#Dawn McDowell

[uwlmvac]

Bill Gresens’ Archaeology Book Review for March 2023

The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult (four trowels) 

Dawn McDowell’s dreams of becoming an Egyptologist crash when tragedy strikes and her life takes a dramatic turn.  Fifteen years later she struggles to return to that past life and a past love.

Read the entire review at: https://www.uwlax.edu/mvac/book-reviews/?review=251550

[clubhoops]

South Carolina women’s basketball secured a major win on Thursday afternoon as Ayla McDowell, a five-star recruit, announced her commitment to the Gamecocks via Instagram Live.

McDowell, a 6-foot-2 wing from Cypress, Texas, is ranked No. 20 in the 2025 class by ESPN. She currently plays for Cypress Springs High School, just outside of Houston, and is known for her versatility and athleticism on the court.

Coach Dawn Staley's squad beat out powerhouse programs like LSU, Mississippi State, Georgia Tech, Florida, and TCU to land the talented recruit. McDowell’s decision highlights the continued momentum and influence of South Carolina’s program under Staley’s leadership.

[brokehorrorfan]

Scream Factory has revealed the specs for its Tales from the Darkside: The Movie 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray. Based on the TV series of the same name, the 1990 horror anthology will be released on November 28.

John Harrison (Dune) directs from a script by George A. Romero (Night of the Living Dead) and Michael McDowell (Beetlejuice), including adaptations of Stephen King and Arthur Conan Doyle. Debbie Harry, Christian Slater, David Johansen, William Hickey, James Remar, Rae Dawn Chong, and Matthew Lawrence star.

Tales from the Darkside: The Movie has been newly scanned in 4K from the original camera negative. It's presented with Dolby Vision as well as DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0 audio. Special features are listed below.

Disc 1 - 4K UHD:

Audio commentary by director John Harrison and co-writer George A. Romero

Audio commentary by co-producer David R. Kappes

Audio commentary by film critics Emily Higgins and Billy Dunham (new)

Disc 2 - Blu-ray:

Audio commentary by director John Harrison and co-writer George A. Romero

Audio commentary by co-producer David R. Kappes

Audio commentary by film critics Emily Higgins and Billy Dunham (new)

Tales Behind the Darkside – Feature-length documentary with director John Harrison, actors James Remar and Rae Dawn Chong, producer Mitchell Galin, director of photography Robert Draper, production designer Ruth Ammon, special effects artists Robert Kurtzman, Greg Nicotero, and Howard Berger, creature performer Michael Deak, and editor Harry B. Miller

Behind-the-scenes footage 

Theatrical trailer

TV spots

Radio spots

Behind-the-scenes gallery

Stills gallery

To keep from being eaten by a modern-day witch (Deborah Harry), a young paperboy weaves three twisted stories to distract her. In “Lot 249,” a vengeful college student (Steve Buscemi) resuscitates an evil mummy to teach unsuspecting student bodies (Julianne Moore, Christian Slater) a lesson in terror. Then, “Cat From Hell” is a furry black feline who cannot be killed… he may have nine lives, but those who cross his path are not so lucky. Finally, in “Lover’s Vow,” a stone gargoyle comes to life to commit murder.

Pre-order Tales from the Darkside: The Movie.

[kimberly40]

Dearest North Carolina,

Through your glistening winters, blossoming springs, colorful falls, and hot southern summers full of lightning bugs and cold sweet tea, it dawned on me that I was HOME. Flourishing fields, Christmas trees, and the dear conversations with kind neighbors begin to feel my heart with joy.

Tarheels, Cheerwine, Krispy Kreme, hot boiled peanuts, sweet potatoes, and happy local farmers captured my soul.

North Carolina, you are gooder than grits...honey to my heart. Oh my stars I love you so!

-Unknown

•Pictured is the Brown Farm in North Cove, McDowell County, North Carolina

[dchan87]

"The Union Must Stand", a song from Lincoln: A Punk Rock Opera

Background: A few years ago, when visiting the Lincoln museum in Springfield, I had an inkling for a Hamilton-inspired punk rock opera. I was too lazy to write it. Until today! Well, one song, at least.

