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ask-an-aussie · 3 years

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Aussie Wildlife FAQ

So here's questions I'm frequently asked as both a wildlife rescuer and carer and keeper at a wildlife sanctuary. Heads up, this is a long post, I've made the questions stick out so you can easily skip through. I've tried to make it as easy to read as possible, and to find what you're after, whilst also providing lots of info.

Poison Vs Venom, what's the difference?

Well, mostly, poison just never stops killing. Like if you poison an insect, then a bird or small mammal eats that insect and they slowly get poisoned by all the poisoned insects they eat, then something eats them, like an owl, and that gets poisoned, then as it rots the poison goes into the environment, etc. Poison never dies. Venom has to be injected, so yes you can be envenomated by a dead animal, if you are stupid. Poison can be inhaled, eaten/drunk or even through touch. So if a cow is poisoned you have to dispose of the body safely, if a cow is bitten by a venomous snake, technically you can still have steak for dinner.

Are all Australian animals out to kill you?

Maybe.

They could want to kill us, I mean as a species we aren't that great. Their ability to kill us however is limited. So are all Aussie animals able to kill you? No. So we have lots of cute small mammals, like antechinus, dunnarts, pygmy possums and the like, that can bite and scratch but are very tiny bois. We even have lots of non-venomous snakes, pythons and blind snakes. Most lizards outside of Goannas can't cause too much damage. Echidna's are completely defensive, have no attack whatsoever. Lots of birds have no interest in you, unless you get near their nest. Freshwater Turtles, Little Penguins and Tawny Frogmouths all main defense is shitting really stinky shit at you. Even our venomous snakes, as long as you seek medical attention you should be fine. Considering we have the top 10 most venomous snakes in the world but average only 1 death a year that's pretty good.

But you still have lots of dangerous animals right?

Yes.

Maybe I should elaborate. Any animal is dangerous, including you, if given the right circumstances. I'm a lovely person but hurt my dog and you better run. Most animals don't want a bar of you. However, if you are a threat to them, or their babies, they will defend themselves. A lot of animals get tagged with the word 'aggressive' which I don't like, aggression is a human emotion that I've never seen in wild animals, or even pets and things. Mostly it's defensive behaviours that people read wrong. For example, the most venomous snake in the world is the Inland Taipan (found in Aust.), however the most dangerous snake in Australia is the Eastern Brown snake, less venomous but also less shy and lives in suburbia. Still, it only ever strikes at people when it feels cornered and needs to get you to back the hell off. And lets be real here, what else can they do? They can't yell and scream, they can't punch or kick. Legit their only option is to bite, and even then mostly it's a closed mouth strike to freak you out into stepping back, and most people bitten by snakes are given a 'dry bite' where no venom is injected, as they want to use it on their food not waste it on us. And 90% of snake bites that happen in Australia are people either trying to catch or kill a snake.

It's fairly simple. Don't threaten animals, don't give them a reason to be dangerous and you are fine. Crocodiles in the water? Don't swim there. Sharks around? Avoid swimming at twilight. Snake? Leave it alone. Nest with baby birds? walk away. You don't randomly show up in some strangers home and expect them not to react, so why do we expect different from animals?

What animals are on the most 'dangerous list' then? Which animals should I really avoid pissing off?

Start with the obvious. Crocodiles, venomous snakes, sharks, some jellyfish, venomous spiders, stone fish, blue ringed octopus, birds of prey (our Wedge Tailed Eagle WILL attack drones, hang-gliders and helicopters if they come into their territory) Then you've got the less obvious. Ants - like meat ants, they will swarm over you then all bite down at once. 1 bite isn't so bad, a whole colony biting you, deadly. Then there's other ants in the Myrmecia family (bull ants and the like) that are just HUGE, and have massive mandables for biting and also can sting you, and are one of the most toxic insects in the world.

Wombats - Can run at 40km/hr, skull so hard it's the only thing a Tassie Devil can't eat, able to bite your calf muscle clean off your leg, oh and they have killer booty. A hard cartilage plate in their lower back that they use to block their burrows, and if threatened can lay down and as the animal tries to get past jam their legs straight and crush the skull of a fox against the roof of their burrow, easily break a dingoes jaw or even destroy your hand.

Kangaroos - yes they box, hahaha wouldn't it be funny to box with a kangaroo. NO. Kangroos box for fun but also to defend themselves and their mob. The Alpha male is the big buff one that looks like he's on steroids. He looks like that for a reason, to defend and protect his mob. DO NOT MESS WITH ANY KANGAROOs, but really don't mess with Big Daddy (for being the alpha he gets all the ladies) Kangaroos are made for this. A punch from a Kangaroo can easily break you ribs. They can lean back on their tail and bring both legs up to kick you, easily tearing you open, which they can do with the claws on their toes, and so basically dissecting you from sternum down. Oh and if they gran you round the neck for a 'Cuddle' DUCK AND RUN. They will hold you in a kind of choke hold and then bring their legs up to kick you and basically snap you in half. Don't even mess with Wallabies man, they may be smaller but can still do damage.

Tassie Devils - are extremely shy and slower than you, like you can actually run away from them. BUT. They have the strongest bite strength compared to size of any animal. The have a PSI of 1200 and males weigh around 8 kg. For perspective, Hyenas have a PSI of 1100 and males weigh around 50kg

Brushtail Possums - They may be cuter than the American Opossums but trust me, they don't want you around. They are solitary so most people have heard them fighting of a night, screeching, shrieking, hissing, growling and making darth vadar noises. Heads up from someone who has had to rescue them from awkward places (fire-places, BBQs, closets) They are stronger than you and they will f*** you up. Even without them meaning to I've gotten injuries from my joey Brushies, they get so keen on their milk when you put it in that they climb your arm and their claws are sharper than cats. Also the sheer strength of them. I'm stronger than I look but if they are clinging on to a tree you are gonna need all your strength to get them off. The can also bite your finger clean off. And I've seen injuries from people who feed wild ones and for some reason have been late to put out the food or something and they've climbed their leg or even jumped on them - stitches were required in a few of those cases (human skin is not thick like tree bark)

What's with Magpies and swooping?

