sundries

[rm]

Let's say I was going to finally explore classic Doctor Who, which Doctor do you think would be the best starting place for me, knowing my interests? Then, let's say I needed to get really up to date on any one classic Doctor fast (i.e., "you can learn everything you need to know about Seven by watching x, y, and z") -- who/what/when/where/why? I need your help, Internets.

A small study finds that the happiest people engage in only a third of the small-talk that the unhappiest people do. As someone who HATES small-talk and generally feels suspicious of it (and is also bad at it) I find this gratifying.

Not a news item: Shark attacks down.

Snow vs. the eruvim.

Speaking of which, it's the most wonderful time of the year: lots of gluten-free goodies thanks to kosher for Passover stuff in all the stores.

Things that are going to get worse before they get better: New York State politics; the economic crisis in Greece (this will have cascade effects); the predictability of the currency markets. We think the British pound is about to collapse, but people have been saying that for months and months. So maybe, maybe not.

Word I want less of: pimp (your car, your house, your LJ, your "pimps and ho's" party theme).

I have neglected to mention my current love affair with VBS, also known as Vice TV. I originally found them through CNN, which has been showing parts of their reports on their site.

Vice TV aims to do totally transparent, process-oriented journalism, and I'll be frank in that they only partially succeed. For example, a piece on North Korea is riveting only because it's about North Korea since there's no inherent story that the piece is following beyond "wacky journalists go to North Korea." It works because the on-camera guy has charisma, and North Korea is weird and mysterious.

On the other hand, I fell hard for Swansea Love Story which is about heroin use in Swansea. The piece is very well-made and is, in places, hard to watch. It also really only pays off if you watch the whole thing, as the devices of the narrative don't really come full circle if you don't watch it all.

I've also been enjoying the Mecca Diaries piece which includes the amazing phrase "Satan stoning station" as a guy who works for VBS smuggles a camera along on hajj as he goes on the journey with his family.

There's a lot of crap on VBS and they frame a lot of stuff in wacked out sensationalist ways, but some of the actual material is quite something. If I were 20 and working hard at drinking scotch and trying to prove that I can be one of the boys, I'd be all over working for these guys. Instead, I'm just enjoying their stuff (after a lot of filtering).

What counts as sex? Survey says.... via jonquil

I don't normally post about Twitter, but I'm still thinking about this tweet from kurometarikku, who's a guy I vaguely know because he works at a hotel I've stayed a few times in New Haven (short version: "Vote Saxon" pin meets Tardis tie). It made me think about both Who fandom in specific and the wonder of DragonCon in general and, of course, ConSweet.

Comments

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

Oh man, that small-talk study makes me happy! I'm crap at small-talk, or at least, engaging in it makes me stress out big time.

I remember I once spoke to a friend who said she and a guy had sex three times in one night and I asked how many times he'd orgasmed and she said "three..." then the penny dropped. Amazing.

[rm.livejournal.com]

This stuff can be really generational. I find myself having to spend more energy than I'd like counteracting my own internal attitudes about these things, and I totally blame that on being the age I am.

[mangosteen]

I always thought of small talk as somewhat necessary, at least for starting off a conversation with a stranger. It's a protocol negotiation, to answer the question "what can I actually talk about with you"? The conversation progresses or it doesn't, but I can't imagine not doing some negotiation at the beginning.

Now, whole conversations' worth of small talk strike me as a bit odd, in a "do people actually *do* that?" kind of way. Clearly, they do. It's generating bonding social capital, if nothing else*... it still seems a bit odd, though.


* 10 minutes of Monty Python jokes to establish geek cred is small talk, too.

[amberite.livejournal.com]

I recommend Spearhead From Space, the first Pertwee serial. It's one of the best starting places in classic Who (Rose was even referential to it I think for that reason) and Third Doctor era is the kind of thing you might like. Unlike most Who, the story is geared at new viewers, and the background of the Third Doctor is tragic in a very subtle and understated way. (I'll get into it more if you want - that's mostly spoilers for the end of the Second Doctor era.) And really I think you'll love his mannerisms and style.

