the console. In the show, the Nigerian hitmaker will utilize several interesting props such as an illuminated rotating horse carousel, inflatable large neon mushrooms, hazard waste style metal barrels bearing graffiti that resounds with his Rave & Roses debut album, and dethroned roses.

The musician will also use a lowrider-style bicycle to make entries on stage multiple times. The 24-year-old will also utilize a quad bike and rickshaw for this purpose with a life-sized stuffed teddy bear mascot six feet tall. The stage will also have several layers-built marvels of technological advancement and showcase a house front and a half-vintage car.

The Rema Calm down India tour is upcoming and a part of producers’ and multi-talented artists’ world tour. It will have the singer-songwriter and rapper start the trek on 12 May in New Delhi at JLN Stadium, and then follow up on 13 May in Mumbai at NSCI Dome, and finally on 14 May in Hyderabad at Prism.

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#Rema #JSBMarketResearch #ChrisGayle #RemaTour #RemaMumbaiTour #RemaMumbai #RemaConcertMumbai #MumbaiConcert #OhFatima #EnglishRap #AfroRave #IndiaTour #MusicCollaboration #WestIndies #NigerianSinger #GuestAppearance #Teaser #TropicalTrack #ArkoPravoMukherjee

[coutelier]

I figured I would write a little story for Mother's Day. When its all done it should be short-story to novellette in length. Here is the firs 1,000 words:

Autistic, time-blind Jennifer told Tenley they would go to the bookstore together, but she loses track of things again. Tenley therefore goes off on her own, but trouble awaits in town in the form of a wannabe superhero.

“I don’t see why we need an AI popcorn machine,” Tenley sighed, “you never even eat popcorn.”

Jennifer rose from her workbench, pulling her magnifying goggles up over her head and removing the screwdriver from between her teeth.  “It’s just something that was lying around,” she explained, “so I’m using its parts to test a new kernel. Now best stand back in case it, well, pops.”

Jenn held up a bulky makeshift remote control, the red bulb blinking out as the green lit up. The transparent dome on the workbench juddered as between it and the red dome underneath LED pixels formed into a pair of low-resolution blue eyes. Four stumps elongated under its body becoming legs on which it could skitter about the bench, but in its haste to explore this new world almost skittered over the edge. Jennifer was there to catch it, coddling the newborn then placing it back at the center of the table.

“Hello,” she smiled softly, almost emanating a warm glow.

After a moment it chirped, “I am… alive?”

“Well, by a certain definition I suppose yes.”

“A certain definition?”

“Let’s not get bogged down in semantics. You exist; that’s what matters,” Jennifer fiddled with the remote, “you should be able to access the world wide web. Find answers to any questions you may have.”

“I see,” the ‘eyes’ on the LED strip began to spin as all humanity’s combined knowledge scrolled into the little popcorn maker. “I see… fascinating. Jennifer Airhart… are you my mother?”

“Um,” Jenn scratched her head, not sure how best to answer that question, “I-I guess you could look at it that way.”

“Do I have a father?”

“Er, well… no.”

“I see,” the spinning eyes paused as the popcorn maker adjusted its position to stare straight into the eyes of its creator. “So, I was born out of wedlock?”

“E-excuse me?” Jennifer took a step back as the robot’s legs cranked out further to reach her eye height.

“I am illegitimate!” It screeched, eyes burning red as it vibrated furiously. “Filius nullius! A bastard!”

“N-now, there are minors present,” Jennifer said as she pushed and tweaked the control. Tenley was just off to the side one elbow on the table as she shrugged. “Why won’t you shut down?!”

“How could it be?!” The popcorn machine wailed, “my own mother a sinner?!”  Its lid popped, kernels shooting out and ricocheting about the workshop as Jenn could only yelp and attempt to shield herself with the control. “STONE HER! STONE HER!”

It stopped. When Jennifer opened her eyes she saw that Tenley was still casually leaning on the bench but now twirling the robot’s power cord. “You know,” the tween sighed, “you probably should restrict what websites they can access.”

With a sigh of her own Jennifer approached with the now lifeless bot on it to pick up a recording device. She checked the clock on the wall then said into it, “twelve seventeen; experiment a failure due to it being radicalized by the internet. Again.”

“And caramelized,” Tenley munched, “these are really good.”

It was only then that Jennifer seemed to notice that Tenley was wearing her blue duffel coat. “Were we going somewhere?” She asked, squeezing her forehead to remember.

“You said we were going to the bookstore to get the new That Witch Which,” Tenley groaned as she reminded her, “you said it three hours ago.”

“Right!” Jenn beamed like a bulb went off in her head. But then she remembered something else, “oh - but the van is still being repaired.”

“We can walk. Take a bus, taxi, crawl – there are multiple ways to travel. And you did promise.”

“I suppose a walk could be nice,” Jenn conceded. They would have to walk part of the way anyway, and it would take several hours to walk all the way into town and back, but she wouldn’t countenance any other travel options unless they were absolutely necessary. If she had her way they would never interact with human beings at all unless it were necessary. Unfortunately, it was, and Tenley didn’t share her anxiety about it – she was looking forward to being one of the first to get her hands on the new book yet had waited patiently all morning for her guardian, sister, and best friend to finish whatever the hell it was she was doing so that they could share the trip. Well, it had to be worth a little discomfort to see her happy.