Simple, they have nests/babies and are protecting them. Australia Magpies are very smart and can recognise faces. If they think you are a threat they will try and scare you off. Just like if you're walking along with your toddler and there's a weirdo doing something strange you hold the kid tighter and closer to you and move through faster. But these guys can't just move their nests or their babies. The spot is chosen based on food availability and shelter from sun and rain, but also not being too cold. It's their spot. I've never been swooped by Magpies, other birds yes, but not Magpies. My local birds know me as the lady that cleans and fills the bird bath. Legit the Magpies sing a specific song when it needs filling to call me out to do it. So don't be a threat. If they are swooping in that area, try to avoid it or go through quickly. We used to have Plovers at my school, in the bush at the end of the oval. Never a problem. One day some kids go into the bush and stomp on their nest and eggs. After that they would swoop anyone who came close to there. So the school blocked off that end of the oval. Fair call. Wasn't the birds fault.

Why is everything named so basic?

Oh you mean the snake that's black with a red belly being balled a Red Belly Black Snake, and the tree with all the doodles on it being called a Scribbly Gum? 80% of plants and animals found in Australia are found NO WHERE ELSE. So the early Europeans had a lot of things to name and when they tried naming it themselves they would get it wrong. 2 good examples are: The Death Adder (only considered highly venomous, not deadly, and not an Adder). Also you're only likely to get bitten if you stand on it or try to pick it up. The Australian Magpie, they saw a black and white bird so it must be a magpie. Nope. Actually not in the corvidae family but in the butcherbird family - Artamidae. So their solution was to either take the Aboriginal word, for example, Quoll, Kookaburra, Koala, Quokka, Taipan. Or name it after what it looks like/sounds like/ is found Boobook Owl - makes a sound like booooo-book Squirrel Glider Eastern Water Dragon Grey Headed Flying Fox Flaky Bark Tea Tree Old man Banksia This can cause confusion though as not every brown coloured snake is a brown snake, and not all Eastern brown snakes are brown. Squirrel Gliders aren't related to squirrels. Flying foxes are bats not actual foxes that fly.

What do I do if I find injured wildlife?

Well, depends on the wildlife and where it is. If it's in a dangerous position, like the middle of a highway, don't try anything. First thing, call a wildlife rescue group, there are plenty around and they have trained people who know what to do. A quick google search should show you all you need to know, also the IFAW's Wildlife Rescue App will identify the closest group to you.

If it's a snake, adult wombat or kangaroo, or any other animal that can cause you serious injury, leave it be. The wildlife rescuers you call can give you basic info on how to help but mostly calling them is the main thing.

If it's something smaller, like a young animal or glider or baby bird and you are able to put it into a cardboard box that will be perfect. The 3 main things injured/ill wildlife need are warmth, dark and quiet. You don't need to worry about food or water. The rescuers will organise that. If you give food or water to an animal in shock you can cause more damage.

THE BEST THING IS TO DO NOTHING. I know this sounds stupid. But so many problems can occur from people who don't know what they are doing helping out. You know what they say about good intentions. For example, picking up a Koala like you would pick up a human child (under the armpits, around the chest) you could actually break their ribs. Also so many Koalas end up needing vet care during heat waves because people pour water into their mouths - they can get pneumonia as the water goes in too fast, it is not a natural way for them to drink. You can also get yourself injured or make the animals injuries worse. I have seen Kangaroos with broken legs get up and try to hop away from people. I have seen severe scratches on other people because they tried to pick up an animal.

What diseases can wildlife give me?

Well. I only know about Australian wildlife, and it's very different to other parts of the world. If you get a bad bite or scratch from wildlife you should see your doctor ASAP, get the wound cleaned properly and make sure your tetanus is up to date (same as if a pet gives you a bad bite or scratch).

There aren't that many Zoonosis that are around in Australia that are easy to catch. Mostly you have to be dealing directly with sick wildlife to get them.

The main thing is Australian Bat Lyssavirus. ABL for short. Now our bats can carry it. About 1 in 1000 bats may have it and you HAVE to be bitten or scratched for it to be transmitted to you. If you are bitten or scratched by a bat your chance is 0.1% of getting ABL but it is related to Rabies, so head straight to hospital for treatment. If you don't touch a bat you won't get bitten or scratched and so your chance of getting it is 0. Hendra is the other virus our bats carry, however it has to go through a horse before it mutates enough for humans to get it.

Basically it's only when you get involved with wildlife that your risk of getting a disease from them is higher than VERY unlikely. If you happen to help some wildlife, and you maybe wrap them in a towel or jumper, even if they urinate on it. You can just chuck it in the wash (I usually add a little extra disinfectant) and it will be fine. Treat it the same as if a pet had used it or urinated on it.

What's some Good Wildlife Apps to have?

Well, there's so many out there now hey? Here's some that I've found handy or know people that use. WomSAT EchidnaCSI PlatypusSPOT are all for recording sightings of these animals (wombats/echidnas/platypus) this helps researches track where they are and how they are going which means we can help them more as well. OzAtlas - record a sighting of anything Australian, animal, plant, fungus, insect. FrogID - need to identify a frog? This is the app for you. Use photos or sound recordings, Field Guide to *insert state/territory* Fauna - Have a field guide on you wherever you are without having to carry a book. Seek by inaturalist - Helps you identify any animals, plants, insect, fungus. IFAW Wildlife Rescue - wildlife rescue app (currently for NSW only but soon expanding) will give you advice on what to do and put you into contact with the local wildlife rescue groups.

Besides Cats and Foxes, what other invasive species have you got that cause problems?

First up, any invasive species causes a problem. In Tasmania they have issues with Sugar Gliders, because they are not naturally found there and use up tree hollows that other animals need. Invasive species cause competition for food, water and shelter. They can also bring in diseases that didn't exist in Australia before and that our natives have no defence against (like cats and Toxoplasmosis) Here's a quick list of invasive animal species in Australia. Cats, dogs, foxes, pigs, water buffalo, ferrets rabbits, horses/brumbies, goats, camels, Cane Toad, European Honey Bee, Common Myna bird, deer, donkey, common starling, common pigeon, black rat, brown rat.

There's more, there's reptiles, and weeds and fish but those guys ^ are the main ones that cause problems.

I am an animal lover but unless we get rid of these animals you loose more in the long run. I'm 100% against use of poisons, I prefer having people hunt them to be honest. If you know what you are doing and have the right equipment you can give them a quick, painless death. To give you an idea how bad invasives are:

The introduction of the rabbit is the main cause the Lesser Bilby became extinct.

The introduction of cats and toxoplasmosis is believed to be the main reason Eastern Quolls became extinct on mainland Australia

Rats led directly to the extinction of 5 of Lord Howe Island's bird species

30% of our land snakes and Goannas are at risk as Cane Toads are rapidly spreading and eat their eggs.

The Common Myna Bird is the 2nd greatest threat to Australian native birds (habitat loss being the 1st)

The fox population has been estimated at 72 million and consume around 190 million birds a year

There's an estimated 23 million wild pigs/boars and an estimated 2.6 million goats - all eating whatever they come across.

How can I help Australian Wildlife?

There's the stuff we already know, like reduce/reuse/recycle and don't litter. But there's other things you may not know about.

Turn off lights at night - any lights that you don't need, don't have them on, especially if they are outside. Lots of animals require insects in their diets, particularly moths, which can be distracted by lights. Zoos Victoria have launched educational stuff for this https://youtu.be/ZAcL4FKPtHw

Learn about them - It's not hard, there's multiple ways you can do it. There's books, tv shows, pod casts, you can follow sanctuaries and other people who work with wildlife on social media. Planting flora that's native to your area is great as different plants can attract different animals and it's much lower maintenance, being made for that environment. You can even find cool life-hacks like Lemon Scented Tea-Tree doesn't just smell amazing and feed lots of wildlife, it keeps the mozzies away! There's different kinds of nesting boxes out there specific to different species that you can put up to help 'foster' that species. You can even become friends with your local Magpies! Mine know me as the lady who cleans and fills the bird bath and all I had to do was whistle to them when I was done and now they are really chill around me and I get to watch their antics. Debunk Myths! - In learning about wildlife you can debunk lots of myths like: a mother bird won't take it's chick back if you've touched it (fake news!) or that snakes dislocate their jaw to swallow their prey (that would be soooo painful!)

Put out water - have a bird bath and keep it clean and full. Or if you don't have one or want to get one just put water out on hot days. Summer's getting hotter and hotter and our animals really suffer. So put out a nice pot or container of water. Don't forget to put a rock or a stick in it if it's a slippery surface (like plastic or metal) so that little animals and bugs don't fall in and drown, and keep it out of the sun if it's likely to heat up.

Check roadkill - it's not pleasant but needs to be done. Don't do it if it's a motorway or somewhere dangerous, but if you can PLEASE do. Roadkill sometimes looks dead but isn't and you don't want them laying there suffering. They may have pouch young if they are a marsupial or young nearby that will need care without their parent. And where possible get it off the road. Species like Tasmanian Devils, Goannas and Wedge Tailed Eagles feed on roadkill and can then end up as roadkill themselves. Even if you have to drag it, it's dead and not gonna feel any more pain. 100% of people I have attended a rescue for who have called because they stopped and found a joey or young in a pouch or hiding nearby have not regretted their decision at all. Even if they were late for work, they saved a life and it was worth it.

Avoid using poisons - insecticides, pesticides, snail bait and straight up rat poison. Like mentioned in POISON VS VENOM, it just keeps killing. There are so many other options out there and they aren't hard to find. There's stuff on the internet but also at Bunnings I've found more environmentally sound options that use Tea Tree oils and Eucalyptus instead and work just as well.

Don't feed them! - Most Aussie animals are gluten and lactose intolerant. BREAD IS REALLY BAD! and if not eaten it gets mouldy and causes disease. Putting out bird seed is the number 1 problem when we talk 'feeding wildlife'. WHY?

The 'wild birdseed' that you buy in shops isn't actually for wild birds. JUST LOOK AT IT, you don't see those seeds growing out in the wild. The main seed wild birds eat are Bottle-brush, She-oaks, Banksias, Wattle and Eucalypts. None of those are found in these bags of seed.

Even for seed eaters that seed you buy is too fatty and unbalanced

For those that don't usually eat seed, like Lorikeets, eating the seed destroys the specialised bristles on their tongues that they need to eat their natural food - nectar and pollen.

If you don't keep it clean you will spread diseases, especially psittacosis (beak and feather) for which there is no cure just a slow, drawn out death. You can also catch it and end up in hospital.

You cause an imbalance. Animals breed based on food availability, if you make food available they will breed but there might not be enough space or trees available and you create more competition and also they end up relying on you and if you go on holiday or anything they can die without that food.

You can cause health issues in other animals. Possums love bird seed but it makes them fat, making it harder for them to escape predators.

You will be feeding non-natives. For example, the Common Myna bird cannot survive on wild plants, but if there is a food source around they can. Got rid of Common Mynas in my neighbourhood by convincing my neighbours to stop putting out bird seed.

RATS LOVE BIRD SEED. Specially feral rats. Mice also love bird seed.

You make a predator hot-spot. It won't take long for predators to realised animals they prey on visit your feeding station and they will come. The most common predator I find around bird seed? Snakes. Snakes love rats and mice, rats and mice love bird seed. You do the maths.

If you want to feed them just do some research and plant trees that are food for them.

How many species are endangered?

Sadly, it's almost quicker to list what's NOT endangered in Australia.

That's hard to say as there is different ways they can be endangered. In one area they may be common, but in another they could be disappearing. You can have Endangered lists at different levels; local, state, national and international.

But the most used list is the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species has evolved to become the world’s most comprehensive information source on the global extinction risk status of animal, fungus and plant species. AKA the IUNC Red List

Here's a bit of a breakdown: EXTINCT 26 mammals 7 birds 4 amphibians CRITICALLY ENDANGERED 7 mammals 8 birds 15 amphibians 13 reptiles ENDANGERED 18 mammals 29 birds 18 amphibians 21 Reptiles VULNERABLE 51 mammals 40 birds 23 amphibians 35 reptiles NEAR THREATENED 43 mammals 37 birds 9 amphibians 21 reptiles

Then there's the "data deficient" category where they really just don't have the info. 10 mammals 11 amphibians 42 reptiles

I will continue to update this post as I think of other things. Feel free to send me any questions you have

#Wildlife #Australian animals #Aussie #FAQ #endangered animals #what people should know #long post #venom vs poison

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indecentpause · 6 years

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Find the Word Tag!

