Torchwood – Miracle Day – Episode 1

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Right, first things first, I don’t THINK this could be construed as containing spoilers (especially since we’re being shafted on air dates versus the US, and rest of the world!) but just in case ….

S

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Right, that’s over with.

Let me say, before I go any further, that I enjoyed it. I really did, good romp, great hook in terms of the premise for the series, cool … go for it RTD!

Now, the things I find LESS wonderful;

  • Theme music:- yes, it’s petty, and silly, and childish, but I really liked the Torchwood “theme” and I missed it. There didn’t really seem to be much of a “start” to the show, and it felt odd.
  • Gloss: throwing money at something doesn’t always necessarily improve it. There was a LOT of gloss in this. That doesn’t make it bad, in and of itself, but at times it seemed more like “look, LOOK, we can afford a fucking HELICOPTER!!” than there actually being a call for it.
  • Characters: um, what characters? The old regulars were, of course, magnificent as ever. Gwen’s parents were memorable. Even the baby was adorable. But the Americans … oh, the Americans. Who are any of them? I couldn’t tell you any of their names, I have vague ideas of their back stories but, to be frank, I’m certain I’m confusing one with another. And, perhaps more importantly, I don’t care about any of them.  This isn’t good …
  •  One really awkward bit: crossing the bridge, the CIA agent’s comments about Wales and England being separate may as well have had big, red, bold letters flashing up over top saying “EXPOSITION!! PAY ATTENTION AMERICANS!!!” Shoe-horn that in, did you Russell?
Bottom line: it wasn’t bad, it’s probably a lot better than much other television out there, but … it doesn’t have the zing of the first 2.5 series, at least so far. I’ll keep watching it, and I’ll almost certainly keep enjoying it; but in this instance, at least, it appears that bigger is NOT better!

Murdoch – fit and proper?!

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If, like me, you think that Murdoch is scarcely a “fit and proper” person to shovel pig shit with his bare hands, then please click on the link below and sign this petition – imagine, a country without Murdoch’s baleful influence!!!

http://goo.gl/6ileh

The Rock Hudson problem – 2011

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This is not “news” per se, but it’s the sort of thing which needs to be reported on and brought to the fore as much as possible.

The quick version: Colton Haynes is a not-too-brilliant American actor, who’s starring in the new MTV show “Teen Wolf”. He may or may not be gay. He also appeared, as a teen, in a photoshoot for XY magazine, aimed at gay teen youth, in which photoshoot he a) was shirtless and b) kisses another boy! Shock.

The trouble is, an attorney has been sending threatening letters demanding the removal of any copies of those pictures online, making claims along the lines that they are “private”. Despite having been published in a national US magazine and/or that they are pornographic or sexually explicit.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I don’t want any embarrassment to be caused to young Haynes. What I do want, however, is and end to the subtle, low level of homophobia which moves like this seem to perpetuate. The idea that pictures of him, kissing another boy, are likely to end, or at least, damage his career. The idea that such pictures are inherently pornographic or sexually explicit.

So let’s see shall we:

XY Magazine – 2006

Colton Haynes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As the magazine says, “shocking”.

Colton Haynes – recent photos

Let’s see the hugely different, non-private, non-explicit, non-shocking photos with which his attorney has no problem shall we?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, there you go – clearly a huge difference!

Basically, I think these photos need to be kept out there, and the story kept out there, because;

  • the attempt to remove them from the public domain intimates that there is something inherently shameful in homosexuality,
  • it perpetuates the idea – which may therefore become self-realising – that to make a career in Hollywood requires one either not to be, or not to be perceived to be, gay,
  • it’s a deeply worrying threat to freedom of expression,

    and, of course,

  • they are very nice pictures! The boy is easy on the eyes!

So, that’s my little bit of activism for the day!

 

1 – these pictures may be copyright – if so, I will happily remove them if so advised

2 – I don’t know Colton Haynes’ sexuality; any speculation is just that – or wishful thinking

3 – more coverage here and here

A couple more pics from the XY shoot, just to keep them out there:

 

 

 

 

You. Utter. Bastard.

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Like many, I’ve been following the blog of “A Gay Girl in Damascus”. (No, I’m not linking to it – for obvious reasons.)

Like many, I’m SICKENED to discover that this is a scam, a lie, a hoax.

I’d started following the blog about a month or so ago. I have sat and wept at some of the things that have been described in it, feeling impotently empathetic. A horrible feeling.

I’ve experienced optimism and pessimism in near equal measure, often within the same post.

So, what’s the problem? If the emotional response is genuine, and the circumstances being “described” are essentially accurate, why the outrage?

Simple; the lies which make up THIS blog breed doubt in any others of similar nature. The next time we read an apparently earnest, heartfelt cry for help from an LGBTQ person in such a regime, we will hesitate and wonder. And apathy will be more likely.

Apathy, the enemy of any advances in these states.

And that is why, along with P Z Myers, I say “Screw You, Tom McMaster”.

 

Read the coward’s excuse below:

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