#like a cartoon? and louis is like no watch. and the interviewer is still making the same face as the first time

[mood2you]

Lestat : Go outside and piss and shit and DIE and don't fall in love so much with the night that you lose your way back.

Louis [just drank Lestat's blood and got so hard he got nauseous] : I think I huave COVID

[kelmcdonald]

Getting Shit Done!

Hey hey folks!

November was mostly work focused and December will be too. This month in my discord we’re gonna watch an indie werewolf movie called Wolf of Snow Hollow. I was told it had a dry sense of humor but I haven’t seen it yet. If it interests you, pop into my discord on December 7th at 5pm PST.

Last month I finished Murky Water. It’s all done! I’m getting the whole thing proofread now. Then I’ll repost all the old pages with the typos fixed. There is still a paper shortage so I don’t know if I’m gonna print it right away. Like it would be nice to have a new book for conventions but Cautionary Fables South America will be out next year. So it might be better to hold off with it’s crowdfund until next year.

Another thing I finished is my Failure to Launch comic. Patreon backers have been seeing the pencils posted on Fridays, but I finished coloring and lettering it last weekend. It’s written by Ryan North and will appear in the anthology Failure to Launch: a Tour of Ill-Fated Futures. I’m the editor on the book and it’s gonna be a great book. It’s a light-hearted education collection of inventions and world plans that didn’t get to become reality. Some are because they were based on bad science (like my story is about a man who didn’t account for friction or physics in general) but others fell apart because of corporate greed or government interference. I especially like a story written by Harry “Hbomberguy” Brewis about the first attempt at making a union. That’s gonna crowdfund in February. I’ll make sure to let you all know when it’s up.

While doing all this work I watched a lot of TV. So much it’s a little hard to remember it all. The big stand out is probably Interview with the Vampire. While different from the books, the changes the show made really improved the source material. I especially think the show aging Claudia up a little was a good decision. Her being turned so young in the book and movie does some interesting stuff, it doesn’t quite fit with the series as a whole. Her being older lets her run off of a bit on her own and grow into someone away from Louis and Lestate in a way that she couldn’t in the source material. It makes her interesting and nuanced as a character for the show.

And the actress playing her knocks it out of the park. All the actors in the show do. I also like the reporter being older while interviewing Louis and pushing back on him in the interview more. The whole show is just really well put together. I highly recommend it. 

Since I wrapped up a lot last month, this month I’m jumping back into You are the Chosen One. So that will be back as my patreon exclusive comic next month. I’ll post pfds of the previous chapters before I start things up again. I’m sure some folks have forgotten what’s happened since the couple of month break. 

I’m also getting ready to jump into the next The City Between story. It’s titled Shards of Reflection. I’m gonna try to experiment a little with the storytelling because the main character is an unreliable narrator. It will be interesting to see how things go and I hope I can pull it off. 

And I’m really living up to the cartoon of me spinning plates on the Iron Circus Geekshow. Because this month I also need to try and finish up the graphic novel I’ve been writing, Blue Moon. That’s the werewolf YA book I’m doing with Meredith McClaren. The script is due at the end of December. Or at least the first draft is. But it’s kinda fallen to the side while working on everything else.

I’ll be doing my usual streaming this month on Twitch. With so much going on, sometimes it’s hard to focus. So those two hour streams Tues, Wed, and Thurs really help me get at least my drawing done. One streaming thing that Spike and I are planning is on Christmas day we are gonna stream rimworld. During it we’ll be raising money for charity (but haven’t picked one yet). But it will be on both the Iron Circus Youtube as well as my twitch. We are gonna start at Noon Central and 10am PST. So join us if you don’t have Christmas plans.  Also, since twitter is exploding I figured I should list all my social medias. You can follow me at these places.

https://twitter.com/kellhound

https://facebook.com/kelmcdonaldart

https://instagram.com/keldrawscomicsoninsta…

https://cohost.org/Kelmcdonald

https://pillowfort.social/kelmcdonald

https://mastodon.social/@kelmcdonald

https://kelmcdonald.tumblr.com

https://twitch.tv/kelmcdonald

Have a good one! Thanks for your support!

[archive-archives]

SIX BY SONDHEIM (2013) Run Time             86:00 Subtitles               English SDH Audio Specs        DTS HD-Master Audio 5.1 - English Aspect Ratio       1.78:1; 16 X 9 Widescreen Product Color    COLOR Disc Configuration           BD 25

From award-winning director and frequent Sondheim collaborator James Lapine, Six by Sondheim is an intimate and candid look at the life and art of legendary composer-lyricist Stephen Sondheim, who redefined musical theater through such works as Company, Sweeney Todd and Sunday in the Park with George. Told primarily in Sondheim’s own words from dozens of interviews spanning decades, the film is a highly personal profile of a great American artist as revealed through the creation and performance of six of his songs. It features rarely seen archival performance footage and original staged productions – created exclusively for this film – with stars including Audra McDonald, Darren Criss, America Ferrera and more.

HARLEY QUINN: THE COMPLETE FIRST AND SECOND SEASONS (2019,2020) Run Time             594:00 Subtitles               English SDH Audio Specs        DTS HD-Master Audio 5.1 - English Aspect Ratio       1.78:1, 16 X 9 Widescreen Disc Configuration           2 BD 50

Harley Quinn (Kaley Cuoco) has finally broken things off once and for all with the Joker (Alan Tudyk) and attempts to make it on her own as the criminal Queenpin of Gotham City in this half-hour adult animated action-comedy series. With the help of Poison Ivy (Lake Bell) and a ragtag crew of DC castoffs, Harley tries to earn a seat at the biggest table in villainy: the Legion of Doom. Don’t worry – she’s got this. Or does she? In Season 2, Harley has defeated the Joker, and Gotham City is hers for the taking…what’s left of it, that is. Her celebration in the newly created chaos is cut short when Penguin, Bane, Mr. Freeze, The Riddler and Two-Face join forces to restore order in the criminal underworld. Calling themselves the Injustice League, they’re intent on keeping Harley and her crew from taking control as the top villains in Gotham.

NEW 2021 1080p HD master! PUMP UP THE VOLUME (1990) Run Time             102:00 Subtitles               English SDH Audio Specs        DTS HD-Master Audio 5.1 - English Aspect Ratio       1.85:1, 16 X 9 Letterbox Product Color    COLOR Disc Configuration           BD 50 Includes Original Theatrical Trailer (HD)

By day, Mark Hunter (Christian Slater) is a painfully shy new kid in a small Arizona town. But by night, he’s Hard Harry, the cynical, uncensored DJ of a pirate radio station. Idolized by his high school classmates (who are unaware of his real identity), Harry becomes a hero with his fiercely funny monologues on sex, love, and rock and roll. But when he exposes the corrupt school principal, she calls in the FCC to shut Harry down. An outrageous rebel with a cause, Slater gives a brilliant performance as the reluctant hero who inspires his classmates to find their own voices of rebellion and individuality. A movie with a message, Pump Up the Volume is a raw and witty celebration of free speech that will make you laugh, make you cheer and make you think.

NEW 2020 1080p HD master! A TALE OF TWO CITIES (1935) Run Time             126:00 Subtitles               English SDH Audio Specs        DTS HD-Master Audio 2.0 - English, MONO - English Aspect Ratio       1.37:1 Disc Configuration           BD 50

Special Features: Audioscopiks (MGM short); 2 Classic Cartoons 'Hey, Hey Fever' and 'Honeyland'; Radio adaptation with Ronald Colman; Trailer

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” Charles Dickens’ tale of love and tumult during the French Revolution comes to the screen in a sumptuous film version by the producer famed for nurturing sprawling literary works: David O. Selznick (David Copperfield, Anna Karenina, Gone with the Wind). Ronald Colman (The Prisoner of Zenda) stars as Sydney Carton – sardonic, dissolute, a wastrel…and destined to redeem himself in an act of courageous sacrifice. “It's a far, far better thing I do than I have ever done,” Carton muses at that defining moment. This is far, far better filmmaking too: a Golden Era marvel of uncanny performances top to bottom, eye-filling crowd scenes (the storming of the Bastille, thronged courtrooms, an eerie festival of public execution) and lasting emotional power. Revolution is in the air!

NEW 2021 1080p HD master! BABY DOLL (1956) Run Time             114:00 Subtitles               English SDH Audio Specs        DTS HD-Master Audio 2.0 - English, MONO - English Aspect Ratio       1.85:1, 16 X 9 Letterbox Product Color    BLACK & WHITE Disc Configuration           BD 50

Special Features: "Baby Doll: See No Evil" vintage featurette; Original Theatrical Trailer (HD)

Times are tough for cotton miller Archie (Karl Malden), but at least he has his child bride (Carroll Baker), who’ll soon be his wife in title and truth. The one-year agreement keeping them under the same roof – yet never in the same bed – is about to end. But a game with a sly business rival (Eli Wallach) is about to begin. In Baby Doll, as in A Streetcar Named Desire, director Elia Kazan and writer Tennessee Williams broke new ground in depicting sexual situations – earning condemnation from the then-powerful Legion of Decency. They earned laurels too: four Academy Award® nominations, Golden Globe® Awards for Baker and Kazan, and a British Academy Award for Wallach. Watch this funny, steamy classic that, as Leonard Maltin’s Movie Guide proclaims, “still sizzles.”

NEW 2021 1080p HD master from nitrate preservation elements! SAN FRANCISCO (1936) Run Time             115:00 Subtitles               English SDH Audio Specs        DTS HD-Master Audio 2.0 - English, MONO - English Aspect Ratio       1.37:1 Product Color    BLACK & WHITE Disc Configuration           BD 50

Special Features: Alternate Ending Sequence; "Clark Gable: Tall, Dark and Handsome" featurette with Liam Neeson; two vintage FitzPatrick Traveltalks: 'Cavalcade of San Francisoco' & 'Night Descends on Treasure Island'; Classic Cartoon 'Bottles"; Theatrical re-issue trailer (HD)

Romantic drama combines with humor, starpower combines with lavish spectacle and the walls come tumbling down! This Academy Award-winning extravaganza’s street-splitting, brick-cascading, fire-raging recreation of the cataclysmic earthquake remains "one of the greatest action sequences in the history of the cinema, rivalling the chariot race in both Ben-Hurs" (Adrian Turner, Time Out Film Guide).

Clark Gable plays rakish Barbary Coast kingpin Blackie Norton. Jeanette MacDonald portrays a singer torn by her love for Blackie and her need to succeed among the operagoing elite. Earning the first of nine career Best Actor Oscar® nominations,* Spencer Tracy is a priest who supplements spiritual advice with a mean right hook. He urges Blackie to change. But if love and religion can't reform Blackie, Mother Nature will.

NEW 2021 1080p HD master from 4K Scan of original Technicolor negatives! SHOW BOAT (1951) Run Time             108:00 Subtitles               English SDH Audio Specs        DTS HD-Master Audio 2.0 STEREO - English, DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Original Mono Theatrical track- - English Aspect Ratio       1.37:1 Product Color    COLOR Disc Configuration           BD 50

Special Features: Commentary by Director George Sidney; Till the Clouds Roll By - Show Boat (1946) Sequence; "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man" and "Bill" Ava Gardner Audio-only Outtakes; Lux Radio Theater Broadcast (2/11/1952); Original Theatrical Trailer (HD)

From novel (by Edna Ferber) to Broadway smash (by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II) to three film versions (1929, 1936, 1951) to stage revivals. Like Ol’ Man River, Show Boat just keeps rollin’ along. Produced by Arthur Freed and directed by George Sidney, this 1951 version of the saga of riverboat lives and loves has glorious stars (Kathryn Grayson, Ava Gardner, Howard Keel, Marge and Gower Champion) in Technicolor® radiance, a made-from-scratch 170-foot paddle wheeler, timeless songs and an equally timeless outcry against racial bigotry. “This was music that would outlast Kern’s day and mine,” Ferber said in recalling her first reaction to hearing “Ol’ Man River.” She was right as rain.

NEW 2020 1080p HD master! MY DREAM IS YOURS (1949) Run Time             101:00 Subtitles               English SDH Audio Specs        MONO - English, DTS HD-Master Audio 2.0 - English Aspect Ratio       1.37:1 Disc Configuration           BD 50

Special Features: Vintage Joe McDoakes Comedy Short "So You Want to be An Actor"; The Grass is Always Greener short subject; Classic Cartoon 'A Ham in a Role' ; Original Theatrical Trailer (HD)

Talent agent Doug Blake (Jack Carson) is giving 100% to earn his 10%. He walks away from his arrogant singing star (Lee Bowman) and scrambles to discover another who will shine even brighter. He finds effervescent songstress Martha Gibson. Doris Day plays Martha. Think she has a chance? During the shooting of Day’s first film (Romance on the High Seas), director Michael Curtiz was sure the sparkling newcomer had much more than a chance and set the wheels in motion for My Dream Is Yours. Curtiz dots his film with authentic Hollywood locales (including the fabled Schwab’s Pharmacy). And Bugs Bunny himself hops into a dream sequence. Welcome to the Dream Factory. Make it yours.

