The Blood is The Life 30-01-2013

• Europe is haunted by the myth of the lazy mob | Ha-Joon Chang | Comment is free | The Guardian
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• Coalition set to clash over removal of 'greatest black Briton' Mary Seacole from National Curriculum - UK Politics - UK - The Independent
  On this, at least, I agree with Nick.
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• Revenge Porn and The Women-Humiliation Industry «
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• On our squeamishness about workfare
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• Yorkshire Beard Day 2013 | TBBC Northern Beard Meet Up 2013
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• Geek Convention Boycott Over Sexual Abuse Charges | The Mary Sue
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Doctor Who Fandom Challenge Catch-Up

I've been woeful at this while I've been ill. Sorry about that. This post will bring me up to date.

(a list of the questions and links to all the answers can be found on this entry)

Favourite Writer

Robert Holmes. Witty, political, able to work in shedloads of Hammer Horror references, and one of only two writers prior to Big Finish who was able to write Leela properly.

Favourite Couple

Brigadier Alastair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart and Benton, whose love remains true and constant right from The Invasion, through Benton's transition into Doris, and happy old age. It's just a shame they had to invent that "going off to become a secondhand car salesman" line as cover for Benton's transition because of the transphobia of the military at the time.

Favourite Friendship

Androgum!Two and Shockeye. They're just so cute when they are geeking over food.

Favourite Spinoff

SJA. No questions or doubts here. A kids' scifi show in which the cast skews female, the lead character is a strong independent woman in her late fifties, and themes of love, friendship, tolerance and family are thoroughly explored? Hell yes.

Favourite Quote

"What a marvellous butler: he's so violent!" - the Fourth Doctor, City of Death

Favourite Doctor Catchphrase

The Doctor has catchphrases now. Catchprhases are cool? Apparently. I don't like them. Maybe calling the Tardis "old thing" or "old girl" is as near as I'll commit to.

Favourite Doctor Gadget

I don't tend to like the recurring gadgets like the psychic paper and the sonic screwdriver because they are used as lazy story devices by lazy writers. You can't call the Tardis a gadget; she's a LADY. Similarly Bessie. So I suppose that leave us with some of the mad things the third doctor made Heath Robinson style. I'll go with the one in The Time Monster made from a wine bottle a corkscrew various bits of cutlery and some tea leaves. Because the Doctor is a very British Gallifreyan, this gadget does not work unless it has tea leaves.

Favourite Interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLcXvmOdwpE - the Mighty Trout. Gotta love him.

Favourite .gif



Favourite Guest Star

Brian Blessed. Note: not my favourite guest character, because I'm not massively fond of Yrcanos, but my favourite guest star. Because Brian is just bloody awesome.