#T.L. Anderson

[cathygeha]

REVIEW

Ship Got Real by T.L. Anderson

Love at Sea 5

 Love at first sight, soul mates, or instalust? Only time will tell as Avery and Colin meet after being set up by people who love them both.

 What I liked:

* Colin: art historian, older brother, on the cruise for his sister, not in the market for love, rather taken with Avery

* Avery: jewelry maker, good friend, guards her heart, fears the pain of loved lost, attracted to Colin

* Theo: Avery’s best friend, works with Evelyn, Colin’s student, supportive, caring, deserves love of his own

* Evelyn: sister to Colin and friend and coworker of Theo’s, matchmaker, searching for her mister right

* The activities on the ship that sounded like so much fun – th scavenger hunt was a hoot!

* The activities off the boat – floating down a river, cooking a meal together, and the steamy beach scene

* The eventual HEA for Colin and Avery

 What I didn’t like:

* Nothing really…just wished that Avery was less traumatized by the loss of her mother…

 Did I enjoy this book? Yes

Would I read more by this author? Yes

 Thank you to IndiePenPR for the ARC – this is my honest review.

 4 Stars

     BLURB

 Get ready to set sail through the Caribbean on Festival Cruises’ most alluring voyage with eight of your favorite authors - happily ever after guaranteed! Experience everything the Love at Sea series has to offer. From speed dating to masquerades, guests are sure to enjoy the hot days and steamy nights. Explore hidden waterfalls, swim with dolphins, and watch as eight couples find their forever on the open ocean. Each story features a brand new couple and a fun trope from our amazing line up of authors including: Kate Stacy, HM Thomas, Mari Sol, S.A. Clayton, T.L. Anderson, Karigan Hale, Susan Renee, and A.M. Williams.

[thebtseffect]

Comp Reading Lists

In an attempt to self-study several areas and expand my own knowledge, improve my ability to do research, and keep current with fields of interest, I'm building my own "comps list" here of relevant books. There are so many academic articles that I'm not sure if I'll include them here, but I'd like to at least track my reading of books. Comps lists are typically for Ph.D. students studying for exams, but I thought it might be a useful tool for me too. If you have suggestions, I welcome them.

BTS Studies

BTS, Art Revolution, Jiyoung Lee.

BTS and ARMY Culture, Jeeheng Lee.

BTS: The Review, Youngdae Kim.

Philosophizing about BTS, Cha Minju.

Bumping into BTS, Ji Kim, Mick Shin, and Jane Do.

Map of the Soul - Persona: Our Many Faces, Murray Stein.

Fan Studies

Textual Poachers: Television Fans and Participatory Culture, Henry Jenkins.

A Fan Studies Primer: Method, Research, Ethics, Paul Booth and Rebecca Williams.

Understanding Fandom: An Introduction to the Study of Media Fan Culture, Mark Duffett.

A Companion to Media Fandom and Fan Studies, Paul Booth and Rebecca Williams.

Exploiting Fandom: How the Media Industry Seeks to Manipulate Fans, Mel Stanfill.

Fandom: Identities and Communities in a Mediated World, Jonathan Gray, Cornell Sandvoss, and C. Lee Harrington.

Fan Cultures, Matt Hills.

Fame and Fandom: Functioning On and Offline, Celia Lam and Jackie Raphael.

The Adoring Audience: Fan Culture and Popular Media, Lisa Lewis.

The Fan Fiction Studies Reader, Karen Hellekson and Kristina Busse.

Loving Fanfiction: Exploring the Role of Emotion in Online Fandoms, Brit Kelley.

Fandom as Classroom Practice: A Teaching Guide, Katherine Anderson Howell.

Straight Korean Female Fans and Their Gay Fantasies, Jungmin Kwon.

Emo: How Fans Defined a Subculture, Judith Fathallah.

Squee from the Margins: Fandom and Race, Rukmini Pande.

Game Studies

Gaming Masculinity: Trolls, Fake Geeks, and the Gendered Battle for Online Culture, Megan Condis.

Learning in Video Game Affinity Spaces, Sean Duncan.

Ready Player Two: Women Gamers and Designed Identity, Shira Chess.

Watch Me Play: Twitch and the Rise of Game Live Streaming, T.L. Taylor.

Metagaming: Playing, Competing, Spectating, Cheating, Trading, Making, and Breaking Video Games, Stephanie Boluk and Patrick Lemieux.

The Toxic Meritocracy of Video Games: Why Gaming Culture is the Worst, Christopher Paul.

My Life as a Night Elf Priest: An Anthropological Account of World of Warcraft, Bonnie Nardi.

Communities of Play: Emergent Cultures in Multiplayer Games and Virtual Worlds, Celia Pearce.

Ethics, Psychology, & Philosophy

Moral Boundaries: A Political Argument for an Ethic of Care, Joan Tronto.

Jung's Map of the Soul: An Introduction, Murray Stein.

The Ethics of Care, Virginia Held.

Research Ethics in the Real World, Helen Kara.

The Portable Nietzsche, Friedrich Nietzsche and Walter Kaufmann.

General Reading & Methods

Where Research Begins: Choosing a Research Project that Matters to You, Thomas Mullaney and Christopher Rea.

The Practice of Qualitative Research: Engaging Students in the Research Process, Sharlene Nagy Hesse-Biber.

Destination Dissertation: A Traveler's Guide to a Done Dissertation, Sonja Foss and William Waters.

Getting It Published: A Guide for Scholars and Anyone Else Serious about Series Books, William Germano.

Learning to Make a Difference: Value Creation in Social Learning Spaces, Etienne Wenger-Trayner and Beverly Wenger-Trayner.

Ethnography and Virtual Worlds: A Handbook of Method, Tom Boellstorff and Bonnie Nardi, et. al.

An Introduction to Discourse Analysis: Theory and Method, James Paul Gee.

[blowflyfag]

the Wrestler: Volume 25, 2009

POINT:

A TV-PG RATING IS WWE’S BEST CHANCE FOR GROWTH

BY MICHAEL MOORE

THREE LETTERS BEST justify Vince McMahon’s decision to make his product more family-friendly: UFC.

Mixed Martial arts promotions today are what WWF, WCW, and professional wrestling in general were 10 years ago. The same crowd that identified with “Stone-Cold” Steve Austin’s anti-authoritarianism a decade ago is now more interested in seeing if an opponent can make it past the second round with Anderson Silva. 

The testosterone-driven 18- to 35-year-old male demographic craves blood and violence, and these days they’re going to find more of the real thing inside an octagon, not an Elimination Chamber. 

WWE has a very loyal wrestling fan base, however, which is proven by Raw’s weekly 3.0-plus TV rating. But McMahon craves more. He wants to convince casual viewers that WWE is more than a wrestling troupe … and he just might do it, thanks to the new rating.

