tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62813932011-12-28T01:28:04.051ZThanks for reading, good luck and good night.Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.comBlogger12401100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-62741849002100276622010-01-03T18:19:00.003Z2010-01-03T18:50:18.976Z

Well, then. 6 years ago, give or take a day, I started up this blogging thing, and proceeded to talk a load of nonsense about comics, tv, films, and anything else that sprang to mind (or, to put it another way, links to other, better, blogs). Six years on, and like David Tennant, I think it's time to call it a day. Which may surprise anyone still reading, who may be excused for having thought I'd

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-9966238447368476392009-11-23T21:52:00.000Z2009-11-24T21:55:58.762Z

Just when you thought I was dead, or just too busy to update this thing...Happy Birthday, Doc!

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-30405282110617109982009-06-11T19:25:00.000+01:002009-06-11T19:17:07.430+01:00

Well, my order form in due in, so it's time to take a quick look through the catalogue - or rather, through the Newsarama postings for the month. Off we go.What's NewBATMAN: WIDENING GYRE #1"Once again, Kevin Smith – the fan-favorite creator behind GREEN ARROW and Daredevil – teams up with Walter Flanagan – the artist on the acclaimed series BATMAN: CACOPHONY – for an all-new adventure starring

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-72882043255292811612009-06-10T15:39:00.003+01:002009-06-10T16:13:01.272+01:00

So, today, Firstborn bit a boy in his class. Not for any descernable reason, as far as his teacher can see. He was a bit twitchy and then, bam! Or rather, crunch! Other child very upset, unsurprisingly, and as said small child goes to the same after-school club as Firstborn, I look forward to being mortified at, or possibly by, his parents.It's been a rough few weeks: for reasons which are a

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-72880216679835986452009-06-08T21:00:00.000+01:002009-06-08T21:00:01.162+01:00

While I was looking, mostly in vain, for interesting new shows for this year, I did notice the following:Human Target"It takes a brave, selfless man to make himself a “human target” in order to save the lives of those in danger. Based on the popular DC Comics graphic novel, Human Target is a full-throttle action drama centered on Christpopher (Mark Valley, Fringe), a unique private contractor/

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-22730165427434349562009-05-31T20:08:00.000+01:002009-05-31T20:08:00.225+01:00

Non-American readers, myself included, are left out of the loop, trailer wise, when it comes to looking at CBS' autumn line-up. Not sure if this is a failing on their part, or on all the other networks. Anyway, based only on the written world, let's see what's out there, shall we?Accidentally On Purpose"ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE is a comedy starring Golden Globe Award winner Jenna Elfman as Billie,

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-48717790811114798872009-05-30T20:58:00.002+01:002009-05-30T21:26:42.314+01:00

Right, we've covered Fox and NBC, what about ABC's new season?Cougar Town"Can a woman of a certain age be a mom, a successful career woman and still be on the prowl? Jules Cobb (Courteney Cox) is about to give it a try. In a small Florida town, the center of high society is the Cougars high school football team... which is wildly appropriate since this town is the natural habitat for over-tanned,

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-60128375531936736702009-05-24T23:00:00.001+01:002009-05-24T23:01:03.361+01:00

When I was a lad, first picking up comics, the Marvel Universe was a rich and varied place, and everyone had their favourite part. While the X-Men skulked in shadows, the Fantastic Four explored strange new worlds, and the Defenders didn't even officially exist, the Avengers were the heroic core of the Marvel Universe. Not cool, perhaps, but necessary to a balanced shared world.Nowadays, the

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-77929774322195515062009-05-22T18:10:00.000+01:002009-05-22T18:15:00.760+01:00

So, we've seen what Fox is bringing next season. Now, let's move on to NBC and see what new shows await us. But first, let's take a moment to note the passing of an old show, My Name Is Earl.Nearly 4 years ago, I warned you that that this show was "too weird to be around for long, so enjoy it while you can." Just under 100 episodes later, the show has finally been put to death. Not exactly

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-89504103226012244882009-05-20T20:25:00.000+01:002009-05-20T20:25:00.494+01:00

Longtime readers may remember that, in years past, renowned Pop Culture Blogger and TV Game Show contestant, Tom the Dog would browse the upcoming tv schedules, and bring forth his Unfair Previews, which I invariably relied on to tell me what new shows I should look forward to.Tragically, Tom has been lured away by the bright lights of Twitter. I must therefore venture forth to try to find myself

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-34812521168281563652009-05-19T12:53:00.002+01:002009-05-19T12:53:00.155+01:00

For some reason, I didn't do one of these last year. Maybe the writers strike stopped there being any cliffhangers to speak of, but I doubt it. Anyway, what's finished up so far?Well, there's Terminator, which ended the season with half the cast stranded in the future (and presumably due to bump into Christian Bale any minute now), with no way home. Unless you include the time travel which has

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-79041948832514120462009-05-18T15:57:00.000+01:002009-05-18T15:59:56.836+01:00

So, after avoiding any civil duties for the best part of 20 years, I was finally called up for jury service this month. Nothing exciting, sadly, just the local Sheriff Court.And, ooh, what a palaver! Let me take you through the past few days...On Tuesday, after work, I called the Sheriff Court, to be told that the Wednesday morning sitting had been postponed to Friday. Since I was meant to be

