#(because I had correct opinions on Louie)

[janetbrown711]

Melatonin

Louie can't sleep after an adventure gone wrong, his mother's words echoing in his head like the worst worst record, and so he seeks solace with his dear old Uncle Donald.

Ao3 Link

Louie was tired, which wasn’t surprising for 2:17 in the morning. It had also been a long, long day of adventuring and he had been grateful when he finally was able to throw himself on his bunk bed.

Unfortunately though, Louie couldn’t sleep.

His back and legs ached something fierce from all of the above-average amounts of running and walking and climbing he had to do, and there was this weight on his chest that caused his heart to pound, keeping his eyes and mind on alert.

Insomnia was nothing new for the youngest duck brother, of course, but that didn’t make it any less annoying (especially with Dewey’s tendency to snore). He’d normally just go on his phone and scroll through social media until his eyes decided to close, but it didn’t feel right tonight. No, his feed was too full of Webby and Dewey’s photos of their adventure. Photos of Scrooge, Huey, and Della were on every post, with Louie having to swipe through to find any with him in them.

That wasn’t their fault though, Louie really hadn’t been in the mood today for hiking mountains and fighting bears and bear-like monsters to find some mystic honey stirrer. The photos of him were blurry and embarrassing, unlike the usual where he’d at least pose with the treasure or he and Webby had some kind of fun side quest.

A chill ran through Louie that made him sit up and sigh, rubbing the bandages around one of his hands as he tried to think of what to do.

He could go to the kitchen and if Duckworth wasn’t too busy ghost-sleeping, he could make him some tea..? No, no, Louie hated tea more than Scrooge hated to waste it. Something else then… like watching YouTube? No, his feed was overrun with videos about Doofus Drake and Scrooge McDuck sightings and hustler videos that Louie really didn’t have an interest in (at least… not right now). He could try counting sheep, but– but there was something else on his mind playing on repeat instead.

“C’mon Louie, it’s just one more mile, don’t get lazy on me now.” His mother smiled at him, hands on her hips and a bouncy energy that just made him even more tired by the second.

“Yeah, Louie! C’mon, it’ll be totally cool to see the top of the mountain,” Huey encouraged too.

“If I don’t die before then,” Louie panted, leaning back against a tree.

Della tsked and rolled her eyes. “You sound just like your uncle, you know that?”

Louie perked up at that, but before he could say anything, Dewey punched him in the arm as he and Webby sped by.

“See ya later, slowpokes!” he called out mockingly as Webby made a face.

“Hey! We’re supposed to be on the lookout for bears, you two!” Della laughed and hurried to go join them.

“Hey–! Wait for us!” Huey shouted and started scurrying off too, and Louie had no choice but to follow.

…Louie didn’t know why his mind was focusing on it– it wasn’t a big deal, really. They all made it eventually, even if Louie missed the “big reveal” and family photo op. They had hundreds of those, Louie being gone from one or two or however many at this point wasn’t a big deal. He was the lazy one, after all. Consequences, simple as that.

“If you want to be part of this family, you got to–”

Louie shot up and out of bed, startled by his own memory as the pounding in his chest only increased.

“It’s just a stupid memory, Louie. Just shut up and go back to sleep,” he muttered to himself before checking if he’d awoken his brothers. Thankfully, the answer was no, so Louie was left to… well, as much as he wanted to, he was in no condition to go back to bed. He was still stuck in “fight or flight” mode, so he needed to walk around– maybe to find some melatonin.

As good as that sounded though, he knew the numerous bathrooms barely even had toilet paper, much less medications due to how stingy Scrooge was. If there was melatonin to be found, it probably expired in 1986 and probably had a nightmare shadow creature trapped inside for extra measure.

Then again, Uncle Donald always kept his melatonin and other vitamins stocked, so maybe Louie could just go to the houseboat to check? Hopefully he could do so without waking his uncle, but if he caught him, it wasn’t like he’d get in trouble.

Louie bit his cheek, finding his phone and unplugging it to check the time, annoyed but not surprised it had only been two minutes. With a sigh, Louie put his phone in his pajama pocket, and quietly crept out of his room into the halls of the manor.

Nights like these always made the mansion feel haunted– more than by Duckworth, anyways. His uncle was crazy old and so was his choice in curtains and decoration. While Duckworth and Beakley kept dust away, the moonlight had this uncanny way of pointing out every crack and crevice that was previously unknown. Plus, the quiet made the creaking wood and pipes a lot more noticeable, and with Louie, being in the state that he was, picked up the pace to avoid it as much as possible.

Thankfully, the courtyard wasn’t too hard to get to and soon, Louie was back sneaking his way on the houseboat like it was nothing.

While it took a second to get used to, the familiar sway and creaking of the houseboat was comforting for the young duck, and he couldn’t help but smile as he made his way to the bathroom’s medicine cabinet for raiding.

In there, he found a half empty bottle of aspirin, a thing of tums, an empty paper cup, some mouthwash, but no sign of any melatonin.

“Well… frick,” Louie muttered to himself, closing the mirror and nearly jumping out of his skin when he heard footsteps just outside.

“Hello?” called out the tired and scratchy voice of Louie’s uncle.

Busted.

“Sorry, Uncle Dee, I was just looking for some melatonin to nab.” Louie’s face was red as he flicked the light off and stepped out to the small hallway.

His uncle smiled pitifully at him. “Can’t sleep?”

Louie shook his head.

“I keep that in my room now since you three moved out.” Donald chuckled. “I can grab it for you, and I can make some tea too, if you’d like.”

Louie bit his cheek. It was getting late, but as much as Louie wanted to just take the melatonin and hope his feelings would just drown out, he couldn’t deny having a cup of sleepytime tea with his uncle would help.

“Yeah, sure, why not?” Louie gave a crooked little smile, which made his uncle chuckle again and ruffle his hair before going to the kitchen. Louie followed, sliding into the circular booth and watching as his uncle pulled out the dented old kettle and filled it with water.

“Have you gotten any sleep at all?” his uncle asked, watching it fill.

Louie shook his head. “No, not really… I’m more surprised you’re awake though, I really thought it would be an easy in-and-out.”

“You’d be surprised how raising triplets and being ex-navy can affect how light you sleep.” His uncle winked and turned the water off.

Louie snorted. “I think Mom could sleep through a bombing.”

“Yeah, that’s Della all right.” Donald’s voice wavered a bit, though he quickly turned to muttering in frustration as it took a second before his stove would light. It eventually did, and once that was all settled he sighed and leaned against the counter. “So what’s keeping you up this time, Lou?”

“Oh, you know… adventure stuff, I guess,” Louie danced around the details, picking at the bandage on his hand.

His uncle’s eyes landed on it, and based on his reaction, it seemed he hadn’t noticed his injury at dinner. “Are you okay? What happened? Did Huey or Webby do the bandaging? Or was it Dewey? Not that he does a bad job, he just always forgets the Neosporin–”

“It’s fine, it’s fine, Uncle Dee– really,” Louie forced a smile. “It’s just a minor scrape, I promise.”

“You know, I’ve always told Scrooge you boys need better gloves and gear just so situations like this don’t happen.” Donald shook his head and left the kitchen, muttering under his breath the whole time.

Welp. Better than a scolding to stay safer, Louie thought to himself as he closed his eyes for a second.

When he opened them again, his uncle was back with a first aid kit and a bottle of melatonin.

“Here, let me look at it,” Donald asked, taking a seat next to Louie.

“It’s fine, Uncle Donald,” Louie tried to assure him, but his uncle didn’t relent, taking his hand and quickly unwrapping the bandage.

His uncle frowned, inspecting it. “This doesn’t look like a regular scrape. What happened?”

“It was just a sharp rock, I swear.” Louie looked away to try and mask the lie.

Donald didn’t seem to believe it, but focused his efforts more on adding some neosporin to his cut before finding a suitable gauze pad, bringing Louie momentarily relief.

“Who wrapped this the first time? And how long was it between hurting yourself and getting bandaged?” Donald interrogated.

“Dewey when we got back to the plane, I guess– it’s really not a big deal, Uncle Donald, I’m fine,” Louie tried to push, but he could see Donald’s eye twitch.

“No one had a first aid kit? Not even Huey?” Donald asked, eyebrows furrowed.

“He ran out using it on Webby and Dewey and Launchpad.” Louie shrugged. “Seemed only fair to let them have it this time anyways, since I’m usually the one taking all the supplies.”

Donald frowned, now taking the roller bandage and wrapping his wrist twice before going diagonally to the outside of his pinky. “I don’t like you thinking like that; your safety and health matters just as much as anyone else’s– even if you’ve got worse luck and tire out quicker.”

“Sure,” Louie sighed, looking at the kettle and seeing the steam starting to escape, a squeal imminent.

“I’m serious, Louie. I don’t want you talking like that. You deserve as much love and care as anyone else.” His uncle looked at him seriously, but the ten-year-old avoided eye contact.

Donald frowned, finishing the bandaging just as the kettle began to squeal and put a brief pause to go deal with that.

“If you want a place in this family–”

Stop. Just stop, Louie hissed in his mind. He hated that stupid video and that stupid memory. It was so long ago, there really wasn’t a point for it to be on repeat like it was. Yeah, his mom joked that if he hadn’t been so clumsy on the last adventure then Huey wouldn’t have ran out of bandages, but like… that was different. Louie was fine. It was fine. It was cool.

“So are you going to actually tell me how you hurt yourself, or are you going to keep me guessing all night?” Donald sighed, pouring the hot water into two mugs.

“It was a sharp rock, I promise.” Louie bit his cheek.

“Right.” His uncle’s shoulders sagged, before he shook his head and set the kettle down. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. Adventures are hard sometimes, I get it– plus, I know I can be a little protective–”

Louie laughed.

Donald rolled his eyes. “Okay, maybe more than a little protective, but you know… someone’s gotta.”

Louie’s smile faded and his eyes went back to his hands.

His uncle hummed in amusement as he got the tea bags and began brewing before returning with mugs in hand to the booth. “I’m sorry today was rough. I wish I could’ve been there.”

Louie waved his hand. “You would’ve gotten hurt a lot more than me.”

“Yeah, but at least Della knows to carry three extra kits whenever I’m around,” Donald laughed, and a lump formed in Louie’s throat.

“Right, yeah.” Louie tried to ignore it, tapping his fingers on the glass as he urged the tea to brew faster.

When it was done, he could feel his uncle's eyes on him as he took a sip of tea, searching and scanning like they had many times before. It was how he eventually learned to detect Louie's schemes, and it never failed to make Louie feel small.

To his surprise though, instead of saying anything, Donald wrapped an arm around Louie and pulled him to his side, kissing his head and hugging him tight. It made the lump tighten and tears threaten to form, the pressure building so tight Louie might just burst.

“I love you, Louie. You know that?” his uncle whispered.

Louie could only nod.

“I love you very, very much, Lou. I care about your health and safety, and I want you to be happy more than anything else in the whole wide world, do you understand?” Donald continued.

Louie nodded again, his lower lip beginning to tremble.

His uncle hugged him tighter. “Louie, I want you to tell me what’s hurting you. You don’t have to give details– but know that nothing is too much for me, okay? I want to help you… please…”

The ‘please’ shattered Louie’s resolve. He opened his mouth to speak maybe three times, before he eventually croaked it out:

“Why… doesn’t mom… like me..?”

Donald let out a quiet gasp, filling Louie with instant regret that broke him down into a sobbing mess in an instant.

“Oh, Louie.” His uncle pulled Louie onto his lap now, hugging him tight as he rocked back and forth while the ten-year-old just buried his face in his chest.

“S-sh-she– It-it’s like– She likes H-Huey, a-and Dewey, a-and even Webby– b-but– b-but–”

“I’m so sorry, honey.” Donald hugged him a little tighter, and Louie could tell he was crying too.

“I-I keep screwing u-up– a-and it’s like– i-it’s like she ca-can’t even tell a-and she just– she hates me, Unca’ Donald, she hates me,” Louie wept.

“Della doesn’t hate you, Louie, she just doesn’t understand, I promise,” Donald tried to assure, but Louie just shook his head.

“Sh-she keeps– she keeps calling me lazy a-and she makes fun of me wh-when I fail a-and even get hurt– it hurts so much, Unca’ Donald, it hurts so much,” Louie confessed, a wave of sorrow crashing down with the realization.

“I’m so sorry, Lou…” his uncle’s voice cracked. “I wish she didn’t. I really, really wish she didn’t– but old habits die hard, I’m so sorry.”

It took Louie a moment to process what his uncle said, and when he did, he sat up a bit. “Y-you mean she does that to you too?”

Donald nodded with a sad smile. “Everyone does, but Del and Scrooge especially. I used to joke that’s the only reason they kept me around.”

Louie’s heart managed to break a second time and he practically leapt to hug his uncle. “M’so sorry, I-I never meant to– I just– I’m so sorry, Uncle Donald.”

“Hey, hey, it’s okay, Lou. I’ve learned to accept it.” Donald rubbed his back.

“But you shouldn’t have to! I-it sucks– I hate being just a joke to them, a-and you’re so much more than that too!” Louie broke the embrace again.

“Louie, you aren’t a joke to them, I promise. You have that wonderful mind of yours that’s always so good at planning and scheming and escaping and they value that tremendously.” Donald put his hands on Louie’s shoulders.

Louie looked at the ground. “Even mom..?”

Donald gave a long sigh. “Your mom is… new to this. She doesn’t understand how you work yet and assumes you won’t take it personally, like how I would act– but that doesn’t make it right. She loves you, but she just doesn’t know how to, and I’m sorry that hurts you…”

Louie looked away, his mom’s words echoing again in his mind.

“If you want to be a part of this family, you gotta stop.”

“She… she said if I wanted to be a part of this family, I had to stop scheming– had to stop the one thing I’m good at,” Louie whispered.

He could see his uncle’s shoulders tense. “When did she say that..?”

“When you were gone after the ‘timephoon incident’.” Louie sniffled, wiping away hot tears as he stared at his mug.

Donald gave another long, heavy sigh. “I’m so sorry, Louie. I wish she understood you, I really, really do…”

“Sh-she also– I hurt my hand because she didn’t see me slipping. She didn’t help me– sh-she assumed I’d be okay, but I’m not okay– it’s not okay, Uncle Donald, it’s not.” Louie shook his head and curled up to Donald’s side, and his uncle wrapped an arm around him.

“I’m so sorry, Lou. Della just gets so wrapped up in her own head, she has a hard time recognizing people aren’t always at her level.” Donald rested his head atop Louie’s and squeezed him.