I was tagged by @raevenlywrites for the words grave, subtle, dig, and a four letter word of my choice (we’re going to use tree), and @focusdumbass tagged me for the words calm, hot, street, and grass.

I’m going to use The Fairy Portal again, and if you want you can buy it here for Kindle and the free Kindle app for $1.99!!!!

Tagging @forlornraven @reeseweston @danafaithwriting @mercurialscoundrel to find drink, red, round, day, and animal.

grave: no grave, but a lot of gravel

The wind picked up around them and Blake shuddered. There were words under the air currents, sing song and eerie in a voice like silk over gravel. Deceptively smooth, with sharp edges just underneath.

subtle: no??? somehow???

dig: no, again, how???

tree:

“Stop!” Blake cried, but Emily sank her knife into the soft side of the tree. Dark brown bark flaked off, showing white flesh underneath. She carved her initials, then his: EM + BM. Blake groaned. Emily was smiling proudly, like she’d just done something fantastic rather than something fantastically stupid.

calm:

It took three cups of tea and twenty minutes of trying to calm trembling hands, but eventually, between the three of them, Blake, Clementine, and Dix helped Emily calm down, and once she was finally no longer so overwhelmed, she was able to hold whispered conversations with them, so long as she was only speaking to one person -- or Fair -- at a time. Tassie stayed close to Blake, swinging on his glasses, snuggling in his hair, crawling on his shoulders. She’d called him ‘her human’. She seemed lo like him well enough. Maybe she would be the key to getting this mess straightened out.

hot:

He stepped forward and took her hand. She pressed it flat to the scratchy bark and he stretched his fingers out. They spasmed slightly. He’d expected warmth in the hot summer air, but it was cold, cold like darkness, cold like winter.

street:

Then, from across the street, past the metal traffic guard and down from the lake waters, music. Singing? It was a low, soft, lilting hum. Blake’s eyes left the trees and tried to hone in on the sound.

grass:

The mild pains in his stomach were the only reason he knew he was hungry. He had no appetite, no taste for much of anything. He just wanted to lie here in the grass, but Emily kept jabbing him with her toes.

#excerpt #writeblr #kindle #wip boost #my writing #find the word tag #tag games #the fairy portal #blake murphy #emily murphy #tassie

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terryboot · 6 years

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Aubrieta, Baneberries, Beebalm, Common Boneset, Gardenia, Lavender, Primrose, Tulip?

Aubrieta: Favorite drink?

hot: black tea (2 sugar, no milk), cold: idk coke maybe??

Baneberries: Favorite song?

atm i’m on a bit of a Queen kick - really digging Killer Queen, Another One Bites the Dust, Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy and Crazy Little Thing Called Love (sidenote: got some made aro feels bout CLTCL sooooo)

Beebalm: Do you have a best friend? Who is it?

bestfriend? i don’t know her

Common Boneset: What are you looking forward to?

summer holidays my dude (2 weeks and 2 days left omg)

Gardenia: Are you happy with where you’re at in your life?

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ this yeah has been wack and kinda just all over the place so who fuckin knows

Lavender: What’s your favorite thing about yourself?

i’m too stubborn to be pressured into anything lmao

Primrose: Describe your ideal life.

umm i win the lotto and can buy a house in melb or tassie or something and i own a cat or 2 and idk

Tulip: What would be the best present to get you?

another fucking bookshelf maybe?? or movie voucher!

#about me #ask meme #gamesharp

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aestheticvoyage2018 · 6 years

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Day 264: Friday September 21, 2018 - “Wedding #1″

After a few hours of reset, a tie was back on and we were hustling out to a wedding of one of AC’s oldest friends from high school, Alyson and it was real nice to share a beautiful outdoor wedding day with the newlyweds who were just at our own nuptials. It was the second wedding this summer that we’d been to out at the Wild Horse Ranch - what an awesome venue. The Neild version was extra awesome with some great margaritas, steaks on the grill, good gang on table 9, and the classic country music soundtrack ringing throughout. The couple looked great too, but not as great as my hot date! Jenna and Jose were there too, and we enjoyed the sparkle line with them. Great time.

Its quite the stretch for me - only four hours from arriving across that long 24 hour trek from Tassie, and back on stage. I was fried. But the jam packed weekend was off and running - two weddings and a funeral welcomed me back to the states. By 11p we were back home and in bed....but only for 2.5 hours and then we were back up, packing, and hitting the road again for wedding #2 up in Aspen. We hatched this plan several months ago - we can do it, we can go to both. If anyone can do it, we can do it. And we did. And Im glad we did. To connect with a big part of AC’s past and young years and old friends, and create the possibility for some really great friends in our future.

Song: Luke Combs - I Got Away With You

Quote: ”I found the one my heart loves.” ~Song of Solomon 3:4

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doomedandstoned · 6 years

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MOUNTAINS OF MADNESS!

~Doomed & Stoned Debuts~

Art by Boyd Synnott

MOUNTAINS OF MADNESS are making lots of noise on the island state of Tasmania. This summer, the Hobart heavies Unleash The Beast with three freshly baked tracks, the first sounds to come from the band since the sudden loss of drummer Mick McCoy last year. 'Unleash The Beast' (2018) follows on the heels of the band's second EP, 'Kick It In The Guts' (2017), which was picked up Conan's label Black Bow Records.

Adrian Smith (vox, bass) and Baz Leek (guitar) welcome Brett “Bert” Pitfield (drums) to the fold, showing off a trio of new tracks recorded by the new line-up. I have to say, the band just keeps getting fiercer with every record. The first track and album namesake, "Unleash The Beast," kicks off with fits and starts and fuck-all fury ala Orange Goblin. Adrian's wicked, teeth-clenching vocals might remind you of Cathedral's Lee Dorrian or even Vince Neil of Mötley Crüe. While everything has that downtuned doom metal underbelly, Mountains of Madness are definitely showing their spiky metal bones here, as they morph from one stage of heavy evolution to the next.

