I Ain't Afraid of No Daleks

Two weeks ago, two women off the street, rang up the police on the neighbours, because they left their 4 and 5 year olds to just wander around the streets on their own---now, apparently, one of the kids--the boy, has been left to wander again...I can hear the loud-mouth sister (the one that lives in the two-room efficeny apartment next door, with my drunken hillbilly neighbour and God only knows how many other familiy members.

She's yelling and giving them hell, telling the kid's dad or mum or whom ever that the police will take their kids away if they don't shape up---kid of hard not to hear her--even when the woman is talking "normally," it's like she's speaking through a Tannoy. When she's screeching at someone, they can hear her clear into the next blinking state!

Well, she's stopped screeching and is yelling the kid's name at the top of her lungs. Hope they find the...little angel.

Guess she must have, as now I hear a kid bawling and she's finally shut her big fat mouth. The other night she was so drunk, she almost knocked me down the blinking staircase, as she went by me. They aren't the worst people I've ever met, heaven knows, but...man, I miss my caravan, sometimes.

It's steamy in here--89 F degrees. Time for another frozen frapachino bar

I've been alternating between reading several books of mine, lately. There's "The Medea," and "The Last Dodo" (a Dr Who novel), and also, I've been reading bits and pieces of "Last of the Great Scouts," a campy "biography" (methinks there's been some poetic license taken in the writing of this particular work) which was written in the 1900's, by William F. Cody's sister (aka: "Buffalo Bill"), with the forward written by early popular western novelist, Zane Grey.

In the book, is an excerpt--Arrgh! Oh dear....a book
which Boots has been ever-so-kind as to just get up on table and lay down upon--well...at least I won't have to lose the open page...a bookmark with fur, anybody want one? So, I'm going to write about this..sometime. But of course, I will have to pry a big furry ginger arse off of it, first.

Good boy Boots! I've managed to shift him to the opposite page, so now he's being truly helpful, by holding the book open for me, so I can type without having to stop and hold the book open! Cats do have their uses, sometimes.

Anyway, getting back to the subject of this post, in this very lively and romantic biography, is an except of a letter General Sherman (the famous American Civil War cavalry officer) to "Buffalo Bill," written to the western man about his return to New York City around 1886 or 1887, after a year spent in England with the Wild West Show (which played in London, Manchester and Hull).

The old general laments the loss of the 'Wild West' era in America, yet praised America's 'progress' towards "civilization". He wrote thus of the changes:

"As nearly as I can estimate, there were, in 1865, about 9 1/2 million buffalo on the plains between the Misouri River and the Rocky Mountains; all are now gone, killed for their meat, skin and bones. These seems like desecration, cruelty and murder, yet, they have been repaced by twice as many cattle. At that date (1865), there were about 165,000 Pawnees, Sioux, Cheyenne and Araphoes, who depended upon these buffalo for their yearly food. They too, have gone, but they have been replaced by twice or thrice(three times) as many white men and women, who have made the earth to blossom as the rose, and who can be counted and taxed and governed by the laws of nature and civilization.

This change has been salutory, and will go on to the end...this drama (of the Wild West) must end. Days, years and centuries follow fast; even the drama of civilizaion must end..."

This, is the TRUE "American Spirit." The spirit of the conquerer. To love something, but to want something else, and therefore, crush the thing you love to get at that thing you want more.

Well, at least that's the way I see it--it's a lot more complicated than that, I'm aware, but I think that's the genearl essance; that conquer all attitude that is the catalyst that has turned the cogs into motion, to achive what the world has today--war, recession, civil unrest, terrorism, corpororate empires.

Of course, that's just my opinion. I'm never against capitalism, but extreme capitalism is a destroyer, not a builder. And, that's where we are, today, in the "free" world.

PAWNEE BRAVES

BUFFALO BILL

GENERAL SHERMAN

OUR "PROUD" AMERICAN HERITAGE:

Well, it's going on to 3pm here, and I've got a burger grilling on the stove for lunch and not much else going on.

