David Tennant leaving Doctor Who!! Noooo!

Doctor Who star David Tennant has announced he will leave the hit science-fiction series at the end of 2009.
Tennant, who has played the tenth incarnation of the Time Lord since 2006 after taking over from Christopher Eccleston, said he will leave the role after completing production on the four special episodes to be screened in the UK in 2009 and early 2010, according to report from the BBC website.
"I've had the most brilliant, bewildering and life changing time working on Doctor Who," Tennant said.
"I have loved every day of it. It would be very easy to cling on to the Tardis console forever and I fear that if I don't take a deep breath and make the decision to move on now, then I simply never will.
"You would be prising the Tardis key out of my cold dead hand. This show has been so special to me, I don't want to outstay my welcome."
No word has been given as to who will play the Doctor's 11th incarnation after he regenerates at the end of the special episodes, but a fifth series of the show has been confirmed, with long-time writer Stephen Moffett taking over executive producing duties from show-runner Russell T. Davies, who is also leaving.
"I've been lucky and honoured to work with David over the past few years - and it's not over yet, the tenth Doctor still has five spectacular hours left! After which, I might drop an anvil on his head. Or maybe a piano. A radioactive piano.
"But we're planning the most enormous and spectacular ending, so keep watching!" Davies said.

-SMH, October 30, 2008 - 10:11AM

Life as we know it is over... Gah he was so dishy. Gallavanting off to play Hamlet in an English accent? IN A MEDIOCRE FASHION? Is that what you want to do David? Well fine, fine, fine. You USED to be cute!

(Actually fine, you still are very cute. But you've hurt me. You made even the bad episodes enjoyable, something Eccleston could just never really do for me... That said the earlier seasons were kinda better written/concieved/so on. But anyway, I loved you, you bastard!)

So R.I.P. in advance, 10th Doctor. I hope you are replaced by Hugh Grant! To mark this moment, a cute jokey picture I found on the internet that will hopefully symbolise a fruitful new beginning for Mr. 11: Enjoy! Adieu!

Art of the Day: Nocturne in Black and Gold

Nocturne in Black and Gold: The Falling Rocket
James Abbott McNeill Whistler (American-born, British-based)
1875
Oil on panel

"The ill-educated conceit of the artist ... approached the aspect of willful imposture, . . . I have seen, and heard, much of Cockney impudence before now; but never expected to hear a coxcomb ask two hundred guineas for flinging a pot of paint in the public's face."

John Ruskin was considered an authority on art and his quote was printed and re-printed in the national press. The effect on Whistler - on any artist by such a well known critic - would have been severe. Whistler sued for libel and threw everything he had at Ruskin. The trial wiped him out, and though he won the lawsuit technically, the judge only awarded one farthing in damages. Whistler lost his house and his collection of art and as he grew old he became bitter.

*Another interesting fact about Whistler I didn't copy and paste off some boring apricot-coloured website is that he was the ex-mentor and ex-friend of one Walter Sickert, yes the very Walter Sickert that crazy crazy Patricia Cornwell thinks is Jack the Ripper. Ahh, Portrait of a Killer is such a poorly written and weakly argued book! I’m completely obsessed with it… Supposedly, that frequent use of “Ha ha” in the letters the Ripper wrote to the police is a reference to Sickert’s estranged American buddy’s irritating laugh, the general upset caused by that rift somehow evidence of psychopathy and an allegedly plausible motive for slashing the throats of at least five prostitutes, probably more… You see why I like it? So somewaht entertained! http://www.casebook.org/dissertations/caseclosed.html - oh snap Patsy.

Who Killed The Dresden Dolls?

The music world actually hates me, like personally.



Aside from all the artists who are touring Aus in the next few months with no all-ages shows (The Mountain Goats, Adam Green, Final Fantasy, Stars...), The Dresden Dolls are officially on an indefinite hiatus which usually means unofficially sorta broken up which is sad. I only just realised basically, but there was this sensationalist, carefully edited sort of video put on YouTube last month...

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=PMsBQWXQQ90 (For some reason the embed code isn't working, no matter how carefully I select the whole code it only copies the section first visible in the box, not the whole scrollable thing. Anyone else having this problem? Anyway, thar be the URL.)

And then Amanda wrote on her blog earlier this month saying that there was a fair bit of personal conflict but they love playing together so they haven't actually broken up, and Brian says it's "open-ended" so hmm, that's basically where it's at right now. When you have loved a band since you were 13 years old, as I have The Dresden Dolls, it's all like "awhh" to see them not making music anymore...


BUT Amanda's new solo project is aymayzing, she has an incredible new album produced by Ben Folds and featuring all sorts of mad people, if you're into that thing and haven't heard it already check out http://www.myspace.com/whokilledamandapalmer. Brian has joined gypsy punk/cabaret collective The World/Inferno Friendship Society, who are alright I suppose but nothing on The Dolls. They remind me most of a slightly less feral Gogol Bordello: http://www.myspace.com/worldinferno. Dear Dressies, I am thinking of you in this difficult time! Here is the very silly and not particularly appropriate Backstabber video from 2006 to relive the good times, great classic hits... Thank you for the music!

