I Ain't Afraid of No Daleks

In the race to the November finish line, Obama pulled marginally ahead of McCain in the polls, but has had one of the lowest post-convention leads in decades. This is partly due to the fact that America is having it's first back-to-back presidential conventions in fifty 50 years. Also, the news focus on hurricanes Gustav and Hanna, and McCain's abrupt announcement (timed to take the focus off Obama's, the Clintons and Ted Kennedy's "inspiring" convention speeches), of his choice of the slightly controversial Gov. Palin from Alaska.

Obama still leads, but that lead has shrunk by several percentage points in the last few days.

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In other news, McCain's campaign manager says the election is not about economic, domestic or foreign policy issues, but about..."personalities." McCain's manager--perhaps correctly--surmises that American people will not vote because of oil/gas prices, lost jobs, the "war" in Iraq, the environment/global warming, terrorism concerns, education, poverty or health care--they will vote, McCain's camp insists, based solely on whether they like the candidate as a person, or not.

Which pretty much sums up the conservative mind, does it not?

I was going to throw out my old TV set--it's sitting unplugged, on the floor of my living room, against one wall. And, you know, it will be worthless in '09 anyway, when the USA ditches analog television forever--and I'm NOT buying a converter, thanks--most American TV sucks anyway, with very few exceptions: Law & Order, West Wing, Queer Eye, Antiques Roadshow, Remember WENN, Star Trek TNG, McGyver...I liked those shows, but even the news here if far more dumbed down than in Europe...CNN Europe is much more serious and in-depth than CNN America. CNN America, like most US media outlets, has fallen to the stupidity cycle swirling around (and down) the toilet of corporate media.

Anyway, I guess the TV set will have to stay a while longer--well, and I don't look forward to lugging it down 2 flights of stairs to the skip in the car park out back.

Boots has been sitting bolt upright in front of the tele screen, admiring himself. He used to do that all the time, when he was younger, but I've not seen him do it in a long while. They say animals can't see reflections--horse pucky! Boot's eyes were wide open, his head was bobbing this way and that, as he sat 2 or 3 inches from the screen.

I just got an email from..well, I won't say, 'cos I wouldn't want to publicly embarrass the person--it's not one of my blog friends, in case you're wondering...and have the urge to snicker behind someone's back.

I just got a request for a link or "links' to "Doctor Who porn sites."

What?????

Why (ahem) would this person think I visit Who porn sites? Okay, I've read Who porn--some of it really well...rather...okay, I almost went blind, but anyway, the stuff I read--no, really--was only 'cos at the time I belonged to a Dr Who fan-fic writer's group, and we'd share each other's stuff...in fact, that's WHY I left Dr Who fiction websites!

(Okay--well, that reason, and also the mindless...nay, nothing less than utterly stupid, insistence that all Who fiction stories--stories, not scripts-- be written in single sentence, double spaced paragraphs 'cos empty-headed readers out there found PROPER writing "too hard to read." ) Well, I spent five long hard years at college, taking writing course after writing course, just to bring my "talents" up to average skills...damned if I'm gonna' dumb down my writing because some lazy little poo doesn't like to read a whole paragraph on the internet! (Not for free, anyway--I'd definitely have to be paid, to do that).

Twits and prats and philistines, some of the "writers" on these sites.

I'm sorry, but, call me old fashioned, call me a prude, call me anything --but late for dinner, but I think of Dr Who as a children's programme first, Sci-fi second, and as a drama third. I will NEVER see it--or ever WANT to see it, as a soap opera or pornography. No Thank you.

Although in some ways it is somewhat amusing, still, I sort of cringe at Who porn, 'cos Who porn, like the dumbed-down style of online writing they push, just brings Doctor Who down into the sewers of life--and Who is such a magical, brilliant and ('scuse the pun) timeless programme, it really is a pity some people feel the need to be so selfish and thoughtless about it.