NEW 2020 1080p HD master from 4K scan of Original Technicolor Negatives! ON MOONLIGHT BAY (1951) Run Time             95:00 Subtitles               English SDH Audio Specs        MONO - English, DTS HD-Master Audio 2.0 - English Aspect Ratio       1.37:1 Disc Configuration           BD 50

Special Features: 'Let's Sing a Song About the Moonlight' vintage short; Classic Cartoon 'A Hound for Trouble'; Original Theatrical Trailer (HD)

Not since Judy met the boy next door in St. Louis has there been a heaping of tuneful, romantic Midwestern American life like this! Doris Day and Gordon MacRae team for spoonin’, croonin’ and swoonin’ On Moonlight Bay, based on Booth Tarkington’s Penrod stories. “Try not to walk like a first baseman,” Mama (Rosemary DeCamp) tells tomboy Marjorie (Day) as she prepares to date college man Bill (MacRae). The advice takes. The lovebirds hear wedding bells ahead, just as soon as Bill gets his sheepskin. But World War I rages “over there.” And Papa (Leon Ames) rages at home after a flap with his prospective son-in-law. Will harmony return to this Hoosier home? Surely Day and MacRae will make musical harmony. And On Moonlight Bay will have you sailing along.

[starshinewriter]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: DuckTales (Cartoon 2017) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Donald Duck & Minnie Mouse, Louie Duck & Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck & Louie Duck Characters: Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Louie Duck Additional Tags: louie is around 3, minnie is the best aunt, (dont tell daisy), donald and louie love each other so much, bad grammar in some parts cause its in louies perspective Series: Part 6 of A Bigger, Different Family Dynamic Summary:

Minnie babysits while Donald looks for a job.

Notes:

First story of the new year!!! Yeah!! Hope you guys enjoy and have a great 2021!!!

Alternative to Ao3:

Donald needed a job, he couldn't ignore that anymore. The money he saved up over the years was almost gone and he didn't want to ask Scrooge for more, not unless he really had to. So he needed a job, but that meant leaving Louie alone and he had never done that before. Even when they went over to the mansion Donald made sure to be around him at all times. He wasn't sure how he'd react to being left with someone else for so long, and he was kind of scared to find out. But he needed a job so that meant he had no choice.

He spent the next few days looking around for opportunities and finally found one, which meant all he had to do now was find someone to watch Louie. It shouldn't be too hard, it wasn't like there was a shortage of people. So he started calling his friends, he would use his Uncle as the first option, but he was so busy with the twins and Donald didn't want to add onto that.

Minnie ended up being the only one who could do it on such short notice and he gave her about a thousand thank you's before she told him to stop and that she was happy to do it. This was one of the many times he was glad he had such great friends.

He started going through what Louie would need for the day and putting it into a bag before his eyes landed on his son. Louie smiled and waved at him and Donald smiled back as he sat down and pulled him into his lap. How to have this conversation? "How do you feel about going to see Aunt Minnie today?"

"Why?"

"I have to go somewhere for a few hours and someone needs to watch you."

Louie looked at him stubbornly, "I go."

Donald shook his head, "Sorry, Sweetheart, but you can't. But you like Minnie, right? She's nice and a lot of fun, I'm sure the time will fly by." Louie started tearing up so Donald quickly pulled him closer and began soothing him. "It's gonna be okay, Louie, it's not forever, just a few hours, and then we'll be back together again."

"Promise?"

He smiled at him, "Promise."

So Donald finished packing the bag, there was still the thing of if he got a job this would be happening more often, but one issue at a time. And maybe if today went well enough Louie would soon get used to being without him for a while. That was his hope anyway. He couldn't be overly dependant on him, all the parenting books said that was a big no-no, and who was he to not listen to them?

The drive to Minnie's was short but also not short enough, there was no way Louie was ready to say goodbye to him. He almost thought about canceling the interview, waiting a few months before doing this, but he would just have this problem then too, best to deal with it now. He just wished it wouldn't be this hard, he didn't want to leave Louie and this would be just as difficult for him as his son, but he knew it was for the best. They needed money to survive and an unfortunate part of that was being away from his kid for a few hours. They needed this, he just had to keep reminding himself of that.

Louie refused to let go of him after he got everything settled with Minnie and he wished he could say he was surprised. But he really did have to get going, any later and he'd be late for his interview. "I know this is gonna be hard, but I need you to be brave for me. Can you do that?" He felt him nod against his shoulder and smiled then placed a kiss on his head. "Be good for Aunt Minnie, I'll be back in just a few short hours. I love you." Louie looked at him and gave a small smile,

"I wuv yu too." He handed him to Minnie and then gave him one last look and a wave before heading out the door, knowing that if he didn't leave then then he never would.

Louie watched the thing his Dada disappeared into until the big mouse got his attention. He liked her, she was sweet and always gave him sweet things when his Dada wasn't looking, but she wasn't his Dada. He wanted his Dada. Why did he leave? Was Louie not good enough for him?

The big mouse smiled at him, "It's okay, Louie, your Dad'll be back soon and in the meantime we get to hang out." She said, bringing him into the room that smelled really nice.

"Wher he go?"

"He's going to a job interview." Louie looked at her confused, what was that? And why did it sound so, bad? "A job is something adults have to get money, so that they can take care of things and the people they care about. An interview is something they have to do to get a job." So he didn't leave cause Louie was bad, he just needed mony? Maybe there was a way Louie could get mony. If he had mony he wouldn't hafta hafe job- jobs sound hard and his Dada did so much for him, he want to do something for him too.

Then that settled it, "I need mony, to help Dada."

"Well, aren't you sweet?" Louie grinned at her. "Unfortunately you're a bit too young for money, but I'll tell you another way you can help him. You can help him just by being you, jobs can make people tired but being around the people they love can make them less tired. And remind them why they have them in the first place." All he had to do was be him? That sound easy, he can do that. Anything to help his Dada.

She gave him something to eat after that and he asked her more about jobs. He didn't really understand it, but the big mouse said it was cause he was too young. The only thing he really focused on was that his Dada would be away from him more often. He didn't want that, but the big duckie who took care of the place his cousins stay at say sometime you hafta do things you don't want to. He didn't know why but Hue and Dew trust her so so did he. He would miss his Dada but the big mouse say he got job for him so he would just hafta deal with it.

Dada's took care of people, that what they did, Louie had to let him do whatever it took to take care of him. Even if it sounded bad. His Dada know what he doing, his Dada always know what he doing. And apparently he was doing job now.

After he finished eating the big mouse took him back into the room with all the things he wasn't suppose to climb and pulled some of his toys out of the thing he Dada always carried. She handed him his box that he had to put stuff into and set him on the ground. She wasn't gonna leave him was she? He didn't want to be alone. He start tearing up and she quick sat next to him. "What's wrong, Louie?"

"No leave! Stay wit me!"

She dried his eyes, "Oh, Louie, of course I'm staying with you! It wouldn't be much of a hang out if I didn't, right?" He nodded and she give him a smile. "Don't worry, I'm not leaving you alone while you're here." He not be alone. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad, maybe it even be fun like his Dad say.

The two of them played with his toys for a while and he have fun, not as much as with his Dada or cousins but still fun. The playing tired him out but he wasn't ready to nap without his Dada, but the big mouse wasn't making him which make him like her even more. That was the day he decided she he's favorite big person after his Dada. And maybe after the big duckie that talk weird and took care of his cousins ...maybe not, he say weird things sometime that Louie don't understan. He didn't like not understaning something, but neither did Hue so maybe it was a cousin thing.

Suddenly a noise came from the big rectangle and he jumped. The big mouse smiled at him and picked him up so it hasta be a good thing, maybe it was his Dada! She open the big rectangle and his Dada appeared in front of it, it was him! He was back! Louie made grabby hands for him and wiggled in the big mouse's arms. "Dada!"

His Dada quick grabbed him and start putting kisses all over him which make him giggle. "Louie! Oh, I missed you so much!"

"Miss yu to! Bunch and bunch!" Donald smiled at that then looked at Minnie who was watching them with a smile of her own.

"Min, I really can't thank you enough for this. How was he? Did he do okay?" He seemed to be okay, and looked like he had tired himself out but he had a big grin on his face and that was all that really mattered to Donald.

"It was no trouble at all, Love, he was an absolute sweetheart. He had a little trouble at first but he was brave, just like you asked him to be." He looked at Louie who nodded and he placed another kiss on him. "Oh and the cutest thing happened! While I was explaining to him what you were doing he said he 'needed money, to help you out', isn't that just the sweetest?"

It really was. "Louie..."

Louie looked at him sheepishly, "You do so much for me, wannaed to do something for yu to."

"Just be you, Sweetheart, that's all I ever want." Two people had tell Louie that now, it had to be true. That sounded easy, a lot easy than job. He had the better life.

Donald and Minne talked for a few more minutes before Louie let out a yawn. The two of them chuckled, "I should get him home so he can nap. But really, thank you again." Minnie waved him off and he thought that was fair enough by now. He turned back to his son, "Tell Aunt Minne bye-bye." He cooed to him.

His son waved at her, "Bye-bye, Aunt Minnie!" The adults froze at that but Louie didn't seem to notice, content to snuggle into his Dad. That was the first time he had referred to one of them like that beside Donald. Minnie put her hands over her mouth and Donald grinned at her, she deserved it, Louie adored her. Even before he asked her to babysit.  

They hugged after that and Donald and Louie left, Louie falling asleep as soon as he got in his car seat. But not before his Dad could tell him how proud of him he was for today, and since Donald had gotten a second interview it looked like days like today were going to be happening more often. Well, everyone said the first day was the hardest- and they both got through it, they could get through anything with their family be their side.

[awanderingcanadian]

A Royal Crisis!

This is a photo I took when I attended this Royal Wedding. Well okay, I was not actually IN the church with Oprah, but I was obviously very close to the couple as they went by. Of course, now that I know it was a fake wedding, it will be the last royal wedding I attend!

I have an interesting relationship with the Monarchy: Diana was only a year older than me, and I watched what seemed like a fairy tale story unfold. My mother has always loved the Queen, (often reminiscing about Princess Elizabeth’s efforts during WW2), and I’ve always had a soft spot for William and Harry because of what happened with their mother. Then there’s the rest: Randy Andy, Charles...and Phil the Greek. I met Edward and Sophie in a First Nations community. They were lovely, approachable and had very little security with them. I think perhraps that the monarchy maybe serves a purpose in England, (they sure are a big tourist draw...myself included), but I don’t know that we still need them in Canada. With that little piece of background, here’s my take on the past week, both good and bad.

We were living in Scotland when Harry & Meghan’s relationship got serious. Craig and I both said, “well, this will be interesting,” and we meant it on so many levels. The following thoughts are not in any order apart from how they came out of my addled brain. First off, I’m sure there is truth in Meghan and Harry’s interview: I’m sure there is racism, (although it may not be realized...kind of like NY Governor Cuomo truly believing he’s done nothing wrong). There are more than a few things I question though...

How would Harry be able to prepare her for royal life when he’s never known anything different so how does he really know what she needs to learn? After the disaster of Diana, it seemed like the Royal machine figured out they DID have to prepare new members and did an admirable job with Kate MIddleton, (so we know it CAN be done): why didn’t they do the same with Meghan? Was it because there was hardly any chance she would have to be Queen, was it because she refused to take part, or was it a racist move? Did anyone in the Royal Family look at their unintentional bias before she entered the family, or did they assume because the Commonwealth includes people of colour, it would all be fine? Subjects are different than personal friends and family members, just saying.

Meghan...how could she NOT know or have done the research around the institution she was marrying into? Come on now. And to answer her rhetorical question about how long they were supposed to maintain their silence: that answer is easy...forever. That’s the deal. Royals don’t air personal dirty laundry in public. Every comment made ends up on the front pages of the papers. I may have an issue with my in-laws, but my complaints stay within my circle of trust, partly because I think that’s how it should be, and partly because there would be no media interest in my situation. In going public, Meghan has burned every bridge in spectacular fashion.

There’s an interesting article in The Economist, if you’re so inclined to read it.

https://www.economist.com/britain/2021/03/08/prince-harry-and-meghan-markle-take-on-the-firm

As for Archie and his title: the ‘rules’ say that he will only have a title if his grandparent, (or parent), is the ruling monarch: that would be Charles. So Archie would become a Prince when, (if...and that’s another story), Charles becomes King. Until then he would probably just be an Earl.

Let’s address the security situation: the Canadian Government, (therefore the Canadian taxpayer), picked up the security tab until the end of March, 2020. After that, I’m sure security would have continued, but the invoice would have to go elsewhere, either to the Royal institution or to Harry directly. My guess is that by that time he had been cut off, (that’s what happens when you leave your job), so Harry would be left footing the bill, however, if they wanted to pay, they could still have had security here. Here in Canada, we’re flexible that way. Saanich is absolutely not dangerous, but I do agree that once their address was known, it was a security hazard from crazy people, (and every country has them). However, I can’t go along with the idea that  LA/Santa Barbara , (or frankly most places in the U.S.), are safer than Saanich. Feel free to compare crime/assault/murder statistics at your leisure.

As for the people who can’t empathize with them because they’re staying in their $14 million USD home, I actually don’t begrudge that. After all, he was raised in palaces, and she was a successful actress. They HAVE come down a ways in the world, (by their standards).

Returning to racism, let’s be clear: they did not flee to the U.S. because it’s any less a racist country than the U.K. Even the much discussed Charlie Hebdo cartoon, (see below), is based on one of the many recent publicly racist incidents that have taken place in the U.S. since Meghan and Harry moved there. Canada is certainly less overtly racist towards African Americans than the U.S., however, we too have racism. They moved there because 1) Meghan knew the system, 2) Meghan had a support system there, (when her in-laws were being mean, she had no support system in England), and 3) because her mom is there. There’s the added perk that her work is there, especially now if they have to support themselves. However, I think that Americans are lapping up this interview because it makes America look good: they love to save people, (just ignore the refugees at the southern border, and the shame of the food bank line ups mere weeks into the pandemic), this makes them feel good. After 4 years of having an international black eye, they need a ‘win.’

