#North Carolina Family Law

[reanimatedandmedicated]

various updates and facts about my family

my mother huffed raid bug spray and ate wallpaper paste as a child. my grandfather believes my autistic sibling is an alien and is asking him to provide the winning lottery numbers. my sister tried to kill her boyfriend recently.

My dad is getting married to his seventh wife.

And my little brother (J) is smelting pawn shop jewelry in efforts to make silver bullets to load in .22 casings

My grandfather swears he was abducted by aliens and they modified his cum.

In 2009, he attempted to trade firearms for an alleged crystal skull which he believed contained the blueprints to rebuild Atlantis.

In 2012, my family created a convey of six cars all loaded with guns, ammo, canned food, etc. in order to prepare for the apocalypse. In December of 2012, my grandfather led us to where he believed our family would hold off the forces of evil, a last bastion for our bloodline- A fucking Super8 motel in Forsyth GA.

My mother used to drink blood in the 90s and beat the shit out of football players as a hobby, so she could beef up for roller derby. She raises baby animals, and has more than once attempted to kill a man during intimacy.

All if my dad's ex wives have tried to kill him. He's had attack dogs sicced on him, beaten with a crowbar, chased with a hammer, run over with his own car, and pushed out a vehicle. His new wife was a pen pal he met when she was in jail.

My aunt believes she convenes with the angels when she's hopped up on ambien and percocet, so she's like the goth version of Mama Murphy from Fallout 4.

I was conceived in a crack den in North Carolina. My mother's organs don't like having kids, so much so that both me and my sibling (J) were born dead and had to be resuscitated. In both cases it was due to the umbilical cord playing a game of Hangman.

My little brother (J) taught Igor, our Vulture, to vomit on command. Nobody knows how.

He has been using the infestation of rats at my family's cabin to do... something. He's been running a rat cannibalism fight club, in an attempt to fish out a Super Rat which he plans to do... Something with?

My little brother (M) spends his spare time firing at passing cars. We have managed to make sure he's using BB guns, is the compromise. (J) went through a similar phase when he was an early teen, and would shoot a bow and arrow at the neighbor's house. I did the same with a potato cannon in my youth. It's a tradition.

My dad is missing his appendix. He has no idea where it went and has no record of it ever being removed.

My grandmother reluctantly admitted to having an affair with a ghost in her 40s.

My brother (M) used to love botany. By the age of 6 he could tell you anything you wanted to know about the flora of southeast GA. He had a garden. And he also grew weed for my step-dad until my mom found out. After that he was banned from gardening and picked up junior robotics as a hobby after i gave him K'nex and some Lego Mindstorms stuff years ago. He took apart an air conditioner in a motel once. To this day we don't know what he did with the screws. He builds airsoft guns from scrap and is a mechanical prodigy. He is almost illiterate.

My brother (A) disturbs me. He was raised by the internet and YouTube. He is whatever this new generation is personified. He's frighteningly... Normal.

I am waiting for the shoe to drop and for him to reveal some darkness to him never before seen in my family.

He's just. A normal kid. A little zoomer that watches Mr. Beast and YouTube long plays. He's also the straight man to most of all my family's bullshit. He's dangerously genre savvy. He also has a weird interest in law???

My sister (H) is your average country girl. She's attempted to kill more than one of her boyfriends (will clarify that they were abusive), has totaled three cars and always walks away from these nightmarish accidents unscathed. She was found on the side of the road last year hitting her vape and flagging down a car, while her own was stuck five feet above a ditch in a tree.

She has a job and plans to go to New York to "see what them city twinks got goin' on"

My other little sister (C) is the only other queer member of my sibling roster. She's a lesbian, and enjoys shooting things. Sometimes living things. She, like (A), is dangerously genre savvy and doesn't play into my family's religious fanaticism. She wants to be a firefighter because she is also a pyromaniac and wants an excuse to see "big things burn".

A bit more about (J)- He claims to speak to the dead, and has used this to become my grandfather's right hand man, and the beneficiary of his estate. He is an autodidact, self taught with blacksmithing and metalworking. He dresses well, and also has a hidden laboratory in my grandfather's shed where he has taken a fixation in herbal tinctures and remedies. He knows they're bullshit. But my family buys his potions, and he uses the money to buy pawn shop jewelry and scrap metal to build stuff. He believes firmly in werewolves, and is convinced Furries are a psyop to prepare the general public for their emergence in society. Which is why he's making silver bullets.

I wish to stipulate that not a single word of this is a joke. This is on god, IRL bullshit I have to contend with.

I should probably update this to remove real names what the fuck

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Prison-tech company bribed jails to ban in-person visits

I'm on tour with my new, nationally bestselling novel The Bezzle! Catch me in BOSTON with Randall "XKCD" Munroe (Apr 11), then PROVIDENCE (Apr 12), and beyond!

Beware of geeks bearing gifts. When prison-tech companies started offering "free" tablets to America's vast army of prisoners, it set off alarm-bells for prison reform advocates – but not for the law-enforcement agencies that manage the great American carceral enterprise.

The pitch from these prison-tech companies was that they could cut the costs of locking people up while making jails and prisons safer. Hell, they'd even make life better for prisoners. And they'd do it for free!

These prison tablets would give every prisoner their own phone and their own video-conferencing terminal. They'd supply email, of course, and all the world's books, music, movies and games. Prisoners could maintain connections with the outside world, from family to continuing education. Sounds too good to be true, huh?

Here's the catch: all of these services are blisteringly expensive. Prisoners are accustomed to being gouged on phone calls – for years, prisons have done deals with private telcos that charge a fortune for prisoners' calls and split the take with prison administrators – but even by those standards, the calls you make on a tablet are still a ripoff.

Sure, there are some prisoners for whom money is no object – wealthy people who screwed up so bad they can't get bail and are stewing in a county lockup, along with the odd rich murderer or scammer serving a long bid. But most prisoners are poor. They start poor – the cops are more likely to arrest poor people than rich people, even for the same crime, and the poorer you are, the more likely you are to get convicted or be suckered into a plea bargain with a long sentence. State legislatures are easy to whip up into a froth about minimum sentences for shoplifters who steal $7 deodorant sticks, but they are wildly indifferent to the store owner's rampant wage-theft. Wage theft is by far the most costly form of property crime in America and it is almost entirely ignored:

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jun/15/wage-theft-us-workers-employees

So America's prisons are heaving with its poorest citizens, and they're certainly not getting any richer while they're inside. While many prisoners hold jobs – prisoners produce $2b/year in goods and $9b/year in services – the average prison wage is $0.52/hour:

https://www.dollarsandsense.org/archives/2024/0324bowman.html

(In six states, prisoners get nothing; North Carolina law bans paying prisoners more than $1/day, the 13th Amendment to the US Constitution explicitly permits slavery – forced labor without pay – for prisoners.)

Likewise, prisoners' families are poor. They start poor – being poor is a strong correlate of being an American prisoner – and then one of their breadwinners is put behind bars, taking their income with them. The family savings go to paying a lawyer.

Prison-tech is a bet that these poor people, locked up and paid $1/day or less; or their families, deprived of an earner and in debt to a lawyer; will somehow come up with cash to pay $13 for a 20-minute phone call, $3 for an MP3, or double the Kindle price for an ebook.

How do you convince a prisoner earning $0.52/hour to spend $13 on a phone-call?

Well, for Securus and Viapath (AKA Global Tellink) – a pair of private equity backed prison monopolists who have swallowed nearly all their competitors – the answer was simple: they bribed prison officials to get rid of the prison phones.

Not just the phones, either: a pair of Michigan suits brought by the Civil Rights Corps accuse sheriffs and the state Department of Corrections of ending in-person visits in exchange for kickbacks from the money that prisoners' families would pay once the only way to reach their loved ones was over the "free" tablets:

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/03/jails-banned-family-visits-to-make-more-money-on-video-calls-lawsuits-claim/

These two cases are just the tip of the iceberg; Civil Rights Corps says there are hundreds of jails and prisons where Securus and Viapath have struck similar corrupt bargains:

https://civilrightscorps.org/case/port-huron-michigan-right2hug/

And it's not just visits and calls. Prison-tech companies have convinced jails and prisons to eliminate mail and parcels. Letters to prisoners are scanned and delivered their tablets, at a price. Prisoners – and their loved ones – have to buy virtual "postage stamps" and pay one stamp per "page" of email. Scanned letters (say, hand-drawn birthday cards from your kids) cost several stamps:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/02/14/minnesota-nice/#shitty-technology-adoption-curve

Prisons and jails have also been convinced to eliminate their libraries and continuing education programs, and to get rid of TVs and recreational equipment. That way, prisoners will pay vastly inflated prices for streaming videos and DRM-locked music.

The icing on the cake? If the prison changes providers, all that data is wiped out – a prisoner serving decades of time will lose their music library, their kids' letters, the books they love. They can get some of that back – by working for $1/day – but the personal stuff? It's just gone.

Readers of my novels know all this. A prison-tech scam just like the one described in the Civil Rights Corps suits is at the center of my latest novel The Bezzle:

https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250865878/thebezzle

Prison-tech has haunted me for years. At first, it was just the normal horror anyone with a shred of empathy would feel for prisoners and their families, captive customers for sadistic "businesses" that have figured out how to get the poorest, most desperate people in the country to make them billions. In the novel, I call prison-tech "a machine":

a million-­armed robot whose every limb was tipped with a needle that sank itself into a different place on prisoners and their families and drew out a few more cc’s of blood.

But over time, that furious empathy gave way to dread. Prisoners are at the bottom of the shitty technology adoption curve. They endure the technological torments that haven't yet been sanded down on their bodies, normalized enough to impose them on people with a little more privilege and agency. I'm a long way up the curve from prisoners, but while the shitty technology curve may grind slow, it grinds fine:

https://pluralistic.net/2021/02/24/gwb-rumsfeld-monsters/#bossware

The future isn't here, it's just not evenly distributed. Prisoners are the ultimate early adopters of the technology that the richest, most powerful, most sadistic people in the country's corporate board-rooms would like to force us all to use.

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/04/02/captive-customers/#guillotine-watch

Image: Cryteria (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HAL9000.svg

CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en

--

Flying Logos https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Over_$1,000,000_dollars_in_USD_$100_bill_stacks.png

CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en

--

KGBO https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Suncorp_Bank_ATM.jpg

CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en

[scurvgirl]

I haven’t seen this on my dash so here it is. The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill codifying same-sex marriage and it is now going to the Senate where there really is an actual chance of it passing. Sure, there are assholes who won’t support it, but there are Republican senators willing to support it and we need their support to get this passed. If you live in a state with a Republican senator, please call the senate office telling them that as a constituent, you support same-sex marriage and the Respect for Marriage Act.

The following senators are reported to be undecided, if one of these senators is yours, CALL!!!

Richard Burr, North Carolina

Roy Blunt, Missouri

Mike Braun, Indiana

Joni Ernst, Iowa

Cynthia Lummis, Wyoming

Rand Paul, Kentucky

Mitch McConnell?, Kentucky (yeah, I’m shocked the evil undead gizzard demon is in the undecided category as well but...might as well pressure the fucker)

Mitt Romney, Utah 

Mike Rounds, South Dakota (specifically Mr. Rounds is quoted as acknowledging difference between a religious marriage and a legal one, go ahead and specify that you support granting couples the legal rights and protections that are given with a legal marriage)

Rick Scott, Florida 

Dan Sullivan, Alaska (notably, Mr. Sullivan is quoted to recognize and respect the existing Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage! Pressure this man!!)

John Thune, South Dakota

Patt Toomey, Pennsylvania

Tommy Tuberville, Alabama

Todd Young, Indiana

This information was gathered from CNN on 7/21/22.

