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Subplots: The Secret To A Great Story

1/13/2022

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So you want to write a story? Well, the plot of your story is essential. Here’s a simple plot I am making up off the top of my head.

A man is sitting at home with his wife and kids. His wife is cooking dinner but needs flour. So her husband and young daughter go to the grocery store to buy some. While they’re checking out at the cash register, two people come into the store waving guns around robbing the place. One robber is a man and the other is a woman. Everyone is terrified.

What happens next?


If you were going to finish the story or flesh out these characters, what would happen? ​

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Actually, before you finish the story, there are some other things you need to develop. Ask yourself these questions.

The people robbing the store…who are they? Are they a couple? Are they bad people? Is one of them the leader and the other one reluctant? Why are they robbing the bank? Are they in a bad financial situation? Are they being forced or blackmailed to rob the store? 

We know that the man and his daughter are the protagonists that you’re rooting for - after all, the story is from their perspective. But villains have to have a reason for doing what they do, so make sure to establish their motives and personalities. 
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You also have to flesh out the story a bit. A man and his daughter are caught up in a robbery at a grocery store. OK. That’s the main plot. But there has to be more. You will need some subplots to take place. What’s important, however, is that the subplots tie into the main plot of the robbery in some way. 
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Some Ideas


What could you use as a subplot? Here are a few ideas.

*The store owner tries to be a hero and is shot by the robbers and is losing blood. He is now in dire need of an ambulance, thus creating more tension and a new problem for everyone involved.

*A pregnant woman in the store goes into labor during the robbery.

*One of the robbers turns on the other.


See how many directions we could take this story? You could use one or all of these subplots. Constantly ask yourself "What if?"

The robbery is obviously the main conflict but there has to be other conflicts within the bigger one. You want to keep the reader on the edge of their seat.

Alright. So. In my mystery crime thriller, Who Killed Joel Larson, the mystery of who killed Joel is obviously the main plot. We follow a depressed police detective named Maggie as she tries to solve the case. But there HAS to be more to the story here. One police detective trying to solve a murder case is simple and could be boring. So this is where the subplots kick in, and basically, I decided to make Maggie’s life a living hell. I put a lot of things in her way of solving the crime. 

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The subplots of Who Killed Joel Larson?


I’ll start easy. One of the themes of the book is mental illness. Joel Larson suffered from several, and Maggie suffers mentally from bipolar disorder. Unless you have a mental illness, you really don't know what it’s like. And in reading from Maggie’s perspective, you get a first-hand account of how her mental state affects her job, family and relationships. When she gets depressed, it can linger for months and it affects her self esteem greatly. Because of this, her job performance hasn’t been sufficient in a long time and she will be fired or demoted if she doesn’t solve the Joel Larson murder. 

OK, so we have a bipolar detective trying to solve a murder. What did I create for subplots?



Subplot #1: Maggie’s daughter disappears from school.

Like I said, I wanted to make Maggie’s life a living hell. What’s the worst nightmare of any parent? Losing their child. Maggie’s adopted daughter Mallory went missing and this brings out a new anguished, desperate side of Maggie’s personality. I could have stopped there. I could have just had Maggie struggling with bipolar and get sidetracked from the Joel Larson case by her daughter’s disappearance. But nope! I was just getting started.


Subplot #2: Terrorists target the protagonist.

This is a novel, so a bipolar detective searching for her daughter and trying to solve a murder mystery isn’t enough to fill the pages. Another thing Maggie has to watch out for is a group of terrorists called The Jaspers. The group disbanded years ago but have begun killing again and make it public that Maggie and her gruff boss, Commissioner Mickey, are next on their hit list. So in addition to solving Joel’s murder and looking for her daughter, Maggie has to watch her back against the Jaspers, who can attack her at any time.


Subplot #3: Maggie’s ex-boyfriend (a ruthless journalist) is out to solve Joel’s murder first and publicly humilates her.
As if Maggie didn’t have enough problems! Her ex-boyfriend (Lamont Jackson) became a famous journalist several years ago after they broke up. He never got over her. When he starts interviewing people to solve Joel’s murder, people are far more willing to talk to him than Maggie. To twist the knife, he exposes a bad secret from Maggie’s past - that she accidentally ran over a five year-old black child when she was a teenager. In the era of Black Lives Matter, Maggie’s reputation takes a huge hit. 

OK. So there are a total of four plots in this novel including the main one. Some of these arcs are resolved quickly, but others linger on for far longer. For example, Lamont Jackson greatly antagonizes Maggie but it isn’t too long before the two reconcile at the funeral of a mutual friend. They decide to work together to solve Joel’s murder, and Lamont also wishes to help Maggie locate her lost daughter. Shortly after their newfound partnership begins, PLOT TWIST! Lamont mysteriously dies of a drug overdose, something that Maggie immeidieatly suspects is fishy.

By contrast, the disappearance of Maggie’s daughter Mallory lingers on for a much longer length of time. Maggie already suffers from anxiety and depression, so the longer her daughter is gone, the worse she feels.

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via GIPHY

Great Subplots In Popular Films


You know a subplot is a good one when you could easily use it as the main story. Two  of my favorite subplots are in films such as Batman Returns and The Lion King.

In The Lion King, Simba meets Timon and Pumba right after the story’s darkest moments. This leads into a subplot of Simba embracing Hakuna Matata. In fact, Simba’s journey with Timon and Pumba is so entertaining that an entire film based on them would be exciting! (Apparently Disney agreed with me, because they produced Lion King 1 ½, which is the story told from Timon and Pumba’s perspective). Long story short, Timon and Pumba become the heart of The Lion King and provide a great subplot that eventually reroutes itself into the main one, as Simba’s new friends accompany him to battle Scar and the Hyenas during the film’s climax.

In another blog, I briefly touched upon Batman Returns. I noted how Catwoman’s character arc was done so well that, if edited a certain way, Catwoman could be the film’s hero while Batman and Max Shrek would be the villains. Catwoman’s journey is a great subplot; we watch her go from being a shy, lonely secretary to becoming a sexy vigilante.

While Penguin and Max Shrek are the true villains of the story, Catwoman is in a gray area. She wants revenge on Max Shrek for “killing her,” but aside from that, she isn’t interested in doing harm to anyone else. She’s more interested in seducing Batman than killing him, is disgusted when The Penguin kills the Ice Princess, and even saved a woman who was being mugged in an alley. If the film was re-shot entirely from her perspective, Shrek wouldn't change as her antagonist, but Batman would also be a villain for trying to stop her revenge quest, and the Penguin likely be a thorn in her side as well, especially after he betrayed her. 




via GIPHY


Any of the subplots in Who Killed Joel Larson could stand alone as its own story. For example, one character lost his wife to a disease and his young son is dying from the same illness. Desperate to save his son, he becomes the hitman for a crime boss to get the money to treat him. The story of a desperate anti-villain like this could easily be its own story, but it’s a subplot in mine. 

But remember that not every subplot that you write should be able to stand on its own as an independent story. Sometimes a minor subplot going on in the background can pay off huge! 

An example of this happens in Ghostbusters. Early in the movie, 
Peter Venkman does his damnest to win over Dana Barrett. Midway through the film, however, this subplot is somewhat left hanging until Dana is later possessed by Gozer, which ties her into the story’s main plot and climax. The  Peter/Dana romance could not serve as its own story. However, Dana serves as a brilliant plot device - the woman Peter failed to woo early in the film becomes possessed by the film's supernatural antagonist, giving Peter his own personal motivations to save the day.

I didn't realize this until writing this, but The Simpsons Movie is padded with subplots everywhere and it works well to round out the story. In addition to EPA trying to bomb Springfield and Homer undergoing a redemption arc, the following subplots occur:

*Homer adopts a pig.

*Bart feels appreciated by Flanders

*Lisa has a love interest

The Simpsons writers struggled for years to write a screenplay worthy of being a feature film. So they took the same approach I did with my novel - they fleshed out the story with subplots. Like in my novel, some of their subplots were minor but others were not. 
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via GIPHY

Take a look at the subplots featured in Who Killed Joel Larson? Available on Amazon on both paperback and ebook! 
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Purchase Who Killed Joel Larson Here! 

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Thriller versus Purple Rain

1/6/2022

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Have you ever played two albums back to back and took note of which one you enjoyed more? Did you ever sit there ready to pull your hair out because the songs were so good that you just couldn't decide? That's what happened to me, and hear are the results.

Wanna Be Startin Somethin v. Let's Go Crazy

Both songs kick off their respective albums brilliantly. Let’s Go Crazy opens with a synth resembling a funeral organ and Prince giving a eulogy. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered to get through this thing called Life.” After a dramatic buildup, Revolution drummer Bobby Z slams his foot on the bass drum pedal and ushers us into a loud, irresistible rock groove and is quickly joined in by Prince and the rest of the revolution. Let’s Go Crazy.

On the contrary, Wanna Be Startin Somethin doesn’t open with any Prince-type dramatics. Michael was all business. A programmed staccoto beat opens up the song. “BAM BAM BAM!” and you’re in. While Let’s Go Crazy is a heavy rock groove, WBSS is a funky, sweaty post-disco dance track. Michael adds a new rougher edge to his high tenor voice as he pleads and grunts throughout the track. The Swahili chant at the climax of the song is the most famous part.

Both songs are message songs - WBSS focuses on gossip while Let’s Go Crazy has a more religious ring to it. 

This is a tough pick, because both openers make a strong statement about who these men are and it highlights what their strengths. Michael, the song and dance man who is gradually abandoning his teen idol image. And Prince, one of the few black musicians since Chuck Berry with a real love of the electric guitar. 

Both songs are jams and this one comes down to a matter of taste. But me? I find WBSS a tad more irresistible, and I loved watching Michael perform this on his tours.