My fellow Americans Our house fights against itself I fear we cannot stand

The south fired on Fort Sumter yesterday but no one died My administration is following the situation The army will be mustered, to kick the south’s backside They will pay for their attempted insurrection

FIGHT FOR US! Our boys in blue FIGHT FOR US! Our cause is true FIGHT FOR US! To save our land FIGHT FOR US! Now take a stand!

The union must stand, the union must stand! It’s a civil war, us against US The union must stand, the union must stand! Brothers fight brothers, for justice! The union must staaaaaand!

We march on Virginia at dawn, McDowell to lead They’ll be sure to keep foundation steady Justice is coming for Jeff Davis and Bobby Lee Hear the battle hymn singing and be ready

FIGHT FOR US! Our boys in blue FIGHT FOR US! Our cause is true FIGHT FOR US! To save our land FIGHT FOR US! Now take a stand!

The union must stand, the union must stand! It’s a civil war, us against US The union must stand, the union must stand! Brothers fight brothers, for justice! The union must staaaaaand!

A house divided against itself, as I said before Cannot stand upon a wind-swept shore The ground itself is shaking with a mighty roar Must I be the one to meet the moment in this hour I don’t have a real mandate to exercise my power I fear mine eyes will see the glory of the Lord

FIGHT FOR US! Our boys in blue FIGHT FOR US! Our cause is true FIGHT FOR US! To save our land FIGHT FOR US! Now take a stand!

The union must stand, the union must stand! It’s a civil war, us against US The union must stand, the union must stand! Brothers fight brothers, for justice! The union must staaaaaand!

[seasideretreat]

The world

When we occupy ourselves with the essence of the world, something dawns on us that may or may not be totally apparent. The world is insane. Still, we may say that the world obeys its own inner logic, and this means that we can see the world as a transcendental place of meditation and valour. What we know, is that the world can be understood through logical reasoning, and this makes us ponder the world in ever greater and greater depth. The things that occupy our direct attention are lurid and weird in the last analysis, but something may happen that constricts us in the most cosmological way, and this gives us an immediate attention to the little things that corresponds to true knowledge and intrepid focus. All these things are knoweable.

John McDowell speaks of a "bald naturalism" that permeates the history of philosophy. It is truly a tremendous thing, that makes us wonder about the meaning of life. It seems there is a God in heaven that told us what to do and how to live; but in the world of bald naturalism, this God has no say, there is not any true movement in the entirety of the world. We might call this the ontological disputation. Ontic essences are absolute and may be seen in the light of veiled discernments or sense-data, but the essence of the world remains obscure to the vehement elements of discernment-in-thought. When we live in ordinary ways, bad things happen to us, or our life is not beautiful. The things we do are limited by being arcane or weird, but the assertion of real things happens in the constancy of the universe, and this shows people what the truth might be, in the last analysis. A world consists of subject and object, and when we engage in proper thought, the little things become apparent. But a truly holy or miraculous order has yet to be discerned. It seems God is outside of the things, but the better things, or quintessential things, can be found only the real truth, which is just the analysis and synthesis of proper articulations of the higher order of beings.

The view of normal science is that there is no higher being, no difference between God and man, or nature and the symbolic realm of things that determine the existence of life here. We can posit a force that permeates the whole of reality, but that is not going to explain anything: we just have to look at the world the way it is, and there is no escape from the drudgery of life and the mundanity of everyday phenomena. Nevertheless, we can see there is a level of reality in which things happen, a soul world so to speak, or perhaps a spirit realm, that makes us needful of reanalyzing the known concepts of the world, and to reconsider the validity of the values that science relies on. I am not saying that there is magic, or that supernatural things will happen, I am only saying that we can be fascinated beyond the ordinary by thoughts and humanities in the vast infinity of the world in a way that prompts us to speak of a greater calling or vocation for thinking to happen. I personally do not find this present in stuff like process philosophy, and it is also mostly lacking in Heidegger's work, although both these schools presumebly have their own peculiar charm: I do find it in the work of great thinkers in general, although I find it hard to point at a particular person. Philosophy means something, and I believe philosophy can help discover a meaning to life, even if rational thought can never provide such a meaning. Verily, it seems that if we want rational meaning - in this world - we'll have to look at religions. Religions all provide, to some extent or other, a mystique that fills us with the proper need for real gratification, and that allows us to ponder existence in a very real and meaningful way; and to feel like the world makes sense. Philosophy, because it is so logical, cannot do this: it will always stumble and find itself at a loss for words - after all, our preference for philosophy over religion is a wholly personal choice.