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-37944461063655257592009-05-14T12:06:00.002+01:002009-05-14T12:06:00.871+01:00

Since I'm due to place my order with my favourite mail order company, I figured I'd resurrect another old feature, in which I scour the comics solicits and try to work out what's likely to tickle my fancy.What's NewBLACKEST NIGHT #1"Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis raise the dead in the most anticipated comics story of the year! Throughout the decades, death has plagued the DC Universe and taken the

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-84159534472940068922009-05-13T12:30:00.000+01:002009-05-13T12:30:00.511+01:00

Those of you who visited back in the days when I blogged regularly may remember a little feature I used to present, where I checked a couple of blog entries from Marc-Oliver Frisch and Paul O’Brien, had a look at how my favourite comics were doing, and speculated on what fate might befall them. Since I've just told you what I'm reading, I wonder if we might take a look at their current standing

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-51855926394398275032009-05-12T22:20:00.001+01:002009-05-12T22:25:54.880+01:00

Hey, kids! Remember when I used to blog about comics? Bet you thought I'd given up reading the darn things, given how little mention I make of them these days. In fact, I've moved pretty much entirely onto trade paperbacks, of which I am now building up quite a nice collection. I still make the occasional foray into "floppies", just for stuff I really can't bear to wait on. So, what's currently

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-62112783773981896392009-05-10T22:30:00.000+01:002009-05-10T22:31:14.615+01:00

Spoilers Ahoy, as we dive into the currently-due-to-finish-if-not-actually-done-for-the-year shows which are cluttering up my television. Since there seems to be more show-culling going on than in previous years, let us break the shows down by their conservation status:Not At RiskLost - Having long-since abandoned any effort to bring new viewers on board, the weirdest show on telly kicked off the

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-81082672047354564072009-05-10T18:15:00.002+01:002009-05-10T18:26:51.384+01:00

And I'm back. No particularly good explanation for my long absence, other than that I seem to be finding it harder to form coherent thoughts, which are kind of necessary when blogging.Thankfully, it turns out that Twitter requires far less constructive effort to maintain than this blog, so those of you who are Jonesing for more regular output from me may wish to visit my twitter site.So, what's

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-46733739107229415692009-02-14T21:45:00.000Z2009-02-14T21:50:36.984Z

A week late and a dollar short, I thought I'd see what those wacky people on comic land are planning to bring us in the next few months. Off we go...Apparently, a lot of people were very excited about the DCU Online Game. Takes all sorts, I suppose. I guess the people who want to pretend to be superheroes on their computer will help to subsidise the cost of producing barely profitable comics for

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-79851570665722371842009-02-01T21:57:00.003Z2009-05-18T16:00:46.308+01:00

In my other blog yesterday, I covered the justly classic Avengers #16, and the first of the "changing of the guard" issues. Let's take a look at some of the classic Avengers line-ups, and one or two of the less memorable ones, shall we?The Originals (Thor, Iron Man, Ant-Man, the Wasp, and the Hulk)The ones who kicked it all off. Hulk might have only hung about for two issues, but his shadow

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-30140479684890820292009-01-19T20:47:00.002Z2009-01-19T20:58:54.395Z

From Saturday's Guardian newspaper:RBS Fills ChairSir Philip Hampton, the chairman of Sainsbury's and one of the City's most highly regarded corporate bosses, has been installed as chairman of the beleaguered Royal Bank of Scotland.Hampton, who earns £395,000 a year at Sainsbury's, will receive £750,000 a year at RBS - the same as McKillop. He will also be awarded shares currently worth £1.5m

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-12221252252643676062009-01-18T20:35:00.000Z2009-01-18T20:49:46.679Z

From the BBC:TV presenter Tony Hart dies at 83And so, farewell, Tony Hart. Readers of a certain age (ie. 60 and under) will remember Mr Hart as the genial host of numerous BBC Childrens' TV art programmes - Take That was my era - and most of you, like me, can probably never hear Cavatina, without being dragged back to the Gallery, where Tony would put on display the art of children much more

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-78201020129178862382009-01-18T18:53:00.002Z2009-01-18T18:56:58.785Z

Tool courtesy of Obamicon.me.

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-45583093452063757562009-01-17T23:10:00.001Z2009-01-20T21:42:50.344Z

In my other blog today, I mentioned in passing that, when it comes to super-costumes, not every outfit is a hit. I wrote it, but then I thought, "Hey, Dr S, maybe you're being harsh, dissing the 60s like this. After all, they brought us some classic outfits. Bet you can't find ten rubbish ones without breaking a sweat!"And I never could resist a bet.Paste-Pot Pete, a costumed identity so wholy

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-84355535998578306252009-01-15T18:55:00.000Z2009-01-15T18:56:51.564Z

And so, farewell, Ricardo Montalban, who saved the Star Trek film franchise, made peoples' dreams come true on Fantasy Island, and livened up The Colbys no end. Hopefully.You know, it's weird, I was sure he'd died a couple of years back. Not to worry.And goodbye, also, Patrick McGoohan, everyone's favourite Prisoner. I'd like to think, if there is such a place, these two are starring in some

