#ben blackwell

[10bendog]

Part 2 of the CN-City-bumper-inspired drawings!!

This iconic street is not always so peaceful. Sometimes troublemakers, like these boys, come around and cause ruckus. However, the Dock Hag will not tolerate such behavior and she will make it known to them... Too bad she forgot her ticket book at home today. Last one I'll be posting on my Birthday next Tuesday. :D

"This is Cartoon Network."

Like last time, I'm posting the full-scale drawings. I didn't shrink them as much in this one, but still...

[abagofmagictrix]

Some Animated "Bad Boy" Appreciation

[quinnysnursery]

when the party's over,, party people・₊✧

agere frat au (little!chris x caregiver!nate centric)

tara yummy - "you got invited to a tara yummy party...like the tara yummy?"

junior. president of double delta. looks like a mean girl, is actually the sweetest girl on campus. fashion design student. short (compliment). social anxiety is scared of her. "tara yummy is a mindset."

larri "larray" merritt - "third door on the left, you can't miss it. he's always blasting billie eilish on mondays."

junior. film major. nick's IMMEDIATE bestie. silver jewelry & painted nails. never in class, somehow the teachers favorite. "i wanna be a director 'cause i love when people listen and respect my words." "...larri, you just want a stable relationship." "okay and??"

quenlin blackwell - "you mess with ben, you mess with larray and quen."

junior. once she sneezed and the entire classroom said bless you. business major. has blacklisted SEVERAL people from double delta. "i'll drive!" "isn't your license suspended?" "okay well where's your license?" "..." that's what i thought."

benjamin de almeida - "that's ben! he...i don't really know what he does."

sophmore. parties aren't actually his scene but he was adopted by larray and quen last year. messiest dorm on the campus. roblox fiend. film major. somehow always slightly lost. "when mitski said 'in the corner taking up space'...i felt that."

[phantomstatistician]

Fandom: The Secret Saturdays

Sample Size: 85 stories

Source: AO3

[gollageek]

Kim Possible: You can't do that, its ILLEGAL.

Doyle Blackwell: Listen, Red. Its only illegal if you get caught. So we don't get caught.

Sezar Salazar: Exactly what he said, mija. Think of how many scientific advancements got missed for the sake of legality. Besides, we have our familias to think about. This is too important... by the way I've started the machine, we should run.

Rex Salazar: * flying around the corner*

Rex: DONT LET THEM START THAT MACHINE!

Zak Saturday: *Looking at the event through binoculars and a distant cliff*

Zak: Aaaaand... he's late again, we're doomed!

Ben 10: I'll get Alien X ready...

[lazlolullaby]

The Secret Saturdays: Post Script Season AU

so this is set a little bit after the series ends, give the Saturdays a few months to rest and relax.

And then they get a call from Argost's lawyer.

Tldr: the Saturdays have to film a season of Weird World in order to get legal access to help the cryptids that are stuck there. (I mean they are absolutely breaking and entering to get to them fast, but. Legal is better.)

Below is an outline/not!fic

Argost's will was a mess to figure out. And he stipulated that the Saturday family get the mansion and legal access to the cryptids, on one condition:

The Saturdays have to Finish Weird World. 10 episode mini series 42 minutes an episode.

It's Argost's final revenge, making the family that was hurt in these walls stay there for an extended period of time. Expose them to all of the stresses and pitfalls of fame.

Just by nature of being a "wrap up season" with another cast (and presumably crew, it's unclear if Argost + Munya handled all of the filming and editing themselves.). The Weird World fanbase is not going to be happy.

There were press releases, opening interviews, etc confirming that the tone wasn't going to be the same. but the backlash was immediate. Full down voting on Rotten tomatoes. Calling "woke" and "forced diversity" because Zak is mixed race and Drew isn't "technically American".

The Saturdays know they're not in it for the fame, the show is an obligation, not a passion. But it still hurts a bit.

"what, do you think we can actually copy Argost? Live up to his level of theatrics? He's passionate about his things, we're passionate about ours."

The tone of the show is more pg-13 rather than nearly R. More edutainment than horror stories. "Things like what we want our son to actually watch."

The episodes follow a pattern: cold open with a single handheld camera a la Blair Witch Tapes. Then the opening credits.

then it's standard 2 camera sitcom. The overarching plot is the Saturday family study cryptids, and while Argost is "away", he needed someone to take care of the house. Things like tending to the garden, exercising the cryptids, returning cryptids once they've healed, returning illegal artifacts, etc.

