South Carolina Comicon 2019

Greetings and Salutations fandom fans!

On Saturday, March 9th, my travels took me back to Greenville, South Carolina to once again attend SC Comicon 2019. 

The weather was rainy the whole way there, though thankfully the rain slacked off to a light drizzle when I arrived. All the same I did end up catching a small 24 hour bug following the trip that ended up making me sick enough to miss work the next day. 

However, given the fun time I had and my main reason for going, I consider it a pretty fair trade off. 

The following are the photos I took from my visit to SC Comicon 2019 at the Greenville Convention Center.

"I wanna drive too, but I have these
really stubby little arms!"

Thank you for the photo Mario and Luigi,
but your princess is in another castle.

No thanks, I'm not hungry.

Have y'all seen any Daleks around here?

Professors Dumbledore & McGonagall cosplayers
from the Harry Potter franchise.

Chewie wanted a hug. I gave it to him.
My back hasn't been the same since.

Rocket Racoon from Marvel's
Guardians of the Galaxy.

These four lovely gals cosplaying the Sailor Scouts
from Sailor Moon.

Three Harley Quinns.

Venellope & Fix-It Felix Jr. cosplayers
from Disney's Wreck It Ralph.

Beautiful Disney's Moana cosplayer.

The highlight of my visit to SC Comicon 2019 was meeting several former WWE Hall of Famers and former NWA/WCW wrestlers in attendance. These were guys that I have known from television since I was a teenager back in the late 80s and early 90s, and cheered on as babyfaces (good guy wrestlers) and booed as heels (bad guy wrestlers).

One in particular was none other than WWE Hall of Famer and best selling author, Mick Foley (aka Cactus Jack/Mankind/Dude Love), a personal favorite of mine from his early years in WCW as Cactus Jack in the late 80s and later on in ECW and the WWF/E. 

One of my personal favorites, WWE Hall of Famer and former
member of the Four Horsemen stable,
Mr "Double-A" Arn Anderson.

Yours truly posing with WWE Hall of Famer Road Warrior
Animal of the Legion Of Doom tag team.

My favorite moment of SC Comicon 2019, meeting best
selling author and WWE Hall of Famer, Mr Mick Foley (aka
Cactus Jack/Dude Love/Mankind).
I totally Had A Nice Day -- "Bang Bang!"

I hope y'all enjoyed my photos as much as I enjoy sharing them. My next fandom photos will hopefully be in June when I return to Charlotte, North Carolina for HeroesCon 2019.

Until next time have a wonderful Dixie day, and y'all come back now, ya hear?  

Justice Or Vengance? The Tragic Hanging Of Amy Spain

Engraving that appeared in the September 30, 1865 edition of
Harper's Weekly depicting the hanging of former slave
Amy Spain by Confederate soldiers and the citizens of
Darlington, South Carolina.

On Friday, March 10, 1865, Confederate soldiers and the citizens of Darlington, South Carolina hanged a young African-American former slave named Amy Spain from a sycamore tree on the courthouse lawn.

The month before, elements of Union Major General William T. Sherman's invading army arrived in Darlington sometime in late February of 1865 following the destruction of the South Carolina State capitol of Columbia earlier in same month. The federal troops burned down the depot, cotton platforms and railroad trestles in 1865. The Union troops also did some foraging (or looting depending on one's definition of the term).

Despite the destruction inflicted on much of the rest of the State, the Union soldiers did not completely destroy Darlington -- this owing to the fact that the commander of the Union forces sent there, a former architect, upon arrival saw a house that he had designed, and ordered that the house and the rest of the town be left standing, destroying only equipment that was of military use.

A large number of Darlington’s white residents had deserted the area as Union forces approached, and many of the African-American slaves in the area believed the arrival of the Yankee soldiers marked the end of bondage.

Amy Spain, then a 17 year old girl described by some as a "mulatto" because of her light skin, had been the property of Major Albertus C. Spain, a veteran of the Mexican–American War who had been a member of the South Carolina Secession Convention.

According to some sources, upon seeing the blue-coated soldiers arriving, Spain is reported to have exclaimed in jubilation, "Oh bless the Lord, the Yankees have come!"

In their foraging and looting of the now empty homes, the Union soldiers did nothing to prevent the newly liberated slaves from taking whatever belongings that had been left behind by their now former owners.