Overdid it in a big way on Friday, as my body isn't doing well today. Almost fell down again, this afternoon. Couldn't sleep last night, on account of the storms, so that probably didn't help. Finally fell asleep around half-past four in the morning, but wow, have I got the wobbly's today!

My blood sugar's a bit high, so that might be a factor. It's been pretty good, last few weeks. My PA was on me to check my blood pressure regularly--but hello! Not every one has a car they can hop in, to go to the drug store or wherever to check their BP--certainly I can't afford my own cuff! God, health people are thick, sometimes. "Do this, do that, do the other thing..." With what money, pray tell?

Even eating healthy is wildly expensive these days--and don't let anyone tell you otherwise...people like that are either completely naive or totally delusional.

Well, no complaints about my diet this week. It was my choice, for a change, to live on hot dogs and hamburgers for a week, so I could spare that $40 for myself...without the guilt. I decided that I needed a little pick-me-up, to help me out of my doldrums. It did help a bit, only the running around took its toll on my body---I DO miss having a car, sorry to say. Some days its much harder for me to walk than others, now.

Still, it's a good day to catch up with some chores around here, which I plan on doing shortly. And, I do hope you all have a fantastic day.

Filmed this past May exclusively for the Proms concert, is this one-off Dr Who skit, featuring David Tennant. Made available only on the BBC website for a limited time, it will never be seen broadcast outside the UK.

AND HE ACTUALLY, FINNALY, GETS TO SAY, "REVERSE THE POLARITY OF THE NEUTRON FLOW!!! Brilliant!!!!

AND...why didn't I notice this before? The Closing theme is from Tom Baker's era! How cool is that? This ALMOST makes up for the episode 12 fiasco...almost.

This advert was banned in some of the more uptight parts of my country. Personally, I think it's a hoot! (I wonder if DAvid Tennant does this?)

This "back-to-school" advert campaign by Staples office supply, was a big hit when it came out;

September is approaching...back to school time for the kiddies...and in America, that means that school supply shops are vying for parent's dollars...with funny adverts. Here's two from a "series" by Office Max, filmed in New York City recently:

I was going to pass on these blog quiz/meme things for a few weeks, but this person, (tardisgurl) said the word "please" no less than seven times!

I'm afraid my upbringing makes it hard for me to say "no," when someone pleads with me with seven "pleases," highlighted and in all caps.

So, with a marytred sigh, here I go, once more into the breech...

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A FAN OF DOCTOR WHO?

25 years this year.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A FAN OF DAVID?

Well, I supose since summer of 2006.

WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE COMPANION? An even tie between Sarah-Jane and Donna.

WHO IS YOUR LEAST FAVOURITE COMPANION?

I don't know that I have any "least favourites," But I sometimes did find Peri's whinging rather annoying. Okay, I sometimes found her character a bit embarrassing to watch.

Mel...erm--bit over-the-top bubbly, not a bad character, but not someone I'd want to be stuck sitting next to on long plane journey.

But, never really hated a character--although, there were/are companions that I didn't/don't relate to as well as others: Susan, 1st Romana, Adric, Teegan, Turlough, Rose, Mickey, Martha and Martha's mum. It's not that I disliked any of these characters in any way, just that I could not/do not see them as my peers or contemporaries. I mean, I have't been a teenager in 27 years, and have never done the gushy-flirty-girly thing (at least not that I recall), so I can't really relate to Rose or Martha in the new series.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT IS DAVID'S FAVOURITE FOOD IS?

How the hell should I know...Beans on toast? Marmite? Curried eels? Honey-nut Cherrios? (I only said that last one, becuase I'm sitting here eating some at...3:43 am.)

DO YOU WANT TO MEET DAVID?

Why? Does he want to meet me?

TO WHAT LENGTHS WOULD YOU GO TO, TO MEET DAVID?

Only if he sends me an invitation, chips in for the pet-sitter I'd have to hire and the lost pay from not working, buys the plane ticket(s) from Albany to London, and offers to me up at his sister's neighbour's cousin's house.

HOW BADLY DO YOU WANT TO KISS DAVID?

I don't want to kiss David...bleh, haggis breath. I'd rather kiss my cat.

DO YOU KNOW WHERE DAVID GREW UP?

A town near Glasgow, I think?

WHAT RELIGION DO YOU THINK DAVID IS?

Not that it's any of my business, but I've read in some Dr Who thing that his dad's a Presbyterian minister or something like that.

ON A SCALE OF ONE TO TEN, HOW SEXY DO THINK DAVID IS?

2 (and I'm being generous)

WHAT'S YOUR FAVOUITE NON-DOCTOR WHO PERFORMANCE OF DAVID'S?

I've not seen loads of his work, so it's hard to say--thought he was wonderful in that comic relief sketch with Catherine Tate. His Casanova was good. And, someone sent me a link to a couple of clips of his "Asylum" part, and I thought young Tennant was just fantastic. And, there was a couple of other thingss. And was right on target as Chris in Learners, showing how really versatile he is. I know I saw that bit where he was playing a character suffering brain damage, but I was quite ill at the time, and I don't think I remember much of it. Also, I know I've seen bits and pieces of a lot of his work, on Youtube, and it's not that it didn't make an impression on me, it's just that maybe I didn't care for the film or series he was playing in, and therefore didn't pay as much attention to Tennant's performance as I might normally have done. I'd love to see the man onstage though. I think what we see on film is just the tip of the iceburg.

ARE YOU OBSESSED WITH DOCTOR WHO?

Yeah, but I really am trying to back away from it.

ARE YOU OBSESSED WITH DAVID?

Erm--no. At least...I don't think so...oh hell, now you got me wondering if I need to see a shirnk...

ARE YOU GOING TO SEE HAMLET?

Sadly, no. But, I do hope to one day to go to a theater and see it performed (tho' not by Tennant, of course).

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF DAVID'S LATEST GIRLFRIEND?

He has a girlfriend? I thought he was gay.

Really tho', who cares? He can waggle his willie at any woman he wants, as long as it ain't me.

ON A SCALE OF ONE TO TEN, HOW WOULD YOU RATE DAVID'S ACTING?

9 1/2. (Almost as good as Derek Jacobi or David Warner-but needs a tad more maturity.)

I've got to find something interesting to write about..just...not tonight, I guess.

Wow, the storms began around 6pm, and here at nearly 2am, are still going strong. There are storm warnings in towns and counties all around us, but so far outside of torrential rains and a couple of lightning strikes, we've missed the bad weather--we do have flash flood warning, as I hear some of the creeks are close to bankfull, tonight, and some roads have been partially flooded. No tornados like the one that devistated New Hampshire on Thursday, thankfully. We've not had a bad tornado in northeastern New York in about four or five years, happily.

The lightning is still flashing on the horizon, but thunder is still pretty distant.

WATCH THIS AMAZING VIDEO:

I always assumed that the UK "mile" and our "mile," were the same...no.

In the UK a mile is, 5,280 feet--which comes to 1,609.344 meters.

In the USA, our mile is, 5,280 survey feet, which is a tiny bit longer, at 1,609.347 219 meters.

Who knew?

So don't whinge so much next time, my UK friends, when you have to do a 50 mile drive (which takes an average of 60 minutes, here in the US, without heavy traffic).

THE ROADS I HAVE TRAVELED

SOUTHBOUND ALONG THE HUDSON RIVER, FROM ALBANY NY, APPROX 2 MILES FROM MY HOMETOWN

SIGN FOR MY HOMETOWN, I-787--this is the first motorway I ever drove on.

Other local roads:

AERIAL VIEW, ALBANY, NY & HUDSON RIVER

I-87 Interstate motorway, direct north-south route from Albany, NY to Montreal, Que. (Aka: "Adirondack Northway")

"TWIN BRIDGES" OVER MOHAWK RIVER, SEPERATING ALBANY AND SARATOGA COUNTIES

I-87 NARROWS FROM THREE TO TWO LANES, JUST PAST LAKE GEORGE, APPROX. 70 MILES FROM ALBANY, ALL THE WAY TO THE CANADIAN BORDER.