From today’s Observer: US-style uniforms for yobs in new disorder crackdown. The new minister for anti-social behaviour is quoted as wanting a “quick connection to community punishment” to be seen by the public as justice being done. The prospect of offenders wearing distinctive uniforms while doing community service sounds familiar. It’s a form of humiliation […]

The Doctor opens the door to the Tardis to reveal… A police box! Good build up in this episode. From the moment we see the Dcotor and Rose watching the previous Doctor and Rose, we start to feel uneasy, and suspect Rose’s emotional involvement will cause nothing but trouble. And as the car loops repeatedly, […]

Red sky at night Originally uploaded by framboise. Sometimes the gods have no taste at all. They allow sunrises and sunsets in ridiculous pink and blue hues that any professional artist would dismiss as the work of some enthusiastic amateur who’d never looked at a real sunset. —Terry Pratchett, Thief of Time (Doubleday p.180) Pterry […]

Beeblebrox Originally uploaded by framboise. In which Arthur finds a crystal bowl, meets a conscious Fenchurch, chats her up, is harrassed by a lady flogging raffle tickets, wins said raffle, promptly loses Fenchurch’s telephone number, and gets colossally bored. I love the theme tune. It reminds me of happy weekends, listening to the tapes in […]

Store Wars. Another Star Wars parody. This time, one with a message. Keep the Organic Rebellion alive… The choice of character names is hilarious (Obi-wan Cannoli!), and the voices are pretty much spot on. Love the stormtroopers, “more chemical than vegetable”, “reach out with your peelings”. And wait till you see their version of R2-D2. […]

After a short wait, I’m one step closer to moving. Due to time restrictions on the visa’s validity, I will have to be in LA by the end of June. Things are hotting up now…

“Bad wolf” was mentioned again on tonight’s episode of Doctor Who. The first time I remember hearing it was in the third episode, The Unquiet Dead, when Gwyneth tells Rose she sees a “big bad wolf” just as the Doctor walks in to the scullery. In the following episode, Aliens of London, some kid on […]

Just a thought. The “Where’s my stuff?” page that Amazon has should have a new category (in bold). Not dispatched yet Dispatching soon Recently dispatched Some kid nicked it Someday, someone will design an improbability drive or a Hex that will be able to do that. 😉

Nicked Originally uploaded by framboise. Returned home this afternoon to find an Amazon package I’ve been waiting for lying at the bottom of my stairwell, slightly hidden in the dark corner behind the main door. It was empty. Some unscrupulous person had stolen 2 DVDs and 3CDs, but left the package behind so I would […]

Another Taiwanese opposition leader visits China. Just wait for those fisticuffs to start in Parliament. Taiwan: one of the few places where it’s perfectly to give your political opponent a black(bean) eye.