Spain and her brother Willie dragged some mahogany furniture from an abandoned warehouse, and later took "linens, sheets, pillow cases, flour, sugar, lard, and some furniture" from the home of their now former master -- compensation for the years of work done without being paid as a slave.

Soon the Union forces moved on north from Darlington towards the small town of Cheraw and then on to North Carolina. Many of the town's white residents returned, thankful that most of their homes were still standing, but also angry to find nearly all of them looted while many of the local slave owners found that "their people" had deserted with the victorious Yankees.

A short time later Confederate troops led by General Joseph "Fighting Joe" Wheeler re-occupied the town.

Some of those residents who had stayed behind during the Union occupation, including a few of the slaves themselves, reported that Spain had been the "ringleader" of the looting, and accused her specifically of guiding Union troops to places where valuables had been hidden.

Unfortunately for the young woman, Spain was captured and later charged by a Confederate military tribunal -- which was little more than a drumhead trial -- on the charges of looting, insurrection, and treason (the latter specifically stated as "conduct unbecoming of a slave"). The retired Major Spain reportedly acted as her defense counsel in spite of her actions, though he was unable to sway the Confederate officers in finding her guilty on all charges.

As were the case in most military tribunals like this, the convictions and punishments were both swift, and any appeals were denied.

Spain was sentenced to death and hanged from a sycamore tree in the Darlington town square on Friday, March 10, 1865. The location of her final resting place is unknown.

After the war, the town was again occupied by federal troops during the Reconstruction Era which were not withdrawn again until 1871.

Should Amy Spain have been found guilty of the charges?

As a slave she was not legally a citizen of the State. No matter her legal status as a slave, or otherwise, she was not one of Sherman's Bummers, nor a member of the military. As a civilian should she have been tried under military tribunal?

This later point can be argued from both sides of the legal arguments about the role of the military during a state of emergency -- which was certainly what Sherman's march through the Carolinas could be called. Under 19th century military law, civilians can be punished and sentenced to death for looting during a state of emergency when a state, or territory, is under military occupation and active civilian authority is unavailable.

Yet, despite the fact Spain was not the only former slave captured after the looting of Darlington, she was the one singled out to take the punishment of the actions of many others. This seems more like the Confederate military were trying to make her an example as no other recaptured slave was tried, or sentenced to death. If so, then the actions of Wheeler's men could be considered a war crime.

Was her punishment justified, or a petty act of vengeance? Justice, or racism? Maybe a bit of both with one act used in justifying the other?

Now matter how one sees the incident, the hanging of Amy Spain is another tragic footnote in the much larger story of the suffering inflicted on the peoples of South Carolina during the War Between The States -- all of them are stories that deserves to be remembered.

This blogger would like to thank the South Carolina Department of Archives and History for their help in contributing to the information in this article.

The Veterans Cross Of Honor

 

The Veterans Cross of Honor   

By H.H. Stevens  

 

How dear to the heart of each grey-headed soldier
Are the thoughts of the days when all wore the gray!
While memory recalls every trial and danger
And scenes of the past live in battle array.

Though long since discarding our arms and equipment
There's one thing a veteran most surely will note:
The first thing he sees on the form of a comrade
is the little bronze cross he wears on his coat.
"How much did it cost," said a man to a soldier,
"That little flat cross you wear on your coat?"

"A fortune in money," he said to the stranger,
"And four years of marching and fighting to boot."
The wealth of the world cannot purchase this emblem,
Except the buyer wore the gray too;
For it shows to mankind the marks of a hero --
A man who to honor and country was true.

Then let us be proud of this emblem of honor,
And wear it with spirit both loyal and bold;
Fraternally welcome each one who supports it,
With love in our hearts for the comrade of old.
Each day musters out whole battalions of wearers,
And soon will be missed this token so dear;
But ages to come will remember with honor
The man who'd the right this bronze emblem to wear.

(This poem was published in 1908 in the Confederate Veteran magazine.)

Taking The "If Sex Were A Crime" 75 Question Challenge (NSFW)

Greetings and Salutations, Y'all!

Today this blogger is going to do something a bit different. Today I am going to take a somewhat interesting and personally revealing test: the "If Sex Were A Crime How Long Would You Be Locked Up?" 75 Question Challenge.