[sunnydalescoobiies]

THE SCOOBIES AND FOES !!

BUFFY SUMMERS.      /     twenty-four.     she/hers.      bisexual.       sarah michelle gellar.

FAITH LEHANE.      /     twenty-four.     she/hers.      bisexual.       eliza dushku.

TARA MACLAY.      /     twenty-four.     she/hers.      lesbian.       amber benson.

WILLOW ROSENBERG.      /     twenty-four.     she/hers.      lesbian.       alyson hannigan.

XANDER HARRIS.      /     twenty-four.     he/his.      heterosexual.       nichloas brendon.

RUPERT GILES.      /     fifty-nine.     he/his.      heterosexual.       anthony stewart head.

SPIKE.      /     one hundred fifty plus.     he/his.      bisexual.      james marsters.

DAWN SUMMERS.      /     eighteen.     she/hers.      bisexual.       michelle trachtenberg.

ANYA JENKINS.      /     thousands.     she/hers.      bisexual.       emma caufield.

DANIEL OSBOURNE.      /     twenty-six.     he/his.      pansexual.       seth green.

ROBIN WOOD.      /     thirty-four.     he/his.      heterosexual.       d.b. woodside.

JOYCE SUMMERS.      /     fifty-two.     she/hers.      heterosexual.       kristine sutherland.

BUFFY BOT.      /     not available.     she/hers.      spikesexual.       sarah michelle gellar.

THE MASTER.      /     unknown.     he/his.      asexual/aromantic.       mark mettcalff.

GLORY.      /     unknown.     she/hers.      bisexual.       clare kramer.

RILEY FINN.      /     twenty-nine.     he/his.      heterosexual.       marc blucas.

JENNY CALENDAR.      /     thirty-six.     she/hers.      heterosexual.       robia lamorte.

ORIGINAL CHARACTERS !!

JOAN SUMMERS. /     twenty-two.     she/hers.      heterosexual.       ashley benson.

LOCHLAN SUMMERS. /     eternally eighteen.     he/his.      heterosexual.       hunter parrish.

ZOEY SUMMERS. /     twenty-one.     she/hers.      heterosexual.       dianna agron.

ALEXIS 'LEXI' AUGUSTINE. /     twenty-five.     she/hers.      heterosexual.       lyndsy fonseca.

SAMANTHA 'SAMMY' MCDOWELL. /     twenty-one.     she/hers.      bisexual.       victoria justice.

MORGAN RUSH. /     twenty-six.     she/hers.      lesbian.       alycia debnam-carey.

JORDAN ROBINSON. /     thirty.     she/hers.      heterosexual.       lauren german.

DESTINY MCMILLAN. /     twenty-four.     she/hers.      bisexual.       nina dobrev.

[killed-by-choice]

Loretta Morton, 16 (USA 1984)

Loretta Morton was 16 and pregnant in December of 1983. She underwent a legal abortion that month and was sent home with birth control pills.

Loretta’s health quickly declined. By January 3, she was struggling to breathe so much that her mother called 911. An ambulance came to Loretta’s home and assessed her. When they decided she was stable, they left.

10 minutes later, the ambulance was called again because Loretta’s condition had drastically deteriorated in just that short amount of time. Loretta lost consciousness only minutes after the first time the ambulance left. This time the paramedics rushed the teenager to the hospital.

Loretta deteriorated even more and had to be resuscitated. All efforts to save her life failed and she died less than an hour after she passed out.

An autopsy on Loretta’s body identified her cause of death as a pulmonary embolism caused by the abortion. Outside of abortion clients, a pulmonary embolism is an extremely rare condition for a teenager, especially one who had been healthy a few days before.

Other Black teenagers killed by the American abortion industry include Katrina Poole, Kia Jorden, Dawn Ravenell, Deanna Bell, “Daphne Roe”, Imari Lawson, Teresa Causey, Roselle Owens, Laniece Dorsey, Latachie Veal, Erica Richardson, Rita McDowell, Antonesha Ross, Angela Belinda Scott, Delores Jean Smith, Diamond Williams, Sharon Floyd, Christella Marie Forte and Sharonda Rowe.