For clarification: Same-sex marriage is legal in all 50 states right now based on the 2015 Supreme Court ruling. But, with the court standing as it is and with Roe being taken down, codifying same-sex marriage in law would mean that the Supreme Court would have a much, MUCH harder time stripping away the right. This is important. Marriage as a legal binding is critical to allowing spouses to visit each other in the hospital, make medical decisions, share assets, adopt and form families, and more. We need TEN Republicans to support the bill, so far there are FIVE likely supporters - we need AT LEAST FIVE MORE.

Please reblog this!!!

[robertreich]

How Wall Street Priced You Out of a Home

Rent is skyrocketing and home buying is out of reach for millions. One big reason why? Wall Street.

Hedge funds and private equity firms have been buying up hundreds of thousands of homes that would otherwise be purchased by people. Wall Street’s appetite for housing ramped up after the 2008 financial crisis. As you’ll recall, the Street’s excessive greed created a housing bubble that burst. Millions of people lost their homes to foreclosure.

Did the Street learn a lesson? Of course not. It got bailed out. Then it began picking off the scraps of the housing market it had just destroyed, gobbling up foreclosed homes at fire-sale prices — which it then sold or rented for big profits.

Investor purchases hit their peak in 2022, accounting for around 28% of all home sales in America.

Home buyers frequently reported being outbid by cash offers made by investors. So called ��iBuyers” used algorithms to instantly buy homes before offers could even be made by actual humans.

If the present trend continues, by 2030, Wall Street investors may control 40% of U.S. single-family rental homes.

Partly as a result, homeownership — a cornerstone of generational wealth and a big part of the American dream — is increasingly out of reach for a large number of Americans, especially young people.

Now, Wall Street’s feasting has slowed recently due to rising home prices — even the wolves of Wall Street are falling victim to sticker shock. But that hasn’t stopped them from specifically targeting more modestly priced homes — buying up a record share of the country’s most affordable homes at the end of 2023.

They’ve also been most active in bigger cities, particularly in the Sun Belt, which has become an increasingly expensive place to live. And they’re pointedly going after neighborhoods that are home to communities of color.

For example, in one diverse neighborhood in Charlotte, North Carolina, Wall Street-backed investors bought half of the homes that sold in 2021 and 2022. On a single block, investors bought every house but one, and turned them into rentals.

Folks, it’s a vicious cycle: First you’re outbid by investors, then you may be stuck renting from them at excessive prices that leave you with even less money to put up for a new home. Rinse. Repeat.

Now I want to be clear: This is just one part of the problem with housing in America. The lack of supply is considered the biggest reason why home prices and rents have soared — and are outpacing recent wage gains. But Wall Street sinking its teeth into whatever is left on the market is making the supply problem even worse.

So what can we do about this? Start by getting Wall Street out of our homes.

Democrats have introduced a bill in both houses of Congress to ban hedge funds and private equity firms from buying or owning single-family homes.

If signed into law, this could increase the supply of homes available to individual buyers — thereby making housing more affordable.

President Biden has also made it a priority to tackle the housing crisis, proposing billions in funding to increase the supply of homes and tax credits to help actual people buy them.

Now I have no delusions that any of this will be easy to get done. But these plans provide a roadmap of where the country could head — under the right leadership.

So many Americans I meet these days are cynical about the country. I understand their cynicism. But cynicism can be a self-fulfilling prophecy if it means giving up the fight.

The captains of American industry and Wall Street would like nothing better than for the rest of us to give up that fight, so they can take it all.

I say we keep fighting.

[nationallawreview]

Estate Planning Considerations That Apply to Nearly Everyone

Estate Planning Considerations That Apply to Nearly Everyone

This article contains core information about the vital estate planning measures that almost all North Carolinians should have in place.  Why You Need an Estate Plan Estate planning is not just for affluent individuals.  While good estate planning can lead to desirable financial outcomes under the right circumstances, estate planning in its most basic form involves implementing the legal steps and…

[letters-to-lgbt-kids]

My dear lgbt+ kids,

Here are some good things that happened in 2022!

January:

Canada bans conversion therapy

Greece allows gay men to donate blood (for the first time in 45 years!)

Israel legalizes surrogacy for gay couples

People in Switzerland are now able to legally change their gender without having to undergo surgery first

February:

New Zealand bans conversion therapy

Nonbinary people in Columbia are now entitled to a birth certificate with a "nonbinary" sex marker

Nayarit (Mexico) allows same-sex couples to adopt

Kuwait overrules a law that has been used to criminalize transgender people

Jowelle de Souza makes history as the first openly transgender parliamentarian in the Caribbean (Trinidad and Tobago)

March:

Chile legalizes same-sex marriage

 France removes the deferral period for gay men donating blood

The United States announces an overhaul of TSA protocols to implement gender-neutral screening at checkpoints

Wales (United Kingdom) bans conversion therapy

Kristin Crowley makes history as the first openly gay (and the first female) chief of the Los Angeles Fire Department (United States)

Diana Zurco makes history as Argentina’s first openly transgender newscaster

April:

Santa Catarina (Brazil) now allows nonbinary people to change their gender marker without having to file a lawsuit

Jalisco (Mexico) bans conversion therapy

The United States issues the first passport with a nonbinary gender 'X' option

May:

Greece bans conversion therapy

Lithuania allows gay men to donate blood

Croatia allows same-sex couples to adopt

Austria removes the deferral period for gay men donating blood

June:

Hidalgo (Mexico) now punishes people offering conversion therapy with up to 3 years in prison

Quebec (Canada) allows people to be classified as a parent (rather than a mother or father) on their child's birth certificate

North Carolina (United States) no longer demands proof of surgery from people who wish to change their gender marker

Spain prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or HIV status

Kamala Harris made history by hosting the first Pride Month reception by a sitting vice president at their residence (United States)

July:

Switzerland legalizes same-sex marriage

Antigua and Barbuda legalize "same-sex behavior"

Andorra decides to legalize same-sex marriage (the law will come into effect in 2023)

Slovenia legalizes both same-sex marriage and adoption

Ariana DeBose makes history as the first queer woman of color (and the first Afro-Latina) to win an Oscar for acting (United States)

August:

India expands the definition of family to include "queer relationships"

Chile equalizes the age of consent

In Saint Kitts and Nevis, same-sex activity is no longer illegal.

Vietnam declares that homosexuality is not a disease and bans conversion therapy

Ellia Green makes history as the first Olympian to come out as a trans man (Australia)

September:

In India, the State Medical Councils can now take disciplinary action against doctors who provide conversion therapy

Cuba legalizes both same-sex marriage and adoption

 Durango (Mexico) legalize same-sex marriage

Canada removes the deferral period for gay men donating blood

Kim Petras and Sam Smith make history as the first openly transgender woman and the first openly nonbinary person to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 (United States)

October:

Latvia allows civil unions for same-sex couples 

Paraguay bans conversion therapy

Byron Perkins makes history as the first out football player at HBCU (United States)

Duda Salabert and Erika Hilton make history as the first two openly transgender people elected to the National Congress of Brazil

November:

Singapore decriminalizes gay sex

Singapore also lifts censorship of lgbt+ media

Hidalgo becomes the first state in Mexico to recognize nonbinary people

Ireland removes the deferral period for gay men donating blood

December:

 Barbados legalizes "same-sex acts"

Here is to more good news in 2023!

With all my love,

Your Tumblr Dad

[ausetkmt]

Pharmacist Lunsford Richardson made Vicks a household name throughout the nation, but his popular product did not do the same for him.

Even in his native North Carolina, where his most celebrated of chemical concoctions has been right under our stuffy noses and on our congested chests for generations, the mention of Richardson’s name elicits blank stares from all but those who study and cherish history.

Richardson’s salve, Vicks VapoRub, helped the world breathe easier during the devastating influenza pandemic of 1918 and during the countless colds and flus of our childhoods, yet most of us couldn’t pick Lunsford Richardson out of a one-man police lineup, much less a who’s who of medical pioneers.

Why didn’t Richardson — by all accounts a creative inventor and smart businessman — ever become as famous as those vapors packed into the familiar squat blue jar?

Because his name wouldn’t fit on the jar.

That’s one version of the story. According to company and family lore, Richardson initially dubbed his promising new product Richardson’s Croup and Pneumonia Cure Salve. Realizing that this name didn’t exactly roll off the tongue nor fit when printed on a small medicine jar, Richardson changed the name to honor his brother-in-law, Dr. Joshua Vick. Another account suggests the inventive druggist plucked the name from a seed catalog he’d been perusing that listed the Vick Seed Co.

The truth may never be known. What is known, though, is that Lunsford Richardson created a medicinal marvel for the ages, the likes of which may never be equaled.

Croupy beginnings

A Johnston County native born in 1854, Richardson loved chemistry and hoped to study it at Davidson College. The college’s chemistry program at the time wasn’t as strong as he’d hoped it would be, so he studied Latin instead, graduating with honors in three years. He returned to Johnston County and taught school, but it wasn’t long before the young man’s love of chemistry got the best of him. In 1880, he moved to Selma to work with his physician brother-in-law, Dr. Vick. It was not uncommon in those days for doctors to dispense drugs themselves, but Vick was so busy seeing patients that he teamed up with Richardson, allowing him to handle the pharmacy duties for him. Richardson relied on his knowledge of Latin to help him learn the chemical compounds required to become a pharmacist, and that’s when he began to experiment with recipes for the product that would become Vicks VapoRub.

It wasn’t until Richardson moved to his wife’s hometown of Greensboro in 1890 that his magical salve and other products he created began to take off.

“He was a man of great intellect and talent,” says Linda Evans, community historian for the Greensboro Historical Museum, which has an exhibit devoted to Richardson and Vicks.

“Druggists at the time fashioned their own remedies a lot, and he created a number of remedies, in addition to his magic salve, that he sold under the name of Vick’s Family Remedies. He was obviously a man of such creativity.”

In Greensboro, working out of a downtown drugstore he purchased (where he once employed a teenaged William Sydney Porter, the future short story writer O. Henry), Richardson patented some 21 medicines. The wide variety of pills, liquids, ointments, and assorted other medicinal concoctions included the likes of Vick’s Chill Tonic, Vick’s Turtle Oil Liniment, Vick’s Little Liver Pills and Little Laxative Pills, Vick’s Tar Heel Sarsaparilla, Vick’s Yellow Pine Tar Cough Syrup, and Vick’s Grippe Knockers (aimed at knocking out la grippe, an old-timey phrase for the flu).

These products sold with varying degrees of success, but the best seller in the lineup of Richardson’s remedies was Vick’s Magic Croup Salve, which he introduced in 1894. And by all accounts, necessity was the key to its success.

“He had what they referred to as a croupy baby — a baby with a lot of coughing and congestion,” explains Richardson’s great-grandson, Britt Preyer of Greensboro. “So as a pharmacist, he began experimenting with menthols from Japan and some other ingredients, and he came up with this salve that really worked. That’s how it all started.”

Another version of the story suggests that all three of the Richardson children caught bad colds at the same time, and Richardson, dissatisfied with the traditional treatment of the day, which included poultices and a vapor lamp, spent hours at his pharmacy developing his own treatment.

Richardson’s salve — a strong-smelling ointment combining menthol, camphor, oil of eucalyptus, and several other oils, blended in a base of petroleum jelly — was a chest-soothing, cough-suppressing, head-clearing sensation. When the salve was rubbed on the patient’s chest, his or her body heat vaporized the menthol, releasing a wave of soothing, medicated vapors that the patient breathed directly into the lungs.

Vicks in the mailbox

In 1911, Richardson’s son Smith, by now a successful salesman for his father’s company, recommended discontinuing all of the company’s products except for Vick’s Magic Croup Salve. He believed the salve could sell even better if the company stopped investing time and money in the other, less successful remedies. He also suggested renaming the salve Vicks VapoRub, according to the company’s history timeline, to “help dramatize the product’s performance.” Richardson agreed, and a century later, the name’s still the same.