This challenge is based on an internet meme of the same name, though with far more detailed questions, some of which are a bit more revealing that others  A shout out to my friend and former co-worker, Jennifer P. who came up with this quiz/challenge.

Here is how this test works.

For every positive response to the question, add the amount of jail time posted at the end of each question to your total score.

I am told the total amount of time one would serve would be 159 years maximum if all 70 questions were answered in a positive. Anything below 50 years is considered average. Between 51 - 100 years is considered adventurous. Above 100 years is considered expert love criminal.

Here is the quiz/challenge:

Yes, handcuffs are definitely a thing in this challenge.

If Sex Was A Crime How Long Would You Be Locked Up?
75 Question Challenge

(1) Had a one-night-stand? (1 year)

(2) Had sex in a shower or tub? (1 year)

(3) Watched or own pornography? (1 year)

(4) Had sex in a car or van? (2 years)

(5) Had sex in a bed neither of you owned? (2 years)

(6) Had sex with the lights on? (2 years)

(7) Had sex in public? (3 years)

(8) Had sex while drunk? (2 years)

(9) Had sex in the dark? (1 year)

(10) Had sex with a friend? (2 years)

(11) Had sex while high? (2 years)

(12) Had sex to loud music? (2 years) 

(13) Had sex in candlelight? (2 years) 

(14) Had sex outside? (3 years) 

(15) Had sex with a stranger? (2 years)

(16) Been in a threesome or an orgy? (4 years) 

(17) Ever joined the Mile-High Club? (3 years) 

(18) Made a sex tape? (2 years) 

(19) Had sex before you were 18? (2 years)

(20) Had sex with the same sex? (3 years)

(21) Had sex with an ex? (2 years) 

(22) Preformed or had anal done to you - pegging? (3 years) 

(23) Been tied up or handcuffed during sex? (3 years)

(24) Preformed BDSM on someone? (3 years) 

(25) Do you own sex toys? (1 years) 

(26) Had sex while blindfolded? (1 years) 

(27) Had cosplay or fantasy sex? (3 years)

(28) Had sex in the kitchen? (2 years)

(29) Had quiet sex - making no noise? (2 years) 

(30) Had quickie sex outside the bedroom? (2 years) 

(31) Masturbated in a public restroom? (1 year)

(32) Have you ever sent nude selfies to someone? (3 years)

(33) Had sex with a friend of a sibling? (2 years) 

(34) Been loud during sex? (1 year) 
(35) Talk dirty during sex? (1 year)

(36) Snuck someone in your bedroom secretly to have sex? (2 years)

(37) Had sex while skinny dipping? (2 years)

(38) Have you ever cried during sex for any reason? (1 year) 

(39) Had sex with someone off limits? (3 years) 

(40) Had sex with someone 10 years older or younger than you? (3 years) 

(41) Had sex with a virgin? (1 years)

(42) Had sex with a MILF? (1 years) 

(43) Have sex for money? (3 years) 

(44) Woke up with a stranger in bed naked? (2 years)

(45) Have you ever traded partners with someone? (3 years)

(46) Had sex to music - moved with the beat or rhythm of a song? (2 years)

(47) Have you ever been a submissive during sex? (1 years)

(48) Do you have nudes on your phone? (3 years)

(49) Have you ever sexted someone? (1 years)

(50) Did you ever have sex in your high school? (3 years)  

(51) Have you ever had phone sex? (2 years)

(52) Have you ever used flavored condoms or edible underwear? (3 years) 

(53) Have you ever stolen, or worn your partner's underwear after sex? (2 years)
(54) Had sex first thing in the morning? (1 years)
(55) Had sex in the middle of the night? (1 years) 

(56) Have nude selfies of a sexual partner? (2 years)

(57) Had sex with someone of a different ethnicity? (2 years)
(58) Had oral while driving? (3 years)
(59) Ever reenacted a steamy scene from a movie? (2 years)

(60) Choked someone during sex? (3 years)

(61) Had sex on the living room couch? (3 years)

(62) Had sex in front of a mirror? (1 years) 

(63) Used a sex toy, or had one used on you? (3 years)

(64) Gotten an STD from unprotected sex? (3 years)
(65) Stripped your partner before sex? (1 years)

(66) Gone ass-to-mouth? (4 years)