Highlights of the Third Doctor include Inferno; anything with the Master, because Pertwee and Delgado have a lovely dynamic; and the final story Planet of the Spiders is pretty good too, if a bit drawn out.

[brewsternorth.livejournal.com]

Word I want less of: pimp (your car, your house, your LJ, your "pimps and ho's" party theme).

Agreed. I mean, not just from the connotations of it (though clearly that), but that it's so overused it's lacking in imagination.

As for "quintessential Classic" stories: 'Curse of Fenric' is probably your best bet for Sylvester McCoy's Doctor; "Invasion" is probably the best Patrick Troughton story, and will put into context some of the Pertwee. Tom Baker is a tricky one, since a lot of his really good stories are in arcs.

Also, don't know if you have a multi-region DVD player, but I have the only-released-in-region-2 disc of the Eighth Doctor movie.

[lefaym.livejournal.com]

Hmmm... classic Who. My recommendation would be to watch at least one serial from each Doctor, except for Tom Baker, where I'd recommend watching two, simply because he played the role for such a long time. If you don't have time for that, however, I'd concentrate on the Fourth Doctor, since he's the one everyone knows best.

This is my personal rec list:

First Doctor: The Aztecs (though watching "An Unearthly Child" is probably a good idea just for context).

Second Doctor: The Invasion

Third Doctor: Inferno (I think this one will really gel with your interests)

Fourth Doctor: Rememberance of the Daleks AND City of Death

Fifth Doctor: Earthshock (I haven't actually seen much of the Fifth Doctor -- though I have seen this story -- but reccing it because this is another I think will gel with you.)

Sixth Doctor: If you have time, Trial of a Time Lord -- this one is probably interesting to you because the companion was originally slated to die, the actor WANTED her to die, but she was given a last-minute reprieve and a happily-ever-after ending. The actor felt that this cheapened the story. However, Trial is quite long, and if you want something shorter I'd recommend The Mark of the Rani.

Seventh Doctor: While my personal favourite is Battlefield, I'm going to recommend Rememberance of the Daleks, because it's a lot more significant in terms of Who canon.

[tommx.livejournal.com]

I second this recommendation. If you are (and I think you are) a fan of the 9th Doctor, then #3 will appeal to you both for the similarities to the 9th and the differences. Doctor #3 was the "Man of Action" who loved gadgets and had a sophistication that was unique to his character. I'd say it's entirely possible that one of the first things Dr. #3 did after her regenerated was to gain membership to Boodle's Club.

And yes, the stories featuring the Master are a must see. (Even though their resolutions were often cringe worthy)

[lefaym.livejournal.com]

I think the Third Doctor is my favourite from Old Who.

[tommx.livejournal.com]

The Fourth is actually my favorite, but the Third is a close second. Tom Baker was really my first Doctor (even though I was thoroughly confused when I saw my first episode because I knew nothing of the mythology, and was even further confused when I saw another episode and saw Pertwee in the role) and his rumpled eccentric wild eyed bohemian character was always very near and dear to my heart.

[redstapler.livejournal.com]

I was lent a bunch of Classic Who stuff, if you want to have a day of it sometime.

[fmanalyst.livejournal.com]

Of the 7th doctor, I'd also recommend The Greatest Show in the Galaxy, about a circus with a demanding audience.

[heron61.livejournal.com]

Let's say I was going to finally explore classic Doctor Who, which Doctor do you think would be the best starting place for me, knowing my interests.

Avoid the first doctor eps - I tried a few and they are unwatchably terrible. I recently rewatched much of the 3rd doctor (Jon Pertwee) eps, and found many as wonderful as when I watched them as a child. Inferno remains on of the best and most disturbing Dr. Who serials ever. I'd recommend that you try early episodes with 3 or 4, and see which one works better for you. I'd think 3, but that could be my own pro-3 bias showing. Liz Shaw & Sarah Jane Smith were both excellent companions (at least for the era).

What counts as sex?

Utterly baffling. At absolute minimum, it seems obvious that any activity where all of the people involved have orgasms would count as sex, regardless of what they are doing.

[lefaym.livejournal.com]

I've also heard that The Happiness Patrol is very interesting, from the Seventh Doctor, although I haven't seen it.