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-68055442879975477092009-01-03T17:34:00.002Z2009-01-03T18:10:31.310Z

Well, it's on, and I'm in the house, so let's liveblog the announcement of the new Doctor Who, shall we?17:35 David Tennant and Russell T. speculate about what the new bloke'll be like. Russell refers to someone else having cast him, so hopefully we have a chance of ditching the will they / won't they romance angle we've been stuck with for the last few years.17:36 Credits. Firstborn very excited

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-48137512429757071092008-12-31T17:24:00.005Z2008-12-31T21:26:00.106Z

Here we go again, then. End of the year, let's remind ourselves, Oscars-style, of who's shuffled off this mortal coil this year, shall we?Natasha Collins and Mark Speight, cocaine-snorting celeb couple. She died in the bath, while he hung himself a couple of months later. As ways to go go, not the best.Sir John Harvey-Jones, the BBC's Troubleshooter.Sir Edmund Hillary, Kiwi mountain-climber, who

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-44405128489850405332008-12-25T00:05:00.000Z2008-12-25T00:05:01.751Z

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-35719103567137578772008-12-24T09:00:00.001Z2008-12-24T09:00:00.579Z

So, we've made it to Christmas Eve, and the family and I are disappearing down to my Mum and Dad's for a couple of days. Mum's not awfully well at the moment, and we're really hoping she'll be home for Christmas; hopefully the threat of missing Wallace & Gromit and Doctor Who will entice her to escape from hospital, but we'll see.Firstborn's done really well this year, both in terms of

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-88903360593576167312008-12-23T15:50:00.000Z2008-12-23T15:56:59.236Z

I wasn't much taken with Batman Begins. It's an ok enough film, but a bit predictable, by the numbers stuff at times. Not the sequel, though. Predictable, only in the sense that where it looks obvious where the film is going, you can predict they're going to veer off in another direction entirely. Losing Heath Ledger did add to the legendary status of the film, but no-one could deny the strength

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-35239240944227901182008-12-22T20:08:00.000Z2008-12-22T20:14:33.284Z

I'm contractually bound to temper my remarks about the unfortunate state of RBS. Instead, here's some harmless links.The company that can do no wrong has done it again..., December 2006Sir Fred said yesterday that there was "no change of direction" with regard to large-scale acquisitions. He noted: "We don't need to make any big acquisitions now, and the real message in the trading update is that

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-38769930654107303372008-12-21T18:45:00.000Z2008-12-21T18:50:10.999Z

It took until October for my favourite film of the year to show up, but it was worth it: an hour and a half of vintage Coen Brothers insanity and bleak humour that they haven't managed since Fargo (and I can't believe it's been 12 years since Fargo came out). John Malcovich as the ex-CIA agent whose memoirs trigger the films events, puts in a great turn, as does pretty much the entire cast.

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-78339647533104108382008-12-20T00:15:00.000Z2008-12-20T00:15:00.550Z

Welll, it's not really my cup of tea, but Firstborn seems to like Clone Wars. But he thinks Attack of the Clones is the best Star Wars film, so what does he know?

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-47151793276718530262008-12-19T14:45:00.001Z2008-12-19T14:50:47.306Z

The other big crossover of 2008 has been DC's Final Crisis, "The Day Evil Won", centering around the latest master plan of Darkseid, as told by Grant Morrison.Where Secret Invasion has been at times as complex as painting by numbers, Final Crisis is akin to painting by numbers with no numbers. Or, at times, paint. It's quite dense, or possibly, I am. It certainly feels like it'll work better as a

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-13373375612203595042008-12-18T08:20:00.001Z2008-12-18T08:24:03.437Z

We were spared more scenery-chewing from Kiefer Sutherland for (most of) this year, and, in exchange, his old man came out of retirement to star in Dirty Sexy Money, a truly bonkers tale of ordinary rich folk.Possibly the best show to turn up in the last couple of years, certainly the most fun, DSM is now at death's door. Originally believed cancelled, it's now on "hiatus", while the network

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-70857271200704300852008-12-17T15:20:00.000Z2008-12-17T15:27:18.283Z

A year, or even six months ago, who'd have given Gordon Brown any chance of still being Prime Minister now? After the election that never was last year, the opposition parties and the press had been after his blood. He'd signed the Lisbon Treaty without, as many had expected, letting the great unwashed have a vote on the subject. And the abolition of the 10p tax rate seemed to make a lot of

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-34322081836057926572008-12-16T15:00:00.000Z2008-12-16T15:00:25.606Z

Ha, fooled ya! Yeah, as if anyone would believe that 2008 was the year that Senors Lucas and Spielbergo finally resurrected the Indiana Jones franchise, bringing the octagenarian Harrison Ford out of retirement for one more crack of the bullwhip. I guess it doesn't sound all that improbable, when you consider Rocky Balboa, John Rambo, Catherine Tramell, and John McLane have all appeared in

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-74300549299410282592008-12-15T11:08:00.003Z2008-12-16T08:35:10.134Z