Meanwhile, Richardson intensified his marketing efforts by providing free goods to druggists who placed large orders and publishing coupons for free samples in newspapers. He also advertised on billboards and sent promotional mailings to post office boxes, addressed to Boxholder rather than the individual’s name, thus earning him the distinction of being the father of junk mail.

In 1925, Vicks even published a children’s book to help promote the product. The book told the story of two elves, Blix and Blee, who rescued a frazzled mother whose sick child refused to take nasty-tasting medicines. Their solution, of course, was the salve known as Vicks VapoRub.

Expanding and experimenting

As successful as the marketing campaign was, nothing sold Vicks VapoRub like the deadly Spanish flu outbreak that ravaged the nation in 1918 and 1919, killing hundreds of thousands of Americans. Loyal Vicks customers and new customers stocked up on the medicine to stave off or fight the disease.

According to the company’s history timeline, VapoRub sales skyrocketed from $900,000 to $2.9 million in a single year because of the pandemic. The Vicks plant in Greensboro operated around the clock, and salesmen were pulled off the road to help at the manufacturing facility in an effort to keep up with demand.

As the flu spread across the nation, Richardson grew ill with pneumonia in 1919 and died. Smith took over the company. Vicks continued to grow, buying other companies until Procter & Gamble bought it in the 1980s. Through the years, Vicks continued adding new products to its arsenal of cold remedies: cough drops, nose drops, inhalers, cough syrup, nasal spray, Formula 44, NyQuil. And whatever success those products attained, they got there standing on the broad shoulders of Richardson.

Richardson will never be a household name, but his salve has held that status for more than a century — and may do so for the next hundred years. And for Richardson, were he still around, that ought to be enough to clear his head.

A cure-all salve

Vicks users have claimed the salve can cure and heal many maladies. Even though Vicks doesn’t say the salve works for these problems, people still believe.

Toenail fungus: Rub the salve on your toenails, cover with socks, and sleep your fungus problems away. Cough: For a similar fix to a nagging cough, some believe rubbing Vicks on the soles of your feet can fix the problem. Dandruff: Rub Vicks directly on the scalp, and your flakes may just disappear. Chapped lips: Petroleum jelly is one of the ingredients in Vicks, and some say the ointment can help heal cracked lips. Mosquito bites: If you smooth Vicks on the red bumps on your legs and arms, it can supposedly take the itch right out. Warts: Dab Vicks on the wart, cover with duct tape, and it may fall off in a few days.

Greensboro Historical Museum 130 Summit Avenue Greensboro, N.C. 27401 (336) 373-2043 greensborohistory.org

See historical Vicks VapoRub bottles and learn about Lunsford Richardson.

[alwaysbewoke]

Stole his adult whole life 😢

After serving 44 years for a rape and burglary he did not commit, 68-year-old Ronnie Long reached a settlement with the state of North Carolina for $25 million - the second largest wrongful conviction settlement in U.S. history. Long was initially given only an insulting $750K in compensation. But after filing a civil lawsuit, he was awarded an additional $25 million along with a formal apology.   In 1976, Long was only 21 years old when an all-white jury that was “hand-picked by local law enforcement” convicted him of raping a “prominent” 54-year-old White woman in Concord, NC. He was given two life sentences. An appeals court finally overturned his conviction in 2020, citing jury tampering by the police chief and false testimonies from detectives. Prosecutors also deliberately suppressed evidence that could have proven his innocence, including: a rape kit that collected 43 different fingerprints and a suspect’s hair that did not match Long’s. Semen samples also “disappeared” from evidence.   After his release, Long was eager to spend time with his family, including wife Ashleigh, who he married from prison in 2014. Sadly, both of Long’s parents died before seeing him freed and exonerated from this American nightmare. His mother passed just 30 days before his release. He told CBS News, “I know my mother and father died with a broken heart...I’m gonna tell them now, when I visit the gravesite, ‘Your son is clear.’”

[intheholler]

Donations for Appalachian/Southeast USA Queer Organizations

Here lies the sister post to my resource list.

Under the cut, you'll find a list of regional, primarily queer-focused groups to donate to, if you have the means.

If you've ever accused us of being beyond help, or have ever said we should be sawed off into the ocean, here's your chance to help the many helpers trying to make the southeast a better place--those that always go conveniently ignored in such conversations.

General Regional Links

Appalachian Outreach

STAY (Central Appalachia)

Help suspected transgender John and Jane Does regain their identities

Southern Trans Youth Emergency Project (STYEP)

Southerners on New Ground (SONG)

Campaign for Southern Equality

Trans Health Project

Alabama

AIDS Alabama

The Knights & Orchids Society

Magic City Acceptance Center

Medical Advocacy and Outreach

Prism United

Shoals Diversity Center

T.A.K.E.

Thrive Alabama

Georgia

Carrollton Rainbow Inc.

Emmaus House

Feminist Women’s Health Center

First City Network

Georgia Equality

Kentucky

AIDS Volunteers of Lexington

Arbor Youth Services

Lexington Pride Center

Louisville Queer Youth

Louisville Youth Group

Kentucky Fairness

Kentucky Health Justice Network

Kentucky Youth Law Project

Sweet Evening Breeze

Louisiana

AcadianaCares

Louisiana Trans Advocates

OUTnorthla

PACE Louisiana

Shrevepride

Mississippi

Capital City Pride

Gulf Coast Equality

LGBTQ Fund of Mississippi

The Spectrum Center in Hattiesburg

Violet Valley Bookstore

North Carolina

Charlotte Transgender Healthcare Group (CTHCG)

Down Home NC

Guilford Green Foundation & LGBTQ Center

Pitt County Aids Service Organization

Tranzmission

Triad Health Project

Triangle Empowerment Center

South Carolina

Alliance for Full Acceptance

Charleston Black Pride

Harriet Hancock Center

Palmetto Community Care

T-Time

Uplift Outreach

We are Family

We are Family Trans Love Fund

Tennessee

CHOICES

Launch Pad

Metamorphosis

Mountain Access Brigade

My Sistah’s House

Pride Community of the Tri-Cities

Trans Empowerment Project

Youth Villages

Virginia

Justice 4 All

Nationz

Side by Side VA

Virginia Home for Boys and Girls

West Virginia

Harmony House West Virginia

Fairness West Virginia

Holler Health Justice

WVFREE

[cherrycola27]

Father, Forgive Me

Warnings: Religious AU! Preacher Jake. Cult activities and dark religious themes. Blood, gore, violence, language. Minors DNI. 18+

Masterlist Next Part

...........................................

Prologue: For I have Sinned

There are a few defining characteristics that one must have to be considered a good leader.

Kind eyes, a bright smile, quick wit, a firm handshake, a charming personality, and a silver tongue that could sell ice to a polar bear. Most people only needed a few of these to be convincing enough for someone to blindly follow them.

But, if someone possessed all of these qualities and topped it off with a southern drawl and movie star face and the wrong intentions, well—they could be downright— deadly.

That's exactly what happened to the good people of Ginger Ridge, North Carolina. A devilishly handsome young reverend rolled into their town. Reverend Smith. He was young, mysterious, —different.

He fixed up the old white church at the top of Ridge Hill. He came to town and invited the people to hear his sermons. At first, he seemed amazing. Charming, caring, sweet. Everyone loved him. No— they adored him—especially the younger folks who seemed lost in their faith.

Soon, he started hosting "special" prayer groups for the lost teens and young adults of Ginger Ridge. Many of the older folks stopped attending after this. They felt like Father Smith wasn't preaching the word to them anymore. They felt like he had changed. His teachings became— darker. They townspeople tried to keep They young folks away from him, but it was no use.

The lost youth continued to flock to him like moths to flame. Blindly holding on to every word he said. In their mind, Father Jonas Smith was the mouthpiece of God, and they would do anything to please them. Maybe that's why after his disappearance, there were over dozen blonde haired, green eyed babes born to some unwed mothers in Ginger Ridge.

................

The full moon hung high in the sky that night in the sleepy mountain town of Ginger Ridge. It was peaceful as a warm summer wind blew in through the open windows of the townspeople's homes. That peace would soon be disturbed by the sound screams and cries for mercy as Reverend Smith's "lost youth" carried out his sinister plan.

When the local law enforcement from the next town over was tipped off, they immediately contacted the FBI. Agents came into the small mountain community and couldn't believe their eyes. Blood and bodies of men and women filled the streets and homes. The youth and children were nowhere to be found. Upon further investigation, they were found in the white church at the top of Ridge Hill.

All of them were clothed and singing a sermon in white robes that had been stained and splattered with the crimson red blood of their family and friends.

When they were taken in for questioning, each one said the same thing. "Reverend Smith preached the good word to us. He is truly a prophet of God. Our souls will be welcomed in the Great Hereafter now that the sacrifice has been given." What was even more disturbing than that were the roughly fifteen or so girls between the ages of eighteen and twenty-four who all claimed that they had been extra blessed because they had been selected by God himself to carry the child of Reverend Smith and raise the next generations of prophets.

The FBI attempted to locate Reverend Jonas Smith after that night, only to find that he never existed.

After months of searching for him, the trail went cold, and the case was given to you, Agent Y/N Walters. After a few weeks of digging you did stumble upon a similar case from Massachusetts, except the man believed to be behind it was someone named Father Jackson Simmons and a case from Texas but the person of interests name in that one was James Simon.

You read each file and realized that Jonas, Jackson, and James all had to be the same man. You just had to figure out who he really was and stop him before the events of Ginger Ridge were repeated.

..........

The windows were down on his beat up late eighties model pickup truck as Jake Seresin drove down the highway. He fiddled with the radio station landing on a Beach Boys song as he drove past the "Welcome to California" sign.

The sun was just setting as he pulled into the small seaside motel in the town of Del Angelo. He adjusted his tie and grabbed his duffle bag before exiting his vehicle.

"Good evening." The older woman at the desk greeted him.

"Evening Ma'am." Jake said as he walked up to the counter. He dropped his bag by his feet and set his worn Bible and keys on the counter.

"How can I help you?" She asked him.

"I called yesterday. I have a reservation for the next few weeks under the name Saunders." He said before giving her a wide smile.

"Ah, yes, I remember. Jason Sauders. I have the reservation right here. A room on the third floor, end of the hall, just as you requested." She smiled at him before handing him the key. Jake handed her a large stack of bills and gave her a wink.

"My name is Ethel if you need anything, and if I'm not around, you can ask my husband David or my daughter Mary-Ann." She told him.

"Thank you, Miss Ethel. You know there actually is something you might be able to help me with." He said.

"What's that?" Ethel asked him.

"When I was driving in town, I noticed an old boarded up church. Any idea who I could talk to about fixing it up?" Jake asked her.

"You'd probably need to talk to Mayor Andrews about that. Is there any reason you want to fix up that old place?" She asked him.

"Well, Ethel, my full name is Reverend Jason Sauders, and I was hoping to fix up that church so I could bring the word of God to the people of Del Angelo." Jake told her.

"A preacher? My word, we haven't had one of those here in years. Lord knows we need one. You might be just what we need around here, Reverend Sauders." Ethel beamed.

"I hope so. I know that after I'm finished, Del Angelo will never be the same." Jake smirked at her before grabbing his things and heading to his room. He chuckled to himself, knowing that the first part of his plan had already been put in motion.

Tagging some who might be interested: @thedroneranger @roosterscock @shanimallina87 @desert-fern @teacupsandtopgun @mayhemmanaged @lovinglyeternal @lovingbradshawafterdark @wkndwlff @roosterforme @daggerspare-standingby @dakotakazansky @startrekfangirl2233 @hecate-steps-on-me @cassiemitchell @na-ta-sh-aa @blueoorchid @milestellerlover @katieshook02 @mak-32 @je-suis-prest-rachel @soulmates8 @ohgodnotagainn @diorrfairy @eli2447 @xoxabs88xox @potato-girl99981 @djs8891 @roosterbruiser @roosters-girl @sebsxphia @roostette

Hope yall enjoyed my unmedicated ADHD filled dumpster fire

[afeelgoodblog]

The Best News of Last Week - December 12, 2022

1. Big cats: US Senate unanimously passes bill to curb private ownership

A bill to restrict the private ownership of big cats like lions and tigers in the US has passed by unanimous consent in the Senate. The Big Cat Public Safety Act would stop people from keeping the animals as pets and from them being exposed to public petting and photo opportunities.

