DW fic rec!

Translations by Casira. There are some things the TARDIS doesn't translate, and some secrets of the Doctor's left unexplained. Rose is setting out to find out why.

I can't explain it. But it left me feeling all... floaty.

DW fic rec!

Translations by Casira. There are some things the TARDIS doesn't translate, and some secrets of the Doctor's left unexplained. Rose is setting out to find out why.

I can't explain it. But it left me feeling all... floaty.

Thoughts.

Listened to Obama's Arizona speech today. The New Yorker has a very good article here (many thanks to frenchani for the link!), which just about sums it all up. Extraordinary through and through. (Even if David Cameron could write a speech like that, it'd not be as affecting, because well, he's David Cameron.)

And it reminded me of a thought I had the other night, when Darcy and I were watching 'The Thick of It', and I began comparing it to 'The West Wing'...

The latter is about idealism and aspiration, and Americans truly have that. And it is not a foolish notion either - just look at Obama. The hope and inspiration that Americans have - and that he to a great extent commands - is deeply touching.

'The Thick of It' however is steeped in cynicism. In England people view politicians mostly as an inevitable part of life, a necessary evil - but Churchill apart no one gets put on a pedestal. (And just look at Nick Clegg as an example of what happens when people do... The reason he's so reviled now, is because for moment it was believed that he was different.) It's no accident that on Doctor Who the Master turned himself into a Hugely Popular Politician - we are very aware that if we had a figure like that it'd probably mean that the guy was an Evil Mastermind out to destroy the world.

The flipside to this is of course Sarah Palin, where we don't have any kind of equivalent. (We don't have the highs, but then we also avoid the lows...) OK, we have plenty of idiots, but it's not quite the same. ;)

Not really going anywhere with this, just thinking out loud.

Thoughts.

Listened to Obama's Arizona speech today. The New Yorker has a very good article here (many thanks to frenchani for the link!), which just about sums it all up. Extraordinary through and through. (Even if David Cameron could write a speech like that, it'd not be as affecting, because well, he's David Cameron.)

And it reminded me of a thought I had the other night, when Darcy and I were watching 'The Thick of It', and I began comparing it to 'The West Wing'...

The latter is about idealism and aspiration, and Americans truly have that. And it is not a foolish notion either - just look at Obama. The hope and inspiration that Americans have - and that he to a great extent commands - is deeply touching.

'The Thick of It' however is steeped in cynicism. In England people view politicians mostly as an inevitable part of life, a necessary evil - but Churchill apart no one gets put on a pedestal. (And just look at Nick Clegg as an example of what happens when people do... The reason he's so reviled now, is because for moment it was believed that he was different.) It's no accident that on Doctor Who the Master turned himself into a Hugely Popular Politician - we are very aware that if we had a figure like that it'd probably mean that the guy was an Evil Mastermind out to destroy the world.

The flipside to this is of course Sarah Palin, where we don't have any kind of equivalent. (We don't have the highs, but then we also avoid the lows...) OK, we have plenty of idiots, but it's not quite the same. ;)

Not really going anywhere with this, just thinking out loud.

More Joy Day!

If you're unfamiliar with this, click the banner to find out more. But very simply it's a day dedicated to bring joy to everyone around you. :)

Now because I completely forgot, I've been scrambling around my bookmarks to find something suitable... (I'd love to offer drabbles or something, but know myself well enough to realise that I'd take forever about them.) So, I bring you a selection of good stuff, both fannish and not:

( Read more... )

More Joy Day!

If you're unfamiliar with this, click the banner to find out more. But very simply it's a day dedicated to bring joy to everyone around you. :)

Now because I completely forgot, I've been scrambling around my bookmarks to find something suitable... (I'd love to offer drabbles or something, but know myself well enough to realise that I'd take forever about them.) So, I bring you a selection of good stuff, both fannish and not:

( Read more... )