Up Chuck

Fuck me, you've actually done all that?! I remember reading the first one and hoping you'd get through a decent amount, but jesus, that's impressive. I'll have a look through some of them for sure.

Cushing's Doctor character was explicitly referenced as being human. The films are entirely separate from the TV show.

Holy shit, that was just the quintessential TNA anticlimax, wasn't it? Terrible entrance music? Check. Horrible timing killing any potential reaction? Check. Commentators sounding like they couldn't possibly be less arsed? Check. Comedy heel facials? Check. Irrelevant sport crossover? Check. It might be the most TNA thing that TNA have ever TNA'd. It's not even one step forward, two steps back - it's one feint forward while staying in the exact same place for the rest of time.

Anyone know who had the shortest WCW Tag Title reign ever (and how long it was)? My absolute favourite piece of wrestling trivia, this.

So, did your mum actually wake you up about twelve?

I've just found out there's going to be a public meeting about the Bedroom Tax (yes, I know it isnlt actually a tax)

A week late on this, but you really don't need to point out it isn't a tax, because it might as well be. There are nowhere near enough smaller houses for the people being hit with it to move into, therefore they have no choice but to pay it, therefore it's effectively a tax.

I wouldn't say defensive, but I didn't think anyone was arguing. I thought it just came up as an aside, really.

I don't think anyone's suggested you were saying that, Vamp, but it's not an uncommon criticism.

I tend to come across it mostly in the comments (I know, you should never read them, I can't help myself sometimes) of Digital Spy articles, from people who liked the RTD era but have problems with Moffat. And a great many of them have words like "surely" before "it's too complicated for kids". So god knows if there's a single actual child who's found it too complicated.

I'm with Daz all the way on this one. I'll take a million Moffat loose ends over a single RTD overblown emotional certainty.

And while we're on the subject, has anyone actually heard any kids complain about series 6 being too complicated? If so, fair enough, but I've got a sneaking suspicion it's just adults complaining on their behalf.

The series 5 Weeping Angels 2-parter is all the more remarkable when you know that they were the first episodes Smith filmed. The gravity he gives the serious dialogue is utterly incredible for literally his first outing as the Doctor.

It's definitely a case of each to their own, Vamp, because I've loved Moffat's finales. I think this one was probably the weakest save for the ending and past-Doctor scenes (so I agree with you on what was good and bad about it, I guess).

I see he's supposedly confirmed hell be doing season 8. I'm inclined to think that's him playing Moffats game of keeping everything hush hush, but if he does stay ill be delighted. And absolutely bloody stunned.

I think he's around for another series. If you care for me to be more specific, enter the spoiler...

Ooooooh. Good shout!

I think he's between McGann and Eccleston. Has to be. And the Doctor refuses to acknowledge him as a Doctor because of what he did in the Time War. However it turns out, and whatever Hurt's Doctor did, it was fantastic. And now we might have two Doctors fighting the Doctor for the 50th! I love it when they find a way to do such gimmicky stuff but with completely satisfying storyline reasons.

Also: how brilliant was that bit where River, unbeknownst to us, said his name on the other side of the door to open it, leaving the entire country thinking for just a second that the Doctor's name was "Please"?

I loved that. Absolutely loved it. The Clara resolution explains away every shitty half-baked resolution anyone's ever written for the show, and the reveal at the end (and the explanation thereof) was perfect.

I think that shirt's sold out now, actually. He's been doing a "Frankie Says Armbar" one recently but IIRC he's running low on those too. Just seems to be doing them for a single run until he sells them all.

Jesus, that's a heck of a sob story he's got! Surely you can get him on a gossip mag cover with all that.

Few more of the rats, from their brilliant customised home-made playpen (a box with extra cardboard stuck on because they nearly jumped clean out the first time):

They sound great!

I'm getting in on this shit. Here's Miggley and Mog in a homemade pouch the future Mrs Chuck wears round her neck:

Both gorgeous, Ronnie, especially Pebbles. I know it's a death-penalty offence to like cats round here, but I've come around on them in the last few years. Still prefer dogs, though, because I generally like to be the most pretentious and aloof thing in a given room.

My missus just got a couple of rats. They're absolutely lovely, if terrifyingly quick when we've got them out of the cage. They're called Miggley and Mog, named after Miggley Mog, a fictional frog that her dad used to make up stories about when her and her sister were little. Nonsensical, but rather sweet.

Goldberg looks like a bank manager with that head of hair!

 

Bit of stereotyping that, surely?

 

Are we not allowed to stereotype bank managers now?

It was a Jew joke, I think. If you'd already got it and were doing something I missed there, disregard this.

That is really weird, but really, you've just gotta let people mourn however they need to. It's freaky and uncomfortable, but y'know, less so than what they're going through. Let them have their disturbing comforts.

6.7% at the last General Election, up 4% from 2005 which was the first time they ran. It looks like a safe Tory seat - Evans hasn't got less than 50% there since 1999. Last time out, Tories and UKIP both gained while Labour and Lib Dems both lost, so it took a big swing to the right. UKIP won't win it and I really doubt the Tories would lose it, but if some anti-Tory sentiment brews, UKIP could make enough of a dent in the Tory vote to make a very safe seat look a lot more precarious.

I get excited just thinking back over series 6, and often have to stop myself sticking the DVD in lest I end up watching the whole sodding thing in a night. You're right, this one has been a touch cold in comparison. I'm still enjoying it, but mainly because I'm looking forward to where it's building to. That said, we've got another episode with Vastra, Jenny and Strax this week, then the Neil Gaiman Cybermen episode, then the finale with Vastra, Jenny, Strax and River Song, so I think we're gonna end up with a much fuller TARDIS and plenty more going on.

And I couldn't agree more on Smith. He's my Tom Baker. My Doctor. When he's gone, it won't be the same. It's one of the reasons I've come around on them having a woman next. They needed a big change after Baker, so they went with a young, handsome chap in Davison. A woman (especially if she's something along the lines of a calculating arse-kicker who's a bit ruthless because she knows she might only have one regeneration left) will be the only change from Smith that wouldn't be an immediate let-down.