Efforts to curb private ownership have increased in the wake of the Netflix documentary series Tiger King.

The bill now needs to be signed into law by President Joe Biden.

2. New Mexico voted a child care guarantee into its constitution.

New Mexico in May became the first state to offer free child care to most of its residents. Now, after a November referendum, it’s also the first state to enshrine child care funding in its constitution, effectively making the service a universal right – and perhaps offering a model for how other states could serve their youngest residents and working parents.

3. Rare good news from the Amazon: Gigantic fish are thriving again

Thanks to sustainable fishing programs that combine education with strict rules and quotas, the pirarucu, one of the world's largest freshwater fish it's now making a comeback.

"The pirarucu population has recovered," says Ana Claudia Torres, who runs the sustainable fishing program for the Mamirauá Institute, which manages a vast nature reserve covering 4,300 square miles of jungle in northern Brazil.

4. Dog reunited with family 7 days after falling from cliff on Vancouver Island

A beloved pet that went missing in the Highlands area of Vancouver Island was found seven days later by an army of volunteers. Luna, was found desperately clinging to a narrow ledge on a cliff, and was reunited with her owner after a heroic rescue last month.

It's believed that Luna had chased an animal out of her yard and got lost, somehow falling off a cliff and landing on a two-foot wide ledge. She remained there, alone, as her owner and searchers frantically looked for her.

5. Iran Shutting Down Morality Police, Official Says, After Months of Protests

Iran has scrapped its morality police after more than two months of protests triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini following her arrest for allegedly violating the country's strict female dress code, local media said Sunday, citing a single Iranian official.

"Morality police have nothing to do with the judiciary and have been abolished," Attorney General Mohammad Jafar Montazeri was quoted as saying by the ISNA news agency.

6. Condoms to be free for young people in France, Macron says

Young people in France will be able to get condoms free of charge from next year in an effort to reduce the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday.

"In pharmacies, condoms will be free for those aged 18 to 25 from January 1," Macron told reporters during an event about young people's health.

7. One-eared rescue dog Van Gogh paints his way into adoption

A former bait dog in a North Carolina dogfighting ring "paints" artwork for charity and is living his best life in Connecticut.

. . .

That’s it for this week. If you liked this post you can support this newsletter with a small kofi donation:

Buy me a coffee ❤️

Have a great week ahead :)

[doriandrifting]

The way neoliberal white queers are still trying to argue with me that it’s progressive to drop 20,000 tons of explosives on a civilian population—of which 65% are 24 years old or younger—in order to ethnically cleanse them bc gay sex isn’t legal in Palestine (punishable by jail time NOT DEATH like they’re claiming). Meanwhile in the United States, sodomy laws weren’t ruled unconstitutional until 2003, but still—

I fucking grew up in South Carolina. I live in North Carolina. All my queer friends and family live in these places. There are millions of wonderful people in these places. And even the shitty people don’t deserve to have their skin boiled off by white prosphorus or be slowly starved to death. I can’t even believe I have to say that.

Ya’ll are so radical and indoctrinated it’s fucking insane. If you’re gonna support genocide, do it with your whole chest and stop hiding behind “progressive” values.

[theworstfoundingfathers]

THE GRAND FINALE WHO IS THE TRULY THE WORST FOUNDING FATHER?

THOMAS JEFFERSON VS HENRY LAURENS

Thomas Jefferson (April 13, 1743 – July 4, 1826) was an American statesman, diplomat, lawyer, architect, and philosopher who served as the third president of the United States from 1801 to 1809. Following the American Revolutionary War and prior to becoming the nation’s third president in 1801, Jefferson was the first United States secretary of state under George Washington and the nation’s second vice president under John Adams.

Starting in 1803, he promoted a western expansionist policy with the Louisiana Purchase and began the process of Indian tribal removal from the newly acquired territory.

Jefferson lived in a planter economy largely dependent upon slavery, and used slave labor for his household, plantation, and workshops. Over his lifetime he owned about 600 slaves.

During his presidency, Jefferson allowed the diffusion of slavery into the Louisiana Territory hoping to prevent slave uprisings in Virginia and to prevent South Carolina secession. In 1804, in a compromise on the slavery issue, Jefferson and Congress banned domestic slave trafficking for one year into the Louisiana Territory.

In 1819, Jefferson strongly opposed a Missouri statehood application amendment that banned domestic slave importation and freed slaves at the age of 25 on grounds it would destroy the union.

Jefferson never freed most of his slaves, and he remained silent on the issue while he was president.

Since the 1790s, Jefferson was rumored to have had children by his sister-in-law and slave Sally Hemings, known as the Jefferson-Hemings controversy. According to scholarly consensus…as well as oral history, Jefferson probably fathered at least six children with Hemings.

---

Henry Laurens (March 6, 1724 [O.S. February 24, 1723] – December 8, 1792) was an American Founding Father, merchant, slave trader, and rice planter from South Carolina who became a political leader during the Revolutionary War. A delegate to the Second Continental Congress, Laurens succeeded John Hancock as its president. He was a signatory to the Articles of Confederation and, as president, presided over its passage.

Laurens had earned great wealth as a partner in the largest slave-trading house in North America, Austin and Laurens. In the 1750s alone, this Charleston firm oversaw the sale of more than 8,000 enslaved Africans.

Laurens’ oldest son, Colonel John Laurens, was killed in 1782 in the Battle of the Combahee River, as one of the last casualties of the Revolutionary War. He had supported enlisting and freeing slaves for the war effort and suggested to his father that he begin with the 40 he stood to inherit. He had urged his father to free the family’s slaves, but although conflicted, Henry Laurens never manumitted his 260 slaves.

---

By popular vote, this final round will run for one full week

Please reblog so we can get the biggest sample size possible and figure who is TRULY the worst

[msookyspooky]

Fours a Franchise

Part 5

Wordcount: 9,662

You and Randy sat at the police station at a table. You just sat there playing on your phone to distract yourself while Randy leaned back in his chair staring at the ceiling. All of you barely slept at all last night for obvious reasons and this was just the cherry on top at this point.

Dewey finally came in; just him as he ushered Deputy Hicks to sit this one out and keep watch of the door.

He inhaled deeply with a disgruntled look your way then towards Randy as Randy returned it with an annoyed look of his own.

"...Okay. For starters, Mindy and Chad never arrived at school today and Karla is not at her job even though it's past 9 o'clock...So, Randy. Is she missing? Are they the latest victims? Or did you do what I specifically told you not to and lied to me?"

Randy shrugged. "Well...I forgot to mention Karla might have had a very intimate party to go to for one of her family members in North Carolina. Sister Veronica's birthday, really kind of a bitch, but hey she's family-"

"Are you pulling my leg right now?" Dewey half sighed and half groaned in agitation and interrupted him. "Randy...Do you realize how serious of a crime this is? I'll have to issue a warrant for her arrest now, do you realize that?"

"WHAT?!" Randy snapped, smacking the table as you jumped from the sound. All before you put your phone down and gave an shocked look Dewey's way.

"Dewey! Why would you even think of doing that?!" You exclaimed.

"BECAUSE YN, it's the law!" He argued. He jerked at his shirt and pointed at his Sheriff Badge, voice cracking as he tried to yell. "Is this thing just a DEcOration to you people?!" He frowned deeply and continued. "She could be the killer OR she could be an accomplice."

Randy scoffed loudly. "God, Dewey, she's got our kids with her just going to get out of town while this is all happening!"

"So, you did lie!"

"Yes, I figured me and YN fleeing town without my kids and wife in the car was pretty obvious they were not at school." He gave with a sarcastic tone while slowly blinking at Dewey.

Dewey rolled his teeth over his bottom lip, anxiously looking between you both before just saying it. "Randy, you've got to tell me where she's at."

"Over my dead body."

Dewey tilted his head with an urgent look. "If you don't tell me, it might be...Because if she's the killer working with someone other than you; we all could be in trouble and YOU helped her get away!"

Randy had an annoyed look towards Dewey. "My wife is on the bottom of the barrel as a suspect."

"The rules, Randy!"

"I'm very aware of the fucking rules, Dewey! I'm the biggest advocate of the rules! Everyone is a suspect but there's a formula to it; you always have people at the top of the list and people at the bottom you can deduct from it..." He sighed, slapped his hand on his thigh and leaned back in his chair with a bitter tone. "Okay, what's the motive? Unhappy housewife with a loser husband is fed up and wants more. She hates this town that her man dragged her to. She regrets the domestic life instead of a life of luxury she always wanted but can't have because the dead weight is dragging her down...Maybe she had an affair with a psycho and now she's changing her life altogether? " You frowned at him as he said it and so did Dewey. He raised his brows and continued. "Is that it? Because if that was her motive then why would she go after teenagers instead of her husband? Hm?" Dewey almost said something but Randy interrupted him yet again. "I already know what's going to come out of your mouth. Okay, maybe you could use cop logic to reason about Jenny's murder because IF Karla was the killer; maybe she thought I was like Jerry Seinfeld or some shit having an affair with a 17 year old? Okay, that's the creepiest shit ever but let's just go with it to get this outta your system. But tell me this; what about Marnie? What about Olivia? What about Rebecca?"

Dewey cringed and softly replied. "Well, I know it's a stretch but...All the victims are women...It's just odd..."

Randy rolled his eyes. "Okay, let's just say the motive is a jealous possessive wife that's had enough and gone a little coo coo. When? Rebecca was killed when Karla was with us the entire time. Olivia was killed when Karla was sleeping in bed with me and our kids. Jenny and Marnie were killed when...Let's just say she was with me the entire night."

Dewey raised a brow at that and you stretched your stiff neck to the side from sleeping on the couch. Falling down stairs couldn't have helped. Releasing a huff as it cracked before addressing Dewey. "Okay, there. If you don't believe Randy, believe me Dewey. Karla was with me or Randy all night last night. She could not have snuck out and killed Rebecca or Olivia! Besides, I'm the one that fought this killer, alright?...This was not Karla that wore that costume."

"Karla works out regularly, YN. She takes kickboxing classes in town and she's 5'7. So, maybe it could have been?" Dewey gave.

You sighed and ran a hand over your tired face as you drew out. "...Dewey, I see where you're going so let's just say Karla could hurl me...How could she get there undetected?"

Randy added. "Exactly. She still couldn't have been in the house so quickly, sound asleep, no costume, no blood, no sweat. Nothing by time I got back!"

"Partners, Randy!"

He let out a tiny infuriated growl and pretended to claw at his face before yelling at Dewey. "OH MY FUCKING GOD- Even if that's true then you would have to lock down the entire town, Dew!" He sat his chair back down and gave you both a serious look. "Listen, we are dealing with a fran-"

He was interrupted by Gale coming through the door with Judy trying to get her by the shoulders. "Stop fighting me, Gale! I'm an officer of the law!" Both women yelled as Gale shoved her away and retorted. "Yeah, well I'm the Sheriff's wife. That overrules you." Judy tried grabbing her again and Gale readied a hand as Judy exclaimed. "It. Does. Not!"

Dewey stood up and broke it up. "Ladies, stop!...Gale."

She threw a finger up with a thin frown. "You lecture me one more time, Dewey Riley."

He shook his head and mumbled to Judy. "...Please, Officer Hicks. Let me speak to my wife in private."

Judy gave a nasty look her way as Gale shut the door on her.

"I've told you how many times you can't do this, Gale!"