Ah, Radiohead? When I'm sad, you make me feel that there's someone worse off than me. And when I'm not sad, well, you just go ahead and make me sad anyway.In 2008, Radiohead played an outdoor gig, in the rain, on Glasgow Green. Yours truly was there, with some friends, standing around in the drizzle, surrounded by drunken and stoned Glaswegians, listening to Thom Yorke belting out the band's

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-28399208782739695152008-12-14T05:55:00.000Z2008-12-14T08:28:16.310Z

I was a late to the Boston Legal party, introduced to it by a friend who's a devotee of the show. That means I saw the five seasons of the show in a somewhat compressed timeframe (approx 18 months). As I discovered when I did the same with Scrubs, this isn't always a good idea, as you see the decline in the show rapidly, rather than gradually. After a strong start, BL has definitely declined over

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-37487018310633903832008-12-13T06:30:00.000Z2008-12-13T10:11:19.656Z

Daredevil's been one of Marvel's most consistent titles for several years now, and 2008 has been no exception. Ed Brubaker, having taking over the book from Brian Bendis, has tied up the threads of that run, and has now moved on to telling the sorts of gritty tales that first brought him to my attention. Not that there's anything wrong with his out-and-out superhero work, but I likes me some noir

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-29916579020823446932008-12-12T22:35:00.000Z2008-12-12T22:41:49.496Z

Well, it's been an interesting eight years, with the colourful/eccentric/insane (delete as applicable) George W. Bush in charge of much of the world. Interesting, in the way that he seems to have blundered his way along, amusing the world with his comedy prat-falls and hilarious gaffes, whilst the world becomes a mite scarier than it was in 2000. Interesting, in that, under his watch, America,

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-82703799305152572982008-12-11T08:15:00.000Z2008-12-11T08:24:33.380Z

It's taken me a few episodes to get into Fringe, the new show from JJ Abrams, but I'm getting there, mostly thanks to the wonderful performance that John Noble puts in every week. Although on the surface, his character is a bit of a stereotypical eccentric scientist, there's just the feeling that at some point, he's going to edge over into full-blown madness, and just, you know, vivisect his

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-58375552506179609272008-12-10T16:08:00.003Z2008-12-10T17:40:03.237Z

So, Batman: RIP, eh? What was all that about, then? Long lost relatives, mysterious deaths, shady conspiracies, sidekicks galore, and a polarised fanbase. Which I guess is the point.Grant Morrison's take on the Batman, during his JLA run, as the man who had a contingency plan for everything, has been the basis of his run on the Batman book, and this storyline has been the logical conclusion of it

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-82093499644106736942008-12-09T21:38:00.000Z2008-12-10T00:54:35.260Z

This year, the family and I made it abroad as a family, to sunny Lanzarote, where we lounged on beaches, sailed on yellow submarines, played on volcanoes, and, as pictured above, rode camels. It was, at times, a stressful trip - small children behave worse the warmer it gets, particularly ones who are as "odd" as Firstborn can be at times. We ate out when we could, apart from the one day when I

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-70394613001708701052008-12-08T15:41:00.002Z2008-12-08T15:56:25.691Z

Yes, ok, he's a bit of an old windbag, but Morrissey's also got a way with a tune, a heck of a singing voice, and the ability and willingness to talk to the audience, which seems a rare commodity on this day and age. In 2008, Morrissey came to Edinburgh, and, if rumours are true, he's coming to Glasgow in 2009, to promote his latest release, "Years Of Pretensiousness". I'm there, baby.

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-19276445910684943012008-12-07T09:18:00.002Z2008-12-07T09:51:00.252Z

Technically, 2007 was the year in which Futurama rose from the grave, but 2008 was when I caught up with it. And it's... good. Not great, in the way that some of the later episodes of the original run were, but good, in the way that some of the earlier episodes of the original run were. Personally, I prefer my 'rama in 20 minutes bites to seeing them stretched out to 90 minutes, but life's not

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-85507618115999929302008-12-06T20:37:00.002Z2008-12-06T20:46:26.878Z

A reread may show whether the just-completed Secret Invasion is as sprawling and incoherent as it first appears. But that would entail rereading it, which I'm not ready for yet. Watch this space, but don't hold your breath.

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-22275177475460311582008-12-05T13:00:00.000Z2008-12-05T13:00:00.540Z

In 2008, we saw the return of Old One Eye, last seen back in 1988 hanging around a primary school in London, back when Who prided itself on being a cult (ie. doomed) show. It also saw the Doctor accompanied by Donna, a companion best described as controversial, and saw the Russell T. Davies Hype Machine finally overload, as the producers turned all the dials up to 11, creating a two part finale

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-81780659594965764492008-12-04T22:32:00.002Z2008-12-10T16:09:48.095Z

After literally decades of wishing for a decent attempt at an Iron Fist, it's been nice to have a couple of years where it is one of the best book out there, thanks to the Brubaker / Fraction combo. We've gained a new writer, Duane Swierzinski, and a new artist, Travel Foreman, both new to me, but so far, the book's stayed high on my watch list. Will 2009 be the year Iron Fist returns to its

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-31185311007622249692008-12-03T12:11:00.000Z2008-12-05T12:11:56.240Z

And thanks again to Blogger for whatever glitch ate this entry as well! Just imagine the clever things I must have said about Alabama 3 (going to see them next week!).

