alexsarll: (seal)
Alex ([personal profile] alexsarll) wrote2008-12-26 12:10 pm

I always forget my Christmas colds

Have just been down to Seaton to see the hunt meet. One chap we met who'd been going all his life said that lately, every year there are more and more people come to watch, just to spite the ban. So that was political capital well spent there, Tony. Officially speaking, they were just hunting a marathon runner, of course - but whatever they're after, it's magnificent watching them all charge along the seafront and up the hill after it. Personally I was hoping the hounds might go for the unusually fluffy peke (yes, even by peke standards) who kept trying to pick fights with them. Stupid animal.

Less Doctor Who discussion on the friendslist than I'd expect, but then it wasn't really an easy episode to discuss, was it? One of RTD's OK-but-flawed mid-rankers, which still makes it the second best Christmas special thus far, but...OK, I liked that Miss Hartigan's motivation and downfall were left to speak for themselves, rather than over-moralised and -explicated. I loved the Morrissey/Tennant chemistry, even if I thought it should have been Morrissey rather than Tennant who saved Morrissey Jr. The TARDIS and the sonic screwdriver, both ace. The Cyber-King was bonkers, but passably entertaining. But what the blazes was with the Cyber-Poochies? How can the Doctor recognise the Cyber-King's specifications, or the Cybermen's data-stamp contain information on Doctors 1-9, when these are the lousy alternate universe model who have only ever met 10, and then without any sign of warships?
It wasn't great Doctor Who, and it wasn't a travesty, it was just...one of those stories. But hey, it was still Doctor Who.

That aside, mainly caught up with Wallace & Gromit. My big present was an external drive, and since my computer's not here then even unbubblewrapping it would be slightly silly.

[identity profile] barrysarll.livejournal.com 2008-12-28 04:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Having got in with lots of talk of a new Britain, a third way and all that fluffy stuff, the hunting ban was an ugly exercise in old-school Labour tribalism and toff-bashing, which went a fair way in eroding any chance of building a genuine new consensus - and, judging by the rise in attendance at these meets, served even to alienate the previously undecided.

[identity profile] beingjdc.livejournal.com 2008-12-28 05:59 pm (UTC)(link)
I think by 2004 it was clear that there wasn't going to be a centrist consensus, and Blair had done a far better job of alienating the left and tribal Labour, so if anything it was an exercise in maintaining the consensus by keeping them on board.

For all we know, attendance might be up because of more drag and non-kill hunts. If veal were banned at a butcher's, and they started stocking quorn and tofu as well, a huge increase in customer numbers could be explained in two different possible ways, couldn't it?

[identity profile] barrysarll.livejournal.com 2008-12-28 06:28 pm (UTC)(link)
Except that the full exploitation of loopholes in the law looks to be about as open as secrets come.

[identity profile] beingjdc.livejournal.com 2008-12-28 07:07 pm (UTC)(link)
Could just be the free advertising too. I bet loads more people went searching for paedo websites after Operation Ore. "Ooh I'd forgotten I was into naked kids, but now you come to mention it, that's just what'd perk up this dull Sunday afternoon". Like how there are queues round the block at Woolworths today. Doesn't mean it's any good!

[identity profile] barrysarll.livejournal.com 2008-12-29 10:33 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah, somehow I'm doubting that about Ore. And the Woolworths queues more likely down to the promise of stupendous discounts, no?

[identity profile] beingjdc.livejournal.com 2008-12-29 12:25 pm (UTC)(link)
The discounts on the first day of the closing down sale were actually no bigger than on the day before of the massive christmas sale. Just all over the newspapers and tv.

[identity profile] beingjdc.livejournal.com 2008-12-30 11:27 am (UTC)(link)
As if I needed any more evidence for my case, according to the latest Land Registry report released today, house prices went up in two of Londons 33 boroughs in the most recent month. One of them was Haringey.

See. No such thing as bad publicity.

[identity profile] barrysarll.livejournal.com 2008-12-30 11:57 am (UTC)(link)
What about bank runs?

Zavvi's discounts are also very poor, but then they didn't seem especially crowded either.

[identity profile] beingjdc.livejournal.com 2008-12-30 11:59 am (UTC)(link)
Duncan tried to open an account with Northern Rock...