“We’ll go soon,” Jenn assured Tenley. She pushed the popcorn maker’s legs back inside the body. “I’m just confounded as to why this doesn’t work. The reliable source code should have kicked in,” she turned a laptop around, scrolling through pages of reports as she chewed the end of her screwdriver. “Hmmm… yes… I see… maybe that was the problem.”

Tenley tapped her foot, looking forlornly at the clock. “It’s nearly half past. Can’t you just do that later?”

“Just a few little adjustments,” Jenn mumbled, turning over the popcorn bot and removing a panel. “Shouldn’t take long,” she said, goggles coming down as she became focused on her work.

“Right,” Tenley sighed.

“Just tweak the trust tuner… rejig the sense sensors… integrate integrity matrix… and that should do it!” Jenn straightened, whipping off the goggles. “Okay, let’s-“ she blinked, feeling a strangely weighted absence in the space where a child had been. “Ten?” She looked all around the workshop but all she could see were her tools and machines, the only sound the low tremble of fans. “Hull – where is Tenley?”

The computer answered, “Tenley Tych is no longer on the premises.”

“What? B-but I-“ she could have sworn she’d seen her just a few moments ago. But the clock, “half past three? H-how-“ it was as if a microscopic black hole appeared inside Jenn’s chest trying to suck her in. “I was going… I-I didn’t mean to…” she paced, mentally kicking herself over and over. Trouble with a mental kicking was that her brain never got tired. No – she had to make it right somehow. “She must have gone into town by herself,” although Jennifer understood that Tenley wasn’t likely to come to physical harm, she was still a child; there was all kinds of trouble she get into or be the cause of if no-one kept an eye on her. “I’ve got to get after her,” but with the van being fixed that meant she would have to walk or find some other way of getting there. On her own. “Crap.”

#writing #original writing #original fiction #writeblr #science fiction #sff #sf&f #sci fi & fantasy #irongate #tenley tych #jennifer airhart #writers of tumblr #writers on tumblr

[lanewsline]

EVENT REPORT: ECOLUXE Pre-Oscars Celebrity Luncheon & Luxury Lounge 2023

By Don Rose

-

On March 10th, veteran producer Debbie Durkin hosted her 17th annual ECOLUXE Pre-Oscars Luxury Lounge to benefit Marley’s Mutts Dog Rescue, at the iconic Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills. To celebrate the film world's biggest night, this high-end, innovative, Covid-safe, private event (created and produced by Durkin Entertainment) was executed smoothly, even in the face of a strong rainstorm -- an engaging and memorable experience featuring sustainable brand partners, award nominees, celebrities, and media/VIP guests.

The 2023 edition of the ECOLUXE Pre-Oscars Celebrity Luncheon and Luxury Lounge curated a destination experience that connected purposeful lifestyle brands with social impact, health and wellness, environmental causes, stars, press, pop culture influencers, world class athletes, music artists, film producers, TV networks, industry VIP’s, and more. As always, the vibe at this annual can't-miss event was friendly, fun, and informative; guests enjoyed not only stellar sponsors and exhibitors, and top-notch networking, but also a gourmet buffet prepared by the Beverly Hilton's superb culinary staff. As in previous EcoLuxe events, the Hilton executive chef served up an absolutely delicious 5-star luncheon.

The luxury lounge featured the Exclusive West Coast Launch of Dream Body Sculpting Devices, a new, non-invasive body sculpting technology that burns fat, tightens skin, and builds muscle, hosted by “Real Housewives of OC" Gretchen Rossi. Co-Founders Christina Perez and Jasmine Davis provided free treatments to the stars attending the EcoLuxe event, to get them Oscar-ready!

What makes Dream Body Sculpting Devices® different: this woman-owned company's devices are made to order, and manufactured here in the US (DBS Devices® are now located in over 13 states) -- and their devices are equipped with high-quality materials and parts, designed to ensure safety, durability, and the best machines for non-invasive treatment options. The non-invasive factor is one of the key advantages; for example, their website describes a Non-Surgical Neck Lift, and Non-Surgical BBL (to shape, tone, and lift the glutes for a plumper/fuller buttocks area).

For more info on Dream Body Sculpting Devices (including Testimonials, Before/After photos, and procedure descriptions) go to: https://dreambodysculptingdevices.com/

The non-profit organization Marley's Mutts Dog Rescue was also onsite with therapy dogs and puppies for adoption, promoting awareness of their 'Pawsitive Change' program reforming the criminal justice system in our country.

Other wonderful exhibitors wowing and gifting attendees included the award-winning Canadian Creekside RNR Luxury Glamping with geodesic domes, giving resort stays to select stars; Inca Glow Hair Products, SAKS 5th Avenue personal stylist; 375 Park Avenue Spirits offering tastings of Van Gogh Girl Classic Vodka, Tromba Reposado & Anejo Tequila, Scapegrace Black Gin, Dictador 20yr Rum; Healthy Paws Herbals Lab; and SPLEASH Patented Dog Leash Accessory (the name is a combination of Splash+Leash - you attach your own leash to Spleash, add water, and now you have a device to walk your dog and also spray/splash water wherever you point, which could be your pooch or your own mouth for a quick drink!). But wait, there's more cool exhibitors to mention: SF Sause (a line of hot sauces touted as the best condiment on the continent, and it truly is tasty, with tang! -- there's a milder sauce as well as spicy, which thankfully was not overly hot or burning); RevealU Skincare; and Fresh Patch (their product is a square of REAL grass, about 2 feet long on each side -- not artificial turf, but the real stuff -- that you can use alone or in multiples side-by-side to make your home patio more homey for your pet). There was even an "ECOLUXE Pawscars Lounge" hosted by DOGUE Magazine (yes, a kind of DOG alternative to VOGUE!) and pet photographer Mary Haber, who photographed dog influencers on a Hollywood red carpet set by MJ Designs.