What will happen from here? Who knows, but I’m sure Randy Andy is happy to be knocked off of the front pages. His dalliances with underage girls, (on which the Royals have been silent), have netted his withdrawal from public life, and thus far, that’s been the only consequence. I’ve been fascinated watching William and Kate work to present a carefully managed image, with William whenever possible, walking beside a person of colour, and Kate wearing the anti-bullying colour pink. However, I have to say today, (Mother’s Day in the U.K.), I was completely turned off by the Cambridge’s social media accounts releasing cards made by George. Charlotte, and even Louis for “Granny Diana”. I don’t like it when children are used to advance political agendas. The fact that Kate went along with it tells me that the Royal Family is in full blown crisis mode.

In my opinion there are faults on all sides here. I think the Royal Family are the clear winners of Dysfunctional Family Feud. I’ve attached just a few of the memes and cartoons circulating from both ‘sides.’

This last one serves as a reminder, that things are not always what they seem.

[dustofinsanity]

Get to know me tag ✨

Tagged by @sxfterhearts​​. Thank you, kitten! 💜

• favourite colour.

I love black (yeah, I know, it’s not a color but still love it), grey/silver and every shade of red, purple and pink.

• last song i listened to. 

Gone Away by Five Finger Death Punch (I listen to this band a lot lately).

• favourite musician(s):

If I have to choose only one group, I’ll say Black Stone Cherry because these men own my heart since 2006. But, if I have to list all the bands/artists I like, I can add: GOT7, Stray Kids, VIXX, ATEEZ, SEVENTEEN, BTS and NCT for Korean bands and Five Finger Death Punch, Falling in Reverse, Korn, Iron Maiden, Metallica and Deftones for American/English bands. I surely forget a lot but they are the ones that came firt in my mind.

• last film i watched:

I don’t remember, probably Hitman & Bodyguard.

• last show i watched: 

It’s Okay not to be Okay (and I can’t believe it’s over T-T)

• favourite characters:

(I’ll make lists because I love a lot of characters)

From cartoons/animes: PIKACHUUUUUUUU!! Snoopy, Alucard (Hellsing), Gajeel and Happy (Fairy Tail), Shiro (King of Ants), Kayo (Magical Girl Holy Shit), Worick Arcangelo (GANGSTA.), Uta (Tokyo Ghoul), etc...

From movies: STIIIIIIIIITCH!! Eric Draven (The Crow), Edward Scissorhands, Jack Sparrow, Louis de Pointe du Lac (Interview with the Vampire), Jason Voorhees (Friday 13th), Keyser Söze (Usual Suspects), etc...

From TV Shows: Dean, Sam, Jack, Bobby and Crowley (Supernatural - and it’s hard not to put all the other characters), Spike and Willow (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Klaus (The Umbrella Academy), Filip "Chibs" Telford and Alexander "Tig" Trager (Sons of Anarchy), Malcolm Bright and Dr Martin Whitly (Prodigal Son), Deet (The Dark Crystal), etc...

From books: the love of my life aka FBI Special Agent Aloysius Xingu Leng Pendergast (Preston&Child’s books) and my long time husband aka Hercule Poirot ( Agatha Christie’s Belgian detective). I only put these two but there are a lot of other characters I loved to meet and read through books.

And I’m gonna stop here or it will never end. 

• sweet, spicy or savoury:

Food is food but I don’t like/can’t eat too spicy food.

• sparkling water, tea or coffee: 

Tea and (black) coffee.

• pets:

I have four little furry monsters that people call cats but that I call my babies. Their names are Kame, Nao, Gajeel and T.O.Y.

Once again, I tag no one because my mood didn’t change from yesterday but, if you wanna do it, feel free to say I tagged you. 💜

Wait, yes, I tag @defwons​​ @listlessmaenads​​ @jinyoungsir​​ @jj-nyoung​​ @jjpmoans​​ @jackbamiels​​ and @mrbangchannie​​ because I love them.

[writeyourownlifestory]

L I G H T S U P

Chapters: 3/20 Fandom: IT Rating: M Warnings: No warnings at this time Relationships: Eddie Kaspbrak/Richie Tozier, Beverly Marsh/Ben Hanscom Additional Tags: PunkRocker!Eddie, Writer!Richie, Beveddie!Friendship, No Clown Written by: myself & @ahardlife​ Tag list: @richietoaster, @beproudtozier, @that-weird-girls-blog, @s-onora, @s-s-georgie, @bellarosewrites, @iamcupcakefrosting, @reddieonwheels, @ghostnebula, @madidraw @madi-main, @gazebobullshit, @thoughtfullyyoungduck​, @airbenderking

Puff piece writer Richie Tozier is given the chance of a lifetime to interview his celebrity crush: Dr. K, the lead singer of punk rock band, Trashmouth. Dr. K is about to release his first solo album and Richie wants to get all the dirty details. But all is not what it appears to be and the two realize they know each other from a different time, in a different place, when they were both very different people.

Chapters One, Two 

Kill My Mind - Louis Tomlinson 

You kill my mind Raise my body back to life And I don't know what I'd do without you now

Kept me living From the last time From a prison of a past life On a mission just to feel like When you kissed me for the last time

While he may not have been the most studious of those who worked at Paper Boat magazine, Richie was anything if not professional. He stayed up throughout the night as he pieced together the interview to send to Bill. He wanted to ace that job, mind you. Even if he just did fluff pieces and bullshit reports, he always made sure his work was coherent and easy to read.

When the following day came, he made his way back into the studio, clutching a large coffee with a double shot, recalling what the singer said again and again.

What the fuck did he mean by it was nice to see you again?

He thought about all the people he had met throughout the years in the industry and nope. Dr. K wasn’t on that list. He had been a fan of Trashmouth since he was a junior in college, there is no fucking way he would have forgotten meeting him even if it was early on in his career.

As he made his way to his cubby, he stumbled into Georgie, who was adjusting his camera and making his way down to the designated photoshoot area.

“Jesus, you look terrible. What happened to you?” Was the first thing he asked him.

“Thanks for the support, little man. I appreciate it,” he commented with a chuckle. “I had to edit the interview and it took longer than expected.” He admitted sipping at his coffee, trying to make it seem casual.

He also stayed awake, examining the selfie he had taken moments before the bombshell. He had seen Dr. K’s face nearly every day for the past eight years. Richie was very sure if they had met before, he would have recognized him.

You don’t just forget about meeting a fucking rockstar even if you met them before their star status.

“Oh, right,” the guy nodded, going back to set his camera. “He’ll be here in five. The singer guy. His assistant just called me,” he informed.

Sometimes he forgot that Georgie was nearly ten years younger than Bill. Still in college with a lush career on his shoulders all thanks to his brother’s connections. He would be jealous of the little fucker if he wasn’t such a damn sweetheart.

“Cool. Cool cool.”

“You can come along if you want. No one is allowed access other than me and Bill, but since you’re doing the expose on him, I don’t see why you shouldn’t be there too.”

“Oh. Right. Thanks.”

And he was panicking again. He really shouldn’t be because like Georgie said, he was just a singer guy. Except he wasn’t. He was Dr. K. Lead -- former -- lead singer of Trashmouth. A band that meant more to Richie than he is proud to admit at this very moment.

As they made their way down to the secluded area, Richie’s mouth started watering. Was that normal? He’d have to check with a doctor. A real one. True to words, Dr. K and Beverly arrived a few minutes later with Bill in tow. Georgie greeted them kindly, while Richie just stood off awkwardly to the side, staring out at him like a psycho as Georgie explained what they wanted him to do.

It wasn’t going to be anything wild. Richie had seen other promotional photos of the man and while some of them helped him get through some very lonely nights, this wasn’t going to be like that. They weren’t giving him stupid props or greasing him up.

He would wear the clothes he came in with (black jeans and a black and white checkered button-down), and Bill would talk to him throughout it just to keep him confident and relaxed. It was pretty standard with Paper Boat. They wanted real people so having a photoshoot that was more photoshopped than anything wasn’t their cup of tea.

Giving Georgie a minute to set up, Richie watched as Dr. K approached him, that particular smile sitting so comfortably across his lips. It only made Richie more nervous.

“Hey Richie,” He greeted him casually.

“Hey! Hi. Good morning,” He rambled out, his hand still clutching his coffee. “Excited for the shoot?”

“Nothing new to me to be honest, though I do appreciate your boss not lathering me up in lube.” He admitted with a small shrug.

“That was a great shoot. I mean, I doubt it was comfortable and it had to be a bitch to wash off, but ten out of ten stars for me.” He mentioned, rolling on the balls of his feet. He was teetering. Waiting. Waiting for what though? If he didn’t spit it out he would miss his chance and then the mystery would only continue. “Hey, can I ask you something real quick?”

“Shoot.”

“Yesterday, at the interview before you left, remember? You- you said it was nice to see me again,” he started, pausing as Beverly came over, passing Dr. K his own cup of coffee.

Richie took a slow sip of his mouth, hoping to quench his throat that was suddenly very dry.

Dr. K thanked her, sipping at his cup as Beverly left them again. “Mhm, I remember.”

“Well, I’ve been thinking about it and honestly dude, I don’t remember ever meeting you.” He finally confessed. “Did we like, have a class together in school? I highly doubt it because you were touring while I was getting my bachelor's, but I really can’t find you anywhere in my mind. And trust me, I would remember someone like you. Cute, and sexy, and talented. You’re like a triple threat and I have like, seven shirts with your face on it, plus multiple pictures of you in my apartment, and I’ve seen you perform sixteen times in the past eight years, and I should stop talking now because Bill is literally right there and told me I shouldn’t embarrass myself and me-“

Dr. K started laughing then, soft and sweet. His smile only grew and those dark eyes shimmered almost lovingly. “Beep beep, Richie.”

And after that he was whisked away by Georgie. They didn’t apply much makeup other than some powder to help with the shine. Richie was left standing like a fool, watching as Dr. K was placed where they wanted him and Bill began talking to him as the photoshoot began.

“Beep beep?” Richie muttered aloud, trying to remember where he heard that before.

Until it clicked.

“Beep beep, Richie!”

Richie laughed aloud, turning back to make sure the other boy was still behind him. It was summer and they were kids, which meant they were going to do whatever the hell they wanted to do without a single care in the world. Their town was small and boring, so what else were two ten year old kids supposed to do? Sit at home and watch cartoons?

They rode their bikes around town, finally making it to the standpipe where they could have a bit of privacy. They went there more often than not, as it was the only place in the whole damn town that wasn’t a waste of space.

They hurried inside, just as they had so many times before. As children, preteens, and then finally teenages. Sure, two ten year olds running a muck was pretty annoying, but it was the thirteen year olds that caused the most trouble, with their potty mouths and terrible ideas.

Richie lead the other boy inside, sneaking through the rickety door and up, up, up the stairs until they reached the very top. It was the only place high enough where you could see beyond Derry. See the horizon as the sun set down and actually know there was more of this world than just their shitty town.

“All right, Rapunzel! I’ve brought you back to your tower, far away from that terrible, terrible witch that kept you captive!”

“That’s not even how the story goes, dumbass.” The other boy laughed.

His words were meant to be cruel, but they weren’t. And his gaze wasn’t one of disdain but appreciation. Richie adjusted his glasses, moving closer to the other boy. “Either way, I’m still the prince charming, here to save the beautiful prince.”

The other boy rolled his eyes fondly.

“If your mom puts you under a sleeping spell, I’ll have to be the one to kiss you awake.” Richie announced.

“Wrong princess, Richie.”

“You do look rather sleepy, Eds. Maybe I should try it now? Just for practice?”

“Beep beep, Richie.” The other boy replied, pulling the taller boy in to kiss him softly.

Richie hurried out of the studio, going up the stairs and out onto the street to gather from fresh air. He felt a tightness in his stomach that he hadn’t dealt with in a very long time. He was sweaty and jumpy as people moved along the street beside him. It was as if he had seen a ghost and in some ways, he had.

There was only one person in his life who said those words to him; the mocking clown nose sound that would be used to sensor him or shut him up.

It was him. After all these years. After all the nightmares. After all the therapy sessions he finally walked back into his life.

Eddie Kaspbrak.

They had been friends since kindergarten. Best friends almost right off the bat. Eddie was a shy kid who didn’t do well with crowds and Richie was a class clown who was shunned from all other cliques due to how obnoxious he was even from an early age.

They were two people who didn’t belong in the small town they were trapped inside. Two boys who shared common interests and scars, and more importantly, secrets.

Eddie Kaspbrak was the reason Richie turned into such a basket case, so afraid to come out of his shell and be proud of who he was.

And it was Dr. K that helped Richie step out of the darkness and into the light.

Now it appeared they were one in the same.

There was no other way around it. Nobody else had ever said such a thing to him. “Beep beep” had been their thing, the thing Eddie would say to get him to stop talking back when they were just kids. There was no possible way anybody else would know that.

After finally realizing he wasn’t happy with the life had been living Richie went to therapy where he basically cried out every sad story he had to tell. In the end the therapist suggested he reach out to his old pal. Richie looked him up on every social media account he could but there was no sign of him anywhere.

It was like he didn’t exist anymore.

In the back of his mind Richie thought the worst and he had good reason to. Things didn’t end well for them back when they were kids. They were torn apart due to the prejudices of society and the pure hatred from Eddie’s mother. He always wondered what happened to his friend, especially since it was very clear that he and Eddie were more than friends.

There was a time when he used to think they were fucking soulmates. It was silly to think and he was just thirteen when those thoughts popped into his head into his head but back then he didn’t care.

It was just him and Eddie against the world. But the world ended up winning in the end.

Richie left the studio then, unsure of how he was supposed to carry on with the rest of the day with the knowledge he now had. He had practically gotten sick of it, thinking back to his childhood and how terrible things had turned out for himself.