"Dewey, we need to talk about Rebecca."

"NO. You are a citizen. I am the Sheriff. What part of this do you not understand?"

Randy side eyed you and muttered. "He says that one more time, I swear to God." As you nodded in agreement.

Gale huffed with anger on her face. "FINE! But I have proof Randy, YN and Karla are not involved." She said it right when Dewey put a hand on her back to usher her out.

You and Randy instantly perked up, yelling at Dewey in unison. "No, no, no! Let her talk!" Randy added. "Godsakes; let the woman speak, Dewey!"

Gale jerked herself away from Dewey with a haughty look and looked between all of you. "Okay, Rebecca was found on top of a news van when Sheriff Dewey here was taking questions at the Hospital."

You faltered. "Excuse me, did you say...On top?"

"On top of it. Just like I found my cameraman Kenny before I wrecked the van. Her throat slit and...Thrown from the hospital building's parking garage...Knowing the little money hungry harpy she was probably looking at Jill to be her next big project."

Dewey shook his head. "But how does that disprove YN and Randy?"

"Because Dewey, if your officers are doing their jobs, they couldn't have left the house in time to kill her undetected. Besides that...Rebecca lost a lot of blood. Her corpse had been dead for at least 30 minutes before she was thrown off the fucking building."

Dewey looked confused and Gale snapped her fingers. "Keep up, sweetheart. Don't you get it? Rebecca was at the hospital while we were just leaving Randy's house...How the hell could any of them get there on time to kill her and then wait till you started your press conference to throw the body onto the van?!"

Randy smiled with wide eyes and you looked optimistic as well.

Gale continued. "Dewey, you keep hounding people that aren't involved here! We need to figure out who doesn't have solid alibi from last night at about 1 in the morning when Rebecca was killed. Randy, YN, Karla, You and Me all have alibis."

He thought for a moment with a disgruntled look.

"THE HOUSE, Dewey. We all were at the house talking at the time Rebecca was supposedly arriving at the hospital. When me and you left and got probably a few blocks up the road is when she was most likely killed. It's impossible for it to be any of us!"

"Yeah, that's true...Good thinking." Dewey told her with a slight smile.

Gale sighed but gave a slight tight smile his way. "Hey, it's what I do."

"But partners!" Dewey exclaimed.

You finally spoke up. "Listen, Dewey. Neil and Roman had NOTHING to do with each other and they were still the killers...And Angelina was partners with Roman but that's besides the point. And we could see Stu and Billy being friends but who would have ever thought of Nancy Loomis recruiting Mickey and Hallie together?"

Dewey pointed while forcing it out like he was leery of even bringing it up. "A-And those two guys we never caught but you and Detective Andrews and Detective Richards reported...Right?"

You blinked but nodded. "Right..."

Randy shrugged and chimed in. "So we can do the partners thing all day, but for now, I say we treat this like top 3 to 5 suspects on the list or something of that sort and assume they're separate till proven otherwise. "

You frowned and mumbled. "And the killer isn't done. Not by a long shot. They're saving us 4 for last...They pretty much told me themselves. " You spared a wary glance towards Randy and then back to Dewey as Gale spoke.

Gale threw up a manicured hand. "Well there you have it. You aren't getting anywhere with everyone on lockdown because the killer wouldn't skip town anyways!" She threw you your purse that was sitting on the chair of the room. "Now, let's go. I need some coffee that doesn't taste like hillside runoff water like Perkin's keeps offering me."

You and Randy instantly stood up and Dewey waved his arms. "Hey! You guys are not dismissed-"

She adjusted her purse strap on her shoulder. "Like YN said, the killer is not skipping town. Not a single killer has ever skipped town and the evidence shows Karla isn't involved. You have no reason to go after Karla or to keep these two here as long as they don't skip town again either...Material witnesses, after all."

You and Randy nodded even if that was definitely the plan if things got too bad.

Dewey hissed out urgently to his wife. "Gale, just because you're married to the Sheriff-"

She gave him a look. "Dewey, you know I love you but you can shove that badge-" She quickly pointed upward to the sky as Dewey huffed with an offended look. Gale continued. "Tell Randy to take up the traffic violation in court or pay or whatever AFTER we get this killer...Now, are you done trying to mother hen all of us or what?"

He frowned. "Gale, where are you even going? You can't do this alone-"

"WATCH ME. I told you, I'm going rogue. I just needed to bust these guys out...Now let's go get some fucking decent caffeine. " Gale motioned for you and Randy to follow.

"But!...You can't!....We have Folgers, by the way! It's good coffee!" Dewey yelled at his wife as you all walked past Judy and out the door. You could hear Judy yelling after you all and then Dewey talking to her to stand down as you and Randy followed Gale.

'Damn, am I glad she's on my side for once.'

-------------------

Randy sipped an ice coffee as Gale had a simple hot black cup and you had your choice. All of you sat at an outdoor table as you tried being in between both Randy and Gale for your own comfort...You were definitely aware of the dirty looks sent your way or nasty whispers.

Randy smacked his lips off his straw before telling you both. "Okay, so like I was trying to say before Sheriff douchb-"

"Watch it." Gale pointed with a scolding stare.

"- Sheriff Dewey tried arguing his reason for keeping us on lockdown...And you catfighting with Deputy Hicks..." He looked between you both for dramatic effect. "My friends, we are dealing with a bonafide franchise."

You shrugged with a disgruntled face. "Okay??"

"OkAy." He mocked your voice. "YN, a franchise is without a doubt the worst of them all."

Gale rolled her eyes. "You literally said this about a Trilogy 10 years ago."

"Yeah, yeah! I did! But it is worse than even a trilogy." He pointed with his drink in his hand. "Stab."

"...Stab?" You mumbled with a monotone voice.

"Stab! It got carried away, sure. They just keep making them and making them and honestly? They should have stopped after the shitty Sequel."

Gale sipped her coffee, a coy smirk over her cup as she muttered to you. "Someone's just mad they got killed in number 2."

You both snickered as Randy gave you both an annoyed look. "Yeah, number 2. Shit. The very embodiment of shit. Quite frankly, I'm glad I was spared being a walking slap stick for 5 more movies." He threw up a hand and leaned forward. "Regardless of the decline in Stab; Stab hit it HARD in 4. Knocked it out of the park! Why? Because they knew if they didn't they'd lose their target audience especially after the awful reviews on 3 with YN's character suddenly just leaving and the campy satire they tried to use throughout the whole thing. Technically 4 was a reboot but also not really because the other characters were still involved just as much as previous ones while passing the torch to the new final girl." Randy grinned. "I mean, the main girl's own sister being Ghostface?! And she got away with it and went on to college just to be attacked by the final girl we thought was dead but wasn't? It was genius! A killer versus a killer!....Oh...Were you planning on watching that? Sorry."

You shook your head as he rambled while sipping your drink. "Nah, you know I don't watch any of those."

Gale seemed to be losing her patience with Randy's rants. "Get to the point, would you please? What does Stab and Franchises have to do with any of this right now?"

He shrugged before sipping his straw. "I mean nothing other than...Oh yeah, everything!" He huffed out. "We have new rules to go by-"

"Just-" Gale held up a hand. "Who are our suspects, Randy?"

Randy seemed to frown at not getting to explain the rules. "Okay, fine. Let's just butcher the rules. Got it." He leaned forward to talk low. "This killer is killing people exactly like the first time we did this dance, just not in order. You cannot deny it after they went through the trouble of avoiding YN and shoving Olivia through a doggy door when she was already as good as dead."

You shook your head, being pulled back to the memory of last night. "It was so fast. I don't know how I missed them."

"Maybe there's more than one?" Gale darted her eyes between you both. "What if they're just copying Stab?"

Randy shrugged and looked away. "There were no new kills in Stab so Stab or our first encounter is all the same shtick."

You looked at Randy as he seemed to glance at his phone every so often. "Ray, who's our suspects so far?"

He glanced back up at you and sighed. "Uh well, we don't have much to go by. The legacy characters have alibis."

"Legacy character?" Gale muttured.

"Us. You know, the originals."

"Well talk in a non nerdy way we can all freaking understand, 'kay?" She mocked.

Randy gave her a sideways glare as you spoke. "So now we look at who knew Jenny and Marnie and Olivia."

"Rebecca?" Gale asked.

Randy gestured to you. "Only one that knew her was YN."

Gale slightly raised a brow. "Well, I did question how Rebecca supposedly only had the keys to the trunk...No one else even knew where the keys were but YN when we found the evidence...What do we go by with one dead and the other person sitting right here?"

Randy perked up, eyes wide as if he just knew the fight that was about to happen. You leaned back with an offended scowl her way. "What exactly are you saying? Because if you're suggesting I'm the killer again for the fourth time I will get up and walk away from this entire thing so fast and you can just figure this out by yourself."

Gale held up a hand. "Easy there, we just fucking said none of us are suspects, alright!? I know you got your triggers but settle it down. I'm SAYING how did the killer get in that trunk with a mob of protesters around and no keys?...Unless Rebecca was involved or they stole them somehow when she wasn't looking."

Your shoulders sagged as you nodded. "Yeah. That was my question too other than blending in with the crowd and like you said; stealing the keys somehow. Maybe she sat them down when she was getting rid of the crowd?...Sorry...Old habits die hard."

Gale sighed, rolled her eyes and crossed her finger over her chest. "Cross my heart, I'm not digging to frame you. You're not even a suspect because the timelines don't add up! However, it's obvious someone is trying to set you up-" She held up her finger. "And do not say it's me because we already got over this, remember?"

You sighed but nodded. "I know...But, I don't think they're setting me up."

Randy lifted a brow and spoke up. "Why not?"

"What they said...It was something about watching a star crash and burn...It was like a warning. And the kills...If they wanted to frame me, why not try harder?...It wouldn't exactly be difficult." You mumbled, eyes glancing at a few older women glaring at you and whispering a table away.

Gale looked behind her at them. "Hey, Golden Girls. It's rude to stare, especially at your big age."

They scoffed at Gale and looked away right when a phone ran. Randy jumped up, his entire mood changing as he said out loud. "It's Karla!" He didn't hesitate to answer it. You and Gale listened as you watched the most relieved smile cross Randy's face as he covered the phone and whispered. "They made it. The kids are eating pancakes right now with her Dad."

You smiled at that as he excused himself to talk to her in private, leaving you alone with Gale. You both awkwardly sat there before you slightly licked your lips and forced yourself to talk to her. "Gale? Thanks."

Gale smiled slightly. "What? For scolding those old bitty's? I do that for fun on the regular. No big deal."

You chuckled slightly. "Yeah well, thanks anyways. I know we have a very...Unique past and a barely existent friendship. You know with your 'no friends allowed' policy is still in place but...I'm glad we're on the same page now. Just took 15 years."

She smiled and softly told you. "Yeah, I guess so. You were the biggest pain in my ass."

"You were a major asshole."

"Still am." She mused while sipping the last of her coffee. She looked at you, seeming to take you in. "Hey." She got your attention, her gaze serious. "While the giant film dork is gone and it's just us; Fuck them. Fuck all of them. People are always bitter or jealous of anyone reaching their prime. Take it from me personally; enemies are everywhere the second your name is in lights. Be grateful for those on your side but trust no one fully. The shit that people do for fame is insane...You're a successful woman and you're going to have an even bigger target on your back because of it."

You took her in as well, noting the way her eyes had very subtle fine lines now and her cheekbones more prominent from the hollows of her cheeks deepening ever so slightly with her age now being 47.

"Gale...Do you miss it?"

Gale frowned before covering it with her hand and looking away in her chair towards the street. "No. If I missed it, I'd be doing something about it...Look, I'm only investigating because it's happening to us again. That's it."

You were skeptical of that but saw her phone ping. She went to ignore it but kept flipping it over, her face souring as she sighed heavily. "Christ, it's Dewey. I gotta take this. Can you give me a second?"

You hesitated, leery of being left alone but also reasoning it was in broad daylight in front of an entire shop full of people. "...Sure."

Gale nodded and had her phone in her hand, ringing up her husband no doubt to argue.

'God, 9 years of marriage and that's all they do.' You thought. 'Wonder if this will be the nail in the coffin this time?' You wondered as you thought of Dewey and how different he was. 'I can't even blame Gale this time. He's...Changed.'

Your mind momentarily thought back to past Dewey. The one and only time you ever heard or saw him sob was when he was just your best friend's older brother you saw occasionally. And yet, there you both were. Holding each other sobbing over that previous night and who you lost.

His voice trembled, his chest rumbled against you as he spoke. "It's all my fault. If I wouldn't have left with Gale...I could have saved my baby sister..."

You frowned thinking of what he said at Windsor after 2 years of not seeing him.

"It's okay. I'm here now. You think I'm ever going to let anything happen to you or Randy? I swore I'd never let anything happen to you kids ever again. No one is getting hurt as long as I'm here." He gave, eyebrows turned up and regret in his eyes.

Then you remembered the look on his face as he saw Olivia's body. It was watching his little sister's mangled corpse stuck in that garage door all over again.

"...Poor Dewey." You sighed softly under your breath. You thought the rest of your sentence in your head. 'He just wants to have a redo. To protect us and these kids like he couldn't protect Tatum.'

Your mind wandered to what she might have looked like had she lived. Would her and Sidney still be besties after all these years? Would you be friends with either of them for that matter? Who would Dewey be if Tatum had lived?...Would you and Randy and Dewey even talk if she did-

Your thoughts were interrupted as a server handed you a piece of paper and mumbled. "Miss? Someone asked me to give this to you."

The young server walked away before you could ask him who. You stared at it in your hand, eyes darting to people ignoring you or giving you stares. You couldn't see who was inside with the sun reflecting on the glass. You swallowed, literally terrified of what it said but eager to just open it and see. You sucked in a shaky breath, quickly unfolding it to read.

"Arrive at the Inn on the outskirts of town tonight at room 7. Go alone...Be there after 8 tonight...P.S....Don't alert the cops if you cherish any of your friends lives or your own."

You felt anxiety building just reading it. You couldn't recognize the handwriting as far as you could tell. You knew it was a trap, and yet, you also knew they weren't playing around either. If you told Dewey; 15 years ago would happen all over again. You just knew it. If you told Gale; she was going to do anything to be the one to solve the case. If you told or took Randy; he could die....You quickly put the note away in your pocket as you saw Randy coming back. You knew it was a death wish but if you could end this shit before it got worse; you would. They clearly wanted you more than anyone.

"Karla made it. She's not happy about us not being able to join but I swore to her if it got too bad; we'd be out of this place...Where's Gale?"

You forced a small smile. "Arguing with Dewey over the phone, I'm guessing."

Randy rolled his head with a tsk. "Ah geez. They've been doing a lot of that lately."

"How much lately? I've been out of the loop the last few years..."

Randy shrugged. "Eh, not really. It's just the same old same old. Gale wants fame, Dewey wants to live a humble life in Woodsboro. Same shit years ago."

"Yeah, I'm sure being stuck here is getting to her."

"Yeah..." He seemed in a much cheerier mood as he smiled and asked. "So, what did I miss?"

"Uh...Nothing really."

He raised a brow. "You sure?"

You sipped your mostly empty drink on purpose. "Mm hm." Before giving a scoff of a chuckle and telling him. "Just girl talk with Gale."

"Oh...So, she told you her secret skincare routine is to reap the souls of unsuspecting victims or??"

Gale cleared her throat next to the table. Randy grinned. "Oh, hi Gale. How long were you there?"

"Long enough...Dipshit." She muttered under her breath then gestured to you both. "Alright, get the tab. I've got a new lead, I'll check back with both of you later. I gotta get there before my husband gets there and scares off the lead."

"We'll come-"

"Not yet! I work alone, you know this."

With that, she turns on her heels as you and Randy call out to her before giving each other dumbfounded looks.

"Can you believe the audacity of that woman? Well...Since we're apparently just back up for Dewey and Gale when they bite off more than they can chew and we have nothing else better to do in the meantime; wanna go to some of our old haunts together?"

You smiled with a surprised look. "I'd like that but what about your stores?"

"Bookstore is closed on account of yesterday. You would think the video store would be booming like it was in 96 this time around but noooooooo. Everyone must be streaming or something...It's pretty dead. Better business being dead than us, I guess." He gave with a shrug. Shoving his hands in his pockets after standing up.

-------------------

You and Randy drove around as he pointed out old houses and names. Some were familiar and some weren't...It honestly made you feel so out of sync with the happenings here and the people. People you saw in the halls or some mowing their lawns now were distant memories.

"Oh, remember that one snobby bottle blonde that totally hated you for dating James and I'm pretty sure she wanted to bang Billy Loomis too so she hated Sid just as much?"

"We're in Cali, there are tons of bleached blondes."

"No, no. The cheerleader! Remember she tried calling you ugly and Sidney a slut? Remember her calling Tatum a lard ass and Dewey had to warn Tatum not to beat her up after school?" Randy had a devious grin as he sang out. "Guess what she looks like now.~"

You instantly knew who he was talking about. Perking up and uttering. "No."

"Uh huh. Prepare yourself." He gestured to a small shabby house where a blonde woman with outgrown brown roots half way down her brassy hair stood. She had on a dingy coral pink robe while watering her flowers out front. She gave you both dirty looks with a face that seemed a lot older than just early 30s as she jerked the hose over a bunch of toys littering the yard.

"NO!" You mouthed out, trying not to turn in your seat. "That's her?!"

"Yep." Randy smirked while driving. "Hey, I'm not exactly as fit as I was 10 years ago and I'm not exactly living the high life either but there is something so damn special about an asshole getting their karma. Remember she told Sidney she'd probably end up in the nuthouse or a two timing tramp like her mother? Yeah. Can't say I feel bad...Karla heard her arguing with her husband in the bank drive thru about her being accused of their one son being...Get this; his brothers."

"Oh shit." You mumbled.

"I know! I don't know why people forget drive thrus have cameras, especially banks, but thank god they do. You wouldn't believe the stories Karla tells me!" He chuckled before releasing a sigh with a content smile. "Oh how the popular jerks in High School fall."

You huffed, still taken aback that it was her...Still, you didn't feel nearly as satisfied as you should. The note was the only thing really forming your interest at the moment.

"...Something on your mind?" Randy asked. "I mean, you barely reacted when I showed you that our old jerk off Quarterback that got busted for putting pills in girls drinks is balding now and is married to the same bitchy cheerleader I just showed you or when I told you Mrs. Burkhardt still has an army of plastic flamingos in her yard. " He huffed. "You didn't even seem interested when I showed you that the creepy guy from Shop has a successful wood art business and looks like freaking Ashton Kutcher now that the braces are off and his skin cleared up!...He's single, by the way. Just putting it out there."

You side eyed him. "Thanks for being Toby Fairley's wingman but I'm not exactly interested at the moment with a crazy killer after us again."

"See? You even remember his name!"

"Ray." You scolded.

He sighed with a frown as he got to a stop sign. "Yeah fine, guess that's reasonable...So...I can make a left or right."

You saw the sign and instantly recognized it. "Oh my God..." You pointed. "Left."

"...You know that takes us past Billy's house, right?"

"I'm aware."

Randy seemed resistant but sighed and put on his blinker. Silently driving as you looked around. The drive reminded you so many times of being with Tatum driving you and Sidney to spy or see her boyfriend that spring and half the summer before you got with James....You remembered his very nice car outfront and his even nicer house. No decorations, Hank never really home, no siblings as far as you knew...You never went inside. Billy always seemed eager to get out of the house. With his Mom gone and how his relationship or lack of seemed with his Dad; you now knew why.

You froze seeing it...Empty. Graffiti all over it, broken windows, and the place falling in. Randy parked the car as you stared at it. He leaned over, his arm on your seat as he stared at the house. "Feels like every haunted house in any horror movie ever made...After they found Hank Loomis stabbed 50 something times inside; the place just rotted away."

"Wow..." You softly gave. "That's...Just so much pain in one home."

"Yeah well, that's what happens when crazies live there." He sighed out while putting the car into drive but you quickly stopped him.

...You never saw inside. Ever. You knew it was dumb but something was just pulling you towards it. Maybe to see if there was a connection to these murders happening? It felt unlike you but...You needed to know before you possibly died...Besides, this new killer was clearly another nut idolizing Billy and Stu.

"No, wait. I want to go inside."

"What? YN, we aren't teens anymore. Dewey will kill you before the killer can if you break and enter. Hell, the house might! You see how bad of condition it's in?! It's a freaking zoning violation and the city council has been trying to tear it down for years. You could fall through the floor and break your neck!"

"It was built in 1980's not 1880's; and people lived in it clear up until a little over 10 years ago. I'm sure it's walkable." You glanced over at him, already unbuckling as he furiously shook his head. "Wow, I didn't know we became old all the sudden. Turn your helicopter Dad mode off and help me check out an ex murderers house. I mean, WE KNEW the ex murderers...Unless you're a big chicken now..." You started bawcking.

He groaned and got out. "Childish tactics don't work anymore, YN." You continued mocking him, flapping your arms while walking as he gave you a huff. "They don't! I'm a grown man!"

You were on the porch and pushed the door in, giving him a disbelieving look as you drew your gun and crept in. Randy gave you the most frustrated sco and followed. "This is breaking every fucking rule ever!...YN?...YN!" He lectured as he followed you into the dark house. Daylight through the windows is the only thing lighting the place.

Randy looked around, shrinking a bit as he called out. "YN?...Hey, where are you?...If you aren't dead, say something."

Silence before you waited and just said 'boo.' behind him. Just simply surprising him had him jerking back and metaphorically jumping out of his skin before he glared at you. "Are you serious?!"

"Making sure you're prepared for the actual killers." You put your gun back in your holster under your jacket and looked around at the decrepit house you knew was once gorgeous with Hank being a lawyer and his salary.

"Wow...This is crazy."

Randy shrugged with a shiver. "Yeah, I was only in here a few times but......Oh..." He pointed to a dark spot on the floor in the living room. The wood was stained. "Uh...That's where Hank died."

"Oh god." You grimaced, stepping back instinctively. You both jumped as a rat scurried across the floor.

Randy got behind you, hands on your shoulders as he urged you. "YN, come on! Let's go! I just know some freaky shit has happened here and I'm not bringing home a Loomis Ghost from kids doing a failed seance. I didn't like him alive let alone being from Poltergeist. "

You almost agreed, curiosity not that interesting anymore now that you saw the inside. Rotting, vandalized, a shell of what it used to be. It was as eery as it got...But one thing just kept you wanting to stay. "I gotta see Billy's room."

"What?! Who fucking cares?!"

"I do...It could give us a clue. I mean, if they're copying the old murderers; how do we know they haven't been in here as well?"

"More reason to leave."

"Ray, I can't run away from it forever! I can't run from my thoughts or that night anymore...I gotta know and try to use it to solve this new killer before more people get hurt." He gave you a confused look as you told him. "Ray...I know it was an act and everything and I know you disliked him even before he was a known killer but...He was my friend at one point and he was also the guy that tried looping me into a murder plot and then tried to kill me for betraying him... This place won't be here long and I just gotta see where he lived and if there's anything useful to us now."

Randy gave you a strange look before whining and stomping his foot with dread as you continued up the steps. "Shit."

You softly let your feet walk up the stairs, leery of the floorboards that haven't been maintained in over 12 or more years since Hank died and Billy 'died'. You had your gun ready, just in case you came across a Ghostface or something. Using it to nudge the doors open. The first room was bare, graffiti here and there but nothing too surprising. The next bedroom you shoved the door open, leveling your gun in multiple directions including behind the door and then the closet. You relaxed and motioned for Randy as you put your gun back once more...Marveling at the room around you.

"Oh my God..." You mumbled under your breath. Graffiti of devils, pentagrams, tags, and telling Billy Loomis to rot in hell or that he ruled all over the walls of the faded blue room. The bed was white with stains all over it from the elements and age...At least, you hoped that's what it was.

"Uh uh, I don't like that. I do not like that shit. Nothing about this room says 'home sweet home'." Randy covered his mouth. "Fucking bacteria and mold and dust everywhere. You know I have a touch of asthma, right?"

"Then huff your inhaler or go outside, Ray...I'm looking." You saw posters had been on the walls, some stolen and ripped off. A few left behind. All movies or grunge rock of the 90s. His drawers were open and bare or had a few items of clothes inside. You saw a baseball on the dresser along with a few dusty cds and a few magazines from 1996. "Jesus, it's like a time capsule." You drew out in amazement...Somehow, you could imagine what it looked like when you huys were kids. You could imagine the sun peaking in as Billy and you sat on the bed talking...You didn't know how to feel about that.

Randy coughed as dust flew off a magazine he picked up. After he got done coughing, he wiped it off and smirked. "Well, look here. It's Cindy! Long time no see, Miss Crawford." He showed you a very sensual picture of a 20 something year old Cindy Crawford. He talked to the magazine. "Look, Cindy. You're a nice girl. You got me through a lot of rough times and lonely nights as a 17 year old virgin but I'm afraid I found another woman. One that's off the pages...Oh god, are these pages sticking because of erosion or-"

"Randy, knock it off and help me look." You opened drawers to his dresser. Randy put the magazine back down on the nightstand and walked over to look with you.

"What exactly are we looking for anyways?"

"I don't know. Evidence maybe? Just, see if we can find anything useful for the present murders."

Randy shrugged. "I don't know. Looks like a normal teens bedroom just with satanic symbols...Same thing, I guess. Kind of boring for a murderering sociopath...."

You lightly rolled your eyes as he rummaged through things in Billy's old nightstand. You opened the closet and looked at the clothes. They were actually in good condition...Your hand lightly went over a blue polo shirt as you remembered him wearing it as a teen. You frowned, your brows furrowing together as your fingertips felt the fabric. The memory of you and him being in his car late one night popped up. He had picked you up first then was making his way to pick up Stu, Sidney and Tatum. Randy was working and you remember feeling bummed out everyone would be too busy making out all night while you were the extra wheel in the back of the small car. James not in your life yet.

You sat in the front seat of his Camaro as you both sat in the drive and waited for Stu. Mostly silent and making small talk. He had his hair completely slicked back with gel and that polo shirt on. You could smell the cologne he wore. You saw Stu do a stupid dance move on his porch to annoy you both as Billy yelled out his car window "Hurry up, dickweed!" Stu went to walk and missed all of his steps...Literally face planted to the ground. You gasped and Billy just groaned softly. Stu gave a thumbs up before you could get out of the car and stood up before he released a string of curses....Dog shit smeared all over him where he fell. Stu looked disgusted, stripping off right there and yelling at how gross it was as you laughed...Billy laughed too. A genuine laugh as you and him just watched Stu run in the house to change. You and Billy laughed until you were wheezing. Billy hunched over his steering wheel silently laughing while you were dying in the passenger seat at the look on Stu's face. Billy made shit jokes about him all night as you tried to contain snickering knowing Stu could dish it out but sometimes couldn't handle being the ass of an unintentional joke.

You were brought back to the present with a deep hurt weighing on your chest. You almost wondered if that shirt smelled like him still, even faintly? If he remembered that memory as fondly as you did? If he was even alive...

"YN...Did you find something?" Randy asked.

You shook your head, shoving away from the closet. "No, just looking...It's so odd. I know Tatum's room is probably cleaned and pleasant memorylane but this feels...So empty. So...Strange."

"Yeah well, no one left to give a damn about a murderer."

"Yeah...You find anything?"

"Pft, no. He had the most basic elitist taste in horror movies. Seen them all, own them all."

"I meant a red flag or clue, Randy."

Randy shrugged. "Not really? Look, most things are destroyed or stolen or worthless. Let's just get out of here before someone finds us."

You nodded. The room was a normal teen room. Nothing out of the ordinary. You went to walk and tripped.

"Oh shit! Geez YN, you alright?" Randy helped you up as you cursed and kicked the rug away.

"Yeah. Stupid thing...Hey...What's that?"

You and him looked to a piece of wood unlike the others under that rug near the bed. You both exchanged wary looks before you reached over and plucked the stray plank from the floor...Revealing items stashed inside.

You reached in as well as Randy. Randy pulled out a bag of joints. "No way..." He put it in his pocket and you gave him a raised brow. "What?! I might need it after all of this!"

"Dewey will flip his shit if he finds joints in your pocket. Those are stale as fuck, I just know it...If you get mold in your lungs; don't say I didn't warn you."

"Okay, Grandma. I'll be a good responsible boy and make sure the weeds have a good home...My home." He shrugged with a laugh. "I may not have been a burn out but I remember what bad weed looked like. I'm looking before I roll it back up, honestly. "

You shook your head with a laugh and dug. Pulling out lighters...Then papers...Then a photo...And then a knife and gloves.

Randy cringed. "Now that seems more on point."

You handed him the gloves and knife before looking at the photo and your eyes widened considerably.

...It was you.

Randy's mouth hung open as well as he saw a 17 to 18 year old you. It was your yearbook photo of you smiling with a 90s hairstyle you loved to wear and a sweater.

"...What the fuck..." Randy breathlessly mumbled as you just stared...Why would he have a picture of you and only you? You flipped it over to see it was signed by you...Did you give him a photo? Why would you give your friend's boyfriend you barely knew at the time a picture of yourself?? Then you remembered...It was a gift to Sidney Prescott. Billy must have stole it.

You handed the photo to Randy who examined it as well as you tentatively opened the folded piece of paper...The more you read it...The more you felt your heart hammer and a queasy feeling in your stomach.

"What?...W-What does it say?" Randy asked before you handed it to him. He scrunched his brows, reading it outloud. "...I can't fight this anymore, not after fighting for our lives the way we did. Life is short...I know we went through so much but I have to tell you this-"

You spaced out, hearing it in Billy's voice instead of Randy's.

"I have to tell you this...I never thought we'd make it and I'm glad you lived. You're so lucky Mr. Prescott gave you such a shallow stab wound that night. We're lucky...Some of us weren't. I'm still trying to comprehend Randy and Tatum's deaths...Most of all, Sidney's...I miss her so much, YN. But I have to move on. We all do."

You clutched your mouth as it continued. Feeling like you might throw up.

"...That's why I have to tell you this. I don't know how you feel but I know how I feel about you. I know a love note is as corny as it gets but I can't seem to find the words to tell you this in person...The truth is, I care about you YN. I didn't know how much we needed each other until-"

Randy shoved the paper down in disgust. "I can't read this shit."

"Read it." You urged, feeling your eyes burn and your mouth dry.

Randy sighed heavily and picked it back up.

"I didn't know how much we needed each other until our lives depended on it. If this is too soon, I get it. But I really hope you consider giving me a chance. Sidney would want us both to move on and I know she'd be happy for us if we found each other. She'd want her best friend and her boyfriend to be happy...I know this is sudden but I think I'm falling for you and if you feel the same way, then meet me at the watertower this evening. If you don't then I guess I'll understand. I just know that I think about you a lot lately. Some of my best memories other than Sid were with you and I'd be an idiot to not tell you. You're the most unique, smart and honestly prettiest girl in Woodsboro now that Sidney's gone...Rest her soul and your poor boyfriend James but I can't wallow in misery anymore over what happened and neither should you. You deserve happiness YN and maybe that happiness can be with me? Don't be late for my sake....Billy."

Randy threw the paper to the side, utter disgust on his face as he growled out. "Bastard... This is some bullshit letter he was going to use if he got away with it. He was definitely going to kill you if you didn't show up...Low down fuckface." He glanced over at you and his features fell...You realized your cheeks were wet. "YN?...Hey. It's okay!" He softly gave, reaching over to put a hand on your shoulder.

You sucked in a shaky breath. "I-I...I didn't expect to find something like this..." You sniffed, staring at both the discarded picture and note on the floor. Randy frowned as he stared at you.

"...YN...I'm sorry you saw that but you know that it's all bullshit, right? He's a sick, demented fuck that looked at everyone as a pawn piece. I don't know what you're feeling but if it's guilt or sadness or something then shove that away. You don't owe him anything!"

"I know..." You closed your eyes and swallowed. "I know just...When he told me, I didn't believe him. I thought he was lying but...Why have a picture of me if he was? Why wrote those lies to get me out of every other girl in Woodsboro? He had so many after him, so why me?...I just...I just thought he was lying about jow he felt!"

Randy's brows rose. "What are you talking about?"

You sighed heavily, looking up at the ceiling as you both were on your knees on the floor. "...Ray, he told me he was in love with me." Randy looked taken aback as you continued in a heavy voice. "... When him and Stu ambushed me at my house and blackmailed me like they did; he told me he loved me and that was the only reason I didn't die that night...He...H-He...." You choked out. "He kissed me in the closet after he killed Tatum that night. I didn't know! I was just trying to get Sid and Tatum and you out of there and then Stu had her get beers and you had no idea so you were drinking with friends and Sidney went with him as soon as I found Tat's body...He dragged me in and kissed me after murdering my best friend and before screwing over my other best friend-" You softly released a sob. "I never told anyone because of Gale's book and you hated me then so I was too scared! Even after we made up I was scared you'd use it as leverage to blame me again for Sid's death and-"

Randy frowned deeply and rubbed your shoulder before pulling you close to him for a hug. You grabbed fistfuls of his shirt as he buried his face in your shoulder. His voice rising in disbelief.  "Shh...It's okay. I never hated you! You should know that by now. I was just a weak kid that needed to blame someone...But Billy and Stu were the only ones to blame; not you." He rubbed your back as he spoke. "I never hated you; I hate him. I hate everything about him for what he did to you, to me, to Sidney, to Tatum and Dewey. That letter and picture changes nothing, understand?" He pulled back to look you in the eyes, hands on either shoulder.

You shook your head. "But it does...I came here looking for answers to the current murders or to see Billy for what he was even more than I already did...And I get a fucking love note and a picture of me he kept hidden."

"That doesn't make him a decent guy, YN."

"I know that-"

He lightly shook you. "No, you don't! I know you, so stop trying to see the good in some misunderstood kid! It's not there. Okay, even if he did have a crush on you that doesn't make him good underneath it all or some shit! Not after what he did and God knows what he would have done to you too...I know you have a lot of confusing things that happened to you but Billy Loomis was a piece of shit. He's dead. It doesn't matter what he 'felt' because he was a monster and he burnt up in that house like the demon fucker he was. You'll never have to worry about him ever again...Never, YN...Let go of your guilt, okay? Please. Look around us; you hanging onto this guilt is like hanging onto this room...Look at it." He gestured to the graffiti, dust, cobwebs of the room for emphasis.

You frowned...Knowing better but nodding. You went to take the picture and Randy tried to stop you. You instantly glared at him. "Randy, you've said no one else went through what I went through and it couldn't be more true. I did go through confusing things and I want to keep this note and picture for my own sake no matter how much more confusing it is...I don't feel guilt for trying to save him just as well as trying to kill him...But I'm keeping this."

He stared but let go. Giving you a sad look as you wiped your eyes and stood up.

"You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Let's just get out of here before a neighbor calls Dewey on us." You roughly shoved the letter and picture in your pocket and took one last lokk at the room before walking out.