Winner? Wanna Be Startin Somethin

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Baby Be Mine v. Take Me With U

Both songs open with acoustic drum fills and are authentic, inoffensive pop songs. Baby Be Mine is a lush, mid-tempo number with a groove similar to Off The Wall’s Rock With You. To me, the best thing about the track is Michael’s soaring tenor voice. Michael became so renowned for his dancing - it’s songs like this that remind listeners that the man could sing. To me, his voice is easily the highlight of the track.

As for Take Me With U, it’s a duet with Apollonia. The best thing about this track to me are the visuals with the film. This song was played early in the film when Prince took Apollonia for a motorcycle ride early in their courtship. The song sounds like a bright sunny day, just like the one it represented in the film. It’s a happy song about romance - I can’t get mad at that. Also, I love the drums on this song. Prince added the tom-fills as overdubs, and they're brilliant. Also, this song is a rarity on the album in that the whole band played the song together. Though Prince was the producer, this one was a true group effort.

Still, I can’t resist the synth grooves of Baby Be Mine and Michael’s voice on that song. He was singing at the top of his voice, something he stopped doing after this album. For those reasons, I gotta roll with Mike here.

Winner - Baby Be Mine 

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The Beautiful Ones v. The Girl Is Mine 

The Beautiful Ones is one of my favorite Prince songs of all time. Along with Do Me Baby and Adore, this one is perhaps one of his greatest falsetto performances. The delicate sweet falsetto transforms into a deafening raspy roar by the time the song ends. I’m also impressed with the song musically. For starters, this is the first song on the album so far where Prince performed the entire song himself. That’s not Revolution drummer Bobby Z on the drums - that is a Linn LM-1 drum computer with a pitched down rim shot. The pleading groove of the song matches Prince’s vulnerable vocals. This one is a winner. One of the best on the album in this writer’s opinion.

Now onto The Girl Is Mine. This one is comparable to Prince’s Take Me With U in terms of its sugary pop sweetness. It isn’t a bad song, but in my opinion it’s the weakest one that Michael and Paul McCartney recorded together. (Check out their other songs, The Man and Say Say Say). Also this is the first album on Thriller where the musicians from the soft rock group Toto step in to provide the instrumentation. My favorite thing about the song is Michael and Paul arguing over the girl. Michael tells Paul in his falsetto whisper, “Paul, I told you. I’m a lover not a fighter.” This is perhaps the most entertaining thing about the song. Again, it’s not a bad song, but not as strong as the previously heard Wanna Be Startin Somethin and some of the other Thriller tracks. In comparing this innocent song to The Beautiful Ones, the winner is really clear here.

Winner? The Beautiful Ones
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Thriller v. Computer Blue

Now things are really starting to get competitive. Again, it’s all a matter of taste. But I’ll start with Thriller.

I used to view it as a generic post-disco pop song, but now I have more respect for it. There’s a lot going on that makes this song so damn catchy and memorable. The Linn-programmed beat and percussion, the guitar melodies, the creepy bass synth, etc. It’s a great dance track. Now if the music video was never made to go with this song, then this song would come across as weird and random. Because of its video and memorable images and lyrics, this is one of the most popular songs of all time. 

And there’s a new dimension to Michael’s singing. He’s still a tenor, sure. But there’s a creepy raspy tone inserted to convey the horror of the song’s lyrics. Also his layered background vocals are nothing short of amazing. There’s no doubt in my mind that this was the peak of Michael’s singing voice. Now onto The Purple One.

Computer Blue is another standout on Purple Rain. I love the bass groove and the guitar showmanship. There are no lyrics really…it’s just a melodic, experimental jam. The song’s melody is so pure. It sounded just as beautiful when Prince’s father played it on the piano in the movie. 

This is somewhat of a close one. But as much as I love Computer Blue, it sounds like a fun jam session while Thriller sounds more like a complete track. Both songs are diverse, but Prince’s lack of vocals hurt him in this one. Meanwhile, Michael went all out. 

Winner? Thriller

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Darling Nikki v. Beat It

There’s a funny story that Eddie Van Halen told in an interview. He said that Quincy Jones asked him to play on Beat It. Van Halen never did projects outside of the band, but Eddie’s bandmates were unavailable so he secretly recorded the guitar solo on the song anyway. “Who’s gonna know that I played on this black kid’s record?” I actually don’t view this as a racist statement. Rather, it just reminds me of how segregated music was back then.

Beat It is a legendary tune and you could argue that it paved the way for the music on Purple Rain. Michael was an R&B singer adopting a straight-up rock sound this time, and Prince would later have similar success doing the same. Back then, black singers were not writing and performing this kind of music. Michael was the first black artist to be accepted by MTV and Prince followed right behind him. 

Since I opened up by talking about Eddie Van Halan’s contribution to Beat It, I’ll go ahead and speak about the song. I will say that the opening bars to the song throws the listener for a loop right away. We get the haunting gong sounds of a Synclavier first, followed by a drum programmed loop. After four measures of this, BAM!!! We get a loud rock guitar melody accompanied by Toto’s Jeff Porcaro playing live drums. Like Wanna Be Startin Somethin earlier, this track is aggressive and in your face. But in a louder, more rock and roll kind of way. Like on Baby Be Mine, Michael sings at the top of his bright tenor voice but now there’s an urgency to it. He occasionally grunts, growls and makes funky kung-fu noises. “Just Beat it! Haw!!!”

The song is memorable for its video, choreography, the red jacket, and Eddie Van Halen’s guitar solo.

Darling Nikki is also a legendary song but for a different reason. It’s sexually explicit lyrics were the reason why Parental Advisory stickers were put on albums. Tipper Gore threw a fit when her 11 year-old daughter was caught listening to the song, and she founded the Parent Music Resource Center.

Controversy aside, this was never one of my favorite Prince songs. Like The Girl Is Mine from Thriller, this song isn’t bad by any means. But it just never resonated with me like the others. The Revolution is absent from the track, as Prince produced and performed it all on his own. 

Winner? Beat It

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When Doves Cry v. Billie Jean

I take back what I said earlier. THIS is when the albums get competitive! Personally, both songs are great but I don’t listen to them often because they have been played to death. Not only were they played to death, but they were played to death, resurrected and played to death again!! I’ll start with When Doves Cry.

Prince is a bold musician. When Doves Cry is a pop tune with no bassline. At all. That’s almost unheard of. It’s a sparse song, only a Linn-programmed beat (again with pitched down rim shots and claps, which is a trademark of Prince’s sound) , a wailing guitar and some moderate synths. 

This is also one of the songs on Purple Rain where Prince dares to compete with Michael vocally. His layered background vocals are amazing - the harmonies range from baritone to falsetto wails. The song’s lyrics represent the movie’s story perfectly. Also, this is another track penned entirely by Prince himself. Despite appearing in the music video, there is no Revolution on this song.

Now for Billie Jean.

Ironically, When Doves Cry is renowned for not having a bassline, but its bass groove is the key ingredient for Billie Jean. Louis Johnson (from the funk duo, The Brothers Johnson) played the bass guitar here. What’s special about it, however, was the way it was mixed. It was layered numerous times, giving it a depth that otherwise doesn’t exist. This is why Billie Jean is a hard song to replicate in a live performance. 

Another way it differs from When Doves Cry is that jazz musician N’dugu Chancler played live drums on the song, adding to its funk. In fact, Billie Jean is played by a team of established studio musicians such as Greg Phillinganes (synths) David Williams (guitar) and Bill Wolfer (synths).  

Both songs are funky and have lyrics about a turbulent relationship. Billie Jean tackles the issue of uncertain paternity, while When Doves Cry is about a couple in love who are having serious problems. 

I will say, I question whether or not the narrator in Billie Jean is telling the truth. The reason is because in the video, you see Michael shush Billie Jean’s neighbor before sneaking up the stairs to her apartment. The neighbor immediately calls the cops. She definitely recognized Michael and felt he had no business there.  It’s up in the air if Michael’s character was telling the truth. Like in the video for Thriller, Michael was again playing the hero and villain of his own story.

Both songs are deep and serve as the centerpiece for their respective albums. It’s a close one, but if I were tied to a chair and forced to pick, I’d go with Billie Jean.

Winner? Billie Jean

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Human Nature v. I Would Die 4 U

It REALLY hurts to do this one. Why am I tormenting myself like this? Better yet, why did these two have to make such great albums? 

I’ll start with Human Nature. It’s a nocturnal lullaby with one of the best melodies ever recorded. This was another of the advantages to having Toto work on this album. It was written by the band’s guitarist Steve Porcaro, and John Bettis added lyrics later. Steve’s bandmates thought the song was too “R&B” for them, so they passed on it. Quincy accidentally heard the song’s demo on a tape Steve sent him, and the rest is history.

This was one of my favorite songs to see Michael perform live. Michael always sang the song sweetly but with more of an edge while on stage, regardless of the tour. The live instrumentation also sounded heaps better than the studio version. This was a song written by a musician for musicians. When Toto didn’t record it for themselves and gave it to Michael, Quincy gave the song a polished sheen that kind of dilutes the groove for me. I much prefer the live versions of the song. Michael’s sweet and breathy falsetto still comes across as a winner here. Hell, this song overall is a winner. Period. I just prefer the live versions.

I Would Die 4 U. OK, my favorite Prince songs of all time are Erotic City, The Beautiful Ones, I Would Die 4 U, and Lady Cab Driver. So I am trying not to be biased here. But this is damn near the perfect pop song. I love the synths, the melody, the vocals, everything about it. 

As much as I adore Human Nature, I Would Die 4 U is my preference.

Winner: I Would Die 4 U

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Pretty Young Thing v. Baby I'm A Star


​This one is easy. I was never a fan of Baby I’m a star. This is the only song on Purple Rain that I don’t like and skip almost each time. The melody is weak and minimal. I just never liked the song. Why couldn't something stronger like Erotic City have taken this spot? 