(67) Spent a whole day naked in bed with a partner? (2 years)

(68) Picked masturbation over sex? (2 years)

(69) Done 69 on someone? (1 years)

(70) Had sex with ten or more people? (4 years) 

(71) Have you ever had sex in a tent, or on a boat? (1 year)
(72) Had sex with a step-sibling, or family member? (5 years)
(73) Have you ever had or given a handjob to someone in public? 
(74) Have you ever played strip poker? (1 year)
(75) Do you still have sex with any of your former sexual partners? (1 year)

 

Well there you have it folks. Take the quiz yourself and see how long you would serve if the act of sex were a crime. 

Now for your favorite blogger to take the test and tally up the score. As always my responses will be posted in red -- including a few clarifying answers as some of these require a bit more than the usual yes, or no responses.

So then, let the games begin!

(1) Had a one-night-stand? (1 year) 
Yes. Half of my experiences involve them.

(2) Had sex in a shower or tub? (1 year) 
Yes, in a tub, and tried in a shower, neither is as sexy in real life as they are portrayed in films or television, FYI.

(3) Watched or own pornography? (1 year)
I think just about all of us can cop to the first one, but as for the second, aside from some movies with sex scenes in them I don't own sexual pornography personally. 

(4) Had sex in a car or van? (2 years)
Yes to both in my early sexual active years, pickup truck also. These days I like to be more comfortable though. 

(5) Had sex in a bed neither of you owned? (2 years)
Yes. 

(6) Had sex with the lights on? (2 years)
No, I'm kinda weird on this one. Sunlight in the daytime doesn't count. 

(7) Had sex in public? (3 years)
Er, kinda-sorta. In the back of a van parked at a high school football game. That one connects to number 4.  
(8) Had sex while drunk? (2 years)
Nope. 
(9) Had sex in the dark? (1 year)
Yes. 
(10) Had sex with a friend? (2 years)
Yes. 
(11) Had sex while high? (2 years)
No.  
(12) Had sex to loud music? (2 years) 
Yeppers, and that was mostly to cover up the sex sounds.
(13) Had sex in candlelight? (2 years) 
That's actually my favorite lighting for those moments. 
(14) Had sex outside? (3 years) 
Yes, in the back of a pickup truck, again on a mattress, with no cover on a starry night in an open field. 
(15) Had sex with a stranger? (2 years)
Yes, although I don't always recommend that one, and if you do please keep yourself protected as much as possible. 
(16) Been in a threesome or an orgy? (4 years) 
Threesome yes, orgy no -- and the threesome in question is not quite the experience that they're made out to be. 
(17) Ever joined the Mile-High Club? (3 years) 
Nope and I won't get on one of those death-tubes to try it either!
(18) Made a sex tape? (2 years) 
Nope. 
(19) Had sex before you were 18? (2 years)
Yes. First time was the night of my 17th birthday and had at least one other lover between then and my 18th. 
(20) Had sex with the same sex? (3 years)
No -- at least not all the way. 
(21) Had sex with an ex? (2 years) 
Yep. Sometimes those are okay.  
(22) Preformed or had anal done to you - pegging? (3 years) 
No to the former, but as for the second, yeah I will admit I tried it once -- mostly as a favor to a lover who did me a huge favor.

Deadpool fans will totally get this one!