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=K9zMizbLHYk

The Hack Half Hour

If you listen to triple j with any semblance of regularity you'll probably be familiar with the "HACK" radio show on weekdays at 5:30 which basically takes a more in depth look at social issues/hot topics in Australia in an interesting, informative and entertaining way. You'll also probably then be familiar with the spin-off TV show, The Hack Half Hour (Mondays 8:30 ABC2) which has a similar format of mixing pre-recorded footage with interviews from a focus group made up of both regular people and specialists on topics like street fighting, home ownership and porn. It's been showing for a bit over a month now and I highly recommend it if you're interested in what's going on and the ways different people are thinking in the world around you.

I felt compelled to share this show after last Monday's episode in particular, which was about the importance of image in society. Personally, I reckon the sassy philosopher should have gotten more screen time. The ex-anorexic has the view that I can most relate to (and somewhat ironically, she is so stylish!) and Sophia reminds me of Tiffany from Daria. But basically, as a teenage girl watching a program about an issue that is (arguably ridiculously) high on most teenage girls' agendas, I thought it offered a balanced view (although obviously limited by a half hour time limit) and if you're interested you can download or stream the vodcast from here.

Also, if you download 'Myface' (episode 1, about social networking on the internet)- 'OLY SHIT IS THAT BREE BITES IN THE INTRO? We are living in strange times, my friends... That particular episode is well worth watching too I think, for all the MySpace and Facebook addicts out there (don't lie, you love it...) -somewhat eye-opening really. Interests me personally because that online persona has been such a big part of my life, and those of some of my friends too, for the past few years. I'm considering deleting my MySpace account, for reasons I won't expand upon right here and now... And again, it's a good episode because it presents a variety of views on internet privacy, judging people by their profiles, the impact of what you do online on your actual life, etc and I find that sort of thing quite relevant. Just thought I'd share!

Heavens to Murgatroyd!

A new webhole for Bodhi? What folly is this?! As ridiculous as it seems, and is really, I've started a "proper" blog (pah) in attempt to get off the internet. You see, I'm planning on deleting my MySpace account. Like actually. I know, right? I don't think I'm ready quite yet, but am gearing up for it- shall be such a relief to be rid of the blecherous thing after all these years of up and down alternating addiction and contempt for that godforsaken website. HOWEVER I still do kind of need/want somewhere to express myself, rave about good things, rant about bad things, share exciting new things easily and impersonally with my friends and generally procrastinate. No! Scratch that last one, I am never procrastinating again! First day of year 12 today, oh my sainted aunt, so not ready for this. But anyway- such things are awkward to do on Facebook, what with vague acquaintances and ancient family members all over my account who I can't quite bring myself to delete from my friends list (dreadfully rude). Also Facebook is quite ugly and inconvenient and terribly common. Hence, this! Also I like Blogger's archives, tagging system, general bloggishness... Yarrh.

As for the URL of this baby, I was going to make it "cankerblossome" like everything else I do on the internet, but I'm going to get sick of that one of these days, soo... Tipsy cakes are actually a bona fide baked good- silly little sweet things soaked in grog. Describes me moderately well? Haha maybe, but I just think it's the cutest thing to say, ever. Go on- say it. You know you want to! Ah, good times... So I've never actually consumed one but I have acquired a recipe from http://www.gourmettraveller.com.au/ to prove it's possible:


Tipsy Cakes:
(Serves 8)


2 tbsp castor sugar
125 ml sweet sherry
4 1.5cm-thick slices of brioche (120gm, about ½ loaf), crusts removed, quartered, or sponge cake
250 gm strawberries, hulled and quartered
4 amaretti, finely chopped
60 gm flaked almonds, toasted
200 ml pouring cream, softly whipped

Custard:
800 ml milk
1 vanilla bean, split lengthways
8 egg yolks
110 gm (½ cup)
caster sugar


1. For custard, place milk, scraped seeds from vanilla bean and bean in a saucepan and bring almost to the boil. Whisk egg yolks and sugar in a bowl until well combined, then gradually pour in milk mixture until well combined. Return mixture to same pan and stir over low-medium heat until mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon. Do not boil. Transfer to a bowl, discard vanilla bean, cover closely with plastic wrap and cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until chilled, or for up 2 days.

2. Place sugar in a bowl, add 2 tbsp boiling water, stir until dissolved, then stir in sherry. Place brioche in a flat dish, drizzle with sherry mixture, turning to soak completely.

3. Place a piece of brioche in the base of a 150ml glass or small bowl, scatter with some strawberries, then pour in approximately ¼ cup custard, sprinkle with a little chopped amaretti and almonds. Top with 2 pieces of brioche, some strawberries, cream and nuts. Repeat with remaining brioche, strawberries, custard, amaretti and almonds, then serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 1 day.

4. *Enjoy!* See? Until next time, shine on you crazy diamond...