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-50716037927803904992008-12-02T12:12:00.001Z2008-12-10T00:55:17.249Z

Thoughtfully, Blogger decided to eat the post I wrote about the current economic woes facing the western world, so unless you read it at the time, you'll never know what I had to say about our chickens coming home to roost. Sorry.

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-5978275060827177672008-12-01T17:52:00.003Z2008-12-01T19:13:27.575Z

I'm not the world's biggest cop show fan. Other than NYPD Blue, of which I eventually saw the whole run in spite of C4's efforts to the contrary, I caught the last couple of seasons of Hill Street Blues, a few episodes of The Bill when I was a student, and more specialist shows like Between the Lines or, most recently, Life. I seem to recall The Shield got an interesting write-up in the paper,

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-1102448460320941592008-11-21T13:51:00.000Z2008-11-21T13:59:28.399Z

(Almost from Tales Of Suspense #55, July 1964)And, from the same issue:What, you thought that sexualising of comic characters was a relatively new thing? Think again!

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-39433243603320890862008-11-21T09:06:00.002Z2008-11-21T09:27:42.466Z

While we wait to see if he'll be announced as the 11th Doctor, or if this is just a combination of BBC hoax and media hype, Paterson Joseph is about to turn up in the latest remake of a classic Sci-Fi serial. In this case, Survivors, which, apart from Blake's 7 and the Daleks, was Terry Nation's other big idea, dealing with the survivors of a global plague and their efforts to, well, survive.As

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-59197649999674242932008-11-19T16:15:00.000Z2008-11-19T16:21:01.948Z

Lots more shows back since the last time we did this. Let's start with the good, shall we?The Shield. Oh, The Shield... Barely two weeks to go until the whole thing finishes up, and I have no idea what's going to happen to Vic. Fed? Jail? Dead? Like The Sopranos, the writers have spent years building up these plot-threads, and we're now seeing the payoff. Going to miss this show when it's

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-7054693349643191162008-11-18T22:55:00.001Z2008-11-18T23:09:52.075Z

So, a little over a year ago, I braved the horrors of 2007's X-Titles, to see how accessible, or otherwise, the flagship brand of the Marvel Universe had become since I'd last paid it any attention. Ready to do it again?Where we left it last time, the Beast had failed to find any means to undo the whole "No More Mutants" problem. What's happened since then, you ask? Well, we've gained another 2

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-9769025461153864852008-11-03T17:49:00.003Z2008-11-03T19:17:15.613Z

According to the BBC, these are the most likely replacements for David Tennant:Paterson Joseph: Bookies' favourite, apparently, played a bit part in the first season of revived Who, and more importantly, is known by new Who Supremo, Steven Moffatt. Plus, he's known to the sci-fi crowd for being in Hyperdrive. I don't know if he's maybe too obscure, but then, who'd heard of David Tennant four

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-10317679124644803832008-10-31T18:07:00.002Z2008-10-31T18:20:45.039Z

Two for the price of one, this year.More Fatman than Batman...Both designs ruthlessly pilfered from flickr (here and here).

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-5651715461718409822008-10-29T22:25:00.003Z2008-10-29T23:11:10.416Z

As ever, from the BBC:David Tennant quits as Doctor WhoDavid Tennant is to stand down as Doctor Who, after becoming one of the most popular Time Lords in the history of the BBC science fiction show. Tennant stepped into the Tardis in 2005, and will leave the role after four special episodes are broadcast next year. He made the announcement after winning the outstanding drama performance prize at

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-53301122902862596792008-10-26T20:12:00.000Z2008-10-26T20:13:21.816Z

Um...

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-75473795386098809182008-09-27T21:31:00.002+01:002008-09-27T21:40:32.676+01:00

So, anyone else out there see this -- and think of this?It can't just be me!

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-80096613658563508372008-09-27T20:30:00.000+01:002008-09-27T20:34:03.071+01:00

Topical to the last, I'm so far behind the times that it was only when I learned of Tom The Dog's Emmy Blogging Tragedy, that I realised the Emmys had been and gone. Cue a visit to the internet, to see if I can learn of the nominations without also learning who won the actual awards, and then to another site to see if my half-arsed predictions pay off. Here goes...Best Series, DramaMy Choice:

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-12915467321497349312008-09-19T22:18:00.000+01:002008-09-19T22:25:13.993+01:00

(In which I traumatise my six-year old son on a roller coaster, and my two-year old daughter on a log flume.)So, a month or so back, the Wife and kids and I were down at my in-laws for a couple of weeks. Nothing too painful, you understand? Just a chance for them to spoil the kids while the wife and I had a bit of a chance to decompress, watch some movies, get a bit of breathing room. Parents,

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-71185266785334640082008-09-13T22:50:00.003+01:002008-09-13T22:56:05.539+01:00

... who, as always, thought of it first.(Not from Tales Of Suspense #46, October 1963)

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-29871127687318669192008-09-12T20:56:00.000+01:002008-09-12T20:56:00.585+01:00

So, long-time readers will be aware that I'm gainfully employed by a leading UK high street bank. After a variety of roles in the company, from the vaguely technical to the very much not so, I am currently working in a technical role, surrounded by people with, for the most part, a more technical background than me, which means that (a) I push myself hard to try and keep up with the technical

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-28853341640617537832008-09-10T21:34:00.003+01:002008-09-10T22:22:55.435+01:00

So, Prison Break's back, then. Oddly, there's not a prison in sight, unless you count the maximum security one our "heroes" will soon be esconsced in, if they don't sign up for the Government's hare-brained scheme to bring down the super-mysterious Company. Yes, after the curtailed third season, Michael and co are back, home from their Panamanian escapade, and on some sort of Dirty Dozen meets

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-23387283757051423762008-09-03T21:14:00.005+01:002008-09-03T21:47:51.726+01:00

Whoa, what the hell was that?!? You're never going to believe this. There I was, sat in my house, waiting for the next episode of Eastenders to start, when all of a sudden, this blue box appears in the room, and this tall bloke with a striped suit and an improbable accent jumps out, tells me he needs some help with some sort of invasion from Dimension X, and orders me to follow him into the blue

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-5881690626888914442008-04-07T10:53:00.000+01:002008-04-07T10:54:01.989+01:00

Avengers #1, September 1963(By Lee, Kirby, and Dick Ayers)So, what do you do when you've got a whole raft of superheroes kicking arse and taking names on a regular basis? Team them up, that's what! Taking a leaf from the Distinguished Competition, Stan and Jack decided to take their new generation of superheroes, Thor, Iron Man, Ant-Man, Wasp, and the Hulk, and shove them in a book together.

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-33035167406607010302008-04-02T22:22:00.000+01:002008-04-02T22:26:19.353+01:00

I have to blog something soon, or they take away my licence...I was listening to Sound Of The Sixties the other Saturday morning (required listening for the old and terminally out of touch), when the following song came on.Now, if you're playing the attached tune, you're probably having one of 3 reactions:1: You're drawing a blank, in which case, no harm, no foul, move along there.2: You're

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-57348227472155827862008-03-14T21:30:00.001Z2008-03-14T21:46:52.080Z

It's been a while since we did this, and I'm sure you're all dying to know what I'm making of this season's tv, what there is of it. Let's kick of, shall we?First up, what returning programmes haven't experienced a dip in quality? Well, the sit-coms are doing ok, I guess. 30 Rock continues to be the funniest show out there, thanks mainly to Alec Baldwin's increasingly ludicrous behavour as

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-5193544679489138382008-03-02T16:50:00.002Z2008-03-02T17:26:27.007Z

Strange Tales #110, July 1963(By Lee and Ditko, or Ditko and Lee, if you prefer.)Today we look at the first appearance of Dr Stephen Strange, from when he was merely the star of a backup strip in Strange Tales, the Human Torch's feature-title.As you see from the picture above, this is an unusual origin, in that it's not being drawn by Jack Kirby. Instead, the quiet man of Marvel Comics, Steve

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-1831801610992407962008-02-26T12:21:00.002Z2008-02-26T13:01:35.044Z

Amazing Spider-Man #3, July 1963(by Lee and Ditko)This can't end well...Cue 40 years of getting beaten on by Spider-Man...

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-60419852710367078222008-02-25T11:07:00.003Z2008-02-25T11:44:44.775Z

Sgt. Fury #1, May 1963(by Lee and Kirby)Famously, Stan Lee bet his publisher that he could write a war comic in the Mighty Marvel Manner style, and that it would be a success, despite war comics being virtually a dead art. This was the result.These, then, are the heroes of today's tale, led by Nicholas Fury, who would go on to be one of the most famous recurring characters in the Marvel Universe.

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-9981476398238368942008-02-16T10:54:00.002Z2008-02-16T11:28:04.284Z

Tales To Astonish #42, April 1963(by Lee, Lieber and Heck)Not all super-villains are motivated by an insane desire to conquer the world, or by the need to seek revenge on the nearest hero to hand. Some, like today's villain, are spurred on by arrogance. Come meet The Voice!His tale begins as he arrives in New York, armed with a dangerous soap-box, and proceeds to demonstrate his hypnotic

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-12247178820128999372008-01-31T20:47:00.000Z2008-01-31T21:12:54.542Z

Bozo, this one's for you!Baby's First Mythos

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-75306428273157420532008-01-29T14:49:00.000Z2008-01-29T14:50:34.098Z

Tales Of Suspense #39, March 1963(Stan Lee, Larry Lieber and Don Heck)So, we've done radiation-enhanced heroes, chemical-enhanced heroes, gods. What else do we need? Ah yes, battle-suited heroes. Bring on Iron Man!Like the origin of the Incredible Hulk, our tale today begins with a scientist hired by the government to produce a new type of weapon for the army. In this case, millionaire

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-62647915086199749542008-01-21T20:39:00.000Z2008-01-21T21:06:57.628Z

Incredible Hulk #5, January 1963(Stan Lee and Jack Kirby)And we're back, with a look at another one of the earliest appearances of the Green Goliath, the Jade-Jawed Giant, the one, the only, Incredible Hulk!In this Lee / Kirby classic, the Hulk takes on the mighty Tyrannus, a warlord from beneath the ground, who rules an army of midget super-scientists. Here's Tyrannus' secret origin in three

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-9844483951771961962008-01-18T16:54:00.000Z2008-01-18T17:00:22.453Z

Strange Tales #101, October 1962 (Stan Lee, Larry Lieber and Jack Kirby)(Yes, folks, Jack Kirby handles the artistic chores here, which, with him also illustrating Fantastic Four, Journey Into Mystery, Hulk, and the ongoing adventures of Ant-Man in Tales to Astonish, takes him up to 5 titles a month. Phew.)Back in the earliest days of the FF, before the Thing built up his cult of personality, the

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-72766370305216358052008-01-14T19:40:00.000Z2008-01-14T19:43:11.045Z

Fantastic Four #6, September 1962(Lee and Kirby)Today, we look back on a classic moment of Marvel history: the very first super-villain team-up!The issue starts off gently enough, with a visit to the FF in their headquarters, now identified as the Baxter Building. We're even treated to a floorplan of the buildingNote that the FF have been in existence for less than a year, and already have a

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-47934349312753553752008-01-14T18:33:00.000Z2008-01-14T18:45:58.270Z

From the news: 'Blade Runner' handed Olympic banParalympic 400m star Oscar Pistorius has failed in his bid to compete at this year's Olympic Games in Beijing.The IAAF, athletics' governing body, ruled his prosthetic limbs give him an advantage over able-bodied opponents and contravene rules on technical aids. A scientific study revealed that Pistorius, nicknamed "Blade Runner", used 25%

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-2997879344220725192008-01-11T09:10:00.000Z2008-01-11T09:12:41.603Z

This, and other hilarities, to be found at Doctor Who Cat Macros.

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-70683086160589538032008-01-10T12:19:00.001Z2008-01-10T18:06:10.377Z

Journey Into Mystery #83, August 1962(Stan Lee, Larry Lieber and Jack Kirby)Right, then. We've met Hank Pym, the Fantastic Four, the Hulk, and Spider-Man. Who's next?Oh, him! Yes, I'm afraid it's time for the smuggest, most self-satisfied, most downright annoying superhero of them all to show up. Sorry. Let's get on with it, shall we?Obviously, in a tale which deals with the return of a mythical

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-55480958102859864542008-01-09T19:14:00.000Z2008-01-09T19:34:54.673Z

Amazing Fantasy #15, August 1962(Stan Lee and Steve Ditko)Surely there's not a man or woman alive who doesn't know this tale?Well, just in case, here's the edited highlights:Weedy teenage boy.Raised by doting Aunt and UncleBitten by radioactive spider.Gains super-powers.Becomes celebrity wrestler.Gets too big for his boots.Uncle gets killed.Whoops.Doesn't make deal with Mephisto to bring his

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-17603654908157805162008-01-08T18:01:00.000Z2008-01-09T18:37:12.899Z

Fantastic Four #5, July 1962(Lee & Kirby)Can't let the first appearance of Doctor Doom pass without comment, although this is by no means his finest hour. Watch, you'll see what I mean.Nice study, Vic. Bit confused by the whole chess board motif, especially as the Thing takes up about four spaces on his own. and is that a vulture you have as a pet? Ick. So, anyway, Victor von Doom, for reasons of

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-34098744081721658572008-01-07T15:00:00.000Z2008-01-07T15:06:59.870Z

Incredible Hulk #1, May 1962(Stan Lee and Jack Kirby)And we're off, with the second of Marvel's superhero launches. Like the FF, this was an optimistic attempt at a new number #1 issue, without having tested the water first. Unlike the FF, this was to prove a bit of a miscalculation, lasting only six issues before vanishing into the ether. However, that's yet to come, and today we're here to look

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-86943671204357834532008-01-04T12:00:00.000Z2008-01-04T12:04:33.681Z

Tales To Astonish #27, January 1962(Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, and Jack Kirby)I was going to skip over this as being more of a monster book than a superhero one, but Henry Pym wanted me to remind you that, barely a month after Reed Richards and his pals were exposed to cosmic rays, he was following in their footsteps, albeit without a costume, any supervillains, or any of the other trappings of what

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-27081830731293376722008-01-03T22:37:00.000Z2008-01-03T22:32:40.709Z

So, after the damp squib that was last year's 312 Days Of Doctor Who, which was either a good idea lacking something in the delivery, or just plain a bad idea, I'm choosing to retreat back into the safety of comics. Inspired by Marvel's ongoing efforts to destroy all that is great about the Marvel Universe, I decided to take a tour of the past 46 years of Marvel Comics. Hopefully, if I manage to

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-27818854853391683362007-12-31T10:51:00.000Z2007-12-31T10:48:58.019Z

So, here we are again, the end of another year, and a chance to remind ourselves of the great and the good who've moved beyond these shores this year.Obviously, this week, Benazir Bhutto was killed. Not really a surprise, given how many enemies she had in Pakistan, the writing was on the wall for her from the moment she arrived back in the country.Alan Coren, the funniest, and possibly smartest

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-88983351996939841792007-12-24T10:21:00.000Z2007-12-24T10:28:36.883Z

Right then. The folks and I are off down to my family for a couple of days, so I must wish you a Merry Christmas before I run off. Firstborn is getting quite excited about the prospect of Santa and presents, whereas Secondborn is all about the true meaning of Christmas, honest...Anyhoo, wherever you are, and whoever you are, have a happy Presentmas, and don't forget to watch Voyage Of The Damned!