“I-I felt so alone today– I hate feeling alone,” Louie confessed more.

“I know, Louie, I know. And if it helps, you’ll always have me no matter what, okay? There’s nothing you could do to make me hate or leave you. You’ll always be my little Louie, and even if we get separated, I’ll always find my way back– even if it’s the moon,” Donald pointed out with a soft smile.

“Thanks, Uncle Donald.” Louie nuzzled closer. “I wish mom understood you too.”

His uncle laughed weakly. “Maybe one day… but in the meantime, I’m lucky to have you.”

Louie couldn’t help but laugh a little too. “I’m lucky to have you too, Uncle Donald.”

The pair of them sat in silence for a while, with Louie curled extra tight to his side and Donald holding him nice and close. It was calming, especially with the slow eb and flow of the pool water. All that crying had exhausted Louie, and he figured his uncle likely felt the same. However, Louie couldn’t even imagine going back to his bunk now, not when he felt his uncle needed him as much as he needed Donald.

“I’ll try and talk to her. It’ll be slow and I don’t know how she’ll take it, but I’ll talk to her,” Donald suddenly spoke up. “Uncle Scrooge too, for that matter.”

Louie wiped his eyes and shook his head. “You don’t gotta do that, it probably won’t change anything.”

“I have to try, Lou.” Donald looked down at him. “You’re worth at least trying.”

Louie didn’t have a response for that, so he just nuzzled back close and there was quiet again.

Louie liked the quiet. It was much better than the eerie silence of the manor, and how it would always be broken abruptly by some creaking wood or wind whirling down the chimney. On the houseboat, the sounds were constant, like a lullaby. The splashing of the water, the squeaking old metal, the soft hum of the old AC unit– it always knew how to put Louie to sleep.

“Uncle Donald?” he suddenly spoke up.

“Yes?”

“Can I… stay here with you tonight?” Louie glanced back up at him.

Donald’s face melted into a soft smile. “Of course, Lou. You’re welcome here any time.”

“Good.” Louie smiled too, before yawning.

His uncle chuckled before yawning himself. “Looks like we should get going to bed, huh?”

“I could stay up longer,” Louie lied, making his uncle roll his eyes.

“Drink some tea before you take that melatonin, I don’t want it going to waste,” Donald lightly teased before getting up and drinking more of his own.

Louie nodded, beginning to chug before he remembered he really wasn’t that big of a fan of tea, and so set it down again. “Is… that enough?” Louie asked.

Donald laughed. “Yes, yes, it’s fine, I’m just joking, no need to force yourself.”

Louie smiled before struggling to open the bottle of melatonin. Noticing this, his uncle walked over and helped him retrieve the yellow pill, which Louie took with a little bit of tea. After that was done, Donald cleaned up their mugs and set them out to dry. Once that was settled, Louie took Donald’s hand and the two of them went to cuddle the rest of the night away.

[writebackatya]

Darkwing Duck’s* Biggest Fans Haters

*As in the old tv show from the world of DuckTales (2017), not the superhero Drake Mallard assumes the identity of to fight evil

To fans like Drake Mallard and Launchpad McQuack, Darkwing Duck is the greatest piece of television history that helped shape their lives to become the ducks they are today thanks to its titular hero who never gave up despite the odds against him

To the rest of the world, Darkwing Duck was just another superhero show from the 90s that starred a problematic diva d-list actor that may or may not have died

Opinions are subjective of course, neither are 100% correct nor incorrect but I feel like when the fandom talks about Darkwing Duck it’s always about the characters that would also like the show. So why not flip the script a little? We’ll start small and work our way up to its biggest hater

Gosalyn Waddlemeyer:

“GOSALYN!?” You might be screaming at your monitor/phone to which I have to say:

“Yeah”

Again we are not talking about the Drake Mallard or his super identity here, but the tv show he and Launchpad are obsessed with. Because frankly, I bet Gosalyn loves doing all that superhero stuff with her adoptive dads. It’s a cool life to live!

Other than the fact that Drake is a huge nerd who INSISTS that Gosalyn do her “homework” and watch every episode of Darkwing Duck, read all the sacred texts (comic books), and playing the original Darkwing Duck video game on the original hardware so she won’t use the rewind or save features that modern games or ROMs have

Like all kids who have had an adult push their interests onto them, she has a little disdain for the show. But not a whole lot since she’s first on this list. I like to think she’s in the same boat as Dewey where she finds the show cheesy and doesn’t really hate it per say and sees why Drake and LP love the show. She even has a few guilty pleasure episodes

But one thing she doesn’t understand is why Drake and Launchpad insist on watching the Darkwing Duck Christmas Special every year when they’re both practicing Jews

Scrooge McDuck:

Yeah the old man can barely remember Drake, let alone the Darkguy Drake played in that movie he cancelled so I don’t really see Scrooge being a fan of the Masked Mallard. (No, not that Masked Mallard OG DuckTales fans)

If Scrooge did sit down and watch the show, he’d find it to be rather ridiculous if anything. Some vigilante running around dressed like The Spirit or The Shadow or whatever superhero kids are into these days getting slapped around and fighting back just doesn’t seem like his cup of tea

I like to think when Donald and Della were kids they watched Darkwing Duck at the mansion and Scrooge just walked by the room, looked at the TV for a few seconds, scoffed, and moved on with his life forgetting all about that nonsense his niece and nephew were watching

Louie Duck:

Honestly I always had this headcanon that Louie just isn’t a fan of superheroes. Like at all. He finds the stories all copy and paste, using all the cliches he hates from other genres and putting them in tights.

And don’t even get him started on superhero related adventures! If he sees a sky beam, Louie is running in the opposite direction of it. He’s not dealing with the many different diva supervillains out there trying to take over the world with cartoony extreme measures, he doesn’t wanna be around all that property damage

He does have a favorite superhero tho. Waddle Duck because he gave him a Pep once

Lena Sabrewing:

She thinks it’s lame.

Gandra Dee:

This is a no brainer for me. Gandra Dee made herself Darkwing Duck’s biggest hater the moment she heard the duck talk shit about Gizmoduck around Fenton who insisted she does not reveal his secret identity to Drake, because Drake is all he has left

Wanting to respect her boyfriend’s wishes, Gandra decides not to spill the beans but instead add more fuel to the fire by talking shit about Darkwing Duck

And she does not hold back

She’s not ashamed to talk shit on the show. It’s predictablity, it’s cheesiness, the plot holes, how lame it was for its own time, etc

It ain’t her childhood, she ain’t afraid to fight dirty either. She will bring up problematic episodes that depicted races in a not so good and stereotypical light (“It was the nineties! They were different times!” -Drake probably) such as the fact that in one episode Darkwing Duck called a group of Native Americans “primitive savages” or that a non-Asian actor played an Asian character in a sterotypcial manner and that how one of the characters names was “Duck Ling”(Okay but for real, all that shit did happen in the OG show.)

This of course frustrates Drake who is extra suspicious of Gandra ever since he saw her with Gizmoduck and writes her off as a blind fan girl who doesn’t know what she’s talking about

She’s pretty chill about not being into the show with Launchpad tho. He respects her opinions because he’s Launchpad and at the end of the day Gandra is still his friend

[mrgladstonegander]

Ive hated phantom and sorceress since day 1 too. You are not alone. It completely just flattens both lena and gladstone's characters for what? You could genuinely replace gladstone with a paper bag and the episode would honestly still be the same. I feel like Gladstone was just there because 'haha hehe magicstone tease!' And this is coming from someone who liked magicstone a lot at the time. Even little 14 year old me watched that and was disappointed. Magicstone does not belong in ducktales 2017 in any way imo.

On the topic of ducktales critical opinions, i also have mixed feelings on astro boyd. It gave so much to boyd that i love, but i feel like it made people misunderstand gyro gearloose completely. Like im one of the three people who prefer boyd to live with the drakes because Doofus drake's parents to me are people who are well prepared to take care of a child/ren, and who try to improve as parents and people even after they fumbled in caring for doofus drake.

Imo Astro boyd is a good starting point, but many people treat it as THE finish line for gyro and boyd. gyro just began healing from his trauma. He is not ready to take full responsibility for boyd, and honestly, I'm not sure he ever will be. Most ppl don't understand this.

In conclusion, i feel like astro boyd (and honestly most of season 3) are good concepts but were victims of being episodes in a final season of a show affected by covid. People wanted ducktales to keep up the amazing momentum it had in season 2, but like season 3 was just at the wrong place, at the wrong time.

14 year old me was also disappointment by phantom and the sorceress 😅and yeah i agree, DT17!magicstone is just.. not it

i think your feelings on astro boyd makes sense! gyro could be considered boyd's "father" but he wouldnt really be a good dad if that makes sense? obviously the Drakes arent the most perfect parents, but they clearly care for Boyd in a way that Gyro would struggle to because of the emotional connection to Akita/Tokyolk. I'll admit im also guilty for jumping on the "Gyro is Boyd's Dad!" bandwagon especially when the episode first came out, but i definitely agree that he (Gyro) shouldn't have full custody of Boyd until he works on his emotional issues

and that would have been great to see in a season 4! i think its good (and kind of correct) to see Astro Boyd as the start, but i think the fact we don't really get to see them interact... at ALL later is what makes it feel like the "finish" for a lot of people.

admittedly im not aware of the extent that covid affected the production of Ducktales but i definitely agree with you on how season 3 has a LOT of good concepts, but have extremely mixed execution (Louie's Eleven and Sword of Swanstantine come to mind for me). its really a shame. i think a part of the problem with the execution and pacing might also be because the writers knew that they didn't have a 4th season, so they squished some arcs and plots to have room to bring in other characters/cameos from other Saturday Afternoon Disney Shows

[unluckyuncle]

Unpopular Opinions 𓅭𓅭𓅭𓅭 Anon ( accepting! )

🔥+ Della Duck

Bless you, for enabling me LOL

Anyway here is what may be an unpopular opinion, though it may just be more liked than I think - it's hard to say, i rarely interact with DT17 fandom

Della is not a good mom. She just is not and it doesn't really matter to me what people say that 'she's trying her best' or that 'she's still learning'. I'm not even going to bring up the episode where she grounds Louie, which I could and should probably just make into an entirely different post cause oh boy do I have thoughts on that.

The fact of the matter is; Della chose to ABANDON her not even born kids because she couldn't accept that family is an adventure. I'm fully aware that Della is impulsive. I know Scrooge was the one who built the rocket. I'm EVEN aware that it was apparently Bradford that set her up.

But ya'll... guys... she could have just??? Not gotten lost in space. I straight up don't care what her excuses are. And NO ONE who supports Della as a mom ever addresses that. I really just don't think she has a right to call herself a parent in any capacity, let alone after the fact she has not socialized for a solid decade.

Parents who leave their kids behind are bad parents, and that's the end of it for me.

This honestly is the main reason I don't like Della, though with that being said, I absolutely wish I could love Della, esp for Donald's sake. i just think if she was able to be written differently, whatever they were trying to do with her would've worked out better.

I think the mystery is cool, I even think it's cool that she isn't a good mom either at times. Esp when it comes to bonding with the boys, like ofc in their first meeting she makes them all sick with cake. She's trying to prove she's still good enough to be a part of the family/that she has a place in it, and I love that kind of development for her.

Unfortunately, she never ... actually gets held accountable when she makes bad choices. No one except for Louie chews her out for leaving family behind. She never thanks Donald for the work he put in to raising her kids. A N D she just gets to continue being her impulsive self with little to no consequences and then Donald just gets rendered the butt of every joke.

I think if she had matured/changed, was a lot more anxious about her attachments, had fights/convos with Donald about parenting, and was actually able to go through an arc where she ultimately truly does realize that family is the greatest adventure - Della would be a lot better off.

I saw this in a post forever ago, but Della gives off very big Aunt energy, which I think is absolutely correct. She's not a parent, and just because she's the triplet's biological mom, doesn't automatically mean she has the right to call herself that after the choices she made AND NEVER ADMITS TO or apologizes for.

[dancewithlou]

After the discourse that happened on Twitter with harries the last couple of days I’m thinking about how I felt the first time I heard Only the Brave, I had been struggling and wavering back and forth over whether I was queer or not questioning and questioning, I was confused and struggling to understand myself, I still struggle to this day with my sexuality, but I remember reaching the end of Walls and those guitar strums came on and Louis started singing in his beautiful voice with the lyrics ‘pour mercy, mercy on me’ and so on, and when I tell you I burst into TEARS, everything that had built up and had been resting on my shoulders for years finally made sense I finally felt like I could breathe! I felt understood in a way I never did before, it not only helped me realise who I am but also to this day helps me ACCEPT who I am.

So while Louis may not throw a flag around as he walks over his stage, he does sign flags and tell fans to be proud and understand how important correct pronouns are for people, he congratulated a gay couple when they got engaged (which had they not tweeted abt it we would not have known about), he did for ltwt get up onstage every night and sing Only the Brave while Louie’s stood and waved their pride flags for themselves, for other Louie’s and for other queer people, it’s one of the most liberating songs I’ve ever heard. He doesn’t even make it about himself in those moments he allows the fans to take the lead to do what they need to do in those moments and that for me is more important and far more meaningful, than what others who are considered allies do, but to have people who haven’t even and won’t ever bother to listen to the song or even Louis’ discography to come online and tell Louie’s we are weird for making something our safe space because a song hits us SO deeply is so ethically wrong in my opinion just because what you don’t understand? Whether you are queer or not there is no excuse for that.

Regardless of Louis’ sexuality and what the song means to him the song for us as queer Louie’s means a heck of a lot and to have stood there in pit surrounded by Louie’s who were waving their flags in the air I had never felt so relaxed and free in my life, I felt safe and I felt like everyone in that room understood the importance of that song.

So yeh you as a non-fan may not ever understand the connection we have to that song, you may not ever understand why we feel the way we feel about louis and the connection we have with him, but you don’t need too! You don’t need to worry about queer Louie’s (even though we all know you don’t) you don’t need to throw your hateful comments around because at the end of the day it has NOTHING to do with you and in all honesty you can get fucked.

To queer Louie’s, don’t let shitty people on the internet tell you who or what can be your safe space especially when they don’t care and take no time to understand, especially when they ignore everything we as Louie’s say time and time again about WHY louis is our ally and how he has helped us and other queer people. They will never get it and at this point they’re proving that they don’t wish too and that for me is actually very sad and I hope they can move past and grow from these hateful feelings that they channel.

