#Live longer docuseries

[thatsdemko]

to live, to learn, and to love - d.ricciardo

masterlist

pairings: Daniel ricciardo x athlete!reader

warnings: time jump + talks of Covid + some depression talks + some inaccuracies of Daniels career

a/n: hope this cheers everyone up xx

2018 - to live

“so what do you guys have planned this summer?” you ask. the tiny microphone clipped to your shirt is finally off for good. for the first time in a year, cameras would no longer follow your ever move, microphones would no longer hover of your head, you could go back to a normal life of training and relaxing. freedom at last.

“we are actually filming a new docuseries, ever heard of formula one?”

you shake your head, puzzle look on your face creates a little laughter from everyone’s lips as they agreed to never hearing about it until Daniel. whoever Daniel was, he seemed to be quite popular to the crew.

“I guess I haven’t, but hey I’m all about growing sports.”

“well you wouldn’t believe where we get to go next weekend— you should come! it’ll be so much fun.”

the film crew talks of Monaco and the infamous track that they’ve learned can be brutal but kind. their invitation lingers around the room for a couple more minutes as crew begins to clean up the scene.

“so? you coming or what?”

“when’s the plane leave?”

—

Monaco roars with noise you’ve never heard. so much so, the noise canceling headphones can’t even drown out the cheers for the drivers. you spend all mid-afternoon shaking hands and learning names of the drivers you’re sure you’ll forget by the night. but Daniel sticks out.

you knew right away who he was. by the laughter and his smile, he had a way with the crew that nobody on your team had. the smile on all the crew members for not only Netflix, but his own team were contagious. he had you smiling within minutes.

“congratulations on your season and Netflix series! I’ve got it downloaded for the plane ride.” he engulfs you into a tight hug for a brief second before showing you his car. the mighty Red Bull car, sleek in its red and blue stripes under the Monaco sun, his pride is contagious, you can’t help but grow confidence in his racing skills.

“how’s Monaco treating you?” you look up at him, his tan skin kissed by the sun and genetics, his beautiful brown curls make your fingers itch to run through them. it’s not only his smile that makes your stomach twirl, it’s all of him.

“just about alright, I’ve got a good spot on the grid and I’m ready to kick ass.” he claps his hands mischievously making a laugh escape your body.

“you’ll do great! I believe in you!”

you like to think your words of encouragement solidified his win in Monaco, but that would be a selfish reason. you’d like to hate Monaco for all the reasons why you left completely enamored by Daniel ricciardo.

2020 - to learn

boredom struck. your legs, mind, and rest of your body itch to train while you’re copped up in your parents house; a tragedy as nobody else lives here. you sit alone in the basement that once had become your personal gym, but now only has a treadmill that you’ve become bored of.

you huff out a sigh, looking around the room there’s not one object heavy enough for you to lift. you curse your parents for taking all the things you needed to their stupid summer home, and you curse them for not wanting to spend time with you.

loneliness was at an all time high. you’d become so exhausted of it, that talking to yourself became the only answer. it was the only thing you had left.

you moved from the big city where all your teammates stayed put. you didn’t bother to look back once restrictions were set in place, you needed to be somewhere sane, but rather that was the opposite. you were going insane.

an alert on your phone pulls you away from the five pound weights in your hand. you look down on the floor to see an Instagram notification which was awfully unusual.

danielricciardo: if I show up on a horse in Austin, would that get me laid?

yourusername: depends. who are you trying to get with?

you can’t help but laugh. you hadn’t heard from him in four years. you’d occasional check his instagram, see what he was doing, and even become friends on LinkedIn, but the boredom must’ve been at an all time high for him to message you.

danielricciardo: you.

—

“I’d kiss the chef.” he says almost immediately once your face comes up on the screen. the apron you’re wearing was to prevent spilling or messes to your clothes, it was definitely not an attractive sight. but to Daniel it was.

“you can kiss me right here.” you point to your ass, hearing his laugh erupt on the other side of the screen. it was morning time in Perth, and by morning, you meant way to fucking early in the morning for anyone but him to be awake.

“what are you making?”

“none of your business.”

“well it’s my business when you call me.” he says watching you prop up the cook book that lay beside your phone. you point to the page that had flour, sugar, and all other ingredients across the page.

“ah a birthday cake, and who’s this for?”

“my neighbor. he turns ninety tomorrow so it’s a big deal! it has to be good!”

“and you need my help why?” he reminds you of why you called. you stick out your tongue and your middle finger earning a laugh. you want more of that laughter, you’d do anything to hear it in person again.

“because what do men like? I need to get him a gift.”

“y/n, I’m thirty. I’m not even close to ninety are you insinuating I’m old?”

a blush creeps into your cheeks that’s noticeable on the screen, “I’m kidding! I get why you called, you don’t have to close off.”

in the minimal amount of time knowing Daniel, he calls you out on all of your shit. like how he knows you missed garbage day based off the way your bathroom looks, or how he judges you for not taking the chance to run faster. he’s far worse than personal trainer, but you’d keep him around for his honesty and his kindness.

“I have to go to the store early tomorrow, so what do you think he’d like?”

“you didn’t buy toilet paper again?”

“people don’t listen to the two per person rule! I swear!”

he tsks you so much you can’t even put in a single word. your nervous laughter fills his ears and warms his chest. why did you have to live thousands of miles away? he’s praying they find a cure for Covid fast, he doesn’t think he can live another second without you.

2021 - to learn

a new year, a new set of restrictions, oh and you.

you, in the silly 2021 plastic glasses, sit on the couch in the mixed of his friends and family in his Monaco home. he couldn’t believe the sight, it was a winter miracle you’d made it out alive of the winter storm to his side.

after months of talking, you’d considered yourselves dating. it was different—with not being physically intimate or even having real dates—but the attraction and energy that flowed through you two was undeniable. you couldn’t stay friends, not after every phone call, text message, and filthy instagram dm, Daniel ricciardo wove his way right into your heart.

“what’s your wish for new years?”

“wish? isn’t it a resolution?” you give him a pointed look watching his hands fly up in defense, “we do things differently here. we don’t set goals, we set wishes. so what do you wish for?”

you think long and hard for a moment staring at the man in front of you. his brown eyes full of life and beauty stare into yours. his family and friends wait patiently as you think to yourself.

“I wish for love.”

he scoffs in response almost instantly. he couldn’t help it, to wish for love felt stupid, but Daniels hand clasping against yours makes your heart flutter and skin warm to his touch, “well your wish came true, because I’m here to show you just how much I love you.”

2022 - to love

pregnant.

it’s no wonder doing mundane activities were killing you, and getting up any time before 6am was a threat to your immune system. little did you know it didn’t matter when you woke up, you’d still be pregnant and with a heavy case of morning sickness.

and while 2022 is looking awful to different from the past two years of your relationship, Daniel was changing. you’d noticed how physically unfit he was for training, and it wasn’t because he lost his touch, he looked more sick than you did.

the smile that once reached his eyes and infected a dozen or more individuals, was fading. the light in his eyes barely shined anymore, and while he should be happy his girlfriend is pregnant, the glow on his face doesn’t reflect his words.

you’d talked with zak, asked him how Daniel had been doing and to monitor his health, but little did you know the same man you trusted was the reason for his depression.

“Danny,” you whisper slightly hoping to god he doesn’t answer, but he hardly sleeps anymore.

your touch sinks his body further into the mattress. you mold your body and growing belly against him, fingers drawing all sorts of relaxing shapes, “I love you,” you whisper trying to your best to hold in the sob desperately trying to escape, “but I hate how sad you are. I miss you, I miss us.”

your sudden words ache his heart. he hears your pain, it makes him lift his hand and clasp his hand on top of yours allowing your silent sob to increase in volume, “what’s happening to you, it’s not right.“

“I know,” he whispers back. his words hang in the room for a little longer before he turns to face you, his fingers quickly wipe your tears, “I’m going to get better. for you, for us, and for her. okay?”

“okay.”

—

“can you keep a secret?”

“depends,” lando responds turning on his heel, his adorable smile turning his lips upward, “what’s my reward?”

“a kiss on the cheek?”

he nods in approval, “kiss first, secret later.” he taps his cheek, watching you roll your eyes before you quickly press your lips to his skin and pull away.

“I’m pregnant.”

“old news, what else?” he shrugs it off.

“Daniels leaving.”

“what?” you watch lando’s shoulders fall as he collapses into the chair below him, “please tell me it’s because of the baby and not anything else?”

your hesitation earns a permanent frown on his lips, “I thought I could save him.” he lets out a deep sigh allowing you wrap him into your arms, “I think it’s what’s best.”

“I agree, but you’ll still have cool uncle rights.”

“yes! oh, that’s the best news ever! I have to tell max!”

Daniels foot steps echo throughout the hallway of the private room you were in with lando. not another soul is in the McLaren hospitality, as everyone had seemed to vanish once practice rounds were over, but you’d stayed waiting despite longing for a warm shower and Daniels hands against your belly. god, how much more love sick could you be? it was evident Daniel didn’t feel much of the same right now, and you tried your best to put on a big smile and positive attitude.

“there he is.” you move over to him, wrapping your arms around his neck pulling him downward so you can press a kiss to his lips.

“I have to stay a little later.” he mumbles before pressing another kiss to your lips, “why don’t you head back with lando?”

“but I want to stay.” you frown pulling away from his body. it gives you a chance to look him in the eyes, the dark circles are much more evident, the glimmer of hope and love have seemed to vanish his eyes replaced with sadness. why did this have to happen to him? it’s just not right, you think to yourself.

“will you at least eat dinner with me?”

he shakes his head, “I really have to get back to the car.” he pushes a strand of your hair behind your shoulder, “why don’t you order room service? it’s on me, get whatever you’re craving.”

“I’m craving you, but you’re making yourself unavailable—again, might I add.”

his eyes close for a brief moment. his fingers play with the hem of his bright orange shirt, you can feel the anxiety radiating off of him. it terrifies you what’s next. “y/n, they are terminating my contract. can you just go home with lando?”

the grit of his words are like nails on a chalkboard. you swear you could feel yourself becoming lightheaded you don’t even realize lando was the one to catch you from falling backward. terminate? they were done with him? you feel a sob take over your body, it takes ten minutes for lando to calm you down, as Daniel was nowhere to be seen.

the car ride to the hotel was silent. with lando taping away on his phone, and you staring out the window in a daze there was nothing that could pull you away. well, maybe there was.

danielricciardo: if I do ridiculous side burns would you still sleep with me?

a snort escapes your lips. he knows how to turn a bad day into a good one.

yourusername: depends. how ridiculous are they?

danielricciardo: so ridiculous you might wish I didn’t get you pregnant.

yourusername: now I would never wish on that. we love you Danny.

love. it’s a strange feeling that’s settling into his chest right now as he stares at zak brown, the man he’d been warned about years ago, but he never listened. now hearing it from you, he knew love conquered all of his fears and anxiety about leaving. because in the end, your love made him feel whole again.

to live, to learn, and to love.

[BONUS SCENE]

2023 - living, learning, and loving

“oh my, you’re so big now! what are they feeding you?” lando’s gasp earns a ripple of head turns. he’s rushing his way over to you and your new born daughter, mila.

“whatever it is, it’s clearly working on you too. what’s this you’ve got going on? is it a beard?” you carefully run your fingers over the hair on his chin making him pull away, a blush creeping onto his cheeks, “fine I’ll shave it.”

“take it from me, the minute I got home from Austin I wasn’t allowed in the bed until I shaved it all off.” Daniel rubs his fingers over the stubby hairs against his cheeks, “some women don’t like that down there—“

“Daniel!” you hiss, hands placed against his chest you give him a hard shove.

the roar of his laughter echoes throughout the paddock. it brings a flock of his friends and former colleagues together surrounding you both and your daughter, mila.

she was a happy blessing out of a horrible year. her arrival was earlier than expected, but seeing Daniels smile finally reach his eyes, it was like she knew he needed that.

“I can’t decide what’s cuter, her curls or her rolls. how do you sleep at night with such a difficult question?” Charles looks between you two and watches the devilish smirk lift upon Daniels lips, “actually don’t answer that, I see where your mind is taking you.”

“it’s good to have you back.” the Ferrari driver smiles. before he walks away he says one more thing to brighten your days, “and I mean that. it’s good to have the you we all love back.”

you lived, you learned, and you’re still loving.

tags: @oconso @xcicix @imsorare @weasleyswizardwheezes-blog @monzabee @lpab @frreyaa @motorsp0rt @lovelytsunoda @smoothopz @jaehyunluvcult @iloveyou3000morgan @lunnnix @leclerc13

[wingzie]

Hi Lovely!

You are the G.O.A.T Jikook historian and I love, love, love your threads on Twitter. I also love your posts you’ve been doing here on your thoughts and perspectives all things Jikook, jikookers and the fandom.

I have a question. I’ve already talked about it a while ago but I wanted your take. What’s your opinion on people feeling like Jikook haven’t been the same post-2020 and the fact that EVEN MORE feel like since chapter two Jikook are not in a ‘relationship’ anymore. I use ‘relationship’ as it’s the easiest word to use for them for this ask, whatever people believe the labels for Jikook’s jikooking should be.

Do you think that:

a. There IS a difference in Jikook of the past and Jikook of now?

b. Do you think that if they once had something they no longer do?

c. Do you think that Jikook are no longer close after chapter 2.

We know Jikook are currently serving together and used the buddy system but apart from that, if you were to answer the above with evidence as the Jikook historian you are, what’s your take.

Thank you for your part in making Jikook spaces fun and informative 😉

💜

Hello! Thank you for your kind words and for sending in the ask. Let’s get into it with some honest truths: I don’t see a difference and I don’t think anything has changed. I am very much aware of what people are saying, but this is a pattern that repeats itself every single time there is less content to “feed” those who are less patient. Or, even worse,  those who want to control Jimin and Jungkook.

On 8th March 2020, BTS were told that their April concerts in Seoul would be cancelled. As we know, this later included the cancellation of their entire tour. Both the members and entire fandom were very upset about this, but I remember very vividly reading takes on the Jikook side of Tumblr saying: "but what about our Jikook content?" When, in all honesty, that should never have been the main focus when the entire world was experiencing a pandemic. I've seen this complaint several times. This happened during their vaction in 2019 and it's even happening now whilst they are in the military. It is incredibly selfish. I may be a Jikooker, but I understand that Jimin and Jungkook are their own people.

Hindsight is also a wonderful thing. There are a lot of times that we don't know about something, until it is revealed later on. We didn't know that Jikook ate dinner together after one of their concerts until the docuseries was released. This goes for 2018 AND in 2022. There are certain things that Jikook do because it is to heavily engrained into their routine together. We just won't always witness or hear about it.

How is this all linked though? There has been a change in content releases. We were used to Memories being released every summer and a Run episode every Tuesday. Episode 155 was the last weekly episode, released in October 2021. The last Special Episode was released in February 2023. They would have been filmed years apart, but they still show the same closeness and loving spirit. Both of these episodes also included some Jimin butt loving from Jungkook!

When chapter 2 began, it was obvious that Jimin and Jungkook were focusing on their own things. They do not have a persona in BTS to explore with, so this was their chance to share their stories or experiment with other music. Though busy, they still supported each other massively with social media posts or hyping each other on Lives. This is another pattern which has maintained over the years.

We also know that they have been on several trips together. They may have been on many more that we don't know of. I personally don't worry about it, I just support them as much as I can without putting any pressure on them. That would be unfair. I just think that whenever we do see anything from them, we are very lucky.

I know this response is probably what you (and others) weren't expecting, but I think those saying these things are probably too involved in Jimin and Jungkook's lives. That also goes with the amount of leaked photos and videos lately that I have seen on all platforms. Respect goes a long way and some are abusing it. (And thank you for always showing it in your own posts!) I am working on a "Jikook during Chapter Two" post, coming soon!

[persephoneunderground]

I watched Quiet On Set in one sitting and now I want to destroy something. Thoughts after the cut.

This isn't a hot take or anything, but I had to get some of the screaming out:

Nickelodeon, as a network, should no longer fucking exist. Full stop. It's a house of horrors built on the backs of abused kids and it should be razed from existence.

I just...can't. The one thing that stuck out to me in each episode was how fucking culpable these adults were for what happened to the kids. Like, nearly all of them hold some level of responsibility, whether they want to acknowledge it or not. There was so much repetition of "I knew it was wrong/I felt uncomfortable/I didn't think this was a good idea but I didn't want to say something and run the risk of me/my child ever working in the industry again." Like...hello? YOU SAW THE PREDATORY BEHAVIOR AND CHOSE A FUCKING CAREER OVER ADVOCACY. You had the ability to be the voice a child lacked, and you chose the (potential) money and fame. The kids couldn't do anything, but every adult involved could have, and they chose to do nothing out of "fear." And not fear for their lives, fear for their safety, fear for their well-being...just fear that the roles would dry up, or the position would be eliminated, and the money would be gone. It's fucking vile.

There's so much about this documentary that made my heart ache. It was a hard, uncomfortable, infuriating watch. But as upsetting as it is, I sincerely hope that the coverage this docuseries has gotten leads to further deep dives into the entertainment industry on the whole and the conditions of child entertainers in particular. Maybe the scrutiny will be enough to prevent this sort of thing from happening in the future.

Now...I'm going to try to shower some of the ick off.

[jupiterjunebug]

hey whats up wrestling tumblr i have reached the Organizational stage of my hyperfixation levels.

In order to feel comfortable writing extant characters, I need to have a couple samples of their syntax and tone. If I don't have it I'm going to spend longer going "oh my god what the fuck am i doing" than I am writing them. To avoid having to spend a few hours searching down promos every time ive got to write a new guy, I'm making a spreadsheet of promos that act as decent touchstones into how the wrestlers talk.

So uh, basically what I'm asking for is if anyone has fave promos of their little guys (all genders), please send. They can be backstage comments, they can be docuseries (I have the cowboy shit docuseries on there), they can be essays (I have the golden lovers essay on there), they can even be Ospreay and Gabe Kidd yelling at each other on Instagram Live for like 3 minutes.

Benefits include, I will more strongly consider random brain weasels that include them and am thus more likely to write fic of them. Also if you ever do a prompt request from me it will take fewer days because I won't have to spend hours crying to my friends to help me find good promos.

I'm primarily focusing on ROH/AEW/NJPW, but DDT, Stardom, and TJPW are the three promotions I'm considering adding to my plate whenever I have the time so if you have a fave from one of those idk maybe your Favorite Little Princess (gender neutral) will help sway my choice for which one to watch next. Thats how I ended up watching New Japan.

[the-empress-7]

(BRF rumor tracking anon here, coming off anon to share links more easily)

Plant's Archives -- so I've actually been poking around in them recently with the docuseries out now, trying to match Plant's theories with confirmed gossip/stories. I'm still very much in the 2020 post-Megxit era part of her archives (and working backwards), but here are a few things from Plant about divorce if anyone's interested.

The big 2020 gun: How does Plant see the divorce being played out?

Divorce timing will follow significant dates in Diana's divorce timeline (link)

Meghan is setting up her post-divorce life to mimic Diana's with some CBK and lifestyle branding / blogging (link and link)

Divorce narrative will be "unconsciously uncoupling" with a ton of drama and leaks (link)

Harry will be portrayed as abusive (link)

The $14m Montecito Mansion was snapped up so Meghan could justify high standards of living to receive as alimony and child support (link and link)

Meghan pulling rank on Hollywood and Harry to use Diana's memory to launch himself post-divorce (link)

Harry is petty and will fight Meghan's fire with his own stories about her during the divorce (link)

Harry announced his breakup with Cressida on Will and Kate's wedding anniversary and he could announce something for a divorce on their anniversary (link)

Other theories:

Meghan's holding out in the Sussex marriage so it lasts longer than her marriage to Trevor because she wants to show him up. (link)

Divorce when money stops rolling in (link)

Expect pap walks before divorce announcement (link)

And this one, the feather in Plant's cap, where she nailed Meghan's complaints about the BRF to a frigging T. Plant, wherever you are, take a bow.

It could be that they have some big scandalous stories to spill about how the royals mistreated her, but I doubt that is the case. I don’t think anything big happened. It’s just that they are hideously sensitive to minuscule or even imagined slights. They are not mad because they were treated badly. They’re mad because they weren’t treated like they were God’s gift to the brf.

I'll keep on diving into Plant's archives. If I find anymore analysis on divorce (I think there could be some in the 2017 - 2018 archives) I can keep sharing.

You are awesome for sending this in. It’s so interesting to look back at all of this and to then to realize how it came to transpire as exactly as people expected. Meghan has always been very transparent about how she operates mostly because she simply rinses and repeats.

Also when the time comes decades from now, hideously sensitive and hideously insensitive should go on Meghan and Harry’s tombstones respectively.

[officialyourdailyinspiration]

Independent Women’s Forum launched their new docuseries, Cruel & Unusual Punishment: The Male Takeover of Female Prisons, late last week. With new episodes airing weekly through march, the series promises to “share the grim, tough-to-swallow details about what happens when women’s rights no longer exist within a women’s prison.”

Cruel and Unusual Punishment’s first installment features the story of Jennifer Barela, a formerly incarcerated woman forced to share a cramped cell with a man convicted of murder…

[authorgirl0131]

You know what? I don't believe Kristine Barnett about Jacob's autism

(Note- I know the whole level 1-3 autism thing is kind of controversial but, to save myself some time, I'll be using those instead of high, moderate, and low support needs.)

Do I believe Jacob Barnett has autism? Yes, absolutely. I mean, you can tell even from the docuseries that he's clearly autistic. But do I believe that Jacob has ever, at any point, been correctly diagnosed as level 3 autistic?

No.

Level three autism is a very major thing. I know a few people who have it and, while I know it's a spectrum, I know what a diagnosis of level 3 autism entails. People diagnosed with it usually, if not always, require a caregiver and will require one for the rest of their lives to perform functions of daily living- I'm not saying that's a bad thing or that this is a catch-all but, if there are level 3 people out there who can live without assistance, I haven't met anyone even close to that. They've often nonspeaking or barely speaking- the only one I've met who can kind of speak can mostly just repeat up to seven words at a time, very fast, and he struggles with repeating anything longer. While he can also speak for himself, he rarely does and usually only speaks in very short sentences that are very fast, very quiet, and quite hard to understand. Are there semi-speaking or speaking level 3 autistics? I'm sure there are but, to my knowledge, they're rare. The ones I've met- and I've met around twenty- are a mixed bag with reading, writing, and math. Two are extremely good at math, the rest can't do it or can do small things but not complex equations. Four of them can read at all, and only one can write. They usually have cognitive delays and/or intellectual disability. Masking for level 3 people is usually impossible.

But Jacob Barnett? He's speaking, he speaks extremely well barring the occasional stutter or pause. He speaks better than I do and I'm level 2 autistic. He can express himself to others extremely well and seems to put his thoughts into words with relative ease. He masks extremely well- you can catch symptoms if you know what to look for, but to those who don't know what to look for or who aren't aware he's autistic, he may just seem kind of awkward, the kind of "super genius" who can take photos of black holes but can't socialize his way out of a paper bag. He lives on his own- I believe he may have a partner, but he's also lived on his own for quite a while and seemed to have been doing fine with that. Heck, I'm pretty sure he lives in a different country right now for college. He can read and write, obviously, and he's phenomenal at math. He has an extremely high IQ and no noticeable cognitive delays. His stimming behaviour is relatively small, nothing that would be out of place on a nervously-fidgeting allistic. Is he autistic? I have no reason to doubt he is and he certainly displays symptoms. Is he level 3 autistic? No.

Misdiagnosis can happen, especially when he was young and not as much was known about autism, but misdiagnosis as level three? And the way Kristine acts, as though he was level 3 but recovered- girl, that isn't possible. If he was level 3 then he's going to be level three forever. There is no changing that. It's not possible to change a congenital condition like autism, not without killing him. The math ain't mathing, Kristine Barnett, unless you lied. And I think you did.

I think Kristine Barnett played up Jacob's autism for her horrifically ableist book (seriously, had a panic attack reading even three chapters of that shit, don't read it,) to make it seem like a "miracle" when really, her kid was just low support needs but had an affinity for math that she tutored him in. I don't think it's possible that Jacob ever truly was level 3 autistic, and it's not possible that he's no longer autistic, and it's definitely not possible that he went from level 3 autism to not being autistic at all.

I'm sorry, I just don't believe her. I think this is just another thing she lied about. I'm sorry to poor Jacob for his mother, who was supposed to protect him, putting his personal medical history out there and turning him into a spectacle when he was a child.

[thepastisalreadywritten]

They both left their lives as 'commoners'  to marry into a foreign royal family.

Yet the Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle, 41, and Princess Mary of Denmark, 50, couldn't be more different.

While Australian-born Mary, formerly Mary Donaldson, embraced her new royal title after relocating to Denmark, Meghan has burned all bridges with Britain's monarchy for good. 

As Meghan continues to throw barbs at The Firm in her latest Netflix docuseries, we take a look at how Mary set the gold standard for life as a modern princess.

Born in Tasmania, Mary met Frederik of Denmark by chance at a Sydney pub in 2000.

They maintained a long-distance relationship for a year, with Frederik making secret trips Down Under before Mary moved to Denmark to study the Danish language at Copenhagen's Studieskolen in 2001.

The couple married in 2004 and now have four children. 

Mary's decision to marry a Danish royal came with its own challenges - she had to relinquish her Australian citizenship and change religion from Presbyterianism to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Denmark.

Mary also had to learn a new language and familiarise herself with Danish history and culture, as well as cope with the challenges of going from a nobody to one of the most talked-about and photographed women in the world. 

Yet Mary did so without a word of complaint to the media - something Meghan has failed to achieve.

Mary, who will one day become the Queen of Denmark, has always steered clear of scandal. 

Over the years, she has refused to speak negatively about others to the media and maintained a dignified silence amid controversies such as Queen Margrethe II of Denmark's recent royal title scandal.    

Earlier this year, it was announced that four children of Queen Margrethe's youngest son, Prince Joachim, would be stripped of their royal titles and would no longer be known as His or Her Royal Highness.  

As of January 1, Prince Nikolai, 23, Prince Felix, 20, Prince Henrik, 13, and Princess Athena, 10, will become Counts and Countesses, and will be known as Their Excellencies.

Frederick and Mary's four children - Prince Christian, 16, Princess Isabella, 15, and twins Princess Josephine and Prince Vincent, 11 - remain unaffected as they are direct descendants of the future King.  

However, Princess Mary suggested that might not always be the case.

'We will look at our children's titles when the time comes,' she said in an interview with Ekstra Bladet in Copenhagen. 

'Today we cannot see what the royal house will look like when it is Christian's time, or when Christian's time begins to approach.'

She also defended her mother-in-law's decision, saying:

'Change can be extremely difficult and can really hurt. I think most people have tried it. But this does not mean that the decision is not the right one.'

'I can understand that it is a very difficult decision to have to make, and also a very difficult decision to receive.'   

Meghan, on the other hand, was reluctant to accept the expectations that come with marrying a prince.

Since stepping down as a senior royal in 2020, Meghan has clung to the spotlight by taking endless public swipes at The Firm and the British press. 

She has also complained at length about dealing with the British press, despite having plenty of experience with fame prior to becoming a Duchess. 

Media was quite the savvy media operator prior to meeting Harry, maintaining friendships with British WAGS and tabloid journalists like Piers Morgan. 

In contrast, Mary had no experience with the press prior to becoming a royal.

'I'm sure Mary looks at what Meghan has done and is horrified by it,' royal expert Phil Dampier told New Idea in 2020.

'Mary is dedicated to her role supporting Queen Margrethe and she must feel Harry and Meghan have let down Queen Elizabeth.

'If Mary had "done a Meghan," it would be like [her] marrying Frederik, and then within two years, luring him back to Australia where they met and taking him away from his family and destiny,' Dampier added.

In Meghan and Harry's new Netflix documentary, for which they were reportedly paid $150million (AUD), the American-born duchess complained at length about what a shock it was to join the Royal Family.

Meghan, who was brought up as a Christian, was baptised into the Church of England before she married Harry but reportedly didn't have to be. 

'Baptism, as we understand it in the church, is a free adult decision and is not required for marriage,' Reverend Ruth Meyers said.

In the series, Meghan claimed she was 'surprised' by the family's formality, noting that she was a 'hugger' - something she did not realise was 'jarring for some Brits'. 

She said that her sister-in-law, the Princess of Wales, was 'formal' behind closed doors and that Kate found her hugging 'jarring'.  

However, an unnamed friend has contradicted Meghan's version of events, telling  PEOPLE that Kate is in fact a 'big hugger'.

'She is warm and friendly and greets everyone with a big hug and kiss. It comes naturally to her to be like that,' they said.

Meghan also appeared to mock royal protocol by performing an exaggerated curtsey while describing her first encounter with the late Queen Elizabeth II.

She said the whole occasion felt like an antiquated banquet at Medieval Times, a family dinner theatre in the U.S. featuring staged medieval-style games, sword-fighting and jousting.

Meghan claimed she had to google the British national anthem and wasn't given a  Princess Diaries-esque crash course on royal etiquette. 

Harry also spoke of his wife's turmoil, claiming his family had asked why Meghan needed more protection than other royals.

He said they had not understood the 'race element' and had displayed a 'huge level of unconscious bias'. 

'What people need to understand is, as far as a lot of the family were concerned, everything that she was being put through, they had been put through as well,' Harry said on the Netflix documentary.

'So it was almost like a rite of passage, and some of the members of the family were like, "My wife had to go through that, so why should your girlfriend be treated any differently? Why should you get special treatment? Why should she be protected?''

'I said "The difference here is the race element".'

[dragonsandwolvesohmy]

So... I'm having thoughts about a previous post of mine, regarding a Gotham Zoo au. (Gotham Zoo AU)

I see this going two ways; Zoo au happens despite of Batman. (aka, Batman's origins still happen, but doesn't go through with becoming Batman.) or Zoo au happens instead of Batman. (Aka, Bruce never considered being Batman, Zoo happens, no superheroes in this universe kinda thing.)

Let's go with Despite Batman first of all. (Be warned, this is along. So friggin' long. As in 3k +)

Bruce finds out about Damian before Dick's parents fall. There's this small child he's created with Talia, who struggles even more than his father in connecting with people. (perhaps Talia handed him over because Damian is on the spectrum?) He's broody, moody, resentful of being treated like a child, and a bit entitled. and he's not even double digits yet. Bruce, in short, has not one clue what to do with his son.

(Alfred help.)

Bruce finds out Damian likes animals when his grumpy little shadow abandons his side for the first time during a gala, because one of the heiresses brought her new, expensive, pure-bred cat.

It's perhaps the only time Bruce has seen his young son show childish interest in anything. Because cat fluffy.

He brings home a tuxedo cat the next day, freshly adopted from the shelter. This prompts a 'teaching moment, master Bruce' from Alfred, where Bruce tries to explain to Damian why adopting is better than buying from a breeder. In the end, he loads a tablet with a bunch of documentaries and docuseries about animals, habitats, endangered species- what that means, and consequently why and what causes these species to be dispearing- and why 'adopt don't shop' is a good thing. There is also a sorta kinda age-appropriate explanation for inbreeding of dogs and cats, and why Damian's new mixed breed, unknown origin cat might have better health, and live longer.

(The first time Bruce sees Damian cry, it's because of a Sarah Mclachlan commercial. Bruce full-on panics. This is how they adopt Titus from the shelter.)

Bruce is making an effort to Bond with His Child. Volunteering at the shelter sees a surefire way to end up with more adopted animals in his house. Alfred would not forgive him for turning the place into a zoo. Hence they go to the actual zoo.

Gotham Zoo... isn't great. There's a tiger who paces around an island of grass surrounded by cement, a few monkeys in artificial trees behind barred glass, some tropical birds, hyenas, a few tarantulae, some stick bugs, and a large pond of koi as a centerpiece to the zoo. It's small, run-down, the animals are healthy, but clearly not happy.

Damian is dismayed. Bruce is... tired and sad and wondering when the little things like the zoo he remembered so much better with rosy childhood memories became so run down.

Bruce buys the zoo.

Alfred is exasperated.

Damian is delighted. He spends more time with Bruce than ever, childhood joy and excitement and energy at the forefront as he shows Bruce all the bits and pieces he's picked up from documentaries, shows, and reading- all too happy to share his special interest with his father, knowing his ideas would be considered if not used.

That's how it starts.

Animal Welfare, and the zoo, become synonymous with the Wayne name by the time Haly's Cirus rolls into town. Bruce takes Damian to see the circus animals, the way they're trained, and the relationship with their caretakers and trainers. As well as assure Damian they're treated okay, and if they aren't, they'll do something.

(The moment he hears the snap of the rope, he's tucking Damian half under his curled body, covering his ears, desperately wishing he could be doing the same to the boy who seemed larger than life when he was flying through the air just moments ago. now he seems so very small.)

When Bruce adopts Dick, he buys Zitka the elephant from Haly's Circus. It means shipping an elephant across multiple states by the time he tracks down the circus, as well as having a proper habitat built in the slowly improving zoo, and hunting down some good and proper caretakers.

(Damian tries to bond with Dick by showing him his ever-growing collection of animal-related media on his tablet, but the older, grieving boy wants nothing to do with them.)

The first time Bruce takes Dick to the zoo, he's withdrawn the whole time, a little resentful over the 'bonding activity. then Bruce takes him to see the new elephant exhibit.

Dick cries when he sees Zitka, hugging her trunk.

They don't leave for hours.

(Dick hugs Damian when they do return to the manor. He asks about elephant documentaries. Damian is very pleased (smug) to say he has multiple he's willing to share.)

Going to the zoo is an everyday thing after that. Dick teaches the keepers there everything he knows about his beloved elephant, from favorite treats (she loves apples) to tricks he knows how to perform with her. Damian likes watching Dick play with Zitka like Damian plays with Titus.

Bruce ends up taking on more management items from the zoo purely because he's there so often. It's when he's staying late, glaring at the paperwork trying to strongarm him into giving up his tiger despite the old cat no longer being in his prime for breeding, that someone breaks in.

(It's Jason.)

Dick is sleeping in a hammock on the 'safe' (trainers) side of Zitka's enclosure, and he's pretty sure Damian is still religiously taking notes about the dusk activities of their python. Yet... there is a child. A child wearing a too-big red hoodie with tiger ears on the top. It's a hoodie sold in the gift shop downstairs, but this one is worn, old stains and frayed cuffs.

(It was his mothers. She took him to the zoo during one of her better moments, when she was sober, when the Waynes showed their completely redone tiger exhibit. it was no longer grass and cement and a feeding ball. It's trees and rocks and shaded areas of viewing glass, a modest sides piece of a tiger's natural habitat for their boy. He's been so much more lively, happier with space and enrichment and good care, drawing the eye of annoying management wanting to breed a tiger passed his prime because he acts like a kitten now.)

Jason broke in because he remembers there being a display of food by the cashier, and he's more likely to get away with stealing food from a closed zoo than any proper store.

Bruce gives him a packaged sandwich, and a bottle of milk, from the little fridge by the cash register. Then find a tiger-themed backpack among the dusty boxes of merchandise in the back rooms, fills it with water bottles, beef jerky, applesauce squeeze pouches, and 'granola bars' that are more like slightly healthier candy bars. He sneaks a board book called 'The Very Brave Little Lion' and a stuffed tiger in the bottom, despite the kid being older than Damian who 'was well passed the age for such simple things, father'.

It lasts Jason a few days on the streets, but he comes back every day for free kids admission to the zoo. It's safer than wandering the streets, and no one looks twice at the kid reading a library book on the bench. (If it's a board book sometimes, well. That's Jason's business.)

He falls asleep, tucked up against the viewing glass of the tiger enclosure, to be woken by Bruce making the nighttime rounds to see the animals before taking Damian home to go to bed. He takes three sons back to the manor that night.

(Bruce calls Jason his little tiger unironically. Jason allows this with token protests. Tigers led him to his new family, after all. Privately, he thinks it might've been his mom looking down on him. making sure he knew where to go when she was gone.)

Barbara comes to the Waynes by way of a protest. She's protesting zoos; animals shouldn't be entertainment, they should be in their natural habitat, outrage at the treatment of animals, at humanity abusing them for their own gain.

Bruce takes her around the zoo. Shows her the enrichment, the detailed meal plans for each and every animal. The habitats meant to be a piece of natural habitat in the city. The safety measures for both animals and humans. Their conservation efforts, their efforts to raise awareness of habitat loss, climate change, poaching, and more. The way their elephant herd may only be three large, but it's because there's a mother-daughter pair living with Zitka, and elephants grow their herds via family; when the mother or Zitka has babies, the herd will grow. Ideally, they'll have eight or more elephants, but they don't want to cause any upheaval with the current matriarch- no need to stress her or cause fighting with another, mature female wanting to lead the herd- or try to merge more families. If an orphaned elephant needs a home, but can't live in one of the sanctuaries meant to raise, then release orphaned elephants back in the wild, Gotham zoo will gladly take them, assuming the existing herd of three takes to them. Their other animals are solitary by nature. Other than the elephants, they haven't taken in any animals- from the wild, from confiscation with illegal pet trade, from other zoos- instead focusing on making the animals already there has the best life they could. Be it better food, habitats, enrichment, etc. these animals can't be released, so they do the best they can for them.

Then, Bruce takes Barbara to the office. He offers her a job. 'Be our moral compass, you can change the zoo from the inside. Do what's best for the animals. If that means a zoo is the only way that animal will survive, can you handle that?'

She can. She takes the job. She runs that office like she was born to. She likes digging dirt on any animal-related person she comes across. How do other zoos treat their animals? sanctuaries? Is conservation happening or is it breeding for public entertainment? Who's doing what's best for animals, and who needs the full force of animal welfare brought down on them? Turns out having the Gotham Zoo backing you makes animal activism more easily heard.

Barbara wants what's best for animals, no matter what. Sometimes that means human care. Sometimes that means release into the wild. She refuses to give up her values; in the ideal world, all animals would be wild, there would be no more zoos, no more captivity, except for the animals who wouldn't survive in the wild, and even then, it'd be more of a national park/haven situation for animals. That's the ideal- they aren't there yet, but Barbara will do what she can to make this zoo one less problem. One step closer to the idea.

Tim comes on a school field trip and just... never stops. He takes pictures of the animals, of their habitats, of every little detail he could get. The increased security for animal safety- no public getting into enclosures, little chance of someone 'dropping' something in. The plants found all around the world, and the different terrane carefully mimicked to make an animal's space as close to natural habitat as possible. Animals playing, sleeping, exploring, interacting. All of it.

(Poison Ivy keeps growing plans in their zoo, and Bruce has to pay for a lot of corporate clean-up before he gets a meeting with her to ensure she only grows safe plants for their animals, and only ones found in their natural habitats, please. she agrees, but only because the zoo if taking good care of the animal habitat plants, and has a whole program related to turning animal waste into fertilizer, which then goes back into green spaces in Gotham, including the plants at the zoo. They try to grow food for their animals, after all, instead of buying it where they can.)

Tim inadvertently gets photos of Harley Quinn stealing the hyena pair and takes them immediately to Bruce. Bruce gets the hyenas back. The Drakes do not get their son back. The little photographer is theirs, and his photos of the zoo if their number one advertisement strategy. Especially for the Scarlet Macaw flock- two paired birds and their eight collective offspring- which are Tim's favorite animals in the zoo. He loves the bright red of the bird's feathers.

He loves even more when the head keeper of the birds starts training him to train the birds. Dick, by now a full-grown elephant handler/keeper/trainer, is delighted by this kid who starts training brightly colored birds to do tricks for enrichment. Babs is less than pleased. Macaws, despite being kept as pets, are not domesticated animals. However, Tim approaches it more like falconry- these 'tricks' he's teaching aren't meant to be 'cool', they're meant to engage natural, wild behavior, in a safe, regulated way. Babs allows it, but keeps a close eye.

Cas is brought to the Waynes by the Justice League. Bruce has been lowkey funding them since they busted some black market animal trade going on, and arrested a bunch of poachers and people with 'exotic pets'. In turn, sometimes the league calls upon Bruce to find them various animal/habitat/climate experts to help them with something they've encountered. In this case, they encounter an alarming amount of various venomous snakes, being cared for by a mute, terrifyingly lethal girl. Cas gets to fly Air Superman to the zoo, because the league doesn't know what to do with all these snakes other than taking them to the only zoo they know well, and silently instructs reptile keepers on all the snakes. at least until they're put into zoos better equipped for them, or dubbed releasable into the wild by experts.

Cas never leaves, unlike most the snakes. She stays with the Waynes. So does a blind Black Mamba.

Cas is worryingly close to the snake. this never changes, but she reluctantly shifts to protective contact to ensure it's less likely she- or anyone else- will be bit by one of the most venomous snakes in the world.

(Steph walks into the Waynes life one day and never leaves. No one's really sure where she came from, but she's there, and they love her, so they don't care. She works more on the domestic animal side of things, which gets the whole family into ensuring Gotham's animal shelters are up to par with their standard for animal care. She's the Barbara of cats, dogs, ferrets, and other domestic pets. except more likely to bully people into better treatment rather than Babs shaming, throwing the law into their faces to get them shut down, to steadily ruining them in any number of ways.)

Duke comes on as a Veterinarian, intending to work with domestics, but there's an internship at the zoo and he takes it because how could he not? He works with the emperor tamarin monkeys there, and the funky mustache-wearing monkeys convince him to stay with the zoo even after he finished his degree.

Duke is also the one to convince Bruce to expand the zoo. He asks if they can look into expanding their primates via rescues; just keep an eye out to take any in, as the zoo hasn't taken in any animals except the elephants since Bruce bought it.

Bruce says he'll think about it. No chimps, though. Chimps are vicious, Bruce doesn't like them. Too violent, too triggering for him.

Bruce presents him with a family unit of golden lion tamarin rescued from a fire, deemed unreleasable due to various injuries and disabilities. Dick loves the bright golden orange monkeys.

Dick stays with his elephants, but he also gets to start working with rhinos. He loves a rhino named Exxy, who was rescued after poachers almost killed her for her horn. She lived, barely, but her snout is mutilated where her horn used to be. Dick thinks she's beautiful.

His favorite animal will forever be Zitka, however, closely followed by Zitka's baby with an elephant Superman brought to the zoo. Rescued from inhumane treatment in the south, in a privately owned theme park. He's a good bull, a gentle soul to Zitka's brightness, and their baby is precious. Dick stayed in the keeper's side of the elephant habitat most of Zitka's pregnancy and was the first to meet the baby after having been there when they were born. Dick loves them dearly.

(Dick names the baby 'Nightwing')

Jason prepares to beg for Bruce to take in a lion from New York. The male can't stay with the current pride there, having grown to the point he's competing with the pride leader for unrelated females in the pride, and they don't currently have the resources to keep him. Not when it means a new exhibit, plus finding him his own females to form a pride. Jason's tiger was passed his prime before Jason started getting his degree in animal sciences, and eventually, he had to be put down from age-related issues. He's been working with various animals in the park, but he misses working with big cats.

Bruce redoes the whole habitat previously housing Jason's beloved tiger, and soon Gotham Zoo is home to a lion named Rizu. (it means brave. Jason reads him the board book he's kept all this time on the ride from New York to Gotham.)

Tim slowly moves on from only training only red macaws, into raptors, then vultures. He still takes pictures, which are plastered all over the zoo, their advertisements, and sometimes travels to other approved zoos to take photos for them too. He likes his bird, however. They challenge him to challenge them. sometimes they're too smart for their own good. (Yes, he means the crows he's started training to pick up litter in exchange for treats. Don't tell Babs or Steph. They'll murder him.)

Cas gets some snakes back. Black Mama (her blind black mamba) is still her favorite, but she's loving the little group of pancake tortoises Bruce got her. (Green Arrow brought the Gotham zoo a chimp one of his 'not villains' had. Bruce refused to keep the chimp. He reached out to everyone on the approved list to find another place for the chimp- any place- and the only one that would take it would only do so if they took a group of pancake tortoises seized from illegal ownership. Bruce snapped the deal up quickly. No Chimps.)

In other news, completely unrelated, Green Arrow is not allowed in Gotham Zoo.

On the other hand, Black Canary and Wonder Woman are absolutely allowed at the zoo. Why? Because they brought Cass' Rosie to the zoo. Who's Rosie? A 132-pound (60kg) freshwater crocodile.

Rosie is Cas' baby.

Steph deals with all their acquisitions, ensuring their rescues, and works with Babs to get animals released. She still works mostly with domestic animals to ensure they're treated well, but she really likes busting black market, illegal pet trade/animal poaching, and making sure the animals find safe, healthy homes.

She finds Tim a toucan.

Tim loves his toucan. His name is Reed. He don't take no shit from crows and seems to be coordinating their efforts to keep the zoo litter free. (to the alarm of everyone else.)

As for Damian? For now, he's bouncing around working with any animal who needs him that day. He's looking into starting up a petting zoo with Steph, especially wanting to show alpacas and their story of domestication and treatment for wool. While waiting for everything to fall in place, he's working on the education part of the zoo. He's the driving force behind the department; from signage, to field trips, to fundraisers, to research. He wants everyone to know about animals, how they're threatened and could do their part to save them.

(He butts heads with Babs about zoos. He believes zoos, when done right, are great for animals. Babs is of the opinion all wild animals should be wild, no zoos, only sanctuaries when needed. Damian thinks that's unrealistic. They argue this many, many times. They never come to an agreement, nor budge their opinions, just go in circles until they're distracted from fighting.)

Eventually, he'll take over the zoo. Until then, he likes educating people.

...Where's Alfred, you ask? Exasperated his family spends more time in a zoo than at home. When he said the manor was turning into a zoo, he did not mean, go buy a zoo to spend more time in than at home. However, he loves his family, he loves what they're trying to achieve to better animal lives, and better the planet for animal habitats. He's proud of them. (And look, Master Bruce, all the children went to College. and finished. look at that.)

(He dearly loves the little group of penguins Bruce shyly got because they reminded him of Alfred.)

[90363462]

'Surviving R. Kelly' finale prompts emotional reactions on Twitter

ENTERTAINMENT

By Najja Parker, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Jan 7, 2019https://2ebf1ce1ce9a6a2c0628193802369d35.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.html?n=0

On Saturday night, Lifetime aired the last installments of "Surviving R. Kelly," which made the singer a trending topic on Twitter yet again.

>> On AJC.com: Here's what Twitter thought of night 2 of Lifetime's R. Kelly documentaryhttps://2ebf1ce1ce9a6a2c0628193802369d35.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.html?n=0

The conclusion of the three-night, six-part event delved into the singer's history of alleged physical and emotional abuse of women. The final episodes focused on R. Kelly's alleged sex cult at his homes in two cities, including one in metro Atlanta.

R. Kelly's accusers, including an anonymous former employee; Michelle Kramer; Tim and JonJelyn Savage; Alice Clary and Angelo Clary; and his ex-girlfriends Kitti Jones and Asante McGee all detailed alleged abuse.

The Savages, the Clarys and Kramer each said their daughters had been “brainwashed” and were living with R. Kelly. They said they hadn’t been in contact with their children for years.

Support Local JournalismDayton Daily News' journalists report what's really going on in your community.

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>> Read more trending news

“There’s three drugs out there: crack, heroin and R. Kelly,” Kramer said.

During a trip to Los Angeles to film “Surviving R. Kelly,” Kramer found her daughter, Dominique Gardner, at a hotel. Although the hotel manager was initially cooperative by walking Kramer to her daughter’s hotel room, where the two reunited after being apart for a year, he later told Kramer she had to vacate the premises immediately. He said someone allegedly called the police on her for trespassing. However, Kramer secretly returned, and moments later, Gardner tearfully and willingly left the building with her mother with just a backpack.https://2ebf1ce1ce9a6a2c0628193802369d35.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.html?n=0

“That was the hardest decision I ever had to make,” Gardner told her mother through tears.

>> On AJC.com: ‘I’m just disgusted’: Twitter weighs in on night 1 of Lifetime’s R. Kelly docuseries

As viewers watched the special, produced by Dream Hampton, they took to Twitter to post their thoughts. Several called R. Kelly a “predator” and a “monster.”

Many were concerned about the women who are allegedly still living with R. Kelly against their will. Both the Clarys, whose daughter is Azriel Clary, and the Savages, whose daughter is Joycelyn Savage, said they haven’t seen their children in three years despite their efforts.

>> On AJC.com: R. Kelly reportedly threatens to sue Lifetime over documentary ahead of premiere

Others commended the filmmakers for including a host of journalists, who spoke about R. Kelly’s legacy, as well as clinical psychologists, who explained the damaging effects of mental and physical abuse.

Folks also urged radio stations to no longer play the artist's music as a part of the #MuteRKelly social media campaign, which seeks to stop his songs from being played and cancel his concerts.

And a few said they would still listen to R. Kelly’s music, because they believe he is innocent and talented.

>> On AJC.com: Lifetime digs into R. Kelly allegations in six-part documentary ‘Surviving R. Kelly’

Despite the accusations, R. Kelly is not facing any criminal charges and is not known to be under investigation. He has also denied all claims of sexual abuse.

About the Author

Najja Parker, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The fact that it took a documentary to expose this monster for being the child molester he is and was is giving jfc because he would have been locked sooner if he was poor, without enablers, and his victims were white Sent from my iPhone

[amermaidslibrary]

As the hottest bodyguard on Security Force Omega, Oscar Oliveira has no trouble finding a warm body at any odd hour. But he's ready for more. And for the first time in this ex-pro boxer's life, he just got rejected. For a kiss. Oscar's friends warned him not to fall for the straight guy, but flirty, sexy-as-hell Jack Highland made that difficult. Now Jack has Oscar's sweatshirt. His belt. His bandana. And Oscar seriously wants them back. As for Jack – well, Jack wants a lot of things. But for the first time in this confident filmmaker's life, he's absolutely 100%... confused. Add another ultra-complication in a sea of complicated: Enter Charlie Cobalt. The enigmatic famous one that Oscar is sworn to protect wants his own show, and he's asked Jack to film it. A Charlie-centric docuseries will force Oscar & Jack to share the same air again. Option 1: Ignore each other. Option 2: Flirt, aw yeah. And act like the rejection never happened. Option 3: Confront each other about the rejected kiss. With options on the table and their romantic lives unsettled, both Jack & Oscar are concerned about why Charlie wants his own show. And the longer filming lasts, the more tumultuous their personal & professional worlds become. Chaos reigns when you're around the Cobalts, and Jack & Oscar are swept up among the most destructive one.

[jerickreforba25]

[EDITORIAL] Carl and Laura Lentz: A Journey of Redemption and a New Chapter

Jerick Combate Reforba

Former Hillsong NYC pastor Carl Lentz and his wife Laura tease a “new chapter” to be revealed on June 4. Lentz was fired in 2020 for moral failures. After a period of healing, he joined Transformation Church in 2022. Their journey includes a docuseries, public reconciliation, and a fresh start.

Carl and Laura Lentz, once prominent figures in the evangelical community through their leadership at Hillsong NYC, are poised to embark on a new chapter of their lives, as teased in a video montage released on their social media accounts. The video, cryptically announcing “JUNE 4… new chapter,” comes nearly four years after Carl’s dismissal from Hillsong amid scandal and controversy.

The Rise and Fall

Carl Lentz rose to prominence as the charismatic pastor of Hillsong NYC, attracting a young and diverse congregation, including celebrities and influencers. His dynamic preaching style and approachable demeanor made him a standout figure in modern evangelical circles. However, this rise was marred by significant personal and professional failings that came to light in November 2020.

Lentz was terminated from his position at Hillsong NYC due to “leadership issues” and “moral failures,” which included multiple instances of infidelity. An internal investigation conducted by Zukerman Gore Brandeis & Crossman, LLP, revealed that Lentz’s actions went beyond personal indiscretions, as he was accused of manipulating staff and volunteers to the point of causing mental health issues. These revelations were a significant blow to the church and its followers, casting a shadow over the Lentz legacy.

A Path to Redemption

Following his dismissal, Carl Lentz largely withdrew from public ministry, entering a period of self-reflection and healing. In 2022, Lentz resurfaced as a “strategist” at Transformation Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, led by Pastor Michael Todd. This new role marked a shift from pastoral duties to providing strategic insight and support, indicating a move towards rehabilitation and re-entry into ministry work.

Transformation Church’s Executive Pastor, Tammy McQuarters, expressed confidence in Lentz’s recovery and potential for contributing positively to the church. “We believe in Carl, his marriage, his skill set, and his restoration,” McQuarters stated, underscoring the church’s commitment to supporting Lentz and his family through their journey of redemption.

Public Reconciliation and Personal Growth

In May 2023, Lentz publicly acknowledged the gravity of his past actions in a heartfelt letter, asserting that he was no longer in ministry but was focusing on using his experiences to offer perspective and insight. This candid admission was a significant step in his ongoing effort to rebuild his life and credibility.

While Carl remained relatively quiet on social media, his wife, Laura, provided glimpses into their lives away from the public eye. Celebrating milestones such as their daughter Charlie’s high school graduation, attended by Transformation Church staff, including Pastor Todd, Laura shared moments of their family’s healing and growth. Additionally, she posted about their 21st wedding anniversary celebration in New York City, highlighting their commitment to rebuilding their relationship.

The Secrets of Hillsong

In a move that surprised many, Carl and Laura Lentz participated in FX’s four-part docuseries, “The Secrets of Hillsong.” The series delved into the scandals that plagued Hillsong Church, providing a platform for the Lentz family to share their side of the story. Carl explained that their involvement in the documentary was part of their healing process and an effort to address their past mistakes openly and honestly.

“Part of the healing from that heartache led us to the decision to be part of a documentary that we do not control,” Lentz wrote in his letter. “We focus on my mistakes and the context for what transpired. It is so freeing. It’s the freedom I wish for all of the many people that I know that are called by God and wrestle with secrets and the feeling of not being worthy.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Carl Lentz (@carllentz)

Carl Lentz teases a “new chapter” in an Instagram reel captioned, “JUNE 4... new chapter.” The video hints at renewal and transformation for the former Hillsong NYC pastor.

Looking Forward

As the Lentz family prepares to unveil their “new chapter” on June 4, the anticipation builds around what this new phase will entail. The video montage accompanying their announcement features evocative imagery: scenes from the New York City subway, shadowy images of Carl, ominous clouds, a burning tree, and a car in motion. These symbolic visuals hint at a journey marked by transformation, renewal, and perhaps, a message of hope and redemption.

This forthcoming chapter could signify a variety of possibilities: a return to ministry in a different capacity, new initiatives aimed at helping others through their experiences, or a completely new venture outside the traditional church setting. Whatever the future holds, Carl and Laura Lentz’s journey underscores the themes of fallibility, redemption, and the ongoing quest for personal and spiritual growth.

Conclusion

Carl and Laura Lentz’s story is a testament to the complexities of leadership, the consequences of personal failures, and the power of redemption. As they step into this new chapter, their journey serves as a reminder that while past mistakes can define a moment, they do not have to define a lifetime. Their experience highlights the importance of accountability, the potential for restoration, and the enduring hope that comes from faith and resilience.

As we await the full reveal of their new endeavors on June 4, it is clear that Carl and Laura Lentz are committed to moving forward, learning from their past, and contributing to their community in meaningful ways. Their journey is far from over, and this new chapter promises to be a significant part of their ongoing story.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

We come before You today, lifting up Carl and Laura Lentz in prayer. Lord, we thank You for Your grace and mercy, which have guided them through a challenging journey marked by personal failures and the struggle for redemption. We acknowledge their past, the leadership issues, and moral failings that led to Carl’s dismissal from Hillsong NYC, and we ask for Your continued forgiveness and healing.

Father, we praise You for the steps they have taken towards reconciliation and restoration. We are grateful for the role Carl has found at Transformation Church, and for the support and belief shown by Pastor Michael Todd and the church community. We ask that You continue to bless Carl in his new role, helping him to use his experiences to offer valuable perspective and insight.

We lift up Laura as well, thanking You for her strength and commitment to their family. May their marriage continue to grow stronger, rooted in Your love and grace. We celebrate their milestones, such as their daughter Charlie’s graduation and their recent wedding anniversary, as signs of Your healing work in their lives.

Lord, we also pray for the impact of the docuseries, “The Secrets of Hillsong,” in which Carl and Laura chose to participate. May their honesty and transparency in addressing their past mistakes bring healing to themselves and to others who are struggling with similar issues. Let their story be a testament to the power of Your redemption and the freedom that comes from living in truth.

As Carl and Laura prepare to unveil a “new chapter” on June 4, we ask for Your guidance and blessings upon their new endeavors. Whether it be a return to ministry, new initiatives to help others, or a different path entirely, may their actions reflect Your will and bring glory to Your name.

Father, we pray that Carl and Laura, and their entire family, continue to experience Your restoration. Use their triumphs and failures to create resources that benefit the body of Christ at large. May their story inspire many to seek You, even in their darkest times, and to find the freedom and worth that come from being called by You.

In Jesus’ name, we pray.

Amen.

Here is a Bible verse that reflects the theme of redemption and new beginnings, suitable for Carl and Laura Lentz’s journey:

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

– 2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV

© 2024 Jerick Combate Reforba. All rights reserved.

[the-empress-7]

All your recent anons are spot on. The only non-PJ coverage the Harkles get now is Pay for Play and there ain't much money to "play" with right now. The law of diminishing returns is catching up with them. You can only write the first tell-all once and give the first interview once and share the first baby pics once. So less coverage equals less money over and over swirling downw in the bowl.

It's appropriate that Netflix has a "docu-series" in the works because their lives have become reality tv plot lines from here on out. Harder and harder to concoct the next faux drama. Instead of hiring all the PR lackeys, they should be hiring writers. Or maybe Sunshine Sachs outsources that for them?

I agree. Which is why Netflix is going to dump everything they have into this docuseries, it's their one and only chance to recoup the advance they paid the Harkles. Sadly for them, they don't stand a chance of making any of it back, in fact they risk losing subscribers they can no longer afford to lose.

[biblenewsprophecy]

“This Is A Date With Disaster”: Net-Zero Is Pulling The Plug on America’s Electrical ‘Life Support System,’ New Documentary Says

COGwriter

A reader tipped me off to the following:

“This Is A Date With Disaster”: Net-Zero Is Pulling The Plug on America’s Electrical ‘Life Support System,’ New Documentary Says

February 13, 2024 Electricity is among the most essential sources of America’s unparalleled prosperity and productivity; it is also the greatest vulnerability.

The United States has become so utterly dependent upon an uninterrupted supply of affordable electricity that, as our grid becomes ever more fragile American society has become fragile along with it.

Former CIA director James Woolsey testified before the U.S. Senate in 2015 that, if America’s electric grid were to go down for an extended period, such as one year, “there are essentially two estimates on how many people would die from hunger, from starvation, from lack of water, and from social disruption.

“One estimate is that within a year or so, two-thirds of the United States population would die,” Mr. Woolsey said. “The other estimate is that within a year or so, 90 percent of the U.S. population would die.”

Chris Keefer, president of Canadians for Nuclear Energy, concurred.

“The energy grid is a civilizational life support system, and without it, modern society collapses very quickly,” he said.

Mr. Keefer is one of the experts featured in energy analyst, author, and documentarian Robert Bryce’s new film, “Juice: Power, Politics and the Grid.” This five-part docuseries looks at how and why America is now “fragilizing” and destabilizing the engineering marvel that is the central pillar of our society.

“We are seeing the grid’s reliability, resilience, and affordability all declining,” Mr. Bryce told The Epoch Times. “We wanted to get people and policy makers to understand that our most important energy network is being fragilized, and we ignore this danger at our peril,” Mr. Bryce said. https://www.zerohedge.com/energy/date-disaster-net-zero-pulling-plug-americas-electrical-life-support-system-new-documentary

There are two main ways some believe that a major type of electrical disruption could happen.

One is sunspot-related activities.

The other is with a devastating EMP (electromagentic pulse) bomb:

February 3, 2023

EMP experts have warned that China, North Korea, Russia, and Iran have programs to hit the U.S. grid with electromagnetic pulse weapons that would cut the cord for a year or longer. A congressional report has warned that a blackout that long could result in millions of deaths. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/washington-secrets/1376891/dry-run-balloons-called-top-delivery-platform-for-nuclear-emp-attack/

With the current situation with the USA taking strikes against Iranian allies/proxies, Iran may decide to try to use some type of EMP weapon.

Furthermore, notice the following from a couple of years ago:

Iran Could Soon Strike US With EMP Weapon

June 2, 2021

Does Iran already have nuclear weapons and the capability to make an electromagnetic pulse attack that would destroy electric grids and critical infrastructures sustaining the lives of 330 million Americans?

Not everyone agrees with Washington’s intelligence community “consensus” that Iran does not yet have nuclear missiles. https://www.newsmax.com/platinum/iran-us-emp-nuclear/2021/06/02/id/1023561/

U.S. military warns electromagnetic pulse weapons in Iran, Russia and North Korea could melt down nuclear power plants, shut down the electricity grid for 18 months and WIPE OUT millions of Americans

An Air Force report reveals the U.S. is utterly unprepared for an electromagnetic pulse weapon attack Iran, North Korea, Russia, and U.S. all have developed EMP weapons that fire invisible microwaves and electromagnetic pulses that shut down electricityThe report warns that an attack could shut down the electricity grid for 18 months, would melt down nuclear plants, and displace 4.1million peopleIt would also kill 90 per cent of the East Coast within a yearNo electricity would affect transportation, food distribution, and healthcare  12/01/18 https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6449619/Air-Force-warns-electromagnetic-pulse-weapons-Iran-Russia-North-Korea-destroy-America.html?fbclid=IwAR20sUtYtx7dPe09X-rbxJtAbEqC35-peYUBLi74Y6E_PmcU1f17vYl-7Fg

The USA is vulnerable to electromagnetic issues, either from natural causes or man-made ones.

A power grid failure, including one caused by an EMP (ElectroMagnetic Pulse) weapon, could be a factor in the troubles that hit prior to the start of the Great Tribulation.

A while back, the Continuing Church of Godput out the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:

17:43

Electrical End of the USA ?

Could problems with the electrical power grid caused by one or more electro-magnetic pulse bombs, solar flares, and/or other phenomena help weaken the USA to the point of allowing it to be taken over? Does such potential exist? If so, is this consistent with any biblical prophecies? What are some of the severe consequences that the USA would face in the event of an electrical power grid failure? Is there evidence in scripture that the USA will be taken over in the 21st century?

Here is a link to our video: Electrical End of the USA?

The USA faces a massive threat from many things that could knock-out its electrical power grid. The USA itself has been developing its own cyber-warfare and EMP technologies, which, of course, also encourages other nations to do so. Plus, the USA is likely to share that technology with Europe.

Jesus taught of a time of “troubles” that would come in Mark 13:

7 But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet. 8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows. (Mark 13:7-8)

While most in the USA act like it will go on indefinitely and cannot truly be brought down, the reality is that electrical, weather, pestilence, and other events can devastate the USA.

Consider that in the end times, the Bible tells of a King of the North (Daniel 11:29-45), King of the South (Daniel 11:40-43), and the Kings of the East (Revelation 16:12-16), but no King of the West?

Instead it tells of a time when the power with the strongest fortresses gets taken over by the King of the North (the “he” in the following scriptures):

39 Thus he shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, which he shall acknowledge, and advance its glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for gain. (Daniel 11:39)

25 “Through his cunning He shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule; And he shall exalt himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. (Daniel 8:25)

This will cause the world to marvel (Revelation 13:3-4).

It is likely that the USA will have to be in a weakened state to be taken over. And while deceit will be a factor (Daniel 8:25; Lamentations 1:1-2), the fact is that the USA will be hit with troubles and sorrows, beforehand (Matthew 24:4-8) that will weaken it.

Notice the following from our free online book, Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America?:

The Bible warns that God will “hurl disasters” against some descended from Israel (Deuteronomy 32:23, NJB) who “provoke” God (Deuteronomy 32:21-22, NKJV). Disasters, especially if there is an ElectroMagnetic Pulse (EMP) attack, a severe solar flare storm, devastating hurricane (s) something like a massive volcanic eruption and/or massive earthquake could be part of a so-called “perfect storm” of events that could set up the U.S.A. for destruction. …

It looks like Germany’s FAIR, along with the LHC and other technology like the stellarator, will help the Europeans produce military weaponry to fulfill certain end-time prophecies. Since Revelation 13:4 is discussing what seems to be a unique type of warfare, this warfare likely includes certain high-tech weapons (such as electromagnetic pulse, neutron bombs, unique delivery systems, etc.) that will be effective for a while.

The USA is highly dependent upon electricity and its power grid is at risk. As far as Europe attacking the USA, the Bible points to the “friends” of the USA becoming enemies (cf. Lamentations 1:1-2).

That said, according to various reports, an EMP attack could happen tomorrow–though I do NOT expect one from Europe for at least 3 1/2 years. But Iran or others could do something soon.

Are you ready spiritually to deal with what can happen in the USA? Even if you do not live in the USA, consider how its devastation could affect you and the country you are currently living in.

Related Items:

Electrical End of the USA? Could problems with the electrical power grid caused by one or more electo-magnetic pulse bombs, solar flares, and/or other phenomena help weaken the USA to the point of allowing it to be taken over? Does such potential exist? If so, is this consistent with any biblical prophecies? What are some of the severe consequences that the USA would face in the event of a electrical power grid failure? Is there evidence in scripture that the USA will be taken over in the 21st century? Dr. Thiel addresses these issues and more in this video.

Might the U.S.A. Be Gone in 2028? Could the USA be gone by the end of 2028 or earlier? There is a tradition attributed to the Hebrew prophet Elijah that humanity had 6,000 years to live before being replaced by God’s Kingdom. There are scriptures, writings in the Talmud, early Christian teachings that support this. Also, even certain Hindu writings support it. Here is a link to a related video: Is the USA prophesied to be destroyed by 2028? In Spanish: Seran los Estados Unidos Destruidos en el 2028?

Is God Calling You? This booklet discusses topics including calling, election, and selection. If God is calling you, how will you respond? Here is are links to related sermons: Christian Election: Is God Calling YOU? and Predestination and Your Selection; here is a message in Spanish: Me Está Llamando Dios Hoy? A short animation is also available: Is God Calling You?

Christian Repentance Do you know what repentance is? Is it really necessary for salvation? Two related sermons about this are also available: Real Repentance and Real Christian Repentance.

Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America? Where did those people come from? Can you totally rely on DNA? Do you really know what will happen to Europe and the English-speaking peoples? What about the peoples of Africa, Asia, South America, and the islands? This free online book provides scriptural, scientific, historical references, and commentary to address those matters. Here are links to related sermons: Lost tribes, the Bible, and DNA; Lost tribes, prophecies, and identifications; 11 Tribes, 144,000, and Multitudes; Israel, Jeremiah, Tea Tephi, and British Royalty; Gentile European Beast; Royal Succession, Samaria, and Prophecies; Asia, Islands, Latin America, Africa, and Armageddon;  When Will the End of the Age Come?;  Rise of the Prophesied King of the North; Christian Persecution from the Beast; WWIII and the Coming New World Order; and Woes, WWIV, and the Good News of the Kingdom of God.

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[findetdeutschland]

Cultural History

As you can see, Deutschland has an extraordinarily rich and exciting history that is really complicated to summarize. When I was going through all of this information, I found three specific events that really stood out to me as culturally impactful for not only its time but forever one. Like previously mentioned in my earlier blog post, Martin Luther made quite the impact when he nailed his 95 theses on the castle church door in Wittenberg. In those publishing’s, he opposed the Catholic church which led to the pope burning all of his writings in 1520. Only one year later was he excommunicated, and his actions ultimately led a revolution towards a religion that came to be known as Protestant. Over a hundred years after Luther’s posting, A war happened between the Catholics and the Protestants named the Thirty Years’ War starting in 1618. This Ended with the Peace of Westphalia, which deemed both religions equal which seems very apparent since a third of the population identify as either Catholic or Protestant. After WW2, Berlin was divided into four parts that were controlled by Americans, British, French, and the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union already had control of all of East Germany, however the Allies had control of the West. In 1948, the Soviet Union cut off all access on the western side of Berlin to the Allies. Over 30,000 people who lived in the westside of Berlin gathered in opposition to the Soviets. The Allies would fly supplies to West Berlin as much as they could, and it was an entire year before the USSR decided to lift the blockade which officially established West Germany formally known as the Federal Republic of Germany. East Germany was allowed some independence from the USSR and was established as German Democratic Republic. Even though the USSR granted East Germany their own independence, they still had quite the influence down to the political/economic system of Communism. Many people in the east fled across the border to West Germany, a Democratic system, because of this. This is when the Soviet leader of that time, Nikita Khruschev,  suggests they close off access between the two sides. This wall took almost thirty-years to fully complete, and it ended up being over 150-kilometers long. To the west, this wall signified Communist oppression and something to fear for the east considering 191 individuals were killed when attempting to cross the wall. In 1989, the wall could not stop East Germans any longer. So, in November, people were able to go past the wall and crowds began rushing the Berlin Wall. By June of 1990, the official dismantling of the Wall began with some parts still preserved as a historical monument. After the wall was dismantled, East and West Germany were finally reunited into one country formally known as the Federal Republic of Germany. These three events have had and will continue to have an impact on Germany’s culture, and they barely scratch the surface of all that has happened over time in this country. I have found this television docuseries reenacting with narration from historians of parts of Germany’s history. This series is called Die Deutschen or The Germans translated to English. This series was produced for a German media broadcasting service called ZDF. If you can understand Deutsch fluently, then I would suggest you should check it out! However, for all of my English speaking friends, I have found a playlist here on YouTube where someone has either translated the videos in English or subtitles can be automatically generated into whatever language you are more comfortable with.