[The feud between Shawn Michaels and Chris Jericho has featured injuries and blood, but Contributing Writer Michael Moore says that, one balance, solid, competitive wrestling has carried the feud. As WWE moves to a TV-PGH rating, Moore feels deemphasizing crass content will serve WWE well.]

During the peak of the Monday Night Wars, Raw alone was popping ratings above 6.0. Add WCW Monday’s Nitro’s gaudy numbers and professional wrestling was approaching a 12.0 rating on a weekly basis. That means at one point, approximately four times as many fans were watching wrestling on Monday nights then than are watching now. 

Where did the fans go? More importantly, how can wrestling get them back? Late-1990s type of success may not be a reality today, but there are far more potential wrestling fans out there. Sure, McMahon isn’t going to keep them away from UFC, but he can prove to the parents of young fans that Raw, Smackdown, and live WWE events are fun for the whole family. 

Here’s why he can and will do it. The PG rating forces WWE’s creative team to be more, well, creative. They won’t be able to fall back on shock tactics like HLA or Edge and Lita’s live sex shows. THey’re going to have to find a way to attract viewers without resorting to Springer-esque tactics. 

Recent programming shows it can be done. For example: The Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho feud has been a highlight of WWE over the past several months. Why? Because, excluding one pay-per-view, there hasn’t been any bloodbaths, attempts at toilet humor, or half-naked women to distract from it. True, the feud has included Jericho slamming Michaels through a TV screen and decking his wife, but those were the only deviations from what has been a rather conservative program. 

WWE’s switch to a PH-rated product won’t be a smooth one, and it won’t happen overnight. Fans that were turned off by Mae Young giving birth to a hand or Vince McMahon’s “fatal” limousine explosion last year may be difficult to win back. 

But WWE’s best chance to succeed is to finally move away from the Attitude Era and toward a more traditional, family-friendly product again. Today’s core demographic may be inclined toward MMA, but there are plenty of other fans waiting to be seduced. 

Michael Moore is a contributing writer for THE WRESTLER. 

COUNTERPOINT:

PRO WRESTLING IS NOT A TV-PG SPORT

BY BRADY HICKS 

THE LAST TIME Vince McMahon was selling a PG product, wrestling fans were subjected to Doink the Clown, T.L. Hopper, and The Goon. Do we really want to return to those days?

Wrestling, by its very nature, is not a PG-rated sport. In fact, wrestling is at its best when two competitors are entangled in a bitter, violent feud. The idea of two grown men like Chris Jericho and Shawn Michaels trying to settle their dispute on a family-friendly show just doesn’t work. Imagine how flat this feud would have been if Rawviewers were unable to see the gruesome eye injury Y2J inflicted on Michaels at The Great American Bash. 

Pro wrestling had its PG period in the 1980s. In the midst of the Cold War, fans wanted an all-American hero to stand up to the bad guys. For a generation that grew up on Luke Skywalker, He-Man, and G.I. Joe, a flesh and blood superhero was the order of the day.

But times have changed. Society is different from what it was when Hulkamania was born. Wrestling fans just won't accept a goody two-shoes that tells them to train, say their prayers, and take their vitamins. 

Besides that, wrestling fans are much more in tune with real life. They realize that nobody is as squeaky clean as Hulk Hogan and the Von Erichs pretended to be.

That isn’t to say the extreme violence and smut–edgy content, some might call it–that infiltrated our great sport should be the norm. But we should never forget that the excesses of the Attitude Era generated some much-needed fan interest at a critical time. 

Putting the T&A aside, professional wrestling is still a fundamentally violent sport, and the TV-14 rating WWE abandoned was much more appropriate for shows like Raw and Smackdown. The designation allowed the sport to be itself for better or worse, and freed WWE from the shackles of the network suits. 

Asking the NFL or professional boxing to tone down their style of play would be ludicrous. So why then. Would McMahon want to change WWE’s formula for success–a formula that has succeeded with sex and violence as its driving forces. 

Lingerie matches, for example, may not evoke memories of Gotch vs. Hackenschmidt, but let’s face it: Few viewers change the channel when the Divas start shedding their clothes. Nor do you hear the fans in attendance booing when these matches take place. 

In deviating from the proven formula, McMahon runs the risk of sabotaging his own product. As all wrestling fans know, his idea of PG is much different from that of most parents and TV execs. 

By switching the rating, McMahon is telling parents it’s okay to sit down with their kids for one of his shows, yet in the first few weeks after the switch to PG, Raw alone included Jerry Lawler talking about how far Katie Lea will go on the first date, old clips of Chris Jericho mocking Stephanie McMahon’s breast implants, and Kane and Batista attempting to bash each oth3r’s skills in with a steel chair. 

It should also be noted that McMahon is drawn to controversy. It’s only a matter of time before the next incest, necrophilia, or attempted murder angle is played out. If McMahon leads parents to believe his product is appropriate for families, and presents something that isn’t he runs the risk of listing many more fans that he will attract.

[Thanks to WWE’s new TV-PG rating, the “Rated R Superstar” may be forced to tone down his act. Contributing Writer Brady Hicks says that abandoning the edgy material that has kept WWE relevant for so many years will make the task all the harder.]

WWE is trying to save a ship that isn’t sinking. By lowering its rating, WWE hopes to lure fans under false pretenses–something that, in the end, is only going to hurt the business as a whole. It’s time for McMahon to embrace what he’s known all along: Professional wrestling just isn’t a PG-rated sport. 

Brady Hicks is a contributing writer for THE WRESTLER.

[amothmanstolemydoritos]

A dream I had like a few month/days ago: Dying from a falling tree in The Pine Barrens, I became a ghost.

@kingsofatlantiscamila

[fashionstyling01]

Rave Reference for inspiration

A document which shows the adaptation of raves and how they compare from then to now, is Anderson, T.L. and Kavanaugh, P.R., 2007. A ‘rave’review: Conceptual interests and analytical shifts in research on rave culture. Sociology Compass, 1(2), pp.499-519. This article has helped my concept out tremendously, by focusing on thr adaptation and conceptual interests of rave fashion.