“Fatal Pulmonary Embolism During Legal Induced Abortion in the United States from 1972-1985,” Lawson, et al., American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, April 1990

Oregon Certificate of Death 84-000045

Multnomah County (OR) Circuit Court, Case A8503-01905

[anumberofhobbies]

Sailing On the Canal - Official Music Video.

Jan 4, 2025 Sailing on the Canal - Official Music Video.

Created by Tim Barlow Additional lyrics and music production by Patrick Cull

Video filming and editing by Myles McDowell

To everyone involved in the production at the seasonal yule time feast in plum wood on the 29th of December... thank you.

Lizzie. Rachael. Dawn. Maia. Tamsyn. Jenny. Matti. David. Nina. Olly. Iwona. Croc. Kaye. Leigh. Carol. Em. John. Claire and all our furry friends.

We couldn't have made it without you. Thank you for your enthusiasm and singing.

[thebiggerbear]

UPCOMING WORKS

*updated periodically

Characters/ Ships I Write For (anything in bold green has an open project)

(these are all working titles and could be subject to change in the future; all in alphabetical order)

A Rose Among Wolves (Arya Stark x Female Reader)

A Twist of Fate (Beau Arlen x Female Reader)

anchor up to me (Beau Arlen x Female Reader)

And From the Flames She Will Emerge and Bring the Dawn (Melisandre x Female Reader)

Civic Duty (Christine Gavin x Female Reader)

Deja Vu All Over Again (SDV Leah x Female Reader)

delicate textures (Natalie Dormer x Female Reader)

Don't Give Up On Me (CJ Braxton x Female Reader)

Dragons & Cake (Rhaenicent)

drawing stars around my scars (Dean Winchester x Female Reader)

Expecting Someone Else? (Beth Dutton x Female Reader)

For the Honor of Beauty (She-Ra/Adora x Female Reader)

Give Me A Shot (Sara Maxwell x Female Reader)

Give Me All of You (Multiple x Reader)

Guide Me To You (Beau Arlen x Female Reader)

He's Gone (Kayce Dutton x Female Reader)

i still don't know what you're thinking (when you look at me) (Beau x Jenny)

I've Been Waiting For You (Soldier Boy x Female Reader)

if you love me (don't let me go) (Beau Arlen x Female Reader)

Indulge Me (Christine Gavin x Female Reader)

It Stays, Dean (Sam Winchester x Female Reader)

It's the End of Us (Rip Wheeler x Female Reader)

Just A Little Longer (Jacob Black x Female Reader)

Keep You Safe (Jensen Ackles x Female Reader)

Making Pierogis (Katheryn Winnick x Female Reader)

Never Again (Alec McDowell x Female Reader)

No Warning (Beau x Cassie)

nothing to win and nothing left to lose (Jake Gray x Female Reader)

Preparations (Destiel)

Real or Not Real (Dean Winchester x Female Reader)

Santa Beau (Beau x Cassie)

Show Me Only What I Know the Limits Of (Edward Cullen x Female Reader)

Something Unreal (Soldier Boy x Female Reader) [sort of sequel to Something Real]

standing in the dust of what's left of us (Jonerys)

Struck By Something Alright (Danneel Ackles x Female Reader)

Take What You Need (Jacob x Bella)

Texas Heat (Beau Arlen x Female Reader)

The Offer's Still On the Table (Russell Shaw x Jenny Hoyt)

The Turn (Dean Winchester x Female Reader)

The Queen That Always Was (Rhaenys Targaryen x Female Reader)

The Wolves Must Come Again (Jonsa)

This Time The World Burns and You With It (Michael!Dean x Female Reader)

those eyes add insult to injury (Jack Durfy x Female Reader)

Three Inches (Elmax)

touch every star in the sky (Soldier Boy x Female Reader)

Traditions (Beau x Cassie)

Trust Me (Jensen Ackles x Reader)

we always walked a very thin line (Jensen Ackles x Female Reader)

we won't be far from home (Cassenny)

We're Not In Fucking Montana Anymore, Teeter (Rip Wheeler x Female Reader)

What Happened Last Night (Beau x Cassie)

When the Past Comes Knocking (Russell Shaw x Cassie Dewell)

Where Heaven and Earth Meet (Multiple x Female Reader)

Within Limits (Russell Shaw x Female Reader) [sequel to Off Limits]

Worse Than Our Hearts Believe (Beau x Cassie)

You Are My Home (Beau Arlen x Female Reader)

You're Mine (Jake Gray x Female Reader)

your joy will turn to ashes in your mouth (Daenerys x Tyrion)

(I have several other projects in the works for various characters/ships that don't have a title yet - I will add them in when I do)

(open prompt responses for multiple characters)

"I hate you." "You have a weird way of showing that."