He felt sick, like every time he got nervous about something. He felt sick and scared and happy? All of a sudden. Yes, he went to therapy because he thought his best friend was gone for good. Shit, he even called to as many conversion camps he could find information about across the country. Really, Sonia Kaspbrak would do anything to keep her son for herself.

And now Eddie was back in his life. How could he not see it? He went to sixteen concerts, got a poster of the band in his house, he even got cold showers courtesy of Dr. K. It was going to be a whole lot to process it. Process, first of all, that Eddie was alive. Two, that he was in his life again and even remembered him. And three, that he was Dr. K.

What. The. Fuck.

Richie went home hoping to collect his thoughts though it didn’t turn out the way he hoped. He was going absolutely bonkers trying to control all these new revelations that were coming his way.

He tried to get his mind off it; even jumping into the shower hoping the warm water would make him feel like a normal person again but that was all for nothing.

He had to talk to Eddie. Obviously he remembered him. Remembered the things they used to say to one another. He felt like he was going out of his mind.

Looking at the clock, he swore sharply. He would be gone from the studio by now. Richie was mentally kicking himself for running away but it’s what he did best.

There had to be another way. He was desperate but he didn’t want to give up that easily.

So he called Bill, hoping to use his small amount of improv and acting skills to get him in good. “Bill! Buddy! Shit man you’re never gonna believe this.” He spoke drastically.

He told Bill this wild story about how he was watching a documentary on Galaxy Quest that got him excited, resulting in him knocking over his coffee cup onto his computer, which short-circuited as he was editing the interview.

“I got it back up and rolling but I wasn’t able to save. Yeah, it’s gone man. All of it. I was hoping you had the number of his assistant so I could reschedule another one on one.”

“You gotta be more careful, Rich. MacBooks aren’t cheap.” Bill replied with a laugh.

He texted him the number of Dr. K’s personal assistant.

Easy as that.

Richie was ready to relay the whole story back to Beverly and when he did he thought that maybe it would be just as easy. Of course, it wasn’t.

“Mr. Denbrough asked enough questions during the photoshoot to qualify as an interview. Surely that shall suffice, Mr. Tozier.” She spoke coolly.

“It could but it wouldn’t answer the hard-hitting questions that our readers want to know about,” Richie replied. “Look it will only be a few minutes. I’ll even come to him if you give me the address.”

“I very well can't just give you the address of Dr. K’s home.” Beverly laughed off dismissively.

“Bev — can I call you Bev? — I need you to work with me here. I know I sound desperate and pathetic but I want you to know from the bottom of my heart, I am both.”

He wasn’t going to sugar coat it. He ran away because he was a weak bitch but he had to talk to Eddie about this. Needed him to fill in the gaps of their lives.

“Ten minutes, that’s all. I don’t want to waste his time, I just want to talk to him. You can even supervise if you’re worried I’m gonna jump him or anything.”

“You don’t give up easily, do you, Tozier?”

“Actually I’ve been known to give up very easily. It’s just different this time around,” Richie confessed.

The line was quiet for a moment; too quiet that Richie thought that maybe the call dropped. He pulled away to look but found Beverly continuing.

“He’s not at his current home. He’s staying at the Waldorf Suites until further notice.” She explained.

He told her the name that he was staying under and explained he would be there for the rest of the night. Richie looked down at the paper, his heart jumping in his throat when he saw the name he was currently listed under “Spaghetti” which just hit too close to him.

“Don’t do anything stupid, Mr. Tozier.” She warned lightly.

“I make zero promises, Ms. Ringwald.” He said before ending the call.

He jumped up from his seat then, rushing off to change back into his clothing so he could hit the road and get some answers.

[bendy-dreamland]

(Warning: chapter contains mild gore, death, and blood, mentions of medical procedures)

--

“Boris! No, no! What have they done to ya?!”

Henry pulled Bendy away, keeping him from looking at the dead Toon. “Bendy, we need you to get out of here. Mugman, think you can take him back to Candy Corners?”

“NO!” Bendy screamed. “No, no, no! I’m not leavin’ dis spot! Dat’s mah buddy up in dat dang tree! I wanna know why he’s up there!”

“Hey, calm down, calm down!” Cuphead grabbed at the demon, turning him around to face him. “Look at me, brat! If yer gonna freak out, you’re gonna call da wrong sorta attention here! We need to block off da area and get da police in on dis. We’ve got a straight up murder on our hands, and it might be part of our investigation.”

Bendy looked at Cuphead before his face scrunched up as big, black tears came to his eyes. “B-But… Boris is…” He was cut off when the red-themed cup pulled him into a tight hug, rubbing his back. The demon started to cry, wrapping his arm around Cuphead.

Mugman gulped, looking up at Boris before looking at Henry as he approached him. “S-Should we get someone to call the police? I can go back to the shop…”

“Give me the camera I gave you earlier, I’m gonna take a few pictures. Go call for the police, please.” Henry replied, holding out his hand. Mugman didn’t say anything as he took the camera from his person, giving it to the detective before running back to the shop.

He got inside and went up to the counter. “Mike, I need to use the phone, gotta call the cops. We’ve got a possible murder on our hands.” He whispered, not wanting to cause a panic in the soda shop. Mike didn’t say anything as he let Mugman go behind the counter to use the phone.

As the mug was doing this, Henry was taking pictures of Boris’ body. It wasn’t easy, the sight was making his stomach curl, and Bendy’s crying wasn’t helping that unsettling feeling.

In his short time as a P.I., Henry has learned that death was a rare, but possible, event for cartoon characters. He’s learned that death comes in a variety of ways, some worse than others. Cartoon characters can be killed with acetone or Dip, something like acetone except ten times worse, and it’s not a pretty or pleasant death for anyone. Even humans have trouble when it comes to Dip, it burns something terrible.

Another way to die is from a weapon infused or soaked in either of these liquids, but it can’t be a Toon weapon, it has to be a human one.

Then there’s the simple death of a character due to script writing, and sometimes it’s for the best.

The saddest death is when a Creator gives up on a character and just kills them by ignoring them and cutting them off, leaving them to suffer. They cannot survive this way, they can’t continue to be a character, they’re not even allowed to stay alive in Toon World.

One of the worst cases is when Walt Disney and Universal Studios gave up on Julius the Cat, from the Alice shorts. The poor character suffered so much hate from people accusing him of being a rip-off of Felix the Cat that Disney let him be forgotten.

But that wasn’t his fault, he was an Original Idea that happened to be a black cat who was an imp, personality wise.

Original Ideas are the very essence of a Toon, they exist but they have no true form, no way to come to life, until they can make contact with the mind of a Creator. This is how cartoons come into being, this is how they can access the Over World.

When a Creator gets an Original Idea in their head, they draw the character on paper, then animate them. This gives them the kick in the pants they need for something called Life Ink to get them to come to life, to come over to the real world to live as a living drawing, a Toon.

Toons live in Toon World, that’s their home, but they can’t come into being until a Creator gives them life. It’s always been this way, even with comic characters. They exist in Toon World once they are brought to life through the medium they exist in.

Henry has had many Original Ideas he’s brought to life, just like Boris up here. It hurts to see his creation mangled like this, and maybe it’s the shock of it all, but Henry was keeping himself level headed about all this. He had to, he found his friend murdered and he knew that he had to be the one to find out why. Boris was an Original Idea he gave life to, and it hurts to see that someone snuffed that life out.

That made him worry, was something going to happen to Alice, the Butcher Gang? Did something already happen to them… and Bendy? Oh no, what about Bendy?

Bendy was, for the most part, a difficult Toon to bring to life. He was an Original Idea, but nothing Henry did could give him Life Ink. Until Joey took things into his own hands and told Henry that he’d help bring Bendy into this world. The next morning, he found Bendy sleeping at his desk, completely alive. Henry had asked how Joey did it, and all his friend had said was,

‘You just had to believe hard enough, Henry. Belief can make dreams come true, it can make magic happen.’

Lowering the camera, Henry looked over at Bendy, seeing him sitting a distance away, his back turned to face the body. Cuphead was quietly talking to him, patting his back. Henry could still hear crying from his demonic creation. He didn’t blame Bendy, he was reacting how anyone else would after finding the corpse of their best buddy in a tree.

There were loud siren sounds and Henry looked over to see police cars and the police force making their way over. He wasn’t too keen on the cops themselves, especially the ones here in Palomino City, but he was going to need their help.

He watched as a poodle in a chief’s uniform approach. He looked at Henry and cleared his throat, his voice heavy with a French accent as he spoke. “I am Chief Louis Baton, we were called here because of, eh, murder? Yes?”

Henry nodded. “I’m private detective Henry Ross, and the murder victim is my creation, Boris the Wolf.”

Chief Baton looked at him confusion. “You are a Creator?” He asked, sounding suspicious.

Reaching into his pocket, Henry pulled out his wallet and pulled out an ID card. It showed an image of himself from years ago, and had information about himself and his position at Joey Drew Studios. Chief Baton looked it over before giving a nod. “I have heard of you, Mr. Ross, just needed to make sure. Have had humans pretending to be… well… Creators, yes? Trying to sneak into places. Where is the body?”

Pointing up, Henry gestured to the tree and Chief Baton’s face paled, which was funny to see since he was a white poodle. “Mon dieu…!” He squeaked out as a bit of Boris’ entrails slipped out and dropped down, hanging about three feet down.

Henry felt like throwing up as he looked away. “I-I… let me get the clean up crew…” the police officer stammered out as he turned away. The animator looked down at the ground before walking over to Bendy and Cuphead.

“How’s he doin’?” Henry asked as he sat down next to Bendy, only to have the devil latch tightly to him, crying once more.

“Bad.” Cuphead sighed loudly. “What do ya think’s gonna happen, Ross?”

“He’ll be taken to the morgue where the coroner will look him over.” Henry frowned softly. “I know the coroner, he’s a friend, I’ll be able to get information about what happened from him easily.”

Bendy sniffed loudly before pulling away, his face was stained with inky tears. “Please… please figure out what happened… my best buddy’s dead, I can’t…”

Henry pulled him close and hugged him, sighing softly. “I know, I know, it hurts a lot. I wish I hadn’t seen it either. But I promise that I’ll figure out what happened, and I’ll take down whoever dared to kill Boris.”

Golden eyes looked up at him and Henry watched as a small smile came to Bendy’s lips. “I-I’ll hold ya do dat, ol’ man.”

--

Henry had spoken to several police officers about what he knew of Boris’ body, and he was able to interview both the ram and his wife about what happened. Apparently, they had taken a stroll through the park and the sheep had wanted to sit under the tree for a little break, only for her to find the blood and ink.

Now, that had Henry curious.

Blood and ink do flow in Toon veins, but the problem with the situation is that the blood was too dark, too deep a shade of red to be cartoon blood. Most characters bled a very bright, very loud shade of red, though some bled different colors, and some bled straight up black if they were a monochrome character.

In this case, that was where Boris fell. He was black and white in color, so his blood should be black. But this? Boris had blood that was the same color as that of a human’s, that’s… that’s not right. Did Joey make changes to Boris that were internal rather than external in design? Toons do get upgrades and design changes to match with the times, explains why Bendy wore a colored outfit, but Boris?

Boris was different, he looked just as he had years ago, and was even in his signature overalls. Last Henry had heard, Boris wore a shirt now and had a change in pants as well. He was even sporting a tail, a design choice that Henry fully approved of.

Did Boris change back to his old look before his death?

Henry sighed and rubbed at his eyes before getting up, grabbing a cup of coffee from the offered pot and cups across the room. He, Cuphead, Mugman, and Bendy were sitting in the waiting room at the coroner’s office, waiting to hear anything from the doctor in the other room.

Sitting at a desk in the room was a white cat with a long, fluffy tail and big, gold eyes. She had a cute smile on her face as she typed away at her type writer to the beat of the song that played on the radio. She was the secretary and wife of the doctor, Tabby. She was a sweetheart and liked to call Henry cutie whenever he came in. He let her do it because she was too nice to be angry with.

He poured himself a cup of coffee before looking over at the boys. Bendy had finally passed out from the emotional stress and was currently sleeping against Mugman, who was also napping quietly. Cuphead was the only one awake, flipping through a comic book he had pulled from his hammerspace.

“Want some coffee?” He asked the cup, who looked up and nodded. Walking back over, he handed Cuphead his drink, who happily poured it into his head, enjoying the boost of caffeine.

“Thanks, Henry.” Cuphead said as he closed the comic. “Maybe I should take ‘em home, Bendy’s had a rough time.”

“Yeah, maybe y-” The door behind the secretary desk opened and a black cat dressed in scrubs came out. He had a bored expression on his face as he looked over at the group. “Oh, hello, Dr. Fish.” Henry greeted, before hearing a loud snort from Cuphead. The cat was named Doctor Claudius Fish, and yes, his name was a set of puns. Happens a lot to cartoon characters.

Dr. Fish rolled his eyes, sighing loudly through his nose. “I didn’t choose my name, boy, don’t make fun. Henry, can you come with me, I need to show you something.”

“Right.” Henry set his cup down and looked over at Cuphead. “You gonna come with?”

“I… suppose, yeah. Miss, do ya mind watchin’ my baby bro and friend?” He asked, looking at Tabby, who happily nodded. He followed the doctor and detective through the door and into another part of the building. They entered an examination room and Cuphead made a face as he looked at the body on the table.

Boris was cut open and some of his organs rested on trays, even his head seemed to be cut open. But Cuphead was shocked to notice something with the body and the organs. “Oh, sugar honey iced tea… those aren’t right.”