PYT, however, has much more going for it. Michael opens and closes the song speaking in that quiet whispery voice of his. I find it hilarious and charming. The funk here is undeniable. It’s not as funky as Billie Jean, but it’s certainly a synth funk number. Michael’s versions of funk are not outright in your face like George Clinton, James Brown or Rick James. Instead, Michael polished his funk with synthesizers, giving songs like this one a more pop appeal. There’s not much I can really say about it though. I enjoy listening to it. It’s funky, it’s cute, it’s electric. I’m just kind of at a loss for words. 

Winner: Pretty Young Thing

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The Lady In My Life v. Purple Rain


I’ll start with The Lady in My Life. People to this day say that this is one of the best vocal performances Michael ever gave as an adult and I agree. Michael even said in his autobiography, Moonwalk, that he was having a hard time with this song for hours until Quincy pulled him aside and told him to “beg.” This song is another example of Quincy bringing out the best in Michael. 



When I was a kid, I didn’t care much for this one. It’s a soul ballad, and it doesn’t pick up until the last minute or so when Michael starts begging and pleading for this unnamed woman. It’s a good song, but it’s not one of my favorite Michael Jackson songs, nor is it one of my favorite songs in general. I would say that the album’s title track would be a better album closer, but having this long ballad as the fourth song would drag the pace of the album, so I can see why it was given the last spot.

Now for Purple Rain. This is Prince’s signature song and the one everyone was constantly singing when after died. I have to be in the mood to listen to it. It’s a slow rock groove and an epic one at that, but like The Lady In My Life, it doesn’t pick up until the climax. The guitar solos and the falsetto “Whoo-hooo-hoo-ooo–ooos” are brilliant. Those are the best moments in the song in my opinion but they don’t happen until the final moments. 


Winner: Purple Rain

So let’s do a round up of the winners. 

WBSS
Baby be mine
The beautiful ones
Thriller
Beat it
Billie Jean
I would die 4 u
PYT
Purple Rain

Thriller - 6
Purple Rain- 3

I actually thought it would be much closer, but Thriller basically wiped out Purple Rain. But again, some of these decisions were close ones. 

One final thought is that four of the songs on Purple Rain were recorded live the summer of 1983 and Prince added overdubs to them later in the studio. (Let's Go Crazy, I Would Die 4 U, Baby I'm A Star and Purple Rain) I can't help but wonder if the album would have been as strong if the live tracks were never polished and improved later? Prince re-recorded a lot of the lead vocals, added new parts, etc. The result was a masterpiece for sure. 

While I'm on that subject, while Thriller and Purple Rain may be the most famous albums by Prince and Michael, I think they had stronger albums. In my personal opinion, BAD is a stronger album than Thriller. I also find the Batman and Emancipation Prince albums to be stronger than Purple Rain. But that's my opinion. 

Anyway, thanks for reading and let me know which album you like better in the comments.

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My hilarious experiences with online dating

12/2/2021

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March 2021


Woman On Dating App: A.J., before we go any further, there's something I need to tell you.

Me: Okay.

Woman: I'm short.

Me: OK.

Woman: I'm a dwarf.

Me: Girl, don't insult yourself!

Woman: No, I mean....I'm a "little person." I'm 4'7. I have dwarfism. Do you still want to meet me?
PictureMy face while reading this revelation.

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I’ve never been shy around women. In fact, I learned in Kindergarten that the ladies love a man who can dance like Michael Jackson, so I kept on doing it and added more antics to my charm over the years. 

I never felt the need to try online dating because I was always good at flirting in person. Well, in the midst of the Doritto Jesse Jackson Pandemic (that sounds better than saying Covid 19, right?) online dating suddenly became an option worth considering. After all, I was divorced and a single parent to an (adorable) foster child at the time, so I decided to give it a go.  Between my smile and the pictures of my foster son (who was barely two months at the time) it wasn’t long before I got attention. 

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Facebook Dating App


First, I tried the Facebook dating app. Hey, if it's free, it's for me. The app is pretty simple. Like Tinder, you swipe left or right on other users. And, you can't communicate with anyone until you "match." Users can also add their Instagram photos to their profiles.

However, with the app being free, it also attracts evil doers who enjoy doing dastardly deeds. 

​As with any online dating app, Catfishing is possible, and some people will upload fake profiles in an attempt to scam money out of you. Also, the Facebook dating app is only an app, so it cannot be accessed on a computer. Eh, I'm kind of old school. I keep my cell phone on me like everyone else these days, but I prefer to use a computer overall, especially for this kind of thing.

I personally don't think any dating app is a sure thing, but if you want to meet someone and have a serious relationship, you might have to pull out that credit card. I've had more people waste my time on the FB app than any other app, but that's been my experience. I'd suggest using it for hookups. 

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Match.com


It wasn't long before I realized I would have to spend some money to meet people of better quality who were genuine about finding love. A friend of mine met his wife on Match.com, so I gave it a shot. 

I don’t have much to say about Match.com. In my experiences, most of the people I came across were more interested in hook-ups. One lady found me on Match and was in my apartment that same night. But in any case, I think you'll find a relationship easier on Eharmony than Match.com or Facebook. 
 
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Eharmony


You’ve seen the commercials for years. I always wondered if Eharmony was as legit as they say. This was my first time being single in 14 years, so I found myself in position to give it a shot, especially since I couldn’t find any serious prospects on Facebook and Match.com 


At first, Eharmony felt kind of lonely. I felt like I was the only person on there! It was like a ghost town and I thought I wasted my money. But things picked up quickly. Again, pictures of my infant foster son was reeling the ladies in.

Women on the app: You're a foster father! OMG you have such a big heart! What a man!

Me: Yes, I have a big heart...and oh, it's so lonely! And I don't know what the hell I'm doing with this drooling baby.

Women on the app: Let me cum over and help you...

Me: :)

I think Eharmony is probably the best of the bunch. The site takes a different approach to online dating.

When you first register, you take a detailed 45-minute questionnaire. Your answers will match you up with like-minded prospects. Unlike Match.com and most other apps, Eharmony doesn’t allow you to search for people - the algorithm does it for you based on your personality. That's why the site felt lonely to me in the beginning - the only people you see are your matches. And well, if you have specific preferences like I do, you won't have many matches to view.


After you spend 25 years of your life doing the personality test, your personality traits are charted. You can compare yours to your matches and see how you match up in many distinct categories. It's very detailed, and you'll likely learn a lot not just about your matches but yourself. 


On Eharmony, you can answer “getting to know you” type questions on your profile that your prospects can read. 

“If I am in a bad mood, I……”

“My ideal first date…..”

“I spend my free time……”

So if you’re uncomfortable writing a lengthy introduction about yourself, you can answer the questions to let your matches learn about you.

In my experiences on Eharmony, many of the women are serious about finding long-term romance. That’s the good news. However, many women who contacted me live in other parts of the country or the world. Gorgeous, gorgeous women and we had some great conversations. 

But.....I’m just being honest - I’m not interested in having a long distance relationship with someone in Jamaica or California. It’s just not convenient. There's a shortage of women registered for Eharmony in my area who are in my preferences. That, to me, is the main disadvantage of the site. 

It's probably best to meet someone in person over a dating app. But, if I were forced to pick an app to use and find a lasting relationship, I would roll with Eharmony.


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Inside The Mind Of A Writer -Film, Character And Story Influences (Who KILLED Joel Larson?)

3/1/2021

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How well do you sleep at night? Sometimes, if you’re a writer, ideas race to your mind the second your head hits the pillow. You struggle like hell to sleep, but the best ideas keep hitting you and you find yourself almost constantly sitting up and writing things down before you lose it. Then your wife wakes up and glares at you for waking her. Nothing is worse than the wife glare of death!

This is what happened to me during the creation of most of my books but it happened the most with Who Killed Joel Larson? It was not until I had published the book that I was able to realize what films and characters had subconsciously inspired my writing. I thought I’d dive into that today. 

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Making Life HELL For Your Protagonist (Batman Forever)

Okay. I wanted a story with a great plot. In addition to the focal murder mystery narrative, I wanted to flesh things out with other subplots connected to the main story. This is where Batman Forever planted a seed.
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Batman Forever’s main story is about Batman stopping the hilarious Riddler and goofy Two-Face. That is the main goal of the protagonist. (Batman) But so much else takes place that makes this one hell of a movie, albeit a cartoony one. Take a look at this, courtesy of youtuber J’s Reviews. See his video here.
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Despite cramming all of these issues into a movie that is only an hour and half long, it works. There’s a lot for Batman to overcome. In the midst of his depression and battle with two super villains, he also has to take time to mentor his rebellious new ward Dick Grayson. He is also developing a relationship with a new love interest, Dr. Chase Meridian. 

​Likewise, there is a lot going on in Who Killed Joel Larson? The plots are as follows:

*Maggie Taylor will lose her job if she does not solve Joel Larson’s murder in a timely matter.

*A terrorist group reunites and confirms that Maggie is their next target.

*Maggie adopts a daughter who disappears from school.

*Maggie’s antagonistic ex-boyfriend destroys her public reputation and is en route to solving the case first.

*Maggie’s relationships with others is often complicated due to her battle with bipolar disorder.

That’s a hell of a lot for one person to deal with, and that’s what helps her character arc. Speaking of character arcs, that is where Rick Grimes from The Walking Dead steps in. 

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Characters have to be realistic. Some of them (especially the protagonist) need to evolve over the course of the story. Otherwise what's the point? Maggie Taylor begins the story as an anxious, depressed human being. She is somewhat of a tomboy version of Winnie The Pooh. However, due to the intense situations she is forced to deal with, she is pushed to the brink and ultimately becomes a warrior. Though she still suffers from her bipolar moods, she ends the story on a happy note. Well, not entirely if you have read the twist ending. But overall she grows tremendously as a person.

Did anyone inspire this character growth? Yes! Rick Grimes from The Walking Dead.
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Rick began the first season as an everyman. He was a good-natured cop before the zombie apocalypse began. Once the dead begin to rise and feed on the living, Rick holds on to his principals. He refuses to kill living people. He goes out of his way to save others, some of whom do not deserve it. He refuses to give up hope, regardless of how bleak the situation is. Because he is level-headed, other characters look up to him as a leader.

However, due to his good intentions sometimes getting people killed, Rick sometimes doubts his own leadership and eventually adapts to the violent world around him. By the end of season 2, he has become a hardened, ruthless individual. In the later seasons, Rick would occasionally he return to his moral code from early seasons, but he always reverts back to becoming a badass. It is the uncompromising violent Rick that kept him and his group alive for so long. The zombie apocalypse changed him tremendously as a person.
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Rick inspired me in other ways too. For example, Rick’s behavior was often influenced by those around him. Rick’s former best friend turned antagonist Shane Walsh planted the seed for Rick to become emotionless, violent and uncompromising. His father figures (Dale and later Hershel) helped him maintain his humanity. His sidekick Daryl is constantly his backbone, almost always giving Rick his full support. Michonne and Glenn are Rick’s conscience as well as secondary strategists. And then there’s his son Carl, whom Rick will do anything to protect. 

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Pictured above is what I consider a "Character Tree." If this were the solar system, the protagonist would be the sun and the supporting characters would be the planets. 

In the case of my protagonist Maggie Taylor, her husband Jacob would be Character C. Because he is confident and silly, he brings out Maggie's humorous side. She feels safe and secure with him.

You see, the Character Tree is much like real life. You act and feel certain ways around different people. For example, your boss may bring out an ill-tempered side of you, but your child at home brings out your playful and optimistic side. Characters in fiction are no different. No one is black or white. There's a lot of grey.

However, the Character Tree does not have to be as exact as you see it here. For example, Lamont Jackson (Maggie's vengeful ex-boyfriend) does a damn good job of humiliating and antagonizing her. He crushes her spirit and brings out Maggie's fearful and vulnerable side perhaps more than any other character. 


Her boss Commissioner Mickey becomes a caring mentor and father figure. It is his wisdom and mentoring that helps Maggie to keep a level head in tough situations. In contrast, Maggie does not get along with her racist and overbearing mother, who generally brings out her morose side. Something as subtle as the Character Tree brings realism to the story.

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Abby from "The Last Of Us Part 2" can be seen as the villain or the hero of the story depending on your perspective.

Perspectives, Villains and Anti-Villains
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(Spoilers for The Last Of Us) OK. Imagine you're a sweet but foul-mouthed 14 year-old girl. You have no family because a fungus has mutated most humans into vicious zombies. Mankind is hanging by a thread, but you have one person that you love -- A father figure who has saved your life and vice versa. With me so far?

Alright. Four years later, a mysterious and muscular woman named Abby comes from out of nowhere and blatantly murders your father figure. Naturally, Abby’s the villain, right? Well, midway through the game, the player is forced to switch roles and play as Abby, who, as we find out, is actually the story’s hero. Your father figure was the real monster all along, and you're following in his footsteps. 

I took inspiration from this. For example, in Who Killed Joel Larson? There is a minor character who recently lost his wife and his young son is currently dying from the same illness. The quickest way for this character to get the money to pay for his son’s operations is to become a hitman for a crime boss.

​So, is he doing the right thing (by saving his son’s life) or is he doing the wrong thing (by killing innocent people)? Either way, he is the anti-villain or the anti-hero hero depending on your perspective. Maybe you see him as a villain. Me personally? I see him as an anti-villain because he doesn't want to do these things, but loves his son and will do anything to save his life.

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Ahh, perspectives. This  was something I enjoyed playing with. Since Joel Larson’s body is discovered during the prologue, he is not available for the reader to get to know during the current timeline, so we rely on the perspective of others who knew him. But we get to know Joel during flashbacks. To get deeper perspective from Joel, a few of his journal entries are available throughout the novel. Joel was secretive with his journal, therefore no one read it until after his death. This will help you to draw your own conclusions about the guy. Was he purely a monster? Was he misunderstood? Were his mental illnesses to blame? Were the seeds of his bad behavior planted by poor parenting? You could argue that it could have been any or all of these things, but ultimately it’s up to you. 

The same is very true of Catwoman in Batman Returns. Her only real goal is to get revenge on the man who murdered her. Is she trying to kill everyone in her path? Is she a bad person overall? No. She may be mentally unstable, sure. But she also saves a woman from being mugged, and is more interested in seducing Batman than killing him. Still, although she does bad things sometimes, her reasons are well understood.

​If the movie were from her perspective, Batman would be the villain because he is trying desperately to stop her from achieving her goal of killing her former boss, Max Shreck. 


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Mystery, Suspense and Red Herrings


You know what? The first “Whodunit” I was ever intrigued by was a storyline from the WWE (then the WWF) In 1999, Stone Cold Steve Austin was run over by a limousine and out of action for 9 months or so. Everyone on the roster was a suspect. Although Austin was extremely popular with the fans, he was not popular with the other characters. He was a beer-drinking anti-hero who went by the motto, “Don’t Trust Anybody.”

During his absence, his long-time rival The Rock replaced him as the company’s top star. Likewise, the WWF’s top villain (Triple H) married the daughter of Vince McMahon (Steve’s arch nemesis) and dominated as the WWF champion. Naturally The Rock, Vince McMahon and Triple H were the top three suspects, but Austin did not get along with anybody (aside from announcer Jim Ross) so the list of potential suspects was as deep as the grand canyon.

This whodunit angle did not necessarily influence the Joel Larson mystery, but showed me how such a mystery should be handled. Like Stone Cold, Joel Larson was not Mr. Popularity. There's a short list of people who genuinely liked Joel Larson.

Samantha Larson- Joel's mother. She loved her son dearly and desperately wants to know who murdered him.

Jessica Larson- Joel's quiet and gothic sister. Close to her mother most of the time.


Terry Rossi -Joel's maternal grandfather. Despite always supporting Joel, he is a bad influence on him and regularly clashes with Samantha on raising him.  Because he is deceased in the current timeline, Terry is only present in a flashback and mentioned once in Joel’s journal. He was a wise-cracking character, but Joel may have turned out better if he lived longer.

Maria Sanchez -The closest thing to a girlfriend Joel ever had, and a really close friend in the short time they knew each other. The staff permanently separated them after they were caught doing something sexual. Both of them missed each other greatly, but never saw each other again. Maria is devastated by the death of her friend.

Evan Camden - A friend Joel saved during a seizure. Evan has Down syndrome, was a good kid and got adopted in Florida 

Peter and Donna Smith -An elderly couple Joel rescued from a wolf attack. They speak at his funeral. 

Father Clifford Stephens - An amusing priest adored by the students of Father Barry Catholic Middle & High School. He gives Joel wisdom during his teenage years. After Joel’s death, he expresses his sorrow on social media and gives the homily at Joel’s funeral. He is only seen in flashbacks and in one social media post.

Coach Jack William Wright -Jack becomes a huge fan of Joel after witnessing him knockout huge popular bully Clay Ross. Much like Father Stephens, Dr. Chung, and Joel’s grandfather Terry, Coach Wright is very supportive of Joel. He pleads with Principal Glover to allow him to nurture Joel’s gift and train him to be a boxer, but the close-minded Glover refuses. Coach Wright is regretful and devastated over Joel’s death. Like Father Stephens, he only appears in flashbacks and on a social media post.

Elijah Sanderson - Mae Sanderson’s 8 year-old grandson. Loved to hang out with Joel. Joel’s last real friend.

Compare this tiny list of Joel's allies to his looooonng list of enemies.


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The Suspects


Aaron Henson: A pedophile who lives across the street from Joel.

Kinky Christa: A sex worker who rejects Joel.

Jackie Larson: Joel's older brother. Joel attacked his wife and caused her to miscarry. As a result, Jackie has never forgiven Joel.

Kelly Patterson: An evangelist caretaker Joel attempted to rape.

Crazy Dan: A homeless alcoholic veteran who was near the crime scene.

​Mark Tupola: An effeminate caretaker beaten up badly by Joel.

Tiana Jones: A former colleague of Joel's. Joel fondled her at McDonald's and she threatened to kill him.

Amaya Turner: One of Joel's caretakers. Joel broke her windshield and knocked her out with his fist.

Mae Sanderson: A smug and jaded elderly caretaker who openly despises Joel.

Randy Venson: An innocent caretaker Joel frames to get arrested by the police.

Damon Richards: Maggie's new assistant. He's shy, introverted and secretive. 

Sarah Vaughn: The 21 year-old jogger who discovered Joel's body.

Clay Ross: A tough jock who bullies Joel in middle school.  He eventually has a sex change and becomes Clayannah Ross.

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Character Tropes


Naturally, there are certain types of characters needed in each story you tell. Everyone has to serve a purpose one way or another. Before I dwell into the different types of character tropes, here is a list of the main cast of Who KILLED Joel Larson?

Maggie Taylor (Protagonist) Insecure, timid, anxious and depressed. Desperate to save her job by solving the Joel Larson murder case and locate her missing daughter. Her life is complicated by her impatient boss Commissioner Mickey, her overbearing mother Rachel, a vengeful ex-boyfriend and a terrorist group out to kill her. Although she has enough problems, her bipolar diagnosis makes things harder.

Joel Larson   (Deuteragonist)   The 24 year-old mentally disabled man whose life and death are the focal point of the story. Joel was highly intelligent but had the maturity of a ten year-old child. He suffered from constipation,  autism, pathological laughter, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. He had a long history of racism, violence and both physical and sexual assault, but was on his way to redemption when he was murdered. However, a lot of his bad behavior was the result of his mental disorders and bad parenting. His biggest obsessions are losing his virginity and the late heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano.