Reenie Green / Russell Shaw / Colter Shaw / SDV Alex / Alec McDowell / Boaz Priestly / Tish M / Jake Gray

"Sleep. I'll keep you safe."

Boaz Priestly / Tish M / Colter Shaw / Russell Shaw / SDV Leah / Reenie Green / Jake Gray

Under the Mistletoe - Clexa

"What do you see in him?" "Everything you don't."

Beau Arlen / Dean Winchester / Tom Hanniger / Boaz Priestly / Jason Teague / Jack Durfy / Russell Shaw / Alec McDowell

"You still love him, huh?" "I can't imagine the day I won't."

Soldier Boy / Dean Winchester / Beau Arlen / Jason Teague / Boaz Priestly / Jensen Ackles / Tom Hanniger / Russell Shaw / Alec McDowell / Jake Gray / Jack Durfy

"You're safe now, I'm here."

Beau Arlen / Dean Winchester / Sam Winchester / John Winchester / Amara / Rowena MacLeod / Ruby 1.0 / Bela Talbot / Anael / Castiel / Benny Lafitte / Mary Winchester / Gadreel!Sam / Michael!Dean / AU!Dean / Demon!Dean / Jenny Hoyt / Mo Poppernak / Billy Butcher / Black Noir / Clark Kent / Goliath / Bane / Sorsha / Taylor Kelly / Lucy Donato / Reenie Green / Russell Shaw (Part 2) / Colter Shaw / Tom Hanniger / Boaz Priestly / Tish M / Rachel Gatina / Christine Gavin / Davina Claire / Negan Smith / Klaus Mikaelson / Alec McDowell / Alicia Clark / Lexa Kom Triku / Bellamy Clarke / Jon Snow / Robb Stark / Sansa Stark / Daenerys Targaryen / Harry Potter / Hermione Granger / Draco Malfoy / Sebastian Sallow / Professor Mirabel Garlick / Eddie Gluskin / Miles Upshur / Buffy Summers / Kristen Ramsey / Mark Meachum / Natasha Romanoff / Optimus Prime / Charlie Swan / Bella Cullen / Edward Cullen / Jacob Black / Carlisle Cullen / Rosalie Hale / Sam Uley / Paul Lahote / Jared Cameron / Edythe Cullen / Jessamine Hale / Carine Cullen / Rip Wheeler / Sam Carpenter / Sarah Connor / SDV Abigail / SDV Haley / SDV Alex / SDV Shane / Tom Davidson / Tyler Owens / Joe Velasco / Bobby Reyes / Jamie Whelan / Joe Stabler, Jr. / John Grimm / Jake Seresin / Bradley Bradshaw / Jess Price / Jason Todd / Bruce Wayne / Ben | X5-493

dividers by @firefly-graphics

[brokehorrorfan]

Tales from the Darkside: The Movie will be released on 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray on November 7 via Scream Factory. The 1990 horror anthology is based on the TV series of the same name.

John Harrison (Dune) directs from a script by George A. Romero (Night of the Living Dead) and Michael McDowell (Beetlejuice), including adaptations of Stephen King and Arthur Conan Doyle. Debbie Harry, Christian Slater, David Johansen, William Hickey, James Remar, Rae Dawn Chong, and Matthew Lawrence star.

Special features are in progress and will be announced at a later date.

To keep from being eaten by a modern-day witch (Deborah Harry), a young paperboy weaves three twisted stories to distract her. In “Lot 249,” a vengeful college student (Steve Buscemi) resuscitates an evil mummy to teach unsuspecting student bodies (Julianne Moore, Christian Slater) a lesson in terror. Then, “Cat From Hell” is a furry black feline who cannot be killed… he may have nine lives, but those who cross his path are not so lucky. Finally, in “Lover’s Vow,” a stone gargoyle comes to life to commit murder.