(23) Been tied up or handcuffed during sex? (3 years) 
Yes. Wrists tied to bedpost bars. No cuffs though, not even the furry ones.
(24) Preformed BDSM on someone? (3 years) 
Yes. Not really one of my favorite things to do.
(25) Do you own sex toys? (1 year) 
Nope.
(26) Had sex while blindfolded? (1 year)
Nope.
(27) Had cosplay or fantasy sex? (3 years)
I don't think the one time I had sex with a cosplayer counts since I didn't plan it, or fantasize anything at the time. 
(28) Had sex in the kitchen? (2 years)
Nope. 
(29) Had quiet sex - making no noise? (2 years)
Yes, but only to keep people in the house from knowing what was going on.
(30) Had quickie sex outside the bedroom? (2 years) 
Yes. 
(31) Masturbated in a public restroom? (1 year)
Nope. Thankfully I've always had more self-control than that!
(32) Have you ever sent nude selfies to someone? (3 years)
Nope and never would. 
(33) Had sex with a friend of a sibling? (2 years)  
Yes, several actually. 
(34) Been loud during sex? (1 year) 
You can't see it, but I am blushing. Yep.  
(35) Talk dirty during sex? (1 year) 
Yes, but I don't do it often....both the dirty talk and the sex. 
(36) Snuck someone in your bedroom secretly to have sex? (2 years)
Yes, and had a couple of someones sneak into my bedroom at night too. 
(37) Had sex while skinny dipping? (2 years) 
Nope.
(38) Have you ever cried during sex for any reason? (1 year) 
Yes. Not because they were bad, but because I'm just a sensitive SOB.
(39) Had sex with someone off limits? (3 years) 
Not exactly.
(40) Had sex with someone 10 years older or younger than you? (3 years) 
Just once -- she was 30 and I was 41 at the time. 
(41) Had sex with a virgin? (1 year)
Yes. 
(42) Had sex with a MILF? (1 year) 
No. 
(43) Have sex for money? (3 years) 
Uh, kinda ashamed to admit this, but yes -- but only once! There is more to this story though (and its sorta related to #22), its complicated and I might share in a future post. 
(44) Woke up with a stranger in bed naked? (2 years)
Yes. 
(45) Have you ever traded partners with someone? (3 years)
Nope. 
(46) Had sex to music - moved with the beat or rhythm of a song? (2 years)
(blush) Yeah I have. We both have. 
(47) Have you ever been a submissive during sex? (1 year)
Yes. 
(48) Do you have nudes on your phone? (3 years)
No.
(49) Have you ever sexted someone? (1 year)
No. 
(50) Did you ever have sex at your high school? (3 years)  
Twice. 
(51) Have you ever had phone sex? (2 years) 
Nope.
(52) Have you ever used flavored condoms or edible underwear? (3 years) 
Nope. 
(53) Have you ever stolen, or worn your partner's underwear after sex? (2 years) 
No.
(54) Had sex first thing in the morning? (1 year) 
Yes.
(55) Had sex in the middle of the night? (1 year) 
Yes. 
(56) Have nude selfies of a sexual partner? (2 years)
Nope.
(57) Had sex with someone of a different ethnicity? (2 years)
Yes.   
(58) Had oral while driving? (3 years) 
Yes.
(59) Ever reenacted a steamy scene from a movie? (2 years)
Nope.
(60) Have you ever choked someone during sex? (3 years)
I tried it once but BDSM really isn't my thing.
(61) Had sex on the living room couch? (3 years)
Yes. 
(62) Had sex in front of a mirror? (1 year) 
Yes, and for a wonder it didn't shatter, LOL! 
(63) Used a sex toy, or had one used on you? (3 years)
Yes. See my previous answer to #22. 
(64) Gotten an STD from unprotected sex? (3 years)
Nope. Never had unprotected sex except with a steady partner.
(65) Stripped your partner before sex? (1 years)
Yes. 
(66) Gone ass-to-mouth? (4 years)
Not a chance in hell!

Words to live by!

(67) Spent a whole day naked in bed with a partner? (2 years)
Yep, day and night. 
(68) Picked masturbation over sex? (2 years)
No.... at lest not by choice.
(69) Done 69 on someone? (1 year)
Yeah I see what you did there. The answer is yes I have. 
(70) Had sex with ten or more people in your lifetime? (4 years)
I am just two shy of that number, so no.
(71) Have you ever had sex in a tent, or on a boat? (1 year)
Nope.   
(72) Had sex with a step-sibling, or family member? (5 years)
Ewww! No.  
(73) Have you ever had or given a handjob to someone in public? (2 years)
That's also a big negative there.  
(74) Have you ever played strip poker? (1 year)
Yes, a few times.
(75) Do you still have sex with any of your former sexual partners? (1 year)
Nope. Aside from one of them the rest are all married or in relationships.   


Overall this blogger has earned himself a maximum sentence of 84 years! Wow! That makes me adventurous, not to mention just under the halfway mark in the maximum sentence. Just call me a prisoner of love folks! Er, just don't expect me to get one of those weird jailhouse tattoos though.

Once again my thanks to Jennifer P. for submitting her unique quiz. What is your score? Please take the challenge like I did and post your results in the comments section.