[lefaym.livejournal.com]

I didn't watch any Old Who until I was an adult (I got into it via New Who), and I find the Third Doctor interesting because he very much has a coming-of-age narrative which is consistent throughout his entire time as the Doctor -- and I also like the darker political edge that the Third Doctor serials often have.

[rarelylynne.livejournal.com]

7th Doctor (he's my Classic Series Doctor): Curse of Fenric. And Ghostlight.

And, erm, personally? I'm fond of Happiness Patrol and Time and the Rani and Delta and the Bannerman *ducks and covers for rather less popular choices* Battlefield also awesome (especially for the Brigadier bits).

Also, from the Fifth Doctor:

Caves of Androzani
Kinda
Snakedance
Enlightenment
ETA: Black Orchid
The Visitation (I like historicals)

From the Second Doctor: The Mind Robber; The War Games (long but good). The Ice Warriors. Tomb of the Cybermen (that's an important one, and it's generally pretty good, too.)

From the first Doctor: The War Machines is Pretty Good. The Aztecs and The Romans are awesome. (I <3 Barbara and Ian as companions).

I like the 3rd Doctor Stories that feature Liz Shaw best (Inferno si one of those).

:-)

[lefaym.livejournal.com]

There are some shockers in the First Doctor era -- but then there are shockers in the era of every Old Who Doctor. Personally, I think that The Aztecs is one of the best Doctor Who stories that I've seen, however.

[lefaym.livejournal.com]

Er, for the Fourth Doctor that should be "Genesis of the Daleks," not "Rememberance" (which is Seventh Doctor).

*facepalm*

[rarelylynne.livejournal.com]

But Remembrance is also Awesome. ;-)

[lefaym.livejournal.com]

Yes indeed -- which is why I rec'd it for the Seventh Doctor. :)

OMG ACE. ♥

[aviv-b.livejournal.com]

Definition of sex: I wonder of a lot of the generational differences come from the whole 'promise keeper' movement. The 'if you don't have intercourse,then you're still technically a virgin, so it really isn't sex' type of thinking. And your daddy can still give you a ring to wear.

Classic Dr. Who: I second Caves of Androzani. (At one time I had every episode of Dr. Who and Blake's 7 on tape. Unfortunately in Beta format, LOL).

[tommx.livejournal.com]

My first Who was when I was about 14. I was at my parent's beach house watching random TV. I came across what I later learned was the first episode of "The Face of Evil". It showed these tribal people who were talking about going to war with an opposing tribe, some guy was sacrificed, and then all of a sudden a phone booth appears (Well, I didn't know what a police box was) and some guy walks out wearing a massive scarf complaining that it's not Hyde Park and proceeds to offer jelly babies to everyone.

I was a wee confused.

[rm.livejournal.com]

I'm 37, and certainly as a kid/teen believed "sex" required penetration. I wonder if the fight against AIDS is what changed that as a fairly common assumption?

[rarelylynne.livejournal.com]

Ace is what made me a Who fan.

[copperbadge.livejournal.com]

I've been working my way through the classic Who serials in order, but I'm only up to the end of Troughton's run, so I can't really recc overall with confidence. Let me tell you, it was a haul getting through some of those episodes, too.

But I love the First Doctor, I love him the most of all the Doctors I've seen so far. I love Land Of The Giants with an unholy passion, and I think you would be fascinated/appalled/intrigued by The Dalek Invasion Of Earth. (It fascinated me right up to where I was so enraged I had to stop watching for a week or two over what they did to Susan.)

Fun fact for the evening: Almost every arc (four or more episodes on a single adventure) in the first Doctor's run passes the Bechdel test.

[aviv-b.livejournal.com]

Ditto, as a kid.

I think you are correct in that AIDS has changed the dynamics of talking about sex to kids. High school(early 70s) sex education was surprisingly frank at least in terms of classic intercourse, use of condoms - but only as a means of pregnancy protection. But I don't ever remember anything being discussed about anal or oral sex. Ever.

You don't happen to have a link to the original study? I wonder how the youngest group is defined? Are we taking 11-14 yrs or 16-20 - could also explain the results. It wouldn't surprise me if young teens didn't think oral sex was 'sex' but with older ones it would.