When Love Makes You Hate, You Know You're Loving Wrong...

Sometimes it shocks me just how much hate there is in the world. I'm not talking about war, guns, bombs or murders, although obviously those are terrible things. No, what I'm talking about is how people can hate with the least provocation.



Some things you might not know about me:

• I'm a Christian


• I love music


• Two of my favourite bands are Switchfoot and Green Day

I recently bought Hello Hurricane, and having only listened to it a few times I already love it. Living in the United Kingdom makes it pretty difficult to get music by Switchfoot, since they're not such a big deal over here, but after visiting a Christian Music store, and getting the CD especially ordered I got hold of it - true dedication, yes?

In a moment of boredom I got to thinking... How good would it be if my two favourite bands met/ collaborated/ whatever. Well, stranger things have happened, right? To Google I merrily went and searched the two bands - not much came up which was relevant, but I was intrigued by some people who had set Green Day music videos to Switchfoot songs - intrigued, that is until I scrolled down and read the comments. Here's a sample of what people said [sic]:

f*ck you for making this vid u stupid f*cking *sshole what the f*ck is wrong
with you using this gay f*cking christian for a GREEN DAY tribute how about
using some GREEN DAY u dumb pr*ck

Ur a POS for making this vid dont put a switchfoot song on a green day vid and your mother hates u




When someone protested at the angry commentators' complete verbal destruction of both a band, their music and s person's religion, this is the reply they recieved:

f*ck u f*ggot i will say whatever the f*ck i want about ur gay christian music

Well, what a lovely specimine of a human being! If I'd been the person who posted that video, I think I'd have been in tears at the negativity - and presumably that wasn't the worst there was, as a few comments had been removed.

I find it incredibly depressing that people can have this attitude - Switchfoot are a talented band, whose lyrics are meaningful and have touched me on many occasions - and though the members are Christian, not every song is a Praise song, they make a wide range of music which can appeal to everyone.

I can understand that those who aren't Christian might be intimidated or at least wary of the Christian Rock genre, but does that mean that it should be dismissed offhand, and its fans subjected to such abuse? I doubt a Christian would do the same to a Green Day in the same situation.

A fact about Green Day and Switchfoot: A they actually have some common ground - for one thing Rob Cavallo, who produced a good many Green Day albums also produced Hello Hurricane.

Obviously, the angry Green Day fan feels very passionately the band, but when loving something means you hate everything a little bit different, the you must be loving it wrong - and it's about time to weigh up your priorities. I doubt Green Day would want their fans to abuse other bands, or people who experiment with combining sounds, would they?

My message is this: be a little bit sensitive to the opinions of others - it's easy to get sucked into a little world where your own obsession is the only thing in your world, but let other people in. And if you can't do that, at least allow them to exist outside without attack.

(Switchfoot are headlining at the Frenzy Festival in Edinburgh in June, and I'm very excited!!)

TARDIS WATCH!!

I promised you Tardises and I'll give you Tardises!! (What's the plural of Tardis, Tardii?) All these were taken in my very own hometown... Which is proof you can find a little Doctor Who magic wherever you are:

Spotted! An ordinary high street, in an ordinary town, outside an ordinary shop, an extraordinary man has arrived. As captured by Sassy Scifi!

I love this shot! I like the way everyone is blurring past it, never suspecting the magic which might possibly be hidden inside...

And spotted! A completely different location - possibly mid-dematerialisation? And who is the shadowy running figure...?

Could it be...?

This is me outside it - I touched the door, squeeeeeeee!

It's a very bad (and blurry) picture of me, but I don't mind too much.

Daleks should not be allowed in back alleys and bookstores!!!

We barely escaped with our lives...

And Finally...

That's right. I blinked.

Luckily a nice man showed up with a Timey Wimey detector...

And yes, it does go DING! when there's stuff :)

Keep on looking for the Doctor...

If you have an open mind and a lively step, you might just find him!

Keep the Blue Light Flashing!

Sassy xx

Straightedge...

Hey :).

Okay, so my last post I was in my hermit phase... You'll be pleased to know that it's all over now - in fact I've been much the little socialite lately!

Loads of my mates' birthdays fall around this time of year, so I've been to a couple of parties, movies and bowling - great fun.

However, a select number of people at a recent party had a problem - a problem with the lack of booze. Now, I'm not just a Geek because I'm into Science Fiction, oh no. I don't adhere to the current "rule" which says all young people need booze, fags and drugs to have a good time. In fact I think that's pretty sad, to be honest. The way I look at it, people drink for 4 reasons:

1. They like the taste. Well that's fair enough, but I've sampled many different types of alcohol and none of them did much for me (well aside from a slight gagging).

2. They're doing it to "fit in". Two words: HOW SAD. If these people want to be accepted for who they are, doing what everyone else does ain't the way to go about it. If you come out and say you're not interested, people will respect your opinion... And if they don't? Well they're not your mates are they?

3. They're using it as an excuse for bad behaviour. A sad one. A common one. How often do you hear something along the lines of:

"I'm sorry I slept with your boyfriend/ made out with your Dad/ killed your dog/ barfed on your new dress/ whatever, it was only because I was SO SMASHED!"

Do you expect all to be forgiven?! Being drunk or high may be a reason for behaving like an idiot, but it's NO EXCUSE!

4. They need it to have a good time. This is the one which makes me the saddest and the most pissed off. I'm living proof you don't need booze to have a laugh! At the non-booze party we had a great time - we got hyped up on sugar (which I reckon is a healthier inebriation!), we made non-alcoholic shots, in bright colours. There was dancing and laughter and a few people got off with each other... How does it differ from a boozed-up party? Not much, except that there's less vomit, blood and tears.


I guess some people would call me "Straightedge"? Well maybe I am. Maybe that's a good thing. I looked it up on UrbanDictionary, and it didn't sound so bad. I'm not gonna ram my beliefs down the throats of others, but sometimes I get tired of always having to justify myself:

I don't drink because I don't enjoy booze. I don't smoke because I don't want cancer. I don't do drugs because they are addictive and risky. Is it such a bad thing? Am I some sort of killjoy, ruining it for everyone else? If you believe that, then let me tell you this: The people who had least fun at the party were the ones who wouldn't stop moaning about the lack of alcohol. The ones who just relaxed, and had a great time? They were the ones who went on til 4 am playing strip poker (another story for another time!)

My message is this: Being straightedge doesn't make people boring or pathetic. It just means they have a slightly different outlook on life. And if you're curious, just go to a party sans booze - you may well find that the world is a prettier, shinier place when it's not clouded over by your brown beer goggles!

Keep the blue light flashing!

Sassy xoxo

Hermits United!

Hey Everyone!

Y'know in the Doctor Who episode Utopia, there is a discussion about hermits?

The Doctor: And Utopia is?

Yana: Well every human knows of Utopia! Where have you been?

The Doctor: I’m a bit of a hermit.

Yana: A hermit? With friends?

The Doctor: Hermits United. We meet up every ten years and swap stories about caves. It’s good fun — for a hermit.

Well smack me into reboot and call me a tin dog - 'cause THAT'S ME! No seriously.

lately, I have been that hermit. Maybe it has something to do with the long Winter nights. Perhaps the fact that I don't believe in intoxicants (the fact that I don't drink, smoke or do drugs, prevents me from going to most parties) or perhaps it is because study leave has left me watching FAR too many of my DVD collection than is healthy...

BUT...

I have become a hermit. I have friends. (Yeah, shocking isn't it?) I even talk to them! But lately when my phone rings I've had the urge to ignore it and turn up my music. Pretend I have no credit when I get texts. Appear offline on MSN!

What does this mean? Is Sassy Scifi slowly spiralling ever closer to the happy realm of the clinically insane...?

Well, no. To be honest, I've always been a bit this way! I think it stems from being brought up an only child - I liked to play alone, and I'm very happy in my own company. Probably too happy - when it gets to the stage that you feel irritated at your mates for inviting you out, maybe it's gone too far. Anyone know how to pull me out if the cave?

Should any dear friends of mine - ones who know my real identity - read this, I am sorry. I do love you all dearly. Even if I call you irritating and tut at your stupid laugh/ obsession with pink/ annoying "condom looky-likey" hat. I may not be being very nice now, but in a few weeks I promise I'll get bored of my cave and come out to play!

When that day comes I will happily usher you into the cave, beg you to sleepover and make everyone fry-ups for breakfast... But until I am in better humor, best stick to the safe subjects - Oh You like my cave? It's just been redecorated, you know! (Sorta thing)

Until then, keep the Blue Light Flashing!

Sassy (Fully Fledged Member of Hermits United)
xx

All Happening In Sci-Fi Land...

Well, it has been a busy busy few months for science fiction. Equally it has been a busy few months for me, Sassy.

In terms of my life, this is because I have been taking exams (preliminary examinations AKA prelims. Basically the Scottish equivalent of mocks). Stressy for me. Also, living in the wild, dangerous and wooly-jumper-clad realms of Scotchland, I have been shuddering at the frozen conditions in many many layers - BRR!

But me and my sad, cold lil life are not the subject of this post - SCIFI IS! And if you are here because you're a scifi fan, I'm assuming you're gonna know what I'm talking about. SO here are my thoughts on the latest news in the land of geek.

First, what else can I talk about, but the ABSOLUTELY EPIC End of Time?! Have to say, Part 1 on Christmas Day left me slightly cold. For one thing it was enormously laugh-light, and what I wanted to see was some classic Tenth Doctor, before he left us forever. I wanted laughs, a Doctor/Donna scene, and a general bit of "Allons-y!" Aside from the Comedy Gold of mischevious Minnie's wandering hand, End of Time did not deliver. Part 2 was slightly better, with a fantastic Wilf/Doctor repartee, and the immortal words (which I am sure are gonna end up on a t-shirt):

Wilf: God Bless the Cactuses!

The Doctor: It's Cacti.

Vinvocci: That's Racist!!

LOL. Loved seeing Gallifrey, and squealed out loud at the little mention of the disgraced Time Lords being punished as Weeping Angels - a fantastic touch which seriously has me wanting more details. How? Why? How again! Again squealed I, at the mention of Rassilon - though I don't watch much classic Who, I know who Rassilon is, and loved that touch for the older fans.

Now, comes the controversial part: The Goodbye Scene. From what I've heard from other Who fans, people seem to be separated into two camps: Loved and Hated. Well sorry haters but I loved it BIG TIME! I thought it was a fantastic farewell to the Doctor, to David Tennant himself, to Russell T Davies, AND to all the wonderful characters who (presumably) we wont be seeing in Series 5/ 1/ 31/ Whatever. Just 3 problems with that:

1. What exactly happened to Tom Milligan?! Martha/ Mickey... They're actually a cute looking couple but just ... huh? Did Tom die? Killed as in crossfire while Martha worked for Torchwood? 'Cause as I recall in Children of Earth, Gwen told Jack that Martha was "On her Honeymoon" but with Tom, or Mickey? Was Tom just dumped in favour of a man who understood the world of the Doctor...? Confuzzled.

2. Jenny should have been there! I know the Doctor thought she died, but supposedly he can "sense" other Time Lords about the place... he should've said goodbye to his Daughter before he regenerated.

3. Rose. Loved seeing her. Loved seeing Jackie. Didn't love the look. Liked the touch of the Boom Town Scarf, but the makeup artist screwed up - this was pre-Doctor Rose, all pink lippy and spidery eyelashes... But those are my only qualms, Other than that the goodbyes were perfect.

In terms of that last line? What a heartbreaker! OHH Doctor, I don't want you to go either... *Sob*

Moving on to a happier note: Dreamland - an Animated Doctor Who Adventure. Liked the storyline, because I find Roswell and the Fifties and all that interesting. Animation? Crap. Someone writing in to Doctor Who magazine said that she was "completely blown away" and that "the visual effects were stunning (a giant leap from the Infinite Quest)". Have to disagree on that front. The animation had the look of a Playstation 1 game, and the movement of the character's limbs were embarrassing to watch. Additionally, the Viperox bug eyes pissed me off INSANELY with the constant popping - considering their supposedly super-sensitive hearing (though, I observed, only super-sensitive when it suited the plot) you would think that pop would have annoyed them too! in terms of the animation, I think the Infinite Quest did the job far better. The excellent script redeemed this, as it had all the classic, happy Tenth Doctor which was almost totally missing from Waters of Mars and End of Time. A keeper for that reason, and that reason only.

Lastly: a note on Doctor Who audiobooks. I received an audiobook for Christmas - The Day of the Troll. I expected to enjoy it, but not to LOVE it as I did. I think this is because I know that there will be no more Tenth Doctor, and I'm keen to soak up every adventure featuring him that there is. The adventures read by David Tennant himself are, to be honest, the only ones I'm interested in, simply because I don't think anyone could be the Doctor better. I love his sexy Scottish burr, I love that he can shift from accent to accent and I just love these stories! ( Love you DT!!)

They're a great idea to get hold of if you're already missing Ten, or you just feel that there is too long a wait between now and New Who in the Spring. Doctor Who titles (as read by David Tennant) are:

The Resurrection Casket (Abridged), by Justin Richards

The Stone Rose (Abridged), by Jacqueline Rayner

The Feast of the Drowned (Abridged), by Stephen Cole

Pest Control, by Peter Anghelides (Specifically written for audio)

The Day of the Troll, by Simon Messingham (Specifically written for audio)

The Last Voyage, by Dan Abnett (Specifically written for audio)

Of those 6 titles I own 4, and am hoping to have all of them soon - Seriously, I must be earning the BBC millions from all my shameless plugs! Just one more... The Specials Box Set looks lush! Think I know what to spend my Xmas money on!

Well, I've rattled on enough! Keep the Blue Light Flashing!

Sassy xx

Libraryland

Hey sassy geeks! This may seem like a random piece of info to start a blog with, but for the past week, I've been working in a library.

I actually chose to work there (well, what would you expect from a geek like me?)for work experience. There's a certain stereotype about librarys and the people who work there: lots of shushing, bad dress sense, possible attacks from the vashta nerada... All in all, doesn't sound like a great job?

Well, in its own funny way, it is! You learn to amuse yourself - whether its by drawing pictures on post-it notes and sticking them all over your computer, or just having a good giggle about the crazy clients - some of my favourites -

The Woman With the Deer - This lady came in asking for a book about deer; no explanation, or anything! Even more surprsingly, we had one - a kids' book. So the perfectly nice, average looking woman sat in the kids' section with her picture book for an hour or so!

Mr Beardy - Picture a man - baseball cap; long grey beard, accesorised with bushy eyebrows; grubby, long nailed fingers with skull rings on them. Not exactly male model material. This dude had one of the most complex queries ever - He wanted to return CDs, pay a small fraction of his (astronomical) fines on them - take the same CDs out again, plus two new ones. And he said "cool" too much for a gentlemen of his age.

Mrs "I Believe Miracles Happen, Courtesy of Super Librarian" - One of my favourite customers, this lady was requesting (in all seriousness) a book which had not yet even been released in the shops! I tried so hard to humour the poor wee woman. Yet, still she seemed to believe that we couldn't perform this impossible task due to some fault of mine!

The Ex-Con - This story is rather sad. A man came in - bit overweight, slurring his words - and asked for a renewal of his expired card. Expired, it turned out because he'd been in prison. It had almost forty pounds of fines on it. The gentleman in question proceeded to explain to me about the breakdown of his marriage, and just who had put him in the jail. Bit sad, a lot scary.

Quirky Old Men - From Charming to Pervy - There's one nice(ish) old fella, who comes in daily. He dresses up smart, with a long coat and a big umbrella. He gives all us gals (and less often the guys) a chocolate each day. Lovely no? No. They're free from a nearby bar - typical after-dinner mints. The other man is less charming:

Put it this way. If we were in ancient Rome, his name would be Oldmanis Pervus Totalis. He made the charming comment to my male colleague that his perfect library would have a "topless librarian". Charmant!

And true, in quiet moments, libraries can be boring. But I think I prefer that to a heart-attack inducing rush of "quirky" (here read "mental") customers. And if I get bored, at least there's plenty to read!

The Best Thing About Xmas 2009 (and how to deal with withdrawal symptoms!)

Hey Guys!

For those lovely sassyfied geeks here in the UK, y'all are probably sitting biting your fingernails every hour of the livelong day waiting for one special day of the year: 25th December.

And no, it's not because of the presents, the Xmas crackers, the mince pies or that delicious big bird known as a turkey, it's because...

It's Dr Who Special time again!!!

Yes that's right, the Whovians are mega excited about the next special (though the David Tennant fans are weeping at his oncoming departure). Having seen the trailer I am mega-ly stoked about it. I think I spotted the Master, Lucy Saxon, Ood Sigma, a creepily ancient looking Ood... And according to the TV guide, Rose will be returning!!!

Dunno whether that's good or bad... I don't think they should mess with the Rose story, as she's finally got her man.

Also, this holiday season will usher in a new era for Dr Who - THE ERA OF MATT SMITH!!! At the moment I don't see how he could possibly be as good as Ten was (is), but that's what I said when Chris Ecclestone left too, and look what happened...

(FYI some serious Tennant-lust happened!)

Anywhoo, the Xmas special is a serious deal and just under a month is a long time to wait. SO for those who loved Waters of Mars and are already fidgeting with impatience, here are some things you can do:

This sounds obvious, but watch all your old DVDs, or the TV reruns - I always find something new to laugh at, smirk at, or write a Fanfic about when I do that.

Read one of the excellent Dr Who books. These are published by BBC books and are available in all good bookshops (or if you live outside the UK, on Amazon, or bbcshop.com) these books have completely new stories featuring Rose, Martha and Donna. There are tons of titles to choose from, but my current favourite is The Nightmare of Black Island by Mike Tucker.

Read a Fanfic - or even write one!! Some are a bit rubbish, but some are pretty good. Curious? The link to my profile is here under links(alter ego, Happy for Deep People), most of my stories are Dr Who.

Trock out! What's Trock? Well basically it's Timelord Rock - rock for fans of Dr Who. There are two Trock albums I know of, Chameleon Circuit, by the band of the same name, and Trock On! Which is a compilation of various Trock bands. It's very nerdy fun, but is, to quote Chameleon Circuit member Alex Day, "A nice stopgap while you're waiting for the next special". The Albums are both downloadable from itunes - my favourite tracks are Blink, by Cham. Circuit and Miss Martha by Bad Wolf Bay. You can also purchase the real Dr Who soundtrack (I adore the Doomsday song, *sigh* that bassline!), again from music stores or the BBCshop.com.

Do something only hardcore fans would do. For example, GO out and find as many weeping angels as you can (while trying desperately not to Blink). Or go on TARDIS watch around your home town, photographing any Police Boxes you come accross. I plan to do that soon for this blog, teehee.

Kidnap David Tennant and make him perform some 10th Doctor improv for you (just kidding)!

But all joking aside, there are many, many ways to divert your attention from the long wait til the next Special. Get out there and enjoy - see if you can come up with some of your own too!

Sassy xx