Folio Vol. 38, Issue 12

FOLIO STAFF:

Former president Trump, you had four years to lead the United States and failed us by your own choosing. Whether it be in foreign policy or domestic policy, you did not protected the United States as commander in chief.

We the American people have finally borne witness to what happens when they place an incompetent business leader into the Oval Office. Especially one who had everything handed to them.

Quality of life is not a business decision, sir. But rather, it is a humane choice to be empathetic to those who cannot help themselves. This is why government exists.

Now comes the jury’s decision making you a convicted felon. Have you no shame and decency sir? As was said about former president Richard Nixon, jail to the chief.

All you do is complain and moan about what others have done to you. However by all accounts you put yourself in precarious situations and are now facing the consequences.

MAGA has become a dog whistle for NAZI. Your followers would have made great “Brown Shirts” in Hitler’s Germany. They demonstrated their loyalty to you on January 6, 2021. An event you instigated.

Many now prefer the “old man” over the felon.

JOE BIALEK

BOUQS & BRICKS

BOUQUETS BRICKBATS

To the researchers at the University of North Florida for receiving a U.S. patent. This award was given after three UNF researchers discovered a targeted cancer-fighting compound, or peptoid, that targets certain breast, colon, and lung cancers and stops them from progressing. This promising discovery could lead to significantly better patient outcomes for difficult-to-treat cancers.

To those who think it’s OK for someone who can’t even vote in the presidential election, win it. Do we just not care for felony charges anymore?

To VyStar Credit Union and the Florida Prepaid College Foundation for providing two-year scholarships to 18 High School Branch students.

To JSO and the UNF police for arresting 14 UNF students who were peacefully exercising their First Amendment rights on the UNF green. During the protest against the war in Gaza, JSO and UNF police detained and arrested 16 individuals off the UNF green for sitting—rather than standing—charging them with trespassing after imposing a fabricated curfew.

HOROSCOPES

Words by Ambar Ramirez & Carmen Macri

ARIES

Important dates to look for … June 3: Mercury enters Gemini; June 6: New Moon in Gemini; June 8: Mars enters Taurus. Gemini season is always a social time for you, Aries, and not just for partying. The love planet, Venus, enters cancer on June 16 calling for you to start focusing on your relationships — platonic and romantic.

TAURUS

Gemini season has you feeling hungry, Taurus. Your fix? Money. Now is the perfect time to make all those great ideas you have a reality and to take risks when it comes to your career. June 20 marks the beginning of Cancer season. During this time you will be overall more curious and inclined to learn new things. Don’t be afraid to meet new people and strengthen relationships.

GEMINI

Important dates to look for … June 3: Mercury enters Gemini; and June 6: New Moon in Gemini. Welcome to Gemini season, time to bathe in the spotlight all month long. You may be feeling a bit overwhelmed with the celestial tidal wave of energy in your sign: Use it to your benefit.

CANCER

During Gemini season you closed a significant chapter in your life. But as one door closes, Cancer, another one opens. On June 20, summer begins and so does Cancer season. Soak in the limelight and focus on setting new goals for yourself during this new chapter.

LEO

When the Sun enters Cancer on June 20, you might be feeling like it is time for a break, and it is. The planets have had you in a constant internal tug of war with yourself. The energy will shift when Venus and Mercury enter Cancer. Stick it out: Gemini season is always the worst.

VIRGO

You’ve gained a lot of momentum these past couple of months in regard to your career and achieving your goals, Virgo. But with Cancer season starting on the first day of summer, it’s finally time to kick back and relax. If you’re finding it hard to slow down. Baths, cozy bedding and comfort shows should do the trick.

Gemini season made you question a lot about where you stand in life, Libra. Hopefully, you made the necessary changes in your routines and within yourself because Cancer season is coming in full swing with new opportunities. To embrace these new opportunities knocking at your door, you have to close the door on the life you want to leave behind.

Gemini season is always emotionally taxing for you. You don’t like to feel your emotions, yet you feel them quite deeply. And jumping from Gemini season to Cancer season only amplifies what you’ve been feeling. Embrace it. Internalize it. Feel it and then let it go.

Libra Scorpio Sagittarius

You’ve been playing a long game of commitment, Sagittarius, and it suits you well! Whether in a relationship, with friends or in your career, staying put has been beneficial. However, your adventurous spirit is now craving a big change. Remember, you can add excitement to your life without drastic moves.

Capricorn

This month, Capricorn, you’ll find yourself feeling particularly ambitious and driven. Your work ethic will be noticed, and you may receive recognition or even a promotion. However, be mindful of balancing your professional life with personal time.

Aquarius

As you know, Aquarius, balance is key. What you may not know is that you tend to put all of your eggs into one basket, leaving nothing for yourself. Your willingness to help others is admirable but what does it mean if you don’t have any energy left to help yourself. Take time this Cancer season to do some deep reflections.

Pisces

You may feel a strong urge to connect with nature or engage in artistic pursuits. In your career, collaboration will be key — lean on your network for support and inspiration. Toward the end of the month, a significant personal revelation may lead to a deeper understanding of yourself and your relationships.

Weird Wild Stuff

Words by Shelton Hull

We’ll start this column with an update on the cicadas swarming our nation with Brood XIX running wild through the Southeast and Brood XIII moving northwest. As if that’s not weird enough, apparently some of these cicadas are literal zombies, thanks to a new fungal infection called Massospora cicadina, which exclusively targets Brood XIII. The Illinois area seems to be the epicenter (as is often the case with different things), and the symptoms are horrifying. To quote one news report, “The white fungus takes over male cicadas and causes the gonads to be torn from the body. The chalky spores that are released by the fungus are spread to other nearby cicadas, infecting more and more.” Birds and other animals who eat the bugs may experience similar symptoms, which makes it interesting that Chicago has taken the lead on human consumption with some being air-fried crispy. But the most popular use is putting them into a shot glass of Malört. It’s unclear if this fungus can spread to humans, but if so, we’ll probably find out in just a few days.

Landlords are the worst, right? With home prices soaring (median prices in Jacksonville having doubled in just seven years) and wealth disparity more pronounced than at any time in living memory, landlords have emerged as a reliable new class of villain in our society. But this story is about a good landlord, and it’s the only one you’ll see this year: a lady in Melbourne, Australia was concerned that her landlord’s death meant she’d be out on the street soon. Thankfully, her building’s owner actually left instructions to his heirs (who are typically awful people) that she could continue living there, rentfree, for the rest of her life. Good millionaires are very weird!

Let’s stay in Australia, which is probably the most consistently funny country in the world. This is the story of Hugo, a tortoise whose pathetic attempts to find love captured the hearts of weirdos everywhere. After things didn’t work out with a goose, he tried a rock. Eventually, his handlers at the Australian Reptile Park took the obvious step of setting up an online dating profile for him, hoping to connect with comely, shell-backed waifs — and that is where he met Estrella. After a series of video chats, the couple finally moved in together. They can’t get married, of course, because they are not people, and they don’t even have fingers to put the rings on. They are currently living happily ever after, and because they are tortoises, odds are good that their love will survive, long after we are all dead. Love wins!

Our Aussie bredren take the trifecta with what feels like a comedy sketch: Two homegoods stores in Sydney are having some serious beef over aesthetics, and we’re not talking Black Angus.

First it was Hands, which opened in the ritzy Newtown section of Sydney, followed not long after by Sharing, which opened right down the street, about 1,600 feet away, causing confusion among customers who cited the extreme similarity between them. Hands accuses Sharing of what pro-wrestlers might call “gimmick infringement,” while Sharing accuses Hands of appropriating the style of a whole other chain based in Japan. They are both correct.

First responders in San Francisco made a daring, high-risk rescue in late May, and the backstory is adorable. The helpers were called out to save “Cushy Pup,” whose life was in peril as he hung near the edge of Turner Terrace in the Potrero Hill neighborhood. Thankfully, it only took about 10 minutes to save him, and everyone was fine. But what, you ask, could have happened to land him in that situation? Well, apparently he was being chased by a gang of raccoons, and he clearly did NOT want that smoke. And if you don’t want the smoke, just call the fire department.

Hendersonville, N.C. has produced a number of minor celebrities, most notably the late Dr. Charles Stanley, who holds the distinction of being one of the very few TV preachers of the modern era who was not obviously a scumbag. But their biggest star right now, no doubt, is Charlotte the Stingray, who many thought could be subject to an immaculate conception of sorts. Belly-bulges suggested that she might be pregnant, which was weird, because she lives alone. It was only a few days ago that testing confirmed that she remains without child, sad news for the goofs who’d already tried queueing up to adopt stingray babies. Of course, it’s North Carolina, so if Charlotte had been pregnant, she would’ve had to keep it.