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-75214952201974038032007-12-23T18:02:00.000Z2007-12-23T18:04:12.942Z

Oh, good lord. Lindsey, this one's for you!

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-2480159894594508772007-12-18T13:48:00.000Z2007-12-18T13:50:57.295Z

Once again, in lieu of any, you know, actual content, here's a cheap post, focusing on what I'm looking forward to.First up, and most importantly, here's a look at this year's Who Xmas Special, "Voyage of the Damned" Billed as the best Doctor Who story evah, it looks all right. Seeing the Doctor leering at Kylie Minogue, I feel that, at last, he and I share a common bond.Or if that's not to your

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-62849094401156282132007-12-16T18:08:00.000Z2007-12-16T18:44:40.878Z

It is with pride, and a mounting sense of old age, that I can report that Firstborn has lost his first milk tooth. Naturally, getting him to sit still for a photo was impossible today. However, thanks to the wonder of photo-manipulation, he looks a little like this.Bless...!

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-63582062946668171182007-12-11T08:16:00.000Z2007-12-12T08:24:18.578Z

From the BBC, of course: Somali pirates demand $1m ransomSomali pirates who seized a Japanese chemical tanker six weeks ago have demanded a $1m ransom.They have threatened to kill the 23-man crew unless the ransom is paid.The tanker, the Golden Nori, was sailing from Singapore to Israel with a cargo of chemicals when it was attacked by pirates at the end of October.The Today Programme made

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-82488215570961208102007-12-05T20:23:00.000Z2007-12-05T20:45:04.539Z

I don't ever reminisce for my teenage years. They mostly sucked. Student years? Some good times, but lack of cash and that whole studying for a degree that was never going to get me a decent job thing, kind of blew. Now, my mid-20s? Now they were good times. I was young, earning a living wage, lacking in any of those pesty expensive things like kids, cars, houses, and had the time to indulge in

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-86492374443930219492007-11-27T21:32:00.000Z2007-11-27T21:58:37.902Z

From the BBC:'Muhammad' teddy teacher arrestedA British schoolteacher has been arrested in Sudan accused of insulting Islam's Prophet, after she allowed her pupils to name a teddy bear Muhammad. Colleagues of Gillian Gibbons, 54, from Liverpool, said she made an "innocent mistake" by letting the six and seven-year-olds choose the name.Although I'm obviously concerned for the unfortunate Ms.

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-61148439224679062192007-11-23T21:35:00.000Z2007-11-23T21:34:55.879Z

Good news: the BBC's flagship show, Doctor Who, made it to 44 years old today, albeit 44 years with a big-ass break in the middle.Bad news: Original Doctor Who producer, the mother of the show, Verity Lambert, didn't make it to today, passing away yesterday. Even if you're not a fan of Who (heretic!), odds are you've enjoyed something she was involved with.For example, for the refined viewer:Or

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-9180884279546279062007-11-21T09:59:00.000Z2007-11-21T16:40:51.317Z

Thanks to Ken Bruce for bringing this to our attention:e-Bay's latest bargainEDIT: And it's gone. In case you were too slow:130176357093 child benefit cd x 2 millions of personal detailsSome people just have no sense of humour...

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-40860397552688207092007-11-15T18:10:00.000Z2007-11-19T13:01:27.436Z

This is one of the most e-mailed stories on the BBC Website at the moment. I can see why. Bike sex man placed on probationA man caught trying to have sex with his bicycle has been sentenced to three years on probation.Robert Stewart, 51, admitted a sexually aggravated breach of the peace by conducting himself in a disorderly manner and simulating sex.Sheriff Colin Miller also placed Stewart

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-42387627670179829022007-11-13T15:55:00.000Z2007-11-15T18:10:29.647Z

Right next to each other, from today's BBC News:I can't keep up..!

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-15949326661948377962007-11-12T14:34:00.001Z2008-11-10T15:09:45.083Z

Once upon a time, I had the time and inclination to read all the X-Titles. That was a long time ago, and much has changed since then.Actually, not that much. The two main X-books, Uncanny and Adjectiveless are still around, there's an X-Factor book again, and, in New X-Men, an equivelent to the old New Mutants book. There's also Astonishing X-Men, Joss Whedon's stab at writing the X-Men's

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6281393.post-45500847987764062562007-11-09T22:03:00.000Z2007-11-09T22:04:02.226Z

So, apart from tv and comics, what else is there? Oh yeah, real life. Look away now, disinterested casual reader!Well, I broke my car. Driving very slowly in rush hour traffic, I failed to anticipate the car in front of me slamming on its brakes, and cracked my bumper on the back of an MX5. I can't remember if I blogged about it at the time, but this is the second time I've done that in less than

Doctor Sordidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15587096281596675210noreply@blogger.com1