lyrichord
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Joined: October 2005
Posts: 2,544
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Post by lyrichord on Sept 20, 2016 12:50:49 GMT -5
Tears in my eyes this morning. I always suspected Windmills and Dudley were one and the same, but this time I was hoping to be wrong since once many years ago I asked Dudley in a PM if she was Windmills on TWoP, way back before either of us were posting here and long before there was a windmills blog/twitter, and she denied it. I've Internet known her since 2004 and we've been on five of the same message boards--we were in the Clay Aiken fandom together way back then, and I felt a little less strange being an Asian twentysomething in that fandom knowing Dudley was one too. I met her in person at a concert in 2005, and she was warm and lovely as well as one of the smartest, most articulate people I've ever met. She went to college at the place I went to grad school and we had talked about that in addition to fandom stuff. Then we both joined Carrie's fandom and it was a comfort to know there was someone I knew who was such a voice of reason as well, and she was kind enough to be on the phone with me during the first Love, pain and the whole crazy carnival ride show to share in my excitement in those pre smartphone and social media days and write about it back to Pulse. I've drifted away from fandom the last couple of years so we hadn't spoken recently, but I always still lurked to read her thoughts here and on twitter and MJs blog. She was a remarkably patient moderator, and I always admired her articulate dissembly of hater nonsense with a slew of hard facts. Definitely far too young to leave us.
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2016 12:53:08 GMT -5
Dev always valued her privacy and to an extent I always emulated her a bit because I respected her so much. Several years ago (maybe 5?) I was invited to work on a country music website by a Pulse member who had ties to the country music industry, and Dev/Dudley was one of the other people working on the site. Long story short, the site was up and running for a couple of years, but eventually most of us couldn't contribute to it anymore (we were too busy contributing to other sites, including Pulse) and the website went defunct. However, during the time it was active, I got to know Dev/Dudley a lot through email and messaging. I remember seeing a great Billboard article last summer, where Phyllis Stark, the author of the Stark Report (which is a long-form country discussion column), cited some great research by a woman named Devarati Ghosh. Most people here didn't or wouldn't know that Ghosh and Dudley were the same person, but I immediately knew, and when I saw Stark citing Dev's research, I had the biggest smile on my face. I never publicly revealed the connection on the board because, again, I knew Dudley valued her privacy and I respected that. But if any of you would like to read it, it's on page 15 at this link: www.billboard.com/files/pdfs/country_update_0713.pdfAnd there's a picture of Dev, too. :( I'm just so heartbroken today. I want to try to remember all the good things and all the stuff that she contributed, but that's going to take a while. Right now my heart just aches. I can't imagine how her real-life family and friends feel. I know none of them are probably on Pulse, but I'd like to offer condolences and prayers to them anyway. RIP Dev/Dudley :(
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Post by areyoureadytojump on Sept 20, 2016 13:03:52 GMT -5
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libby
New Member
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Posts: 81
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Post by libby on Sept 20, 2016 13:05:00 GMT -5
R.I.P. Devarati
She was a force across many areas of the web. Kind of makes the impression of the web being anonymous a farce. Without ever having *known* her I still cried. She’ll be missed greatly.
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spooky21
Diamond Member
Secretly I'm so amused that nobody understands me.
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Post by spooky21 on Sept 20, 2016 13:17:12 GMT -5
Oh no, not Dev! She was such a lovely person and her music knowledge was one of the best on the site. She has been a rock on this site since inception and for a long as I can remember. So sad to hear. My thoughts and prayers with her family and loved ones.
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maine
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Post by maine on Sept 20, 2016 13:35:34 GMT -5
Wow. In complete shock. I don't think I ever conversed with her here, but I always valued her posts, as she had such a redeeming quality in everything she wrote. She truly was one of the greatest posters to ever grace this site, and a downright amazing mod/admin.
I, as well, actually had no clue she was Windmills Country. I have conversed with her many times through that alias on Twitter, but never made the connection. I also had no clue she ran the entertainment blog as well. I used to read that blog quite often maybe 5-6 years ago, long before I found this place.
The world just lost a bright star.
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Post by Me. I Am Justin... on Sept 20, 2016 13:40:51 GMT -5
Very sad news. R.I.P.
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Post by countrygirl918 on Sept 20, 2016 13:41:05 GMT -5
I don't really know what to say. I had no idea until this morning that Windmills and Dudley were the same person, although I can't say it surprises me - I've always admired "both". Dev has been a huge inspiration to me over the years. I always wished I could be as level-headed and well-researched as she was, and that I could be half as good of a writer.