These columns are never complete without at least one story from Florida, and there are always plenty to choose from. This month, we turn to Naples, where a man and woman in their early 20s were caught having sex on Naples Pier on Memorial Day Weekend. That’s typically a light misdemeanor, which carries a little fine, maybe a night in jail until you can post bond, but no big deal, really. But, this being #Florida, the lady had to make things even harder for herself, which she did by jumping off the damn pier and trying to swim away from the police. News flash: Cops can swim, and they also have boats. The couple now face charges of trespassing and disturbing the peace, while she also got hit with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. The upside, though, is that they’ll probably get free drinks all summer long.

Walking into the warehouse located at the end of King St. is like stepping through a portal to another era, a vivid journey back in time.

All of these community events were inspired by the opening of their new book lounge, a room reminiscent of an enchanted 19th-century French castle.

Venturing deeper, you’ll discover a room on the right dedicated entirely to vintage clothing. The racks of timeless garments invite you to sift through and find your next statement piece.

Cristina & Eric Ogle

COOL DOWN THIS SUMMER WITH COOL STUFF VINTAGE

Words by Ambar Ramirez & Carmen Macri

Walking into the warehouse located at the end of King St. is like stepping through a portal to another era, a vivid journey back in time. The moment you cross the threshold, a wave of nostalgia washes over you. To the right is a “Funhouse” display, bursting with treasures reminiscent of a child’s secret stash: vibrantly colored dice, miniature dinosaurs and a kaleidoscope of stickers. On the left is a shelf showcasing an array of vintage cameras and equipment. In the center of this eclectic haven is a charming floral couch, its fabric worn yet inviting, surrounded by an assortment of second-hand coffee tables. These tables are not merely functional but serve as pedestals for an array of vintage artwork and quirky decorations, each piece adding to the warehouse’s unique charm.

Venturing deeper, you’ll discover a room on the right dedicated entirely to vintage clothing. The racks of timeless garments invite you to sift through and find your next statement piece. To the left, a music lover’s paradise unfolds in a room brimming with records and vinyls.

Every inch of the space is utilized, leaving no wall or area untouched. Vintage neon signs cast a warm, nostalgic glow, their light reflecting off the array of collectibles that fill the space. Cool Stuff Vintage is a treasure trove for thrift lovers, a dreamscape where every item has a history and every corner offers a new discovery. It’s not just a warehouse; it’s a curated experience, a tactile museum where the past is lovingly preserved and the thrill of the hunt is ever-present.

Thrift-loving aficionados find it thrilling to walk into a shop that seems almost overrun with art, furniture, clothes, knick-knacks and everything in between. And, it only makes sense that a vintage shop should be set up in a vintage warehouse. Four years ago, Eric and Cristina Ogle bought the old Pepsi-Cola factory to turn it into a second-hand wonderland.

“We just like to collect and treasure hunt. And it just became a situation where we couldn’t have everything in our tiny little house, so we would have yard sales in order to clear out some of this stuff so that we could buy and bring more stuff home,” Cristina shared. “It’s just that passion; you want to go bigger.”

Sitting in the newly added book lounge at Cool Stuff Vintage, Cristina reminisced on how when she was a child, she would beg her parents to take her to thrift stores, antique malls and neighborhood yard sales. (One person’s trash was her treasure.) And when she and Eric moved in together, they filled their house with solely second-hand items. But as the saying goes, to make room for something new (or in this case, something vintage), you must let go of something old. And both Cristina and Eric saw an opportunity to turn their passions into a career.

They started their journey in vintage selling by doing yard sales and setting up booths at local markets. While they were able to sell a significant amount of items, the money brought in was enough to pay for Disney trips and small family excursions. In other words, not enough to support all the expenses that come with living in America. That is, until four years ago when they decided to take the leap and become full-time vintage sellers … during COVID.

“I mean, in America, let’s face it, we’re a consumer society, right? So there’s stuff everywhere. There’s no shortage. But sometimes you have to really go look for it. I knew we could find the stuff and I knew she [Cristina] could. We could create a fun, kind of homey, welcoming place where people would want to go with fun music and movies,” Eric explained. “So I was confident about it. I guess the biggest challenge was COVID at the beginning and getting people, you know, to come back.”

The key to getting people interested in yet another vintage store was to showcase that they’re not your run-of-the-mill antique mall. Not only do they offer unique vintage items, but they also offer a unique experience.

“We wanted to be different. We wanted to have music. We wanted to have TVs with old shows and old movies on them. We want people to come and hang out,” Eric said. “You don’t have to buy something every time you’re here, you can come and just have fun.”

Recently the Ogle’s have implemented activities and workshops to involve the community such as junk journaling, book clubs and listening parties. All of these community events were inspired by the opening of their new book lounge, a room reminiscent of an enchanted 19th-century French castle. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, laden with a mix of leather-bound novels and modern-day books cover the walls. Authentic French 19th-century tables, chairs and curtains surround the room, providing a cozy fantasy-like nook for bookworms to escape everyday life.

“We want it to be more of a place where you bring your friends on a Saturday afternoon and spend some time,” Cristina said. “Hang out, sit in the book lounge, kick up your feet and read some magazines.”

And that’s the charm of Cool Stuff Vintage. You don’t have to walk in with a consumer mindset: The Ogles want to create the perfect third place for people to enjoy without spending a dime (though, we do recommend it). With free wi-fi and a perfect place to unwind, we can’t think of a better place to cool down and escape the sweltering heat this summer (pun intended).

To keep up with all the events, workshops and store hours, head over to coolstuffvintage.com

REVERSE-NORMALIZING

Words by Mallory Pace

We have reached a tipping point in society and pop culture where labels and buzzwords dominate reality. Forget everything you thought you knew, including what you believed to be normal and not. Social media has changed the game again, putting a spotlight on the objectively not normal, borderline absurd and calls upon the masses for its “normalization.” Like every other buzzword this generation finds and sinks its teeth into, “normalization” has become one of them. After indulging in this trend, I’ve come to realize that maybe not everything needs to be normal. In fact, why are we trying so hard to squeeze everything into the box of normalcy? Whatever happened to the notorious early 2000s Tumblr quote (which I just found out is actually attributed to Dr. Seuss): “Why fit in when you were born to stand out?”

In sociological terms, normalization refers to social processes where ideas and actions come to be seen as “normal” and become taken for granted or “natural” in everyday life. (Hint: That doesn’t necessarily make it a good thing because to be “normal” is subjective and an arguably neutral term.) Though this idea of normalization has been around, it became especially widespread on TikTok in 2020 (like literally everything else), where people began calling to “normalize normal bodies” as a way to increase representation of how the majority of both men and women’s bodies actually look and debunk the expectation of how bodies should look. The body positivity movement also isn’t necessarily new, but this trend catapulted a lot of discussion on social media by not only emphasizing that this is the way most adult Americans look but also being a voice to recognize the beauty and normalcy to it. This is a good example of using normalization in a positive and productive way because it puts something that is often difficult to talk about, like physical appearances, into the mainstream media in a healthy way. Even though it’s common sense that not everyone looks like a Victoria’s Secret model, it can still be challenging to acknowledge and accept what normal bodies look like in the eyes of the media. By “normalizing” what growing and healthy bodies look like nods to the reality of the human experience in a positive and accepting manner.

However, the trend didn’t stop there. Other takes on this idea include, “Normalize not getting out of bed for days on end because productivity looks different on everyone.” No, babe, that’s depression. “Normalize going through your partner’s phone when they don’t know.” Not normal. Just toxic. It almost seems like people try to justify unhealthy behaviors with the idea of normalization, which after a while, becomes meaningless. If we normalize every little thing, how will we be able to distinguish what’s healthy and what’s not? Take the depression situation for example — if we get to a point of normalizing unhealthy behaviors like staying in bed for days or not taking care of ourselves in simple ways, it becomes difficult to determine when seeking help is the real answer. We can’t engage in toxic behaviors and suddenly become blind to its toxicity just because we don’t want to acknowledge what we’re doing isn’t healthy. It’s easier to find justifications for actions, like normalization, than it is to face the fact that maybe we shouldn’t be stalking exes or abusing vices for the sake of oblivion. Some things are simply better left “not normal.”

It can also be the case for normalcy to go too far. In the example of body positivity, we should absolutely be shedding light on how real bodies look, but we should also be careful about how far that reaches. “Normalize normal bodies” doesn’t mean we should glamorize being unhealthy in medically sound terms. There needs to be an emphasis on “normal bodies” that are being fed and taken care of no matter what they look like while making sure not to label being unhealthy as “normal.” Health looks different for everyone and is dependent on the individual. But that’s part of the problem with normalization — grouping an entire population, idea or behavior and labeling it normal. What may be normal and healthy for you, may not be for me, which is something this perspective tends to forget. Normalize what works for you, not what the Internet tells you is now OK to do.

This idea goes beyond the obvious; normalization can become dangerous in certain situations, particularly in relationships.

Behaviors like gaslighting and control issues are prevalent in the media and are sometimes even romanticized in movies, TV and books as tropes and plot lines. This is concerning for myriad reasons, especially because the normalization of these behaviors leads to the acceptance of them. An article by the Connections for Abused Women and their Children details how normalizing toxic behaviors makes it harder to break the cycle of violence.