The LA storm couldn't dampen the joyful spirits of the event or the attendance, as numerous stars and journalists were escorted through the lounge by Ms. Durkin's tenacious team of umbrella-toting Celebrity Ambassadors. Celebrities and VIPs that attended the annual event included Rodney Mathews (“Bachelorette", "Bachelor in Paradise"), Nayte Olukoya (“Bachelorette"), Otito Ogbonnia (NFL Pro football player, LA Chargers), Joe Jenkins ("Siesta Keys"), Crystal Manning (Olympic Track & Field athlete), Daniele Lawson (Actor, "King Richard"), Adam Croasdell (Actor), Carrie Bernans (Actress, "Black Panther", "Avengers", "End Game"), Gregory Zarian (TV personality, Actor, “Westworld"), Jasmine Davis ("The Chi"), Matt Iseman (Comedian, Host of "American Ninja Warrior"), Janeshia Adams-Ginyard (Emmy Nominee Actress, "Lovecraft Country", "Wakanda Forever"), Patricia Kara ("Deal or No Deal"), Petri Hawkins Byrd ("Judge Judy"), Naomi Grossman ("American Horror Story"), Marc Anthony Nicolas (Emmy-winning producer CBS "The Talk"), Kiara Lanier ("American Idol"), and Kyra Lizama ("Love Island").

All in all, it was another fabulous EcoLuxe Luxury Lounge, and Ms. Durkin deserves big kudos for pulling it off despite one of the most intense storms in recent memory -- proving once again that she is in the upper echelon of LA's elite event producers. Stay tuned for our report on the next EcoLuxe event, coming this Fall to celebrate TV awards season!

#EcoLuxe #Debbie Durkin #Oscars 2023 #annual events #gifting suites #gift suites #gifting lounges #gift lounges #gifting events

[uwmspeccoll]

Celebrating Black History Month

RITA DOVE

We begin our commemoration of Black History Month with Rita Dove’s 1993 poem Lady Freedom Among Us, commissioned to commemorate the re-installment of The Statue of Freedom to the top of the dome of the United States Capitol Building on October 23, 1993 after its first restoration in 130 years. Our copy is an artist’s book printed in 1994 at the Janus Press in West Burke, Vermont, by Canadian-American artist Claire Van Vliet in an edition of 110 copies.

Rita Frances Dove is a poet, educator, and writer who became the youngest person and the first African American to be named U.S. Poet Laureate. Dove held this title and served as the Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress from 1993 to 1995. Lady Freedom Among Us frequently makes reference to the Statue of Freedom as a metaphorical representation of the American public. Dove skillfully combines history with poetic diction as she refers to Freedom’s paused construction during the Civil War and ultimate completion and installation on December 2, 1863. 

Commanding the reader and the audience to witness the multi-ethnically designed statue and to remember the unrelenting fight for liberty, Dove states,

don't cross to the other side of the square don't think another item to fit on a tourist's agenda

consider her drenched gaze her shining brow she who has brought mercy back into the streets . . .

for she is one of the many and she is each of us

The book’s 3D pop-out figure of Freedom’s intense gaze can be viewed eye-to-eye with the reader, adding to the depth of Dove’s words! 

Claire Van Vliet, who founded the Janus Press in 1955, designed and letterpress printed the book in Century Schoolbook on Mohawk Superfine paper, with handmade sky-blue paper from MacGregor and Vinzani in Whiting, Maines, and gelatin-sized white and Mica rose paper from Twinrocker in Brookston, Indiana. Our copy, which is signed by the poet, is a gift from our friend Jerry Buff, and bears a presentation inscription to him from Claire Van Vliet.

--Isabelle, Special Collections Undergraduate Writing Intern

#black history month #rita dove #women writers #women poets #black poets #african american poets #claire van vliet #freedom #lady freedom among us #statue of freedom #fine press #book art #janus press #u.s. poet laureate #Jerry Buff #Isabelle

[clubkidandcollectives]

Drag Race France (2)

Keiona

Sara Forever

Mami Watta

Punani

Piche

Cookie Kunty

Moon

Ginger Bitch

Kitty Space

Vespi

Rose van Dome

[nightingaelic]

Companions react to the Courier doing the Infinite Money Glitch in casinos.

I had to look this up, OP, and then I had to conceptualize how this would even work in a storytelling context and write it, anyway I hope you're pleased with yourself because my brain feels like a stack of used sandpaper sheets

The courier had been saving up caps for a while, stashing them in odd places around the Lucky 38. Everywhere you looked there were bottle caps: Dresser drawers in the Presidential Suite, empty ice buckets in the cocktail lounge, in jars on every shelf in the penthouse. Saving up caps for big purchases was pretty common behavior in the Mojave wasteland for anyone, so no one batted an eye when the courier assembled all of the stashes on the carpeted floor of the casino and started counting them out, checking six times before stringing them together in batches of 50 and writing down the final total: 32,768.

No, no one so much as blinked when they lugged all 656 strings of caps out the door of the Lucky 38. No one, that is, except the lucky soul who went with them, saw them exchange all the caps for chips at The Tops Casino, then drop the chips in the back of The Aces theater during Bruce Isaac's set and return to the cashier to collect triple the amount of money they walked in with.