[peachhoneii]

According to my opinion, Donald can be a real asshole to his nephews in the old shorts and people need to remind it. The smoking, and the trick'o treat. And much more.

Of course he was.

Corporal punishment was accepted and encouraged during the time period he was created. He’d get a switch and wear those feathered heinies out.

Donald did the same to Pete’s son in Bellboy Donald. Granted, it felt great seeing it happen. Peter Jr. was a little shit, but I don’t think that’s the way anyone should correct behavior. It was cathartic though.

Disney at the time wanted to portray Donald with three, snot nosed nephews, and they were either pretty sweet or downright awful to each other. This crossed into the classic animated shorts and Carl Barks’ stories.

Guys…the original story behind Donald getting custody of them was HDL put firecrackers under their dad’s chair, and it went as fantastic as you’d expect it to. Della abandoned her kids in what is presumed Disney-Carl Barks universe, maybe Don Rosa, but Don wasn’t allowed to go that far into the lore. He had plans, but he couldn’t touch it, just like Hortense.

Donald was a dick to the kids. That’s how it was portrayed in those mediums. Don Rosa did better in regards to their relationship, but I will say it twice and many times again, as much as I enjoy his work, I did not like his treatment of Donald or Daisy.

DuckTales 2017 reimagines his characterization into a more fatherly role. He’s their dad, and I love that. But a valid criticism of the show’s portrayal is their tendency to lean a bit too much on telling rather than showing. 

We don’t get to see Donald as a dad often because the show doesn’t focus much on his relationships with the boys or Webby, or even his relationship with Scrooge. (I get that. We haven’t gotten to the whole Donald and Scrooge thing yet.)

Della has gotten a bonding episode with Dewey. She’s gotten a b-plot focused on her relationship with Huey. When she returns home, there was a little bit on with Louie, and we know they’re going to have an episode too. She’s even had a moment with Webby.

Closest we’ve gotten was S1′s House of the Lucky Gander and S1 Shadow War, and even then it was more about the family as a whole, also connected to Scrooge.

I get it. 

DT87 sent Donald off to the Navy. He wasn’t a part of the narrative often. It was reassuring to know Donald was going to be a main character in the reboot. However, Scrooge and Della’s relationships with the kids have taken precedence. 

You can explain it’s due to the fact Donald doesn’t want a life of adventure anymore. He lost his sister. He was estranged from his uncle. He’s done with that. But it is a little frustrating.

The show isn’t completely devoid of Donald + sons content. Huey and Donald have a relationship outside adventures. We’ve Huey ask Donald to join them, has gone with Donald to the bank to ask for a loan. Huey knows Donald loves corny vacation postcards and tried to send one. 

The show didn’t tell us Huey is closest to Donald. We can tell through what the show has shown us.

Dewey had a moment mostly in the Christmas episode. I mentioned Louie’s episode. 

While these moments are good and very enjoyable to watch, we haven’t gotten a Donald + son episode like Della has yet. We haven’t even gotten a Webby and Donald episode.

Criticism addressed the family bonds majorly through adventure, which isn’t a bad thing unless there’s balance. An episode not focused on an adventure, and before anyone says ‘This is what the show is about,’ it’s possible for the show to pull off a more Barksian model occasionally.

A lot of his stories contained Donald and the boys going through household hijinks or Donald messing up on a job. These were either long or short stories. The show isn’t just about Donald. It’s DuckTales, not DonaldTales.

Frank said he wanted to do for Donald what A Goofy Movie did for Goofy, and I’d say he succeeded to an extent.

Goofy and Max were the driving force for A Goofy Movie and An Extremely Goofy Movie. It was about the changes in their relationship and coming to even terms with each other, communication. Goof Troop pushed Goofy and Max to the forefront, so we didn’t need the show to tell us Goofy was a good parent; almost every episode was about Goofy being a good dad.

Goofy dad’d PJ. He was a better dad to PJ than Pete.

Goof Troop and its films were mostly sitcoms. DT17 is more family adventure. I understand why there’s adventure constantly going on, and the most recent episode TGAOCC is the closest we’re going to get to a “breather” episode with the family.

If the show can replicate what The Golden Armory of Cornelius Coot had except with Donald, then I think it’d even out the relationship imbalance, in my opinion. Or we can have a Household Hijinks episode where Donald and the kids bond through mundane mayhem.

[mai-fanblog]

The 10 best moments of Ducktales in the first season

Here only one scene per chapter will be emphasized, plus the critical score of the good of the chapter, that is memorable and that left a certain continuity.

10° "Lena's Nightmare" (T1 Ep 19 “The Other Bin of Scrooge McDuck!")

 This would have been higher, if it weren't for the subplot that led to nothing (Gavy is hated more by Mark); however, that doesn't take away from the importance in Lena's development, where it shows her biggest nightmare graphically incredible and giving more depth where she feels imprisoned both physically and psychologically, because she doesn't want to lose the first friend who really loved her and have her captor hurt her.

Lena from that moment was crowned as the best secondary and original character of the reboot, but that would be the tip of the iceberg

(This part hurts)

9° "Call me Uncle Scrooge" (S1 Ep 17 "From the Confidential Casefiles of Agent 22!")

A tender moment in the series no doubt, Webby always had that admiration for Scrooge as the great adventurer he is and wants to be like him, when Mrs. Beakley is captured by an agent F.O.W.L and Scrooge and Webby (sneaking in) come to the rescue, there is a good development between them and a pair of interesting flashbacks, the best part is the end where Scrooge tells her to call Webby "Uncle Scrooge" and she hugs him, it is an important part, their relationship becomes stronger until a certain moment that later almost destroys it. This moment must be recognized.

:’)

8° "Scrodie in the best" (S1 Ep 15 "The Golden Lagoon of White Agony Plains!")

Scrooge and Goldie as a couple is interesting to me, it doesn't drive you crazy like other couples from other series, but I recognize that it has certain tips that there might be something; the specific part of their confrontation while dancing in the golden pond is memorable, adding that Flintheart has good gags when he tries to separate them, and the part where Goldie saves Scrooge from the liquid gold that would kill him gives a good closing, referring to the fact that Goldie can show off on her own, but it doesn’t detract from the fact that their relationship with Scrooge, although complicated there are feelings, that is, Goldie's happiness doesn’t depend on Scrooge because of their very opposite views of life, but that they both know each other so well that they know what they are like and find out things they didn’t know.

7u7

7° "We are almost at the top" (S1 Ep 9 "The Impossible Summit of Mt. Neverrest!")

This chapter is very much underrated, but it leaves something important; Scrooge was about to reach the top of the mountain, which has portals leading to a random spot, and Huey dictates that they should leave it that way for the good of all, and Scrooge listens to him at the end; even his descent down the mountain during the avalanche is epic when he reaches the beginning. Apart from that, Scrooge gives Huey the confidence to keep going until he knows how much to stop. It's a good lesson from an underrated chapter.

6° "The race of the lucky and fighting man of life" (S1 Ep  6 "The House of the Lucky Gander!")

Of the best chapters with a relative of Donald with the most imbecilely charming cousin, the parts of Gladstone and Donald are well represented, especially near the end where Gladstone and Donald must make a race to the death to be free or imprisoned by a lucky frog demon, obviously Donald gets the punches and wounds, while Gladstone is still intact and almost wins, when Donald was about to surrender, Louie yells at him encouraging him to keep going even if it is difficult, at that moment the first gesture of recognition that Donald has in the series and there he wins (and a 20 dollars that seemed for convenience). One of the best moments Donald and showing the contrast that exists with the character who was born with luck and the character who struggles to overcome their own obstacles.

(Donald is the best of the best)

5° "The ransom in car against B.U.D.D.Y" (S1 Ep 11  "Beware the B.U.D.D.Y. System!")

Pure action in this scene and also in one of the best chapters, the roles of Launchpad and Fenton shine more than ever in this scene. As Launchpad demonstrates that a full-fledged driver while trying to save his boss and the others is great, Fenton's participation with the suit was a very good debut; both fulfilled their goals in this chapter and the end of the scene where they almost fall to the cliff and Fenton saves them and saying Woo-Hoo while Launchpad comments on Fenton's first car is a good closing to that scene.

This episode is very good and gives another good introduction to an important secondary character for the series, besides leaving a good demonstration to the audience.

EPIC

4° "Behind the Dime" (S1 Ep 23 "The Shadow War!")

One of the best plot twists in the series and the correct introduction of a final villain; when the moment of truth arrives for Magica De Spell both Scrooge and the fans (at that time) were amazed and all his physical introduction is memorable so far. Showing the awesomeness of her presence when she uses magic against her enemy.

This is how it introduces itself to a final boss, not that alien son of a b**ch with a Napoleon complex.

Magica is majestic in that presentation

3° "The lesson of independence that turned out very well" (S1 Ep 21 "The Secret(s) of Castle McDuck!")

This scene exemplifies all that Scrooge represents with his number one dime and its meaning, when he discusses again with his father that he never helped him and that he alone had to make his independence, revealing that indeed his father helps more than Scrooge thought, giving an American dime to a worker so that Scrooge learns to get what he wants with effort is spectacular; after this revelation Scrooge and his father strengthen their bond again, and Scrooge sees his father with different eyes.

This gives a nice message of how a father can support a son no matter what, unlike the comics it is sadder because he cannot forgive his father who has passed away; in the reboot Scrooge takes advantage of that moment to reconcile the man who helped him indirectly as he is now.

:,)  :,)

2° "Mom?" (S1 Ep 1 "Woo-oo!")

This scene is short but powerful, showing that less is more, where Dewey sees in the painting at the beginning of the series Della in the painting saying: Mom?

It was a tremendous shock and the most important initial part of the plot at that time.

This was a good closing for the first episode and that we were interested in that mystery that we didn't know before.

1° "The breaking of the family in The Sun Chaser !" (S1 Ep 22 "The Last Crash of the Sunchaser!")

The most distressing scene in the series deserves this first place; the truth of Della's disappearance and the consequent reactions while they were on the plane is majestic and painful, the children blaming Scrooge (although he knows that Della was more responsible), Scrooge breaks down wanting to be left alone and the most painful part is when Scrooge shouts at Webby "You are not of my family" was a severe blow to the girl who admired him. Surely this moment must be at the top. It left most of them hurt, crying and distressed as a truth that was hidden for so long destroyed them in an instant, here Frank gave us one of the best moments of the show and played with our feelings.

(Still in the air Scrooge's apologies to Webby, she deserves an apology)

(This hurts three times)  :,(

This list is my opinion

Here ends this list, later I will do it of the second season.

If you have other scenes that are good, you can share them without any problem.

[ramblingguy54]

Okay, Here’s How I Feel

Originally this was gonna be a response to @sophfandoms53‘s post, but I felt it got too lengthy and didn’t want to hijack that post with what I had to say about everything going on currently, apparently. So, here’s my two cents on the drama. Okay, I’ll be honest, I haven’t seen much toxic drama so far in this community recently, due to my own dumb luck I guess, but that doesn’t mean it’s far from real, obviously. People who are suffering through this kind of crap have my serious condolences, for being given an unfair amount of flak just because they have a different perspective on characters or potential romantic relationships in this series about a big family of talking anthropomorphic ducks.

Like, I can’t preach this enough. This advice not only applies to the DuckTales fandom, but anyone’s unique takes on anything in general with anything within the entertainment media industry of films/tv.

No one’s opinions are 100% wrong or right. That’s the beauty of subjectivity toward fiction.

Not only does this apply to the Delpad shippers, but any people who have been going back and forth about Louie/Della’s chemistry being questionably handled in Season 2′s last episodes. We can debate all day until we’re blue in the God damn face, but no take is a “wrong�� one here. I may strongly disagree with those who called Della mean spirited or unfair to Louie in Glomtales, trying to label it as “abuse” or “emotional isolation” when there are plenty of things in that episode, which I feel easily shoot down that argument, but I’m not gonna try to manipulate those into feeling differently about what they saw in these last several episodes. If you think Della was out of line here, fine. Preach to the heavens for all I care. It’s your own voice and I’m sure there are plenty of those out there, who feel the same as you do, too. Be proud of what you stand for, just please don’t shoot others down in the process of what you believe is “correct”.

You can use all your reasoning in the world to create, what you think is a strong perspective for yourself on something, regarding DuckTales character writing or story driven themes, but here’s the punchline.

Anyone out there trying to use words like “objectively speaking”, won’t cover up your own bias towards what you perceive as a correct or incorrect takes on this series.

This like a BIG pet peeve I have when people try to analyze stuff in their favorite shows or movies. You can try to be as unbiased or professional, as you can be with viewing stuff, but the reality of it is we each have our own biases that we can’t cover up, no matter how hard we try to. We’ve all got our own emotional experiences in life that have given us our own unique/defined perspectives on stuff. Whether you’re a professional critic trying to make a living off these said views or simply a passionate fan expressing their beliefs, you can’t hide that.

Which is completely fine, but please for the love of God don’t try to cover it up. That kind of stuff irks me beyond belief, even if people don’t intend to give off that impression with their reviews, using that phrase of objectivity and are just saying it because it’s a force of habit others have gotten, where they don’t realize the implications of what they’re actually saying that could rub others the wrong way.

It’s fine to have your own biases, but letting it blind you from others different two cents is where things need to stop. There’s healthy biases and unhealthy ones.

DuckTales strong themes of family are what brings people together in this community. Don’t let your own damn pride cloud your judgement. Lead by example, like Louie did in his Season 2 arc, by humbling yourselves when seeing a different take you might not agree with at all. If a freaking kid can do that, why can’t any of y’all, too, who are being toxic? 

Here’s a strong piece of advice to cap this post off. You know what I refer to mentally a lot of the time for a mature discussion about my differing opinions with someone else? Anton Ego’s amazing speech from Ratatouille about the meaning/weight of opinions on anything in general. It’s one of the most beautiful mature scene’s I look back on fondly, as an adult in my mid-twenties to this very day, surrounding the topic of an individuals opinions and the faith put into them, too. It can do wonders for me whenever I get into a civil debate with someone. Hell, I’ll probably do an analytical post of my own on that brilliant scene sometime soon. Ratatouille is an excellent Pixar film that deserves a lot of praise for what it managed to accomplish with its themes and messages.

Anyways with those last statements outta the way, thanks for taking the time to read all this and please have a nice day everyone.

[ducklooney]

My first fanfiction-Quack Pack fanfiction?!