“Talking about abuse in a lighthearted way not only normalizes a toxic behavior but further devalues what a survivor goes through,” the article states. “It gives the message that being possessive, lashing out in anger, or gaslighting someone is not something to be taken seriously.”

Couples have arguments and disagreements, sure, but over-normalizing this idea leads people to believe that certain behaviors are acceptable like screaming or aggressiveness, which is far from normal. Objectively, it’s not “normal” to break up and get back together week after week or for arguments to become hostile and violent. But by labeling these behaviors as such, it becomes harder to see them as abuse and easier to justify your or your partner’s actions.

The same can be applied to mental health. I discussed in a previous article the dangers of self-diagnosing and how the over-normalization of mental health on social media plays a role in desensitizing what it means to struggle with these illnesses. There needs to be a difference between raising awareness and romanticizing mental illness so that we don’t become numb to its severity. Throwing around terms like depression and anxiety as if they’re “normal” can take meaning away from the reality of those struggling with mental illness. We shouldn’t be trying to normalize having mental illnesses because they’re not normal — and that’s OK. Not being normal doesn’t mean being bad. We shouldn’t be afraid to call mental illness it for what it is, and trying to make it seem normal is almost like hiding from it. We should be talking about it, raising awareness and promoting education, but not normalizing it as a commonplace term or characteristic.

Normalizing also doesn’t exactly equate to being “good.” It just might mean it’s acceptable to a majority of people. Take the American workplace for example and the normalization of overachieving and overworking scheduled hours because that’s how you get ahead. We have taken that as “normal,” despite it being objectively unfair. Or how we have accepted certain “norms” like “boys will be boys” and “locker room talk” that, in reality, might just be internalized (or blatant) misogyny. Just because something is considered a cultural norm doesn’t mean it’s appropriate. The line between good and bad is already heavily blurred, and the more we try to make sense of what’s normal and what’s not may only serve to perpetuate this confusion.

I would argue we reverse this idea and start un-normalizing things. #NormalizeCallingItAsItIs. #NormalizeNotBeingNormal. #ShutTheHellUp. In all seriousness, some things don’t need a label. Sometimes we should aim to push individuality, uniqueness and aberrance. For so long it seemed like society wanted out of a box and let out of conformity, so why are we trying to put it back in?

FOLIO WEED

Words by Shelton Hull

As you would expect, I hear about all kinds of interesting new products coming out, and I’ve collected a few over the past few weeks, so let’s talk about them today. As always, please feel free to send along any samples or suggestions — the weirder, the better.

We’ll start with the Penjamin Cart Pen by Smyle Labs, a company based in Los Angeles that specializes in novelty vapes and torches. You have surely seen the commercial on Facebook. It’s designed to look like a pen, in eight different colors, with nibs that can be bought cheaply on their website. The barrel is too thick to be a regular pen — it should be a Sharpie-type. They also have other designs like mock lightsaber handles or a fake key fob. (It would be great if that actually worked, but that would obviously be illegal.) At $25, you can get a passable battery for half the price at any head shop; but you can buy 3 for $18.99 each, which makes it a fun joke gift, but that’s it. Functional, but not fancy. You’re not gonna fool any cop or teacher, but it’s perfectly good for casual use, and an excellent conversation starter. Speaking as a man who hosts trivia nights every week, trust that it paid for itself quickly.

Also based in L.A., the Puffco brand should be well-familiar to readers of this column. We featured them here back in May 2023. “Cupsy” (a portable water pipe that looks like a coffee cup) remains one of their most popular items, for good reason, but they specialize in products for use with oil, wax and shatter. They roll out new items so fast that even they have a hard time keeping up with their own productivity. But we touched base recently, and they sent me some stuff from their latest line of designs for the dab scene. The Puffco Plus dab pen ($89) is a sleek black top-loading device, easy to transport and clean, and it pairs nicely with their hot knife, aka Heated Loading Tool ($50), which is ideal for anything waxy, oily or sticky.

The jewel of their collection is the gorgeous Puffco Peak Pro, a $420+ dab rig with a 3D water chamber, four heat settings, customizable LED lights and “Custom Dab Metrics,” which allow users to monitor their usage for unknown analytic purposes. It’s a modified version of their Puffco Peak, which was already imposing at $199, but this version might be the most complex smoking device ever invented. It’s a fully functional work of art, but a lot more complex than anything I need, so after testing, it ended up with a friend who was celebrating her birthday that night.

She walked in the door and immediately yelled, “Is that a Puffco?” Yes, it was, and that is a memory she will (probably) never forget. In fact, it’s the next day, and she just messaged me. “Dude, this thing makes smoking so easy, wowowow!” Glad she liked it, but when your pipe has its own app and Bluetooth setting, that’s madness.

Let’s wrap up with a look at Nama Products, based in Clifton, NJ. I reached out after seeing an ad for their Buzz Drops online, so they sent a whole-ass sample pack, and thanks for that. This is the debut product from The Drink Lab, which will surely be someone’s mixology gimmick soon, if it’s not already. Buzz Drops are basically a tincture, smartly marketed to non-drinkers or what Demi Lovato famously calls “California Sober.” Bless her heart. Each drop contains 2.5mg each of water-soluble THC and CBD, enough to spike any juice or coffee, but come on — this is Florida, and we drink here.

I can report that it’s basically tasteless and odorless, so it doesn’t alter the flavor profile of any fancy cocktail, while also promising no hangover and no calories. (You can find some flavored tinctures at any dispensary; those are great, decidedly more hi-octane — in the Zoe Cassavetes sense.) Personally, I think it works best in a Lemon Drop, but there’s a QR code that scans for a bunch of specialized recipes, all of which will have been thoroughly adulterated by the time you read this. Drops come in 15 for $29, 30 for $54 or 60 for $89 (a $27 savings). Best part is that it only takes 10 minutes to hit, way faster than usual.

Nama also makes a whole range of gummies that are very interesting in composition. All eight variants are made from delta-9 THC, which can affect people in wildly unpredictable ways, more so than edibles already do. Their Sleep line has melatonin, while Energy (my favorite) includes L-Theanine and about 42,000% of your daily B-12. The THC Sampler pack contains one dose of six types for just $15, which is basically free, and from there you can customize your own bundle. They’re far more adventurous in their formulations than most gummy peddlers right now, and it would be interesting to see similar recipes adapted with the enhanced potency of dispensary-grade cannabis. The same applies to the Buzz Drops, which are a perfectly useful item, readymade for purses, backpacks and cargo-short pockets alike.

INTERVIEW WITH JJ GREY

JJ Grey is no stranger to Jacksonville. Growing up here, he’s gone from playing small punk venues to selling out the largest venues across the world with his band. Grey has a deep love for the South and expresses that through his music. After multiple albums and over a decade of touring, JJ Grey & Mofro has released another album, “Olustee.” The album features 11 new songs from the band, and they are currently touring it worldwide.

The band just finished their first leg of tour which consisted of roughly 40 shows in 50 days, ending it at home in St. Augustine with Blackwater Sol Revue, a two-day music festival they headlined. Next year they will be heading to the West Coast and Europe. “Folio” recently got to speak with Grey via Zoom about the album and current tour.

Folio: Your new record is the first one in almost a decade, and it’s produced entirely by you for the first time. What was that process like, and why did you decide to self-produce?

Grey: It was just life. Gamble Rogers says, “Life is what happens to you while you are making other plans,” and this album sort of happened while I was making other plans. I didn’t intend to produce it. It’s just COVID kind of got in the middle of all that. If you added up all the time spent making the record, it was probably the least amount of time making a record. It just spread out over such a long period because of some of the wackiness from all that but also just life. I didn’t intend for it to take that long. I said OK I am just gonna do a bunch of demos, which I always do by myself, and then for the first time I want to make demos with the band — without someone there as a producer. Before I knew it, I had a record done.

Words by Emily Cheyne

Photo by Brett Missick

Photo by Nick Langlois

Folio: Is there a venue or city you are most excited to play or have already played on tour?

Grey: It’s kind of funny, and I don’t want to say this so I don’t leave anybody out, but the only venue I think is my favorite place to play is St. Augustine Amphitheater — and that includes everything from Paradiso in Amsterdam, which I love, to Red Rocks, all of it. I just love playing here, and we used to do it once a year. But I’m looking forward to going back to Europe ’cause while I haven’t put out an album there in 10 years; I haven’t toured there in almost 10 years. I am looking forward to going back.

Folio: What is your favorite part about touring?

Grey: I kind of like all of it. Obviously, playing but it’s more about getting lost in an honest moment with the audience; that’s it for me I don’t really care about anything else. Everything else is not in material, but it’s just secondary to that for me. If you get in that honest moment, lost in it, then the music plays itself, and the show becomes something else. I just want that thing to sort of permeate the rest of my life to where I am in an honest moment all the time.