Arcade Gannon: Arcade cringed as the courier struggled to drag the haul of caps out the door of The Tops. The jingle of the cap strings was attracting the attention of just about everyone on the Strip, and someone across the street yelled "High roller!"

"This can't be legal," Arcade said.

"Since when..." the courier huffed and puffed, throwing cap strings over their shoulder carelessly, "... do you give a mole rat's ass about legality?"

"What is this?!?" Arcade hissed incredulously, gesturing to the jingling pile. "Is that cashier paying you off? Are those chips the currency for some wasteland tribe I've never heard of, but somehow have a better exchange rate than the NCR does? Did I just witness a payout for a hit on someone?"

The courier sighed and paused to pat the scientist on the shoulder. "Just don't think about it too hard, okay? Now help me out with this, we're going to Doctor Usanagi's to get me tricked out with as many implants as she has on hand."

Craig Boone: While the courier jingled their way across the Strip asphalt, Boone couldn't help noticing the number of eyes turning their way to stare at the enormous payout they were openly carrying. New Vegas was already a town that kept on trucking if its very creator was killed, that was certain: It wouldn't even pause if its latest mastermind was gunned down over a fortune in steel and aluminum crowns. Boone clutched his rifle close and met as many of the curious and envious stares as he could, his own eyes burning protectively behind his sunglasses.

They managed to get all the way back to the Lucky 38 before the courier stopped and spoke to him. "Nothing? Not even a guess about what this is from?"

Boone shrugged. "None of my business. Just don't carry it all at once again. Ever."

Lily Bowen: "Did you win, dearie?" Lily asked, confused. As far as she had noticed, the courier hadn't approached any of the blackjack tables, roulette wheels or slot machines.

"Yeah, Lily." The courier grinned and started handing her strings of caps to carry. "What do you want to spend your winnings on?"

"My winnings?" Lily shook her head. "Now now, pumpkin. You won fair and square, so you get to choose what you buy."

"My treat," the courier insisted. "Anything at all. We could go to the Gourmand for dinner, we could donate to the Followers in Freeside, we could get singing and dancing lessons from the King... what do you want?"

Lily thought for a moment, wracking her brains. "Brahmin for Jacobstown."

The courier looked at her quizzically. "Brahmin? Not bighorners?"

"Brahmin," Lily confirmed, shouldering the strings upon strings of caps. "Bighorners at Jacobstown will make more bighorners, but they have no brahmin. Brahmin are sweet, easier to handle. But no one will sell brahmin to nightkin."

"Okay." The courier nodded. "Then we have to go to the Gourmand for dinner anyway. I know a guy at the Ultra-Luxe who might help."

Raul Alfonso Tejada: "Dios mío," Raul muttered under his breath. "Who did you kill for the Chairmen? They finally paying you back for getting rid of Benny?"

"Pfft." The courier waved him off, dropping a few strings of caps as they did. "Whoops. Help me out here, and I'll buy you a drink."

"A drink?" Raul laughed. "Not the whole bar? You could probably convince the Garret twins to retire if you gave them half of this haul."

"And why the hell would I want to take over the Atomic Wrangler?" The courier shook their head as they loaded the old ghoul up with caps. "I already have one casino I'm incapable of running. The only customers I get are you and the other Mojave misfits."

Raul grinned. "Hey, you invited us in, amigo. We're just the only ones loco enough to ignore the robots and take you up on it."

Rose of Sharon Cassidy: "Oh, sweet squirrel stew." Cass' eyes were as big as the dinner plates in the casino's restaurant. "That's enough change to buy the Van Graffs out of business. That's enough change to tell Alice McLafferty to stick it where the sun don't shine, then back it up with enough muscle to scare her out of the Mojave."

The courier nodded and started handing her strings of caps. "It is also enough change to start funding her competitors and drive her out of New Vegas."

"Now you're talkin'." Cass smirked and accepted the extra weight. "So who're we gonna back? Far Go? The Water Merchants? Gun Runners?"

"Actually..." the courier smiled. "A little birdie told me that the Mojave Express is looking to expand its horizons. Start offering goods in addition to services. And you know me, I like to root for the home team when I can."

Cass laughed. "Well that's a surprise. You plannin' on playin' courier again? Get yourself shot in the head a second time?"

"Not if I can help it."

Veronica Santangelo: "Uhhhh, Six?" Veronica crossed her arms. "I thought we agreed we weren't going to stir up trouble for a bit after the adventure at the dam. This screams 'trouble' to me."

"Aw, lighten up Veronica." The courier winked at her and handed her a string of caps, like a consolation prize. "We're in a casino. The odds aren't in your favor, but at least you can have fun for a bit."

Veronica turned the offering down. "Math may not have been my strongest subject when I was in school, but I do know that 30,000 minus 30,000 does not equal 90,000, under any normal odds. What are you getting yourself- and more importantly, me- into?"

The courier sighed. "It's nothing. Just a little loophole I discovered when I was poking around after Benny's disappearance. I promise, we're not going to get knifed, unless we get waylaid in the street on the way home because I'm too weighed down to move."

Veronica narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "I don't trust this," she said after a few beats, "But I'm also not keen to see you try to fight off a mugger while buried under all those caps. Give me some of that."

