Hilary Booth... of course! (original) (raw)

Reposting from my other journal: TCM has started Watch TCM online service and iOS/Android apps. You have a choice between watching the East/West coast feeds or whatever's available on their Demand titles. Comicsworthreading also gives a recap of the program. It's dependent on your cable service participating, unfortunately.

It seems like only yesterday I was joining the Internet in freaking out over Matt Smith's casting. The age, the hair, then "Ooh, what is he doing with his hands?" and "Wow he talks fast" and then the evitable "But.. but... I liked him!" Smith hasn't quite worn the tread off the tires the way Tennant did for me. I watched end of "End of Time" before the Big Announcement on BBC America and I swear it was a special form of torture. (I may have giggled inappropriately at Anneke Wills referring to 8 as the "prettiest Doctor". No argument from me, Polly.)

The new Doctor casting pleases me greatly. (Also I saw the rumor earlier and I said "Oh. Oh yes." Not least because I just finished watching BBC's The Hour and he was one of my favorite characters. I'm glad to see an older Doctor, but I'm curious which direction they'll go. Ornery and crotchety or serious and edgy? Or neither? Matt Smith's first promo pic screamed Twilight gothy and he turned out quite madcap. I can't wait!

I am debating whether to indulge in Big Finish's sale/discount on the early releases. There's even a special "Early Years" subscription option that's really tempting if I can figure out which chunk I'd want -- the ones in between Storm Warning and Chimes of Midnight are the current option, but oof, there are some I really haven't liked.

Sorta update: I talk a little over here about what I'm reading/watching/etc lately. I also talk about how I'm not writing. I'm trying to nudge it into life with some goals. I honestly don't know why my writing urge has been so quiet lately. I've been reading a lot, so maybe I'm just priming the pump trying to figure out what I want to really write. It's frustrating as hell.

I'm trying (and failing) to keep up with some of my podcasts. Um, Radio Downloader was shut down by the BBC, so anyone I recced that to earlier may need to find another source, which is really a shame. I liked the way it'd grab the episode whenever it aired for later. I do have a massive backlog of "In Our Time" to get through. I've also been listening to Verity Podcast, a Doctor Who podcast compromised of a bunch of women. What's eerie is listening to Deb Stanish who basically sounds very similiar to neadods. And maybe I've watched entirely too much BBC if I can make out Scottish Liz's accent without subtitles. (And now I've challenged her -- she's suggesting doing one in broad Scots -- I'm fully expecting to go "The Doctor did what now?")

I bought but haven't listened to the new box set of "Counter Measures" and subscribed to the "Confessions of Dorian Gray" that I inexplicably fell in love with over Christmas. Big Finish is also twigging my Emma Peel by giving us audio versions of the David Keel-John Steed era The Avengers, starring Milner from foyleswar as Keel. I wonder if they'll bother adapting the two that survived -- "Frighteners" and "Girl on a Trapeze".

bentleywg introduced me to the BBC's "In Our Time" that covers a wide range of cultural and historical topics, some I have a passing knowledge of and others I have none. Fortunately BBC has seen fit to have them all available online in some fashion, so I've been wading in.

With the anniversary of the sinking looming again, I also listened to a few of their programs on the Titanic and its storied history. Titanic Town talked about Belfast and the Harland and Wolff shipyard and how until fairly recently they didn't like to play up their connection to the ship of dreams. I was reminded of last year's "Titanic Minute by Minute" that included a repurposed Elvis Costello song "Shipbuilding" performed by Hue and Cry. (A little odd listening to that song in light of Thatcher's death since Costello wrote it during the Falklands.) I also listened to the Titanic Letters podcast that use actual letters from Titanic passengers before and after the tragedy. The early ones sent from Southhampton/Queenstown are so jubilant and hopeful and awed and then the ones written from the Carpathia and later are so... broken. I can see why some survivors never wanted to talk about the experience ever again.

When the weather turns to spring (if ever so briefly) and the boys start playing the national pasttime again. So my default icon is a curly W for my Nationals. Our home opener was a delight. Bryce Harper can hit as many home runs as he likes. If this season is remotely like last year I will be pleased...

The good news is I didn't lose power at all. The bad news is there was water damage near my living room windows. The apartment building people are still trying to determine what caused the leaks – windows, a/c, upstairs/outside. I know it could have been worse. At least I’m safe and sound. But I'm a total wreck. I slept very badly last night. I'm somehow maintaining my patience with my coworkers, especially my teleworking/business as usual now types that think their emergency is mine.

I'll update as I can.

EDIT: The maintenance types came by with a high powered wetvac/etc to clean up the carpet. They pulled out the bookshelves and didn't see any damage thankfully. They only have limited fans though and many people were having issues today. All I can say is I hope it doesn't rain again anytime soon.

EDIT2: And we have our own heavy duty fan. I feel like I have a prolonged train whistle in my apartment.

Something to make lizbetann pause: CW is developing Reign, a fantastical reimagining of teenage Mary Queen of Scots:

"The CW’s project is described as Game Of Thrones meets Marie Antoinette — if Marie Antoinette had a girl posse and was coming of age as a warrior queen. It’s about the secret history of survival at French Court amidst fierce foes, dark forces, and a world of sexual intrigue."

(Full story)