Anyway, I digress from the main topic: Who porn websites. The website below has tons of Who porn, but, you have to surf for it--the stories are rated, so it's not to hard to ferret out the sex-laden crap. There are many non-porn straight fiction stories on this site, and it encompasses all the Doctors AND Torchwood, AND The Sarah Jane Adventures.

http://www.whofic.com/

Going for quarter to nine am here, and I'm trying to wake up but...dang, I'm sleepy...no clue why, mind you. I had plenty of rest yesterday. Ah well, back to telemarketing hell, today. People were miserable on Saturday--okay, so, Americans are a miserable bunch of selfish, ungrateful ill-mannered sods most of the time anyway, but...none of us were enjoying ourselves, trust me.

Well, had a good breakfast of some nice crispy bacon, scrambled eggs and fried potatoes....ready to take on the world...well, maybe not. But, gonna' give it a whirl, anyway.

Woke to John Denver playing on my old clock radio this morning. How cool is that? When I was in my mid-teens, mum used to shake her head at me, and tell me I had "JohnDenveritis." I suppose that's a bit like having Whovianism? The song was the duet he did in 1975/76, with Olivia Newton-John, called "Fly Away." I have a memory of me sitting on my bed, with a big old acoustic guitar, miming Olivia's part. Think I was about 14 at the time.

The guitar was one that my mum bought me, in hope of getting me interested music lessons....which lasted all of four weeks, before my teacher told mum I just wasn't getting it (probably 'cos of the learning disability I didn't know I had)--I was partly sad, but also partly relieved, 'cos the lessons were in this old run-down building in one of the shadier sections of a city across the river from us, and the "practice" room was really....rough...and smelly. And the instructor had no patience with me, and used to roll his eyes and sigh a lot. He even threw a guitar pick across the room, when I couldn't master how to tune my guitar. Not the most fun way that I spent my Saturday, that.

Well, off to sell, sell sell--have I mentioned that I suck at selling? Oh well, I could be back cleaning loos, right?

Well, Corinth is back, so she must've been on holiday over the weekend. Damn. Now I have to repost some things, as "friends only" or "only me." Damn it! I HATE nosy people who have no life of their own, and have to pry into their co-worker's lives to get their jollies. Pathetic slobs.

Not another DT quiz? Good thing we're buddies, Tardisgurl! I think you just send me these 'cos you know I don't like them, and yer just tryin' to push my buttons, cheeky girl!

Have a good day tomorrow, Tardisgurl (when are you going to stop being so shy, and get your own blog on here, young lady?)

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1)Where is David from?

Galifrey...no wait, that's wrong, erm--Milton Keynes? Scotland, Wales, London..whatever.

2)What was the name of his character in blackpool?
No idea.

3)Which theatre award was David nominated for?
A BAFTA

4)Who did David take over from in Doctor Who?

Christopher Eccleston

5)Russell T Davies wrote Doctor Who, but what other progromme of his has David appeared in?

Casanova? (I think.)

6)Which Harry Potter has David appeared in?

The Goblet of Fire

7)Which drama school did David attend?

Royal Scottish something of drama?

8)What is David's real name?

David DeGeek?

Just kidding, I know this one--McDonald, right? Or is it MacDonald? I never can get that straight, sorry.

9) How old is David?

Ten years younger than me? I'm honestly not sure. He looks pretty young, but looks can be deceiving.

10)Which Doctor Who did David have a doll of?

You mean he really does play with himself?

Oh, you probably mean when he was a little boy?

I imagine it would have been either Tom Baker or Peter Davidson. Probably Baker, though.

11) What was David's first acting role?

Not a clue. I did read it somewhere once, but don't recall what it was...some kid's programme, I think? Beats me, i"m not British, and I haven't had tele in several years.

12) Five reasons you like David Tennant?

1. I really get into his acting--he's not the best of the best...yet, but he makes up for his lake of mature depth (Yes, I'm being picky, sorry) by his enthusiasm for his craft, and his huge range of emotions. I just never know what he's going to do--which is a fantastic thing, speaking as an 'audience.'

2. I like that he is so passionate about his pet causes...caring takes courage..and time, and he ticks off both boxes on that score.