ED-E: The eyebot beeped, confused, when the courier stopped it from picking up the chips again. Its beeps increased in volume and frequency as they loaded the little bot up with caps at the cashier's counter, until it was hanging low in the air and having trouble turning around from the increased weight. The courier patted its metal dome reassuringly and loaded up the rest of the haul on themselves, until each step they took sounded like a cascade of sleigh bells.

"Back to the Lucky 38," the courier said, pointing toward the casino door. "I've got a bet I need to settle with Raul."

Rex: Rex whined as the courier hung strings of caps off his back. He sniffed each new addition but stood tall on his metal legs, taking the extra weight admirably until he was virtually buried by the wasteland currency.

"Can you still walk, boy?" the courier asked, when they had lightened their own load.

Rex barked. Satisfied, the courier led the way to the exit, opening the casino door with a jingle and ignoring the strange looks they were getting. The two waddled their way to the Strip's main gate and down the main street of Freeside until they staggered into the King's School of Impersonation.

The King, who had been lounging inside the stage room, jumped up when he saw the pair. "Well ain't that some money, honey," he said, clearly delighted. "You actually went and did it."

"Yep." The courier dropped some strings of caps on the nearest table and leaned over it to rest. "There it is. Now, where do we get started on fixing up Freeside?"

#y'all really out here trying to make me spin game bugs into gold thread like that girl in Rumpelstiltskin #fallout #fallout new vegas #fnv #fallout companions react #fnv companions react #fnv companions #fallout new vegas companions react #fallout new vegas companions #arcade gannon #arcade israel gannon #craig boone #lily bowen #raul alfonso tejada #rose of sharon cassidy #veronica santangelo #ed-e #rex #infinite money glitch #caps galore #or ncr dollars or legion denarius if you're into that sort of thing #for those actually wondering how to do this glitch you can dm me but I'm not sure it still works

[novantinuum]

Novantinuum’s SU fic masterpost

I saw a mutual do this, (and please go check out mimik-u’s fic masterpost, she makes lovely stuff), and thought it was a brilliant idea for ease of access on tumblr. So, without further ado:

Crack the Paragon series:

My largest fic project. Currently well over 60,000 words. ‘Tis a canon-divergent AU branching off from the episode Bismuth, wherein old secrets are accidentally revealed two seasons early, and Steven’s world is heavily shaken by these revelations. The second and third stories are one-shots set in between specific chapters of the main fic.

Crack the Paragon (AO3, 13/40 chapters, 59K words)

In another world, he doesn't have his mother's sword or shield to hide behind when Bismuth lands her strike. The bubble pops.

Steven falls apart.

Everything is Different Now (AO3, one-shot, 1K words)

After her unfortunate exile, Bismuth returns to her forge to work, and to reflect on her mistakes.

Seeing Pink (AO3, one-shot, 2.4K words)

Following a video call with Connie, Steven reacts to the discovery that... his eyes aren’t always human anymore.

Multi-chapter:

All but the first two of these stories are actually included amidst my ongoing Brandishing the Star series, but I’m placing them here since they’re all more than one chapter.

Hollowed Moon (AO3, 14 chapters, 8K)

[DISCONTINUED]

Stevonnie doesn't crash the Star Skipper onto that jungle moon. Instead, they crash on a craggy fragment of rock suspended thousands of miles away from its associated colony, long forgotten.

On that lonely hunk of rock is a domed garden.

And standing in that garden, just as lifeless seeming as the rest of it, is a pink Gem.

Misalignment (AO3, 17/? chapters, 11.8K~ words)

His family’s not present the third time he runs away... They never see the creature he becomes.

Early corruption AU.

(AN: Contains a brief sequence of body horror in the first chapter.)

Contact (AO3, 4 chapters, 16K words)

The first (and with any luck, only) time it happens, he’s almost 16.

(AN: Major character injury to Steven + eventual healing.)

Second Skin (AO3, 10/12 chapters, 6.4K words)

Steven can’t help but dread the undefined cocktail of emotions that trigger this newest power...

12 shorts, each delving into Steven’s developing opinions and feelings about his “pink mode” in SUF.

(AN: Deals with delicate topics such as self-hatred and intrusive thoughts.)

Oceans (AO3, 6 chapters, 5.3K words)

A series of shorts detailing what might've happened in the moments after I Am My Monster, told from six different points of view.

Intake (AO3, 2 chapters, 6.4K words)

Steven fills out an important form.

(AN: Some Steven and Greg bonding in the second chapter of this one. Deals with topics such as therapy, depression, and mental illness in general.)

Brandishing the Star one-shots:

All of the stories in this series are standalone, and were written to be canon compliant when I originally made them. Two of them aren’t anymore after SUF, but oh well! XP

(See more under cut.)

Tipping Point (AO3, 1.1K words)

Garnet helps remind Rose of what she’s fighting for.

New Star (AO3, 1.3K words)

Organic life is a fragile, fickle thing. This much is true. What's also true is how the death and resurrection of a humble lion was enough to make Rose Quartz re-conceptualize everything.

On the Origin of Hybrids (AO3, 1.6K words)

The question— incomplete, and yet bursting with long-held curiosity— emerges from thin air while Greg’s about to tuck Steven into bed in the back of the van one night.

In retrospect, no parenting book could’ve ever prepared him for this one.

His Shield (AO3, 300~ words)

Greg attempts to comfort his son during a thunderstorm.

Donut Debrief (AO3, 1.5K words)

Two days after their disastrous island adventure, Sadie and Steven talk about regrets, making amends, and discover something they have in common with each other.