“I take it that you figured out the problem here, yes?” Dr. Fish asked, looking at the cup headed Toon.

“Yeah, uh, I ain’t da smartest guy here in town, but I know what cartoon organs are suppose to look like, and these ain’t right.”

“What do you mean?” Henry asked as he approached, before realizing what they were getting at. “These are human…”

“Yes, and they seem to belong to Boris, as they were physically attached to him naturally.” The mortician replied, adjusting his glasses on his nose. Henry and Cuphead looked at him with equal surprise and he continued. “I have never seen anything like this before in all my years of working with Toons and humans. Toon organs may look like human ones, but there are obvious differences. For one, the heart is meant to look like one you see when a character is in love.”

“I’m guessin’ Boris’ doesn’t look anythin’ like that?” Henry asked as Dr. Fish held up a tray. He cringed, staring at the heart that was clearly human, except it was yellow in colored, stained in ink. What made it worse was that there was a giant bite mark in it. “What the hell…?”

Setting down the dish, Dr. Fish reached for his notes. “From what I was able to gather, it seems that this wolf has a human chest cavity, and bleeds human blood but toon blood as well, that’s not ink. Though he does have ink in his chest, but I doubt it’s his.”

“What’s… the cause of death?”

“Looks like he was attacked by a beast of sorts. He was clearly torn open by teeth, and most of his organs have bites and tears. It seems a monster had gotten to him, if you want to believe that. I think it was a wild animal Toon, one that has simple intelligence, like a wolf or lion from the Over World.”

He pointed towards the chest, at what looked like long marks in the black fur. “Seems that claws were used, or at least one set. I can’t find much in terms of evidence that two sets were used, just one that appears to be from the right front paw. That, or a hand from a Toon with very, very dark tendencies.”

“Gross.” Cuphead grimaced. “Hopefully it ain’t dat, don’t wanna be dealin’ with a crazed murderer. But if dat’s da option dat’s right… why would a Creator make such a character?”

“Because some people have dark minds that attract such Original Ideas.” Dr. Fish scoffed. “It’s why we have bad guys in Toon World, adds drama to a world full of sugar and smiles. I don’t mind the drama, gives me work.”

“Dat’s a dark outlook on da situation, Dr. Fish.”

“I deal with death and gore, boy, I am desensitized to much of what I see in this office, and I don’t mind it compared to the blinding world of cartoons outside of my office. If I want sunshine and rainbows, I’ll spend time with Tabby, at least I enjoy it from her.”

“Boy, you must be fun at parties.”

Henry sighed and slapped his forehead. “Anythin’ else you can tell us about this, doctor?”

Dr. Fish nodded and moved to another part of the room, grabbing a tray before returning to the table. On the tray was a large wrench, but there was something so wrong about it. It was solid, physical, but it appeared to be stuck as a sketch in appearance. It had all the tell-tale signs of a sketched-out design, like the marks of trying to make straight lines, the areas where things didn’t look even. And it was covered in dry ink and blood.

“This was found in his chest, behind his lungs.” The cat stated. “I’m not sure why it was there, but I suspect that it has a big thing to do with what happened to him. I am still going for his death being caused by an animal, but it is possible that this was used in the process. I’ll keep looking over anything else that seems suspicious.”

Henry nodded, looking from the wrench to Boris, seeing the familiar face, but the unsettling unfamiliarity of the X’d out eyes. There was a soft cough, catching the detective’s attention as he looked back to the doctor, who was giving him a look that meant that he understood how he was feeling.

“I’ll let you know more soon, Henry. I’m still needing to examine things and run tests, give me a day or two. Go home and rest, you look exhausted.”

He did feel exhausted, this is a lot to take in. “I know, I mean… this is my friend, my creation, layin’ on this table, right in front of me.”

Green eyes stared at him before Dr. Fish removed his glasses, cleaning them off a bit. “I understand, it is a hard thing to take in, people sometimes forget that Toons can die as well. We’re not meant to last forever, we all have to go at some point, even if it seems to happen before our time. Go home, you two, get some rest, continue work in the morning.”

--

Stepping out back into the office, Henry was surprised to find Linda waiting there with a now-awake Mugman and Bendy. She smiled sadly and got up, approaching him. “How are you doing, Henry?”

“Terrible, but I’m tryin’.” He tried to smile back at her and she gently patted his arm.

“Come on, let’s go to my place. I’ll make you boys a nice, hot meal and you can relax a bit. I’m sure you all need it after what happened tonight. If you want, you can spend the night!”

“Oh, I don’t wanna be a bother…”

She shook her head. “No, no! It’s alright, I’m offering! Besides, it’s getting late and traveling through the portals at night isn’t always the best. Also, when’s the last time I made you a good dinner, Henry?”

He wanted to say no, he wanted to reject the offer, but how could Henry say no to Linda? He chuckled as he shrugged. “Alright, alright, we’ll come over, is that alright with you boys?”

“Hell yeah!” Cuphead grinned, giving a thumbs up. “I’m up for a free meal!” He ignored his brother, who told him to stop being rude. Bendy looked over and smiled, he looked so tired and worried as he got up, walking over to Henry.

“Thanks fer da offer, Ms. Linda, real nice of ya to do fer us.” He told her, and she nodded, frowning softly.

“It’s the least I can do, it’s a terrible thing to have happen, losing a dear friend like that. Come, let’s head to my place.”

After saying good bye to Tabby, the small group walked out into the dark streets. People were out and about, many coming home from work, others going out for a good time. They could quietly hear people gossiping about a murder in the park, that’s the problem with cities like this, word travels fast.

Bendy bit his lip, trying to ignore the talking of strangers, instead trying to focus on the quiet chatter of his friends. He glanced around as he quietly walked before something caught his eye, a flash of black and blue. He stopped, looking about, what was that? Had he seen who he thought he had seen?

“Ben?”

Blinking, Bendy turned to see Cuphead looking at him with concern. “You okay there, short stuff?”

“Yeah, I thought I saw… hey! Don’t call me short!” He huffed and quickly moved to catch up to the laughing cup, his mind no longer on what he had thought he had seen.

As they walked on down the street, someone peeked around the corner of a building, watching from under a hood. Black, pie-cut eyes looked on in worry before looking about, making sure that there was no one watching from above.

With a loud gulp, the figure ran off. This was bad, he just knew it, he could feel it in his feet that something terrible was starting.

First Joey disappears, now there’s a mutilated body, and he knew there would be more very soon…

END OF ACT ONE SCENE FIVE

[scratchybeardsweetmouth]

Delicious: Iain Glen finds himself in a LOVE triangle in gripping second series

He’s starred in Game Of Thrones and Delicious, but actor Iain Glen hasn’t forgotten his roots. (x) By AMY PACKER Full interview under the cut (it’s quite long). Topics include Delicious, Game of Thrones success, bits of his past, marriage, and family:

As one of the longest-serving (and surviving) cast members of Game Of Thrones, it must have come as something of an ego blow for Iain Glen to discover he was to be bumped off in the very first episode of his next drama, Delicious. Luckily for Iain, the writers decided they wanted to keep his character in the show from beyond the grave. And now he’s back for a second series of Delicious, which was Sky One’s highest rating original drama of last year. Iain plays Leo, a celebrity chef who has an affair with his ex-wife, played by Dawn French, behind the back of his second wife (Emilia Fox). [spoiler alert for season 1] A heart attack swiftly kills him in episode one, but Leo remains as a narrator, finally stepping back on screen in the last episode. “My daughter had attempted suicide and came into ‘God’s waiting room’, where she had this imagined conversation with me,” says Iain, 56. “The writers took that and have continued it into the new season. It feels like a quite unique conceit.” Iain certainly isn’t used to being killed off so quickly. He has played Ser Jorah Mormont in Game Of Thrones for seven seasons without succumbing to deadly disease or bloodthirsty battle. He says both shows have been great fun to film, so it wasn’t a difficult decision to rejoin the cast of Delicious for a second spin. “It was hugely enjoyable filming in Cornwall and I’m very fond of Dawn and Emilia. It’s a lovely sensation as an actor to return to something that has gone down well, and to meet up with people and have that shared experience. I feel it on Thrones very acutely, but I definitely felt it on this, too.” The food required for filming made life on set particularly enjoyable. “There’s lots of nibbling going on at Delicious as they give us fantastic dishes to work with,” he says, although playing a chef hasn’t improved his skills in the kitchen. “I’m a foodie in the sense that I love food and can eat enormous amounts of it and get away with it – much to the irritation of my wife. But I’m really moronic when it comes to creating meals. I don’t trust myself or have any instinct for it, so I laboriously follow a recipe to within an inch of its life and get very nervous about it,” he says. “If I were asked to do one of those celebrity cooking shows it would be a clear, resounding no.” It’s unlikely Iain will need to do any reality TV any time soon, though, having been on the receiving end of the ever-escalating salaries enjoyed by the Thrones cast. The main stars are reportedly on up to seven figures per episode in the final season, though Iain would never be so vulgar as to entertain a conversation about pay packets. “For me, success has never been about visibility or a recognition but the ability to have done enough to choose the parts you take,” he says. “When I get into my sixties and seventies, it would be nice not to need to work – I know too many actors for whom life is very hard.” So what was the secret to avoiding being brutally wiped out? “I’ve been sucking up to the writers when I’ve met them,” he jokes. “Those of us who have survived – and Ser Jorah has teetered close to demise for quite a few seasons – do feel very lucky to have staggered to the final act.” It probably helps that Iain hasn’t annoyed anyone by giving away any big plot twists over the years. “I haven’t ever let anything slip,” he says. “It’s quite fun because people ask so much that you start toying with them and then play along as if you’ve given something away, but deep down people don’t really want to know. They ask but it would just spoil it for them.” Iain grew up in Edinburgh but didn’t discover acting until he was at the University Of Aberdeen, quickly dropping out to study at RADA – thankfully with the support of his mother and father. “They’ve enjoyed a lot of theatre, TV and films I’ve made over the years,” he says. His career has included stints with the RSC, starring alongside Nicole Kidman in The Blue Room in London’s West End, plus roles in Downton Abbey, Ripper Street and the Resident Evil trilogy. “My parents are still in Scotland, though they’re more fragile and less mobile than they were, so we tend to go to them more often than we did 10 years ago,” he says. “I love returning to Edinburgh as it’s a great, quality life up there and I’m bombarded with memories from childhood.” He even wonders if growing up north of the border may have given his career a boost. “I feel fortunate in that I’m not associated with a particular class, which is massive in the UK,” he says. “I’ve portrayed a range of good souls and bad souls and feel lucky not to be perceived too strongly as one or another. I don’t know if that’s to do with being a Scot working down here, although I don’t have a very pronounced accent. People love to pigeonhole actors in the UK, so it’s good I’ve managed to avoid that.” Does he ever see himself moving back? “Well, I’ve married an English lady and we have built a life down here,” he says. “We’ll see, but I think it feels unlikely right now. We’re very rooted where we are.” The ‘English lady’ in question is the actress Charlotte Emmerson, who Iain married this summer after 12 years together. “I’m rather enjoying saying ‘my wife’,” he admits. “I used to use it and [Charlotte] would say, ‘I’m not your wife.’ It was just shorthand really, but she told me not to, so it’s nice that now I can and not get corrected.” The pair celebrated their nuptials with an intimate meal in a Georgian house near their home in London’s Dulwich Village. “It was just as we wanted it, with only our immediate family, about 30 of us. The courses just kept coming and it was the most perfect realisation of what we hoped it would be.Then we took stock, waited a month or two and threw a big party for about 200 friends. It made sense to us to separate the two. Sometimes, when you put it all together it can be overwhelming and you lose the personal, small-scale intimacy of a marriage the way you want it, but you don’t want to not share it with friends. It worked well and we managed to pick two of the hottest days of last summer.” The couple already have two children together, Mary, 10, and Juliet, four. Iain also has a son, Finlay, 22, from a previous marriage. The three still find their father being recognised in the street “kind of odd”. “My 10 year old rather loved it when people asked for selfies, although she has started to become a little blasé. My littlest one doesn’t quite understand yet, while my eldest has ignored me as an actor in quite a healthy way and rarely watches stuff I’m in.” It might make more sense once his girls are old enough to watch his most famous roles. “I did a voiceover for [Nick Jr cartoon series] Nella The Princess Knight, providing the voice of Santa, and a few years ago I did Kidnapped, the Robert Louis Stevenson novel, when Finlay was the right age to watch that. It’s nice when you can do stuff they are able to enjoy.” They’ll certainly have quite the back catalogue to catch up on when they reach their late teens.

[liliannorman]

New success in treating allergies to peanuts and other foods

Ten years ago at a kindergarten party, Isaac Judy took a bite of a peanut-butter cookie. It tasted weird to him, so he spit it out. Hives soon appeared on his face. His lips also began to swell. When his dad came to pick him up, Isaac was coughing and wheezing. Riding in the car to the other side of St. Louis, Mo., where they lived, Isaac fell asleep — or so it seemed.

When Isaac’s mother saw what was happening, she suspected something more serious. “He hadn’t fallen asleep. He lost consciousness,” Jaelithe Judy explains. After a trip to the emergency room, her five-year-old recovered. But doctors confirmed her hunch: Isaac has a peanut allergy.

Just a few generations ago, hardly anyone talked about food allergies. But over the past two decades, childhood food allergies in the United States have more than doubled. A little more than a year ago, a study in Pediatrics reported that 7.6 percent of U.S. kids under age 18 have food allergies. That’s almost 8 million youth — about two students per classroom. And it’s much more than a childhood issue. Surprisingly, a study last year in JAMA Network Open found that nearly 11 percent of adults have food allergies, too. More than one in every four of them said they had not been allergic to foods as children.

