Letters- an update

I have recieved replies from 3 of my MEPs, Godfrey Bloom, Dianna Wallis and one of the Tories (I forget which).

Tonight was quite successful. The Explorers asked for fire lighting last time we were at Bramhope, so we went back again, and did fire lighting and barbeque cooking, making use of the barbeque shelter as facilities were not ideal.

Unfortunately when the clock ticked over to nine, they all upped and left, leaving a mess for the leaders to clear up.

Co-op prove their ethical credentials

The Co-operative bank, well known for their ethical policies, has closed the accounts of a religious hate group.

While they are to be congratulated for this I do wonder why it took 3 years, of which 6 months featured particularly high profile hate campaigns by Christian Voice.

Letter writing

Just got a ltter back from my MP, saying hes' bringing the subject of software patents up with the appropriate people.

Now I need to write those letters to my MEPs. The one to Diana Wallis will be most difficult I suspect.

Last Doctor Who post for a while

Note, in case someone stumbles on this who hasn't seen the episode, there is spoiler protection. Highlight the blank spaces to read the text.

I really enjoyed "The Parting of the Ways" last night. Thousands of Daleks swooping through space, death, destruction, heroism, love, comradeship. It was all there. I am assured (by Outpost Gallifrey) that Captain Jack will be back on board the TARDIS next year, just not in "The Christmas Invasion".
And David's Tennant's first lines (the title of the previous post) were fantastic too.

Favourite moments

• Chris addressing the Daleks behind him on how many languages he can speak before turning round and yelling at them, making them wheel back half a metre.
• Chris again in the TARDIS, resting his head against the doors with his eyes closed.
• Billie's ethereal yet scared acting at the denoument
• Chris's "I'm dying, yet breaking it gently to Rose" performance.
  

Only dissapointment was that Mickey didn't stow away with Rose, but i'm sure it made more dramatic sense for him to suddenly decide he wanted in, only to be cruelly denied by Bad Wolf. Oh and yes Bad Wolf turned out to be an amalgum of Rose and the TARDIS, so in any sweepstake I would pay out on both. The Bad Wolf Message was a message from Rose to herself to encourage her to become Bad Wolf.

Some people have expressed incomprehension at elements of the episode, but having seen it again I feel that some fans have a seriously restricted imagination. Either that or the lack the ability to pay a-sodding-tention.

One element that has gone virtually unremarked were the kisses. OK more spolier protection, highlight the text to read it. When he's leaving the Doctor and Rose to lead the space station staff to their deaths, Captain Jack kisses both Rose and the Doctor on the lips. Later in the episode the Doctor kisses Rose, ostensibly to suck out the vortex energy that's killing her, but from the scene there is a little more emotion than that. Given the furore certain aspects of the 1996 Doctor Who TV Movie caused, it's remarkable as to how far we have come as a society that only a tiny minority of fans on a message board have said anything about it. OK, according to MediaWatchWatch one of their spokespeople was provoked into a tizzy by the Star, but there's nothing on their own site so perhaps they're trying to pretend he didn't say anything.

If you're after a decent review try my mate Eddie on Shiny Shelf. Or if you want a place to express your views on "The Parting of the Ways" they have a poll for you. Do check it out, it's ace. Nick also has a review.

"Hello. Ok mmm. New teeth, that's weird! Now where was I? Oh that's right. Barcelona!"

First class entertainment. But unfortunately my freeview box cut out halfway through (because I don't enjoy only recording the 7/8ths of the picture we get on analogue) so I havn't been able to watch it again.

I think the ending was different to before, as it was the first one to happen standing up. Hope I haven't given anything away to anyone who hasn't seen it.

No review just yet...

Spoiler Space

If there's one thing hard core Doctor Who fans get all jittery about, it's spoilers.

While a sizable minority are in secret locked messageboards trading any advanced titbits about how tomorrow nights episode will pan out, the rest are paranoid about having the episode "spoilt" for them.

This concept has really grown up on the internet, where fans of several nations meet together to discuss their favourite shows, which is fine when its been over for years and everyone's seen it, but not so for a currently running show, which may have been shown in, say the USA before the UK. So it was invented the concept of the "spoiler"- information that may spoil your enjoyment of a TV programme, and the spoiler space with which to protect the unwary

Fans have somehow managed to turn spoliers- in both the seeking and avoidance of- into a religion. I'm told it's a good job that I've not read any newspapers this week as many have contained inconveniently placed spoilers.

Tomorrow nights episode has already been spoilt in some sense, by the press getting hold over casting information for series 2. So we can guess at what might happen, if not predict the entire plot.

I suppose its the price you pay for liking somthing popular.

Privacy

It's American sure, and very tongue in cheek, but I think this makes the point well.

Pizza Order in the future...

And then this little Gibert and Sullivan Piece.

As also spotted by Simon Titley, the Liberal Dissenter, and c/o LDO.

Doctor Who - Series Three!

Like BBC1 showing a new trailer for Saturday's Doctor Who every day, I seem to be doing the same blogwise.

Woke up this morning to recieve an email with the news that the BBC have announced that a third series of Doctor Who has been commissioned, alnog with a second Christmas special and a second series of Doctor Who Confidential to run alongside the second series of Doctor Who.

Read more here. Or the article on BBC News. I did smile when I saw that Doctor Who appears to have brought the concept of "spoiler space" to a mainstream news organisation like the BBC!

Well, for those of you that aren't Doctor Who fans, or at least "like Doctor Who, just not that much" it will be off the air after Saturday until Christmas. So I'll be back to talking about Scouting, politics, and the general egg and chips- yay!

Bad Wolf Warning

And so the rollercoaster of a ride that's been Doctor Who 2005 reaches its conclusion. On Saturday we found out what the whole "Bad Wolf" mystery was about.

Well we did and we didn't. We found out that the Bad Wolf Corporation was the media in 2002nd century Earth, when the Doctor, Rose and Jack are drawn into three of the corporation's deadly game shows. But the corporation is a front for something darker, hiding out on the edge of the universe. It turns out that the terrific trio were kidnapped by the controller of the station herself, in a last desperate attempt to defy her masters and save humanity from the plight it is blind to.

Why am I bothering summarizing this? Odds are you've either seen the episode yourself, or that you're not in any way interested. Anyway Bad Wolf was the first of two parts, so I'm probably best waiting until the weekend to say how brilliant it was. If you want a review now, read Nick, but I warn you he's a tad enthusiastic.

In my opinion we're just coming to the end of 13 weeks of excellent Saturday night TV. It certainly seems to have captured the imagination of most of my friends, and has spread its tendrils halfway across the internet. Ditching the technobabble and padding for adventure, wild concepts and silly names. Say after me, "The Mighty Jagrafess", "Blaidd Drwg", "Raxacoricofallapatorius." Brings something back to me, although I'm not sure what.

People who know me know I'm a Doctor Who fan. My name, Biscit, first appeared in a Doctor Who novel way before I started using it on the internet myself. But my interest has waned over recent months, I don't buy the books any more (save of course those written by my friends), have stopped purchasing DWM, and like my Doctor Who friends had become jaundiced towards the group of people mysanthropically referred to as the "Big Finish Mafia".

But then out of the blue, in late 2003, it was announced that it was coming back. Not only that, but the show would be shaped by TV god, Russell T Davies. Perked my interest, but only slightly. But then my friends started to get excited, and I couldn't work out why, having almost forgotten why we were friends.

As it got closer and closer to 26th March, and the anticipation grew. I told myself, I can take it or leave it, I'm too old to care too much. If I didn't like it, Doctor Who would be there for a new generation, and I could revisit the classic series whenever I could be bothered. I didn't expect, aged 32, to get this excited about a TV programme. I certainly didn't expect it to become must see TV.

So now 12 weeks in of some of the best TV in ages reaches its climax on Saturday. It's been fantastic. I'm going to have horrible withdrawal symptoms.

Update 14/06/2005: According to the Times the identity of "Bad Wolf" is yet to be revealed! See also today's post.

No2ID Pledge

I publiciced a pledgebank petition a few weeks ago, where people agree to refuse to sign up to the ID card scheme. (For my arguments see here, or see Murky's article which is very similar, but better written with more up to date information.)

No2ID have set up their own pledge, which is more realistic, so if you are so inclined, go and sign up. Stef's pledge has been deleted, so if you signed up for that, please sign up for the new one.

SAGGA Saltaire day

Arrived late only to find I was the first here. After a brief tour of the settlement went to see the David Hockney exhibit in Salts Mill with Amy Lewis and Sue, as it was somewhere I wouldn't normally visit if I was on my own.

Quote of the day

Steven Moffat
Oh indeed, I agree, yes.

But those are bad people. Let's annoy them.

World Wide Witter

Still alive and breathing, but eating far too many ready meals. Have been supporting the village butcher, though, so that should improve things.

My logs make interesting reading at the mo. Particularly the google searches. I have slipped to the number 2 spot for "Jagrafess" but am still top for "Mighty jagrafess". But I am now top search for Raxacoricofallapatorius. I am also second for "Blaidd Drwg" with first being of course the official "Bad Wolf" website.

I do think "Blaidd Drwg" is a fantastic phrase, and have adopted it as my MSN nick name (temporarily). Unfortunately "Blythe Droog" is a girls name, I think. Perhaps it's becuase I have a soft spot for Welsh girls. Or perhaps it's not just me as they did used to put call centres in Wales because of the soothing accent.

Anyway until next time.

Hwyl am rwan.

Music

I'm in one of those moods when song lyrics appear to be speaking to me personally.

But even so, when random selction brings up Nina Simone singing "Feeling Good", my hair still stands on end. People say Coldplay is miserable, but Clocks has just come up and while melancholic, I find the tone of the piece hopefull. Perhaps it's because I'm not listening to the lyrics on that one.

Good tracks that have come up included Last Train by Lostprophets, and She Cries Your Name by Beth Orton, both c/o Amy.

Was at a friend Beth's birthday do in Leeds last night, it was a good night and a good crowd, and it went the sort of places I wouldn't normally go to. We ended up in Fab Cafe and the music there was just great. Unfortunatly after spending the morning asleap I now can't remember what we were listening to. I do however remember a disagreement over what was Erasures greatest song, the girls reconed "Respect" while the lads seemed to be going for "Breath of Life" (whose chorus begins "Take me I'm yours...").

The Blaidd Drwg of Raxacoricofallapatorius

Just seen this weeks Doctor Who, more of a character piece than an adventure, but still very good. One niggle though: if The Doctor, Rose and Jack can understand Alien languages through the use of the TARDIS' telepathic abilities, why can't Rose understand Welsh?

Now the cat is out of the bag, The Doctor has drawn the viewers attention to the Bad Wolf References. Will we find out what it all means before this series ends? Well next week's episode is called "Bad Wolf".

Russell T Davies, in TV & Satellite Week, has this to say on the whole "Bad Wolf" thing and this weekend's reveal:

I didn’t think people would notice, but I should have known that science fiction fans would spot it blindfolded from 300 miles! All will be revealed next week. A lot of people think it’s a super-villain, though I can’t imagine why he would graffiti his name all over the place! It’s a bit subtler than that. It’s a lovely pay-off. But there’s no big panto villain.

(As spotted by Scott).

U B Taking The ****

Some of my readers may be fellow Alumni of The University of Birmingham and have received the latest magazine, and noted the new logo.

Apparently the old logo, based on the University crest is being dropped as part of a move to improve the image of the Uni. It's being replaced by the letters U B. In a rubbish font. Oh with a tree as well.

Fellow former Birmingham student Pete Johns mentioned this on his blog last weekend, and Tom Martin draws our attention to the Save the Crest website. On the site is the minutes of a staff-student meeting on this matter, which contains the following paragraph:

Professor Clarke: began the meeting by explaining the rationale behind the new brand. Two years ago the University of Birmingham reviewed its competitiveness in national and international marketplace and undertook a brand audit to discover how members of the University community and external stakeholders viewed "us". The audit did not reveal anything new - The university was seen as a "bit boring" and "pedestrian". The University is seen losing out to the likes of Nottingham, Warwick and Manchester in recruitment and the new brand is just one part of a much wider effort to reverse this downward trend (and the visual identity is, in turn, only part of the wider brand.)

What? Did I hear the word "Bingo" yelled several times there?

I sincerely hope the language used in that paragraph above is not indicative of the language used in the meeting, but how a predjudiced note taker summarized it because otherwise it is another example of how many people in management, and academics in particular just don't get it. Just how out of touch with reality are some people?

There is nothing wrong with having a full and rich vocabulary, however there is a difference between making full use of the language, and peppering your speech with buzzwords. Over reliance on jargon and buzz words may bedazzle some people, but in reality someone who can express themselves clearly enough that you don't notice their use of language is someone to be admired.

Trivia

Elsewhere people are in a trivia competition, so I thought I would enlighten you with this

If you took out someone's intestines in Leeds and laid them out along the hard shoulder of the M1 motorway, you would get locked up.

Protecting the splendid chaps of the world from the scum of the universe since 1968

Some of my readership watch Doctor Who might in interested in the fact that you can actually access UNIT's website on the Internet. UNIT are a United Nations section dedicated to protecting the world from alien incursion. They mostly appeared in early 70s Doctor Who episodes, and were last seen being electrocuted by the Slitheen on Saturday night last April.
Oh and I hacked the site- the password to the secret secure section is "badwolf". Unless you're the doctor, then it's "buffalo". I is l33t.

It's not the only website dedicated to aspects of new Doctor Who. Clive's site featured in the first episode whoisdoctorwho is still up and running, and is apparently being run by Rose's boyfriend Mickey. Henry Van Stratten's Geocomtex site is still running, but then his Dalek doesn't run amok until 2012. Oh and for those of you who've been noticing all the references to Bad Wolf, there's a site that tells you, well not much more than you already know if you've been observant.

Someone at BBCi has been having a lot of fun it seems.

Voting reform

Do you think it's right that a party with 36% of the vote gets over 50% of the seats in parliament?

If not visit the Independent voting reform petition.

Over 32000 have signed up so far.

Tachyon TV

Tachyon TV relaunched a month or two ago in blog format. I was going to put a link to one of the features here, but it's all funny.