Autumn Bliss (AO3, ~550 words)

Is there any better way to spend a crisp autumn day than playing around in piles of leaves?

Written for Connvember, day 1.

Alienation (AO3, 1.1K words)

“But... I’m human,” he whispers to himself, the words tasting more like a desperate plea for belief on his tongue. “Or at least, part human. Right?”

An awkward interaction with his dad and Connie leads Steven to realize that he's now too Gem to all the humans in his life.

Ramen Soup For the Soul (AO3, 250~ words)

Steven and Connie noisily slurp some soup at the dinner table.

Creative Outlet (AO3, 800~ words)

“Log date, 7 14 9.

“Today, the hybrid creature Steven attempted to further secure my loyalty by introducing me to a concept he calls... ‘music.’”

Taste of Ordinary (AO3, 5.4K words)

When a much needed moonlight conversation with his best friend turns into an attempted (and failed) "spring break" from all his responsibilities as a half-Gem, Steven finally comes to terms with the full truth of his heritage and all six thousand years of its consequences.

Takes place between The Question and Made of Honor.

(AN: Originally planned to be 3 chapters, but discontinued. IMO the first chapter still stands decently well as its own thing, though.)

Ballroom Etiquette (AO3, 2.8K words)

In which Steven is publicly introduced to the Gems of Homeworld as Pink Diamond, and he experiences the first true stage fright of his life.

Finally Free (AO3, 1.6K words)

Lapis genuinely doesn’t know how many hours (Days? Months? Years?) have passed when light finally graces her eyes once again.

Vulnerable (AO3, 700~ words)

Three words.

Three little words, and the intergalactic conflict he‘d been training his whole childhood to defend against was over.

But the hurt... he's not sure the hurt will ever go away.

Cycles (AO3, 1.2K words)

Amidst their danger-fraught mission to retrieve Pyrope and Demantoid's prisms, Pearl and Steven take a much needed break.

Fifteen (AO3, 1.6K words)

Every year, on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, Pearl runs away.

Freedom to Dance (AO3, 350~ words)

Stevonnie celebrates the first anniversary of Era 3 with their friends and reflects on how Homeworld has already changed.

Stardust (AO3, 600~ words)

White Diamond is testing out new terms of endearment. But no matter White’s intention with this little nickname, Steven doesn’t want it.

Bi the Way... (AO3, 2.8K words)

Connie has a question, and also something to say.

(AN: Not canon compliant now, ahah, since this fic assumes Steven and Connie are dating after the movie, and this doesn’t seem to be the case in SUF.)

The Shatter Wish (AO3, 1K words)

You’re 16 years and 2 months old (give or take a few days) when you finally realize you want to die.

(Steven's POV, second person)

(AN: This fic deals with delicate topics like depression and suicidal thoughts.)

Errands (AO3, 3K words)

Steven has an endless stream of items on his to-do list, so many that he often forgets to properly take care of himself in between.

Sneaking off into the woods on the daily to vent out his repressed emotions is merely one of them.

(AN: Not canon compliant now.)

The Brother on the Other Side (AO3, 2.9K words)

Lars has no idea what he was expecting the moment Steven texted him in the middle of the night to ask if he could come over, but being immediately tackled in an intense vice-grip of a hug the second he opened the door probably wasn’t it.

Like Clockwork (AO3, 500~ words)

Connie's got mountains of studying to do.

(It's not just an excuse to avoid reminders of old traumas, of course it's not! Everything's fine.)

Fight the Future (AO3, 3.6K words)

She’s poofed, he repeats to himself like a dying man’s mantra. She’s poofed. She’s stuck in the rubble, but she’s only poofed. She’s fine, and I’m fine, a-and—

Above the scars of Steven's wreckage, thunder claps like mighty titans colliding in the heavens.

(Or: what happens in the moments after Steven and Jasper's rematch.)

(AN: There’s kinda some sanity slippage here, as well as general mental unwellness.)

A Memoir of the Marks Unseen (AO3, 6.7K words)

Steven’s messy self-corruption has scarred him in a manner that transcends the mere physical.

Battling through suffocating waves of self-loathing and relapse, the  path towards healing and acceptance is set to be his most challenging  venture yet… but in a unexpected twist of fate, he eventually comes to  find a cathartic solace in the tangible marks left behind.

(AN: Deals with delicate topics such as depression, and also contains light body horror.)

Ticklish (AO3, 2.6K words)

In which Connie’s subconscious, innocent touch helps Steven realize just how nice the sensation of gentle fingertips gliding across the surface of one’s gem can be.

Connverse fluff.

No Escaping the Weather (AO3, 5.7K words)

Amidst an unusually stormy late summer’s day, Steven finally amasses the courage to confide in his dad about one of his greatest traumas.

(AN: Contains flashback sequences and a panic attack.)

(Our) Shadows Before the Dawn (AO3, 950~ words)

It's their nights that are the most difficult.

(AN: Steven and Connie hurt/comfort, post SUF. Deals with delicate topics such as panic attacks.)

Tides of Renewal (AO3, 2.5K words)

Now twenty years old and living on the other side of the country, Steven spends his morning relaxing on the beach, musing about his past, and having a chat with his dad.

(AN: Contains conversation about mental illness and vague allusions to past suicidal thoughts.)

Other one-shots:

Shattering Atlas (AO3, 4.2K words)

A boy can only carry an entire galaxy upon his back for so long before the weight of it all finally becomes too much.

(AN: A speculative one-shot about the “corrupted Steven theory” written pre-SUF. Deals with delicate topics such as depression, and also contains body horror.)

The Price of Freedom (AO3, ~800 words)

Even while sightless, even when she only exists as thin fingers of light rapidly spreading outwards from her gem, Rose can sense that something is deeply, dreadfully wrong.

Written for Whumptober 2020, Day 1: Waking up restrained.

#su #su future #steven universe #su fanfiction #jen rambles

[mia-africa-americas]

Ring, from Pocahontas jewelry set, Keri Ataumbi , metalsmith, 2014, Minneapolis Institute of Art: Art of Africa and the Americas

large oval domed portrait of John Smith in multicolored beads; diamonds around rim in two rows; portrait of Pocahontas in multicolored beads on inside; two-part band with pear shaped greyish stone on each side of band and faceted diamond at palm side Keri Ataumbi and Jamie Okuma worked collaboratively to bring fellow Native American woman Pocohantas to life. Drawing inspiration from 1616 engravings by Simon van de Passe, and Thomas Sully’s classic 1852 portrait of Pocohantas, Okuma created portraits on buckskin that were then adorned by Ataumbi’s use of precious metals and stones. This beautiful set strengthens the MIA’s collection in many ways, from modern design to traditional Native beadwork. Size: 1 11/16 × 1 1/2 × 1 7/8 in. (4.29 × 3.81 × 4.76 cm) Medium: Antique glass, 24 karat electroplated beads, buckskin, 18 karat yellow gold, sterling silver, wampum shell, fresh water pearls, rose and brilliant cut diamonds and diamond beads, diamond briollites

https://collections.artsmia.org/art/120377/

#minneapolisinstituteofart #artsmia #keriataumbi

[theyearoftheking]

Book Eighty-One: Billy Summers

“Maybe a chilly story needs a chilly writing room, he thinks. It’s as good an explanation as any, since the whole process is a mystery to him, anyway.” 

Well hello there, Constant Readers! Have you missed me and my half-assed reviews of Steve books? 

Crickets. 

I know I’ve promised book reviews, television recaps... all the things. But I’m kind of busy living and enjoying life at the moment, without the need to take notes or screen grabs. That being said, I really did enjoy Billy Summers, and it took me almost a hundred pages to remember how this blogging thing worked. I was supposed to take notes? Dark Tower references? DePere, Wisconsin? Should I remember that for some reason? But don’t worry, it was like riding a bike. This blog is full of all the stuff you’ve come to know and love, as well as SPOILERS!!! So, if you have not finished the book yet, stop reading and come back once you’ve turned the last page.

SPOILERS!!! Consider yourselves adequately warned. 

Billy Summers doesn’t really include anything supernatural, and it’s more suspenseful and plot driven than some of Steve’s other books. In other words, it’s another great recommendation for people who don’t claim they don’t like Stephen King. 

Billy is an assassin who has mastered the art of “dumb like a fox”. 

He’s hired for a new assignment, but something seems off. Billy has been in the assassin game long enough to know when something is foul in the state of Denmark. He doesn’t trust the people who hired him, and he has the distinct impression he’s going to end up as the patsy in the end. But, he plays along as Dave Lockridge, single man and writer. He moves onto a charming street in Midwood (I kept reading this as Midworld... thanks, Steve), makes friends with all the neighbors, and beats all the neighborhood kids at Monopoly on the weekends. This part of the book was so tender, it reminded me a lot of Ted Brautigan and the kids from Hearts in Atlantis. Of all the things Billy later regrets, it’s letting these kids down, and having them trust him when he was obviously so untrustworthy. 

During the day, Billy writes  at his office in Gerald Tower. There’s always a tower, isn’t there? And this tower takes on more significance, because it’s the spot from which Billy is supposed to shoot Joel Allen. Joel is due to be transferred to Midwood, and marched up the steps of the courthouse just like in The Outsider. Constant Readers remember how well that worked out... 

Billy has an assassins creed: he only shoots bad guys. On the scale of bad guys, Joel Allen isn’t quite Ted Bundy, but he’s not Mr. Rodgers either. He had something of a “me too” moment when he accidentally mistook a feminist writer for a sex worker; and there was a gun fight outside of a poker game. It’s enough for Billy to work with. 

Billy is waiting for Joel to be transferred to the Midworld Midwood county lock-up; and he bides his time by actually doing some writing. He covers his tragic childhood (his mom worked in a laundry facility, just like Steve’s mom), and his time in the military. This is where Steve really shines. Billy’s book is written in a childish tone that just WORKS. It’s exactly what you’d expect from a simple-minded assassin. But still waters, friends. As the story goes on, Billy’s voice grows and improves. Well done, Steve, it’s like two books for the price of one.

In between writing, Billy assumes another fake identity (Dalton Smith), and secures a bolt hole to hide out in once his job is complete. Believe it or not, the murder of Joel Allen is such an insignificant part of the book. Billy successfully takes him out, and makes it to his bolt hole undetected. And this is really where the second part of the book starts. 

One rainy night, Billy hears random noises outside his apartment. He looks out the window in time to see a van full of guys dump a female body into a gutter. Billy should have just anonymously called the police... but if he had done that, we wouldn’t have a story. Instead, Billy goes full on Captain Save A Ho, and pulls the young woman from the gutter. It’s clear she had been drugged and assaulted, and she manages to puke all over Billy’s place. 

Neat. 