There has been a sharp increase in the share of U.S. children with food allergies in the past two decades.Data from R.S. Gupta et al/2018 and the CDC

These days nearly everyone has “come across a family member or person who has been touched by food allergies, or has one themselves,” says Tamara Hubbard. She works in the suburbs of Chicago, Ill., as a licensed counselor. Hubbard and a growing number of counselors are helping families through the stress of managing food allergies.

For years, doctors have told families there’s nothing they can do but avoid the trigger food — or inject a fast-acting medication called epinephrine (Ep-ih-NEF-rinn) to stop a severe reaction. But researchers are learning more about why some people overreact to certain foods. And new treatments are emerging. Late last month, the first treatment for peanut allergy earned approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Another could do so within a year or so. Scientists also are continuing to develop and test other ways to treat food allergies. 

Immunity run amok

Allergic reactions occur when the immune system overreacts. Normally immune cells help fight bacteria, viruses and other pathogens. Yet some people’s immune systems also react to harmless stuff like pollen or mold — or peanuts, milk or other foods. 

Such run-ins trigger a release of histamine (HIS-tuh-meen) and other chemicals. These molecules “get the ball rolling for an allergic reaction,” explains Tina Sindher. She works as an allergist at Stanford University School of Medicine in Palo Alto, Calif.

During an allergic reaction, someone may get itchy and develop hives. If the reaction worsens, the person might cough, wheeze and suffer a whole-body reaction known as anaphylaxis (An-uh-fuh-LAX-iss). That’s what happened to Isaac — and to Shea Tritt’s son, Gaines, in Abingdon, Va.

Gaines’ peanut allergy surfaced in the fall of 2012. At the time, he was a baby and his diagnosis put the whole family on edge. For the next few years “he never trick-or-treated. He never went to a birthday party. I was scared to put him in preschool,” says Tritt. “My husband and I had a lot of stress because he could tell I wasn’t letting Gaines do normal things. So we would argue.”

Even Gaines’ older sister got nervous. If she went to a party, she worried about bringing back traces of peanut-containing treats that might sicken her brother, Tritt recalls. Living in such constant vigilance can be emotionally draining for families with food allergies.

Anxious and desperate, Tritt wondered if her son would outgrow his allergies, and how she could ever find out. “I became obsessed with information — anything I could do to get us out of this situation,” she says.

When a kiss can make you sick

Silly greeting cards often depict a kiss on the cheek of a cartoon figure as a big red imprint of lips. For people with a serious food allergy, real kisses sometimes leave the same mark. But it’s not funny. That red wheal signals an allergic hypersensitivity to food residues on the smoocher’s mouth.

One renowned study at the University of California, Davis School of Medicine surveyed 379 people with especially severe allergies to peanuts, tree nuts or seeds. Twenty had experienced hives or other symptoms after a kiss. In all but one case, the kisser had eaten nuts up to 6 hours earlier; at least four had first brushed their teeth.

Most reactions proved mild. But five people developed wheezing or flushing with light-headedness — potentially dangerous signs. And one three-year old was rushed to the hospital to treat respiratory distress after his mother pecked him on the cheek. — Janet Raloff

One day, Tritt saw a TV interview with David Stukus. He’s an allergist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Stukus saw that many patients with food allergy are fearful. They often are confused because they’re not getting the facts they need. So Stukus opened a Twitter account to spread evidence-based information. Tritt took note.

Looking at her son’s blood-test results, year after year, Tritt suspected his immune response to peanuts was lessening. However, blood tests cannot give a clear “yes” or “no.” These tests detect specialized immune proteins. They are called IgE antibodies. These molecules trigger allergic reactions. But IgE levels only indicate that someone is sensitive to a certain food. They cannot predict whether that person will react if they eat it. Proving Gaines had outgrown his peanut allergy would require an oral food challenge. And that would require that the patient eat increasing amounts of the food while a doctor watches for allergic reactions. 

Trouble is, Tritt could not find a local allergist to perform the food challenge. This procedure needs extra time and staff. It also runs a risk of triggering anaphylaxis. So, many clinics won’t offer it unless a patient’s blood results are low — low enough to suggest they would tolerate the food. Gaines’ numbers had steadily dropped over the years but were still a tad too high.

Peanuts: Becoming bite-proof

For about half of people with peanut allergies, “a bite or two of the wrong food typically contains enough peanut protein to trigger a reaction,” notes Brian Vickery. He is a pediatric allergist at Emory University in Atlanta, Ga. For these people, he says, 100 milligrams (0.004 ounce) of peanut protein, or about one-third of a peanut kernel, can set off such a reaction.

Vickery used to work at Aimmune Therapeutics. This California company is developing a treatment for peanut allergy. It is called oral immunotherapy, or OIT for short. The procedure involves each day eating a wee bit of peanut protein — pre-measured into capsules. The capsule dose goes up every few weeks over a period of months. If the treatment works, it can raise the immune system’s threshold for the food. That means it would take more of the food to trigger an allergic reaction. In other words, it’s possible for the person to become “bite-proof.”

Aimmune tested its capsules — or a dummy version called a placebo — in 551 children and teens with peanut allergies. The starting dose was half a milligram (0.00002 ounce) of peanut protein. (One peanut contains 600 times that much.) Over a six-month period, the daily dose went up to 300 milligrams (0.01 ounce), or about one peanut’s worth. And each day for six more months, participants had to continue eating that much.

During the study, many participants experienced allergic reactions to the peanut pills. Forty-five quit because of these unpleasant symptoms. But among those who finished the study, two-thirds of the treated group became bite-proof. After about a year, they could safely eat roughly two peanuts. “They’re still careful about avoiding peanuts,” says Vickery. “But it provides that additional margin of safety.”

Those results appeared in the November 2018 New England Journal of Medicine. 

Based on these and other findings, the FDA approved those peanut capsules on January 31.

Similar work underway

Over the past decade and prior to the FDA approval, a small number of allergists had already started offering OIT using store-bought foods. Tritt found one such clinic several hours away. However, that clinic was not willing to give her son a peanut challenge to confirm whether he still was allergic.

Tritt didn’t want to sign her son up for a long, costly treatment if he might in fact be outgrowing his allergy. But they couldn’t know for sure without the gold-standard test, that oral food challenge.

Blood tests can indicate if someone has specialized proteins that sensitize their immune system to a given food. However, these tests cannot predict if someone will actually develop an allergic reaction to that food.jarun011/iStock/Getty Images Plus

She discussed her dilemma with Stukus on Twitter. Reviewing Gaines’ blood-test results, Stukus agreed to conduct the food challenge. Just before Gaines started kindergarten, his family travelled from Virginia to the doctor’s clinic in Ohio. It was a nine-hour drive.

Gaines started the challenge with a “small, laughable amount” of peanut butter, Tritt recalls. Fifteen minutes later, he ate a bit more. Then some more. Over several hours he chomped a dozen Reese’s peanut butter cups. And he never reacted. 

The test proved Gaines had outgrown his allergy. That makes him one of the lucky few. Many children outgrow some food allergies by the time they enter school. But eight out of every 10 kids with allergies to peanuts or tree nuts will remain allergic.

Freedom and failure

Gian Lagemann, a high school senior in Saratoga, Calif., is allergic to 11 kinds of nuts, including peanuts (which actually is not a nut; it’s a legume). When he started kindergarten, his mother brought “no nuts allowed” signs to the classroom. She asked other parents to tell her whenever they brought in food — so she could make sure it was safe for Gian. Every day Gian ate his lunch at a designated peanut-free table.

Several years ago, Gian’s mom told her son about a peanut OIT trial. The study was starting nearby at Stanford University. “For most of my life, I haven’t been able to eat things where the ingredient labels say ‘may contain peanuts’ or ‘processed in a facility with peanuts,’” Gian says. “Once she explained that [after the trial] I’d be able to eat those foods, I was pretty happy. I was sold.”

Thanks to an experimental peanut-allergy treatment called oral immunotherapy, high-school student Gian Lagemann can now dig into M&Ms. It’s something he previously had to avoid because its label notes that it “may contain peanuts.”Luci Lagemann

At the start of the trial, his family bought a bag of peanut flour. For about six months, Gian took his dose each day after dinner. He doesn’t like the taste of peanuts. So he often mixed his dose into a spoonful of chocolate ice cream. The dose started at 1.3 milligrams of peanut protein (about 1/200th the amount in a peanut). Over the six-month trial it went up to 240 milligrams (0.008 ounce, or a little less than one peanut’s worth).

More broadly, some 8,000 U.S. patients have tried such an oral therapy. Typically, about one in five will withdraw because of side effects or anxiety. Completing such a trial takes focus and discipline — like playing sports. But, Gian recalls, “They told us with every dose we took, our body was just going to get stronger.”

Participants also learned to expect some allergic reactions. “If you’re going to build your immune muscle against a food allergy, you know you’re going to have a little ‘ache’ during the process,” says Kari Nadeau. This Stanford allergist was a leader of the trial. 

Gian felt a few such responses during the study. “My throat would feel a little tight for 15 minutes,” he says. “But after that, it was fine.” So he persevered. And it paid off. When the trial ended, he could eat a full peanut without having an allergic reaction. That means Gian now can safely eat candy with labels warning they’re made in facilities that process nuts. “I was able to try Kit Kats for the first time, and Milky Ways,” Gian says. 

Two years ago, Isaac also tried this oral peanut therapy. At the time, he was 13. But his experiences were quite different. During the treatment he suffered sinus and gastrointestinal troubles. He also had an anaphylactic reaction. Six months in, Isaac dropped out. He quit because he had developed an immune condition called eosinophilic esophagitis (Ee-oh-sin-oh-FILL-ick Ee-SOF-uh-JY-tis). The oral therapy triggers it in a small share of people.

And there’s something else to keep in mind: People could lose their desensitization to peanut once they end the oral therapy. That finding was confirmed in a 2019 study by Nadeau’s team. For many people, effective treatment might have to continue long-term.

Other treatments

Some people have taken part in research trials testing a different treatment for peanut allergy — a skin patch. Instead of eating bits of peanut by mouth, patients every day stick a coin-sized disc onto their back or upper arm. Each disc contains a quarter-milligram of peanut protein. That’s about a thousandth as much as what’s in a peanut. (By comparison, Aimmune’s capsules start with twice that much. Over months, patients then take doses that increase to 1, 10, 20, 100 and 300 milligrams.) From the patch, peanut proteins seep through the skin but do not enter the blood. Peanut patches are therefore less likely to cause anaphylaxis than is the oral therapy.

DBV Technologies in France makes the patch. This company conducted a year-long trial of its product in 356 children with peanut allergies. Nine in every 10 participants finished the trial. The most common side effect was a skin rash at the patch site. However, this trial didn’t work as well as the company had hoped. By the end of the study, only a little more than one in every three patients treated could safely eat the “exit dose” of one to three peanuts. The study leaders reported their findings in the March 12, 2019 Journal of the American Medical Association. 

Still, the patch has worked wonders for some. In 2012, Sharon Wong was desperate. Her son’s allergies to peanuts and tree nuts had intensified to an alarming degree. Once during a shopping trip, he went into a coughing fit while walking past a batch of freshly baked walnut cookies. At a restaurant buffet, he started vomiting after merely looking at a steamy tray of pesto pasta. (Pesto is made with pine nuts.)

“It was really awful,” recalls Wong. “We cannot control the air he breathes. But we didn’t want to keep him confined at home. We wanted him to be able to go shopping, to go down the street, to go to friends’ homes and not stress about his allergies.”

That year she enrolled her son, then nine years old, in an earlier-stage peanut patch trial in the San Francisco Bay area of California. At first, it took just 1/240th of a peanut to trigger an allergic reaction. After two years on the patch, he could tolerate about six peanuts.

Egg is one of the most common food allergies in children. Research shows that more than two-thirds of kids will outgrow their egg allergy by age 16.denizya/iStock/Getty Images Plus

“We feel more comfortable about traveling longer distances and dining in restaurants with precautions in place,” Wong wrote in a blog about the patch trial. “Each mini-success gives us confidence and improves our quality of life. My son is happier and healthier.”

In August, the FDA plans to review data on the peanut patch and recommend if it should be approved. DBV Technologies is also researching and developing patches to treat milk and egg allergies. And as for oral therapies, Aimmune recently started a new trial for its egg-allergy treatment. The company is also developing an oral therapy for walnut allergy.

Scientists are studying other related approaches, too. One is an immune therapy that uses liquid droplets containing allergens. These are placed under the tongue rather than swallowed directly. Edwin Kim, an allergist at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, in Chapel Hill, led one study of children treated for three to five years with this sublingual therapy. All had peanut allergies. Of the 37 kids who completed the study, two in every three could now consume 750 milligrams (0.03 ounce) or more of the peanut allergen. Kim, whose center has helped conduct studies for DBV and Aimmune (among other companies), reported the findings last November in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

Additional experimental treatments block other parts of the immune response to allergens. Some act together with oral therapy, allowing fewer allergic reactions during therapy. Others supply helpful gut microbes that seem to guard against food allergies. And one company is developing a toothpaste to treat peanut allergy.

In the end, each family must decide whether to seek an emerging treatment or stick with just avoiding exposure to the sensitizing foods. Treatments require diligence. They’re not yet widely available. And they don’t always work. But if the allergy is unbearable, trying a new treatment might prove worth the time and risk. Clearly, concludes Stukus, the Ohio doctor, “food-allergy management is not one-size-fits-all.”