3. He seems to treat his fans with respect, appears to deeply care about the programme, and is a wonderful amabassodor for Dr Who.

4. He seems--on the surface at least, to be a genuine, sincere person. I'm sure the man must have somewhere, an ego...he's an artist, after all. And,--as he's just a guy like any other--he must sometimes feel pique, and have character flaws just like the rest of us. Yet, he appears to be very intelligent, and seems like a gentleman--at least in public. I admire that a great deal.

5. Uh-oh fan girl, I can't think of a fifth thing! Sorry! Oh wait...his smile, the man has really pleasant smile.

13) Three reasons you would date David Tennant?

Erm--let's change that to reasons I wouldn't date the man

1. he's not my type, nor am I his, I strongly suspect.

2. There's that 3000+ mile commute that would get in the way, I should think...he doesn't strike me as the sort that would have the patience for a long-distance relationship. (Tho' I may be all wrong about that one)

14) What do you dislike about David?

I don't think I dislike anything--I barely know anything about him! Maybe his hyper-ness? I mean, he seems too "teenager" to me...but, I don't dislike him for it...so what, if anything, do I "dislike" about David Tennant?

Maybe his hair.... (oh, that's gonna' get me some rude comments now, ey?)

15) What fictional character would you most like to see David play?

Well...I'd sell my soul to watch his Hamlet...but other than that...hmmm--need to think about that one... (one of my own fictional characters, would be lovely but I don't write deep enough for someone of Tennant's caliber), I bet he'd make a good "Prisoner of Zenda," or one of "The Three Musketeers," or maybe "Felix" in the Odd Couple. I don't know...those choices seem pretty lame to me. It's after midnight and I can't think of anything really substantial that would be suitable for some actor that I don't hardly know.

I live roughly about a 40 or 45 minute drive south of North Creek. There is currently a scenic train that runs out of historic North Creek station.

In my part of the world, thinning down woodlots is a good conservation measure. Logging doesn't have to be destructive. Done with thought and care, it can actually help a forest stay healthy, prevent the encroachment of invasive species, and help maintain wildlife habitats.

One of the ways we do this, here in the Adirondacks, is with old fashioned horse logging methods. While chainsaws are sometimes used, horse loggers also use the old fashioned two-man cross-cut saw, and the ax, to weed out trees in the woodlot. Horses are much more eco-friendly, as well. Where logging skidders and other equipment tears up the forest floor, horses are very low-impact, leaving only hoof-prints and gouges where logs have been dragged--as opposed to the wide tyres--usually sporting tyre chains for better traction in mud-- of skidders, loaders and such.

At one time, logging for lumber, tanneries and paper, nearly de-forested the Adirondacks. Millions upon millions of logs, floated away down the Hudson river, right up until the 1950's.

I've actually personally witnessed both these methods of logging, and to me, there's no contest...horse logging is the way to go, if one can at all choose that method for practical purposes.

Logging is still an industry here. There are still 2 paper mills left (there were three, until 5 years ago). Yet, it is a dying industry, and one wonders what will become of the Adiorndack wilderness, without forestry?

I once had the pleasure of hearing one of these gents speak in a lecture at my community college (one of my college science classes was "Environmental Issues in the Adirondacks"). I visited Paul Smith's when I was around 14. My science teacher had been on the faculty at one time. It's a college near Saranac Lake/Lake Placid, that has one of the country's best forestry and conservation programmes. One of my cousin's is a graduate of Paul Smiths.

Well...in about two hours our tourist season here in New York's north country, finally comes to a close.

Traffic back to normal, more merchandize and food available in the shops, prices in the resort towns and also in the posher shops will be dropping slightly, soon the cry of the wild geese will be heard, and frost will lace the fallen leaves, skittering across the sidewalks.

My two-day holiday is over, folks. The next official day off at our office: Thanksgiving Day, around 25th November.

NEW YORK'S ADIRONDACK MOUNTAINS-- THE MARCY DAM IN THE "HIGH PEAKS REGION"--LATE SEPTEMBER.

Yes, this IS in New York state: