I Ain't Afraid of No Daleks

Yeah, yeah, I took a stupid "love match" quiz, bite me.

Your perfect match:

Rocket scientist
You prefer someone who will never stop challenging your intellect. He's smart and independent and is on a constant search for knowledge. His tastes are eclectic—from Sci-fi to fine art, you never know what he's going to get into. Discovering things together is stimulating and quenches your thirst for self-discovery.
Things to watch out for: His over-logical nature can lead to inflexibility. He won't decide something's right until it's been thoroughly investigated. Instincts are not his forte.

Even when I'm absolutely not looking for it, I keep coming upon rave reviews of David Tennant's Hamlet on online newspapers in the UK.

One of the biggest complements to the actor's performance though--and to the director and cast, as far as I'm concerned, came from an 8 year old son of a theatre critic:

"What I really liked was the way it made all the old stuff about now."

How cool is that?

God, I would give an arm and a leg to see a live performance of Hamlet--by anyone. But gosh, I'd give up the rest of my eyesight, just to have seen a Hamlet as good as everyone says Tennant's was. I mean that, too.

Tennant's earlier reviews were mixed..mostly good, but a lot of people seemed to think Tennant hadn't quite gotten out of the box, yet, or perhaps even broken out of what some people call, the "forth wall."

Yet, from all accounts, Tennant's performance on his return from his injury, were deep, sweeping and moving. Perhaps the extra time off, allowed the actor the pause he needed to dig deeper into his heart and spirit and soul, to break down his inner walls, and find the perfect pitch for his performance.

Maybe, if theatre-goer's are especially blessed, maybe someday Tennant will do like Olivier or Jacobi, and perform the part once again..and perhaps the next time, will be even more expansive and deep. Well....I'll still never get to see it, but I'm glad Mr. Tennant finally got the opportunity to do it. It's a part that was just made for a craftsman of his scope, methinks. Give him some age and maturity, and I'll he'd really blow us all away, with an even better and far different Hamlet--who knows?

New York's Gov. Patterson...not our most popular gov, this guy...well, he was in the news recently, for trying to re-gain lost state revenues by adding on an "obesity" tax to sugared soft drinks and alocpops. Besides the questionable judgement of adding a new tax for consumers to pay, during a deep recession--bordering a depression, the fact that the gov's office and the media choose to name the tax in such as way, as to completely single out one portion of the population--the overweight--in a move that blatantly smacks of discrimination, should be an indication that the part of our new governor's brain that harbours common sense, is not firing on all cylinders.

Now Gov. Patterson is in the national news again...again, for trying to saddle consumers with new taxes....again, in the middle of a terrible economic recession, that currently has seen over 15,000 New Yorkers losing their jobs in the past couple of months.

The new tax would be an internet tax. As of now, any New York state resident, purchasing goods from a New York state based business...whether in person, through the mail, phone or online...must pay the 7% New York state sales tax.

However, ordering goods online from a business based in Vermont, Chicago, London or France, is currently still tax-free. Which makes ordering online--especially now, with some online businesses offering free or low-cost shipping to entice sales, very appealing to New York consumers.

Gov. Patterson is pushing for new tax legislation in Albany, that would force online businesses, such as Amazon.com, Abercrombie and Fitch, LL Bean, and even Walmarts, to cough up taxes for any products shipped to New York consumers. Amazon is already suing New York state over this, and the whole deal could wind up costing the state more to implement, than the proposed 3 billion in added revenues...should other online businesses jump onto the lawsuit bandwagon.

Opponents of the proposed change in the sales tax law, say that this will hurt the economy in the long run. Proponents say that it will give more even footing for local New York businesses, when it comes to competition for consumer spending.

New York is also controversially proposing to begin taxing songs downloaded from internet services such as i-tunes.

Who will win in this situation? Chances are...it won't be New York state consumers.

This fan-girl has either totally gone 'round the twist, or someone's having me on...can't figure out which. Wish she'd buzz off, though.

I'm feeling a mite better, though a little weak yet, which I suppose is to be expected. I was able to eat this afternoon, and the fever's pretty much gone, so I guess I'm on the mend, thank heavens.

A quiet afternoon here. I had the additional blessing this weekend, of the fact that the boys upstairs were away most of the time, so I actually did get lots of rest, without the usual coninual thumping, banging and clunking on my ceilings--puncuated by those fingernails-on-chalkboard annoying Barbie-girl giggles, all hours of the night into morning.

The cats are quiet, I've managed to get some chores done at home, despite how I'm feeling. Basically, it's a nice dull Monday, so far no crisis' or disturbances. Just the way I like it.

Well...there was ONE little disturbance....my "fan-girl' e-mailer. More love notes for David Tennant....dear god. I just got over a stomach bug...and I have to read that drivel? Jeez. This was a short one, thank heaven's. I can't tell her to stop, because the e-mail address is no good--how she (or he) managed that, is beyond me.

Is this for real? Is someone taking the mickey out of me? Not very funny joke, when one is ill, but, I don't suppose he or she would know that...or probably care. This is so...stupid. David Tennant wouldn't touch someone like me with a ten-foot pole, why does this person keep pestering me with this crap?

And, because I don't think that I should have to suffer alone, here's an excerpt, verbatum:

Hi David,

It's me again, I think ur the hottest actor ever! Did u get my other letters? I love u so much it makes me want to scream! I think ur so f_cking hot I hope that u will let me visit u so we can get to know each other bettur. I know you just moved to a home in Crouch Hill but no one will f_cking tell me where it is. Never mind I will find it. I got ur autograph this weekend! My friend was at the stage door and said u were nice to her. I am so f_cking jealous but will let it pass if you agree to kiss me . Pls send me ur email address so we can rite each other, pls?

It's a sunny 16 F degrees out there this early afternoon, here in my part of the northeastern US.

Not much in the local newspaper this morning...some guy was arrested for stealing copper pipes (that, CD's and baby formula seem to be the hottest theft items in our area at the moment) from a vacant home which was up for sale...the man stole the pipes from the basement of the home, without bothering to shut off the water, causing over $3000 worth of damage. He was caught shortly thereafter by police, after they visited a local scrap metal dealer, and discovered that the man had sold pipes exactly like the one's stolen, just a few days after the theft. The man will be going to jail for a long time, because of his criminal record: 40+ prior convictions, including two for escape...which the alleged thief hotly denied in front of the judge, despite evidence to the contrary, apparently. This outburst prompted the judge to order the theif to undergo a mental health exam before he can be tried again. The man is being held in the county jail for lack of bail.

The big headline is a "winter hiring freeze." No sh_t sherlock, I don't think most of us whom are awake and have half a brain need to be told that! A completely redunant feature article on how hard it is to find a job right now...newsflash for the newspaper...it's ALWAYS hard to find a job in our tourism-based economy in winter...it's just harder than usual, right now...but again, you'd really have to be ten different kinds of stupid...or a republican...not to already know all this. Waste of column inches, that story.

A bizzare twist in a theft case from my former hometown....a man and his son were accused of stealing...renting a lorry and physically stealing...6 new headstones from a cemetery monument company. Police were baffled by the motive, as there is absolutely no aftermarket for new tombstones. The two man lifted the 800 to 900 pounds of stones themselves, using prybars and handtrucks--and the theives were not forthcoming as to why they stole the stones...which have no other use than as monuments. Well, it seems that the mystery has been solved. Mr. Nutjob and son sent a note to a local TV station in my old hometown, explaining their motives. Last year, in New York's capital city of Albany, a ten year old girl sitting on her front steps at home, was shot dead by a stray bullet, fired by a fifteen year old gang member.

The man claims he intended to place the six monuments in front of the courthouse, where the trail of the fifteen year old--who is being tried under special state law, as an adult offender--is currently taking place. The man further claims that the tombstones were meant to represent the loss of youth and innocence, stolen away by bullets. The stolen headstones were to also represent those victim's whose lives were cut short by violence. Why the man couldn't have just made some fake headstones, is beyond me. It seems odd that someone would commit a crime, to honour the victims of crime...but, that's America for you.

This is just the rough draft for most of chapter 5 of Evil Waters...again, just on here 'cos Openoffice doesn' always like to work properly, and Wordpress sometimes doesn't accept my password.

____________________________________________________________________--
Spluttering and blinking water from his eyes, the Doctor clung to a small iron ring set into the canal wall. He was temporarily sheltered from the eyes of the police, by the flaming debris from the boat. But, he knew that time was running short. Another boat was pushing away from it's moorings, apparently trying to get away from the fiery wreck. The Doctor looked at it worriedly. In skirting around the damaged boat, the vessel coming towards him was holding close to the side of the narrow canal...too close.

The Doctor swallowed hard and frantically looked for a way to climb up the wall, but nothing offered itself. He would have to duck under the water, and pray that the propellers wouldn't chop him up into fish food...if he wasn't crushed by the boat, first. Taking a deep breath, the Doctor prepared himself to do a quick, deep dive.

Yet surprisingly, the oncoming boat slowed and moved slightly away from him, the pilot coming neatly alongside, within inches of the Doctor's body. A hand reached down from the boat. The Doctor let out his breath in an astonished gasp, as a vaguely familiar voice said, “Come on, then! Quietly now, don't want them lot on shore to get wind of what I'm doing.”

Soaking wet, his suit clinging tightly to his body, the Doctor stiffly clambered over the side. He then rolled out of sight, crawling into the cabin. Within seconds, the boat slowly glided on its way, down the canal. Minutes later, the door to the cabin opened, and the Doctor got a better look at his latest savior. He stood there gaping, open-mouthed. “Wilfred?” He stammered, “Bu-but that's...that's impossible!”

The Doctor's face suddenly became alarmed, and he glanced nervously around the cramped cabin. “Donna's not--?” Donna's grandfather shook his head, “No Doctor, she's not here. She's off in Canary Islands with her mum.” He sighed and smiled sadly,. “Last I heard she was para-sailing or something of the sort. Always after trying something new, our Donna.” Nodding sagely, the Doctor said, “Good, good. She's off living her life, then.”

But, for just a flicker of a moment, Wilfred could see that the Time Lord's face was sad and lonely. He put his hand on the Doctor's arm. “She's alight, Doctor, she's safe. That's the main thing, isn't it? She didn't die, because of you—and the universe was saved and all of us are alive today, because of her. None of that would have happened, if she hadn't of met you. Isn't that right?” He said hopefully, trying to console his friend...for he had come to think of the Doctor as a friend. Shoving his hands into his dripping suit, the Doctor nodded again. “Yeah, Yeah. You're right, of course you're right, Wilfred. It's just...” His voice trailed off, as the Doctor stared absently at the cabin wall.

Then, without warning, he abruptly whipped out his sonic screwdriver. “You don't mind if I just do a little check on something, do you Wilfred? No, of course you won't mind, didn't think so.” The Doctor rattled off, “'cos you see, Wilfred ol' son—if you are Wilfred...I just had a rather nasty encounter with a pseudo-human, so think it would be safe to say that I'd be rather amiss if I didn't do some double-checking from here on out, ey? Make sure I'm speaking to the genuine article, so to speak.”

Wilfred backed up slightly, puzzled. The Doctor pointed the sonic at him, and pressed down...only to be rewarded with a fitful buzzing. The Doctor frowned, held the sonic screwdriver to his ear, and shook it. Wilfred crossed his arms and waited. “Are you finished playing with that thing? 'Cos if you are, I'd like to get us out of here, some time today..get you some dry clothes before you catch your death of cold. Your lot do get colds, don't they? I never know with you aliens.”

The Doctor looked at the screwdriver, momentarily stunned. “But...it's...it's supposed to be waterproof!” Was all he said, as Wilfred threw him a towel and went back to the half-open outer door of the cabin, to pilot the boat down to the next lock. “There, use that, Doctor! You can dry you and that little gadget of yours off while I get us to the next town.” he called through the open doorway.

Oh dear God, anything but that...

Okay, still trying to wrap my head around being OK with a 20-something Dr Who..but now, the BBC has made it nearly impossible for me to not wince at the mention of Series 5!

Here's the latest scoop for the 2010 series:

The bad news: The BBC is considering non-actress for 11th Doctor's companion!

The singer Lily Allen is an early favourite, while sources say Strictly Come Dancing stars Rachel Stevens and Kelly Brook are high on the BBC's wish-list.

Auditions will take place over the coming months and filming begins in the summer. Piers Wenger, executive producer of the BBC One show, said: "Having got the casting of the Doctor out of the way, the companion role is where we will be looking next.

Oh no...I hope not. If I believed in prayer any longer, I'd be praying right now that this is just another ridiculous rumour.

I lost my childhood home, I can never go back there, ever again...it would almost literally break my heart! That's because I loved it so dearly...it was a part of me, a part of my heart and spirit and soul. And, it's mostly gone now, those hills and woods and fields I loved so well...destroyed, torn down, turned into posh, flashy upscale mansions.

Is that what's happening to my beloved Dr Who? The show that helped me grow as a person through the 80's (in association with me being a member/officer of a local fan club)..the programme that helped me through horrible bouts of depression..even helping keep me from doing...well, the old series helped me to become more outgoing and creative, the new series helped me to cope with some truly dreadful things and got me through some awful times. I wouldn't be lying if I told you that Dr Who (the series not the character) really did save my life! It's a part of my life, and just like losing my childhood home, rumours sometimes upset me terribly, because it's so much like losing my woods and fields, all over again.

Gosh, that probably makes me seem like a nutjob, doesn't it? Well, maybe I am.

Still, if the BBC isn't going to take Dr Who seriously any longer...I mean, at least Billie, Freema and Catherine all actually studied acting! And, personally speaking, I think that Catherine Tate proved beyond any shred of doubt, that she's truly a serious actress, not merely a comic.

Crikey! A 20-something Doctor and some stupid air-headed Barbie doll saving the earth/universe??? Erm--thanks, but no thanks! I was going to hold my judgement until episode 5.2, but now....I'm not even sure I'd stomach 5.1, if the BBC and the producers will insist on turning the programme into Doctor Who meets the X-factor/Strictly Come Dancing. Screw that! Jeez...someone pass me the vomit bucket.

HEY BBC--here's what I think of that idea:

Go take your Tardis and stick in a wee dark hole...and I don't mean in outer space!