Jacob Taylor:  Maggie’s friendly and concerned husband. He tries to keep her laughing and is always in her corner. Although he is a goofball, he is mentally tougher than Maggie. He is her backbone.

Commissioner Leonard Mickey: Maggie's gruff boss, and the most popular police officer in the city. So popular, in fact, that he is running for governor and en route to an easy victory. 


Lamont Jackson: Lamont is a famous journalist who is also the disgruntled ex-boyfriend of Maggie. He still resents her for breaking his heart years ago, and is actively out for revenge.

Dr. Theodore Chung: Joel's friendly psychologist. 

Mallory Taylor: Maggie's recently adopted daughter. She suddenly disappears from school one day.

The Jaspers: A group of terrorists who confirm that Maggie is their next target.

These are the main characters. Now let's go into which types of characters you see in nearly each film, book or general story. Pay close attention.



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In the Batman films, Bruce Wayne's butler Alfred always serves as the confidant character - the character that the protagonist reveals his real feelings and frustrations to. When Bruce vents to Alfred, he is actually venting to the audience.
Protagonist - The main character. He/she drives the plot and grows as the story progresses. This is their story and their perspective. In Who Killed Joel Larson? The protagonist is obviously Maggie Taylor.

Villain/Antagonist - The person who opposes the protagonist or hero. The antagonist doesn't always have to be a physical character. It would be a force of some sort, or something that the protagonist has to battle from within. Although antagonists are often evil or wicked, this is not always the case. Sometimes they are just standing in the way of the goal's of the protagonist or vice versa. In my novel there are several antagonists including Lamont Jackson, The Jaspers, Maggie's bipolar diagnosis and several other characters who will surprise you later in the story.

Tertiary Character - A character of minor importance but vital to the plot in some way. We know just enough important things about them to find them interesting. An example would be Glinda The Good Witch in The Wizard of Oz. She does not appear much, but plays a vital role in Dorothy's journey. In my story, many of the people Maggie interrogate fill this role.

Deuteragonist- The second most important character in the story. In some stories they support the protagonist. (Like Robin supporting Batman, for example). Other times the deuteragonist may also be the antagonist. Deuteragonists may even have their own subplot. In Who Killed Joel Larson? The deuteroagonist is obviously the title character.

Love Interest - Quite obvious. In my story, Maggie's husband is her love interest. Joel attempts to have several love interests but they never pan out.

Mentor/Confidant - The character the protagonist trusts the most. They could be a wise older person, a sidekick, a love interest, etc. When the protagonist confides in the confidant, they are actually speaking to the audience. In my novel, the confidant characters are primarily Maggie's husband Jacob and Commissioner Mickey. In his subplots, Joel Larson has a few characters he confides in, including Dr. Chung, Greg Smith and Father Stephens. 

Flat Characters - Minor characters who only appear once or don’t contribute much to the story. They're minor plot devices just to get from point A to point B. They could be a pet, a secretary, a mailman, a stranger, etc. Generally these characters may have one or two lines.

Foil Character - Someone who is the opposite of the protagonist but not always in a bad way. In my story, Jacob is Maggie's foil. She is depressed and anxious while he is confident and funny.

Anti-Hero - Someone who lacks heroic tendencies, but you wind up rooting for them. Sometimes the anti-hero is someone who doesn't want to be the hero, but they're somehow forced into doing the right thing. Maggie is something of an anti-hero early in the story. Likewise, Joel is an anti-hero in certain situations.

Anti-Villain - Someone who may be good character overall but does bad things for understandable reasons and ends up being a villain. Sometimes the person is forced into being a villain, much like the David Kessler character in An American Werewolf In London. In my novel, the hitman character I mentioned earlier in this essay is a perfect example of this. (He is part of a MAJOR plot twist).

False Protagonist - Someone whom you think is the lead character, but you discover a bit later that they are not the lead character. This character may die early in the story, or the focus will shift to another character as the protagonist. Sometimes you'll discover later that this person is actually the villain. There are no false protagonists in my story, but there are plot twists that will throw you off. (A character or two you think is a good character but they're really not, and vice versa).

False Antagonist - The opposite of a false protagonist. They appear to be the bad guy but you later discover that they are not the main villain or they were never the antagonist in the first place. Sometimes they wind up being the hero. There is one in my story but I won't spoil it. 

Hero Antagonist - A good character opposing a villain protagonist. Hero antagonists are only present if the main character is the villain. 

Villain Protagonist - The villain when he/she is the main character. In his subplots, Joel is a villain protagonist although he has moments of good.

Static Character - A character who does not change at all throughout the story. In my story, Maggie's mother Rachel is overbearing, racist and opinionated. She is this way at the beginning of the story, and the same at the conclusion.

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In the film, "An American Werewolf In London," the title character is a nice man who cannot control the gruesome violence he commits every full moon. Therefore he is the anti-villain of his own story.

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Who KILLED Joel Larson? 
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Ken Kirzinger As Jason Voorhees: An Analysis

2/21/2021

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To this day, Friday the 13th fans are pissed that Kane Hodder was replaced by Ken Kirzinger. But was Ken a bad choice?
Aside from the iconic hockey mask and machete, what do you think about when you hear the name Jason Voorhees? He’s obviously a monster who slashes almost anything in his path, but how does he move in your mind? Is he a slow, lumbering zombie capable of stealth and swift attacks? Despite his evil, are his eyes sad and sympathetic? Or perhaps he’s an angry, hulking monster that smashes everything and will not stop coming after you? Are his eyes full of rage?

Well, the first description describes the Jason Voorhees portrayed by Ken Kirzinger, the colossal Canadian giant who played Jason in Jason v. Freddy. The second description of Jason fits the style of Kane Hodder, who played Jason in four films and most recently in the Friday the 13th video game.  


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Kane Hodder is under the makeup here (Friday The 13th: The New Blood) His vengeful portrayal of Jason Voorhees was so successful that he wound up playing the character in four consecutive films.
To this day, Friday the 13th fans are upset that Kane Hodder was not invited back to play Jason in Freddy v. Jason. Director Ronny Yu wanted to go in a different direction. He wanted a “new Jason.” But, despite being a fan of Kane Hodder, I had to objectively ask myself, “Was this a bad thing?”

Before Kane Hodder wore the hockey mask, each actor that played Jason portrayed him a bit differently, although the overall style was the same. CJ Graham (Friday The 13th, Jason Lives) was the first to make noticeable changes. At the beginning of the film, Jason’s maggot infested corpse was struck by lightning and became more of a supernatural being. This Jason could not be hurt, had superhuman strength, and could seemingly teleport. Stealth was probably his greatest weapon in the film, as his victims could almost never see him coming.

The director for the next film (Friday The 13th, The New Blood) was friends with Kane Hodder and hired him to wear the mask for the next film. Kane’s version of Jason was a new animal altogether. Each movement and kill was done with an insane rage and power we’d never seen from the monster before. In addition, Kane developed his own vocabulary of movement for the character. This Jason would intimidate victims sometimes by just standing there, doing idle breaths. He would also move his head and the rest of his body would follow its lead in sync. Kane’s Jason was a hit with audiences and he wound up playing the characters for four consecutive films.

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Jason spooked the HELL out of Arsenio Hall by appearing on his late night talk show. Kane Hodder donned the costume to promote "Jason Takes Manhattan."
In Hodder’s portrayals, Jason spared no one. (However, Kane Hodder revealed in an interview that Jason would never hurt kids, as he was once a child victim himself). Kane was brilliant in the role, as he was able to communicate his anger, confusion, fear and other emotions using only his body and never his face.

Unfortunately, Kane developed a reputation for being difficult to work with behind the camera. There are stories that he would sometimes hold up production by arguing with the producers about what Jason would or would not do. 

Freddy v. Jason Director Ronny Yu wanted nothing to do with this. So he instead hired a lumbering stuntman from Canada named Ken Kirzinger. Ken was much more cooperative and just happy to have the part. With Ken wearing the hockey mask, Ronny would not have to worry about being intimidated by Kane Hodder. 

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Ken Kirzinger's 6'5 height only increased his intimidating presence.
Ronny had his own vision of Jason Voorhees. He wanted a slow, zombie monster in the vein of Frankenstein. This is why Jason suddenly went from being an angry hulking monster in the previous films to being a slow and silent killer in Freddy v. Jason. 

In Ronny’s movie, Jason is actually the lesser of two evils. Freddy is the evil mastermind. Jason is no saint obviously, but the movie shows him being bullied by his peers as a child. We also see Freddy manipulate his fear of water and love for his vengeful mother. Ronny wanted Jason to have “sensitive eyes.” Because of these vulnerabilities, Jason almost comes across as an anti-hero.

Kirzinger did not copy any of Hodder's signature Jason movements. Well, except for one. Like Hodder, Kirzinger's Jason would tilt his head to the side like a puppy whenever he was puzzled by something. It's almost adorable.
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Many say that Ken was basically sized up and given the part, which is true. But when you watch Freddy v. Jason, his size difference with Robert Englund makes a hell of a contrast. He towers over Freddy and everyone else in the movie. This heightens his intimidation factor.

When I finally sat down recently to watch the movie for the first time in years, it clicked. “I got it. I see Ronny’s vision.”

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If Kane Hodder had clashed with Freddy, the two would have been nearly the same height, and Jason's fierce rage would not have put him in position to be a sympathetic anti-hero.
On an interesting side note, this was not Ken Kirzinger's first time replacing Kane Hodder as Jason Voorhees. Kirzinger previously played Jason in a few brief scenes in Jason Takes Manhattan. Jason suddenly appears much leaner and taller during these scenes.

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Amusingly, Kirzinger played the owner of a NY diner in that movie who was flung into the wall by Jason.
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Kane Hodder, in the meantime, has been playing a lesser known horror creature - Victor Crawley in the Hatchet film series. Victor is a powerful and tragic figure like Jason, but a behaves more like a wild beast than a demon. 
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Kane Hodder as Victor Crawley in the Hatchet film series.
Kane Hodder will always be Jason Voorhees. However, Ken Kirzinger did his job well and his Jason was the perfect fit for what Ronny Yu set out to do. Kane’s raging Jason would have perhaps been a bigger threat to Freddy, but Kirzinger’s Jason came across as a misunderstood monster - the guy you almost felt bad for and wanted to beat Freddy. That is what Ronny was going for, and it worked.

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Ken Kirzinger was chosen to play Jason Voorhees because of his height and "sensitive eyes."
Kane Hodder is my favorite Jason Voorhees. But Ken Kirzinger did not do a bad job, (he's actually my second favorite) and I think it's unfair that people put him down just because his name isn't Kane Hodder.

What do you think?
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Who KILLED Joel Larson? The Suspects.....

2/15/2021

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The Main Cast
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Maggie Taylor (Protagonist) Insecure, timid, anxious and depressed. Desperate to save her job by solving the Joel Larson murder case and locate her missing daughter. Her life is complicated by her impatient boss Commissioner Mickey, her overbearing mother Rachel, a vengeful ex-boyfriend and a terrorist group out to kill her. Although she has enough problems, her bipolar diagnosis makes things harder.

Joel Larson   (D
euteragonist)   The 24 year-old mentally disabled man whose life and death are the focal point of the story. Joel was highly intelligent but had the maturity of a ten year-old child. He suffered from constipation,  autism, pathological laughter, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. He had a long history of racism, violence and both physical and sexual assault, but was on his way to redemption when he was murdered. However, a lot of his bad behavior was the result of his mental disorders and bad parenting.

Jacob Taylor:  Maggie’s friendly and concerned husband. He tries to keep her laughing and is always in her corner. Although he is a goofball, he is mentally tougher than Maggie. He is her backbone.

Commissioner Leonard Mickey: Maggie's gruff boss, and the most popular police officer in the city. So popular, in fact, that he is running for governor and en route to an easy victory. 


Lamont Jackson: Lamont is a famous journalist who is also the disgruntled ex-boyfriend of Maggie. He still resents her for breaking his heart years ago, and is actively out for revenge.

Dr. Theodore Chung: Joel's friendly psychologist. He also treats Maggie. 

Mallory Taylor: Maggie's recently adopted daughter. She suddenly disappears from school one day.

The Jaspers: A group of terrorists who confirm that Maggie is their next target.



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The Suspects
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Aaron Henson: A pedophile who lives across the street from Joel.

Kinky Christa: A sex worker who rejects Joel.

Jackie Larson: Joel's older brother. Joel attacked his wife and caused her to miscarry. As a result, Jackie has never forgiven Joel.

Kelly Patterson: An evangelist caretaker Joel attempted to rape.

Crazy Dan: A homeless alcoholic veteran who was near the crime scene.

​Mark Tupola: An effeminate caretaker beaten up badly by Joel.

Tiana Jones: A former colleague of Joel's. Joel fondled her at McDonald's and she threatened to kill him.

Amaya Turner: One of Joel's caretakers. Joel broke her windshield and knocked her out with his fist.

Mae Sanderson: A smug and jaded elderly caretaker who openly despises Joel.

Randy Venson: An innocent caretaker Joel frames to get arrested by the police.

Damon Richards: Maggie's new assistant. He's shy, introverted and secretive. 

Sarah Vaughn: The 21 year-old jogger who discovered Joel's body.


Author's Notes
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What's good? Thanks for reading. There are actually more characters and suspects than these people, but these characters are perhaps the most important. Here is a write-up of the full plot. 
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Purchase Who Killed Joel Larson? Here!

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A college student's review of "Who KILLED Joel Larson?"

2/10/2021

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Last week I came across this random email from a woman in Brazil. She said she was in college and well, I'll let you read what she wrote. Nothing kinky though, if that's what you were expecting...

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Who could say "no" to that? Not this guy! Ha! I replied thanking her for taking the time to read the novel and enjoying it enough to write a book report on it. That was quite the honor! She sent me the review and has yet to receive a grade on it. (She said she should have her grade in a few days). I asked her if I could share her essay on the book on my website to further promote the novel. She was excited by the idea! She even submitted a picture to go along with her essay. There are a few minor spoilers here, but she doesn't reveal the big reveals and surprises. So without delay, here is Vienna Oliveira's book report on my new novel, Who KILLED Joel Larson?

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Vienna Oliveira
What is it like to be inside the mind of a person struggling with intense mental turmoil? Imagine how it would affect your relationships and career? We get to experience this by witnessing two years in the life of a police detective named Maggie Taylor in the refreshing crime thriller, “Who Killed Joel Larson?” written by an award-winning journalist named A..J. Dugger III in Memphis, TN.

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This book is very different from typical murder mysteries. There are several storylines weaving in and around the main plot. In addition to solving the murder case, Maggie is confronted with other problems including a demanding boss, bipolar disorder, infertility, the disappearance of her adopted child, public humiliation, among other things.

The book takes place in a small fictional Tennessee town called Horono during the years 2020-22. However, there are many italicized flashbacks throughout the book. Since Joel Larson is discovered dead at the start of the book, these flashbacks are how we get to know Joel and witness his interactions with other people throughout his life and leading up to his sudden death. 

​The characters are presented realistically. Maggie Taylor is struggling with manic depression. Her self confidence is non-existent. She is a lean tomboy who wears her hair in a fishtail braid every day. Because of her mood disorder, she is failing at her job and her impatient boss Commissioner Mickey gives her one last case to solve. If Maggie does not solve Joel Larson’s murder in a timely matter, she will be fired. 



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Maggie’s support system is her husband, Jacob. He is Maggie’s foil, as he is very self confident and rather silly all the time. Commissioner Mickey begins as an antagonist boss to Maggie but the two bond over the course of the novel, developing a father-daughter type of bond. Other major characters include Maggie’s adopted pre-teen daughter Mallory, the town’s favored psychologist Dr. Theodore Chung, and of course Joel Larson himself, who is the focal point of most of the flashbacks. 

The supporting cast consists of Maggie’s overbearing parents, Joel Larson’s family, and the former colleagues, classmates and caretakers for Joel, most of whom have legit reasons to want him dead. One of the suspects is Aaron Henson, a pedophile who lives across the street from Joel. Others include Kelly Patterson, (the pretty blond evangelist who Joel attempted to rape) Tiana Jones, (a woman Joel fondled at McDonalds) Maggie's secretive new assistant Damon Richards, and a host of others including Joel’s own brother Jackie, who once held Joel at gunpoint after Joel attacked his pregnant wife and made her miscarry.

There are a LOT of suspects. I only named a few. 


Joel Larson’s murder may be the main plot but there are many other problems confronting Maggie. She is infertile, so she and her husband Jacob adopted two children. Maggie and her daughter Mallory do not bond right away. Just as they start to get comfortable with each other, Mallory disappears.

Maggie’s ex-boyfriend is now a famous journalist who is intent on using his resources to destroy her. Knowing her plight, he not only rushes to solve the case before her, but he humiliates her by exposing a fatal car accident from Maggie’s past where she carelessly (but accidentally) killed a five-year African American child named Donovan Mitchell. In the midst of the Black Lives Matter movement, the public is quick to turn on Maggie, who is a Jewish police officer. Her car is vandalized, she is bullied online, and the horror will not stop. The public views her as a racist child murderer.


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Just when you think Maggie has enough problems, more pop up. A defunct group of cop killers known as The Jaspers have reunited. They announce that Maggie and Commissioner Mickey are their next targets. Maggie has a lot to deal with and is fighting a mental illness on top of it. At times she can’t tell if her depression is maximizing her troubles or not.

In the midst of all of this happening to Maggie, we get many entertaining Joel Larson flashbacks. Since Joel's body was discovered during the prologue, these flashbacks are how we get to know him.

During his younger years, he ruins the kindergarten black history play, lifts up a nun’s dress, and finds other original ways to get into trouble.


Joel was sent to a mental hospital after trying to stab his father at age 17. We get a few glimpses of Joel’s time there, as well as his brief stint in a halfway house where he was released after knocking out the program’s director. Because of this, Joel was ordered to live in a house along where caretakers assisted him around the clock. 

Joel suffered from schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, frontal lobe autism and pathological laughing.

We get to view Joel through the perspective of others and even get to know Joel’s personal feelings by reading his journal. Joel wants to have a good heart but his diagnosis gets in the way. 

He is capable of doing heroic things, as he saved an old couple from a wolf attack and saved the life of a friend suffering from a seizure.

Still, he was rejected by a sex worker, he has racist outbursts, he has physically attacked a lot of  people (including his dentist), he obsesses over women, he has tried to rape women, etc. Joel’s only friends at the time of his death were his pet turtle and the animals in the forest near his home.

However, not only was Joel on the road to redemption when he was killed, but we also find out the understandable root of his anger later in the novel. By the end of the story, you will definitely feel sorry for him.


PictureDamn, Joel.

Maggie’s problems are eventually solved, but never in the way you’d expect. The author throws in many plot twists that will certainly catch you off guard. The story and characters may appear to go in a certain direction, but eventually the author redirects his readers. The reader is in Maggie’s shoes and she is generally just as surprised at the swerves and twists as we are. Red herrings are everywhere and planted at just the right times to throw you off.

I highly recommend this book. Not only is the story constantly moving forward and keeping you on edge, but the author writes in a straightforward way. Mr. Dugger paints a picture with his words so well that it’s like watching a movie. You can picture everything you read. The characters are well developed and realistic. Unlike other authors, he doesn’t waste time spending entire chapters focusing on character development. We get to know the suspects primarily when they are interrogated by Maggie, or in their interactions with Joel and Maggie. 

One minor character, for example, reluctantly becomes a hitman for a crime boss because it’s the quickest way he can get money to save his dying son. Another minor character was molested at a young age and copes by joining a Satanic cult. These are plots that could be novels of their own. Mr. Dugger has a wide imagination. You may think reading this that some of these subplots sound random, but trust me they are not. Everything adds up and ties into the main plot.

The pacing is well done. The story moves quickly in perpetual motion. Even when the action slows down a bit, it’s never boring and still leads you to the next inevitable shocker. The book's conclusion was quite a surprise and left me wanting more! Fans of this book will definitely desire a sequel.

I finished this entire novel in two days. The cliff hangers and constant plot twists made this one roller coaster ride of an experience. This is the best book I have read in a long time. 

-Vienna Oliveira


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Find out who KILLED Joel Larson by clicking here

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Mike Tyson's 5 Most Important Wins

11/15/2020

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​As the Tyson-Jones exhibition bout looms closer, I figured this would be a good time to discuss what I consider are Mike Tyson’s five most important wins. I had to think long and hard about this. Mike is an oddity in the sense that he’s the only all-time great heavyweight champion who lost most of his legacy fights. I am making my rankings based on his performance, competition, and where Tyson was at that time in his career.


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5) Brian Nielson 


​(Sixth Round Technical Knockout) 10-13-2001


In my opinion, this was the last time Tyson looked relatively good in the ring. He may have had some “good” moments in his later fights with Williams, McBride, etc. But he looked good here throughout and pummeled the big man into submission.

Throughout the six-round encounter, Tyson destroyed Brian with uppercuts and a relentless body attack. This impressed me because Tyson slowly became a headhunter after parting ways with Kevin Rooney in 1988. Tyson is also generally the type of fighter who fights in spurts. He assaults you with a string of thunderous blows, and if you withstand his shots, Tyson will stand there briefly and allow you to attack him back or clinch him. In this fight, however, Tyson maintained a more consistent attack then usual. With his thudding shots and constant assault, he reminded me of Rocky Marciano.

Brian went down in the third round, and Tyson beat on him until the fight was stopped in round six. I was in 10th grade when I watched this fight live and even then I knew Tyson was nothing like his former self. But he beat the hell out of Brian Nielson. After the match he said himself that he “isn’t a first round knockout anymore.”
​

I realize that Brian Nielson is no all-time great heavyweight. BUT Tyson’s performance here makes the list. This was the last time he looked good, and he actually won.

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4) Andrew Golota


Andrew Golota (Second Round No Contest) 10-20-2000

Unlike the Nielson fight, I don’t think Tyson looked good here. But Golota was a big name at the time, so this was an important win. Tyson floored the big man in the first round, but didn’t do much in the second round. No matter. Golota was mentally shattered from that knockdown and went on to quit. Given the fact that Tyson was becoming passive, I think Golota would have beaten him if he had more belief in himself and continued to fight. This was originally a second round TKO for Tyson until he tested positive for marijuna, which prompted the officials to make the fight officially a “no contest.”



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3) Razor Ruddock 1 & II



3) Razor Ruddock I and II  (Seventh Round Knockout, 12 Round Decision)

Mike was still in his prime years here, but no longer at his peak. Kevin Rooney was gone. When he left, so did Tyson’s head movement, body punching and combinations. Tyson was now most concerned with scoring bell-ringing hooks to the head to destroy his opponents. But the Ruddock fights make this list because they were arguably the toughest fights Tyson had that he actually went on to win. Also, Ruddock was a monster heavyweight at that time with a seemingly bright future at the time. After losing to Tyson, he was destroyed in two rounds by Lennox Lewis and then knocked further into obscurity by a young Tommy Morrison. But in his wars with Tyson, Ruddock cracked Tyson with some real leather. His uppercuts landed hard on Mike’s skull. Ruddock may have hit the ground several times in both fights, but overall he took Tyson’s punches well. 

Like I said, Tyson was no longer the perpetual motion machine that he was with Cus D’Amato and Kevin Rooney. That version of Tyson would have had an easier time with Ruddock. Still, considering he was losing his some skill, defense and punch accuracy, Tyson’s wins over Ruddock were impressive. And even in defeat, Ruddock put the heavyweight division on notice. Both men came out looking good, and to this day some people say Mike was never the same after his battles with Ruddock.


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2) Larry Holmes


Larry Holmes  (Fourth Round Knockout, 1-22-1988)
​

Ya know, Tyson may have been the betting favorite at the time, but I can understand why some fight fans would have predicted a win for the Eastern Assassin. 38 year-old Larry Holmes had twice the experience of 21 year-old Tyson. Larry had perhaps the best jab in heavyweight history, moved well, and had one of the best chins of all time. Larry was long past his peak here. He was flabby, out of shape, and previously inactive. This is all true, but I think the real problem was that he had an absolute peak Mike Tyson standing in front of him. Larry fought as if he were terrified of Tyson during the first three rounds. He fought Tyson the same way that Mitch Green did - running and holding. In the fourth round, Larry began to pop his signature jab and fight on his toes. This new strategy however, left him open. Tyson feinted a left jab and then sent a right hook crashing against Larry’s chin. Larry hit the deck, and it went downhill from there. After three knockdowns, Larry was counted out, suffering the only knockout loss of his long career. 

You could argue that a younger Larry Holmes would have given Tyson a tougher fight. But given Larry's technical flaw of not moving his head and dropping his left arm after flicking the jab, I think he'd always be open for Tyson's knockout bombs. Remember also that during Larry's years as champ, Cus D'Amato was in a quiet Catskill gym training a teenage Tyson on how to beat him. Tyson remembered his mentor's advice and destroyed the former champ.



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1) Michael Spinks


Michael Spinks (First round knockout, 6-27-1988)

For my number one pick, it came down to Tyson’s victories over Spinks and Berbrick. I picked Spinks because Spinks was, in my opinion, a better heavyweight than Berbrick. And with his 91-second demolition of Spinks, Tyson won the undisputed heavyweight championship. I realize that Spinks was scared to death and this wasn’t much of a fight. But considering that Spinks was one of the biggest names of the 1980s, was undefeated, and dropped the lineal title to Tyson, I have to put this one at #1.


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Who KILLED Joel Larson?

9/14/2020

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My upcoming crime novel asks the question: What kind of bastard would kill a mentally ill person? Well, someone killed Joel Larson, and the clock is ticking to discover who.

But there’s a lot more to the story than a mere murder mystery. The lead character, a 35 year-old police detective named Maggie Taylor, has a lot to overcome. Due to her anxiety and depression, she is failing at her job as a leading police detective. Her gruff boss, Commissioner Mickey, gives her one last case to solve before she is fired or demoted back to uniform. The case he assigns her is the recent murder of the autistic 24 year-old Joel Larson.

At the same time, Maggie and her husband Jacob are struggling to conceive a child. With things looking hopeless, they adopt two siblings from Germany; a two-month old infant named Roger and his 11 year-old sister, Mallory. It isn’t long before Mallory goes missing...

Another problem ensues when Maggie’s bitter ex-boyfriend, a famous journalist named Lamont Jackson, decides to investigate the murder himself and publish a book before Maggie can solve the case on her own. In addition to trying to get her fired, he destroys her reputation by exposing a terrible secret from her past. And I mean TERRIBLE!!!

In the meantime, there are rumors that a former terrorist group is getting back together. These terrorists used to murder police officers, and Maggie fears she may be the next target.

In addition to the many problems hitting her all at once, she has to overcome them while struggling internally with bipolar disorder. 

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Joel Larson
As these plots play out, there are flashbacks throughout the book so that the readers can get to know Joel Larson and his experiences growing up. Because of Joel’s violent past, the list of suspects is a mile long. There are plenty of people with motives to kill him, including his own family members and caretakers.

Who killed him? Was it the sex worker he tried to sleep with? Was it the pedophile across the street that Joel caught talking to a child? Was it the insane homeless man that terrorizes people in Joel's neighborhood? Or maybe it was one of the men he beat up or one of the women he sexually assaulted? The possibilities are endless.


Through the eyes of Maggie, the book gives you true insight on what life can be like with bipolar disorder and how it can affect your job, relationships and everyday life. At times, her confidence and energy are soaring high. Other times, something as minor as a mere look of disapproval from someone can send her spiraling into clinical depression and self-doubt. Her condition can amplify minor things into serious trauma, heightening her reactions in certain situations.

I have worked in several social work jobs with special needs people. Joel Larson is not based on one particular individual, but many of the clients I worked with over the years inspired his character.


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A frustrated detective. (Maggie Taylor)

Joel strives to be a good person, but his developmental difficulties and poor socialization constantly stand in his way. For example, asking him a simple question like "How are you doing?" will result in a detailed and annoying long-winded answer. 

Despite this, he saved the life of a friend suffering from a seizure. He rescued an elderly couple from a vicious wolf. He acts as a role model for an 8 year-old boy. He takes care of a pet turtle. He is very intelligent and articulate in book smarts but childish in maturity. He is impulsive, rarely thinking about the consequences of his actions. He is lonely, always in search of a friend or love interest. At the time of his death, the animals in the forest are his closest friends.


Have you seen the movie, Joker? If so, you’re familiar with pseudobulbar affect, which is involuntary laughter at inappropriate times. Joel suffers from this, which greatly hurts his socialization. He also suffers from low latent inhibition, causing him to overly process minor things that most people routinely look over. He was also diagnosed with frontal lobe autism spectrum disorder, bipolar 1 disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, schizophrenia and constipation. Yes, that's right. Constipation.
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The book also takes a personal look at his family and caretakers. Like many people who are forced into group homes or psychiatric facilities, Joel feels abandoned by his family, as they can no longer put up with his violent behavior. (Joel was sent away at age 17 after attempting to stab his father with a knife). 

Joel’s caretakers have a high turnover rate, as he regularly physically attacks  the men. The women are not spared, as they are sometimes sexually and physically assaulted. 