New success in treating allergies to peanuts and other foods published first on https://triviaqaweb.tumblr.com/

[brettwarnock]

Erin Nations is a former student of mine, who picked up a publisher deal with Top Shelf Productions, which i founded and ran for over 15 years with Chris Staros, natch. He just attended his very first San Diego ComicCon, where issue #3 of his comic book Gumballs debuted. I did this interview with Erin back in October, and it sat in my in-box this whole time. With Erin's work starting to find an audience, this seemed to a good time to roll it out. Also, the comics and illustrations here are a little older. If you want to see his current work, go buy Gumballs! 

Brett: Erin, where did you grow up, and how did your surrounding affect you as you started to understand your evolving gender identity? 

Erin: Growing up, I was never stationed in one place for more than 2 years. I was born in St. Louis, Missouri and lived in Overland until I was 8-years-old. I spent a couple years in Houston, Texas, and I've lived all over Oregon since the age of 10. As a kid and a teenager, I don't think the small towns I lived in really affected me as I came to understand my gender. If anything, it was my peers, family, and the media that affected me. 

My parents were fine with me being a tomboy, yet I understood kids at school would probably make fun of me if they knew I was interested in things that were traditionally associated with boys. And even though I knew my parents were ok with me wearing the hand-me-downs from my male cousins and playing with G.I. Joe's, I feared what they would say/think if they walked in and saw me trying to pee standing up in the bathroom. I could have been living in a small rural town or a big city, I still would have felt the same way. I was coming of age in the 80s and 90s, during a time when there wasn't much trans visibility and whatever representation was being broadcasted on TV or printed in magazines, portrayed trans lives as anomalies. 

That's how I came to understand what transgender is, from watching talk shows and primetime TV news programs. I understood that I could relate to trans people, but seeing them sensationalized or treated like oddities worried me, so I repressed my feelings. When the media's depiction of trans people started to shift over time, and as trans lives became more visible, and peoples' attitudes began to change, I began to feel more comfortable with my gender identity. I finally felt ok with accepting it and I felt better about coming out. I will say, location has been more important to me as adult. 

I moved to Portland 10 years ago at the age of 24. When you're queer or trans, there's a need to find people like yourself. It's probably why a lot of us escape to bigger cities. There are far more LGBTQ people here compared to anywhere else I've lived (not counting the 6 months I lived in San Francisco). For me, I think Portland is more accepting. It's a queer friendly city. I've never been discriminated against at work. 

I go to an affordable clinic that provides services to trans patients and has physicians who specialize in trans medicine. I have many trans friends and I was able to turn to a couple of them when I needed advice on where to find a therapist and where to go to start HRT. Even the hospital I had top surgery at, has a transgender health program. I completely understand why trans people would want to relocate here. 

Brett: When did you start drawing as a kid, and at what age were you when you really grabbed onto comics? Who were you art inspirations in general, and comics in particular? 

Erin: I began drawing around age 9. I enjoyed re-drawing characters from the cartoons I watched. Matt Groening and Hanna-Barbera were huge influences on me. At that age, I dreamed of one day becoming an animator. My interests in comics really didn't take off until I was in college. 

I loved Ghost World (the film) and one day, my best friend stopped by my house when I was watching it and he said to me, "You know this is based on a comic book, right?" I had no idea. I didn't know comics like that existed. I bought Ghost World (the comic book) and instantly, I became a fan of Clowes. It was my friend who really introduced me to comics. He let me borrow his Ashley Wood and Chris Ware books. He'd invite me to go get pizza with him and then we'd hang out at More Fun Comics in Ashland. I was overwhelmed by the selection, but I enjoyed browsing. I'm pretty sure that was the first time I ever entered a comic book store. 

A professor of mine at SOU, Miles Inada, taught a comic book class and during the first week of class, all we did was read comic books. It was fantastic! Through that course, I discovered Adrian Tomine, Craig Thompson, and the Hernandez Brothers. I was inspired by all of them. In addition to the cartoonist I already mentioned, other cartoonist and artist I've been inspired by include Lisa Hanawalt, Julia Wertz, Jillian Tamaki, Jay Howell, Michael Sieben, Travis Millard...the list goes on. 

Brett: What is it about the comics medium that you chose to use it as your primary form of artistic expression? 

Erin: I always wanted to be a cartoonist. For the longest time I don't think I had the patience for it, which is why I didn't start creating comics til my late 20s. I still enjoy other mediums, but I really love the storytelling aspect of comics. I like the combination of images and text. It's visually appealing to me. 

Brett: We live in a strange, sometimes toxic environment; do you have any insights or words of wisdom for younger people who might be grappling with gender identity? 

Erin: Understand that it's perfectly normal to question your gender or sexuality. It's okay if you're not totally sure who you are or how you identify. Don't feel pressure to put a label on who you are. Gender and sexuality can be very fluid for some of us and it may change throughout your life. Before I came out as a lesbian (in my early 20s), I thought I might be bisexual. Before I came out as a trans guy (in my early 30s), I thought I might be genderqueer. 

Also, gender roles, gender stereotypes, and who you are attracted to, do not define your gender. Most importantly, you're not alone and you are totally normal. There are many people in the world just like you. Because of social media, it's so much easier to connect and make friends with other trans people. I didn't have when I was a kid. Reach out to those folks if you don't have anyone else too. It's important to have support and someone to talk to. 

Do what I did, make comics and share them. Art is amazing therapy.

[mrmichaelchadler]

Home Entertainment Consumer Guide: November 8, 2018

10 NEW TO NETFLIX

"Bram Stoker's Dracula" "Cape Fear" "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" "Filmworker" "Ghostbusters" "Morris From America" "National Lampoon's Animal House" "The Raid: Redemption" "United 93"

6 NEW TO BLU-RAY/DVD

"12 Monkeys" (Arrow)

Terry Gilliam emerged from the world of Monty Python and became one of the most fascinating director of the '80s and '90s, directing masterpieces like "Brazil" and "The Fisher King," both available in the Criterion Collection. To be honest, I remembered liking his Oscar-nominated 1996 loose adaptation of "La Jetee" but kind of put it on Gilliam's second tier. It's closer to the first, as evidenced in this gorgeous new Blu-ray release from Arrow Home Video. First of all, the 4K restoration is mindblowing, one of the best HD transfers of the year. Gilliam's world has depth and nuance in ways that it never has before, enhancing the overlal experience of the film. Second, the film's themes of responsibility and that form of insanity when it feels like you're the only person who really knows what's going on in the world still resonate. I still have some performance issues (Stowe, an actress I usually like, is bland) but this is the kind of visual feast that's perfect for a company that loves movies like Arrow. It gets me even more excited for next year's "The Man Who Killed Don Quixote."

Buy it here 

Special Features Brand new restoration from a 4K scan of the original negative by Arrow Films, approved by director Terry Gilliam Optional DTS 5.1 Master Audio and 2.0 stereo soundtracks Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing Audio commentary by Terry Gilliam and producer Charles Roven The Hamster Factor and Other Tales of Twelve Monkeys, feature-length making-of documentary by Keith Fulton and Louis Pepe (Lost in La Mancha) The Film Exchange with Terry Gilliam, a 1996 interview with Gilliam and critic Jonathan Romney, recorded at the London Film Festival Brand-new appreciation by Ian Christie, author of Gilliam on Gilliam The Twelve Monkeys Archives Theatrical trailer Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Gary Pullin

"BlacKkKlansman"

Speaking of filmmakers who meant the world to me in the '80s and '90s, one of my favorite film stories of 2018 has to be the critical adoration for Spike Lee's latest film, one of his most searing and impressive in his recent filmography. I don't go in for the "Return to Form" stories around this flick though because Lee never really dropped as much as people think ("Chi-raq" is great) and I also think this movie is a tier just below his career best films like "Malcolm X," "Do the Right Thing," and "25th Hour." However, I'd be fine if it overperformed during awards season just to make up for the dozen or so times that Spike Lee was taken for granted this time of year. It's passionate, fascinating, funny, and moving, with great performances and more ideas for viewers to dissect and discuss than a dozen other films combined. It's an essential film of 2018. 

Buy it here

Special Features A Spike Lee Joint - Ron Stallworth, Jordan Peele, and the cast discuss working with the iconic director BlacKkKlansman Extended Trailer Featuring Prince's "Mary Don't You Weep"

"The Incredibles 2"

Does Pixar know something we don't? For years, everyone clamored for a sequel to "The Incredibles," to the point that it looked like it might never happen or people might not care when it eventually did. Of course, it did happen and it was GIGANTIC. It's the highest grosssing film in the history of Pixar, bringing in over $600 million domestically and over a billion worldwide. It is the ninth highest grossing film OF ALL TIME, and the highest grossing animated film of all time. Oh, and it's gonna win an Oscar for Best Animated Film unless there's voter tampering. And, of course, Disney/Pixar has delivered for fans with a gorgeous Blu-ray that includes a great transfers and extensive special features. One thing that's particularly nice is the inclusion of the short film that played with it, "Bao." Pixar often shuttles their shorts off to special releases, but it's nice to have "Bao" where it belongs, as well as a new short film called "Auntie Edna."

Buy it here 

Special Features All-New "Auntie Edna" Mini-Movie 10 Deleted Scenes With Introductions Super Stuff  Heroes & Villains Ralph Eggleston: Production Designer Strong Coffee: A Lesson in Animation with Brad Bird  Paths to Pixar: Everyday Heroes  SuperBaby  Commentary  Theatrical Short: "Bao"  Making "Bao"  Outtakes & Stories  Character Theme Songs, Vintage Toy Commercial TV Spots, Toolkit Montage and Global "Incredibles 2" Trailers

"Mandy"

Little was more fun this Fall than watching the buzz that I heard at Sundance about Panos Cosmatos' "Mandy" filter down from the mountains and out to the rest of the world. A movie that RLJ basically tried to shunt off to the video market was too batshit crazy to stay there, resulting in sold out screenings at places like the Music Box here in Chicago. Movies like "Mandy" don't make over a $1 million domestically, but that's a threshold that this wonderfully strange movie crossed. And it still feels like it's just getting started. I've already lent my copy to a friend. I'm sure other people are doing the same. "Mandy" ain't going anywhere, and strikes me as one of the films from 2018 that people will still be watching in 2028. 

Buy it here 

Special Features Behind the Scenes - Featurette Deleted & Extended Scenes

"The Princess Bride" (Criterion)

Speaking of movies that persist, there may be no film released in more special edition DVD and Blu-ray sets than "The Princess Bride," which has gotten Special/Anniversary/Limited editions since the DVD was invented. It's hard to believe anyone who's had a DVD player for any amount of time doesn't own it by now, but the Criterion release offers ample reason to upgrade. Of course, it will always be about the movie itself, which has never looked this good, courtesy of a 4K restoration. Believe it or not, Criterion also found a way to produce new special features, including two about William Goldman's beloved screenplay, and an interview with the film's art director. The set also includes tons of archival material that was on previous DVDs and Blu-rays. This really is the ultimate release for one of the most beloved films of its generation. It's a great idea for a holiday gift for the movie lover on your list. 

Buy it here    Special Features New 4K digital restoration, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack on the Blu-ray Audio commentary from 1996 featuring director Rob Reiner, screenwriter William Goldman, producer Andrew Scheinman, and actors Billy Crystal and Peter Falk Edited 1987 audiobook reading of Goldman’s novel The Princess Bride by Reiner New program about Goldman’s screenplay New program about Goldman’s tapestry based on his novel Archival interviews with Reiner, Goldman, and actors Crystal, Cary Elwes, Christopher Guest, Mandy Patinkin, Chris Sarandon, Fred Savage, and Robin Wright New interview with art director Richard Holland Programs about makeup, fencing, and fairy tales On-set video diary filmed and narrated by Elwes Five behind-the-scenes videos with commentaries from 1996 by Reiner, Scheinman, and Crystal Trailer PLUS: An essay by author Sloane Crosley and, for the Blu-ray edition, Goldman’s introduction to his Princess Bride script from his collection Four Screenplays, in a lavishly illustrated, clothbound book

"Teen Titans Go! To the Movies"

The film adaptation of the Cartoon Network hit kind of flopped at the box office, opening in 5th place (although it's worth noting that it only cost $10 million and made five times that worldwide). I hope more people catch up with it at home as it's a surprisingly funny, smart movie that deserves a bigger audience than, say, "The Grinch." In a week year for animation, it's a standout, offering jokes that work for both kids and adults. 

Buy it here 

Special Features Lil Yachty Music Video: "Teen Titans GO! Rap" Sing-a-long with Silkie "DC Super Hero Girls: The Late Batsby" Mini-Movie Red Carpet Mayhem Teen Titans GO! To the Movies: WB Lot Shenanigans "Everything is Fake": Exclusive song not in the movie "Teen Titans GO!: Translated" Storyboard Animatics: Time Cycles The Final Battle

from All Content https://ift.tt/2SWSq9Z

[sportsbypc]

THIS BEST STUFF I SAW THIS WEEK: McCutchen and Walker are teammates again

Neil Walker and Andrew McCutchen are back together.

McCutchen was traded to the New York Yankees late Thursday evening. The sagging San Francisco Giants were looking to make a move, while the Yankees were looking to add a bat for the team's run down the stretch and likely into the postseason.

It's August 31st and Andrew McCutchen is a New York Yankee. pic.twitter.com/yuIWnZrkeo

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) August 31, 2018

TOGETHER AGAIN: The newest New York Yankee, Andrew McCutchen, is together again with former Pittsburgh Pirates teammate Neil Walker, this time in the Bronx as they make a run at the American League pennant.

Walker and McCutchen, long-time teammates in Pittsburgh who helped end the Pirates epic losing run as a franchise with a wild-card berth in the 2013 postseason and a 94-68 record, last played together in 2015.

That year capped off a three-season run by the Pirates that saw the team make the playoffs during each campaign. The Pirates finished in second place each of those three seasons in the National League Central Division, behind the St. Louis Cardinals each time. In the seemingly surreal 2013 season when Pittsburgh snapped a streak of 20-straight losing seasons as a franchise, the Pirates edged Cincinnati in the then-inaugural “Wild Card Game” at PNC Park, which MLB had introduced just that year. They advanced to face St. Louis in the NL Divisional Series, falling 3-2.

Again in the Wild Card Game the subsequent two seasons, the Pirates fell to the San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs, respectively.

It was after that loss to the Cubs, the Pirates began dismantling the nucleus that had ushered in the sea change needed to move past the ineptness the franchise had seen for the two decades since 1992's loss in the postseason to the Atlanta Braves. Walker, with one year remaining on his contract with his hometown Pirates, was traded to the New York Mets for Jon Niese, a middling pitcher who, in August 2016, would be traded back to the Mets. Walker was again traded in 2017 as the Mets had fallen on hard times. This time, he was sent to Milwaukee. Walker signed with the Yankees for 2018.

This past offseason, after missing the playoffs in 2016 and 2017 and with his contract expiring in 2018, the Pirates dealt McCutchen to the Giants.

Walker's happy to have “Cutch” in his Yankee clubhouse.

"I talked to him (Friday) morning, and he's super excited," Walker said, according to the Yankees' website. "He's a guy who holds himself to a very high standard. He's always accountable and he thrives in big situations and the spotlight. He proved that in Pittsburgh. I think it's going to carry over into this stretch for us (here in New York)."

Manager Aaron Boone's happy with the acquisition, as well.

"This is as high character a person as we have in our game and I know he'll fit well in our room," he said.

McCutchen is expected to be in uniform today when the Yankees host the Detroit Tigers.

For me, it's been tough to be a bystander in what the Pirates have done as a franchise from the Walker trade forward. Things were set up well before then for the Pirates -- the franchise just needed to spend more money to keep thing intact. They chose otherwise. I've chosen not to watch.

Having Walker and McCutchen back on the same team, regardless of where it is, brings some solace to that in a roundabout way and I hope they, together, win a World Series.

MORE SPORTS

Johnny Manziel on joining the Browns: 'Can I go back to college?'

Since beginning his self-rebuild in the Canadian Football League, Johnny Manziel's seemed honest and contemplative – a stark contrast to the person he became in his whirlwind of a life since winning the Heisman Trophy in 2012 while the quarterback at Texas A&M and, later, in his short-lived first professional career with the NFL's Cleveland Browns.

In an interview on a web show hosted by comedian Kevin Hart, Manziel opened up a bit more.

"After that first year (at Texas A&M) and fame started to come, I couldn't help but eat it up," Manziel told Hart.

One of the funniest things I’ve ever been a part of coming out tomorrow. Appreciate the invite and the great talk @KevinHart4real @ratty @LOLNetwork @OBB #ColdAsBalls pic.twitter.com/2QlhIpJ9Gb

— Johnny Manziel (@JManziel2) August 27, 2018

LESSONS LEARNED: Johnny Manziel and comedian Kevin Hart got together for a bit to talk about Manziel's past and what he's learned moving forward.

"I don't expect people to look at my story and feel bad for me, Manziel added. “A lot of what I did was self-inflicted. I'm at a point now where I can look back, I can reflect and realize that I was one way. That was wrong. What can I do moving forward because I can't change how I was."

READ MORE

Chris Bosh is still considering an NBA comeback, but maybe not for much longer

Forced out of the NBA due to blood-clotting issues, former Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat star Chris Bosh is giving things one last shot in an effort to get back.

Bosh last played in 2016. Now 34, he sees this as his last opportunity and is working hard to find a team where he can fit in and play a role.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge,” Bosh told Yahoo Sports. “I know I can still play some ball and be a 3-and-D guy for somebody out there.”

READ MORE

College football gambling manifesto

Still looking for some tips on teams to take a flier on in 2018 in NCAA Football? Chalk's David Purdum has a great guide.

READ MORE

Ed Oliver, Will Grier strike a pose with creative Heisman Trophy campaigns

ESPN takes a look inside what West Virginia quarterback Will Grier and others are doing to raise their Heisman profiles in our digital age.

READ MORE

ENTERTAINMENT

Riz Ahmed acts his way out of every cultural pigeonhole

Up-and-coming actor Riz Ahmed, of British-Pakastani descent, steals the show in just about everything he's in.

The New York Times profiled the 35-year-old actor for a piece leading up to the release of his next film, “Venom.”

THIS WEEK'S COVER: Riz Ahmed does not want to do away with categories; he wants them to be big enough to include reality. He wants them to encompass No Man’s Land. https://t.co/2CjEn7idxD pic.twitter.com/3QMCzzHyT2

— NYT Magazine (@NYTmag) August 29, 2018

ON THE RISE: Actor Riz Ahmed, who shined in 2016's "The Night Of" on HBO, stars in the upcoming film Venom.

If you have not yet watched HBO's 2016 miniseries, “The Night Of,” I cannot recommend it enough. Ahmed is outstanding alongside John Turturro and Michael K. Williams.

READ MORE

DIGITAL MARKETING

As domino’s expands its pothole paving to all 50 states, here’s how to bring it to your town

Yes, it really is an actual thing. AdWeek takes a look inside Domino's odd but innovative “Paving for Pizza” campaign.

READ MORE

.@Dominos is expanding its pothole paving to all 50 states. Here’s how to bring it to your town: https://t.co/z8hQUSvwWp pic.twitter.com/MDXrcDvkUj

— Adweek (@Adweek) August 31, 2018

PAVING FOR PIZZA: AdWeek takes a look inside the creative Domino's advertising campaign.

MISCELLANEOUS

Wikipedia's “Tale Spin” article

Remember the 90s cartoon on the “Disney Afternoon?” Wikipedia's in-depth article has so much documented that I had no idea were part of the show.

READ MORE

Someone who works at our local opshop/thrift shop just put Goldblums in every single photo frame in the store

This recent Tumblr post from Kiara in Australia is as creepy as it is cool.

CHECK IT OUT

[bleederziine]

We Like To Listen To You! An Interview w/ The Evening Attraction

    Talking to other people is freaking hard. Unlike when you’re a teenager, and talking to people is awkward because you want to be there best friend or their main squeeze, when you’re an adult, you’re doing it for those two reasons, along with needing a job, or in my case, getting musicians to sit down in one place and ask your questions. Luckily for me, when I sat down at Tony’s Burritoes with The Evening Attraction, they were ready and excited to answer all my questions, despite the crowded conditions and din of chattering toddlers and burrito bowl orders being placed. It was refreshing to meet a band that has been making music for a little while, and are proud of it, and at the same time still get excited about fan art and new experiences while on tour.

         After the interview I got to see TEA at the Beat Kitchen. TEA is a band that makes small rooms, like the Beat Kitchen, feel big with their confident playing and classic “rock” gestures (swinging guitars, fidgety dance moves), and I can’t wait to see them again some time. In the mean time, read this interview!

How did the band start?

Miles: Paul can tell the story better…

Paul: Well me and Miles were playing in a band in high school, and in 2013 that band kinda fizzled out, and we, Miles and I, formed this new band with our old drummer Matt Geiser and Joey who Miles knew from Columbia. Me and Miles go way back, and we started this band in 2014.

Miles: So I met Joe at Columbia, and we’ve been in love ever since… Then we made a record at Treehouse Records, at Matt’s place, who was playing drums with us. After that we started playing shows, and our first show was at Lincoln Hall. We just kept playing shows and getting around the scene, and then Nick joined as the drummer after Matt left.

Vincent: We played a lot of shows with traveling bands, and other local bands who had traction around the city. So its been great to play shows and meet guys like Mystery Lights.

Paul: But the last part of the puzzle was adding Vince, about a year ago! We have to add that otherwise everyone will say ‘we haven’t been introduced to this character, this isn’t a Tarantino film, why haven’t I been introduced to this guy?!’

Sub/V (to Vincent): How did you join the band, then?

Miles: We just kidnapped him one night, and never let him go.

Vincent: Really, thats what happened.

Joey: Yeah, we only take his blindfold off when we get to the venues.

Miles: So yeah, we’ve just been playing around the city for a while… We have a new record coming out soon, with this new outfit, got all the magic going on over at Treehouse Records. It should be out sometime this winter.

Vince: I love being in the band, I love being a hostage more-

Paul: Hey, thats not a laughing matter!

Miles: Get the blindfold!

Sub/V: So what inspired you all to initially make music, like in high school or college?

Joey: When I was four years old, it was the Monkeys. So I just watched a lot of the Monkey’s, and wanted a group of guys to play Monkey’s songs with.

Vincent: Yeah its really the only thing I want to do, it goes beyond self expression or anything, its more a matter of fulfilling my own happiness. I’ve wanted to be a musician since I was a kid.

Paul: For me my dad was in a band in the 90s, called Material Issue, and that was always a big thing for me, just being around music all the time.

Miles: I started making music with Paul, as I began learning how to write music and play guitar.

Sub/V: What did you listen to in high school?

Paul: Ooh, thats a good one! Cause thats like the stuff you kind of bury now…

Miles: A kind of guilty pleasure thing

Paul: I was a big Muse fan in high school

Miles: We liked Kings of Leon, early Kings of Leon before they got big…

Joey: I was obsessed with the White Stripes. I think I’m still obsessed with the White Stripes.

Paul: We’re all big Oasis fans too.

Vincent: I like the Strokes…

Joey: Yeah the Strokes, Franz Ferdinand… Wait, I figured it out. 2010, sophomore year of high school, MGMT’s Congratulations. One of the best albums ever made, first record to change my mind from Led Zeppelin guitar solos to, like, melodic chord structures.

Paul: Since then its just been a downward spiral. For the record, I never got into that record, still haven’t. Thats one of the great divides in the band, why we’re sitting on this side of the table.

Vincent: I will say that Radiohead has a couple of perfect records, some of the band might disagree, thats okay… we all have our own tastes and preferences…

Paul: Well those are all our old influences… what are you into now Miles? Nick you always have some good names to rattle off.

Jumble of multiple voices: Nude Party, Mystery Lights, Tom Petty.

Paul: I’ve been obsessed with Paul McCartney since I saw him recently.

SUB/V: Well those are all definitely less embarrassing than what I listened to in high school; basically just all Kesha and One Direction.

Miles: Are you serious?

SUB/V: Well I didn’t get into quote-unquote “cool” music until like two years ago…

Joey: No no I just watched an interview with like Liam, the hot one. Dude seemed really charming.

Paul: Miles actually has a tattoo of him on his face.

Miles: My girlfriend played me some of the one guy’s solo stuff… it was, eh, okay. I think he’s handsome, but he’s not built for rock’n’roll.

SUB/V: Well when I was like, 14, I think, I asked Louis to take a picture of me and he said no, cause it was his day off?

Miles: What a lying son of a bitch!

SUB/V: So how was it touring with Post Animal?

Paul: It was… very productive and successful. Lots of work, very busy.

Vincent: The feedback was incredible, lots of great reactions.

Nick: People were really nice to us, letting us stay at their houses and stuff.

Joey: Those guys are like our best friends, so it was like being with your friends every day on vacation.

Paul: Its great just listening to their good music, and your own good music, and playing music for people who have a fun time listening to it!

Nick: Miles got some crowd surfing in, with a tambourine, and the crowd just destroyed it.

Miles: I broke it into about three pieces. That day the crowd just ate a tambourine.

Paul: You know what that reminds me of? Like in a cartoon when something eats something and then like burp out the crown or hat or whatever? It was like the crowd ate you and then burped out the tambourine.

SUB/V: What was it like staying with strangers? That would feel pretty creepy for me…

Nick: Surprisingly great. There were probably like 3 sets of people who were just completely spontaneous, like we asked at the show and they just obliged.

Joey: All of them were very clean homes, surprisingly. This one guy in Houston, named Ernie, like drew all of these beautiful drawings of us, he’s an artist. They all look like lava lamps, like really psychedelic. He even drew one of Javi (Post Animal) as a fish.

SUB/V: You guys have a new release coming out soon in the fall; how has the way you write/make music changed throughout your time as a band?

Joey: Honestly like me and this guy have lived together for a while and we just bounce ideas off each other… we just write out some lyrics and put music together to go along with it.

Vincent: Usually Miles and Joey will have an idea, and then Paul will write a super sweet bass line, and Nick’ll start playing and it’ll all just come together.

Paul: Nick’s the best drummer in Chicago.

Miles: For this record we just made demoes, and then worked of those, and took ‘em to the garage and worked on them and created these songs as a band.

SUB/V: What keeps you motivated to make music?

Vincent: Every day is just so inspiring. As artists around today we’re very lucky to be in the information era, where you can hear any kind of artist or music, if you go on Google or Apple Music.

Joey: We’ve all been together for a while now, and I think thats its just cool that we can continue to do this, and finally get to share it with more people.

Paul: Vince’s real answer is he’s being held hostage, so he has no say in it. Anyway I don’t really think we have a choice; what would we do, just not write songs when we think of them? So, in summary, we’ve been around since 2014, we just got back from tour, we had some success, we love meeting people, we made a lot of good friends around the country…

Joey: We like to listen to Columbia Record’s radio broadcasts of Orson Welles’s Suspense…

Paul: And more than anything, we like to listen to you! So please, have conversations with us!

INTERVIEW AND PHOTOS BY CHLOE GRAHAM (@SUBVERSESMUSIC)