Folio: Do you have a song on the album that is your favorite to play live?

Grey: That changes all the time but I would say I love the opening track that we’ve been doing at the show, which is “Olustee…” I thought I would have maybe one or two that stuck out more than the others but it’s not been that way, happily.

Folio: What is your favorite Jacksonville venue?

Grey: We played there earlier this year for their anniversary, Jack Rabbits … I like playing those small places that are very loud and out of control. We did that back in January with 11 pieces on the stage in Jack Rabbits: It was fun. I love Freebird too that was here … I could just keep going. There’s something in my heart, and maybe it’s just more familiar because I spent so many more years playing a smaller stage in a punk rock vibe, so I just love those places.

Folio: What do you want people to take from this new album?

Grey: I have no idea … It’s pretty vast. Do what it does for me: a gateway into an honest moment with yourself. Whether it’s joy … or it’s introspective, it’s all joy to me, it’s all life. Even when you’re thinking about hard times. Trying to transmute hard times into something else. It’s all joy. That is what I am getting out of it.

Folio: When it comes to music you listen to outside of your own music, are there any guilty pleasures you have in terms of genres or artists?

Grey: It’s not a guilty pleasure cause I’m happy to talk about it, but I think it shocks people when I tell them I love the Dead Kennedys, a punk-rock band from back in the day led by a guy named Jello Biafra. I kind of like some old school ’70s pop music. Some of it’s like “whoa, that’s nasty,” but some of it, like “Telephone Man,” the song is so silly and goofy. I’ll tell you another one too. I love “I’m Too Sexy” by Right Said Fred. I love that song. That one makes me laugh, especially the video.

JJ Grey & Mofro was just added to the Sing Out Loud Festival lineup in September at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre. For more information and tour dates, visit jjgrey.com.

The suits in this 2024 spread are from Keeks Vintage swim collection and Arcane Swim. Keeks Vintage is an ethically sourced second-hand clothing company, suited and tailored for everyone. Arcane Swim is a sustainable swimwear brand that uses biodegradable fabrics and is all about body positivity. Special thanks to Chris Johnson with “Who Has More Fun Than Us” for providing us with his ‘78 Coupe Deville Cadillac, Steve Silvy with “Steve’s Custom Classics” and his ‘69 Cadillac Sedan Deville, Tim Palmer and his ‘59 Cadillac Deville, Daniel Remigaylo and his ‘64 white convertible Cadillac Deville. Photos by Adam Johnson.

In need of new swimwear this season? Head over to Arcanswim.com or Depop.com/Kiley_davis.

SUMMER OF ‘64

How the Beatles and the World-Fastest-Man changed the First Coast Forever

Words by Scott Grant

As a Cornell Graduate, Scott Grant has sharpened his expertise with some of the best. He is known, not only for his lively debate and detailed accounts of some of the most infamous events in local history, but as an excellent chess player and successful business owner. Grant studied economics and history at Cornell before working on Wall Street while earning a Law Degree from Rutgers. In 2005 Grant moved his family and his Investment Business, Standfast Asset Management, to Ponte Vedra Beach. It is at this time that Grant becomes enamored by some of the area’s historical events. He enjoys sharing these facts with the public and loves meeting seniors that can remember first-hand accounts. By day Scott Grant handles almost 90 million in private investments. In his free time, you will find him researching at the libraries and museums for details to include in his next presentation.

This is a true story about people caught up in world-changing events. It is a story about our past. It is not pretty. It is a story about six months that would change the First Coast forever. In the Summer of 1964, world-wide media attention is focused on St. Augustine. Racial tensions have been escalating since a Federal Court ordered desegregation of schools in Duval and St. Johns counties. In both counties, angry segregationists strike back. Shootings and bloodshed become commonplace.

Into this maelstrom of hate and brutality steps the unlikeliest of people. Mary Parkman Peabody, the 72-year-old mother of the governor of Massachusetts, arrives in St. Augustine on Easter Sunday. Peabody is also the daughter-inlaw of Endicott Peabody, who taught President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. FDR mentions his “old schoolmaster, Dr. Peabody,” in his final inaugural address. “Things in life will not always run smoothly,” Roosevelt remembered him saying. “The great fact to remember is that the trend of civilization itself is forever upward.”

Mrs. Peabody is an unusual snowbird. She comes to America’s oldest city to get arrested. “We need some old people in this thing,” she tells reporters as she heads to lunch with Dr. Robert Hayling and other prominent Black leaders of the town. Before the group can even order, Sheriff L.O. Davis arrives to arrest them all. Peabody is charged with trespassing and spends the next two nights in a segregated St. Augustine jail cell. There are 50 “Negroe” women in the cell next door.

So many spring-breakers follow Peabody’s call to action that police deputize members of the Ancient City Gun Club to “keep the peace.” They call themselves “Manucy’s Raiders” after their leader, Halstead “Hoss” Manucy. “The NY Times” describes Manucy as “220 pounds of brawn and belly” in a T‐shirt, jeans and a battered cowboy hat.

Armed with shotguns and CB radios, Manucy and the Gun Club become the de-facto leaders of the segregationists in Saint Augustine. Hoss sees his purpose clearly. “My boys are here to fight niggers,” he tells the press. Shortly thereafter, a mob of angry whites attacks a protest march, viciously beating white reporters and others. There are so many arrests that prisoners are kept outside the jail in a cage called the “chicken coop.”

Lyndon Baines Johnson is running for re-election. He is also attempting to push the Civil Rights Act through the Senate.

If passed, the act will end discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin.

1964 is an election year. Lyndon Baines Johnson is running for re-election. He is also attempting to push the Civil Rights Act through the Senate. If passed, the act will end discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin. He wants the bill signed into law well before the election. Standing in his way are a group of Senators led by Johnson’s opponent Barry Goldwater. They filibuster the bill in the Senate, refusing to allow it to come to a vote.

1964 is also an Olympic year. Twenty-year-old Robert Lee Hayes of Jacksonville is one of the favorites. The local athlete has grown up in the segregated South racing other Black kids for nickels. Childhood friends call him “the shortest distance between two points.” In May, with the Tokyo games looming later that year, “Sports Illustrated” pondered the question “how fast” was the star from “a league of small Negro schools?” His football coach at Florida A&M thought he knew the answer. Bob Hayes, he says, is “the fastest man who ever lived.”

“THE FASTEST MAN WHO EVER LIVED.”

“We never play to segregated audiences, and we aren’t going to start now,” John Lennon says, “I’d sooner lose our appearance money.”

In late May, Martin Luther King Jr. arrives in America’s Oldest City.

The now iconic picture of Jimmy Brock running around the curved pool emptying a bottle of muriatic acid into the water while the bathers scream in terror runs in newspapers worldwide.

Four days later on September 10, Hurricane Dora makes landfall at Vilano, leaving a swath of devastation in its path. Five people are killed and thousands left without power. In St. Augustine, the flood waters run hip-deep through the slave market.

In late May, Martin Luther King Jr. arrives in America’s Oldest City. Governor C. Farris Bryant, an avowed segregationist, sends several hundred state troopers to St. Augustine to restore “law and order.” At night, the integrationists march from the Black neighborhood of Lincolnville to the slave market. The slave market itself is occupied by the segregationists led by Manucy, a KKK lawyer named J.B. Stoner and a preacher from California in a Confederate flag vest named Connie Lynch, who announces he is there “to help these embattled good white people in their cause.”

The pattern repeats itself for weeks. The “segregationists” occupy the slave market listening to Lynch preach. “This government was intended to be of the white man, by the white man, and for the white man,” he tells the crowd. Meanwhile, the “integrationists” march around the slave market square. Between both groups, rows of police with dogs attempt to keep them apart. Violence erupts regularly.

By day, the protests move to the “white’s only” beaches. The first day, the protestors are stopped by angry whites. A foreign photographer is bloodied. The next day and for days after, the state police escort the integrated swimmers in and out of the water. They form a V-shaped cordon so that the protesters can wade knee deep into the surf while an angry mob of whites dance around the outside screaming obscenities. One white resident remarks that she does not understand why the Blacks were going to so much trouble to swim there since they had a perfectly good “colored beach” right down the road.

In June, King is arrested for attempting to eat lunch at the Monson Motor Lodge. King and owner Jimmy Brock engage in a heated debate on the front steps. A week later, seven rabbis are arrested for praying outside the Monson. It is the largest mass arrest of rabbis in U.S. history.

That same day, two white and five Black students jump into the segregated hotel pool. The now iconic picture of Jimmy Brock running around the curved pool emptying a bottle of muriatic acid into the water while the bathers scream in terror runs in newspapers worldwide. The image incites a furor in the North. The next day, June 19, LBJ ends the filibuster in the Senate, and Brock puts an alligator in his pool.