Pre-order Tales from the Darkside: The Movie.

[moviereviews101web]

Lessons in Love (2014) Movie Review

Lessons in Love – Movie Review Director: Tom Vaughan Writer: Matthew Newman (Screenplay) Cast Pierce Brosnan (GoldenEye) Salma Hayek (From Dusk Till Dawn) Jessica Alba (Sin City) Malcolm McDowell (Halloween) Duncan Joiner (Tales from the Loop) Ben McKenzie (88 Minutes) Plot: A drama about a Cambridge poetry professor who begins to re-evaluate his life of Byronic excess. Runtime: 1 Hour…

[niibaataa]

Appalachia, Mon Amour

[Note: there are more extensive lists out there, but through personal criteria, this is what I came up with.]

Map of Appalachia:

Frank X Walker, born in Danville, Kentucky, coined the term "Affrilachia" to refer to African-Americans in the region and give a name to their experiences. He also co-founded the Affrilachian Poets. He offers educational training on his website.

Here is a list of his books. These include known titles like Love House, Affrilachia, and Black Box.

Lisa Alther, from Kingsport, Tennessee, is a prolific fiction writer whose work often contains lesbian and bisexual characters. Several titles are linked below.

Other Women, Kinflicks, Swan Song.

Harriette Simpson Arnow was born in Wayne County, Kentucky. She worked as a teacher and principal in rural Appalachia for two years. She would go on to write her first novel in 1936, drawing on her experiences in the region. Future works would carry story tones of moving and fraught lives which would strike cords with Appalachian readers.

Hunter's Horn, The Dollmaker, The Weedkiller's Daughter.

Pinckney Benedict is a short-story writer, playwright, and novelist. He was born in Greenbriar County, West Virginia. His work is strongly influenced by his Appalachian background. His first novel, Dogs of God, was published in 1995 and he has gone on to publish three short story collections.

Dogs of God, Town Smokes, Wrecking Yard.

Harry M. Caudill was born in Whitesburg, Kentucky. Caudill was a World War 2 veteran critical of the approaches taken in Appalachian mining. He was also critical of the power wielded by northeastern investors in these mines. In his later years he became a eugenicist, believing William Shockley's theory of dysgenics (the idea that "unintelligent" people weaken a race over time). He published multiple books concerning law and his home area of the Cumberlands Plateau.

Night Comes to the Cumberlands, The Watches of The Night, A Darkness at Dawn.

Wilma Dykeman grew up in Buncombe County, North Carolina. She married her husband, James R. Stokely Jr, two months after meeting him. This occurred shortly after her graduation from Northwestern University. She authored multiple novels and family epics, tracing decisions through time. The Wilma Dykeman Award exists to promote writers discussing connection, Appalachia, and religion. Urban News provides support for writers of color.

The Tall Woman, The Far Family, Return the Innocent Earth.

Denise Giardina was born in Bluefield, West Virginia. She grew up in the Black Wolf coal mining camp located in McDowell County. Her family's survival was heavily dependent on the mine's prosperity. Politically active and frequently writing about Appalachian labor conflicts, she experienced clashes with the superiors of an Episcopalian she attempted to lead in West Virginia over her labor views.

Storming Heaven, The Unquiet Earth.

Homer Hadley Hickam Jr was born in Coalwood, West Virginia. He is a Vietnam War veteran, author, and former NASA engineer. His 1998 memoir Rocket Boys was the basis for the 1999 movie October Sky. He has a diverse body of work. His Coalwood series is about Appalachia and consists of memoirs about his hometown.

Rocket Boys, The Coalwood Way, Sky of Stone.

Silas House was born in Corbin, Kentucky, and grew up in nearby Laurel County. He also spent much of his childhood in Leslie County. He is one of the most prominent voices of LGBTQ+ Appalachians and Southerners in Southern literature.

Clay's Quilt, A Parchment of Leaves, The Coal Tattoo.

Sharryn McCrumb is a Southern writer. Born in Wilmington, North Carolina, she is best known for her Appalachian Ballad series, which weaves folklore in with historical events.