[bfistacom]

Chadwick Aaron Boseman (1976-2020) •

Chadwick Aaron Boseman (1976-2020) •

Chadwick Boseman, San Diego Comic-Con, July 22, 2017 Photo by using Gage Skidmore (CC BY-SA 2.zero, cropped) Chadwick Aaron Boseman changed into born on November 29, 1976 in Anderson, South Carolina, to Carolyn and Leroy Boseman. His mom was a nurse, and his father became a manufacturing unit employee. Boseman performed little league baseball and basketball in his teens and attended T.L. Hanna…

[lboogie1906]

James "Radio" Kennedy (October 14, 1946 – December 15, 2019) was a man with an intellectual disability who was known for his association with the T. L. Hanna High School football team in Anderson, South Carolina. He first gained prominence in 1996 when Gary Smith wrote an article about Kennedy for Sports Illustrated titled "Someone to Lean On." His story was then made into a feature film in 2003 titled Radio in which he was portrayed by Cuba Gooding Jr. According to Sheila Hilton, the former principal of T.L. Hanna High, he earned the nickname "Radio" in the mid-1960s when he began to show up at the school football field with a transistor radio. In 1964, he befriended the high school's then-football coach Harold Jones. Their friendship served as the basis of Radio. In 1965, he became an unofficial 11th-grade student at T.L. Hanna High. He was considered a permanent high school junior, meaning that he would never graduate or have to leave. In 2006, a statue of him was unveiled at the football stadium of T.L. Hanna High School. In 2016, he was inducted into the T.L. Hanna Athletic Hall of Fame. He had been treated for pancreatitis as well as diabetes and kidney issues. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence https://www.instagram.com/p/CjsQBukLcN-/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[hel7l7]

hi! are you familiar with fiction books exploring adhd in teens?

Hi,

Sorry it took me frigging ages to answer this question. But I have a little list with books that should have adhd characters in them. Club Meds Katherine Hall Page Crazy Amy Reed Freaks Like Us Susan Vaught Hold Still Nina LaCour It’s Kind of a Funny Story Ned Vizzini Motorcycles, Sushi and One Strange Book Nancy Rue Playing Tyler T.L. Costa Something Like Normal Trish Doller The Impossible Knife of Memory Laurie Halse Anderson The Nature of Jade Deb Caletti Will Grayson, Will Grasyon John Green and David Levithan

The bold ones I've read and about the others I honestly don't know. I googled the books. What I do know is that Six of Crows has someone with adhd in it. But I honestly don't know if it's canon or not.

And a friend (who has adhd) of mine who I asked about it. Said this. So you might want to check that out. [17:27, 26/08/2021] 🐙 : Literally all rick riordan books

[17:28, 26/08/2021] 🐙 : Side effect of being a demigod is having adhd

[17:28, 26/08/2021] 🐙 : Smt stupid like that 😹😹😹😹

I do not know much specific books about adhd in teens, maybe some of my followers do. All these books are young adult though. But there's not many books that I know of.

I hope this helped at least a bit. Sorry for being so late with the answering.

- B.

[hopeless-weakness]

2021 Books I’ve Read

170/75

The Takeover by T.L. Swan

(The Miles High Club book 2)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“For how much you love the Miles brothers and this story, why wouldn’t you give it four stars?” Because I was angry for half of it & my heart couldn’t enjoy the love that had bloomed! I need to be very careful how I write this review because I don’t want to give anything away. But I’ve got words to SAY! (There is a spoiler included review on my goodreads account- linked below.) Even though this dove right into the “I can’t stand you” story line, I knew the second Tristan eyes found Claire’s across the room we were in for a ride! Tristan literally did what he needed to do to keep Claire’s attention. Even if that meant embarrassing her. I loved being able to laugh during sex scenes. If there’s banter dressed, why can’t there also be naked banter? Let’s be honest: Claire and Tristan bantered no matter what they were doing. And it was glorious! I couldn’t get enough of Tristan with Claire’s kids. Even when they were being little devils. But especially when they were. I can not explain how attractive it is to watch a tough skinned man become a mushy mess over kids that aren’t his own. Swoon! Tristan taking Fletcher under his wing to help him become a better man was the most special. I think having those boys in his life was better than having Claire. They became his number one priority, no matter where that took him in life.

My Favorite Quotes:

•”Don’t be scared of calling me Tristan. Because one day very soon, I predict that you’re going to be moaning it.”

•”Believe me, Claire Anderson...the last thing I feel when I look at you...is pity.”

•’The idea of you hating me while I lick you up is a turn-on.”

•”It’s all right baby. I’ve got you.”

•”I don’t remember if I dated any beautiful women. Because at this moment, all I can think about...is you.”

•”I’ve never needed to please a woman as much as I crave to please you...let me.”

•”If I can’t have you, I don’t want to think about you.”

•”Like myself. I feel that when I’m with you, I’m who I’m supposed to be.”

•”It’s about time, Anderson.”

•”You and the boys...are saving me. Not the other way around.”

•••The hottest thing Tristan said? “You know, intelligent people scare stupid people.” He turns to the woman taking notes. “Did you get that?”

8/10 Dirty Birdy

6/10 Enemies to Lovers

goodreads account

click here for my reading playlist! 🎧📖

[brightwoodhq]

mw moc?

Another great question. I know you asked for most wanted man of color, but I do want to mention that we currently have zero nonbinary characters. We also don’t have any trans characters on the masterlist. We’re also lacking severely in the body diversity category, so we’d love to see some plus size, Deaf, blind, or otherwise more diverse than the stick thin, white, hearing and fully-abled status quo for fcs. So we’d definitely like to see a few nonbinary fcs, a few trans fcs, a few Deaf fcs, a few plus sized fcs, and more diversity around campus. 

As far as men of color are concerned, I’d love to see Craig Robinson, Glen Davis, Anthony Anderson,  Charles Michael Davis, Daveed Diggs, Omar Ayuso, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, John Boyega, Dev Patel, Harry Shum Jr., Wentworth Miller, Jacob Artist, Takamasa Ishihara (Miyavi), Michael B. Jordan, Alfred Enoch,  Dyllon Burnside, Jamaal Swain, John Cho, Henry Golding, Nico Santos, Remi Hii, Shuhei Kinoshita, Charles Melton, Jake Choi, Ross Butler, Godfrey Gao, Manny Jacinto, William Jackson Harper, Masi Oka, Sendhil Ramamurthy, Leonard Roberts, Santiago Cabrera, and Bruno Fabre. 

While we’re here, some nonbinary celebrities include: Reece King,  Pidgeon Pagonis (intersex), Rain Dove, Angel Haze, Tyler Ford, Elly Jackson, Janelle Monae, Indya Moore, Ruby Rose, Sam Smith, Shamir Bailey, Bex Taylor-Klaus, and Nico Tortorella.

While we’re here, some transgender celebrities include: Skylar Kergil, Laverne Cox, Elliott Fletcher,  Amiyah Scott,  Maya Taylor, Kitana "Kiki" Rodriguez, Brian Michael Smith, Angelica Ross, MJ Rodriguez, Dominique Jackson, Kingston Faraday, Janet Mock, Carmen Carrera, Zach Barack, Chaz Bono, Erika Ervin, Gigi Gorgeous, Trace Lysette, Alexis Arquette, Isis King, Jamie Clayton, Hari Nef, Andreja Pejic, Jen Richards, Jake Graf, Harmony Santana, Arisce Wanzer, Laith Ashley, Aydian Dowling, Jenna Talackova, Munroe Bergdorf, and Hailie Sahar.

While we’re here, some Deaf celebrities include: Sean Berdy, Treshelle Edmond, Marlee Matlin, Deanne Bray, Ryan Lane, Chella Man, Austin P, Mackenzie, Nyle DiMarco, Emilio Insolera, Whitney Meyer, Ace Mahbaz, Shoshannah Stern, Andrea Ferrell, Terrylene Sacchetti, Ashley Fiolek, Russell Harvard, Anthony Natale, Daniel Durrant, Robert Demayo, T.L. Forsberg, and Katie Leclerc.

[cathygeha]

REVIEW

 Whiskey and Sunset Nights by T.L. Anderson

Single Dad’s Series

 Emotions aplenty as I read this book. I was swept in and stayed invested throughout this short heartfelt deeply moving book.

 What I liked:

* Gray: such a good person, loving father, grief-stricken widow, wonderful son and brother, great friend, skilled builder ~ a man who endures and lives his life to the fullest no matter what comes his way.

* Ella: five-six year old daughter that misses her mother, is filled with love and life and joy, very active, accepting, a great character.

* Missy: The deceased wife of Gray and the best friend of Lily – a woman I admired and was sorry had died too soon. She was a bright light and enduring positive presence in more than one life.

* Lily: bookstore owner, best friend of Lily, good friend of Gray’s, friend to Grays brother and father, open and caring and giving and helpful ~ She was perfect as a person and character and love interest in this story.

* Asher: Gray’s younger brother, caterer, fun-loving, supportive ~ liked him

* Gray’s father: an anchor and safe place to land for Gray when he needed to change things after Missy died.

* The small town setting

* That there was no great drama but instead a slow warm friendship that grows into so much more.

* The way the aspect of grief was handled

* That it felt “real” and believable

* That there was a happy ending

 What I didn’t like:

* That Missy died…and being reminded that too many people are taken by cancer long before they and their loved ones are ready to have them leave.

 Did I enjoy this book? Yes

Would I read more by this author? Yes

 Thank you to the author and IndiePen for the ARC – This is my honest review.

 5 Stars

Release Tour for Whiskey and Sunset Nights

by T.L. Anderson

 Grayson Pierce is struggling as a single dad but he’s doing the best he can in his new normal, until feelings for his late wife’s best friend, Lily Dean start to grow more than expected. Can they work through their loss together while falling in love with each other? Readers will swoon for this second chance romance featuring a sexy widower. Fall in love with your next book boyfriend with Whiskey and Sunset Nights by T. L. Anderson, the next book in the Single Dad’s Romance series.

  Read Now!

 Amazon → https://amzn.to/3dDhj75

 BLURB

Grayson

 After losing the love of his life to cancer, Grayson Pierce finds himself struggling with his new normal as a single dad. Moving back home to southern Minnesota with his five-year-old daughter Ella, feels like the only option to keep his sanity.

 Living on his family farm, he spends his days taking care of Ella and running his construction company - working small jobs to keep his mind off things. Until Lily Dean shows up in his kitchen.

 Lily

 Losing her best friend to cancer was the worst thing that could have happened to her. Having Ella and Grayson back in her hometown, keeps the memories of her friend burning in her mind.

 Spending her days running her own bookstore, Lily takes Ella under her wing, allowing her to explore the world of books and helping her cope with the loss of her mother. But then, there’s Grayson.

 He’s her best friend’s husband, or was.

 With each passing day, Lily and Grayson find their once casual friendship slowly flourishing into something more.

 Can they work through their respective loss and let love in or are they destined for nothing more than a few shots of whiskey and sunset nights?

  Add to Goodreads!

 Goodreads → https://bit.ly/3tVZ4PK

  EXCERPT

 Copyright 2021 TL Anderson

 My dad takes a sip of his coffee, listening intently as Ella tells him about all the stops her and Uncle Ash took. Apparently, they stopped at a rest stop that had a gigantic rubber band ball in a case, and it had over 3,000 rubber bands wrapped around it. “That’s pretty neat there, kid. I bet it was fun taking all those stops with Uncle Ash. Did you see any animals while you were driving here?” Dad asks her.

           “We did!” She looks at her hands, her eyebrows drawn down as she counts off her fingers. “We saw cows and pigs. Oh, and horses!”

           “Don’t forget the llama,” Asher chimes in as he enters the kitchen. I glance up at him while taking a sip of my coffee and freeze mid-sip as I see who’s standing next to him. My heart races as my stomach drops out.

           “Hey there, Gray.” Lily Dean stands before me.

           My heart stops as I see the only other woman who can shatter me to pieces again. Something inside of me wants to let her. Seeing her makes me feel something besides numbness. Something raw and visceral.

           Her brown hair hangs down her back in thick curls, and her blue eyes are hesitant as she stands off to the side of Asher with her hands clasped in front of her. She’s wearing a pair of cutoff jean shorts and a plain white T-shirt, which makes her tanned skin pop.

           Asher walks over to Ella, picking her up and placing her on his shoulders. “Come on, kid, let’s go see your new room.” Without another word, they head out of the kitchen.

           My dad pushes up from his seat, coffee mug still in hand. “I’m going to go help them before they cause too much chaos.” He stops next to Lily and kisses her on the cheek in a fatherly way. “It’s good to see you, Lils.”

           She breaks eye contact with me to look at my dad, her gaze filled with gratitude. “Good to see you too, Mr. Pierce.”

           “I told you call me Jack. You’re not the scraggly little ten year old anymore. We’re all friends here,” Dad calls out as he disappears from the room.

           “Lily,” I breathe out. The last time I saw her was at Missy’s funeral. Lily and Missy were inseparable. She’d come and visit us out east every year and stay for a few weeks, and she and Missy would stay up late to catch up on gossip from back home. When she showed up to the funeral, it felt like my heart was being ripped out yet again. It was always Missy and Lily. So how am I supposed to look at her now without seeing the absence of my dead wife?

           She clears her throat while shifting from one foot to the other. “I didn’t mean to intrude. I was just stopping by to drop your dad off some old truck manuals I found for him. He’s been fixing up that old 1972 Chevy parked in the garage. It needs a lot of work, but I think he’ll get it running again soon.” She’s rambling on about the truck, and all I can do is stare at her. “Anyways, so I didn’t realize you’d be here today. I mean I knew you were coming back home, but I didn’t know it was today. I better get going so you all can get settled in.” She fiddles with the hem of her shirt, a nervous habit she’s had since she was a kid.

           “It’s fine. Stay for dinner with us.” My mouth blurts out the invitation before my brain can think through if this is a good idea or bad.