Here is finally something to do, I would just ask for some mistakes that I have right now on fanfiction to correct me and show me some things that are wrong, since they are certainly written the way I imagine those things. Thank you in advance for your help. Since unfortunately not only on Tumblr, but also on Instagram and on Deviantart and other social networks there are few things related to the cartoon series "Quack Pack", I decided to write fanfiction. Since unfortunately there is not much fanart related to Quack Pack, I wish there was a little more, I actually thought I was drawing related to it, but since I do not have the conditions for it, and I draw on my computer and it turns out a little bad, I decided to do better with fanfiction writing, but not the ones most write, but quite different, mostly from my perspective, the way I would like it to be in my fanfiction. Who will and who will read and like what I will write about now (I will post at the beginning on my blog, then I will see what happens later), he can. Freely draw based on my story, and I would love to be a little more fanart related to the Quack Pack. I know the Quack Pack has had some problems and I'm sure to include many things in my fanfiction story, first and foremost from the comic book world, and this fanfiction is actually going to be some kind of crossover. Please note that this is my first fanfiction and there will probably be mistakes I make and please correct me. Thank you for your understanding. And if I forgot, it would mostly be based on Donald Duck and his nephews Huey, Dewey and Louie Duck (but in the Quack Pack version) and Daisy Duck, but there might be characters that could appear, but unfortunately they didn't appeared in the Quack pack but will certainly pop up in my fanfiction story, but it will be a surprise. There is so much to begin with, and I will certainly start over and this story will be divided into parts. Here I am going to start with my fanfiction story and I want you to enjoy my story and apologize in advance for some things I have offended by something and made some mistakes that made you offended and I apologize for that. And yes, if there are any questions, feel free to ask me. Here's a start:

Morning. It was dawn, actually. July month. Yesterday was over thirty degrees, and it's not easy for ducks to keep that temperature under so many feathers, and so is Donald Duck, who has experienced everything in his life and so on. He slept in one solid dream, and he certainly dreamed of beating the Evronians as a Duck Avenger, or of fighting Maui Mallard with his martial arts, or how he, as a Double Duck, perform special espionage missions to save the world or simply how he likes to fish on one lake and enjoy it. Whatever it is, he certainly loves that kind of dream. However, someone interrupts him, in the sense of someone or something interrupting his dream. Yes, it was a boring alarm clock and digital. It was four o'clock in the morning and Donald slammed his fist into his alarm clock to turn it off. He turned off the alarm clock and stood up all awake, realizing what day it would be like today. Yes, he will have a lot of work to do, both as a cameraman and as a reporter, but not with Kent Powers, who fired him long ago, but with Everett Ducklair, his chief. Yes, Donald hated Everett as much as he did Kent Powers before, as he kept upsetting his life by forcing him to do some trivial things instead of his main job, such as cleaning toilets, hallways, halls, and the like. Fortunately, for all his work, he was paid a lot of money, and with that Donald could be satisfied, first of all, because he devoted all his money to his beloved nephews. When he had some free time or a break at work, he thought of Huey, Dewey, and Louie, who were no longer young children and could soon be adults. They have long since entered puberty, their personalities have formed, and they will soon start whether or not for a year in high school. Although they had different traits, they still acted as a team except in some things. Donald, of course, first went to the bathroom to do his work, so he washed and brushed his teeth. Afterwards, he put on his Hawaiian shirt and went to have his breakfast. After breakfast, he got ready for work, but before he went to work, he wanted to go to his nephews' room to see if they were sleeping any longer. As they continue to sleep, Donald merely smiled at them and slowly approached them and gave them his parental kiss on their cheeks, but they did not notice or feel it after they slept soundly. Donald then left their room and walked down the stairs to retrieve his business bag. Yes, at that point it was five o'clock in the morning, but of course Donald had to get to work early, as his boss had ordered him to do. He had to be at work at six o'clock. So he took it in his bag, in the meantime he heard a loud voice, and Donald replied:

"Silence!", And gestured Donald with his index finger to his beak as a sign of silence, and pointed to the top floor, thinking it was one of his nephews. As the loud noise stopped, Donald turned to the hall and then to the door and meanwhile, his nephew Louie Duck appeared in his pajamas with a backwards cap and said to Louie his uncle: "Can I please Uncle Donald go with you to work?" "No!" Donald replies loudly, "you can't go to work, and besides getting out of bed now, is it too early to play and go to school?" "Uncle Donald, so we're on vacation now, school's not working during the month of July, have you forgotten that? Besides, we'll be alone when you're gone," Louie said, and Donald suddenly thought and put his hand on his forehead as that he had done something wrong. And they sit in a small chair in the hall.

I almost forgot about it. Yes, I worry about you, that something bad doesn't happen to you. I can't quite leave you alone. Especially not to my worst neighbor in the history of humanity, Neighbor Jones, and his family. It just makes a mess in my yard and makes my life even worse, and again I would not move, ”Donald said, sad. "Don't think so badly Uncle D, you're for my brothers and for me my best uncle, and also the best parent we have. You always think of us and keep an eye on us whenever you can, even if my brothers and I make hell instead let’s make paradise for you. ”Louie said as she approached her uncle. Uncle Donald hugged Louie crying with happiness and said, "You never make me hell, even if you sometimes ruin my house, but I'm very happy to have you, as if you were my sons and not my nephews. Without you I'm empty man." "Don't, Uncle Donald. So you have the best cousins you have, you have your girlfriend Daisy, who is also our aunt, you have Uncle Scrooge, you have best friends Panchito and Jose, and Goofy certainly, our mom Della, who is in space right now, and now I can't remember who else. But you have more support than you think, "Louie said, hugging his uncle. "Oooohh... Thank you Louie, but I have to tell you something and please promise me you won't tell your brothers or anyone, especially Fethry Duck. Okay?" "All right, Uncle Donald. But why?" Louie asked, wondering who was hiding something, since he was of such a nature that he neither loves nor can lie. "Here, Louie, why. You and I know that Uncle Scrooge and I had a fight, don't you?" "I know, Uncle D. I'm sad it must have happened, and I haven't seen Uncle Scrooge in a long time. I know he's a lot of stingy and hard-hearted, but I know for sure, and I believe he surely deep in our heart, thinks of us, and we probably miss him . ”Louie replies sadly. "Ooohh ... I know Louie, but then again, he only thinks of himself and his business and especially his money and I don't think I'm sending you there. In my opinion, better come to you Webby and Mrs. Beakly, than you to you go to Scrooge. And I wouldn't argue about it any more. Okay?!” "All right, Uncle D." Louie sighed miserably. "Next, my only real friends are Jose Carioca, Panchito, partly Goofy, Gyro Gearloose and Fenton. They are the only ones who give me confidence," Donald replied. "What about One? Lyla Lay? Kay K? Reginella? Don't they matter to you? And what about Fethry and Gus Goose?" Louie asked mysteriously. "Be quiet! Don't hear anyone. I know, but these are my private affairs, so don't talk to anyone about this or you won't go on adventures with me like Duck Avenger! Okay?!" - Donald replies angrily. "All right, Uncle Donald," Louie replies. "Yes, I know you very much love my cousin Fethry, or your further uncle, but I'm afraid to make a mess again so I have to pay big fines later. Remember the last time Fethry guarded you?" Donald asked. "I remember. But it was fun. We had a great time with Fethry and my cousin, or Fethry's nephew Dugan Duck," Louie says excitedly. "I know, but a mess was made, and besides, I had a lot of reports from my awkward neighbors. I can't allow such things next time. You understand what I'm talking about, don't you?" "I know, Uncle Donald. I know." Louie says sadly. "Then you know why I can't trust you, my cousin Gus Goose." "I know, because he only thinks about the food he eats all the time," Louie replies. "Not only that, but because he's too stupid," Donald replies. "Okay, but he's fun too," Louie replies. "Yes I know, but I can't take the risk again. What I'm talking about is babysitting, and since I can't trust everyone, I can only entrust that job to Dickie Duck, Goldie's granddaughter. I just hope she's not too busy writing her student master's work. " "Dickie is great. I don't mind being a babysitter. She's never bored with it," Louie replies happily. "I'm glad about that. I'll talk to her and if she's free, she'll come to watch over you. Okay?" "Ok, Uncle D." "Now, back to bed." "All right, Uncle." "And don't tell anyone about this, okay?" "Ok. And good luck at work, Uncle D."                                                                "Thank you Louie. Goodbye! See you in the evening," Donald said, getting up and heading for the door, in the meantime ringing the phone. "Who's calling this at this time ?!" Donald mumbled and picked up the phone and asked, "Who is it?" “Can I keep your nephews safe?” Fethry asked cheerfully in his sweater, living two blocks away from the Donald. "Noooooo!" - Donald angrily answered and hung up. Poor Fethry. All in all, he takes his bag and wristwatch, leaves the house, runs to the bus station, manages to catch the bus and leaves for work. However, it was six o'clock in the morning. Louie Duck goes to his room and goes to his deck chair (this was also his bed) and in his pajamas, wearing his cap on his head, reads a comic book while his brothers sleep. But Louie didn't read any comics related to super heroes, he read a comic about Darkwing Duck, which really existed in his world.

End of Chapter One.

[mdwatchestv]

Emmy Blog 2k18: Monday’s Revenge

That's right it's that very special time! Except this time that very special time falls on a MONDAY AFTERNOON when I will be at my job working hard to craft non-Emmy nominated television for you all. I feel personally attacked by this scheduling.

Speaking of me, this is my second annual Emmy blog which means I have maintained this blog for over a year now! Yes that is correct I have actually shown commitment and follow-through on a project, I would like to thank the Academy.

Last year I was wildly unprepared for how long it would take to type such a blog so I'm not going to mess around with all the loving analysis of yesteryear. Also last year I simply had no idea how tired I would be this year, because I was too tired to imagine that far into the future. So you will get your analysis up front and then nothing but pure, unadulterated nominee sass.

As always we must mention last week’s Creative Arts Emmys-  Congratulations to the casting winners Nina Gold + Robert Sterne (The Crown), Meredith Tucker, Jeanie Bacharach and Cindy Tolan (The Marvelous Mrs Maisel) and Courtney Bright + Nicole Daniels (The Assassination of Gianni Versace). See these casting names, know them, learn them, love them. Also it's bullshit Megan was not given an Emmy For Megan #justiceformegan

 Last year I commented on how the Emmy's were beginning to reflect the increasing diversity in the television landscape. While progress on that front continues to be frustratingly slow, this year did boast a remarkable number of incredible roles for women! Not only are we seeing roles for women that extend beyond wives, mothers, and girlfriends, we are also seeing more series that STAR women! This year boasts some VERY EXCITING Best Actress categories, and I am HERE FOR IT. In contrast though most of the male categories are a total snooze fest, and the fact that AMC's The Terror wasn't nominated for ANYTHING shows that absolutely no one cracked the seal on their screeners.  With an increasingly populated television landscape, it seems like voters went to old favorites rather than branching out and discovering some new gems. On some level this is to be expected, but at that same time there is an increasing disparity between what is recognized at these kind of events, and what is airing. 

Okay on to the main event! Disclaimer: Once again these predictions are based on nothing but flights of fancy and raw gut instinct. 

Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie

Sara Bareilles (“Jesus Christ Superstar Live In Concert”) Penelope Cruz (“The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story”) Judith Light (“The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story”) Adina Porter (“American Horror Story: Cult”) Merritt Wever (“Godless”) Letitia Wright (“Black Museum” (Black Mirror))

God, wasn't AHS: Cult like six AHS's ago? Letitia Wright should win this because she won't get any other hardware for stealing Black Panther.

Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie

Jeff Daniels (“Godless”) Brandon Victor Dixon (“Jesus Christ Superstar”) John Leguizamo (“Waco”) Ricky Martin (“The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story”) Edgar Ramirez (“The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story”) Michael Stuhlbarg (“The Looming Tower”) Finn Wittrock (“The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story”)

There are plenty of actors I like, like in life here but.......sorry I fell asleep. 

Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie:

Antonio Banderas (“Genius: Picasso”) Darren Criss (“The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story”) Benedict Cumberbatch (“Patrick Melrose”) Jeff Daniels (“The Looming Tower”) John Legend (“Jesus Christ Superstar”) Jesse Plemons (“USS Callister”)

This category is insane. What do we got, a second Jeff Daniels nomination, a Black Mirror, John Legend for acting, Harry Potter, Benedict Cumberbatch who always seems to sneak into the Emmys, and Antonio Banderas. I am trying really hard to have an opinion about this. I’m going to pick my boyfriend Darren Criss just so I can put a gif of him on this blog. 

Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie:

Laura Dern (“The Tale”) Jessica Biel (“The Sinner”) Michelle Dockery (“Godless”) Edie Falco (“The Menendez Murders”) Regina King (“Seven Seconds”) Sarah Paulson (“American Horror Story: Cult”)

Okay now here we go! Now this is a category! However the Laura Dern rule is in effect here, which is whenever Laura Dern is present in a category the choice MUST be Laura Dern.

Best Limited Series

“The Alienist” “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” “Genius: Picasso” “Godless” “Patrick Melrose”

Can none of the above be an answer?

Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Louie Anderson (“Baskets”) Alec Baldwin (“Saturday Night Live”) Tituss Burgess (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”) Brian Tyree Henry (“Atlanta”) Tony Shalhoub (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”) Kenan Thompson (“Saturday Night Live”) Henry Winkler (“Barry”)

Are we really nominating Alec Baldwin for that Trump impersonation? What a time to be alive. Tony Shalhoub is an Emmy darling, I think if he wins another he gets a free one on his punch card. Henry Winkler was pitch perfect on Barry, Kenan Thompson has been on SNL for a million years, and Brian Tyree Henry's performance on Atlanta is deceivingly effortless. I think Shalhoub, the Academy will likely have missed voting for him, it just comes so naturally to them. 

Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Zazie Beetz (“Atlanta”) Alex Borstein (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”) Aidy Bryant (“Saturday Night Live”) Betty Gilpin (“GLOW”) Leslie Jones (“Saturday Night Live”) Kate McKinnon (“Saturday Night Live”) Laurie Metcalf (“Roseanne”) Megan Mullally (“Will & Grace”)

Yes once again the ladies are LIT, tearing it UP. But no one tore it harder, and more literally, than Betty freakin Gilpin.

Lead Actor in a Comedy Series:

Donald Glover (“Atlanta”) Bill Hader (“Barry”) Anthony Anderson (“Black-ish”) William H. Macy (“Shameless”) Larry David (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”) Ted Danson (“The Good Place”)

This is a tough one, there are a lot of golden oldies here. I was surprised by how much I loved Bill Hader’s performance in Barry, but I think it was too weird and too dark to garner the votes needed. Atlanta had a lot of momentum and buzz last year,  not sure if the Academy is going to pour the same love two years in a row. I’m going to go with Ted Danson, he’s impeccable on The Good Place and he’s also Ted Danson!