Dev's passing is a shock, and huge loss not only to Pulse and Twitter, but to the entire country music community. Dev's research and analyses, along with her admirable passion, made a real difference in country music.
I will be listening to an all-female country playlist in her honour today. It's the least I can do.
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onebuffalo
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Post by onebuffalo on Sept 20, 2016 13:43:14 GMT -5
I absolutely loved and respected dudleyvillas43. Pulse will never be the same without you. R.I.P..
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Zazie
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Joined: September 2003
Posts: 5,144
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Post by Zazie on Sept 20, 2016 13:55:15 GMT -5
I cannot accept this news. She died so young! Unimaginable.
In addition to the many deeply-felt expressions of loss already here in the thread, I want to add that I valued Dudley for her devotion to telling the truth, to writing clearly, to going the extra mile when it came to research. She could and would confront what she saw as injustice, but she was also a kind woman. I did a small amount of writing with her -- it was not a big project, but I learned to respect her and I valued her thoughts -- she did not offer simple answers, and it took work to understand her perspective, but that was a good thing.
I can't imagine the country board without her giant presence here.
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matty005
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 3,407
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Post by matty005 on Sept 20, 2016 14:04:46 GMT -5
I am in shock. Dudley was such an amazing force on this board and while her and I didn't always see eye to eye, I respected the hell out of her. She was someone who when she would have a point of view different from my own, I would really think about what she was saying.
Is there anything we can do as a community to help her family? A GoFund me page? A scholarship in her name? She deserves to be remembered for the amazing person she was.
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Post by chicken077 on Sept 20, 2016 14:26:04 GMT -5
... 😭😭
I haven't had a lot of contact with her on Pulse... but this is still so sad and emotional... RIP... she will be remembered...
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14887fan
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Joined: November 2013
Posts: 11,254
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Post by 14887fan on Sept 20, 2016 14:26:09 GMT -5
It's nice to see some large names in country music journalism circulating her obituary (Grady W. Smith, SCM, etc.).
This really hasn't fully hit me yet, and I don't necessarily know when it will. She was, undoubtedly, one of the smartest writers I think any of us have ever come across on here/the internet as a whole. Her genius and dedication to every post she made will go unparalleled by anyone else on here, and I don't know that there'll ever be another country music journalist to come around with as much passion and appreciation for statistics and facts as her. Seriously, y'all; her piece on sexism in the music industry, and most heavily in the country music genre, made waves. It literally helped begin CMT's "Change the Conversation" movement. For those who are interested in reading it that haven't yet, I've linked it in Dev's pinned tweet below.
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Zeebz
Diamond Member
trashy
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Posts: 11,999
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Post by Zeebz on Sept 20, 2016 14:29:35 GMT -5
I'm speechless. I've never had that much interaction with her but she was a quality poster and person nonetheless. Her intelligence, compassion, and dedication was admirable and she will be missed. :'(
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kw9461
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Joined: January 2007
Posts: 3,764
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Post by kw9461 on Sept 20, 2016 14:34:05 GMT -5
Wow, what a gut punch. The only thing I can think to say is what a blessing it was to have such an insightful and thorough person in our lives even if for too short a time. Her tireless work as a moderator in my early days as a member is a big reason I still come back to Pulse today.
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.indulgecountry
Diamond Member
Best Country Poster 2011, 2017, & 2018
"You left a mark on my face // And brought a dozen red flags in a vase"
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Post by .indulgecountry on Sept 20, 2016 14:43:25 GMT -5
Wow. Stunned by this news. This is truly sad to hear. She was an invaluable member of the country forum and offered a lot of really great insight on stuff there. Her presence will definitely be missed and it's unfortunate that she's no longer with us. May she RIP. :(
ETA: Also I totally had no idea that Dudley was Windmills country. That blew my mind a little.
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Kanenrá:ke
Moderator
ethereal eternal nonexistent
she left her briquettes out in typical heaux fashion.
Joined: January 2009
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Staff
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Post by Kanenrá:ke on Sept 20, 2016 15:11:34 GMT -5
I'm just reading this now, I'm at work and can't fully post my feelings but this is a devastating loss not only to the online music world but to the world at large as Dev was an amazing person. She will be immensely missed. Her friends and family will be in my thoughts.
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Juan Carlos
Administrator
One of Pulse's great hidden gems
🔐🌕💛
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Post by Juan Carlos on Sept 20, 2016 15:28:12 GMT -5
Personally, I really don't know what to say and I don't think I have the exact words to be honest. I didn't get the chance to interact with Dev/Dudley as much as some of you did here, but I wish I would have. She was one of most valuable posters Pulse has had and she impacted a lot of people here and Twitter under the alias Windmills Country with her knowledge and intelligence. She will definitely be missed and may she rest in peace too. :(
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zaclord 🌈
Diamond Member
Jesus Jamz POTY
It'll all be alright...