           Her eyes widen. “Oh no, I can’t intrude. Ella needs time to get comfortable, and I’m sure she’ll want to spend time with Jack.”

           Just at that moment Ella comes running into the room. “Lily, if you stay for dinner, we can have a tea party after!” She squeals with excitement as she puts her hand in Lily’s catching her off guard.

    Lily looks between Ella and me. I can see the conflict written in her features as she tries to keep her distance from me, but also not let Ella down. “Oh Ells, I’d love to…”

           Before she can say anything else I cut her off, “Perfect. Ell, go wash up and you can help me and Lily cook some dinner. How about hotdogs and burgers on the grill?”

           She starts jumping up and down. “Yay! I’ll be right back. Don’t start without me!” she yells while running down the hall to the bathroom.

           Lily doesn’t move. She bites her lip between her bottom teeth before speaking. “I don’t want to be a burden, Gray. I don’t want to replace…”

  AUTHOR BIO

T. L. Anderson currently lives in Wisconsin where it’s freezing cold in the winter and has five months of enjoyable weather year round. Her house is filled with constant chaos between her teenage daughter and infant son, two rambunctious dogs, a stubborn cat, and guinea pigs that keep her and her husband on their toes.   Since the age of three, she has loved reading and creating her own stories in her mind. Now her passion has developed into a career. After earning a certificate from the Children's Institute of Literature she decided it was time to put the multiple characters in her head onto paper so she can share their stories with the world.  She’s the author of multiple novels which include new adult, romantic suspense, and paranormal reverse harem.   She has a slight obsession with doughnuts, coffee, and dinosaurs. When she's not writing you can find her lurking on social media looking for new books to read, taking care of her mini-zoo at home, or having her nose stuck in a book.

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Goodreads → https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18233438.T_L_Anderson

BookBub → https://bit.ly/3pVRRhG

Website → https://tanderson319.wixsite.com/tlanderson

Amazon → https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B07FRWZ64Y

  About the Single Dad’s Romance Series

 Seven single dads, all from different walks of life and doing the best they can to raise their children - are ready to make you fall in love.

 From the celebrity dad just trying to protect the ones he loves from the spotlight...to the silver fox who's out to prove it's never too late to have a family of your own - this single dads collection guarantees to bring you a whole lot of love and of course, a happily ever after.

 Look no further, your next book boyfriend is here!

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[lesbian-books]

Lesbian Authors

A.J. Adaire  Pat Adams-Wright  Dorothy Allison  S.W. Anderson  Elizabeth Andre  Mavis Applewater  Ann Aptaker  J.A. Armstrong  Michelle Arnold  Clare Ashton  K. Aten  Victoria Avilan  Darla Baker  Roslyn Bane  Ann Bannon  Solia Panche Bealti  Alison Bechdel  Georgia Beers  Sharon Marie Bence  Bridget Birdsall  Harper Bliss  Andrea Bramhall  Jaye Robin Brown  Anna Burke  Amalie Cantor  Brandee Carbo  Suzie Carr  Dawn Carter  C.L. Cattano  Becky Chambers  Kate Charlton  Sharon Cho  Barbara L. Clanton  Hannah Abigail Clarke  Shelby Cochran  Helen Corcoran  Jeanne Córdova  Audrey Coulthurst  Delores Cremm  Maggie Dane  Emily M. Danforth  Sandra de Helen  Barbara Dennis  Nicole Dennis-Benn Stefani Deoul  K.E. DePalmenary  T.L. Dickerson  Jennifer Diemer  Sarah Diemer * Jane DiLucchio  J.M. Dragon  Moondancer Drake  K.B. Draper  Cassandra Duffy  A.L. Duncan  Nann Dunne  Sarah Ettritch  Lillian Faderman  Sara Farizan  Leslie Feinberg  Anna Ferrara  Fannie Flagg  Jane Fletcher  Laura Foley  Katherine V. Forrest  Diane Fortier  Giselle Fox  Anna Furtado  Elisa M. Galbreath  Lynn Galli  S.L. Gape  Nancy Garden  Lyn Gardner  S. Anne Gardner  Pauline George  Ana B. Good  Parker Gordon  Erin Gough  Kimberly Cooper Griffin  Nicola Griffith  Agnes H. Hagadus  Anne Hagan  Radclyffe Hall  S.M. Harding  Ellen Hart  Nancy Ann Healy  Fran Heckrotte  Natasja Hellenthal  Dotti Henderson  Claire Highton-Stevenson  Gerri Hill  E.M. Hodge  Dayna Ingram  Isabella  Jae  Adiba Jaigirdar  Jo Jennings  Heather Rose Jones  E.A. Kafkalas  Karin Kallmaker  Riley LaShea  Stacey-Leanne  Lez Lee  Malinda Lo  Ann-Marie MacDonald  Renee MacKenzie  Prudence MacLeod  Lise MacTague  Lucy J. Madison  Rachel Maldonado  Siera Maley  Laurie J. Marks  Julie Maroh  Michelle Marra  Paula Martinac  Arkady Martine  Q.C. Masters  Andi Marquette  Pamela Mauldin  Robbi McCoy  M.K. McGowan  Gill McKnight  Ann McMan  Heather McVea  Mary Meriam  Ronni Meyrick  Martha Miller  Rogena Mitchell-Jones  K.A. Moll  Sallyanne Monti  Annette Mori  Bonnie J. Morris  Jaycie Morrison  Niamh Murphy  Charlene Neil  Natasha Ngan  Nik Nicholson  Baren Nix  Ocean  Paula Offutt Chinelo Okparanta  Chris Parsons  Angela Peach  Julie Anne Peters  B.J. Phillips  Ashley Quinn  Radclyffe  Cheryl Rainfield  Adan Ramie  Nina Revoyr  Rhavensfyre  Julia Diana Robertson  Nita Round  Morgan Routh  Joanna Russ  Laurie Salzler  Shamim Sarif  Lacey Schmidt  Sarah Schulman  Tina Sears  Cass Sellars  Merry Shannon  Fiona Shaw ** Kaden Shay  Djuna Shellam  Jen Silver  Jennis Slaughter  Adrian J. Smith  E.H. Smith  Vanessa Snyder  Alison R. Solomon  Raven J. Spencer  Ali Spooner  Rose Stone  Carren Strock  Rebecca Sullivan  Leandra Summers  Mariko Tamaki  Michelle L. Teichman  Keira Michelle Telford  Rae Theodore  M.E. Tudor  Vanda  Elle Vaughn  Missouri Vaun  Anastasia Vitsky  Tillie Walden  Sarah Waters  HollyAnne Weaver  Laney Webber  Louise Welsh  Caren J. Werlinger  K.D. Williamson  B.L. Wilson  Catherine M. Wilson  Barbara Winkes  Lee Winter  Jeanette Winterson  Chris Anne Wolfe  T.J. Wolfe  Jacqueline Woodson  Fiona Zedde  Kristen Zimmer 

* Also writes under the pen names Elora Bishop and Bridget Essex

** Not to be confused with the Irish actress of the same name

This list is subject to changes. Compiling a list of lesbian authors is a challenge because not all authors are out and my sources of information are limited. I had to rely on finding author bios, interviews, tweets, etc. in which an author mentions her sexual orientation. I also got many of these names from the Lesbian Authors Guild. 