Lead Actress in a Comedy Series:

Pamela Adlon (“Better Things”) Rachel Brosnahan (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”) Tracee Ellis Ross (“Black-ish”) Allison Janney (“Mom”) Lily Tomlin (“Grace and Frankie”) Issa Rae (“Insecure”)

Ray Bro.

Best Comedy Series

“Atlanta” (FX) “Barry” (HBO) “Black-ish” (ABC) “Curb Your Enthusiasm” (HBO) “GLOW” (Netflix) “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (Amazon) “Silicon Valley” (HBO) “The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” (Netflix)

Unlike the Best Drama Series category, which I am going to drag through the dirt at the end of this post, there is a lot of goodness here. These shows are not only very different, but also compelling in their own ways. (Although The Good Place absolutely deserves to be here). While I fell in love with Barry this year, and think Atlanta has maintained a consistent brilliance for two seasons, I think the delightful confection that is Mrs Maisel has the awards momentum to take this category. 

Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (“Game of Thrones”) Peter Dinklage (“Game of Thrones”) Joseph Fiennes (“The Handmaid’s Tale”) David Harbour (“Stranger Things”) Mandy Patinkin (“Homeland”) Matt Smith (“The Crown”)

And just like that my Betty Gilpin high has dissipated. I can't believe Homeland is still on. Do we reward David Harbour for having the perfect dad bod, or Matt Smith for being the perfect fuckboy? Decisions, decisions. If Matt Smith wins he needs to break that trophy in half and give it to Claire Foy. He can keep the globey part, but she gets the body and the stand. 

Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Alexis Bledel (“The Handmaid’s Tale”) Millie Bobby Brown (“Stranger Things”) Ann Dowd (“The Handmaid’s Tale”) Lena Headey (“Game of Thrones”) Vanessa Kirby (“The Crown”) Thandie Newton (“Westworld”) Yvonne Strahovski (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)

I had to consciously uncouple from The Handmaid’s Tale this year, but that doesn’t mean those actresses stopped being brilliant in their performances. Ann Dowd is a Laura Dern in the sense that I will usually always pick her in a category, but Thandie Newton did arguably carry season 2 of Westworld almost on her own. There are a lot of good unique performances here, but I am going to say Vanessa Kirby because she crushed on The Crown (and for the last time). 

Lead Actor in a Drama Series

Jason Bateman (“Ozark”) Sterling K. Brown (“This Is Us”) Ed Harris (“Westworld”) Matthew Rhys (“The Americans”) Milo Ventimiglia (“This Is Us”) Jeffrey Wright (“Westworld”)

Guys can we be really, really honest with ourselves, like look in the mirror and come face-to-face with cold hard truths honest? WERE these the best performances this year? I love all these guys, but are they really turning in their best performances on these shows? Truly? The only exception is Matthew Rhys who is in his final year of a tour-de-force role on The Americans so my money is on him. 

Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Claire Foy (“The Crown”) Tatiana Maslany (“Orphan Black”) Elisabeth Moss (“The Handmaid’s Tale”) Sandra Oh (“Killing Eve”) Keri Russell (“The Americans”) Evan Rachel Wood (“Westworld”)

Now, this, THIS IS A CATEGORY. LOOK AT THESE WOMEN.  I love all of these actresses, and some of these performances are truly among the best I've ever seen on television. That is not a hyperbole, it is a true. I would be happy with almost anyone winning this slot, but I really feel like Sandra Oh is going to take it. I FEEL IT OKAY. 

Best Drama Series

“The Handmaid’s Tale” “Game of Thrones” “This Is Us” “The Crown” “The Americans” “Stranger Things” “Westworld”

KILLING EVE IS THE BEST DRAMA SERIES OF THIS YEAR AND ITS EXCLUSION IS A HORRIBLE MISTAKE!!!!! Like IS Westworld REALLY the Best Drama Series??? IS IT? Is Game of Thrones??? Yes they are highly enjoyable and I watch them both, but are they THE BEST? REALLY? Was Stranger Things season 2 THE BEST, or are we just charmed by the children? Was The Handmaid’s season 2 THE BEST, or did we just vote for it out of habit and a misguided feeling that it’s win would stave off Kavanaugh’s confirmation? The Americans should win. 

Okay I feel good now that that’s off my chest. I have a lot of thoughts of feelings, and please let me know yours! Phoebe Waller-Bridge forever!

xo Martha

[keywestlou]

THE ENEMY WITHIN US BECOMING MORE POWERFUL

Coronavirus is the nation’s enemy. Big time! The virus has overcome the walls. The enemy lives with us. Gains strength each day. Making  people sick and killing in larger and larger numbers each day.

Some of what is happening.

Texas Governor Abbott issued an Executive Order banning the wearing of masks in public schools. Bexar County did not approve of the Governor’s Order. Took the Governor to court.

The judge ruled yesterday in effect that Abbott was wrong and could not order the banning. The court granted Bexar County’s request for a temporary restraining order.

The victory short lived at the moment. Abbott has appealed and the appellate court will hear arguments monday.

The decision thus far is a major victory for the County and the children it seeks to protect.

Texas is buried under the burden of more and more corononavirus cases each day. Texas hospitals are full. Hat in hand, Abbott has asked other states to help. He wants other states to take what Texas cannot handle.

Another decision rendered yesterday involving Texas. The case against  Assembly Democratic legislators who fled to Washington, D.C. to avoid arrest.

The legislature is now closed. Many of the legislators who escaped north are returning. Their reasoning being if the legislature is closed, there cannot be a quorum vote.

When the problem first arose, the Governor believed he had the right to have the Democrats arrested and under arrest be brought to the legislative Chambers thereby creating the quorum required. Then Abbott discovered Texas police have no right to arrest anyone outside the boundaries of Texas.

Abbott then came up with a new trick. He became of the opinion the legislators were refusing to do their public duty. Under this theory, he ordered the returnees to be arrested.

The Democratic returnees went to court.

The court decision came down yesterday. The court made Abbott look like an ass. Even worse, the decision was by a six member Court of all Republicans.

The court ordered police could approach the legislators if they were in Texas. Note the word “approach.” Approach yes, ask the legislator to return to the Chambers. If the legislator declined, the police could do nothing. No handcuffs, no delay, etc.

A bogus decision, in effect.

This case most assuredly will be appealed by Abbott.

The Florida Keys are being overwhelmed by the virus. Actually most of those sick have only themselves to blame.

Data indicates for the last 4 weeks, more than 90 percent of hospitalized COVID patients were unvaccinated. Smart asses all! Vaccinated and a reverse 90 percent would not have gotten sick.

Doctors are correct when they label the present surge “a vaccination pandemic.”

The Florida Keys are taking a real beating with the present surge. Yesterday the Keys set a record for new cases. Note, a one day record. Eighty nine.

Overall, 388 new cases last week.

Florida’s Health Commissioner Eadie for Monroe County (the Florida Keys) said yesterday Keys’ numbers were all going in the wrong direction. He recommended get vaccinated if you have not and wear a mask all the time. The most positive way to stay healthy and alive.

My phone rang yesterday. People to update me on what was going on coronavirus wise. The information threatening! Made me uncomfortable.

I have not been able to verify what I am about to share.

The Lower Keys Hospital Center is nearing full occupancy. Administrators have a growing concern. Persons having coronavirus 10. Two of them in intensive care. Only 1 on an inhalator. Doctors have been asked to discharge non COVID patients who were scheduled for discharge in 1 or 2 days, if safe to do so. Visitors will not be permitted, except under special circumstances.

I was wrong re Andrew Cuomo. I felt he was innocent of any of the charges and was being given a fast shuffle by fellow Democrats and certain staff.

I began mentally to compare Cuomo to Jesus. He arrived in Nazareth on thursday for the Last supper. Was arrested that night. Tried and crucified the next day. All in less than 12 hours.

Perhaps it was because I knew his father Mario.

I don’t know.

What I do know is I was wrong.

Three items from the Key West Citizen Historical column that occurred on August 11, however in different years.

William Hackley seemed to be a nice guy. Many have been reading of his Key West exploits in the mid 1850’s. What was reported is changing my mind. Perhaps he was not so nice or good.

His wrong has to do with animal cruelty. He beat his dog Spring.

It was August 11, 1856. Hackley “walked across to South Beach by the Lighthouse. Whipped Spring to make him obey and he ran home and when I returned, I chained him and whipped him well.”

Alice Reid and Mom’s Tea Room were having a hard day with the police on this day in 1941. Mom’s was a whore house. Reid the madam. Two of the girls, plus Reid, were arrested for prostitution.

August 11, 1968, was a very special day for a great man and the seed he planted. The Pier House Motel at Duval-On the Gulf was opened for business. The 50 room motel was developed by David Wolinsky. He continued to build the Pier House into what it is today.

TACOS paragraph 27 provides a sense of who you can meet in the Chart Room and what could develop.

Phil Clark worked at the Chart Room with Walter Perry / When a lady came in whose name was Mary / Phil said Walter served her more than one gin / When she started taking a liking to him / Walter asked Phil for a bottle of Bombay / And left with her at the end of the day / When they left town she was calling him honey / Oh, and did I mention, she had money / When Walter came back he was driving a Rolls / He bought the Raw Bar, Louie’s, and Sloppy Joe’s / He also bought a lot of land / The future Anchor Inn and the Taco Stand / Most people don’t know what all Walter gave us / But he played a big part in making Key West famous.

Day 24 of self-quarantine.

Enjoy your day!

THE ENEMY WITHIN US BECOMING MORE POWERFUL was originally published on Key West Lou

[aremenyegybudoskurva-blog]

Best 80s Tv Shows List

Star Trek: The Next Generation

Original Run: 1987 94 Creator: Gene Roddenberry Stars: Patrick Stewart, Brent Spiner, Jonathan Frakes, LeVar Burton, Gates McFadden, Michael Dorn, Marina Sirtis Network: Syndicated The original collection was groundbreaking. Deep Space Nine and Voyager had their occasions. But TNG was head-and-shoulders the Star Trek franchise. Jean Luc Picard. Data. Worf. The holodeck. The Borg. Gene Roddenbury mustn't have had a cynical bone in his human anatomy, and as I watched his characters explore unusual new worlds, look for new life and new civilizations, and boldly go where no one h-AS gone before, I didn’t either.

The Cosby Show

Original Run: 1984-1992 Creators: Bill Cosby. Weinberger and Michael Leeson Stars: Bill Cosby, Phylicia Rash? d Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Tempestt Bledsoe, Keshia Knight Pulliam, Sabrina Le Beauf, Geoffrey Owens, Joseph C. Phillips Network: NBC George Jefferson may happen to be moving on up, but The Cosby Present gave the nation a mo-Re relatable glimpse of the expanding middleclass among African-Americans but much mo-Re usually, dealing with all the trials that we all faced. Inspired by Cosby’s own family encounters which had been a staple of his stand-up routine, the show dominated the 2nd half of the ’80s, topping the Neilsen scores from 1985-90 and averaging more than 3-0 million viewers in the ’86-87 period. Cosby’s legacy might currently be in shambles, but the display was bigger compared to the man.

Magnum, P.I.

Original Run: 1980 88 Creator: Donald P. Bellisario, Glen A. Larson Stars: Tom Selleck, John Hillerman. Mosley, Larry Manetti Network: CBS When every other adolescent male of the ’80s and I grew up, we needed the li Fe of Tom Magnum, performed by Tom Selleck and his mustache: dwelling in an opulent Hawaii beachhouse as a guest of a never-current millionaire novelist and driving his Ferrari 308 GTS; wracking up a never-to-be-paid tab a T the country club run by one war-vet buddy and bumming helicopter rides from still another; and periodically solving mysteries using a mixture of smarts, toughness and mostly chutzpah. I never did figure out the way to walk that particular career path, but it was fun to dream.

TV Boxed Sets DVDs

At the Movies

Original Run: 1982-2010 Creator: Gene Siskel Stars: Roget Ebert, Gene Siskel Network: Syndicated Two different exhibits, both titled In The The Films from various production companies, the combination of Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert completely revolutionized the notion of movie criticism. Greatly admired for his or her ability to succinctly sum up the newest films together with their honesty and integrity in sparring with each other when opinions differed, the pair were also criticized by many for degrading the integrity of film criticism by decreasing it to arbitrary “thumbs up“or “thumbs down“gestures. Such was the legacy of Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert and the duality of the show. They were among the only film critics whose thoughts an “average American“could often be expected to respect and did much for legitimizing the idea of film criticism outside of a class-room environment. Some might nonetheless criticize the idea of a two-outcome rating program, but it was the approachable eloquence of the hosts that created the format work.

Taxi

Original Run: 1978 83 Creators: James L. Ed, Brooks, Stan Daniels, David Davis. Weinberger Stars: Carol Kane, Judd Hirsch, Danny DeVito, Marilu Henner, Tony Danza, Andy Kaufman, Christopher Lloyd, Jeff Conway Network: ABC/NBC Let’s just pause for a moment and remember that somebody once confident a community to set Andy Kaufman to the air. I just wish it'd been live TV. Like M*A*S*H, Taxi frequently tackled serious social problems like drug and gambling addiction, but did it with an incredibly unusual cast of characters from the alien-like Latka Graves (Kaufman) to drugged-out hippie Reverend Jim (Christopher Lloyd) to misanthrope Louie De Palma (Danny DeVito).

St. Elsewhere

Original Run: 1982 88 Creator: Joshua Brand, John Falsey Stars: William Daniels, Ed Flanders, Norman Lloyd Network: NBC The seminal hospital drama of the 1980s, St. Elsewhere was never resoundingly productive in the ratings, but it racked in Emmys over the years for its practical, frequently-dark tone and occasions of humor. Its big, ensemble forged carried on several long and had a number of cross overs together with the Hill Street Blues that are related - serialized story-lines, type, leading to fantastic character development within the course of the series. Needless to say, it’s today often remembered for a different cause: For having perhaps the single-most WTF finale moment in TV history. At the conclusion of the final St. Else Where episode, the characters are revealed as having all been the creation of the autistic Tommy Westphall, who owns a snow globe wherein the imaginary St. Eligius hospital exists. Moreoever, because so many other exhibits and characters overlapped with St. Elsewhere, some followers posit this signifies that everything from Hill Avenue Blues and Murder: Life on the Road to The X-Files all take invest the “Tommy Westphall Universe“by extension.

Pee-Wee’s Playhouse

Original Run: 198690 Creator: Paul Reubens Stars: Paul Reubens, Laurence Fishburne, Lynne Marie Stewart Network: CBS There are two types of folks within my life: Those who like Pee Wee Herman and enemies. Years ago, I was gifted the total collection of Pee-Wee’s Playhouse DVDs. Over the years, I’d created a point to watch Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure and Big Top Pee-Wee whenever the feeling was correct. As much as I loved this show as a child, I only expected to get a great kick from an episode here and there, but I found myself inhaling these DVDs. Pee-Wee’s Play-House is joyous morning viewing (over a bowl of Mr. T cereal, of course) or a great way to unwind at evening (I’d recommend taking a drink from a good beer whenever somebody says the “secret word“ only if your day was exceptionally hard). To get a display that had a cast of breakfast plates and genies, cowboys, puppet couches, pterodactyls, clocks, I think Playhouse still makes sense in 2014. It’s a fully realized vision of Pee-Wee’s whimsical, wacky world—puppet strings and all—and the collection is just pithy enough to pull in adults that are ready to go on the ride, too. Paul Reubens is a comedy icon and master of timing, and it’s unusual that a well-placed Peewee gurgle or squeal doesn’t get a chuckle out of me. If you can’t find any joy in all of that, we’ve got to re Consider our friendship.

Wonder Years

#s#The Original Run: 1988-93 Creators: Neal Marlens, Carol Black Stars: Fred Savage, Dan Lauria, Alley Mills, Olivia d’Abo, Jason Hervey, Danica McKellar, Josh Saviano Network: ABC The Wonder Years is a family present, and yes, a few of its episodes inch dangerously shut to after school-unique territory, but make no error: revisiting this late-’80s/early-’90s staple as a grown-up is just as—if perhaps not more—enjoyable than observing it the first time around. It’s unabashedly nostalgic, but it chronicles the ups and downs of Kevin Arnold’s, Winnie Cooper’s and Paul Pfeiffer’s adolescence from the backdrop of the Vietnam era and our nation’s changing social landscape with a maturity most exhibits geared towards kiddies absence. The small childhood moments that stay with us are treated with the respect they deserve. We laugh when Kevin’s brother Wayne gets him in a headlock and calls him “scrote“for the umpteenth time (attempt sneaking that by the Nick a T Nite censors today!) or when Kev squares off along with his mortal enemy Becky Slater, and we cry when Kevin’s periodically distant father struggles to relate solely to his teen-age children. And sorry, but if you don’t hold your breath when Kevin puts that letterman jacket over Winnie’s shoulders, you’re lifeless within. Music geeks will enjoy the amazing sound track as well.

Family Ties

Original Run: 1982-89 Creator: Gary David Goldberg Stars: Meredith Baxter-Birney, Michael Gross. Fox, Justine Bateman and Tina Yothers Network: NBC We were given the Keatons by one of the finest family sit-coms of our time; these were were our family. Liberal working parents Steven (Michael Gross) and Elyse (Meredith Baxter) raised their three children—smart and conservative older brother Alex (Michael J. Fox), flighty and trendy middle kid Mallory (Justine Bateman) and sarcastic younger sister Jennifer (Tina Yothers)—with love, compassion and limits. Fox, whose job was introduced with all the collection, made Alex’s Republicanism humorous yet not cliched. The collection is still remembered for the very special episode, “A my name is Alex,“ where Alex struggled to accept the sudden death of his friend. Today family comedies continue to try to capture the magic that was Family Ties

[thisdaynews]

Actually, Robert Mueller Was Awesome

New Post has been published on https://thebiafrastar.com/actually-robert-mueller-was-awesome/

Actually, Robert Mueller Was Awesome

Former special counsel Robert Mueller’s testimony Wednesday has been described as “excruciatingly awkward,” “confused,” “struggling” and “a stammering, stuttering mess.”

I saw something completely different. From my perspective, after six hours of testimony, it was the 74-year-old career prosecutor and law enforcement officer who won the day. It wasn’t that close.

Story Continued Below

Tasked with overseeing the most high-profile investigation of our time, Mueller managed to complete the investigation without appearing to have a partisan agenda, with both sides embracing him at times. Even Trump said he acted “honorably”—before he turned on Mueller as “conflicted” and partisan—and touted “total exoneration” soon after Mueller concluded his work. Mueller’s down-the-middle, leak-free handling of the high-stakes investigation was an object lesson in professionalism.

And Wednesday’s performance was no different.

Mueller didn’t want to testify, for good reason. He had done his work already. As a prosecutor, he had to ensure he stayed detached from the political process, presenting his findings in a manner that did not make it appear he was choosing a side or advancing an agenda. One slip of the tongue could be used to undermine his team’s work.

In the long view, the verdict of history depends most of all on Mueller being seen as nonpartisan, measured and above the fray—an operator whose work is unimpeachable and can be relied on (now, or after Trump’s term, or years from now) as a bulletproof statement of fact. So all the little details of the case that members were trying to ferret out pale in comparison to his ability to maintain that status and be seen as a reliable agent of impartiality. During the hearing, that was clearly his goal. In doing that, he succeeded, and history can thank him for it.

It was clear from the start he knew Democrats wanted to use him as a prop to bring the findings of his report to life as part of a push for an impeachment inquiry. Mueller went out of his way to avoid regurgitating the contents of the report, wary of creating sound bites that could be used to suggest he supported impeachment. For instance, when Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-Texas) asked him whether his language referring to a constitutional process to “formally accuse a president of wrongdoing” was a reference to impeachment, he refused to admit the obvious.

Mueller did that all day long. He refused to answer leading questions whenever answering the question might draw him too close to the political fight, force him to say things that could spur controversy, or cause him to veer outside the four corners of the report. Mueller wanted to go no further than his report and he rarely did so, despite both sides egging him on. He swatted away Republican attempts to elicit answers about the origins of his probe as readily as he ignored Democratic attempts to get him to make their case against Trump.

His monotonal yes and no answers might not have made for the most dramatic viewing, but they weren’t without effect. In five minutes, House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff walked Mueller through the most damning details of Volume 1 of his report. Mueller’s answers were short—“that did occur,” “accurate,” “that is correct”—but what he affirmed was that Russia engaged in a systematic effort to help Trump win in 2016, that Trump and his campaign welcomed Russian aid, and that Trump lied to the American people about his business dealings in Russia.

When Mueller wanted to say more, he did. He described in detail the threat posed by the Russian attack on our electoral process, testifying that “they’re doing it as we sit here, and they expect to do it during the next campaign.” He warned that “many more countries are developing the capability to replicate what the Russians had done.” When Mueller had the rare opportunity to testify about matters that were not partisan—matters that should concern all Americans—he testified freely and strongly.

At times, Mueller faced harsh questioning from Republicans who lashed him and his team as biased or worse. His calm demeanor was another sign of his professionalism. It would have been easy for Mueller to fight back—he has in previous appearances, after all—but that would have pulled him into the fray. It was not weakness but rather quiet strength that caused Mueller to do nothing more than calmly reply, “I take your question,” in response to GOP Congressman Louie Gohmert’s hyperbolic charge that he “perpetuated injustice.”

The hesitation you saw in Mueller before he answered questions was the face of a man who was choosing his words carefully. He played it safe, like a football team running out the clock. His constant desire to double-check his report and to refer members of Congress to the report itself was motivated by a desire to ensure that each word of his testimony was accurate. He had no incentive to hurry, knowing it would be hard for members to challenge him in a five-minute time span if he took his time.

Mueller had to be careful and precise because every word he said would be dissected. When he agreed with Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) that the reason he did not “indict Donald Trump is because of the OLC [Office of Legal Counsel] opinion stating you cannot indict a sitting president,” many took that to mean that Mueller had affirmatively concluded that he would have indicted Trump if he could do so. Mueller clarified that point in the afternoon session. It was a rare misstep and he knew he had to fix it without regard to how it might be perceived by either side.

Even Mueller’s nonanswers were carefully considered. Mueller refused to answer whether he believes Attorney General William Barr’s letter purporting to summarize his report is accurate. The letter was technically accurate but highly misleading, and an answer from Mueller that the letter was accurate would have left the false impression that the thrust of the letter were true. Mueller also refused to answer whether Trump or his son took the Fifth, presumably because commenting on a defendant’s silence can be legally problematic.

Through his careful answers, Mueller was able to thread a needle, staking out very nuanced and careful legal positions without seriously being tested by the members who questioned him. For example, Mueller refused to make any decision as to whether there is sufficient evidence to charge Trump with obstructing justice.

Mueller’s decision not to reach a prosecutorial judgment as to obstruction flowed from the DOJ’s policy against indicting a sitting president. Because Mueller couldn’t indict Trump, he felt it would be unfair to Trump if he reached a conclusion that Trump would be unable to challenge in court. But if Mueller merely reached no conclusion, that could leave the false impression that he found no evidence that Trump committed a crime. So Mueller famously said that he was “unable” to state that Trump “clearly did not commit obstruction of justice,” and thus his report “does not exonerate” Trump. This may sound confusing to a layperson, but it is a very careful approach that permitted Mueller to be as fair as possible to Trump under the circumstances.

No one had ever publicly asked Mueller about this very nuanced but unprecedented approach. Many argue that Mueller should have stated his conclusion, and in any event, it’s unclear why he chose the “does not exonerate” language instead of merely making clear that his nondecision does not mean there is not enough evidence to charge Trump.

But both sides failed to meaningfully probe Mueller’s reasoning on this key issue. Republicans criticized and grilled him as to “exoneration,” but they had to be careful not to give Mueller an opportunity to refer to the DOJ policy against indicting a sitting president. Lurking in the background was the reality that Mueller found “substantial” evidence to prove each of the elements of obstruction of justice. Pushing him to explain himself would be bad for Trump. Yet Democrats could not get him to do so either because they were in no position to push him to do something he was unwilling to do.

So Mueller got to say what he wanted to say, which is that there is “substantial” evidence to support counts of obstruction, without being forced to say that he concluded Trump obstructed justice. Despite hours of questioning by dozens of members of Congress, Mueller was never backed into a corner or forced to explain the most important legal decision he made.

Even if some think Mueller has lost a step since he last appeared before Congress six years ago, he still looked a step or two ahead of most of his questioners on Wednesday. Most importantly, he appeared above the fray, cautious, and fair in the face of bitter partisan rancor. That is what we should expect from prosecutors, and it is the legacy that Mueller leaves behind.

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[bountyofbeads]

When did we, as a nation, decide that it's OK for our leaders to lie 🤥 🤥 🤥 to lie to us. We wouldn't tolerate our spouse, parents, or children lying 🤥 to us; nor would we except our doctor, attorney or teacher lying 🤥 to us. SO WHY WOULD WE EXCEPT THE POTUS LYING 🤥 TO US. WE MUST DEMAND BETTER FROM OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS🤬🤬🤬🤬

"These moments are important because, as I have laid out, the Mueller report reveals a president who lies repeatedly, wantonly, and reflexively, and who asks his aides to lie on his behalf. Mueller’s answers today show that the president lies, asks others to lie, and then lies about the lies."

Three Ways Mueller Says Trump Is Lying

The former special counsel directly contradicted the president’s repeated claims.

David A. Graham, Staff writer | Published July July 24, 2019 | The Atlantic | Posted July 25, 2019 |

Testifying to the House Judiciary Committee this morning, former Special Counsel Robert Mueller reiterated that his investigation did not “totally exonerate” Donald Trump, as the president has stated. Further contradicting Trump, Mueller also said he did not find that the president did not obstruct justice.

Both statements came in response to questions from Chairman Jerry Nadler, a New York Democrat, in the opening moments of the hearing.

“The president has repeatedly claimed your report found there was no obstruction and it completely and totally exonerated him. That is not what your report said, is it?” Nadler asked.

“Correct, not what the report said,” Mueller replied.

“The report did not conclude he did not commit obstruction of justice? Is that correct?” Nadler asked a moment later.

“That is correct,” Mueller said.

David A. Graham: Mueller’s damning portrait of Trump

These answers are dry and clinical, following the highly restrained tone that Mueller has adopted for the hearing. (When Nadler asked Mueller to explain the finding on obstruction in plain English, Mueller offered a similarly obscure response: “The finding indicates that the president was not exculpated for the act he allegedly committed.”)

They are likely not the type of fireworks that many Democrats hoped the testimony might elicit as part of their attempt to swing public opinion against Trump. But as a matter of substance, each of these answers is significant, because it directly contradicts the president’s spin.

Despite what Trump has repeatedly said, the report does not exonerate him. And while Mueller has been forced into semantic linguistics to avoid saying what is clear, his report laid out in great detail multiple examples where Trump met the three-prong test for obstruction of justice. But Mueller said in his report, and again today, that he had decided at the outset of his investigation that he would not bring charges against Trump regardless of evidence, because of Justice Department guidance that says a sitting president cannot be charged with a crime.

Aside from those exchanges, most of the first two hours of today’s hearing has been fairly dull. Mueller has stuck stubbornly to yes and no answers whenever possible. The former FBI director announced at the outset of his testimony that he wouldn’t answer any questions on some of the topics that both sides are most eager to hear about: for Republicans, the origins of the FBI investigation into Russian interference in the election, and anything related to the Steele dossier; for Democrats, the actions of Attorney General Bill Barr, or whether Congress ought to impeach.

That has left representatives on both sides to try to construct questions that are packed with detail and delivered at great speed, thanks to time constraints. Mueller—and probably many audience members at home—has been struggling to puzzle through them. His answers have been terse, except when he has simply declined to answer, and he has often simply referred representatives to the report he wrote.

Despite the rather low level of excitement overall, Mueller has, in several cases, contradicted the president’s claims. This extends beyond the president’s claims that the report exonerated him and found no evidence of obstruction of justice.

Trump and his defenders have argued that he cooperated fully with the investigation, but that’s not correct, as Mueller noted. As he told Nadler, Trump refused to submit to an interview with the special counsel’s team, despite repeated requests and Mueller’s argument that it was in the interest of both the public and presidency to do so. Trump also declined to answer written questions about obstruction, and when he submitted responses on other matters, Mueller “viewed the written answers to be inadequate,” according to the report.

David A. Graham: Barr misled the public—and it worked

Trump has also claimed that Mueller was a compromised investigator, because Trump had interviewed him to be FBI director following the firing of James Comey in May 2019. The president made the claim once again this morning, tweeting, “It has been reported that Robert Mueller is saying that he did not apply and interview for the job of FBI Director (and get turned down) the day before he was wrongfully appointed Special Counsel. Hope he doesn’t say that under oath in that we have numerous witnesses to the interview, including the Vice President of the United States!”

But under oath on Wednesday, responding to a question from Representative Louie Gohmert, Mueller stated that when he met with Trump about the FBI-director job, he was not a candidate for the post.

These moments are important because, as I have laid out, the Mueller report reveals a president who lies repeatedly, wantonly, and reflexively, and who asks his aides to lie on his behalf. Mueller’s answers today show that the president lies, asks others to lie, and then lies about the lies.

Whether this will get through to the public is, of course, a different matter. As my colleague Elaina Plott and I have both written, Barr was able to set a false narrative in place in the public consciousness before Mueller’s report was made public. Beyond that, Mueller’s testimony doesn’t make for good sound bites—crisp yeses and no’s are unlikely to have the same power even that Mueller’s own, brief televised statement in May did. Since Mueller believes it is improper to make the obvious logical connection to say that Trump obstructed justice, Democrats aren’t going to get the answer they really want out of these hearings. Finally, Trump’s dishonesty is already well known. But the vagaries of public reaction shouldn’t obscure the importance of Mueller’s statements.

[enjoyblacksurf-blog]

What a Time (Part Deux)

Dude, nobody actually knows what a dinosaur sounded like. Sit with that for a minute...

Good to hear from you and thanks for the kind words. What a total legend of you for dropping off your hearts and sharing our wares far and wide. That's how it works now, isn't it? This is how we communicate.

Have you noticed the long WhatsApp voice message is what all the kids are doing now? Long gone is actually talking to your mates! I'm well and truly down with it. You get to have a good, uninterrupted ramble, on your own time and really get your point across. On the flip side, you have to patiently listen to your mate’s rambles (some ain't got it down) and listen without butting in to share, correct or change the subject. It's good training for conversing with humans. Speak your mind and listen. It also takes actually talking to another human being out of the equation. This could be both sad and dis-connective and equally a blissful way of existing.

Aaaaaah yes I remember where we were...

The state of the world and rapidness of change, individually and collectively speaking. We're all getting zapped through a lifetime of technology and constant change. Look at music, for example. For thousands of years we couldn't record music. We then created records and we were pretty chuffed about that for around 50 years or so, yeah? Then we went through some kind of futuristic light speed music technology portal in the space of 20 years! Betamax, 8 Track, Cassette's, CD's, Laser Discs, Mini Discs, Blue... Bluuuue something? Torrents, MP3's, MP4's, JPEGs and PNGs. “Hey mate, can you send me over a vector of that?” WTF is a vector? Well, I actually know now ‘cos I had to send one, and I happily admit I thoroughly enjoyed telling a vector virgin to keep up with the times about a week later. The classic 'learn something yesterday and act like you've known it for decades and feel smug for a minute before you toy with telling the truth or letting them think you're more intelligent than you are'. Oh, it's a classic.

Wait...

No, we're talking about the uplift of humanity’s consciousness and how we are all playing a part in it's victorious evolution or it's inevitable demise. DUN DUN DUNNN. Hahaaa! Which side are you on?! That was it. I'm on track, it's all good. Loved what you we're saying about that, you crazy cat! You sound mad as a bottle of crisps, but I dig it.

Well, the spell we've all been under, up until now, has well and truly been lifted though, hasn't it? Everything’s all out there in the open right now getting exposed and brought to light. And that is BADASS! It’s rough, but’s it’s bad ass. Coming from the countryside where the general rule of thumb, is don't be Doctor Doom and bum everyone out. Don't bring anyone down with that talk of sadness, depression, anxiety or overwhelm, for god's sake. What will the neighbours think, lad.

The Emo's did try to warn us though, didn't they? Oh, we all laughed in their faces, behind those stupid haircuts. But, they were right. We are in fact emotional beings. They called it and touché. Emo's at least found music to express themselves while the rest of us suppressed our feelings like the proper lads and lasses that we are, and where's that got us? You and I have both have suffered in the past from not talking about shit. Aaaaaah jeeeeez. As you always say, what a time to be alive!

Y’know, thinking about it... When I ask my dad how he's doing, he sometimes says a confident and proud “Fantastic!”, followed by silence. Is he on top of the world or his he saying “Let's talk about something else.”? A bold and wise move I always think. No-one in their right mind should ever question a ‘Fantastic!’ delivered with such conviction and finesse. It's leaps and bounds above an 'Alright' or a 'Not bad', isn't it? It's a touchdown response in comparison. A power move by a seasoned veteran of suppressing and releasing emotions for decades. A man who once used to see the dreaded red mist and instantly react; now chilled, humble and zen.

When things are going good with friends and family, we'll know or hear about it, right? We'd hope, but you and I both know that isn't true, though, is it? We’ve all become masters of hiding our feelings and just cracking on with it. 'How are you doing?' That's one hell of an ask and also a mountain of pressure to release onto another human being for a brief conversation, d’you not think?

We’re not only protecting ourselves, but each other by not opening up sometimes. It's served us well for generations. Sort of. Hasn’t it?

Dude, the difference in the amount of knowledge of awareness, recovery, health and happiness we have access to now, in comparison to our parents generation; it's off the charts! The world has changed sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much in the last 20 years. Are you also noticing with this, a whole load of extra baggage full of anxiety and pressure has been assigned to everyone one of us?

Millennials are screwed unless they also start to connect to this lost natural flow of life itself. Rather than purely just #instatweetagramsnappabookface. Add to the mix that they most probably got whacked by emotional, psychological trauma growing up too, like the rest of us. Kids of 80's and 90's had it like a walk in the park in comparison. As long they dodged, evidently, all the kiddy fiddlers and slew of #meetoo’s that we’re apparently allowed to run amok?

I’m all for carrying on shining the light! Right now, we're doing a fantastic job of bringing every wrong'un, racist and rapist out in to the light for all to see, scrutinize and stone, publicly. Whether we have to herd the one's that had a regretful night and sent a sloppy unconscious tweet that ended their career and the Cosby's of the world in the same pen... I'm not so sure. This whole process is for the greater good, but it's messy trying to figure out the guidelines.

We're forced to instantly know our views, beliefs and morals with each case, instantly in real time. Let's look at the comics for a minute. Louie CK was outcasted and back after 9 months. 9 months out of the public for being a big weirdo. That's what you get for being weird. 9 months ban.

Carlo Mencia was notorious for stealing jokes and Joe Rogan stormed the stage and publicly shamed him at his own gig! OUCH. He's done.  Michael 'Kramer' Richards dropped the racist card and he was sheepishly back on network TV in no time, but it ain’t looking good.

Roseanne Barr, one sloppy tweet and her second career that was all set up and ready to go... Pffffffffft up in smoke. Brutal, confusing and maybe unfair but it's all for the greater good. We're thinning the herd. We're prepping for a better future to come where people will be more conscious. It's as simple as that and that's only a gooood thing!

The Civil Rights Act was in 64', right? Soon kids won't know what slavery was or even be able to comprehend it!

Hey man, I watched the Foo Fighters once and heard a a guy excitedly say to his little bro “You know, he used to be in Nirvana!” To which he turned up at his older brother and said “...in what?” I nearly died in that moment.

This time is sticky as, but if we truly know ourselves, our beliefs, thoughts, morals, dreams, goals and desires, It's gonna be one hell of a less sticky ride. If we don't, it's gonna be HEAVY, seriously confusing and painful. We need to learn to act from the heart rather than the head. This should take no time at all, rewiring and re-programming the planet to be good, ethically conscious souls who care for each other and the planet for future generations.

Hahaaaaa! Yeah, right!

Lenny Henry and co nailed it back in the day, didn’t they. Hello world! It’s all pretty messy. Let’s all laugh about how crazy it all is, come together and support whatever we can and do what we can. That’s the deal, right? Most people get stuck in the heavy, sticky realms of the ‘it’s all pretty messy’ part and get no further than that. Just repeat the news, get depressed, moan, judge and complain about others and do absolutely nothing positive to make a difference at all. That’s only 1/3 of the journey! That’s the easy part! Jog on, pal. Awareness, deciding to make a difference and then making a difference. That's your three step plan right there. That's what should be taught in schools.

Talking of which... 

Can you imagine if we got taught how to actually talk to people and create harmonious relationships? Can you imagine if we got taught how to break up with people correctly or amicably? Can you imagine if we got taught how to use the frickin cooker or be told that being a musician or a skateboarder was a perfectly acceptable job to aspire to have? Tony Hawks famously told his careers advisor that he was earning more money than him at 14 years old when asked what he wanted to be when he grew up. Long gone are the days of 'a normal job' or even having just one job!

We just need to allow this time to birth and breath a little. Y'know, just a little time to allow us all to catch up and see objectively, without judgement, that we are indeed being squeezed through a sped up evolutionary process. Absorb what’s collectively and consciously right and wrong, weed out the old and plant the new; nurture, nurture, nurture. Because the inevitable and constant debate between EVERYTHING is exhausting. Have you noticed we now have to have a white, black, asian, disabled, gay, lesbian and transgender character on every sitcom. The narrative has to comment on the latest moral issue otherwise it’s seen as not adjusting with the times and won't get commissioned again for being non-PC. Every show is the god damn same! Ok, to be fair, I may be guilty here of watching crap TV. It’s ok to get the news from South Park, Joe Rogan’s best of the week podcast and the banter in the sauna? I swear between the three, I get the news of the world and a real objective and diverse opinion of each topic.

Times are changing, man and I couldn't be happier about it! What a time to be alive! It's gonna be rough for a while seeing the Trumps of the world in power and people trying figure out how Brexit is figuring itself out. Our politicians somehow turn into overnight millionaires and from what? Their amazing biographies? I don’t think so. Tony Blair is doing ok the last time I checked. Um... Should he not be in jail?

Hilary had her fingers in the Monsanto pies, though, too. Her, Bill Gates and probably Bono investing into a company that... well you can look ‘em up. There’s evidence of Gates saying that de-popularisation of the world is the answer to the population problem. Ooooosh. Hey man, it’s not me saying this it’s the internet. Fake news? So, what's or who’s worse? Voting for either of those guys would have been like switching seats on the bloody titanic. But, we can't afford to let the bastards grind us down. Hey? But jeeeeeeeeeezus. What a time to be alive!

We can’t afford to not observe the amazingness that is all around us, though, too. Now that would be pessimistic and foolish of us. There's too much awesomeness brewing and cultivating every day! We all know that the world has to go to shit before it has the chance to blossom into something sustainable again. Let’s watch it all crumble and side step the debate.

Get working on the new earth and all that comes with it in whatever our field. Let’s be pioneers and get in there early! Speak our minds, make some change and stop following the damn trends and herds into mediocrity! If we’re lucky enough to not be living in utter poverty, surely we have a duty to enjoy life and help others do the same in as many moments as possible? Every person we see and meet can act as a mirror. In each person we get another chance to realise what we don’t want in our life, or a chance to meet with compassion and sympathy if they’re broken, lost or just being a dick. Or, a clear reflection of light, love, happiness and all the other hippy shit that serves us good. If we truly admit it to ourselves; love in all its forms is always a better choice than fear.

We’ve come to the point where we’re definitely aware now. We are now AWARE of all that the world is and has come to. We have awareness for this, for that, this disease, that symptom, cuddle a dog day, ‘Stoptober (don’t be an alcoholic and just learn how to moderate your drinking?) month’, pink band, white band, gotta walk around with a ‘tache for all of November otherwise I don't care about my fellow man’s balls day! My money going in those buckets doesn’t cure the disease and neither does yours. I ain’t joining in to this charade. Unless I happen to want to just rock a sweet ass ‘tache that particular month. WE ARE AWARE! We get it. Awareness is first key to change. It’s the first stepping stone but certainly not the be all and end all. What’s the chuffing solution, pal!? It’s certainly not my November ‘tache!

Hey, as long as the next steps are available, i’m all in. If they’re not, create them! This month, give us money for the awareness of Depression! Urm, we’re already aware of depression, mate. I’m from Yorkshire! What’s the solution? The solution is always in the prevention. I’ll admit it’s not the most popular view. It’s not as popular to not have a super, all-in-one-fix-it-cure-all-drug, but it’s true. Prevention is the cure! End of debate. End of story.

1. Problem - Awareness. Individually or collectively realise and accept the problem. 2. Reaction - Make a positive reaction to create change. 3. Solution - Create a better solution that the last one made. 4. Progress - Create change and freedom for self and others.

Repeat steps 1- 4 when needed and stop funding charities that promote sugar, non-nutritious foods to cure diseases.

We, as a society, package-up symptoms and disease and sell them back to us all like shiny toys. You ever walked into the supermarket and seen all the packaging and all the food that has literally no nutrition in it at all? It’s predominantly a warehouse of about 70% absolute junk that we’re pumping out and lapping up. It gets us sick, we moan and then buy the pharmaceuticals they sell us or patch-up-feel-good legal drugs like food and alcohol. Duuuuuuuuude! WTF are we all doing? What’s our endgame here?

As a whole, our values, morals and outlook are waaaaay off right now. Not even comic relief can patch up this one. As you get older do you not feel that moral obligation to sort your shit out? For the sake of yourself and others too? Do you not find that every other person we meet is either wearing their heart on their sleeve in either the positive or negative sense right now? Potentially, righteously whoring out their opinions and beliefs like myself in hope to cause a spark in someone suffering and struggling in silence. We're either raw, cooking or totally on fire! It's a melting pot of good, bad and everything in between, isn't it? Everyone seems hyper and conscious, frazzled, confused or just completely ignorant. Ignorance seems like a good call sometimes. It’s the opposite end to an easy way out though.

We're either chasing sensations of attraction or aversion in every given moment, d’you not think? It's quite funny that not only do we all know the answer, the answer is so simple and yet we seem to forget it the moment when we ‘wake up’ each day. The Zen lot would say, just observe and accept where we are in life without judgment to ourselves or others. Let go of the past. Navigate back to the moment and get cracking. Repeat this constantly. Over and over and over again. Repeat, repeat, repeat until being present in the here and now occurs naturally in your day. Relief! Voila!

Yeah? What you think? I reckon that's it. Job done. Mate, it's been serving me good for sure. It helps me detach from the past and the future and just accept life as is and all of my shit and everyone else’s too! That’s the kicker! That’s where the ease and relief comes in. Accepting others as they are. Ooooosh that’s a tough one. It’s the only solution I found to life, thus far, that needs no debate. 

What’s the saying?

Lao Tzu (Which translates as 'The Master') was actually an anonymous being that left loads of awesome wisdom on the planet. My favourite being: “If you’re depressed, you’re living in the past. If you’re anxious, you’re living in the future. If you’re at peace, you’re living in the present.”. Nailed it.

When we're really living our truth, making good, conscious decisions in life, we can truly be at peace. I think the issue is nobody seems know who they truly are. Nobody knows what’s right or wrong and nobody knows what to do about any of it. Well, we do know, don’t we! So, therefore we have to get to work and shake up the rest of us.

No religion, philosophy or rules needed. Just a good old fashioned mission statement of: BE A GOD DAMN GOOD PERSON TODAY! DO, HAVE, BE OR SAY SOMETHING GOOD! DO BETTER THAN YESTERDAY!

It's bloody hard work fighting up stream but you gotta, right? Or, we can die without ever truly experiencing the other side of the coin. Absolute Happiness! Absolute over relative happiness. Relative happiness being the quick fix’s to just fill the hole, the void. That general mentality we seem to live in. Either experience a life like a yo-yo of extremes or live the middle path and manage the good and bad, the highs and the lows. Live a life of balance! It’s free from the grip and pressure of the past and the future. It’s freedom! It’s also right here, right now in every given moment.

CHOICE!

If we have the awareness and luxury of choice, that’s all we ever need. As an individual it’s our duty to basically be a good human and create positive change. Hey, leave a legacy for your grandkids, too! Why not? Basically, just don’t be a dick.

Living unconsciously and not making that daily choice between love or fear. Oh my days. That was an exhausting way to live life. Wasn’t it!? We've been there, got the t-shirt and the mug. Smashed the mug and then glued it back together again. Chucked out the mug, lost the t-shirt. Sick and tired of being sick and tired. Constantly getting sucked in to other people’s bullshit. Job’s we don’t care about... Ugh. It was like being an extra in the story of someone else’s film. Nah, fuck that! Sorry... It’s supporting artist, not extra! Oops. Gotta keep up with the new words! We are the lead actor, the writer and producer of our own film. If we don’t realise this, we are living in someone else’s film, in someone else’s story.

It's like a sick joke with a silver lining, isn't it? This veil that has well and truly been lifted, that we're all experiencing, right here, right now. It's truly and completely messy and horrendous, but also positively beyond belief how much progress and change is being made. We are certainly consciously evolving as a species whether we’re indeed merging with the robots or not. Dude, I saw that they were making the plastic bits that tie the beers together out of edible material for fish. That's pretty rad! The missus completely eradicated all our plastic bags and bottles years ago. No chemicals at all in our flat. No chemicals in deodorants or foods. Nothing. Wooden toothbrush's and crystal rock deodorants, fridge full of farmers market organic veg for juices and smoothies. It’s a lot of upkeep and work but we’re fully invested. I used to think she was off her rocker and that the word vegan was a planet! It’s pretty nuts how we've completely changed our lifestyles and gone all in, isn’t it?

I couldn't ever go back, could you? Once you discover the other side of the coin. Nah. All in, pal. You should check out Edward Begley Juniors house. He's been building an eco house since the 70's! His white picket fence is made out of milk bottle tops. I mean... Oat mylk bottle tops (just incase any of those hardcore righteous vegans read this over your shoulder). God those guys suck. They ruin it for all us self-righteous vegans. I gotta say though, the celebration of the vegan lifestyle, yoga, meditation, well-being and all the mylk choices out there, I did not see that coming. It's pretty unreal! And proof the times are changing. Bob was on it back in the day!

We're pretty lucky to be able to make these conscious choices now. Pretty lucky for the awareness that we have this choice! 90% healthy and on it 10% full blown party time. That’s my jam. Yeah, I’ve still got my 10% party card that I pull out once in a while, mate. Don't get me wrong. I might forget my shopping bag once in a while and go wiiiiiiild and get a placky bag.

I saw someone give an old man shit for putting something in a bin once. “THAT CAN BE RECYCLED!” Oh those guys suuuuuuck! You’re doing life wrong, mate. We’re all figuring this out together. And hey, call me out if i’m doing the same. I most probably am! I’m trying my best to be objective and point out my flaws. I have many! I’m opinionated, passionate and stubborn as shit! It only ever sparks conversation and hopefully a positive change in at least one of us though, no?

I’m never a fan of those who sit on the fence. You have a voice and a brain. Use it! Or, get off that damn fence and get out of here, kid. Jog on and find the other kid that was moaning about the state of the world while doing sweet FA to contribute.

As a species though, we've definitely been forced to shine the light on what's truly important right now and dissolve what no longer serves us. We're totally getting there. Equality, gay marriage, a stronger voice for women in society, plant-based living and saving the unnecessary mass slaughter of animals.

The thriving of well-being industries and joking aside, the awareness of the importance of mental health and everything else we have bands and moustaches for. Ethical materials and products making their way into our lives... Again. The positive effects of Psilocybin on cancer patients and people with depression being discussed on mainstream TV!

The awesome effects of CBD Oil on patients with Cancer, Alzheimer's and Cerebral Palsy on both humans and animals. The mass breakthrough of stress relieving tools like Mindfulness, Meditation, Qi Gong and Yoga helping kids, teenagers, parents, inmates, housemates and everyone in between.

Dude, It's safe to say we are all experiencing, both individually and collectively, an overwhelming wave of joy and pain, love and fear, clarity and confusion, simultaneously on a global mass scale. In doing so, we're making way for the birth of a new world and new environment for sure. The release of it all brings suffering to some and joy to others. That's the crux of it all.

What a time to be alive! Which side are you on?

'What a time to be alive!' This could be a state of heaven or hell depending on your outlook and circumstance, right? The buddhists say that heaven and hell are both here on earth rather than a judea-christian outlook with your granny playing a harp and satan surfing the lake of fire.

Heaven and hell and everything in between is a state of mind we experience in each moment. It’s choice that programmes the GPS system and destiny. If we have the ability to read information on a device in this day and age, there's a very high chance we are armed with the powerful choice of choosing love or fear in any given moment, right?

So, this knocked me off my feet. Check this out! There's over 300 million people suffering with depression, worldwide. Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide right now. How crazy is that, man!? Are we still allowed to say ‘crazy'? So where are these 300 million then? Oh that's right, we've got ridiculously good at hiding it, haven’t we! You and I both, hey! We need to keep our shit together in order to survive and not bring Doctor Doom to the party. That is until we inevitably, eventually pop. Mate, I can lock up all my feelings just like the next man can! Person. Like the next person can. See! The times are changing! Just about covered my ass there.

Is blasphemy still just a grey area? Do we have an all clear on god damn? What are the rules? I love a good god damn! Do you find that you’re starting to also question every word that you throw out incase you get called out and lynched? I heard a guy get really mad at someone say ‘midget’.

“It’s not midget it’s little people!” Is it?? Is ‘little people' the preferred title chosen by... I’m not particularly reckless with my words, but I do feel the egg shells cracking, constantly. We’re all figuring out what we think is OK and what's acceptable for this new time we're moving into. And that, my friend, is why I watch South Park. I learned about gender neutral toilets from South Park!

I do know we're not allowed to say 'brain storm' anymore! I totally get it. Imagine little Jimmy has a tumour and all his mates are shouting “BRAIN STORM! BRAIN STORM!”. Little Jimmy is gonna lose his shit. A shame because I loved a good brain storm at school. It's mind maps or cloud thoughts now.

Gotta keep moving with the times people! Keep up, keep up, keep up!!! Exhausting, isn't it? When did you pop by the way? Have you popped yet or are you managing your shit well enough? I popped in 2012 and have been attempting to drag others over to the other side ever since. No wonder we feel ambushed, overwhelmed and frazzled. We don't know what words to say incase we missed the meeting and that word is no longer cool or valid anymore. The correct grammar for email but not necessarily a text... Should we say... ‘See ya, pal!’ or ‘See ya pa!’? Does it matter anyway? It does if you're dealing with a hierarchy of intellects, backgrounds and cultures in your place of work. Not so much in school I imagine. We've been ambushed, but simultaneously upgraded with a shit ton of knowledge like a cosmic slap round the face.

I would like to at this point, thank you for your patience for allowing me to gather my own thoughts in this cathartic ramble by the way. This ramble has helped me figure out a few things. So, thanks. I’ll look forward to your reply.

It's got it's pluses for sure, but, by Lord, have we not all seen enough of us go down in the process. We've both lost a few friends and friends of friends. Mate, all those celebs in the last few years? It's like the 27 club all over again. Apart from this time it was mostly voluntary and not most probably a CIA job.

Martin Luther King, John F. Kennedy, Hendrix, The Beatles... Oooooh the times were changing then man! It went downhill after that. I 1000% believe we’re picking it up where we left off! Aaaaaaaaaaw I've only just realised the BEATles is a music pun! How did I miss that?????

When Robin Williams went, that was the sign that's something was definitely not right on planet earth. Oh man, I genuinely miss Robin Williams! Life can be confusing, unfair, relentless, overwhelming and sometimes just fucking rough. But, hey, sometimes, for fleeting moments, it's totally badass! Sometimes it's even FANTASTIC!

We've got to the point that we need to at least acknowledge the other side of the coin now. This side being love, absolute happiness, change, positivity and peace we can experience within us. I ain’t saying the world as a whole as we’ll always need that yin and yang. But, certainly within us, we have the choice. We’ve done, seen and experienced all the fear, hate, lack, pessimism, poverty, racism, sexism, depression and anxiety. We’ve seen the results. The results are well and truly in. They suck!

To balance out this eco-system, the equilibrium within us and that expression into the planet, we have to individually choose either love or fear in every given moment. Constantly. Repeat, repeat, repeat for the sake of ourselves, family, friends and the world itself. We have a job to do! For sure we do. It feels like a responsibility now rather than the chore that it once was as a kid.

Historically though, we are 100% definitely experiencing something out of the ordinary, for sure, right now. Put your hand down, no debates needed. Put your mouth and thoughts away, pal! On this note, we can give ourselves a break. We can collectively take a breath and sigh of comic relief and say “Hey, fuck! The world is fucking nuts!”.

This will help us all bring compassion to those who are struggling right now. Because just being a human-being is hard enough!

So, what have me and the boys decided to do? We've only gone and decided to navigate our way through these insanely treacherous waters and do 'the work’ the only way we know how. We found the thing we love more than life itself. Music! Music, much like comedy is a high vibration and should be honoured in all of its expressions and forms. Just as much as all the ‘proper jobs’ out there. That negative belief system was one of the hardest one’s we ever had to battle as musicians, artists, creatives and performers. We matter and contribute to the world just as much as the suits do! And we bring the tunes to the party too!

We've channeled it into a vessel we call Black Surf and we're firing off all the joy, happiness, creativity, and love into the world where it's needed. Why the chuff not! What else are we gonna do? Sit in a pub and moan about Brexit?

If we have a choice, which we are fortunate to have, struggling against all odds and following your dreams is waaaaaay better than sitting in our pants on the ends of the bed, staring at the shoes we don't want to wear to a job we hate. Like a supporting artist in somebody’s else film.

Mainly for ourselves and to satisfy the urges of writing and playing live for the love of it. Just knowing that we're out there trying to inspire anyone in need of inspiration and allowing space, compassion and sympathy for our inevitable dirty trolls. We love them all. We gotta embrace all the positive change that is here among us and be free enough to let the music we create flow through us, harness it, record it and just keep moving. Because otherwise we’re just arm chair philosophers and wannabes.

It's a debatable point, of course, but I love it in essence. If you wanna save the land don’t chain yourself to the tree. Raise the money, buy the land and do something awesome with it! Save the trees and leave no man behind! Aaaaaaah fucked it.

Hope all is well! Look forward to hearing about YOU! Big LOVE

x Ali

P.S. I've only just remembered in this moment, the moment that I literally typed my name, that you only asked how the band was doing. I'll save the story and mission of Black Surf for next time. It’s all been pretty ridiculous. Messed up, yet beautifully glorious.

[ducklooney]

I realize you're bugged by Donald's lack of focus. And Moonvasion implies the boys (or at least Louie) understand him more than they realize since they understood him when he sang the Moon lullaby. And it's not like Beakley and Della are any higher than him focus wise either. Beakley appears in the same number of episodes as him but has even less episodes with her as main focus than Donald and Della has less focus episodes and lower episode count than him.

You are right at the beginning, and I agree with you and it should have been, but seeing that Donald's nephews complained about him when they found him, I was disappointed, considering that Donald had taken care of them before. And Louie sang to his mom, from the memory Donald sang to him not only to him, but to Dewey and Huey. Yes, we should focus more on him, especially on the relationship between his uncle and his nephews, in order to understand his love for them, which unfortunately is barely shown. This was best shown at the beginning of the first and at the end of the first season. What is unclear is how HDL speaks totally differently from his uncle, when they live with him from birth. It's a little weird, isn't it? What I'm glad about is that they understand him, at least in part, especially when they heard the lullaby, which was probably heard from the heart by another voice, and not Donald's real voice. I have to tell you, you have a bad comparison. Ms. Beakley and Donald can’t compare, especially around the focus. Donald Duck is one of the best and most popular Disney characters and of course he is expected to be more represented in one Duck series than he should be, yet it is one Donald universe, although Ducktales 2017 is totally different from other universes and it is a universe for itself. That was promised at the beginning, at least after the first episode (I hope you watched it), where the turbulent relationship between Scrooge and Donald took place, and that's what makes me happy. But after that, Donald becomes a second-rate character and hardly has one, which he shouldn't, because if the Ducktales reboot allegedly refers to comics and seems to correct the Ducktales original, there should be more focus on Donald and Scrooge, because in comics they are the most common. Every child will tell you, "No Don, no deal." Because the children themselves love Donald very much and that would represent the great popularity of that series. I'm not criticizing that I would humiliate Ducktales reboot, no, that's not the point, but I'm pointing out the mistakes they make and which must be corrected, if the series wants to continue. If we need to win the fourth season, then correct the mistakes and put more focus on Donald and Scrooge, they are the main heroes of that series. This is how the series itself will fail, and if there is no correction of mistakes, I am afraid that Ducktales 2017 will soon end with the third season. I hope you understood me, what I wanted to say and I apologize for this. Simply, I expected a lot of expectations from the Ducktales reboot, which unfortunately did not come true. I hope you are satisfied with this answer and sorry for my long answers and if you do not agree with me, it is fine, I respect your position and your opinion.