If I Ever Return, Pretty Peggy-O, The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter, She Walks These Hills.

Mary Noailles Murfree was born near Murfreesboro, Tennessee on a cotton plantation. She is considered to be Appalachia's first significant female writer. Her work does reinforce negative stereotypes of the region and the influence of her social standing on her work is notable. She wrote under the pen name Charles Egbert Craddock.

The Windfall, In the Tennessee Mountains, In the Clouds.

Karl Dewey Myers was born in Tucker County, West Virginia. He was physically disabled, never walked, and required a special typewriter to write. He was denied formal education, resulting in him being self-taught. His first poetry collection was The Quick Years, analysis of which exists in literary journals.

The Quick Years. Little is written about his second poetry collection, Cross and Crown, published shortly before his death in 1951.

Breece D'J Pancake was a short-story writer born in Milton, West Virginia. The location is the inspiration for his multiple short stories, published in The Atlantic Monthly and other periodicals during his lifetime. He passed due to suicide at age 26. Chuck Palahniuk claims him as an influence.

Stories of Breece D'J Pancake (collected short stories), Trilobites, Time and Again.

Ann Pancake was born in Richmond, Virginia. Her family has strong roots in West Virginia and Appalachia. She grew up in Summersville, West Virginia. Her family includes filmmaker Chet Pancake and actor Sam Pancake. She is a distant relative of the writer Breece Pancake. Writing stories centering rural poverty and the historical roots of poverty in general. She teaches Appalachian fiction and environmental criticism. She recently resigned from West Virginia University in protest of budget cuts.

Strange as This Weather Has Been, Me and My Daddy Listen to Bob Marley (short stories and novellas), Given Ground.

Carter Sickels grew up in Ohio and, as an adult, moved around to various cities. His work captures a homesickness for the place one grew up while balancing any complicated feelings one may have about the area. An interview on the subject by Megan Kruse can be found here.

The Evening Hour, The Prettiest Star.

Hubert Skidmore was a writer born Webster Springs, West Virginia, his twin brother Hobert Skidmore was also a novelist. He is best known for his social protest novel Hawk's Nest. He died in a house fire in 1946.

A list of his other books can be found here.

Crystal Wilkinson was born in Hamilton, Ohio. She is a member of the Affrilachia collective. With experience in media and public relations, her transition to poet and professor of creative writing was smooth. She is the first Black woman to be Kentucky's Poet Laureate, a position she was appointed to in 2021.

Praisesong for Kitchen Ghosts, Blackberries, Blackberries (poetry collection), The Birds of Opulence.

Jim Webb was born in Jenkins, Kentucky, he was an Appalachian poet, writer, and essayist. He was a founding member of the Southern Appalachian Writers Cooperative. Transcriptions of the interviews with founding members can be found here. He spent three decades managing the radio show, "Ridin' Around Listenin' to the Radio With Wiley Quixote", a literary persona he created of a mountain character critical of strip-mining for coal and used self-deprecating humor. Much of his literary output has been destroyed due to three house fires.

Radio component of Appalashop.

SPECIAL FEATURE — CHILDREN'S LIT

Rebecca Caudill was born in Cumberland, Kentucky. She graduated from Wesleyan College in Georgia and received a degree in international relations from Vanderblit University. Her stories about Appalachia are filled with warmth and focused on the pioneer era of the 19th and 20th centuries. She loved the culture of Appalachia.

A list of her books is available here.

Cynthia Rylant was born in Hopewell, West Virginia. She was sent to live with her maternal grandparents in Coal Ridge, West Virgina after her parents divorced. She eventually moved back in with her mother in Beaver, West Virginia. After university, she worked as a librarian and became acquainted with children's books, something absent in her own childhood. She has written dozens of books for children and young readers.

A list of her books is available here.