[drbrentcopeland]

Meet Dr. J. Brent Copeland

J. Brent Copeland, DMD

Dr. Copeland, a native of Anderson, has been practicing dentistry in his hometown for over 30 years.

After graduating from T.L. High School in 1976, Dr. Copeland attended Erskine College where he majored in biology and graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1980. He graduated from the Medical University of South Carolina College of Dental Medicine in 1984 with his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree. Dr. Copeland has continued practicing dentistry in this same location for more than 30 years.

Dr. Copeland has earned a stellar reputation throughout his career for being a caring, compassionate dentist who genuinely cares about his patients and wants them to have the best treatment they can get. Working in the dental field gives him the ability to combine his love for being around people with his interest in technology.

In conjunction with his keen artistic eye for detail and excellent technical skills, Dr. Copeland’s comprehensive approach focuses on improving every aspect of your smile to provide optimal appearance, function, and comfort through general dentistry, preventive dentistry, cosmetic dentistry and restorative dentistry procedures including restoring dental implants with crown and bridge and denture placement (fabrication). He is dedicated to providing the highest quality of dental care with the most up-to-date dental technology, personalized for your individual needs, giving his patients beautiful smiles that improve their quality of life.

Dr. Copeland’s professional memberships and affiliations include:

Academy of General Dentistry, earned Fellowship

American Dental Association

South Carolina Dental Association

Tri-County Dental Society, Past President

Anderson Dental Society

South Carolina Academy of Dental Practice Administration, President Elect

Appointed to serve on the Review Committee of the South Carolina Department Labor, Licensing and Regulation for the South Carolina State Board of Dentistry

Dr. Copeland and June have a son, Brent Jr., and a daughter and son-in-law, Maisie and Andrew. They also have a grandson, Harlan and granddaughter, Lina. Dr. Copeland’s family attends First Presbyterian Church, where he is an Elder and Sunday school teacher. He has served as a District 5 Trustee for Anderson Schools. He enjoys sports, exercise and playing bluegrass music.

[womenofcolor15]

R.I.P. James ‘Radio’ Kennedy (Played By Cuba Gooding Jr. In Film) Passes Away At The Age Of 73

James “Radio” Kennedy – who was portrayed by Cuba Gooding Jr. in the 2003 film Radio – has passed away. He was 73. More inside…

A South Carolina legend has died.

  Prayers go out to the Kennedy Family. Legend, James “Radio” Kennedy passed away this morning. Radio is perhaps best known from 2003 film, ‘Radio’, based on his life in Anderson, South Carolina, where his character was played by Cuba Gooding, Jr. He was 73 years old pic.twitter.com/bFLY5ljyVW

— ment nelson (@mentnelson) December 15, 2019

  James “Radio” Kennedy – who was portrayed by actor Cuba Gooding Jr. in the 2003 drama film Radio – has reportedly died. He was 73. His niece/caregiver Jackie Kennedy confirmed the news, revealing he was hospitalized on Saturday and died early this morning.

Radio became a fixture in South Carolina as an "unofficial 11th grader" at T.L. Hanna High School since 1965, where he reportedly attended football games and often led the team out onto the field. He was mentally challenged, however, that didn’t stop him from being great.

He was given the nickname Radio due to carrying around his signature transistor radio. He was thrusted into the limelight back in 1996 when Sports Illustrated did a story about him and football coach Harold Jones, which shared how the town of Anderson, South Carolina accepted him with open arms. Radio and Harold formed an unbreakable bond throughout the years.

"He was just a fine, fine man," former T.L. Hanna football coach Harold Jones told the Anderson Independent Mail. "We will miss him incredibly."

In 2016, Radio was inducted into the T.L. Hanna Athletic Hall of Fame.

Radio endured a health scare months before his death. According to WYFF News 4, he was hospitalized in August due to "fluid retention and other issues related to diabetes," but he was released not long after. In December he was hospitalized again where he was treated for pancreatitis, along with ongoing diabetes and kidney issues.

In 2003, Cuba Gooding Jr. portrayed Radio in a drama film that earned him an Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture.

May Radio Rest in Peace!

  Stay in the know! Be sure to check out our latest podcast where we cover several Hot Topics in pop culture!

Photo:WYFF

[Read More ...] source http://theybf.com/2019/12/15/rip-james-%E2%80%98radio%E2%80%99-kennedy-played-by-cuba-gooding-jr-in-film-passes-away-at-the-age-of-73

[listeningman]

After 3 months, of categorizing, organizing, and finalizing, here are my favorite discoveries of last year. While the majority are from 2018, a third are from years prior but just happened to be discovered in 2018. There’s a solid chance if they’re new to me, they’re gonna be new to you! Enjoy this huge assortment of Indie Pop, Hip Hop, R&B, Rock, Soul and more... stream and download from links below...