------------------

You both drove just a little longer, going past Sidney's house that had been remodeled slightly and sold years ago. You went past Dewey's parents home that stayed the same...Randy asked if you wanted to go in but you declined. Not only did it not feel right without Dewey to enter Tatum's space but you had enough sad memories for one day...James house was gone. You reasoned it was in bad shape anyways and the property value decreased with him being found in the field behind that house with no face. But the park, the water tower, the quarry all were the same and you could appreciate that.

It was insane that the towns you lived in before, the childhood home that you lived in longer, didn't impact you like this town did. Like this friend group did...Less than a year living there and it was still permanently seared into your brain.

You and Randy got take out to eat at home as you tried to enjoy your time with him...Knowing what you were about to do might be the last even if you were confident you knew what to do. You were actually grateful for the hug you got from Randy earlier.

You purposely went to the fridge and scoffed. "Oh shoot, we're out of drinks here."

"Oh, well I can go tomorrow."

You shook your head. "No, I'll go. I'll take Dewey's jeep."

"No, don't do that! How about I go? Buddy system?"

"Uh actually...Is it offensive to want a bit of alone time? I just feel like someone needs to guard the house, ya know?"

He blinked but shook his head. "No. No, not at all, especially after today and...What we found. Can you hold down the fort till I'm gone then? I swear, I'll make it quick."

You nodded even if you were internally screaming at yourself to reconsider. "Yeah, totally. Just be careful."

"I have police following us, I think I'll be alright. You need to just lock the doors, leave lights on, get your gun, don't answer-"

You laughed and handed him his jacket. "I know the rules, Randy. Go get us snacks and drinks for a movie night, alright?"

He threw his jacket on and got his keys. "Fine but I swear, I want you in one piece. Okay? I'm not saying...You know because...Well, you know."

"It's alright. Follow the rules; we'll be alright."

He nodded. Waiting till he left and then Perkin's car followed. You instantly got the keys to Dewey's jeep, locked the house up and quickly got in the car. You eased out and drove the opposite direction Randy went. Heading to that damn inn on the outskirts of town before another officer was sent by Perkin's to watch you while he followed Randy...It was a comfort Randy had cops following him.

You came up on it and turned the car off. Frowning deeply before a determined look crossed your features...Knife, gun, mace, taser...All of it ready in the comfiest clothes you brought with you. You got out of the jeep and went straight to room 7...You listened at the otherside of the door, hearing shuffling behind it.

It opened and a hand snaked out to pull you into the dark room. Out of instinct, you grabbed that arm and rushed forward to slam your elbow into their stomach as the momentum took you inside. You quickly twisted the arm back as far as you could, hearing someone gasp in pain and you jammed your gun right into the back of their head against the wall.

"Alright, who are you and what are you tring to pull?!"

"YN!" A voice snapped out as a light flicked on. Illuminating the once dark room.

Your eyes adjusted to see...A man was in your grasp. Another was standing up and you once again relied on your instincts and self defense training, jerking the man you had a hold of in front of you with your back to the wall. His arm being twisted painfully the only thing keeping him from decking you and overpowering you was you twisting his arm at the wrist as you kept your gun on his neck.

"Yo! Stand down, it's us!"

Your face fell at the familiar voice. You just heard it on the phone last night...You saw Stu standing, hands up with a cringe.

....

You quickly released who you now realized was Billy as he jerked away from you with a glare, rubbing his arm. "Damn, why does she need us for? Fuck-" He grumbled.

You stared, mouth parted as the two grown men looked at you. Two faces you actually didn't think you'd see again....So many questions demaning to be answered, so many emotions, so much shock...All you could utter was their names with your gun still aimed.

"....Billy?....Stu?"

[londonfoginacup]

An Essay about Carolina, the classic song by Harry Styles, that becomes slightly unhinged as it goes along

Harry Styles has long been known for his incredibly nonsensical lyrics. By now he features a three-album catalogue of songs that the average listener thinks, “I might know what this is about”. The more advanced listener, who has then looked up the lyrics, follows that thought up with, “Actually I have no clue what he’s talking about.” This has long been a problem for Styles’ fans, who love to extract knowledge from his lyrical essays. I, personally, have spent hours pouring over lyrics in order to bring you, dear reader, the truth. 

In this essay, I will show how the classic Harry Styles song Carolina is, in fact, a song about the Queen of England.

Now the first thing to remember while deep diving on this topic is that Harry is British. This may be a difficult thing to remember, because his accent has only become more and more transatlantic nonsense over the years, but is very important to the context of this song. 

Now, to take a look at the first set of lyrics;

She's got a family in Carolina

So far away, but she says I remind her of home

The Queen could, of course, have any number of family members in Carolina, as North and South Carolina, as the combined populations of the two states amount to over 15 million. However, I believe he’s referring to Sir Walter Raleigh, the founder of North Carolina, who was knighted by Queen Elizabeth I. Sir Walter married one of her ladies-in-waiting, which the Queen at the time did not appreciate, but that does make him an in-law of sorts. 

Now, it is pertinent to point out that the first American football that the Queen ever watched was a Maryland v UNC (University of North Carolina) match, so she could be referring here to her family-on-the-field, as it were. Regardless, while attending a football game, the Queen would think that Harry, with his British sensibilities of preferring to watch men in shorts running around, would remind her of home. 

Feelin' oh-so far from home

She never saw herself as a west-coaster

Moved all the way 'cause her grandma told her

"Townes, better swim before you drown"

The Queen’s grandmother was Mary of Teck, a woman who didn’t look particularly like a queen when I looked her up just now on Wikipedia. Mary of Teck died when Queen Elizabeth was reigning, although she had not yet been crowned. We can see how the phrase “better swim before you drown” would be used here, as the Queen was in her mid-twenties at the time and, as they say in the hit musical 1776, there was “a war on.”

(Okay there wasn’t actually, but I had read the year as 1925 instead of 1952, and had already written that stellar line, so we’re keeping it).

Regardless, the Queen obviously never saw herself as a west-coaster because she lives in England, not North or South Carolina. 

She's got a book for every situation

Gets into parties without invitations

How could you ever turn her down?

There's not a drink that I think could sink her

Now this may seem obvious, but one would never turn down the Queen if she were requesting to get into one’s party. Can you imagine turning her away from a rager? From a kegerater? Obviously you cannot. She is the Queen, and probably had very large bodyguards who would be more than willing to force their way in so that she could daintily sip her lukewarm post-beerpong-beer. 

Now, on the subject of books, a quick google search will come up with article after article. “4 Fascinating Books About Queen Elizabeth II”, “8 Best Queen Elizabeth II Biographies to Get”, “The 20 Best Books About Queen Elizabeth II”. I think we do not need to name every book about her to be sure that there is a biography for every situation. My personal favourite is an odd comic book I found where a younger version of herself seems to be crowning an older version of herself. Very mysterious. 

How would I tell her that she's all I think about?Well, I guess she just found out

Obviously, we can know this song is about the Queen because Harry has put so many references to the Queen in it, and she is a wise woman who listens to all of his albums on release day, because he is a British icon.

I met her once and wrote a song about her

I wanna scream, yeah, I wanna shout it out

And I hope she hears me now

I do not know whether the Queen ever heard him, although I assume she did, as I stated above.

Now, dear reader, this concludes my deep dive into Carolina, but this does not conclude Harry’s tributes to the Queen. Just two albums later, he followed this clear Queen-love-letter up with a second, just-as-obvious love letter.

Love of My Life.

Harry has stated in interviews that this song is about England. And it clearly is, but it is moreso about the ruler of England, the woman who made England what it is (or something. She sold some plates with her face on them at least, that wouldn’t be there otherwise).

I take you with me every time I go away

In a hotel, usin' someone else's name

I remember back at Jonny's place, it's not the same anymore

This song is a crooning sigh of longing for Harry’s good old friend the Queen. Clearly he uses the name Elizabeth in hotels. Someone should check on that.

Baby, you were the love of my life, woah

Maybe you don't know what's lost 'til you find it

It's not what I wanted, to leave you behind

He lost the Queen, likely while they were playing hide and seek. But then he had to leave on a plane for a show, and it seems as though he never found her again.

Don't know where you'll land when you fly

You usually do, actually.

It's unfortunate, ooh

Just coordinates, ooh

Maybe Harry doesn’t know how to read a map.

I don't know you half as well as all my friends

I won't pretend that I've been doin' everything I can

To get to know your creases and your ends

Are they the same?

This is a complaint that, after Styles started his many world tours, the Queen began going to parties without him. Which is fair, because she can’t just be sitting reading books about herself waiting for him to come around.

But, baby, you were the love of my lifeNote the use of the past tense here. This album came out in spring, and the Queen passed in the fall (I think. I’m not looking anything up anymore). Could this be… premonition? Planning? Another vehicular manslaughter crime under Harry’s belt? Who’s to say? Certainly not the Queen…

[robertreich]

The Secret to the GOP’s Assault on Your Rights

Democracy is not just under attack in America. In some states, it’s being lost.

Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis once suggested that states could serve as laboratories of democracy, but these states are more like laboratories of autocracy.

Take Wisconsin. The GOP has so successfully rigged state elections through gerrymandering that even when Democrats get more votes, Republicans win more seats. In 2018, Republicans won just 45% of the vote statewide, but were awarded 64% of the seats.

******

Btw, if you’d like my daily analyses, commentary, and drawings, please subscribe to my free newsletter: robertreich.substack.com

******

Wisconsin is one of several states where an anti-democracy movement has taken hold.

But it wasn’t always this way. In fact, Wisconsin pioneered the progressive era of American politics at the start of the twentieth century — with policies that empowered workers, protected the environment, and took on corporate monopolies. State lawmakers established the nation’s first unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation, and strict child labor laws.

Teddy Roosevelt called the state a “laboratory for wise … legislation aiming to secure the social and political betterment of the people as a whole.”

But for the last decade, Wisconsin has become a laboratory for legislation that does the exact opposite.

After Republicans took control in 2010, one of the first bills they passed gutted workers' rights by dismantling public-sector unions — which then decimated labor’s ability to support pro-worker candidates.

This move aligned with the interests of their corporate donors, who benefited from weaker unions and lower wages.

This new Wisconsin formula has been replicated elsewhere.

Republicans in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and North Carolina won a minority of votes in 2018, but still won majorities in their state assemblies thanks to gerrymandering.

In Texas, Ohio, and Georgia, Republicans have crafted gerrymanders that are strong enough to create supermajorities capable of overturning a governor’s veto.

Even more alarming, hundreds of these Republican state legislators, “used the power of their office to discredit or try to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election,” on behalf of Donald Trump.

How did this happen? Put simply: years of careful planning by corporate interest groups and their radical allies.

And the corporations enabling these takeovers aren't just influencing the law — their lobbyists are literally writing many of the bills that get passed.

This political alliance with corporate power has given these Republican legislatures free rein to pursue an extreme culture-war agenda — one that strips away rights that majorities of people support — while deflecting attention from their corporate patrons’ economic agendas.

Republicans are introducing bills that restrict or criminalize abortion. They’re banning teachers from discussing the history of racism in this country. They are making it harder to protest and easier to harm protestors. They are punishing trans people for receiving gender-affirming care and their doctors for providing it.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. There are still laboratories of democracy where true public servants are finding creative ways to defend the rights of us all.

Elected officials in Colorado and Vermont are codifying the right to abortion. California lawmakers have proposed making the state a refuge for transgender youth and their families. And workers across the country are reclaiming their right to organize, which is helping to rebuild an important counterweight to corporate power.

But winning will ultimately require a fifty state strategy — with a Democratic Senate willing to reform or end the filibuster to codify Roe v. Wade, protect voting rights, and protect the right to organize nationwide.

America needs a national pro-democracy movement to stop the anti-democracy movement now underway — a pro-democracy movement committed to helping candidates everywhere, including in state-level races.

This is where you come in. Volunteer for pro-democracy candidates — and if you don't have time, contribute to their campaigns.

This is not a battle of left vs. right. It is a battle between democracy and autocracy.