Enjoy The Silence

Doctor Who's new monster, The Silence, looked oddly familiar to me when they made their debut appearance in The Impossible Astronaut on Easter weekend. It got me to thinking that really, if the Silence were the answer to a math problem, it'd probably look something like this.

One part Cantina Band members


...times 2 parts The Gentlemen from Buffy...

...plus 1.5 Voldemort...


...equals The Silence.


Regardless, they are kickass.

Now what was I talking about again? (geeky Doctor Who reference.)

A grain of salt

I am not getting my hopes up, but perhaps there might, just might be a small chance that David Tennant will be back on Doctor Who for the next full season after all.

Here's the quote:

But we hear the wild-eyebrowed Scot is close to signing for a new full series of the sci-fi hit for 2010.

Our source said: "David loves filming Doctor Who. The upcoming specials have given him more freedom to work on other projects this year and now he’s ready to come back to film a proper series to go out in 2010."

However, it is the Sun, so it could just be a whole bunch of crap. But the fact that Donna Noble and The Master (with John Simms reprising his role) are both coming back for one-off appearances in the next year makes me very happy!

Maybe there is a God, after all.

Happy Halloween!

Hello, I'm the Doctor, how are you?

And this is my companion, Sarah. She's from the north.

Nothing gold can stay

I woke up this morning to find a comment from Paul on my Madonna concert post. The part of the comment that caught my eye the most was the non-Madonna related part of the comment.

David Tennant is leaving Dr Who!!!!!

I didn't believe it at first. This rumor has been floating around for over a year now, but alas, it is true.

Say it ain't so!

Tennant as the Tenth Doctor will always be "my Doctor." While Heidi's will probably always be Christopher Eccleston (#9), it was Tennant's mad energy that made the show for me. Yes, his Doctor was quirky and not for everyone, but he always seemed to be right in line with the show for me. I cannot blame Tennant for wanting to do other things either. He's an actor and not around just for the sole purpose of playing the Doctor. Still, it does make me feel a bit sad.

Our friends across the pond are used to the constant changing of the Doctor and his companion. I was sad (but not distraught) when the popular Rose left and was replaced by Martha as the Doctor's companion. However, I think the loss of Tennant as the Doctor is tremendous. There is little doubt that I will still continue to watch the show, but I don't think it will ever be the same.

At least we get 4 or 5 more episodes this year before Tennant is gone for good and he's regenerated into someone else entirely. And those will be some very large tennis shoes to fill.

Oh Donna

We finally got around to watching the first episode of Series Four of Doctor Who last night, which premiered on the BBC a week ago Saturday. I will admit that I was a bit leery, mostly because of the choice of companion for the Doctor. David Tennant as the Doctor can do no wrong, but an entire season of Catherine Tate as Donna? Runaway Bride Donna? Shrill, shrieking, annoying Donna? I was not convinced.

I am happy to report that not only is Donna tolerable, she was actually very good! I will not spoil anything about the episode as it will be running nearly concurrently on Sci-Fi (chopped up a la Torchwood, I imagine) but I am MOST PLEASED that certain things were addressed head on. And it also had an ending that I would never dream of spoiling (even if it weren't running on Sci-Fi) which I didn't see coming AT ALL. Even Heidi didn't see it coming, and she always sees stuff like that coming.

We have the second episode to watch tonight, which I am very much looking forward to. This is a good start for Series Four, which will (sadly) be the last full series until 2010. At least there will be the Christmas special in December and three new eps in 2009 to keep us satisfied while Tennant is off playing Hamlet.

PS, the redesigned Doctor Who web site is not-so-good.

I drowned myself tonight in sangria

OK, I didn't really do that, but I am loving the song that lyric came from - it's from the Girlyman song "Viola." Their music reminds me of heading up to Prairie Moon Winery in the heat of July and drinking sangria underneath an umbrella while sitting on a blanket - and not just because of the mention of sangria. Their style of music is very much in the vein of the live music they generally have there.

In other goings-ons of interest:

I love the Chapin Sisters cover of Madonna's "Borderline." Taken from the forthcoming Madonna tribute CD, Through The Wilderness: A Tribute To Madonna, it is an understated version of what is perhaps my favorite of the really moldy oldies. As Yuri pointed out to me, it's like Wilson Phillips meets Alison Krauss. I may actually pick up this Madge tribute album - the others that I've heard (i.e. Virgin Voices) have pretty much been terrible.

Tomorrow may very well turn out to be my last shot at getting the gutters cleaned out. I may have no choice but to do it. I don't particularly want to spend my Sunday on the roof, considering I walk like I'm just learning to walk when I'm up there, but I think my hand is being forced. It really makes me want to invest in Gutter Topper, but that's two grand that I just don't have right now!

We put up our Christmas tree on Friday morning. I was a sport (even Heidi said so!) on Thursday night and hauled all the Christmas stuff up from the basement even though I had worked 11 hours that day. Pictures to follow, I'm certain.

I have listened to the new Goldfrapp and my initial reaction is, while there are a few good songs on there, I'm mostly underwhelmed. I think it might be because, really, the only Goldfrapp album that I really like Supernature, and this is decidedly NOT Supernature. I still can't believe the record leaked three months before it's scheduled to be released. It makes you wonder why they aren't releasing it sooner if it's already in the can.

I am getting very seriously excited for the Christmas episode of Doctor Who. Sure, it's a one-off designed to get us through till the new series starts in 2008, but still. It's David Tennant and Kylie Minogue! On the Titanic! What more could you ask for?

Speaking of Kylie, I've had a chance to listen to more of X. "Nu-di-ty" is so bad that I don't think Britney would even sink to that level. But the bonus tracks "Rippin' Up The Disco" and "Magnetic Electric" are both worthy of being on the album. But how "Nu-di-ty" made the album and the fan-fucking-tastic "Fall For You" is relegated to B-side status is beyond me.

We stopped at the Java House on our way back home tonight. I miss it so much. I don't know why - it's very much like our local coffee house, Cafe Diem - but for whatever reason, Cafe Diem is just not the same. I think it is largely because I have such strong associations with the Java House, and the fact that there is no coffee on earth as good as St. Louis Blues. Plus, now that it's the holiday season, Candy Cane coffee is back, even though Heidi thinks it tastes like cough syrup.

I think that's it. I'm off to bed.

Bearing gifts, part 1

One of the fringe benefits of Heidi's trip to London are the fab gifts that she brought back for me. There are few people who know me as well as she does, and her uncanny knack for knowing exactly what I want, even if I don't, is perhaps one of her most endearing qualities. Anyway, I could have done a big mega-post of the gifts she brought from London, but instead, I decided to do it piecemeal.

Take a look at who's keeping watch over my keyboard these days.

Yep, straight from Forbidden Planet, it's the Doctor, wearing his specs that look a great deal like my own.

And given my love for zombies, it seems only appropriate that the Gelth zombie be mine as well.
(even though she was decidedly washed out by the flash on the camera)


And now you can all see what a messy desk and shelf I have! More to come in the days ahead. I'm on an 8 day stretch at work and the last three are overnight shifts so we'll see how I do.