The Civil Rights Act becomes law in early July. The Monson and other restaurants desegregate but not for long. In August, the Klan shows up and pickets the newly integrated establishments. Outside the Monson they carry signs that read “White and colored people mix here.” Many of the restaurants, probably not all that reluctantly, once again ban Blacks. Brock goes to Federal Court in Jacksonville, in the shadow of the Confederate Statue that dominates Hemming Park, and tells Federal Judge Bryan Simpson that the Klan has him “frightened.”

Hemming Park, now renamed James Weldon Johnson Park in honor of the educator, writer and civil rights activist, has often garnered national attention as a venue for violence. In August 1960, more than 100 Klansmen wielding baseball bats and ax handles descend upon the square to stop teenage blacks from integrating a Woolworth’s lunch counter. The event is remembered as “Ax Handle Saturday.” Amongst those beaten is future Duval County Sheriff Nat Glover.

As the Klan marches in St Augustine, The Beatles are preparing to tour the United States for the second time. Jacksonville is one of the planned venues. The Gator Bowl is segregated. The Fab Four are not happy. “We never play to segregated audiences, and we aren’t going to start now,” John Lennon says,

“I’d sooner lose our appearance money.” Despite the fact that segregation is now illegal, the City holds its ground. Finally, in early September, The Beatles release a statement. “We will not appear unless Negroes are allowed to sit anywhere.” The City relents and exuberant ticket holders breathe a collective sigh of relief.

Four days later on September 10, Hurricane Dora makes landfall at Vilano, leaving a swath of devastation in its path. Five people are killed and thousands left without power. In St. Augustine, the flood waters run hip-deep through the slave market. It is the largest hurricane to hit the First Coast in recorded history. Many, on both sides, see it as the wrath of God.

The next morning, LBJ arrives in Jacksonville to survey the damage. His motorcade races to the Beaches across the Fuller Warren Bridge in a fury of sound and motion. He has his picture taken. He stays for 90 minutes. Several hours later, the Beatles arrive.

That night they play the first integrated event in Gator Bowl history, in front of over 23,000 screaming fans. They open with “Roll Over Beethoven” and play 12 songs total, finishing in a little over half an hour. The winds are gusting so wildly that Ringo’s drums have to be nailed to the stage. The music is played over the PA system, and it is difficult to hear over the noise of the wind and the crowd. None of this dampens the enthusiasm of the screaming throng of Beatlemania-afflicted youths.

In October, Martin Luther King is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. St. Augustine’s Police Chief calls the award “one of the biggest jokes of the year. How can you win the Peace Prize when you stir up all the trouble he did down here?” That same day, across the international dateline, Jacksonville’s fastest man dazzles the world. Churning down the cinder track, a frenzy of knees and elbows, the pigeon-toed runner shocks the crowd in the 100-meter final, winning by over 2 meters; the largest margin of victory of all time.

In the relay, when Hayes takes the baton, France is in first place and the USA in fifth. Thirty yards into the final leg, as tens of thousands of screaming fans rise to their feet in exultation, the world’s fastest man sprints past everyone. Before the race, a French runner had taunted one of the Americans “You can’t win. All you have is Hayes.” The confident American prophetically retorted, “That’s all we need, baby!”

In November, a parade is planned for Hayes in Jacksonville. Because he is black, “The Florida Times-Union” initially refuses to cover the event. A brave young reporter, named Jessie-Lynne Kerr, insists. The next day a picture of Hayes passing Hemming Park runs in the paper. That picture is virtually the first time a Black individual has been featured in that publication who was not under arrest. The accompanying article said Hayes looked “shy.” It seems more likely that he was scared to death.

The juxtaposition of two of the images in this story is striking. Both Brock and Hayes are seen by a worldwide audience running around a curve. It is particularly striking because they are running in different directions. With the benefit of hindsight, it is easy to picture one man sprinting into the future as the other tries to trot back the hands of time. However, that was not so clear to the imagination at the time as it is today. Sometimes, as Dr. Peabody taught FDR and FDR taught us, we become disenfranchised with the way things are going, but we must remember that civilization always advances. That progress is never linear. It is often more like a drunk staggering down a sidewalk, but it is as inexorable as time itself.

In need of some outfit inspiration for this Summer season? We got you covered. This Summer is all about denim, linens and bright colors. The whole shoot was styled by the Folio team, inspired by what we’ve seen trending. Photos by Amiyah Golden.

ALL FOR ONE AND ONE FOR ALL: BREAKING BARRIERS IN SPORTS

Words by Emily Canon

More than just an athletic association (that many people don’t even know exists in Jacksonville), Stonewall Sports is a national not-for-profit sports league for members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies to come together over a love of many different sports.

In spring 2021 Jacksonville’s local chapter gave people a place to meet others during the COVID slow-down and has been growing ever since. Stonewall Sports offers multiple different sports each season including kickball, cornhole, dodgeball, volleyball and billiards.

Stonewall’s main purpose besides sports is giving back to the community that supports them. Each season they choose a beneficiary for their fundraising efforts, having raised more than $100,000 in three years. Each season the group hosts cleanups, givebacks and events including stuff -

ing backpacks for underprivileged children in the community. In its first year of operation, the Jacksonville chapter received the Stonewall Sports’ award for the highest fundraising in the nation.

Stonewall Sports is creating a safe community for all whether they played professional sports or haven’t touched a ball in their life.

At the beginning of each season they host free agent socials to allow new people to meet others and join teams so no one is ever alone. They also hold 101 classes for each sport to learn the basics and meet new people before starting.

“We want people to know that the community is out there, also it is not just for members that identify as a part of the LGBTQ+ community but allies are welcome as well,” said Kasey Yaeger, director of operations for the Jacksonville chapter.

Give a Toy. FeeL the Joy.

Kyle Stone, events coordinator for Stonewall Sports Jacksonville added, “It is also not only just playing new sports but creating safe spaces throughout the Jacksonville area that people have never found before.” says. Each season, events including socials, silent discos in conjunction with River City Pride and an upcoming cornhole tournament at Bold Love Fest, held at Daily’s Place June 15, allow members to get to know each other in more casual settings.

“People start coming to play kickball and end up meeting their best friends,” Yaeger said.

For more information on Stonewall Sports-Jax, including registration for summer leagues and special events, visit stonewallsportsjacksonville.org.

VirtuaL TOY & DONATION DRIVE

Now untiL JuLy 31, 2024

Christmas in July is a month-long community-wide campaign to raise funds for activities, experiences and toys for Wolfson Children’s patients. Every year, corporations, civic organizations, groups and individuals — like you — help bring some midyear holiday cheer to the kids who need it most.

You can make Christmas in July a little brighter when you visit ChristmasJuly.com and *virtually* fill Santa’s sleigh by making a donation or shopping our Amazon wish list will make a lasting impact on a child visiting Wolfson Children’s Hospital.

FIGHT FOR YOUR (FIRST AMENDMENT) RIGHT

Words by Ambar Ramirez & Carmen Macri and photos by Collin Frye

Interested in some light reading? Have you thought about picking up the Constitution’s Bill of Rights – specifically, the First Amendment? Here are some spark notes for you.

In the Constitution, the First Amendment states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

To oversimplify it, the First Amendment encompasses several fundamental freedoms. Under the Freedom of Religion, the Establishment Clause ensures that the government cannot establish an official religion or favor one religion over others, while the Free Exercise Clause guarantees that individuals are free to practice any religion or no religion at all without government interference. Freedom of Speech allows individuals to express themselves without government restrictions, including spoken words, written communication and other forms of expression. Freedom of the Press grants the media the right to gather and publish information and opinions without government censorship. Freedom to Assemble permits people to gather in groups for peaceful protests, demonstrations or meetings. Finally, Freedom to Petition the Government ensures that individuals can make complaints to or seek assistance from the government without fear of punishment.

Pretty straightforward right? Wrong.

In light of the recent on-campus peaceful protests happening across the country, it seems as though the First Amendment is getting lost in translation. Out of 24 protests regarding the war in Gaza, 24 have resulted in the arrest and suspension of students. The grounds on which the students are being arrested vary from university to university and charges range from criminal trespass and breaking curfew to disorderly conduct and other misdemeanors. Even the three-day UNF encampment resulted in the arrest of 16 people, eight of whom are students — all charged with time, place and manner restrictions for a verbal curfew that did not exist prior to the encampment.

The brief, three-day protests followed every protocol, rule and request set by UNF. When asked to dismantle their tents and umbrellas, they complied. When instructed to leave by 10 p.m. on the first two days, they complied. It was only on the evening of the third day that members of the Students for Democratic Society in Jacksonville (SDS) chose to remain on the University Green past the recently established “curfew.”

UNF student Khris Giljam was observing and live streaming the encampment. The live streams started on the first day of the camp being set up with students linked arm to arm as they chanted their cause. Surrounding the circle, police officers are seen closely observing the set-up.

“The protest itself was entirely peaceful. It was just students sort of occupying the Green, where they would go and hang out, like, all day. There were even students on the Green that were studying ‘cause it was finals week,” Giljam shared.

“There were some volunteers that brought food for everyone that was there. So it was very peaceful and was honestly like a fun atmosphere.”