[frnwhcom]

Jane Todd Crawford: The Pioneering Patient Behind the Dawn of Abdominal Surgery

Jane Todd Crawford's life story is not just a tale of medical marvel but a testament to the indomitable human spirit. Born in 1763 in Virginia, Crawford's early life was marked by the pioneering challenges of the American frontier. Moving to Green County, Kentucky, she embraced the rural life of the early 19th century, a period characterized by limited medical knowledge and scarce healthcare facilities. However, it was her extraordinary encounter with Dr. Ephraim McDowell in 1809 that immortalized her in medical history and transformed the trajectory of surgical practices forever. Life Before the Surgery Before making medical history, Jane (nee Todd) Crawford led a life typical of a frontier woman, marked by hard work and the challenges of rural living. She was a wife and a mother, deeply embedded in the fabric of her community. In 1809, at the age of 46, Crawford faced a dire medical predicament. She developed a massive abdominal tumor, initially mistaken for a late pregnancy. With no advanced medical facilities or diagnostics available, her condition not only posed a significant threat to her life but also became a source of immense physical discomfort and societal misunderstanding. The Life-Saving Surgery Crawford's journey took a pivotal turn when she sought the help of Dr. Ephraim McDowell, a surgeon from Danville, Kentucky. After examining Crawford, McDowell concluded that she had a large ovarian tumor. He proposed an experimental and highly risky surgery, a decision that required Crawford to travel 60 miles on horseback to McDowell's residence, where he had his surgical practice. On December 25, 1809, without any form of anesthesia and under primitive surgical conditions, Crawford underwent the first successful abdominal surgery. McDowell removed a 22-pound ovarian tumor, a procedure that lasted about 25 minutes. Crawford's recovery was remarkable; she was able to sit up in bed by the fifth day and fully recovered within weeks, living another 32 years after the surgery. Impact on the Medical Community The success of Jane Todd Crawford's surgery had a profound effect on the medical community and the practice of surgery. At a time when abdominal operations were unheard of due to the high risk of infection and mortality, this successful procedure challenged prevailing medical beliefs and practices. It demonstrated the potential of abdominal surgery, paving the way for advancements in surgical techniques, the importance of surgical cleanliness, and eventually the development of anesthesia and antiseptics. Dr. McDowell's success with Crawford's surgery earned him international recognition and the title of "father of ovariotomy." However, it was Crawford's bravery and trust in McDowell that allowed this monumental step in medical history to occur. Her willingness to undergo an untested procedure under such precarious conditions displayed a level of courage and faith that contributed significantly to the advancement of medical science. Life After the Surgery Following her recovery, Jane Todd Crawford returned to her life in Green County, where she continued to be an active and beloved member of her community. Her remarkable story of courage and survival was shared widely, inspiring confidence in the potential of surgical interventions and contributing to a more profound public understanding of medical challenges and innovations. She and her family moved north into Indiana and remained until their deaths. Legacy Jane Todd Crawford's legacy extends beyond her personal story of survival. Her experience contributed to a shift in medical paradigms, encouraging more open-minded approaches to surgical experimentation and the development of new medical techniques. Her story is a reminder of the human capacity for resilience, the importance of patient trust in medical advancements, and the transformative power of a single act of courage on the broader trajectory of human health and well-being. Today, Jane Todd Crawford is remembered not only as a patient who underwent the first successful abdominal surgery but as a pioneer who played a crucial role in the evolution of modern surgery. Her life before and after the surgery encapsulates the essence of human endurance and the relentless pursuit of knowledge that continues to drive the medical community forward. Read the full article

[battyaboutbooksreviews]

✨ June 2023 Recap ✨

🦇 Hey there, my bookish bats! I can't believe we're already at the end of June; this year is rushing by way too quickly! What was your favorite book for the month?

This month, I somehow managed to read nine books (for me, that's ideal pacing).

📚 June's reads included:

✨ Misfortune Cookie by Vivien Chien ✨ A Most Agreeable Murder by Julia Seales 💜 Will They or Won't They by Ana Wilder ✨ Wanderlust by Elle Everhart 💜 Good Fortune by C. K. Chau ✨ Guardians of Dawn: Zhara by S. Jae-Jones 💜 Tastes Like Shakkar by Nisha Sharma ✨ All Alone With You by Amelia Diane Coombs ✨ The Prince & the Apocalypse by Kara McDowell

🦇 I'm 55% into my reading goal of 100 books for the year!

🦇 What book are you looking forward to most for July? Here's to another amazing month of enchanting, spell-binding reads!

[washingtonposttoday]

Ian Poulter, Sergio Garcia and Graeme McDowell weigh in on new dawn for LIV Golf http://dlvr.it/SrSyZt