I hate you. I'll make you smile. So says the Devil in "Satan Is Waitin." I'm fondest of this one, as it strikes quite a sinister tone. "Locked And Loaded" rounds out the lot with a bastard of creation that is half rambunctious rocker, half sludge metal savage. Don't miss the closing two-minute trek, where Baz breaks out into a gorgeously captured solo that reminded me of the humid summer vibes of Down's NOLA. The song concludes with a mighty, crashing crunch of chords, as the Beast finally sinks teeth into its bloody prey.

'Unleash The Beast' (2018) emerges the in early June and will be available in a fortnight here. In the meanwhile, you can stream it all right now exclusively on Doomed & Stoned!

Give ear...

Unleash The Beast by MOUNTAINS OF MADNESS

Baz Sounds Off!

The Mountains of Madness guitarist takes us into the band's beer-fueled days and fuzz-soaked nights Down Under.

Interview by Billy Goate | Concert Pics by Andrew Slaidins

Guitarist Baz Leek

First, let me congratulate you on last year's Black Bow Records issue of the EP, Kick It In The Guts. That record never lets up, does it? Just one hard hit after another.

Thanks. The EP was a lot of fun. It was produced by Psycroptic's Joe Haley, who was great to work with. We’re happy with the end result.

Big fan of Psycroptic, myself. How long have you known Joe Haley?

I used to go along and watch Psycroptic live years back, when they were young and first starting out. Joe used to visit a mutual friend’s place and we’d all link our Xboxes up. He would kick our asses. He’s a talented young lad.

With Joe's background being in technical metal, is he pretty exacting in the studio?

He is. If anything, we have to tell him to let our stuff be a little more fuzzy and raw. After working with us on both EPs, he understands what kind of sound we are after.

What’s something you take away from your sessions with him?

I think it would be just to be open and not shy in coming forward and stating what you want. He’s such an easygoing guy and more than happy to accommodate.

Wineglass Bay by Jess Maybury

You're all from Tasmania, which might as well be another planet for a good chunk of us reading. I hear it described as a place where nature is out to kill you. Not sure how true that is, but you do have some big ass spiders and the Tasmanian Devil.

(laughs) No, in actual fact, Tassie is a fairly quiet and mild place to live. Many of the bigger bands that tour Australia don’t include Tasmania on their tours, but that seems to be slowly changing a bit.

Cradle Mountain by Jai Moyle

Is there much of a heavy music scene, to speak of?

There is a pretty healthy metal scene down here. Most of the metal bands have their own styles and sounds, which is great. Bands like Psycroptic, Ruins, and Départe are worth checking out.

Mt. Wellington by Shane Mundy

How did Mountains of Madness get together?

Our former drummer Mick McCoy and I were jamming and writing. We were introduced to bassist and vocalist Adrian Smith, who was looking for bandmates to work on some stoner rock material he had written. We pretty much just merged our ideas and collaborated on the newer material.

The original Mountains of Madness line-up

You guys really had the wind knocked out of you recently with the death of a bandmate. How much do you feel comfortable sharing?

Late last year, we tragically lost our drummer, Mick. We’d played together previously and he was one of my best friends, so that was particularly hard for not only us, but also all of his friends and family.

I’m sure for many bands, a terrible happening like that would have been enough to sink the whole ship. How are you holding up?

I contemplated moving on to something different musically, but we decided we’d try doing a gig and see how it all went. A friend of ours, Brett “Bert” Pitfield, jumped in and is a really good fit for where we are at. We all look forward to moving forward with this lineup and have been working on some new material.

Former drummer Mick McCoy

Any fan of H.P. Lovecraft will get the reference in the band’s name, but do you have an overall interest in the Lovecraftian universe and explore it to any extent in your music?

Well, the name Mountains of Madness seemed a good fit. We were looking at having doomy elements to our music and living here in Hobart under a big, cold mountain seemed appropriate. We theme some designs and audio samples to Lovecraft, but that’s more for the band title. If anything, there is more of a Mad Max theme to Kick It In The Guts, but the Lovecraft universe is certainly an interest. However, I like the whole idea of the Cthulhu mythos and the associated cult. Such a great concept.

Singer & bassist Adrian Smith

You've got a new record coming out shortly.

Yes! Not long after Brett joined the band, we decided rather than go to ground and record an album, we'd punch out a few new songs. They were recorded at AAA Studios in Hobart and once again produced by Joe. We recorded it all pretty much live in studio, with a couple of extra guitar tracks added on. We were happy to leave some imperfections in there.

What's 'Unleash The Beast' all about?

Adrian writes all our lyrics. He pretty much gets an idea in his head and the rest just flows. We sometimes have a laugh at the lyrics not even making sense, but there aren’t too many weighty topics, lyrically. The concept for the new song "Satan Is Waitin," for instance, came about when Adrian saw a t-shirt design one of his nephews had done and decided he wanted to do a song about it. If anything, there’s more humour than something serious.

Drummer Brett Pitfield

What’s on your roadmap for the rest of the year?

We have a few cool shows in the works and, obviously, the new EP. We just wanted to keep the ball rolling, so went in with Joe and recorded them very no-fuss and raw.

Anything cool happening in Taz itself?

Something that might be of interest is the annual Dark Mofo Festival, which has attracted Boris, Sunn O))), Pallbearer, and Earth, to name a few. This year, Electric Wizard will be doing an Australia exclusive down here, which is quite unique. Dark Mofo is a weeklong festival where the city is taken over with art, concerts, and unique events. Hymns To The Dead is another feature, mainly attracting international black metal acts who, in years past, would never have come to Tasmania.

Follow The Band.

Get Their Music.

Milky Way by Benjamin Alldreidge

#D&S Debuts #Mountains of Madness #Tasmania #Australia #Stoner Rock #Doom #Sludge #Metal #Doom Metal #D&S Interviews #D&S Reviews #Doomed & Stoned

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luxken · 4 years

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unofficially tagged by @gunsatthaphan bc im in the mood to overshare so :D!!

