I Ain't Afraid of No Daleks

Certain senate republicans--lead by Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee...a state with two foreign automaker's plants and one smaller one by General Motors....are fighting the auto bail-out package, despite Bush's approval.

Even though the bail out for banks was shady--with Paulson not being held responsible for his actions, and, with little or no oversight for banks getting 700 billion tax-payers dollars, the republicans are fighting a measure that frees up a mere 15 billion--a drop in the bucket compared to the bank bailout--and, will guarentee that there is direct government oversight---all this blockage by the conservative faction--the same one's that pushed for the bank bailout--because, they say the automaker's bill has got some shady areas???

Riiight. Not buying that. There's something else behind this, what, I'm not sure, but it's not the aid package. Is there pressure somewhere, from foreign automakers like Toyota or Honda, to get rid of their American competition? Or, is it something else?

I don't know. I've been following this pretty closely--no stupid CNN for me, mind you, but reading REAL news on every move...and...something just isn't adding up here. Someone or something is moving things behind the scenes, something that has gotten certain conservative politicians under its thumb. But...what is it?

It may be years before we find out--but, I'm fairly certain we will eventually find out, what's REALLY making Bob Corker and other republicans blatantly willing to endanger the already unstable American and world economy even further.

SENATOR BOB CORKER (behind podium) SHAKES HANDS WITH A VOLKSWAGON EXECUTIVE.

I stopped using credit cards some 15 years ago. I came to my senses, when my creditors starting raising interest rates.

I mean, sometimes, one can be paying anywhere from 10 to 25 percent interest! Think about it this way, that's 10 to 25 percent that's being added on to the cost of whatever your purchase is!

Today I went to the deep discount grocers--one step below an Aldi's, and some lady there decided to buy her food with her credit card--so, yeah, she may have saved 5 dollars off the cost of her food bill, but...she just added at least a few dollars--if not more than five, depending on her interest rate, to the bill, by using her card...so, was she actually saving any money???

I suppose she may have gotten more groceries at Price-Rite, (if of poorer quality) than the other posher shop, I reckon, I dunno', just seems a bit silly to me. Tho' I suppose if you really don't have the cash, and you're desperate, maybe that's the only way.

It used to be, if you wanted to buy a gift card or voucher from a store, to give as a gift, it cost you only the price of the card. Now, many shops are adding "processing fees" to their gift cards--from 4 to as much as 10 dollars, above and beyond what one pays for on the card--that means, in some shops, you could be paying 10 dolalrs for a 5 dollar gift card, or 30 to 35 dollars, for a 25 dollar gift card!

So, before you buy that gift card, look at that fine print on the back, or ask the till clerk--DON'T yell at the till clerk if the amount comes to more than what you expect...it's your own fault for not being viligant!

Bleh! What an unpleasant day out there-wet and cold.

We're supposed to get a nor'easter tomorrow, but because temps aren't supposed to drop much, it will mostly be sleet and ice pellets...Ice. I hate ice. My body hates ice, my back and knees and ankles hate ice--especially my ankles.

I have to go back to hospital early this evening--having minor complications from the injury, and the doctor wants to see me himself, so I have to go back when he comes back on duty, so he can check me out. Nothing serious, I suspect. I may have what I had last time, PCS--post-concussion syndrome, which isn't remotely serious, and goes away after a week or two..or three. It's just slightly disconcerting, because one can get light-headed sometimes, unexpectedly.

I had to go shopping today, didn't want to, especially since my head feels woozy, but I'm out of stuff, and if I am forced to take a day or two off, I won't be able to get out to get this stuff--and heaven forbid I not have any tinned cat food in the house! Unfortunately, if I don't do things--they just plain don't get done.

The two boys are snoring away, but Flame just disconnected my cable modem--they like to sleep on top of the cable box, 'cos it gets warm to the touch, and cats are creatures of comfort and like their warmth...but, it's just a bit annoying, when one is happily typing away, and a little balloon pops up ("lost cable modem connection")---grrr. Then I have to get up, shoe them off--which they resent, 'cos they are so comfy on top of there--and then re-plug the dang thing in again. She and Charlie are taking turns at trying my patience, ha-ha.

I have this old throw pillow I was going to toss away. I put in on the floor, so I could take it to the skip out in back of the building, next time I go--but Flame and Charlie are now fighting over it, both claiming it as their own. Flame usually wins--she spits and hisses at Charlie, and Charlie wanders dejectedly off, feeling sorry for himself and making really pathetic little squeaky noises as he goes (he can't meow properly--big 8 or 9 kilo cat, and he meows like a mouse).

Anyway, checking my e-mails and find that I've had a comment on one of my older Dr Who stories, a story called "Grave Danger," which I wrote in the early autumn of 2006, if I recall correctly. It's a Doctor/Martha story--that got a minor re-write in April of 2007.

I posted it to one of my two Dr Who fan fic blogs this past June, and just today, someone left this really lovely comment:

I found this story by accident...and I'm so glad I did!The Doctor and Martha were very well written and the story was funny and still could be perfectly a season 3 episode.Nice job!

I've had several nice comments before, but this really is one of the nicest I've ever received, I think. I'm gobsmacked. Now if only someone over there, would put the word in for me with the folks at BBC Wales....

Again, my very best wishes go out to David Tennant for a speedy reovery from his back surgery.

I've had a slipped disc and other back injuries, and it's not pretty--it hurts like hell. How Mr. Tennant managed to cover up his injury for so long, is amazing to me, and very brave, I think. I do now take back any jokes I've made about him being a sissy city boy. At one time or another, I've injured pretty much every part of my body, and can totally attest to the fact that there is NOTHING worse than a back injury.

It must be very frustrating and difficult for Tennant, who has very obviously, by all the accounts I've read, put 110% of himself into his role as Hamlet. I am so, so, sorry he can't go on with the part.

The Telegraph gave the RSC a bad review for going on without Tennant--despite the apparent fabulous performance given by understudy Edward Bennant, on preview night. The reviewer sharply criticized the Royal Shakespeare Company for "celebrity" casting, yet, the reviewer did not fault Tennant, saying he was an accomplished performer. However, the critic at the Telegraph did seem to think that the RSC would have better served it's audience by offering refunds, and also leaned towards the negative side, by berating theater companies like the RSC using "television" performers as a boost to ticket sales.

And, it seems that the critic may have been at least partially justified, as David Tennant fans did just what I'd hoped they'd not do, by leaving the theater after Act I. This was very disappointing to me, as I had thought these people had more class than that...but, chav is what chav does. Me, yes, I would have been enormously disappointed--but, unlike the chav DT fans, I ADORE Shakespeare, and would have been thrilled to sit through a good 3 1/2 hour production, no matter who was playing the lead.

But then, the British are a bit spoiled when it comes to theatre--take away many of your venues and wonder what your lot would do, ey? Probably turn into Americans, and stay home and watch American Idol, staring at your tele's, sucking up beer and crisps and drooling out of the corners of your mouths.

I'm an American and mostly only the wealthy do Shakespeare here, and performances of the bard's works are few and far between, sadly---tho' there is a Shakespeare reperatory company in Lenox, Massachusetts--where I watched my first live Shakespearean performace ever..."MacBeth," but, that is very expensive (for my budget) and a good 3 hour drive from here. Sometimes there's free performances in a park in summer, but again, rare and hard to get to, usually, unless you have a car or live there. (no on both accounts). OK, yes, I am just a wee jealous of the UK--you lot whinge a lot, but you have so much more than we do--loads more holiday time, free health care, lots of theatre and other cultural venues, community clubs and...well, you have no idea.

Sure, we yanks have stuff, as well--we have a much bigger country--hell, you could probably fit most of Wales inside the whole state of New York--but, you have so much culture--chav's and travelers and yobs aside--and you just blow it off and take it for granted. Pity, that.

No naf Lapland attractions here:

North Pole, New York is home to one of the Untied State's oldest continious running theme parks--older than Disneyland! This was basically one of the theme parks which began the whole theme-park craze, back in the mid 50's to early 70's.

Visit the website: http://www.northpoleny.com/index.cfm

Taken from the website:

The magic of Christmas comes alive again when you visit with
Santa Claus at his home and workshop, a village of alpine
flavor nestled on the side of Whiteface Mountain. Founded in
1949 and designed by Arto Monaco. We are known as the
forerunner of present day theme parks in the United States.

Catch a glimpse of Santa through his window or take the time to visit the famous couple's house. Santa waits for you and your family in his living room where you can hand him this year's Christmas List. You can also get a photo with him to remember the occasion.

The true meaning of Christmas, the ever inspiring live Nativity Pageant is a can't miss on your schedule.

Take a moment to visit the Frosty North Pole, located in the center of our happy village. The North Pole is frozen year round; it is just one of the magical marvels you will see here.

The Saint Nicholas Chapel is nestled in the trees on a hillside. This quaint little chapel has been dedicated to Saint Nicholas. Take the time to stop by and see the dedication plaque on the wall, relax to the pipe organ music and view the Nativity set placed in front of the altar.

The Mother Goose Guild perform a full schedule of shows each and every day. These lovable characters are throughout the village for you and your family to meet and chat, or share a story book reading or nursery rhyme with.

Tannenbaum the Talking Christmas Tree: with a little Christmas magic, Tannenbaum comes to life to entertain guests, young and old.

WORLD OF CHRISTMAS SHOP
Our Christmas themed shop featuring an array of Christmas Gifts, collectibles and Holiday Ornaments. Ask our Shopkeeper to "personalize" that special selection.

REINDEER BARN
Meet Santa’s Famous Team, including Rudolph. Take some time to feed them their favorite "cracker snacks" as they ready for the days events!

CRAFT WORKERS
Watch the Glassblower spin twinkling Ornaments.
Personalized Hats and Stockings and "magic wands" at Santa’s Hat Shop.
Visit the Toy Shop to meet Santa's Toymaker while picking a special toy to take home from our wide assortment of wooden toys and plush, cuddly animal friends.
Watch our Blacksmith craft a special "accessory" or choose a Magical Reindeer Shoe to remember your visit with at Santa's Blacksmith.

Weather permitting enjoy our new Fire Pit while you banter back and forth with Tannenbaum, the wise old tree. Marshmallows are available for roasting at Jack Sprats. For a quick snack, stroll over to Jack Sprat's Bakery for a freshly baked cookie, strudel or hot cinnamon bun. Assorted beverages are available.

SANTA'S PHOTO SLEIGH
Take a moment to get your picture on Santa's sleigh with his live Reindeer.

FREE RIDES
Reindeer Carousel
Christmas Tree Ride
Candy Cane Express
Santa's Sleigh Coaster
Kiddie Bobsled*
Kiddie Ferris Wheel*
Peppermint Swing*
Rainbow Bounce*

(during the holiday season on weekends, only the carosel and the bounce house are available)

ELMER "The Know it All" ELF
Stop by and chat with Elmer and see if he does "Know it All". Ask him to guess your name, or how many presents you will get for Christmas. While you are there, please do not hesitate to drop a coin in Elmer's Wishing Well to help less fortunate children by donating to Santa's Toy Lift Fund.

In the 1950's, the United States Postal Service set up an official post office for this attraction. Pre-paid (stamped) letters and packages can be sent to the postmaster during the Christmas season, to recieve a very special "north pole ny" stamp. Also, the US postal service sends all letters marked "santa claus" to this post office, during the Christams postal season.

This theme park is open all week during the summer tourist season, and then re-opens weekends, at the end of November.

DURING THE HOLIDAYS, the workshop is open on weekends, for the lights festival, until 21st December.

The North Pole is located near other Adirondack Attractions such as Lake Placid (home of the 1980 Winter Olympic Games), Whiteface Mountain--New York's highest ski mountain, offering gondola rides, mountain biking and scenic drives in summertime, and great skiing and bobsledding in winter.

Also nearby, in summer, one can view the natural wonders of AuSable Chasm and High Falls Gorge.

Weather today from the neighbouring town of Hudson Falls, NY:

CURRENT CONDITIONS AS OF 7AM:

50.4 °F / 10.2 °C
Light Rain Mist
Humidity: 100%
Dew Point: 50 °F / 10 °C
Wind: Calm
Wind Gust: 0.0 mph / 0.0 km/h
Pressure: 29.78 in / 1008.4 hPa (Falling)
Visibility: 5.0 miles / 8.0 kilometers
UV: 0 out of 16
Clouds: Overcast 700 ft / 213 m
(Above Ground Level)
Elevation: 300 ft / 91 m

NOTE: it says there's no wind in Hudson Falls, which is about 3 or 4 miles away, but my windchimes on the balcony are tinkling and the wind in Glens Falls is whipping the trees around quite a bit--I'd say about 3 to 5 miles per hour, here, with gusts around 7 to 9 miles per hour, just at a guess.

WEATHER FOR THE NEXT FIVE DAYS:

Wednesday-Sunday:

High---Low (day on left/night on right)

45° F | 18° F -- 100% chance of rain--This isn't very accurate, 'cos we're already 5 degrees higher than predicted!
7° C | -8° C

31° F | 18° F ---60% chance of snow
-1° C | -8° C

31° F | 7° F ----50% chance of snow
-1° C | -14° C

22° F | 7° F ----partly cloudy
-6° C | -14° C

34° F | 22° F ----partly cloudy
1° C | -6° C

I'm shattered that DT is leaving, he really was just such an incredible joy to watch, he always left me with either a smile on my face, or a tear in my eye--or both at the same time.

Well, I'm an old Whovian and I know the score by now.

I know Morrissey and Patterson are both in the running to become 11, but I think it would be awesome to have an "old" Doctor, just like Hartnell..well, maybe a bit younger than Hartnell, wouldn't want the old boy to get a heart attack running from the Daleks--that would make a very short series indeed: "Oh look, it's Doctor number 11--whoops, he's dropped dead, poor sod, OK, wheel in number 12!"

But, really, I think an old Doctor would make a cool counterpoint to Tennant's younger Doctor...I mean, think of it: Victor Meldrew or Father Jack, facing down a Dalek? How cool would that be: "Feck off you flippin' hunk of metal! Exterminate my arse!"

Or even Hyacynth Bucket (That's "bouquet" by the way): "Oh, did I mention that I have a Tardis with an olympic sized swimming pool and room for a racing stable? Those Daleks are so common, I'll just zap them away with my push-button slim line zapper-doodle! Richard! Tell the Cybermen to come back later dear--I'm having the Master over for tea, and it just won't do for them to be shooting at my periwinkle china tea cups!"

So, we have the "other" Doctor wearing a fobwatch that looks suspicously like the perception filter, we have a slip in the Radio Times about a "time paradox," and...Casseopia has posted a pic from a Dr Who fan-site, that shows Tennant...well, regenerating???

http://wherearewe.blog.co.uk/2008/12/10/timelords-5196384

I really rather be surprised on Christmas--well, not on Christmas, as I live in the states--probably sometime in or after January, is when I'll see it---so for God's sake, dont' tell me what it's about, after it airs, UK pals, okay?

Yet, still, I do love a tantalizing clue, oh yes.

Here's my "pet" theory--version II, as my first pet theroy was that the "other" Doctor was a carried away anorak..

Version II of my theory, is that this is one of the past Dr's, who has used the perception filter for some reason of his own...it's probably 100 percent wrong, this theory, but what the hell, I have fun with this stuff, and much as I am a serious Whovian, I don't take rumours seriously--EVER. Sometimes they're right, sometimes I'm right--and sometimes they..and myself...are so far off as to not even be in the same solar system.

Version III of my theory is that it's the Master

And, to go really wild and crazy and out there, I like to kid that it's really "Donna," ha-ha.

But you know what? I don't care! I just want to wait until that delicious day, next year, when I can sit here in front of my computer monitor and watch "The Next Doctor," 'cos I know it'll be just brilliant!

And, when David Tennant regenerates next Christmas, I'm sure that will be brillant, as well. You go for it, RTD dude!

I cannot stomach the thought of televised assisted suicides.

As I just wrote on someone's blog--I for one, have sat and held a dying person's hand. I've watched the heart rate drop on the monitor. It is NOT entertainment, and for pity's sake, I assure you, it is NOT "educational!"

The process of dying is nothing less than cheapened when shown on television to a lot of (mostly) uncaring strangers. I think humanity has gone back to the days of the cavemen, quite frankly. You don't know this person, you haven't watched this person live his or her life, however you people who watch this crap want to paint yourself, you are nothing more than cheap and tawdry voyuers, no different than some man peeping through a hole to watch some couple have sex.

Only someone who has never watched another human being die--up close and personal--would watch, and condone, a programme like this

Well, I've got a mild concussion but I'll be fine. The ER doc says that if I continue to have dizzy spells or blurred vision or excessive lightheadedness, to go back to the ER and he'll give me a note to take a few days off from work.

My head's a tad sore, and I'm still mildly light headed, but the dizzyness has stopped and I feel okay. He wasn't pleased that I had no one home with me, to keep an eye on me, and was going to make me hang out in the ER all night--but I told him I had a worse concussion in 2006, and managed okay on my own.

So, back to work tomorrow, unless I start getting cross-eyed.

If you don't already own one, and it's allowed where you live, please think about adopting a cat or kitten this holiday season. Animal shelters are usually overcrowded with cats, and many shelters have only a 2 week holding period, before the cats are put down.

Older cats can offer unconditinal love and companionship--and, have the added bonus of usually already having their shots, and being litter trained, as well. Older cats can be playful, just like kittens--but also are usually much more calmer and well-behaved than a kitten...and more likely to enjoy just spending time lying near you--or on you, if you let them.

Kittens are also fun to have around, they love to scamper and play and their antics are really great to watch. They are happy-go-lucky creatures, and offer the benefit of quicker bonding for the rest of their lifetime.

Sometimes older cats are given to the shelter in pairs or threes. If you plan on adopting an older cat, you may want to ask if the cat was brought in alone, or with other cats---sometimes a cat that is used to having other cats around, will mourn the loss of its mates and sink into serious depression, refusing to eat. If you can adopt mates or even a trio, you will not regret it, as cats that are used to each other's company, and which are kept together, adjust a lot more quickly to a new home, than cats seperated from their buddies.

Some private shelters, also offer people the chance to adopt AIDS cats (yes, cats can get aids as well--but ANIMAL aids, that are NOT, repeat NOT, transmittable to people, so relax!) Aids cats require special care, and it is not reccomended adopting them, if you cannot afford this care, or, if you have other cats. Yet, it can be rewarding to provide a loving home to these animals--who often don't exibit outwards signs of the disease, and are just like any other cat!

For more information about adopting a pet, contact the ASPCA, or the RSPCA, your local animal shelter or Humane Society, or look in the pets adverts of your local newspaper--or ask a vet--about a shelter near you. There are also private "no-kill" shelters, with pets just waiting to be adopted.

Oh, and please have your pet spayed or neutered, watch their diet, and most important of all--don't let them outside!

I know people like to let their cats out, because they don't want to go the little extra to have a litter box--but that is a sure way to have your cat die an unnatural--and usually unpleasant--death. Outdoor cats are also 90 times more susceptable to dieases, as well as more likely to bring fleas, ticks and other pests into your home. Outdoor cats are more expesnive to keep than an indoor cat, as well, due to higher vet bills, when they become ill or injured. Though cats are excessively obsessed with their own cleanliness, an outdoor cat is more likely to be dirty than and indoor cat, from rolling around in dirt and gravel. An outdoor cat is 100 times more likely to be the victim of animal abuse by some sicko nutjob, than an indoor pet.

To help you learn more about keeping cats as pets, this video by two engineers should help:

OK cat owners, tell me your cat hasn't done this: