@ScaryB   Yeah, yeah, we’re working on getting it sorted. In fact, some pundits here are following your election with close interest, because of the strong possibility of a minority result in our own election in the fall. Last time an attempt was made at a coalition here, the screams of outrage you would not have believed. “It’s not democratic! T…[Read more]

@Arbutus I empathize with your take on the state of education. Fortunately in
California Governor Brown is starting to pour back the funds to school districts and
also the decision making to the local districts too. Then there is the ‘common core’
situation to deal with. Most districts are moving away from textbooks and using
the internet for…[Read more]

@ScaryB  @purofilion

I’m in. I feel better already!   🙂   Salut!

<Pours some especially sparkly and be-jewelled glitter on the re-watch sofa for @ScaryB> I’ve got some catching up to do! Looking forward to seeing the end of the story. Troughton is great and I want to watch more of him in action now.

I think Capaldi would be great in a thriller-spy style Who story – I’d love it if they filmed one episode in…[Read more]

I’ve been a bit rude and not acknowledged a couple of people so (knowing I will now rudely forget to mention even more people), welcome @Summersmith Hi @ScaryB , thanks @Craig (I really appreciated that as I’ll admit after writing it I hung my head in shame as to my rambling lack of point – I blame the rugby and inevitable liquids consumed during…[Read more]

@scaryb – thanks for the welcome.  I’m actually from the Home Counties (Sussex currently).  The cute Shetland trolls are my niece and nephew (well cute some of the time) who gave me the troll in my avatar.

@purofilion   Charlotte Rampling is something else — now there’s somebody who can project “alien” just by standing there.  Something about the eyes . . . ?  Always doing something interesting.

@ScaryB  With Danny, here’s what I would have liked to see, to give him a bit more dimension but without making a huge distraction out of it (he was not…[Read more]

@ScaryB, I think Danny could of used some more character development. There wasn’t enough backstory on him, just that he was in the army. But I need there to be something that comes and hits you in the face, (metaphorically speaking) and makes you care more.

just wanted to pop in, on this Friday night, to raise a glass to the beautiful minds here, to @purofilion and her voracious wit, to @ichabod, in sadness and remembrance, to @bluesqueakpip and timey wimey par excellence, to @lisa and tardigrades , to @ScaryB and @janetteB and @arbutus, to our mods and their dedication, @krynoidman and delightful…[Read more]

@bluesqueakpip — very sad news.

@scaryb — yeah, I like that Rankin is pretty up-front about just how much of an influence Laidlaw is in Rebus. And for my money, Strange Loyalties is McIlvanney’s best book. Starts of looking like a detective novel then sneakily takes you into all kinds of more literary places.

Yeah, I don’t think Blackstuff…[Read more]

Cheers peeps (@Arbutus, @lisa, @ScaryB). I’m pretty sure it owned something to D Adams, but can’t think what exactly. I guess, science-wise, I’ve been through the lovely speculating, theorising, part and I’ve been through the doing some experiments but mainly being puzzled by why things don’t work, and now my day consists of being within limits of…[Read more]

@scaryb — Radio Times did a near-identical piece yesterday too. How can Buffy be 18 years old?? I’m getting so old. Waaah.

@Ichabod – That brain is a bit awkward but its the slide show towards the bottom of the page
that showed me more intriguing discoveries. If I was still teaching I would fit that into a
lesson plan.
@ScaryB Capaldi plays someone going a little nuts and does a little Missy-ish impression there.
Also he wears a trench coat in the scene with…[Read more]

@ScaryB

Thank you!  It took me a while to figure out what was so *right* about KtM that I just didn’t give a flying flip about the nonsensical moon hatch thingie.  But her “You scared me, now f**k off” in KtM vs. a big Old Clara’s huge, open-hearted hug for her “stupid old man” (and this time it’s for him, not SmithDoc any more, and without the t…[Read more]

@lisa — I’ve only now just realised that you’ve posted this Chabon piece. Thanks for that. Very interesting indeed.

@craig, @scaryb @ anyone else interested in Scottish literature — there’s a great little documentary about the mighty William McIlvanney available on iPlayer at the moment. It’s well worth checking out. Left me feeling a bit teary…[Read more]

@ScaryB – I assume you are talking about ‘Last Xmas’. I was pleasantly surprised to see Danny. It was unexpected for me, but I thought it was a better resolution for him. I had thought that if anything, we would see Rupert and/or Orson on DW at some point this coming season. I still find it curious that there are/were three versions of him out t…[Read more]

@ichabod Well said, although, I might need to re-read that potato potata a whole lot more.

In most cases I’d be doing this one.

@scaryB Thank you, and that one is duly noted for ehm-… pre-planned future magic word. 😛

Cheers,

Nick

@ScaryB  Um, I clearly didn’t make myself clear about Danny.  I *did* like him, and I was happily waiting for the writers to give him some depth to grow into, but they didn’t.  I know there are always time constraints, naturally, but I would gladly have foregone another discussion of wells etc. for a sort scene of Danny on his own, maybe, ca…[Read more]

@JimTheFish and @ScaryB. I am really looking forward to Banished and I expect it to be very political indeed. It is not surprising however that McGovern would choose to dip into history in order to be able to express political ideas. History like Sci fi and fantasy can present controversial ideas by default. As for gritty the first fleet and early…[Read more]