It’s important to recognize that the Green has long been a focal point for various forms of public expression and assembly. On any given day, the Green is alive with a range of activities that showcase the community’s diverse voices. It’s common to see preachers fervently sharing the word of the Lord to students passing by or pro-life protesters asserting their opinions on abortion. Both groups have been welcomed to the Green and never asked to leave, although many times their assembly is disruptive and often crass.

So after two days of a successful peaceful encampment, marked by minimal intervention from police or university officials (although their presence was apparent), the sudden arrival of approximately 50 police officers in riot gear on day three left little room for doubt that the escalation was not merely due to a curfew but rather intricately tied to the protesters’ cause.

“There is no curfew on the Green. After everyone was arrested, there were people just walking around,” Giljam explained. “And the police have told students that the preachers cannot be removed because the green is public property, which is kind of funny because they removed the protesters from what they consider public property.”

UNF student and SDS member Lissie Morales participated in the encampment for all three days and was among the 16 individuals arrested. We were able to have a conversation with them about their experience after the peaceful protest turned into a breach of the First Amendment.

“They shouldn’t have arrested us in the first place and committed hypocrisy of protecting freedom of expression on campus when they repress us yet let campus preachers who are known to harass and threaten students on the Green daily walk free,” Morales shared.

Collin Frye, a student photographer at UNF, seized the opportunity to document the protests, aiming to highlight the injustices faced by the demonstrators.

“There’s usually a handful of university officers and occasionally some undercover cops, but there were at least 20-30 JSO officers on bikes. That number grew to over 50 by the end of the night,” Frye shared. “I heard that the officers try to have a 1-1 ratio just in case, and at the beginning, there must have been hundreds of family members there for a group prayer on the green, but that dwindled down to less than 20 protesters before the curfew went into effect.”

On the night of the arrests, there were preachers present. In Giljam’s words, the preachers were yelling at the students in the encampment while they were praying.

“One of the preachers actually went to the cops and said, ‘Thank you, officer,’” Giljam added.

“The discrepancies between their treatment toward the preacher who was heckling people praying, and how they treated the SDS protesters felt unfair,” Frye explained. “As a UNF student, I’ve never seen a curfew enforced on campus - I walk around all the time with friends at 2-3 in the morning. It felt like there was a dissonance between what they were doing, and how they portray the university on a regular basis.”

A source who was present also revealed to “Folio” that the protesters were fully aware of the risk of arrest by staying past curfew and almost anticipated it. With the university’s graduation scheduled for the following morning, the SDS understood that the third night would be the most crucial for their cause. They saw it as the perfect opportunity to make a significant statement to the school.

“After 10 pm, they gave them several warnings and then turned on the sprinklers, before finally removing them an hour later,” Frye said. “I think they believed weeding out people without having to arrest them would be less of a “PR problem.” I just want my photos to document their efforts, and how long the protesters were willing to hold out.”

According to the insider, the “curfew” was imposed verbally by the police, not by the university’s property owner. Any policies or regulations concerning the treatment of the green and campus would have required legal documentation and approval from the owner. The source speculates that the owners were not even consulted due to the rapid nature of events and emphasizes that the police are a separate organization entirely, not representative of the school in any capacity.

Regardless, while being arrested, the protesters maintained their peaceful composure, and at no point did they show any signs of aggression or violence toward the police.

“Officers were seen high-fiving each other and celebrating with counter-protestors as the 16 were arrested,” Morales shared. “They held the 16 in their cars and vans for over 4-5 hours before transporting them to the detention facility, only letting them out to breathe once someone passed out from the heat inside the vehicles.”

The university has yet to release an official statement regarding the student’s arrest but the Office of the President Moez Limayem did send out an email the following day about graduation, alluding to the incident that took place with the protesters.

The following excerpt is directly taken from the email sent out to UNF students and faculty.

“I’d like to remind all Ospreys and guests that UNF prohibits protests or demonstrations inside University buildings and prohibits disruption of scheduled events. Our top priority is ensuring the safety of our entire campus community and our visitors. We are also committed to protecting the First Amendment rights of every student, faculty and staff member. Please remember, that with those rights come the important responsibility to follow applicable laws and regulations and understand that there are consequences for those who choose to ignore them. Again, these rules are in place to protect every person on our campus, where there is no tolerance for hate or bigotry of any kind.”

The situation is further exacerbated by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who recently addressed the nationwide protests at the University of Florida in a press conference. He remarked, “We will not let the inmates run the asylum in the Sunshine State,” underscoring a firm stance against the demonstrations. Florida, as a state, rallies behind the Second Amendment, going as far as to pass a bill no longer requiring a license to conceal carry — but continues to add limitations to our freedom of speech and freedom to assemble.

“How are we going to send them to school to learn about politics and learn about the world around us and then when we get educated enough to understand what’s happening in the world, you arrest us?” an inside source asked.

The UNF faculty union, composed of at least 60% of the professors, signed a petition on behalf of their organization, advocating for the charges to be dropped. Although we lack an official statistic on student sentiment regarding the arrests and charges, our insider source indicates a general consensus that the protesters should have been permitted to remain on the green without a curfew.

“For the most part, there has been an abundance of support from students, faculty, alumni, and community members who are outraged at the gross injustice committed by the university,” Morales explained. “We will continue building pressure on University administration to not only drop our charges and lift the ban on campus, but also meet our original demands.”

Currently, the students and non-students who were arrested are still on trial. So far they have pled non-guilty and are awaiting a verdict.

IS GEN Z FALLING BEHIND

OR ARE THEY AHEAD OF THEIR TIME?

Words by Mallory Pace

As I get older and enter my “real world” era, I’ve become increasingly aware of the stark differences between my generation and my parents’ demographic in more ways than our outlooks on life and fashion sense. With a few exceptions, the majority of my peers are ways away from settling down, buying a home or even holding a stable, well-paying, 9-5 job. But when I look at older generations and what they were doing at my age, it seems as if they had their life together or were at least on their way well before what I’m currently on track for. Of course, major life events and the state of the country play a hefty role in that, but I still often ponder on whether my generation is somehow falling behind due to a lack of motivation or if we’re missing out on certain advantages previous generations experienced. If either is the case, is it our fault? Or perhaps the evolution and perceived unattainability of the “American dream” is to blame?

This idea came to me, like most things, from social media, as people my age started posting videos comparing themselves at some early-20s age to their parents. It would be something along the lines of “my parents at 25 getting married and buying their first house” vs. “me at 25 still asking my mom to make my doctor’s appointment for me.” Or “my parents at 30 with two kids and a mortgage they can afford” versus “me at 30 as a DINK (dual-income with no kids) spoiling my dogs with silly outfits and luxury living.” The trend skyrocketed, alluding to the idea that many people my age share the same reality: We’re not on the same track as our parents. A survey of 2,000 adults conducted by The Harris Poll for “USA Today” found that two-thirds of Americans believe younger people face hardships today that earlier generations didn’t and that 65% of Gen-Zers and 74% of millennials believe they are starting further behind financially than earlier generations at their age. But this consensus goes beyond differing lifestyles; there are social and economic influences that play into the consequences.

For starters, the average in-state tuition cost for public universities has increased about 56% in the last two decades, when adjusting for inflation, according to “U.S. News & World Report.” In Florida, public university tuition and fees for in-state students increased 53.5% in the last 15 years, according to the College Board. When tuition goes up, so does student debt. After adjusting for inflation, the average student loan debt at graduation has tripled since 2007, according to the Education Data Initiative. They also reported that the class of 2020 graduated with the highest amount of debt, with an average balance of $43,140 in September 2023 dollars. In Florida, the average student loan debt comes out to roughly $38,900. Of course, you have to consider inflation and the economical changes in the last 15 years, but even still, there’s no arguing that the cost of tuition and consequential student debt has increased dramatically, putting many college graduates behind financially.

Entering the workforce with the heavy weight of debt on your shoulders is daunting, even if that debt is what gets you a job, you’re now working just to get by and pay back the money you borrowed to get where you are.

Another economic factor that greatly separates the generations is work-life balance. Unemployment rates have remained somewhat stable, save for the hiccup that was the 2020 pandemic when half of the older Gen Zers reported that they or someone in their household had lost their job or taken a pay cut due to the outbreak, according to a Pew Research Center survey. But what newer generations are starting to bring to the negotiation table are ideas of establishing a balance between work and life outside of it. Young people entering the workforce have figured out that you actually are allowed to set boundaries and professionally advocate for yourself when those boundaries are crossed. We’ve discovered that it’s actually not normal or productive to work beyond working hours unpaid or take on tasks far outside the job’s description. At least for corporate or mass-staffed companies where workplace culture is not the biggest priority, younger employees are learning how to navigate this new environment without being stepped on or taken advantage of. This difference in mindset, both in and out of the workplace, shows a drastic difference in the generations.