The first episode is introducing the house, the set up, the Saturday humans. That they can't just get a tent and sleep outside; a fast moving Zon yanks it out of the ground.

At the end of episode one: "Zak, I know you think you're ready. But you are not immediately going to befriend a cryptid. They are literally traumatized animals and might be unpredictable. Do not think that you're special because you know what you're doing. You're still in as much danger as anyone else."

And at the end of the hallway: glowing red eyes. Zak: "please let me be special." And a huge gorilla cat walks up to him. Cut to credits.

Second episode introduces Fiskerton, Komodo, and Doyle. ("We have to be very clear that Drew and Doyle are siblings right up front." "Why?" "Luke and Leia." "Say no more.")

Episode topics: basic hiking safety, tick prevention and care, stretching before exercise, a trip out to the lagoon for scuba diving, (big shout out to this fic), basic first aid, basic american sign language, PTSD care with Fisk + Drew, lab safety, disability care with Doc's blind eye, even racial discrimation when Zak and Doc go into town for supplies. Because they're going to get cancelled anyway Zak found it funny to include LGBTQ+ rights and history, how many animals have homosexual tendencies, transgender clownfish, polygamous animal relationships and so on.

Cryptids are always seen in the background/being worked on. Drew focuses on historical research, Doc focuses on science research.

The running joke is every episode they keep mentioning Yetis or alluding to Yeti mythology but they never actually show one on screen.

Of course there's bonus features like a gag reel, Zak flubbing lines and Fisk standing in for him, Komodo tripping everyone and general hugs and head smooches.

There's a post show Q and A a year later going over some "odd choices" in production. And debunking the persistent fan theories like Argost is the Blackwell's long lost father, Fisk is Kur and just hiding it, things like that.

Zak sometimes uploads quick PSAs to the Weird World twitter equivalent. Either quick sentences or short videos. He keeps it as a side hobby, more interested in teaching people than any ratings or fame.

And to throw some Omniverse into the mix:

When aliens are revealed to the public, Zak puts out a short video about learning about different cultures and acceptance.

When public opinion of Ben 10 becomes sour, Zak reaches out to Plumber Public relations. He breaks down Will Harangue's most recent monologue and advises how to spot manipulative editing, logical fallacies, and propaganda.

Ben tries to get a spot in Zak's channel to boost his influence, but Zak steadfastly refuses unless Ben can come up with a PSA. "You made me write an essay. And you made it easy."

Zak invites aliens to talk on his channel, and it does a lot for public opinion of aliens.

[kaitlinj16]

The Codys | Seven Deadly Sins

🖤🖤🖤

[babolat85]

Prom After-Party and then Isabela asked Omar back to the Manor Security wasn’t too happy

[atakeflight]

❛  you were right, and i'm sorry i ever doubted you.  ❜ / for benjamin, from maxine! c: @everydayherc

❛ Thank you, Maxamillionaire. It takes real bravery and strength to admit you're wrong. ❜ he had found it, odd, being around people older than him, and in a different country, but if there was one thing Benjamin Tickle could do, it was overcome and now he was in this Vortex club thing, he realised his social standings had risen. Even if he was questioning if this was the right decision. They seemed more cutthroat than ballet dancers in dance movies or Abigail if you took her place at the bare - scary. ❛ So, why did you want this information in the first place? ❜

[jeremiekroubodagnini]

BOB MARLEY ONE LOVE review

No need to say too much to describe this movie directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green. One word is enough: WICKED!!!

Pas besoin de trop parler pour décrire le film réalisé par Reinaldo Marcus Green. Un seul mot suffit: WICKED!!!

Par JKD.

[cinemedios]

'Bob Marley: La Leyenda' | Tráiler Oficial

Bob Marley es una de las figuras más importantes de la música mundial, especialmente el Reggae, género del que sin duda es rey, ahora Reinaldo Marcus Green, quién anteriormente había dirigido ‘King Richards’, se encarga de dirigir una película biográfica de este astro musical.l En el elenco encontramos a Kingsley Ben-Adir como Bob Marley, Lashana Lynch como Rita Marley y James Norton como Chris…

[butterfilledpockets]

beep beep mother fucker wake up and smell the AUs

(aka the Aus that have ben stuck in my mind for too long and now they are unleashed)

first up-

Turtles are Strange (Life is strange au)

I thought- hey, Mikey and Max both got time travel powers, what am I to do with this? And then I made this thing.

Little details about the designs:

Donnie has a tattoo of Leo's red crest marks on each of his forearms

Mikey is wearing one of Donnie's spare shirts in the art bellow

Donnie is wearing one of Leo's shirts under his jacket

Mikey's jacket is Max's OG jacket from the games

(WARNING THIS IS NOT A HAPPY ONE) If you know the game's plot YOU KNOW

(I have changed a lot from the OG game there is ZERO romance except for a brief appearance from Usagi and a small subplot) (and I've also removed some of the more triggering aspects due to personal reasons)

Long story short, Big Mama and Splinter split up, and she takes Donnie in the divorce. Afraid to loose anymore of his family, Splinter packs up and leaves Arcadia with Raph, Leo and Mikey, taking them far away to the city. This happening when they were 12-14

About two years down the line, Leo runs away to reunite with his twin in Arcadia Bay, which he does. Mikey and Raph stay behind in the city, Mikey to young to really understand what's going on, and Raph insistent on staying with pops.

Years later, Mikey decides he wants to go to Blackwell Academy in his old hometown, as he wants to see his family and study photography/painting. Mikey discovers he has time powers during a fight in the bathroom where he saves the life of one of the people.

This turns out to be Donnie, who has grown rougher and bitter, as he feels he was left behind by his family.

And now, Leo is missing.

(I have the ENTIRE plot of this AU written, and if you guys wanna hear more PLEASE SAY SO)

originally this was gonna be a full multi choice comic, but I couldn't settle on an art style I liked that was quick and easy to draw, and I am not paid enough/lh to draw a fully rendered comic like that.

here is the other AU

[sapphicbookclub]

Heartstrings by Rachel Spangler

Mira Collins has her life together. She’s built a solid career as a financial planner, a comfortable home, and an uncomplicated and regimented routine…until her wayward sister, Vannah, shows up unexpectedly and drops a bomb on her orderly world. Ever dependable Mira reluctantly accepts temporary custody of her ten-year-old nephew, Ben, then quickly learns that not all responsibilities can be handled with a color-coded calendar system, and that being a substitute parent is terrifying. There are new skills, stressors, and emotions to contend with, many of which are simultaneously simplified and complicated by Ben’s beautiful young violin teacher.

Shelby Tanner is fresh out of grad school and eager to start her first job as an orchestra teacher, and although she believes the power of music will enrich her students’ lives, she still feels like she’s waiting for her own to start. Working harder than ever to make ends meet while struggling to find her feet, she quickly learns that not everything can be handled with a well-tuned instrument or a creative mindset, and that being an adult is terrifying. She’s desperate to feel confident and competent, but the world keeps tripping her up. Case in point, her growing attraction to the guardian of her most gifted young musician.

Drawn together by their changing circumstances and their mutual affection for Ben, Shelby and Mira learn to lean on each other despite their differences in age, personality, and lifestyle, until Vannah’s reappearance threatens to upend everyone’s lives all over again. Is attraction enough to sustain opposites without the commonality of Ben between them, or will the beautiful music they��ve created together fade into silence?

Genres: contemporary, romance

Order from Blackwell's and get free worldwide shipping!

[quinnysnursery]

when the party's over,, move-in day・₊✧

summary : the triplets (and nate) move into their dorms! meet some new friends and nate's a worry-wart (rightfully so)

warning/extra tid-bits : crying, explicit language, i think that's all?

word count : 2,318

divider credit : umm i found all the photos on pinterest :3 (pointy & leafy thing from @saradika-graphics)

a/n : FIRST PIECE OF WTPO LITERATURE RAAAAA (not proof read, i'm just a girl!)

“Alright,” Jimmy let out a stereotypical “dad-groan” as he stood up straight, cracking his back. “That should be it.” He said, clapping his hands together as he examined the dorm room he’d helped his youngest son and Nathan set up.

Mary Lou had decided to help Matt and Nick, since it was clear that Matt was overly anxious about move-in day and so was Nick- though he’d never admit it- which meant he’d be extra snippy with Matt…a recipe for disaster. 

“Thanks Mr.S, it looks good!” Nate smiled, admiring the work the three of them had gotten done. “Home sweet home, right Chris?” He smiled, nudging Chris’ shoulder. Chris laughed softly, “Not for long, rush week starts tomorrow.” The youngest triplet replied. Heart set on moving into the Kappa Nu house.

Jimmy smiled fondly, he’d been a part of the well-known fraternity when he attended NESE. Chris (and Matt and Nick, if they weren’t so stubborn) would be legacy. “Just remember to be yourself, don’t go getting expelled trying to impress the president.” Jimmy reminded his son, pulling him into a side-hug. 

Chris nodded, rolling his eyes. “I know, I know.” He grumbled, tired of being told the same thing repeatedly.

 “Oh wow!” An unfamiliar chirpy voice came from the doorway, startling the two younger boys. Chris unintentionally reached for Nate, quickly scolding himself. He couldn’t do that, not here- at least not now.

The dorm RA was standing in the doorframe of Nate and Chris’ door. The youngest triplet vaguely remembered meeting him when touring the school last year. 

Larri. His name didn’t match his vibe, nor his looks at all. It was an old man's name and well, Larri was maybe 21 at the oldest.

“You're giving the room across from you a run for their money.” Larri joked, earning a deep chuckle from Jimmy. “Those are actually my other sons.” He explained, earning a shocked expression from Larri. “All three of your sons go here?!” He asked excitedly, Jimmy nodded- pushing Chris in front of him, away from the safety of Nate. 

“Triplets.” Jimmy smiled proudly, Larri’s head whipped to Matt and Nick’s dorm- confirming what he’d just been told. 

“I’m…woah.” He breathed, eyes filled with amazement- Chris wondered if it was just a show Larri put on for the parents during move-in day. 

“Well, it’ll be nice having some siblings on this floor. NESE doesn’t see siblings often.” Larri hummed before pointing to Chris’ nightlight that Nate had just plugged in moments prior. “Is that bulb LED?” He asked, eyes flickering between both freshmen.

“Uhm…” Nate thought back to when he’d bought it for Chris a few Christmases ago. Did the box say LED? Or CFL? What was the difference? Why did it even matter?

“If it’s not LED then I’ll have to ask you guys to unplug it when you aren’t around.” Larri explained, “Dumb fire hazard rule.” He added- earning a furrowed brow from Jimmy. 

“I mean! Very cool and safe fire hazard rule.” Larri corrected himself, earning a laugh from Chris. Larri was funny, even if it was just an act for move-in day. “Will do.” Nate said, unplugging the nightlight and tossing it into a drawer. Chris stopped himself from whining about it. 

He was a freshman in college, he could survive without seeing his night light plugged in. 

Larri bid his goodbyes after that, and not long after did Mary Lou and Jimmy offer to take the boys out to eat before officially leaving them on their own.

“Mom, don't cry.” Nick laughed softly, as Mary Lou pulled all her boys into another hug. “You know she can’t help it.” Jimmy scolded gently, hugging his boys as well. Nate included.

Mary Lou pulled away, tears in her eyes. “You four look out for each other, yeah?” She said, wavering a finger in their faces. “Nick, go to bed at a decent time.” She started, earning a playful eye roll from her eldest. “Matt,” Mary Lou placed her hands on Matt’s shoulders. “Remember to take breaks studying, yeah?” The middle triplet smiled softly, nodding. “Yeah, ‘kay mom.” 

Mary Lou let out a loving sigh as she turned to face her youngest son, her last child. “Chris, don’t forget to wash your socks.” Chris couldn’t help but laugh, pulling his mom into one more hug, “I won’t, promise.”. 

The triplets mom turned towards Nate, who’d been right next to each one of her boys nearly their entire life. “You look after my boys, okay?” She asked, earning a firm “Yes ma’am.” from Nate. 

After a few more teary hugs, the triplets and Nate watched as their parents got into their car before driving off campus.

“Just us now.” Nick sighed, turning around and beginning to walk back to his dorm. Nate, Matt and Chris all glanced at each other before following the oldest triplet. “What now?” Chris asked- trying to hide the looming feeling of anxiety. 

“I’m going to the library!” Matt smiled excitedly, pulling out his student ID with a toothy grin. “The library?” Nate asked, furrowing his brow. “Yeah! NESE holds the world record for the biggest college library!” The brunette smiled, earning a stifled laugh from his younger brother- “You are such a nerd.” Chris poked, frowning as Nate elbowed him in the side. 

Matt rolled his eyes, flipping Chris off playfully as he split off from the group. “What about you Nick?” Nate asked, subconsciously making sure Chris was walking in front of him.

“I wanted to finish editing those photos I took at our going-away party.” Nick said as they all entered the elevator, pressing the 4th floor button. Nate nodded, glancing at Chris with concerned eyes. 

‘Ding!’

Nick quickly exited the elevator, rummaging in his pockets for his dorm room keys. Nate did the same, saying bye to Nick before he and Chris slipped into their dorm.

It wasn’t a huge room by any means, but due to NESE only accepting the very best of applicants- it was bigger than an average dorm. Enough room for both Chris and Nate to spread their arms out and still not feel claustrophobic. 

“You good? Feeling little?” Nate asked the youngest triplet as Chris flopped onto his bed- letting out a deep sigh. Chris quickly shook his head, “What? No, I’m good.” He defended, crossing his arms over his chest as he scowled at Nate.

Nate’s brow quirked upwards, “It’s fine if you are Chris, it’s been a long day.” The shorter boy sympathized. He didn’t want to push regression onto Chris, but it didn’t take a genius to realize that today was stressful and stressful days typically led the boy to regression.

“I’m fine, Nate.” Chris grouched, turning to face the wall. Nate’s shoulders slumped as he sat on his own bed and grabbed his phone from his pocket- opening tiktok and beginning his doom scrolling. 

Matt clutched a leather-bound book to his chest, gulping an anxious knot down as he searched for an unoccupied table in the library. For NESE holding the world record for biggest library, you’d think that would be an easy task- Sadly for Matt, it was not.

“You can sit here.” A confident voice spoke to the right of him, Matt turned and his eyes landed on a tall girl with braids and a tan boy with fluffy black-ish hair.

The boy’s eyes were fixated on a laptop screen, Matt couldn’t see what was playing though. But the girl with braids had a few textbooks and notes sprawled out around her. “We don’t bite.” She joked, the brunette man let out a breathy laugh as he sat across from her and the dark-haired boy. 

Matt kept to himself for a few moments, eyes scanning the words on book’s parchment- flipping through the pages. It was a book on BPD and how it affected the brain. Matt was only a few pages in, but the author was doing a good job at not demonizing the mental illness.

The library was just as beautiful as the pictures on google showed, the high ceilings and shelves that required multiple rolling ladders- a general golden glow in the air that made Matt feel like a student at Hogwarts.

It wasn’t until Matt heard a low whine followed by some whispering that he looked up from his book. He was met with the sight of the tan boy whispering into the girl with braids ear- she scooted the laptop over a smidge before typing in something and pressing the spacebar. 

“There.” She smiled, rubbing the boy's shoulder before turning to return to her book- that’s when she caught Matt’s eyes.

“Sorry!” Matt’s face flushed with embarrassment as he forced his gaze downwards, praying she didn’t hate him. There was a painful silence for a few moments before the girl spoke again, “What’re you reading?” She asked, closing the current textbook she was reading out of.

Matt blinked up, his brain taking a moment to register the question he’d been asked. “Oh uhm, ‘s just a book on BPD.” He shrugged, picking up the book to show her the cover. The girl nodded, “I’m Quen.” She smiled- reaching her hand over the table.

Matt stammered over his name for a moment, quickly shaking her hand. ‘Good going, you’re making a fool of yourself.’ His brain told him- he did his best to push it down.

“Let me guess…psych major?” Quen smirked, earning a quiet laugh from Matt as he nodded. “Yeah…what about you?” He asked, making a mental note of the page he was on before closing the book. “Business, it sucks.” She sighed, waving a hand over the mountains of textbooks she had sprawled out.

Matt nodded- understanding, his dad had been a business major. His eyes flickered over to the tan boy sitting next to Quen, “His lucky ass has a film scholarship.” She joked. Matt had to cover his mouth to stop his laughter. 

“You a freshman? I haven’t ever seen you around.” Quen commented, earning a nod from Matt. “Yeah, just moved in today.” He explained, already smiling at the thought of telling Nick how he’d managed to make a new friend.

Quen nodded- beginning to pack up some of her things. “Are you gonna rush on monday?” She asked, Matt quickly shook his head. “My brother is, but ‘s not really my scene.” He explained, recalling the various times Chris told him just how lame he was for not wanting to be in a frat.

“It’s awesome! Parties every weekend, brotherhood-” “Chris you already have brothers.” “Shut up!”

 Quen thought for a moment before speaking, “Triplets?” She asked, causing Matt to stop. How did she know that? “...Yeah?” 

Quen nodded, “Larri told me, we hang out a lot.” She explained as she zipped up her lavender Fjallraven backpack before reaching over the boy in front of her and taking the laptop from him- much to his dismay.

“Quen!” He whined, pulling off his headphones. His face blushed a light shade of pink as he finally recognized Matt was sitting across from him. Quen realized this, motioning to Matt and the boy.

“Matt, Ben. Ben, Matt.” She introduced as she stuffed the laptop Ben had been using into the corresponding compartment of her bag. Matt smiled, offering Ben a small wave.

Ben’s lips quirked upwards into a smile before Quen informed him they had to go if they were going to catch dinner with Larri and Tara. 

“Bye Matt, good meeting you! Hope your brother gets into KN.” Quen smiled before grabbing hold of Ben’s hand and leading him out of the library. Matt sighed, leaning back in the wooden chair- did he just make a friend?

The next day, Chris (surprisingly) woke up before Nate. Which was good, because that meant Chris could spend as long as he wanted choosing the perfect outfit for meeting the brothers of Kappa Nu for the first time.

He knew if Nate had been awake he’d tell Chris to just “be himself!” but his brain stopped accepting that advice the moment he saw the Kappa Nu house in person during his first ever tour of the school.

Chris would do anything- or be anyone- he had to to get inside that house. 

The youngest triplet opened the drawers of the shared dresser he and Nate helped Jimmy set up yesterday, his eyes landing on his beloved night light that Nate had thoughtlessly shoved into the drawer after the RA asked him to unplug it.

A small frown formed without Chris’ permission, causing him to slam the drawer shut out of frustration. It was a nightlight. He was being ridiculous.

“...Chris?” Nate croaked, sitting up slightly in his bed. Chris turned to look at his friend, feeling bad he’d woke the shorter boy up.

“...’s 6 am, go to bed.” Nate murmured, laying back down and burying his face in his pillow. Chris rolled his eyes, continuing to search the dresser drawers for a specific pair of jeans. Suddenly, Nate shot back up- eyes full of concern that only a caregiver could have.

“Are you little? Do you need something, bud?” Nate asked, “No!” Chris argued back. Nate sighed, raising his hands in defense. “Then what’re you doing up?” The shorter boy asked, now fully awake. 

“Pickin’ out clothes. Gotta make a good first impression.” Chris explained, smiling as he finally found the perfect pair of baggy jeans. Nate nodded silently, legs dangling off the raised bed. 

“Just be yourself, they’ll love you.” Nate smiled, hopping off the bed and placing a comforting hand on Chris’ shoulder. Chris shrugged his hand off, grabbing his shower caddy and starting towards the door. Nate watched sadly as his best friend slipped out the room. It was clear that Chris would do whatever it took to get into Kappa Nu, and that terrified Nate.

taglist !! :

@mattssturnz @littlestar44 @graceslittlecorner @zivall

@hrtz4alex2211 @bimbob1tch @sturnsxplr-25 @cherry-red-heart

@pr3ttyf4wn @frlinbruh @jazminepetit-homme @raynaaxx

@tyummyz @starri-nightss @cyberskulzzz @nicksbestie

@urfavbestiee @nicksloverrr  @ducklingsandlambs

this one-shot is apart of my agere frat/college au! find more info on it, here!

[dweemeister]

Whenever you feel alone, just remember that those kings will always be there to guide you. And so will I.

Born to a turbulent family on a Mississippi farm, James Earl Jones passed away today. He was ninety-three years old. Abandoned by his parents as a child and raised by a racist grandmother (although he later reconciled with his actor father and performed alongside him as an adult), the trauma of his childhood developed into a stutter that followed him through his primary school years – sometimes, his stutter was so debilitating, he could not speak at all. In high school, Jones found in an English teacher someone who found in him a talent for written expression, and encouraged him to write and recite poetry in class. He overcame his stutter by graduation, although the effects of it carried over for the remainder of his life.

Jones' most accomplished roles may have been on the Broadway stage, where he won three Tonys (twice winning Best Actor in a Play for originating the lead roles in 1969's The Great White Hope by Howard Sackler and 1987's Fences by August Wilson) and was considered one of the best Shakespearean actors of his time.

But his contributions to cinema left an impact on audiences, too. Jones received an Honorary Academy Award alongside makeup artist Dick Smith (1972's The Godfather, 1984's Amadeus) in 2011. From the end of Hollywood's Golden Age to the dawn of the summer Hollywood blockbuster in the 1970s to the present, Jones' presence – and his basso profundo voice – could scarcely be ignored. Though he could not sing like Paul Robeson nor had the looks of Sidney Poitier, his presence and command put him in league of both of his acting predecessors.

Ten of the films James Earl Jones appeared in, whether in-person or voice acting, follow (left-right, descending):

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964) – directed by Stanley Kubrick; also starring Peter Sellers, George C. Scott, Sterling Hayden, Keenan Wynn, and Slim Pickens

The Great White Hope (1970) – directed by Martin Ritt; also starring Jane Alexander, Chester Morris, Hal Holbrook Beah Richards, and Moses Gunn

Star Wars saga (1977-2019; A New Hope pictured) – multiple directors, as the voice of Darth Vader, also starring Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Peter Cushing, Alec Guinness, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, David Prowse, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew, and Frank Oz

Claudine (1974) – directed by John Berry; also starring Diahann Carroll, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, and Tamu Blackwell

Conan the Barbarian (1982) – directed by John Milius; also starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sandahl Bergman, Ben Davidson, Cassandra Gaviola, Gerry Lopez, Mako, Valerie Quennessen, William Smith, and Max von Sydow

Coming to America series (1988 and 2021; original pictured) – multiple directors; also starring Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, John Amos, Madge Sinclair, Shari Headley, Jermaine Fowler, Leslie Jones, Tracy Morgan, and KiKi Layne

The Hunt for Red October (1990) – directed by John McTiernan; also starring Sean Connery, Alec Baldwin, Scott Glenn, and Sam Neill

The Sandlot (1993) – directed by David Mickey Evans; also staring Tom Guiry, Mike Vitar, Patrick Renna, Chauncey Leopardi, Marty York, Brandon Adams, Grant Gelt, Shane Obedzinski, Victor DiMattia, Denis Leary, and Karen Allen

The Lion King (1994) – directed by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff, as the voice of Mufasa; also starring Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Matthew Broderick, Jeremy Irons, Moira Kelly, Niketa Calame, Ernie Sabella, Nathan Lane, and Robert Guillaume, Rowan Atkinson, Whoopi Goldberg, Cheech Marin, Jim Cummings, and Madge Sinclair

Field of Dreams (1989) – directed by Phil Alden Robinson; also starring Kevin Costner, Amy Madigan, Ray Liotta, and Burt Lancaster

[usafphantom2]

The 972 was out of Palmdale’s test force, as the Air Force was adamantly opposed to this last flight. I was at Dulles airport on March 6, 1990, for the last official flight of an SR-71, the 972.

My father, Butch Sheffield, was Director of Special Projects for the Skunk Works at the Washington DC office, so he was in charge of this final flight. My Dad‘s boss was Ben Rich. Together, they spent many months fighting against the retirement of SR 71.

But that is not what this story is about. It’s about what retired Col Darrell Cobb had to say about how fast the SR 71 could go. Chris Cobb, a friend from Wheatland High School, sent me a speech that his father gave after he retired.

The following is a small part of the speech. I am so grateful to Chris for sharing his father‘s speech. I will share more as time goes on; the following is what Darrell Cobb had to say.

On March 6, 1990, the maximum retirement speed run to the Smithsonian was not permitted.

Choosing the "best cold day" was forbidden. The colder it was, the faster the SR-71 could safely go.

Compelled to observe "normal operating limits."

We can only speculate about the maximum capability.

On December 27, 1972, the only night operational mission (ECM support of a B-52 strike), I got distracted and permitted my speed to exceed the briefed. (Colonel Cobb was within the CIT of 428 degrees.)

I asked, "Reg ( Blackwell), what speed do you show?" - - "2150, he replied."

That 2150 KTAS calculates to 2474 mph, which leads me to speculate that the max is greater than 2500 mph.

We will never know.

Linda Sheffield

Looking ahead to what Colonel Cobb speculated that the Navy would do if it got custody of the SR 71, as it so dearly wanted to, as the program was being forcefully retired in 1989.

Also, another fact that few people know is that Congress appropriated the money to bring back the SR 71 into service in 1996.

But that’s another story.

@Habubrats71 via X