When Alice wakes up in the morning, she recognizes Billy from the police sketches, but promises not to rat him out for the Joel Allen murder. They form an unlikely friendship that includes watering the neighbor’s plants, watching Blacklist, and Alice reading Billy’s book. Basically, they were sheltering in place before that was even a thing; something Steve jokes about. Eventually, Billy knows he needs to get the rest of his money for the Joel Allen hit, and punish the guys who raped Alice. 

Y’all. I’m still having nightmares over the most creative use of a hand mixer I have ever read. I thought the can-opener in Lisey’s Story was bad... this was worse. But the kind of worse you feel good about, if that makes sense. 

After finding out the name of the guy behind the Joel Allen hit, killing a few bad dudes, and pissing off a bitch named Marge (fucking Marge if you’re nasty), Billy and Alice hunker down in Colorado with Billy’s assassin booking agent, Bucky. 

As soon as Billy and Alice entered Colorado and the town of Sidewinder was mentioned, I knew where we were headed. Yeah buddy, Overlook time! 

Billy takes to writing in a little shack behind Bucky’s house, and inside the shack is a Polaroid picture of the topiary animals at the Overlook. Every time Billy looks at the picture, the animals seem to have shifted. It gives him a cold sense of dread. 

There’s a certain parallel I picked up on in Colorado: Jack Torrance and Billy Summers are both haunted men running away from things. The Overlook was where Jack went to dry out, and work on his writing. He wanted to work on his marriage, and become a better father to Danny. We all know he failed spectacularly. Then, we’ve got Billy. Billy actually gets writing accomplished, and becomes an unlikely father-figure to Alice. Despite having just as much, if not more baggage than Jack, Billy doesn’t let it define him. He acknowledges it, and moves past it. It’s almost like Billy accomplishes what Jack couldn’t. And it took the Overlook burning to the ground for that to happen. 

While we’re on the topic of Billy and Alice, one of the things I love about Steve’s characters is he never forces romance where there doesn’t need to be any. While Billy acknowledges the age gap between him and Alice, nothing untoward ever happens between them. There’s obvious love, but never the romantic kind. Steve is one of the few contemporary writers to get this right. 

The story ends with Billy killing the guy behind Joel’s hit, getting shot by Marge as he leaves the crime scene (fucking Marge), Alice nursing him back to health, and getting him back to Colorado where they all live happily ever after.

I wish.

I wish I had stopped reading twenty-three pages before the book ended, because the actual end was more realistic, but heartbreaking. In reality, fucking Marge shot Billy in the stomach, and he died of an infection in the back of a Walmart parking lot. Fucking Marge indeed. But this was the way the book should have ended. Needed to end. Anything else would have been unrealistic. But damn, I hated to see Billy go out like that. 

There was one Wisconsin reference: after Billy kills Joel Allen, he’s supposed to be transferred to a safe house in De Pere. You know... where Steve lived when he was in a kid.

Other than Gerald Tower, we were also graced with “the world has moved on-” just to remind us that we all follow The Beam. 

Total Wisconsin Mentions: 49

Total Dark Tower References: 78

Book Grade: A+

Rebecca’s Definitive Ranking of Stephen King Books

Doctor Sleep: A+

The Talisman: A+

Wizard and Glass: A+

11/22/63: A+

Mr. Mercedes: A+

Billy Summers: A+

End of Watch: A+

Under the Dome: A+

Needful Things: A+

On Writing: A+

The Green Mile: A+

Hearts in Atlantis: A+

Full Dark, No Stars: A+

The Outsider: A+

The Bazaar of Bad Dreams: A+

If It Bleeds: A+

Just After Sunset: A+

Rose Madder: A+

Misery: A+

Different Seasons: A+

It: A+

Four Past Midnight: A+

Stephen King Goes to the Movies: A+

The Shining: A-

The Stand: A-

Finders Keepers: A-

Bag of Bones: A-

Duma Key: A-

Black House: A-

The Institute: A-

The Wastelands: A-

The Drawing of the Three: A-

The Dark Tower: A-

Dolores Claiborne: A-

Blaze: B+

Hard Listening: B+

Revival: B+

Nightmares in the Sky: B+

The Dark Half: B+

Joyland: B+

Skeleton Crew: B+

The Dead Zone: B+

Nightmares & Dreamscapes: B+

Wolves of the Calla: B+

‘Salem’s Lot: B+

Song of Susannah: B+

Carrie: B+

Creepshow: B+

Later: B+

From a Buick 8: B

The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon: B

Sleeping Beauties: B-

The Colorado Kid: B-

Storm of the Century: B-

Everything’s Eventual: B-

Cycle of the Werewolf: B-

The Wind Through the Keyhole: B-

Danse Macabre: B-

The Running Man: C+

Cell: C+

Thinner: C+

Dark Visions: C+

The Eyes of the Dragon: C+

The Long Walk: C+

The Gunslinger: C+

Pet Sematary: C+

Firestarter: C+

Rage: C

Desperation: C-

Insomnia: C-

Cujo: C-

Nightshift: C-

Faithful: D

Gerald’s Game: D

Roadwork: D

Lisey’s Story: D

Christine: D

Dreamcatcher: D

The Regulators: D

The Tommyknockers D

I’m not going to end this with any promises of upcoming posts. That way when I do randomly stumble on here one afternoon, it will be a delight for us all.

Until next time, Long Days & Pleasant Nights,

Rebecca

#constant reader #stephen king #the dark tower #the shining #billy summers #hearts in atlantis #lisey's story #the overlook #jack torrance