Like Sugar - Chaka Khan      

Evan Finds the Third Room - Khruangbin

Mystery of Love - Sufjan Stevens

Tangerine (Channel Tres Remix) - Aaron Childs  

PASHUN - N From The Wave          

Controller - Channel Tres  

Sicko Mode (Feat. Swae Lee) - Travis Scott & Drake        

Body Language - Balance and Composure Slow Heart EP            

Friction - Shame        

Nont for Sale - Sudan Archives        

Rockets ft. Moe Moks - LION BABE  

Love It If We Made It - The 1975  

Happy Man - Jungle  

A$AP Forever feat. Moby - A$AP Rocky      

Bubblin - Anderson .Paak    

Love Lies - Khalid, Normani            

Bad Bad News - Leon Bridges          

Donna - Rubblebucket          

My Life - ZHU, Tame Impala            

Beat 54 (All Good Now) - Jungle    

Connect 4 - The Cool Kids    

Should I Take You Home - Sunny & The Sunliners          

Finders Keepers (feat. Kojo Funds) - Mabel          

Betrayed - Lil Xan    

Dumb Love - NEIL FRANCES            

Point Of No Reply - The Horrors    

DEPOPULIST - V A C A N T S T A R E S

Whirl - Soft Kill          

Dark Denim - Antonio Williams feat. Kerry McCoy

Baptized In Fire (feat. Travis Scott) - Kid Cudi      

Adam and Eve - Nas

God's Plan - Drake    

Like A Ship...(Without A Sail) - Pastor T.L. Barrett & Youth for Christ Choir

Just Do You feat. Mara TK (Radio Edit) - Lord Echo  

King of Echo Park - TV Girl  

Backin' It Up ft. Cardi B (Audio) - Pardison Fontaine      

Different Windows - Smokey Brights        

Dust on Trial - Shame          

Grey (Ultrarare Version) - Hundredth      

Guatemala - Rae Sremmurd  

The Weekend (Funk Wav Remix) - SZA x Calvin Harris  

Walk It Talk It (feat. Drake) - Migos            

Look - Leikeli47        

Bomb - Big Freedia  

Spoil My Night (feat. Swae Lee) - Post Malone      

7 Days til Sunday - TV Girl  

It Takes Time To Be A Man - The Rapture            

Green - Touché Amoré        

Hard to Say Goodbye - Washed Out          

Oh Baby - LCD Soundsystem          

Azul Oro - Populous feat. Ela Minus          

Mulita - Leikeli47      

Trampoline (Saint Etienne Remix) - Kero Kero Bonito    

Low - Lenny Kravitz  

Taste (IRONIXX Chill Bootleg) - Rhye        

America! I'm For The Birds - Nicolas Jaar  

Potato Salad - A$AP Rocky feat. Tyler The Creator          

Sleepless ft. Taylor Bennett - Melo Makes Music  

Lavender (feat. Kaytranada) - BADBADNOTGOOD          

Fitness - Lizzo            

Ain't Gonna Cry - Universal Togetherness Band  

Jet Black - Channel Tres      

This Is America - Childish Gambino

Dirty Money Prod HighAF - Yung Simmie  

Super Fly Feat. Sasha Go Hard (Suicideyear Remix) – Brenmar

GHOST (feat. Christian Rich) - Jaden Smith

Put Your Money on Me - Arcade Fire        

Pearly Gates (ft. James Baley) - U.S. Girls  

Roll (Burbank Funk) - The Internet            

Ric Flair Drip - Offset & Metro Boomin      

I Like It - Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin

Over Here - Mk.gee

Pressure - Vodi          

The Glory feat. Denzel Curry - Flatbush Zombies  

Marcy Son What - Shakarchi & Straneus

Where Is Love - The Equatics          

Hey Hey - MEUTE    

Wash & Set - Leikeli47        

Do You Feel Nothing - Soft Kill        

Vertigo (Ultrarare Version) - Hundredth  

One Rizla - Shame    

Deadbeat Boy - Avalon        

I Found U (feat. Kajama & Fantasma) - Spoek Mathambo          

Running Back To You - The Juan Maclean

Dust - HÆLOS            

Lush - Four Tet          

White Jeans - SALES            

Drown (Official Audio) - 4B            

What I Do (prod. by Kaytranada) - Antwon          

Mona Lisa (Audio) Feat. Kendrick Lamar - Lil Wayne      

Our generation - Ernie Hines          

Prisoner - Har Mar Superstar        

Just Like Tropica-L - Soft Powers    

Let Me Be Me - Nite-Funk    

You've Got a Woman - Lion

Is It Any Wonder - Durand Jones & The Indications        

Terrorize My Heart (Disco Dub) - 79 5

Slippin On Ya Pimpin - Amp Fiddler          

Girl Blunt - Leikeli47

Sundress - A$AP Rocky

Praise The Lord (Da Shine) ft. Skepta - A$AP Rocky        

Wake Up - Lil Xan    

Yoppa - Falside          

MotorSport - Migos  

Kerala - Bonobo        

Hungry Hippo - Tierra Whack        

GUMMY - BROCKHAMPTON            

Quand tu danses le dimanche - Lewis OfMan

Still Ill (Original Mix) - Oh Yeah      

Love Like This (Faith Evans cover) - Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band

Breakadawn (Fela Kuti / De La Soul) - Amerigo Gazaway          

List of Demands (Reparations) - The Kills

Hottest Day in New York - Star Slinger

Opal Ocean - Slenderbodies            

When The Night Is Over - Lord Huron      

In the City (Chromatics cover) - Anika

Brother - Karma Wears White Ties

Pretty Girl (Whethan Bootleg) - Clairo

Passionfruit - Yaeji

Celestial Blues (The Avener Rework) - Andy Bey

In My Feelings - Drake                    

Pynk (feat. Grimes) - Janelle Monaé          

All The Stars - Kendrick Lamar, SZA

Brown Eyed Lover - Allen Stone      

Stop (WWW) - Justice         

Listen - YouTube / Spotify / 8tracks

Download (Download comes with .txt file for iTunes playlist importing)

Follow/Like - Facebook / Instagram / YouTube

I do not own these tracks, nor do I promote the act of piracy. The purpose of this blog is to shine a light on underexposed musicians. If you like what you hear then support these artists: buy their music, get some merch, experience a live show. Deepen the fan base of lesser known acts, show your love of music, and help spread the jams.

[dweemeister]

The D.I. (1957)

First things first: a D.I. is short for “drill instructor”. The D.I. failed at the box office when originally released to theaters in 1957, but time and its availability on home media – especially for a film largely forgotten by most – has rendered a more sympathetic judgment. Produced, directed, and starring Jack Webb of Dragnet fame (as Sergeant Joe Friday), The D.I. was made by Webb’s production company, Mark VII Limited, and distributed by Warner Bros. Co-written by James Lee Barrett (1970′s ...tick... tick... tick..., 1977′s Smokey and the Bandit), adapting his teleplay The Murder of a Sand Flea to screen, the film is based on what Barrett, a former Marine, saw at United States Marine Corps (USMC) boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina. Marine DIs in the 1950s were notorious for instilling discipline through humiliation (as they still are), but the 1956 Ribbon Creek incident – in which six USMC recruits drowned – resulted in a public outrage, and a Congressional investigation seemed possible. Subsequent reforms within the USMC included greater oversight and training for future DIs.

USMC cooperation on this film became uncertain following Ribbon Creek. Always nervous about its public image, the USMC approved their participation in production on The D.I. because, in their view, the screenplay demonstrated the honor of the Corps, the molding of an undisciplined man into the ideal Marine. Another reason behind the Corps’ approval: 20th Century Fox was rumored to be considering a project based on the Ribbon Creek incident. The production and release of The D.I. effectively ended Fox’s plans (personally, why could we not have both?). For Webb’s film and depending on one’s feelings towards military culture, The D.I. can be perceived not only as a celebration of American militarism, but also a document of how dehumanizing, potentially abusive this military service can be. However one interprets the film, what is undeniable is that this, according to current and veteran Marines, is among the most realistic depictions of Marine boot camp in a Hollywood movie. And despite an ill-advised romantic subplot and a scene near the end, The D.I. is effectively shot.