Joined: July 2009
Posts: 10,791
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Post by zaclord 🌈 on Sept 20, 2016 15:46:49 GMT -5
Wow, this news just hit me hard. I didn't know dudley at all and never really conversed with her personally, but there are very few members who could write a 6 paragraph post on some thread in the country forum that I would actually read every word of, let alone be excited about it. Dudley added so much insight to discussions and always came across so calm and collected in her posts; she will be incredibly missed on here by so many.
I had no idea of her contributions outside of Pulse which makes this loss even more extreme. The impact she made on the music industry and online journalism will not be forgotten. But above Dudley being such a large online presence, she was a real human being and I cannot image the pain her family and friends are feeling right now. My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone impacted by her passing. You'll be missed Dudley!
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zjames
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Joined: June 2013
Posts: 1,926
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Post by zjames on Sept 20, 2016 16:05:26 GMT -5
This news hit me very hard. Pulse has been a very important part of my life in the past 2-3 years, and Dudley was always a staple of the country form. I always thought she was one of the most intelligent and insightful people I've come across on the internet, and from your stories I'm glad to hear she was an incredible person as well. It was so inspiring to see someone so dedicated and passionate about something she loved. RIP Windmills, Dudley, Devarati Ghosh
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sbp17
8x Platinum Member
Joined: July 2005
Posts: 8,483
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Post by sbp17 on Sept 20, 2016 16:26:54 GMT -5
This is so tough. I struggle for the right words to say. Dev was such a kind soul. And so intelligent and insightful and pragmatic. I've been rereading her posts and PMs for the past couple of hours, I guess hoping or pretending that she's not really gone. My thoughts and prayers to her family. RIP Dev.
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2016 16:31:05 GMT -5
There are very few people you come across that you respect and she was one of them. I respected that she stood in her convictions, was authentic and real. I really felt her heart after our pm interview and fell in love with her personality and intelligence.
Forget, Pulse losing a great person. The world lost a great one. Literally in shock and deeply saddened by this.
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jptexas
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Joined: October 2007
Posts: 3,700
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Post by jptexas on Sept 20, 2016 16:33:24 GMT -5
When I first joined this site, we had some back and forth, but she was fair about things around here. I'll miss her very interesting opinions about country music. She was one of a kind.
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Kanenrá:ke
Moderator
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she left her briquettes out in typical heaux fashion.
Joined: January 2009
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Post by Kanenrá:ke on Sept 20, 2016 16:33:37 GMT -5
Just got in the car and started driving to go pick up a friend and this came on first. I sang and cried for Deb.
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sabre14
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Posts: 26,915
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Post by sabre14 on Sept 20, 2016 16:40:23 GMT -5
Kanenrá:ke, the same thing happened to me. My ride home took 15 minutes and I only heard a handful of songs. The last one I heard before I pulled in my driveway... I understand I'm finally embedding my own tweet (revealing my full name) but I will make an exception for this.
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Devin
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Post by Devin on Sept 20, 2016 17:04:57 GMT -5
Wow... I never really conversed with her much, but we did work together with the other staff members. It's always hard to process when an online acquaintance passes; this reminds me of when Nicholas2.0 from the Rock subforum passed away a couple of years back. I'm shocked. RIP Dev. :'(
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nick64
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Post by nick64 on Sept 20, 2016 17:31:07 GMT -5
Oh my god... I'm at a loss for words.
I didn't know Dudley/Dev personally, but everytime I scrolled through a thread and saw that username pop up, I knew I was in for one hell of a post. Such an intelligent human being and one of the posters I always looked up to most. Her passion for country music was strong and admirable, and I'm glad she got the chance to make her mark in something she loved so much.
My condolences go out to all of her friends and family, including all of her friends on here. Dev, your presence will be greatly missed and may you rest in peace :'(
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Post by Daryl the Beryl on Sept 20, 2016 18:21:00 GMT -5
Dudley was a great admin from what I've seen in the country forum. She will be missed.
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Pipa
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Post by Pipa on Sept 20, 2016 18:22:39 GMT -5
I hardly ever browsed the Country forums but I knew Dudley. That's how synonymous she was with music forums, and country music as a whole. For someone with so much passion to leave us when they're so young is a tragedy. I agree with Devin that it reminds me of when Nick passed on, which was very heavy news to take in as well. RIP.
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2016 18:53:23 GMT -5
I didn't know her that well but she was a great admin. This is so sad. R.I.P. :'(
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