1. What is the color of your hairbrush? pink im pretty sure

2. Name a food you never eat. uhh lamb? ig which is annoying bc its everywhere

3. Are you typically too warm or too cold? too warm D: the sadness I feel

4. What were you doing 45 minutes ago? damn idk WAIt I was writing a one shot for a tomarry ask meme prompt

5. What’s your favourite candy bar? either old gold, turkish delight or flake

6. Have you ever been to a professional sports game? yea I used to be mad abt cricket way back when I was pretending to be straight

7. What is the last thing you said out loud? muttering to myself abt how to copy+paste this thing effectively

8. What is your favourite ice cream? vanilla bc im a basic bitch :(

9. What was the last thing you had to drink? water bc im a bad bitch :)

10. Do you like your wallet? its cool, its worth more than what I have in there currently lmao

11. What is the last thing you ate? some bacon for dinner

12. Did you buy any new clothes last weekend? nope im broker than the american government

13. What’s the last sporting event you watched? probably afl

14. What is your favorite flavor of popcorn? uh,,butter?

15. Who is the last person you sent a text message to? a friend on snap

16. Ever been camping? DEATH not like real camping ig i mean i went on “camp” for school but it was shite and we slept in cabins so

17. Do you take vitamins? nah i dont have that level of commitment

18. Do you regularly attend a place of worship? pffft i am godless

19. Do you have a tan? on my arms and legs- the rest? snow white sis

20. Do you prefer chinese or pizza? pizza all the way

21. Do you drink your soda through a straw? im too skinny to drink soft drink

22. What color socks do you usually wear? usually black bc i need to wear them for school but i have these rlly cool puzzle socks i got from aldi love them

23. Do you ever drive above the speed limit? im also driver license-less

24. What terrifies you? being str*ight

25. Look to your left, what do you see? a blank wall bitch

26. What chore do you hate most? like all of them

27. What do you think of when you hear an Australian accent? fuckin idk man uh nothing

28. What’s your favourite soda? not even gonna answer

29. Do you go in a fast food place or just hit the drive thru? cant drive so i walk inside tho the drive thru is preferable if im w mum

30. What’s your favourite number? 6 its so. r o u n d

31. Who’s the last person you talked to? my sister telling me to shut up

32. Favorite meat? chicken its so good

33. Last song you listened to? im listening to my honest face by inhaler rn

34. Last book you read? like physical? um, hang on need to check goodreads. fully, the princes’s boy, partially hpatcoc (LMAO IT SAYS PHAT COCK). if u mean fanfic then legit couldnt tell u probs smth abt elu

35. Favorite day of the week? wednesday its grouse

36. Can you say the alphabet backwards? yuh

37. How do you like your coffee? like flat whites myself

38. Favorite pair of shoes? some ratty white converse

39. Time you normally get up? for school around 7-7:30, though regularly around 9

40. What do you prefer, sunrise or sunsets? sunsets bc I dont need to get up early

41. How many blankets on your bed? one not including my doona

42. Describe your kitchen plates. tf. um multicultural

43. Describe your kitchen at the moment. smells like fish

44. Do you have a favorite alcoholic drink? legally I cannot say, but illegally I can attest to vodka cruisers even tho they're full of sugar

45. Do you play cards? yuh uno is the SHIT

46. What color is your car? mum’s car- which’ll be mine when I get my l’s- is red

47. Can you change a tire? pfft no

48. Your favorite state or province? tassie bc they're funky and the air is rlly clean even tho they're incestuous as hell

49. Favorite job you’ve had? i havent had a real job yet :/ gonna apply for coles doe so wish me luck

#tags #skjdhjskjd not rlly tho I just like oversharing

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jobinterviewghost · 4 years

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Barry Jones shares an intimate poem about his life and career

For fans of poetry, complex beauties, and unbridled honesty, Tasmania’s own Barry Jones has shared a stirring poem for the masses.

Barry Jones sees the world with a lot more clarity than most, music just happens to be one of his outlets. Spinning rich nuances into gothic soundscapes of Australiana, each of his songs will leave you somewhere along the spectrum of enlightenment.

We have always thought of the Tassie local as a bush poet of sorts, however, his latest release just cements our predictions. Jones was kind enough to share a deeply intimate poem with us, one that looks over his life and career with the same complexity that he brings to all his music. Enjoy below:

A poem by Barry Jones

As I walk off into yet another unknown in my life, I await.

I await for all the ones (they call themselves friends and family most often) who say you are crazy because they have seemingly, miraculously, or both been able to pathologise me into, at best, a brave-hearted ‘Kerouacean figure’. We don’t need to do the worst… involves the psych ward I imagine.

I would say to people (The Org call them ‘clients’) that we all arrive at this point in our stories. Some would look off dreamily to a new future, I preferred those who deep in their eyes shudder. There is no escape. See anyone who thinks you can escape or even grow out of a condition or ‘issue’; well, I would say that is a very limited way of looking at shit.

20 years ago, I drove for three or four days from Mackay in QLD to Broken Hill in the west of NSW. In that place, I began a journey with the most rag-tailed band I have ever met. Movie stars, activist stars, quiet ones, loud ones, black, white, brown, and yellow ones all mixed together. Most people were glued to the TV watching the Olympic Games, I was out working getting us ready for this point now 20 years later.

This is the final part of that journey. To close the circle. Not close. Take it back home.

Check out Barry Jones’ latest EP, True Present, here.

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aestheticvoyage2019 · 5 years

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Day 100: Wednesday April 10, 2019 - “Roaring 40″

Had a really good productive day, most the day, but by the end it was time to lock up the china and get after, which left me pretty bonked up. After a good long long stretch without a drink, I finally cracked that special Tassy wine from Hobart and enjoyed the roaring 40 after a roaring day that left its mark.

Song: The National - About Today

Quote: “Life is so subtle sometimes that you barely notice yourself walking through the doors you once prayed would open.”

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childrenhavetherighttomusic · 7 years

Audio

(via https://open.spotify.com/track/4bsBkKEVHPsXpwQiBTQHUd)

#tassi's song of the day #aphrodite's child #6 6 6 #aegian sea

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swiftsuburbanlegends · 8 years

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18, 29, 75, 85, 97, 99, 100 and a plus one: Name 5 ships from your childhood :3

18: tell us about something dumb/funny you did that has since gone down in history between you and your friends and is always brought up.

So a few years ago a couple friends and I went to Dragon*Con in Atlanta, and one night while heading back from an event we saw John Barrowman on the escalator. One friend went completely blank, the other mistook his husband for a great Nathan Fillon cosplay, while I proceeded to almost take the other side back up and follow him. We dubbed that escalator the Barrowman for the rest of the weekend. And used it as a landmark when seperated.

29:what's something really cute that one of your friends does and is totally endearing?

One of my friends will just randomly send you a card whenever she’s thinking about you. And you always know it’s here because she has this perfect handwriting, and it’s just amazing thing.

75:tell us about your pets!

So I live in an apartment and cannot have pets. But my best friends parents have 3 cats. There’s Jenny, who loves me, and will glare at bestie when she doesn’t bring me over, Jasmine who is very fickle about being seen, but will love on you when she wants to, and Molly who is sweet, but a brat.

And they have 3 dogs. Toby who is a miniature Australian Sheppard, who is such a derpy dog. But he’s a sweetheart and so excited all the time, Tassie, who is also a mini aussie, but way bigger than her big brother Toby. She’s a terror and it’s hilarious until she tries to sit on your head. And then there’s Abby who until a week ago I thought hated me, turns out she’s indifferent to my existence. Now the yard guy, him she hates.

85:do you read comics? what are your faves?

I have read very few comics. I’m pretty new to them. But I love the Arrow 2.5 comics (because I’m obsessed). And I really enjoyed the Killing Joke, even though it was dark AF.

99:list some songs that resonate to your soul whenever you hear them.

Clean by Taylor Swift

Save Myself by Ed Sheeran

I Don’t Wanna Be by Gavin Degraw

100:if you were presented with two buttons, one that allows you to go 5 years into the past, the other 5 years into the future, which one would you press? why?

My first instinct is to refuse to do either. Because reliving the past or skipping the present, both seem kinda terrible. But I will go forward. Because I know what has happened for a reason, and I’d like to see what comes next.

Name 5 ships from your childhood

Cory/Topanga (Boy Meets World)

Carmen Sandiego/Waldo (where’s Waldo? Hiding with his girlfriend.)

Buffy/Angel (BtVS)

Shawn/Belle (from Days of Our Lives.... my mother let me watch too much as a kid)

Sabrina/Harvey (Sabrina the Teenage Witch)

#my tv viewing was varied at best #i was a weird kid #but thank you sooo much for this ask #it was fun #letdidier

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catherinenoelledesigns · 7 years

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Purple... “All you need is love...” I can hear my favourite versions of this song as I post this card 😊 🎶 💜. Beautiful weather - all day, here on Tassie’s West Coast... Enjoy your day xx #instagram #facebook #catherinenoelledesigns #rosefyredesigns #greetingcards #purple #graphicdesign (at Australia)

#rosefyredesigns #graphicdesign #catherinenoelledesigns #facebook #greetingcards #instagram #purple

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aestheticvoyage2018 · 6 years

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Day 263: Thursday September 20, 2018 (FRI in AUS) - “Departures”

The end of the week came quick and it was time to depart with hugs and well wishes from Hobart and head back stateside. Itd be no quick trip, despite what my watch might tell. Up at 4am, 5am taxi ride, 6am flight off from Tassie and towards Sydney. First flight was on Qantas, and I enjoyed the jet steps on the sunrising tarmac for one last look at the island. The sign behind me said Welcome to Hobart, and I saluted it and said “see you on down the road.”

Once on the ground in Sydney, I had to hussle to get my bags, catch a train to the international terminal, then rock through the crazy customs and security there. The customs agent told me its the busiest he’d seen it this year. Great!!! “So, what do you think the chances are I could get someone to find me a stamp for my passport?” I figured thered be no chance in this circus. But I flashed my dimples and charm at the right combo of agents who managed to dig an old stamp out of a drawer and give me one - “just for show.” This made the security line feel not so long, with my air of accomplishment in my pocket. I would have to go through the security check 3 times. Apparently the Tim Tams in my dress shoes was awfully curious. And they took my wallaby. Damn. Once through - I had about 20 minutes to hussle and get to my gate to board the jumbo. God it felt good to be ticketed and not have to stress about that part. Simple gifts. Tucked my butt into a window seat on the overwing - a bit tighter than before. Settled in for the 13.5 hour flight across to LAX.

The long flight across the pacific was pretty uneventful. I watched some good movies, slept for about 90 minutes. Had 3 good meals and a good amount of red wine which I had dribbled down my shirt. Pretty uncomfortable. I’ll need to look into getting some sleep pills or these, because sleep was impossible. I was pretty excited to come into the pacific coast finally, at sunrise. I left Hobart at 6am on Friday morning and I landed in LAX at 730am on Friday morning. Time traveller.

LAX was a mess - totally gassed, it was like starting over again. I zipped through customs, got my bags, rechecked them and went to a different terminal - second time on this trip Id done this hokey pokey. Sore sweaty butt. Red wine dribbled down my shirt....and now going through a long dumb friday morning security chaos line again, with not enough time and hustling for every second again. I made it to my gate just in time, with just about 2 minutes before I boarded. Teeny tiny plane not made for big and talls. But I tucked in for the short flight across to Tucson. I suppose I deboarded though I cant really remember that part. Enthusiasm totally zapped compared to the thrill of hugging Hobart goodbye literally 24 hours ago. Was back at home by 1p. Had four hours to rest and reset before setting out for a wedding. That was a feast of travel. No glamorous or exciting - just necessary.

Ultimately, I enjoyed this random shot across the globe to see and know some of Australia. I bet I’ll be back, but of course the first time will always stand out - when it was all new and different and exciting. My favorite parts were the sunrise at the Opera House, the meat pie, the trip up Mt Wellington, and the Tim Tams. I could have done with out the 2 super duper long flights to make it all happen - but maybe my attitude about that will change with some time. I look forward to a 15 hour flight being old hat while collecting more stamps.

Song: Eric Church - Holding My Own

Quote: “Here today, up and off to somewhere else tomorrow! Travel, change, interest, excitement! The whole world before you, and a horizon that's always changing!” ― Kenneth Grahame

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aion-rsa · 3 years

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Internet Reacts to Batman Oral Sex Ban

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

If this post contains spoilers, I don’t know what they are.

In a surprising addition to the superhero discourse this week, fans have been taking to Twitter and other social media platforms in an effort to offer their two cents when it comes (or not) to whether Batman and other heroes perform cunnilingus.

How did this happen? Well, it all started with a fairly straightforward interview about how successful TV series like WandaVision, The Umbrella Academy, and Harley Quinn subvert the superhero genre – one that happened to produce an irresistible nugget of DC info that the internet is still very much feasting on at the time of writing.

Obviously it’s an interviewer’s dream when the person you’re quizzing dishes up some behind the scenes secrets about the making of their art, but Harley Quinn co-creator Justin Halpern probably wasn’t expecting the widespread social media reaction to this new interview, where he discussed the exact nature of DC’s limits during the shaping of their irreverent – and very adult – animated series.

“It’s incredibly gratifying and free to be using characters that are considered villains because you just have so much more leeway,” Halpern told Variety of making Harley Quinn. “A perfect example of that is in this third season of Harley [when] we had a moment where Batman was going down on Catwoman. And DC was like, ‘You can’t do that. You absolutely cannot do that.’ They’re like, ‘Heroes don’t do that.’ So, we said, ‘Are you saying heroes are just selfish lovers?’ They were like, ‘No, it’s that we sell consumer toys for heroes. It’s hard to sell a toy if Batman is also going down on someone.’”

Yes, despite the often violent nature of DC superhero media, going down on a woman is apparently over the line.

“In fairness to DC, both Halpern and [co-creator Patrick] Schumacker went on to say that the company has been remarkably supportive of their series and has allowed them to push the envelope numerous times,” added Variety. “Still, it remains to be seen if Batman and Catwoman will be shown engaging in some bedroom antics in Season 3 or if it will simply be implied via cunning linguistics.”

Though Variety was quick to add that DC had otherwise done right by the show and allowed its creators a lot of freedom in the writers’ room, Twitter was already in its element, and DC, Batman, Harley Quinn and Catwoman were all swiftly trending.

Hey, there’s no such thing as bad publicity, right?

Batman Begins but none of his ladies finish

— Malik 🎤 (@Malik4Play) June 14, 2021

a tragic hero pic.twitter.com/Qxtevn3Hwq

— 🗯 (@samthielman) June 15, 2021

Honestly, it's just nice to know that I'm better than Batman at something

— Mike Drucker (@MikeDrucker) June 15, 2021

Explain this DC #Batman pic.twitter.com/Vuy0l3FvnA

— Hot Wall Summer (@therealbigWALL) June 15, 2021

Meanwhile Spider-Man is up for anything. pic.twitter.com/6VMYKMcBKR

— Benjamin Siemon (@BenjaminJS) June 14, 2021

i feel like if prince knew that batman didn't eat pussy he wouldn't have done the song

— Kath Barbadoro (@kathbarbadoro) June 15, 2021

Joker: “And where is the Batman?!” Catwoman: “I can tell you where he’s not.”

— Eric Goldman (@TheEricGoldman) June 15, 2021

Thomas and Martha Wayne in heaven watching us discuss Batman performing oral sex pic.twitter.com/BPo20DRBJp

— Advit² (@AdvitTheFourth) June 15, 2021

Batman: “All this talk of- pardon my vernacular, Robin- eating pussy feels like a diabolical scheme.” Robin: “Wait… cunniligus… cunning linguist… The Riddler!” Batman: “Excellent deduction, chum. We must stop him before his twisted tongue can take a victory lap on Gotham!” pic.twitter.com/eKyxJM4X1O

— David Bednar (@ykarps) June 15, 2021

Me Getting ready to explain the batman oral sex discourse to my partner. pic.twitter.com/bOx2e36JU3

— Canti 🏳️‍🌈 (He/Him) (@CantiUnplugged) June 15, 2021

Looks like Batman is moving down in the ranks. pic.twitter.com/cFLSt0RuU3

— Nicholas Raven Mueller is Demon Hunter Raven (@nicholasmuelle7) June 15, 2021

pic.twitter.com/xWQXqzJaqb

— DaViD (@FakeEyes22) June 15, 2021

If Batman doesn’t eat pussy then wtf are these handles for??? pic.twitter.com/yTeZZ2aHFo

— 𝕻𝖗𝖎𝖓𝖈𝖊 𝕻𝖍𝖎𝖑𝖎𝖕 (@papasombra) June 15, 2021

Batman: I don’t go down. Joker: pic.twitter.com/kiDsurxXEC

— Brent Terhune (@BrentTerhune) June 15, 2021

Me: God damnit, that's it, I'm done with twitter. Also me, on Does Batman Eat Pussy Day: pic.twitter.com/j9WVeBGYrg

— C. Robert Cargill (@Massawyrm) June 15, 2021

Yes I saw today’s batman discourse and yes I love it. But please respect my family’s privacy during this time.

— Chip Zdarsky (@zdarsky) June 15, 2021

Gotham ladies feeling blue because Batman won't eat, call Batwoman.

— Denimcatfish 🏳️‍🌈 (@denimcatfish) June 15, 2021

All I'm gonna say on the Batman thing is that I am glad it is drawing attention to the best thing in the DC Universe everyone should watch, Harley Quinn …which is allowed jokes like this, but not the other thing pic.twitter.com/7oPJp0w6Yp

— Paul Tassi (@PaulTassi) June 15, 2021

It is indeed a magnificent series. Please consider checking it out if you haven’t gotten around to it yet!

Harley Quinn features a terrific voice cast that includes Kaley Cuoco, Lake Bell, Alan Tudyk, Tony Hale, Ron Funches, Jason Alexander and J. B. Smoove. Season 3 will be heading to HBO Max soon.

cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "106e33c0-3911-473c-b599-b1426db57530", }).render("0270c398a82f44f49c23c16122516796"); });

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