We’ve covered the basis of how money (or the lack thereof) influences the state of this generation, but there’s something else that sets us apart, something that looms over life and in the back of our heads like an itch you can’t quite scratch: love and family. Whether that’s something you long for or attempt to repel, getting married and raising kids in a comfortable-sized home with enough money to send them to college and enough love to get through a marriage is getting harder and harder. Nevertheless, it typically comes back to money. A news report by the Carolina Population Center suggests that average American couples increasingly tend to put off having children out of fear of not being financially stable enough to afford the growing costs of child care. In the U.S., birth rates have been declining since the Great Recession, reaching a record low in 2020, according to the Pew Research Center, which also did a study finding 44% of non-parents under the age of 50 reported it is either not too likely or not at all likely they will have kids someday, a 7% increase from their findings in 2018. The declining birth rates combined with a shared fear of financially supporting children in today’s economy captures a growing attitude among young adults and their perception of having a family. Other studies suggest it might not be that more and more people don’t want kids in general, but rather the “right time” to do so is seemingly unattainable, so it gets put off. Having children takes more than a village; in fact, it takes at least $200,000 over 18 years, according to a study by LendingTree. There’s childcare, education, clothing, food … don’t get me started on housing. These days, you’re likely among the privileged (or hardworking, of course) to be able to buy a house. Finances aside, women are no longer subject to a domestic life and increasingly value having a career and supporting themselves over raising a family at home. In these hard times, who can blame them, really?

Though we may not benefit from the same advantages as older generations did, causing us to “fall behind” doesn’t mean we’re failing. In fact, Gen Z is on track to be the best educated generation yet with 57% of 18-21-year-olds enrolled in college in 2018, compared to 52% among millennials in 2003 and 43% among Gen Xers in 1987, according to Pew Research.

As digital natives, Gen Z certainly holds other advantages unique to their era, like AI and advanced technologies that provide job opportunities, swift communication and ease of living. Could your grandma order Olive Garden straight to her door while staying in her pajamas? Didn’t think so. Could she buy a house for $5,000? Got me there. But was same sex marriage legal? Ha.

We benefit from certain luxuries that older generations couldn’t dream of, though the grass is always greener.

When you put it all together and take a step back, I think it’s obvious why this generation feels (and probably is) farther behind than previous generations at the same age. The top of the list is likely money. Everyone wants it, yet nobody has it. Then there’s the fragile state of the world and making decisions out of fear for the future. It’s hard to make permanent decisions when it seems like the country could crumble at any minute. I think Gen Z has adopted an attitude more geared toward experiencing life versus just living it. Anyone can get by, but certain events like the COVID-19 pandemic and Donald Trump being found guilty yet still harnessing a scary amount of support, has shown us all one thing: everything is f***ed and tomorrow is not promised.

Another key difference between the generations is what the “American dream” looks like. For Baby Boomers, who really iconized the term, it looks like a happy family living inside a white picket fence as dad goes to work and mom cooks and cleans (or some variation, you get what I’m saying). For us, “American dream” means doing what brings you joy. It means being able to express yourself, have fun and hopefully, make some money doing so. We want to do as the Europeans do: work to live, not live to work. Whether it’s by force or by choice, our generation doesn’t follow the path laid ahead with no questions asked; we’ve figured out that as long as you’re doing what makes you happy, nothing else truly matters. It might not be a matter of whether we’re starting behind but more so that our transition into adulthood is simply different — the same as it will be for future generations. That’s just how it goes. But if we’ve learned one thing about Gen Z, it’s that they will adapt … and look hot doing it.

BEHIND THE CURTAIN: KARRISSA

WADE’S RUSH TO RADIANCE

Words & photos by Kara Carter

As Pride Month unfurls, it is not just a time for celebration, but a reminder of the journeys many have taken for authenticity, acceptance and selflove. Karrissa T. Wade, Jacksonville’s favorite drag queen, is a shining example of a person who embodies those values.

To show us what that looks like, Wade took us to Tulua Bistro in Springfield where her face and name are plastered on the front window promoting her performances and other events (not to mention her own celebrity prayer candles in the bistro’s gift shop). A drag veteran of more than 30 years, Wade knows all the tricks of the trade and is going to share some of her wisdom in getting ready for a show.

THERE’S ALWAYS TIME FOR A COCKTAIL!

One of first and most important steps of getting ready for a show at Tulua Bistro is making sure you have one of their famous mimosas in hand.

NO ONE WANTS TO BOOK A CHRONICALLY LATE QUEEN

Professionals have know how to get ready quickly because, well, they have to. Realistically, performers don’t have hours to spend putting on makeup, doing their hair and getting dressed. Wade often drives across town for gigs, frequently dealing with traffic and other factors, making timeliness of the essence. Getting ready quickly is imperative

AFFORDABLE FOUNDATION

Karrissa emphasizes how drag can be expensive. And if you’re just starting out, it can be intimidating. She says that when you are a queen that has multiple bookings, especially in the summertime, makeup can just melt off. That means having to reapply foundation and powder constantly. Karrissa emphasizes drugstore foundation and powder can do the trick. She says the products sold at Walmart and CVS can give the same results as high-end products.

ALL ABOUT THE EYES

When in a pinch, a queen does not have time to fully block out the eyebrows. This takes precious time to fully comb through, glue down, dry and conceal the eyebrows so they are not as visible. Wade gave us a tip when in a time crunch, she applies a lighter concealer on the eyebrows to give the illusion of it being part of the eyelids. She also adds a dark color eyeshadow to create a smoky effect on the eyes and eyebrows to give the illusion of a bigger eyelid. She blends it out the eyeshadow with a bright pink shadow to give the eyes more dimension and makes sure not to forget to follow those same colors under the eye to make them pop.

BROWS

Since the eyebrows are fully covered in concealer and eyeshadow, she has to make new ones. She tells us an “old school” trick of using a lipliner pencil to stencil out the shape that you want for the eyebrows. Once she has found the desired shape, she goes over the eyebrows with a liquid eyeliner to make sure it does not come off during her performances. She also says that she gets some of her items from Make Believe, which is a local costume store that has just about everything for performers.

CONTOUR FOR THE GODS

Wade then picks up a darker powder to contour her features to look as chiseled as possible so the bright stage lights will pick up her features from the farthest part of the room. She also uses a shimmery highlighter on the bridge of her nose to make it look slim and pointed.

SHOWTIME

While she has closest full of glamorous gowns, she is wearing something extra special: a custom kimono that encompasses all of the pride flags into one. The grand ensemble can be seen from anywhere in the room and is a real showstopper.

In the end, Wade explained, everyone has their own look and only YOU know what that look is supposed to be. She emphasizes the nature of trial and error when it comes to makeup and perfecting your look. She also urges up and coming drag queens to ask for guidance as other professionals will gladly lend a helping hand wherever they can. She has fought for where she is now and wants everyone to be able to enjoy the same fruits of her labor of acceptance and joy. Happy Pride!

LAVENDER MARRIAGE

Words & photo by Amiyah Golden

“I

now pronounce you man and wife!” the priest revels with glee.

Ten-foot tall doors met with an arch and a cross at the apex serve as the entry point to the ceremony held to join two souls together. Family, friends and the meddlesome fill in the church pews to bear witness to a union painted as “picture-perfect” by supposed compatibility th at is concluded as such by mere face value and arrangement.

Cheers follow, high-fives are shared by the audience, “atta-boys” are chanted, and tears of joy flow down the face of various onlookers.

While everyone rejoices for the newlyweds, the pair wipe the sweat from their brows as the fear of exposure is settled down by the accomplishment of a seamless ceremony.

Unbeknownst to many, this sacred day was nothing more than a contractual obligation, required to uphold the image of compulsory heterosexuality. Their true orientation suppressed by an assumed joyous day — the legal binding of man and wife serving as the perfect disguise necessary to their survival — a lavender marriage.

The distinguished tone that is paired with the term isn’t coined as such to detail the color palette of the centerpieces, boutonniere and bridesmaid dresses of the event or guide the Pinterest boards on what color to fill with inspiration. It represents a period of time where queer survival in the United States was teetering further away from progress and the manhunt for gay men was rampant. Known as the “lavender scare,” it was an era that scapegoated queer men.

An alternate continuation of the historic witch trials that labeled anyone suspected of being gay as a communist. With anti-communist propaganda pushed to no avail, the mark of the “C” was the scarlet letter that shunned people from their communities and employers and sanctions included potential imprisonment.

Agitprop boosted paranoia which constructed a never-ending cycle that led to forcible outing due to potential peril.

Lavender became synonymous to a gay lifestyle and —whether true or assumed — it shifted an association to a comforting smell and prepossessing tinge to the conversion of iniquity and artifice.

So, the participation in a “sham” marriage was essential in a world where tyranny lay.

Carl Sandberg, author “Abraham Lincoln: War Years,” also is credited with giving the color lavender new life in his book with his infamous quote, “streak of lavender and soft spots as May violets” in reference to Abraham Lincoln and his close male friend, Joshua Fry Speed. The status of their relationship was never confirmed but assumptions were made. This excerpt generated numerous suspicions which in turn brewed a prejudice against men who decided to adorn lavender in any facet, deeming them impetuously as gay and stamping the word as a negative connotation.

The appellation, lavender marriage, came to classify the espousal between two queer people of the opposite sex or one queer person to a heterosexual person.

In 1969, the gay community reclaimed the color; not allowing the beauty of a hue or the beauty of love remain in association under the utility of fear. Lavender began to symbolize strength and solidarity at the beginning of the gay rights movement as Stonewall had just occurred months before sparking the start of a long journey for civil rights.

But many had to endure in a society before the valorousness of pioneers or the combined forces of changemakers.

The expectation to uphold the heteronormative standard was enforced, especially if you were in the limelight in any capacity: politics, clergy, actors, performers.

The emergence of film in the early 20th century — the Golden Age of Hollywood — gave actors a platform around the world, where they were susceptible to exhibition, not only for their talents and looks but also their personal lives.

Numerous scandals plagued Hollywood at the time with many actors considered morally illicit and met with some disdain but eventually “forgiven” or overlooked. Infidelity and deception was inconsequential to the presumed transgression of being gay, and assessed as an offense that’s unforgivable by the public.

Film studios prohibited actors from disclosing their sexuality and went as far as mandating marriages that further supported the facade. Hollywood stars are now known for being the center of so many of these lavender marriages. One of the most famous stars being Rock Hudson. The face of many prominent films, Hudson married his agent’s secretary, Phyllis Gates, to maintain his “manly” image.The two split after chatter of his sexuality and quests outside of Gates began to grow louder.

Hudson was diagnosed with AIDS in 1984 and died in 1985 and became the first “major” American celebrity to disclose his HIV status and die from the illness. This unpacked a lot of the questions of Hudson’s past and confirmed his sexual orientation.

Hudson wasn’t the only one participating in a lavender marriage with famous silent film actors Jean Acker and Rudolph Valentino marrying in 1919. Acker was known to be queer, specifically for being in a relationship with actress Alla Nazimova. It has never been confirmed if Acker truly liked Valentino or if he was used for protection, but the union didn’t last long.

These marriages weren’t exclusive to Hollywood stars or socialites. Many people being involved in these marriages, willing or unknowingly, used the status of marriage to blend into a society that persecuted gay individuals.

The legalization of same-sex marriage on a national scale is still recent in the grand scheme of things – we’re only nine years post the U.S. Supreme Court decision, and the work still isn’t done.

The landmark ruling doesn’t dismiss the discrimination that still runs rampant for queer couples.

Many people today are still practicing lavender marriages due to familial, religious or career pressure. While strides have been made, it doesn’t account for the rest of the world where being gay is still criminalized and punished. Marriage is supposed to represent the perseverance of love, and it’s unfortunate how many people had to live their lives in compliance to simply abide.

Pride month is celebrated because of the intransigence of those in power who decided that it was unacceptable to love with freedom. Pride is celebrated to remember the sacrifices of comfort. Pride is celebrated to never return to a place of trepidation.

The simple luxuries of heterosexual existence don’t warrant opposition from those who don’t understand having to relinquish authentic love.

WHAT DOES YOUR FAVORITE SUMMER COCKTAIL SAY ABOUT YOU

Words by Ambar Ramirez and Carmen Macri

CARMEN: Summer is here! And with it comes long sunny days and cold cocktails – at least for us. I don’t know what y’all get into, but the second it’s 85 degrees outside I need a spicy margarita in my hand.

AMBAR: We all have that one drink that’s our go-to for the hot summer months. And we’ve found that you can tell a lot about a person based on their cocktail of choice.

CARMEN: And when we say a lot, we mean A LOT.

AMBAR: So if you’ve been having an identity crisis, don’t worry, we’ll let you know the type of person you are.

CARMEN: And without further adieu, here is our officially unofficial guide to what your favorite summer cocktail says about you! I’ll get us started. A Dirty Shirley. If your drink of choice is a Dirty Shirley you are not yet legal and should not be inside of this establishment. You want the elegance of an Aperol Spritz, but can’t handle the palate.

AMBAR: That said, if your cocktail of choice is an Aperol Spritz, I don’t trust you. You probably have your life together and can afford a Euro-Summer. You like your 9-5, and dare I say, you’re a bit pretentious.

CARMEN: Long Island Iced Tea. If this monstrosity is your drink of choice, you are either lying to yourself and everyone around you or you are an alcoholic. There is absolutely no in-between.

AMBAR: If you crave a Piña Colada during the summer months then you probably have a strong sweet tooth and are all about feeding your inner child. And if you’re drinking this consistently, then you probably don’t have any family medical history of diabetes. Congrats!

CARMEN: If your drink of choice is a spicy margarita you are undoubtedly the hottest and funniest in your friend group. Everyone loves to be around your chaotic energy, and you also have never been wrong before a day in your life!

AMBAR : Clearly, we know what drink Carmen is having this summer.

CARMEN: And what about it?

AMBAR : It’s OK ’cause I’m also drinking spicy margaritas … every day of the year. Now, if you’re not into all the great things a margarita has to offer but your alcohol of choice is tequila, you’re probably ordering a paloma. If you are drinking palomas this summer, you’re a pretty bubbly and normal person by day and a freak by night.

CARMEN: Are you better than everyone else? Does no one understand your music taste? Do you watch super underground indie movies that we “probably haven’t even heard of before”? Well, if that’s the case then you likely enjoy a nice, cold Tom Collins – and letting everyone around you know that you just “prefer gin over vodka.”

AMBAR: Enjoy a nice Mai Tai? Your name is probably John Lawless and are a movie aficionado (but not the kind who would drink a Tom Collins). You’re spending most of the summer in your backyard with the grill on, wearing a floral top and khakis.

CARMEN: And if you’re drinking anything else, you’re boring and probably spending summer in federal prison. Or you are a recovering alcoholic. If that’s the case, keep up the good work! We’re so proud of you!

Few ks

Cleanup

July 5 th with Jacksonville Beach or Mickler’s Landing 7 AM – 9 AM Let’s Keep the Beach Clean! Come out and help maintain the beauty and safety of our beaches. Volunteers are needed to pick up trash and fireworks debris along the shoreline left behind from the previous night’s Independence Day celebrations.

dear dumbs

Dear Dumbs!

Your podcast is the only thing I look forward to. I know how sad that sounds but I actually live a wonderful life.

I do have an issue with my older sister though. We get along just fine, but we’ve never been close. At times it feels like we’re growing closer and this past weekend was one of them. At least that’s the vibe I was getting.

We went to Las Vegas for a few days, and I was having one of the better times I’ve had with her. I usually feel like I’m walking on eggshells when she’s around but it seemed like Vegas was bringing out the best of us. We were laughing and taking pictures. She gave me her phone to share one of those photos and a text came through. Apparently she had been spending the entire weekend texting someone about how much she hates me and that she’s “so over dealing with my BS.”

I don’t know why but I was taken aback. I was so hurt and didn’t know what to say. I sat the phone on the table and pretended that I didn’t see it. I don’t think I want to try to be close to her. Seeing what she says about me behind my back is still very painful for me.

What would The Dumbs do?

Kim M. Tulsa, OK

TERRY: I hate her, and I want to say it to her face.

SHARI: I feel the same way. I’m so sorry you had to see that, Kim.

TERRY: I have so many questions though. What is the “BS” she’s talking about? Is there something you need to work on? If your answer is “no” then I’m back to hating her again.

SHARI: Siblings are hard to deal with. There’s years of hurt feelings that are usually never addressed. There’s jealousy issues too.

TERRY: Yes. I’m very lucky that I’m in a good space with my brothers and sister. Yes, there have been times when I chose not to talk to them for a while, but I usually call and apologize for something I never did.

SHARI: You want to be liked too much.

TERRY: Right again.

SHARI: Well, my advice is for Terry and Kim then. Why would you put yourself through this more than you have to?

TERRY: OK ... Take me out of this because I think I’ve been doing a better job. Continue.

SHARI: I know I’m not the first person to say this, but I really do believe it. You don’t have to hang out with someone just because they’re family.

TERRY: True, Kim. If you didn’t know them, would you want to be friends? We know your answer so take action. I personally would go one step further and tell her what you know. Otherwise it will give her more reason to talk trash about you.

SHARI : Lay it all on the table. Remain calm when you do it. Tell her that it hurt and that talking badly about you behind your back is the line she crossed. She’s a small person. Who needs her.

TERRY: That’s my girl! Your unique life, planned.

Understanding what people are passionate about is how we help them plan for what’s most important. Backed by sophisticated resources, a Raymond James financial advisor gets to know you and everything that makes your life uniquely complex. That’s Life Well Planned.

Solve this puzzle like a regular sudoku, but instead of using numbers, use the letters T-A-C-O-L-U (for the Jax Beach restaurant) to fill each row, column and box.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE!