Wednesday, December 25, 2013

The Time of the Doctor.



Over the last few years, I've developed a seasonal tradition of watching the Doctor Who Christmas Special. Thanks to the 50th anniversary episode last month, it's been a bit Who heavy here in terms of postings, so I'll be brief about today's episode, which marked Matt Smith's final appearance as the Doctor.

What a stupid, stupid episode. 

Let me know if you have any questions.
- Sid

It was either this or the "Beginning To Look A Lot Like Fishmen" video*.

Hey, everyone, merry Christmas!  Having spent some time catching up on overdue blog postings (and thereby unintentionally irritating my sister, who would prefer that I not save them up - sorry, Dorothy) I thought I should post something suited to the holiday season.  It's not exactly a Christmas carol, but it's at least a seasonal song - sort of.


And again, a merry Christmas to one and all.
- Sid

P.S. My god, have you ever looked at Captain Picard's tea?  I like strong tea, but the liquid in his cup is jet black - it looks like he's drinking Guinness, for heaven's sake, not Earl Grey! How long does the replicator brew this stuff for?

* A very lyrically accurate but badly lip-synced musical version of H.P. Lovecraft's short story "The Shadow Over Innsmouth".

Friday, December 20, 2013

Dark rites.


It was the Yuletide, that men call Christmas though they know in their hearts it is older than Bethlehem and Babylon, older than Memphis and mankind. It was the Yuletide, and I had come at last to the ancient sea town where my people had dwelt and kept festival in the elder time when festival was forbidden; where also they had commanded their sons to keep festival once every century, that the memory of primal secrets might not be forgotten.
H.P. Lovecraft, The Festival
I would be remiss were I not to recognize my co-worker Christi, worshipper of dark gods, fan of unhallowed music, and drinker of dead frogs, for her contribution to my holiday good cheer in the form of a handmade Elder Gods bookmark.

Interestingly, she randomly found the pattern online, and was unaware that the images are taken from the French Lovecraft-influenced comic strip, Goomi's Unspeakable Vault (Of Doom) written and drawn by French artist Francois Launet.

I've previously cited M. Launet's strip regarding the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.  As per that posting, if you're not familiar with the more esoteric* details of H. P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos, perhaps another comic strip would be more to your taste.

Regardless of its origins, the bookmark is a wonderful addition to my Geekmas haul - I hope you have a merry Ph'nglui and a happy Fhtagn, Christi!
- Sid

* Ha ha, trick question, all the details of the Cthulhu Mythos are more esoteric.