Technical Sergeant (a defunct rank replaced by Gunnery Sergeant) Jim Moore (Webb) oversees of a batch of USMC recruits at Parris Island. One of these recruits is Private Owens (Don Dubbins) – who, on paper, has the intelligence and mental fortitude to become a Marine. But recently, Owens has been capitulating in his tasks, his behavior bordering on insubordination and apathy. Moore believes Owens can be a Marine, and asks his commanding officer, Captain T.L. Anderson (Lin McCarthy) for more time before Anderson draws up the discharge papers. Capt. Anderson allows Owens three more days to get his act together, or else he will sign off on a discharge. In his downtime, Moore flirts with clothing store clerk Annie (Jackie Loughery) and the two enter in a sort of relationship. Late in the film, Owens’ mother (Virginia Gregg) helps explain the behavior of her son – saying things that might make sense to military families, but otherwise came off as peculiar to this reviewer, who has few connections to the military. The film is not without humor; a collection of scenes regarding a sand flea would not be out of place in a satirical military movie.

When considering the production history of The D.I. and the possibility it was meant to be a positive portrayal in a time of controversy for the USMC, the final minutes of the film become suspect. James Lee Barrett’s screenplay – and this might be a cultural disconnect I have from members of the military – posits that the only way to for Private Owens to be an honorable man is to stick to basic training, submitting himself to the Corps as the only way he can learn to be disciplined, responsible person. There are conversations between Moore and Anderson regarding whether Owens is an appropriate fit for the Marines.

Their minds are made up, however, when Owens’ mother comes to Parris Island and tells both men about the family’s military history – Owens had his two brothers killed during the Korean War, his father during the Marshall Islands Campaign in World War II. I expect you to whip him into shape, Owens’ mother says, to be as honorable in life as his brothers and father were. There is that word again, “honor”. Beyond what becomes a blatantly flag-waving lecture that would almost never happen on a military base, is there a case of familial, financial, or psychological hardship going on in the Owens family or what is left of it? If so, why aren’t Moore and Anderson asking Owens’ mother about this? Whether or not one believes in Owens’ eventual change of character/heart within this military setting – because I do not – the reasons Owens’ mother reveals to her son’s superiors are not nearly developed enough as they should be. For yours truly, this is where The D.I. becomes something beyond a boot camp drama, something that has become fetishized in the United States in recent years: a celebration, if not glorification, and statement of infallibility of American militarism and military culture.

Webb, editor Robert M. Leeds (primarily worked in television, including The Beverly Hillbillies and The Six Million Dollar Man), and cinematographer Edward Colman (a live-action Disney mainstay, including 1964′s Mary Poppins, 1968′s Blackbeard’s Ghost) do a magnificent job in framing and shooting The D.I. Perhaps their collaborative highlight appears in the opening scene. With snappier editing than your typical 1950s Hollywood movie and filming these soldier introductions from over Moore’s shoulder and behind his back, we adopt the Technical Sergeant’s perspective and we learn much about him even on the first interaction. Notice the camera when Private Casto (John T. Ahern – one of many real-life Marine recruits used in this film) when Moore comments on his general appearance and his weight. The low-angled camera and editing darts to each of the aspects Moore picks on, establishing the precision that he expects from his recruits. Webb, Leeds, and Colman wait for the perfect moment to show Webb’s face for the first time – showing us the tension among Owens and the sergeant, suggesting a thorny history even if one had muted their conversation. Throughout The D.I., Webb and his collaborators make Marine basic training as cinematic as it had even (or perhaps ever since) been portrayed.

Individual moments disorient and startle, reeling the viewer in. The scenes in the barracks where Moore is walking among his recruits features a flowing camera rarely seen in a 1950s Hollywood movie – especially when he is walking backwards. Training montages mix up the flavor of The D.I., keeping the viewer alert, catching them off-guard in one’s expectations of an all-too-conventional military drama.

The central performance from Jack Webb – already established on radio and television – is magnificent. With his character so consumed with his job to shape Marine recruits, Webb plays his character stiffly, with his physical tension apparent even in moments of recreation. Though similar in spirit to his most acclaimed role as Joe Friday, his turn as Technical Sergeant Moore disputes the idea that Webb could do nothing else outside of Dragnet (”This is the city: Los Angeles, California. I work here. I’m a cop”). He is ferocious here. His presence when barking at the recruits feels just right: measured enough not to descend into Full Metal Jacket-esque physical abuse, but verbally caustic enough for his insults to land like a recently-used fireplace poker to the face. He, of course, has all the film’s best dialogue. Advised by Lieutenant Colonel Wyatt Carneal on how to act as a DI and by maintaining the film’s authenticity, Webb does almost everything correctly except calling cadence, according to those who have been through Marine basic training. As Owens, Dubbins does a satisfactory job in embodying his character’s reluctance and conflicted mentality. Webb and Dubbins are two of only a handful of professional actors in The D.I. as almost all of the minor roles were given to actual Marine recruits at the time – Lt. Col. Carneal believed professional actors would refuse to submit to haircuts, and would look too mature on-camera compared to USMC recruits. If one is interested in behind-the-scenes stories of The D.I. that I cannot independently verify, look at the film’s reviews on IMDb, as some of the reviewers there claim to have been a part of this production.

An uninventive score by journeyman composer David Buttolph (1948′s Rope, 1953′s The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms) sprinkles in the “Marines’ Hymn” and other hymns and marches liberally. The music will set the patriotic atmosphere, if nothing more. The decision to humanize Moore with the addition of a romantic subplot is a near disaster. Jack Webb is obviously not used to playing a romantic lead, disrupting the film’s structure and flow for something that it could have done without. There are enough scenes outside the recruits’ regimentation where – in quieter conversation with equals and superiors – Moore’s persona outside being a DI might be explored.

The military buildings seen in The D.I. all were used for actual Marine recruit training. But the USMC objected to using Parris Island (where Marine recruits residing east of the Mississippi River report to), as that was the site of the Ribbon Creek incident. Instead the USMC approved Warner Bros. to use Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in northern San Diego County, California and a Corps Reserve Center in Pasadena (Los Angeles County) to stand in for Parris Island in South Carolina.

The United States Marine Corps approved the final print of the film, and The D.I. was shown on Parris Island before and some time after its general release. It is without question The D.I. is a pro-Marine film without reservations. This is not a film interested in questioning this mindset, the motivations, and the approach that the Corps continues to exercise. For those skeptical of those aspects of American militarism, do not feel the need to lay down your skepticism when watching The D.I. Being skeptical and enjoying a film like this are not mutually exclusive. For what it is, The D.I. present a unique entry into the long tradition of American military films – in this instance not through combat, but through heralding the creation of young men into the most ruthless human killing machines in the history of the world.

My rating: 7/10

^ Based on my personal imdb rating. My interpretation of that ratings system can be found here.