Some of Joel’s caretakers make an effort to get to know him and build successful rapports with the young man. Others are indifferent and there just for the paycheck. People working as direct service supporters generally fall into one category or the other. Joel is often racist and homophobic, sometimes giving African American and homosexual caretakers the hardest time.


Realizing early in life that he packs a hell of a punch, Joel's biggest goals in life are to become an undefeated heavyweight boxing champion like his hero Rocky Marciano. His other obsession is losing his virginity.

As the book progresses, character alliances sometimes shift, people die, and plot twists are at nearly every turn.


I had been aiming to write a novel for years, but could never decide on what story to tell. I came up with the murder concept, then kept adding subplots that added more suspense and flesh to the story. I've actually written several drafts of it, but I discovered that it's best to let the characters dictate the direction of the story. This might sound silly, but I really got to know these fictional people I created. And it hurt like hell to kill some of them off! 

I planned to have the book published by now, but new ideas and plot twists kept hitting me at the last minute. 


Who murdered Joel Larson? What happened to Maggie’s daughter? Will Maggie overcome all of the problems mounted against her? 

​Read Who Killed Joel Larson to find out! Coming Fall 2020


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Jack Johnson v. "Two-Ton" Tony Galento

3/16/2020

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I know. I know… Jack Johnson was a real legend and trailblazer. The first African American heavyweight champion and arguably the best defensive fighter in history. And yes, I’m matching him against a guy that few people outside of boxing have ever heard of. A guy who literally trained by eating hot dogs, spaghetti and drinking beer. A guy who boxed against kangaroos for publicity. I'm not making any of this up. And for those of you who know who Galento was, you probably feel that Galento doesn't belong in the same sentence as Jack Johnson.

But Two-Ton Tony Galento was a better fighter than given credit for. His left hook was a bomb of a punch, comparable to Sonny Liston. Galento is most known for scoring a flash knockdown over Joe Louis using that very punch. 

Galento had an aggressive brawling style that was not used yet during Jack Johnson’s time, and Galento had fierce power, capable of dropping anyone if they’re not careful. Jack may have been a masterful defensive fighter, but against the style and power of a guy like Galento, does Jack survive and get the duke?

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"Two Tons" of Power

He was sloppy. He was crude. He lacked skill, speed, finesse and grace in the ring. But the boy could punch, and given Jack Johnson’s suspect chin, Tony has a chance in this fight. But before we get to that, let’s dissect Tony’s career and style. My primary focus will be on his most famous fight, where he twice hurt The Brown Bomber Joe Louis, even flooring him once.

Joe Louis was in his prime and destroying his opposition so quickly and easily that his opponents were nicknamed “Bums of the month.” Joe wound up being heavyweight champion for nearly 12 years and defended the championship a record 25 times. One of the guys he defended his crown against during this time was “Two-Ton” Tony Galento.

Tony was one of boxing’s first trash talkers. When asked once about Joe Louis, Tony replied by saying, “I’ve never heard of the bum.” 

During the weeks leading up to their fight, Tony would repeatedly call Louis and say, “I’m gonna moida ya bum,” and then slam down the receiver. Louis generally kept a stoic face and a cool head, but Galento wound up being one of the few fighters to piss him off. Louis even said to a reporter before the fight, “Why is that little fat man calling me a bum?” Not only did Galento hurt Joe in the ring, but he hurt the champ's feelings :(

Louis and Galento both sat down to discuss their infamous battle together in the video below. They went into detail on everything, including Joe mentioning how he planned to carry Tony for a long time to punish him for his trash talk, but got upset when Tony knocked him down, so he decided to end it fast. I must also point out that Joe always ended things quickly when an opponent hurt him or was a major threat to him. Galento is a great example of this, as was Max Baer, Jack Roper, Max Schmeling (rematch) and others.


​
Galento fought like a lazy, stinky, defenseless, sloppy version of Rocky Marciano. He crouched at Louis during the first round, eating jabs. He wobbled him with a left hook in the first round, but went down himself during the same round. Bleeding like a pig, Galento managed to send Louis sprawling to the canvas in the third round. With murder in his eyes, the champion destroyed Galento with a series of vicious hooks and uppercuts in the fourth round, humiliating the little fat man who called him a bum.
​

This was Louis’ 7th title defense of 25. The champion only got better, but it was Galento, Jersey Joe Walcott and Billy Conn who gave him his biggest scares.

​Back to Galento. “The little fat man” was very confident in his left hook because throwing the right hand threw him off balance. Of course, Galento's poor balance is partially the reason he wound up on the floor the first time against The Brown Bomber.

​There has been a lot written about Jack Johnson and I won’t be repeating what other writers have said about how legendary and great he was in the ring. But let’s examine how he would react if he were in the ring with Tony Galento.


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As I said before, the aggressive style of Galento was not yet in existence when Jack Johnson was fighting. Jack Dempsey dominated after Johnson’s retirement, and was the first fighter to aggressively dash forward while bobbing and weaving in a crouch while destroying guys left and right with a brutal left hook from hell. Rocky Marciano, Joe Frazier and Mike Tyson all borrowed the blueprint of this style from Dempsey. Tony Galento was also a Dempsey protege, but obviously lacked the finesse of the men I just mentioned. But what he didn’t lack was supreme confidence, bombastic punching power and will.  Those three attributes can take you far in boxing.

In Johnson’s day, guys were not yet crouching at each other. Everything was about circling and sizing each other up, waiting on the other man to attack. Jack always had his hands up ready to counter or parry. He generally fought patiently during the early rounds, and gradually became more and more assertive as his opponent got winded and discouraged. Like Ali, Louis, Holmes and Wladimir Klitschko after him, Johnson could be very patient and didn’t take any unnecessary risks. 


Even though he fought out of a crouch, the sloppy Galento was not difficult to hit. His bobbing and weaving was minimal. Galento seemed to be more concerned with planning his own attack than worrying about what the other guy would do. Louis basically hit him at will and could have knocked him out in the first round if he wanted to, but chose to carry him a few rounds and punish him. This is what led to Galento nearly knocking him out in that fight. Galento is not the kind of fighter you wanna waltz with. He was dangerous and unpredictable.
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This would be a catch 22 for Johnson. Johnson had hand speed similar to Louis, but lacked his crushing power. (I’m not saying Johnson couldn’t punch, but he obviously couldn’t bang like Louis) But like Louis, Johnson would probably be able to pick his spots and pound Galento whenever he felt like it. However, patiently stretching the length of the fight means that Galento would be given plenty of opportunities to surprise Johnson.

If Galento blasts Johnson to the ground with his fierce left hook, what happens next? This, to me, is the key to the entire fight. Let’s look at Johnson’s chin and heart. Before his prime, he was knocked out by Klondike and Choynski. He was only knocked out once more in his lifetime, and this when he lost the title to Jess Willard. Johnson was no longer fit and far from his best by that point. There are rumors that he threw the fight, but I don’t think so. Despite the footage being grainy, you can still clearly see Willard knock the wind out of Johnson’s chest at one point. When Willard hurt Johnson with the knockout punch, Johnson attempted to hold on to him to keep from going down, but failed and hit the deck anyway. He was a tired, old, overweight fighter. It was amazing that he hung in there for almost 26 rounds against a much bigger, younger opponent.

During his prime years, Johnson was decked by a middleweight fighter named Stanley Ketchel. Many people point to this knockdown and say Johnson had a bad chin considering he was hurt bad by a middleweight fighter. But the popular story is that the fight was a scripted affair, and, seeing his chance, Stanley went off script and decided to smash Johnson. A surprised Johnson went down, and returned the favor with his own brutal haymaker. The punch not only put Stanley to sleep, but it knocked his teeth out. (You see Johnson smearing Stanley's teeth off his glove immedieatly following the knockout).

This may have been the hardest punch Johnson landed in his life, similar to the punch Hasim Rahman destroyed Lennox Lewis with. The problem with these kinds of punches is that you have to wind up for them, leaving you wide open for a counter while also giving your opponent enough time to escape. Fortuneatly, Johnson rarely threw this kind of punch. But Galento? It was his specialty, especially his left hook.

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Who Wins?


​I see this as a repeat of Galento’s fight with Louis, only longer. Jack would have to adjust to Tony’s crouching aggression, but I think in a short time he’d frustrate him by countering and wrapping him up in clinches. Knowing Jack, he'd be smiling while he does it. Easy sparring session. Or so he thinks.

Johnson would be having an easy night and having his way until Galento inevitably lands his monster left hook. Jack would be overconfident and I could definitely see him getting a tad careless and getting blasted by a thunderous Galento left hook to the chin.

I see Johnson crashing to the ground in a daze, but quickly getting up with fury as he did against Stanley. Now it turns into a fight! Johnson would be able to see Galento’s wild haymakers coming a mile away, and counter him easily but now with more bite. Galento would be eating some real leather here, and Johnson would wrap him up in clinches and tire him out further. Galento had a great chin. His biggest knockout losses were to Joe Louis and Max Baer, two of the best all-time sluggers of all time.


Johnson wins here by TKO, but it wouldn’t be Johnson’s punch that would do it. Galento would be tired, faded and defenseless. This one ends by technical knockout late in the fight.

Jack Johnson wins by TKO in round 13 or so.

​Although I pick Jack to win, I must also note that I don't think anyone should be careless against Galento. Not even for a second. Louis wasn't careless, but Tony happened to hit him when he was in the midst of throwing his own punch. Pure luck, but still. Seeing Galento standing over a fallen Joe Louis shows that Galento might just luck up against anyone. 
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    Award-Winning Journalist A.J. Dugger III

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    A.J. Dugger is an Award-Winning Television and Print & Media Journalist.

    He appears as a crime analyst on the TV-One crime series, For My Man, and is the author of four books: Black Journals,  the horror anthology SoUtHeRn TeRrOr, the mystery crime thriller Who KILLED Joel Larson? and The Dealers: Then and Now, the sensational story of his mother and uncles' career as a funk band.

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