[ Posted by Ron_Schiding on Jan 21st, 2007 11:15 AM ]...

Thanks for sharing your experience, Ed.
I was thinking of going with a semi-autobiographical type approach - - but your suggestion of pushing it into more typical comic genre may hold more promise for me creatively.
I have been unfamiliar with MOPS, but I'll look them up to learn more. I'm uninterested in the religious angle - but it would be interesting to learn more, regardless.
There is a group composed strictly of SAHDs that meets about an hour from where I live - getting myself over there once or twice a month should be do-able, and I hope that situation turns out to be good for me.
Ultimately - and maybe this is sort of unrealistic idealism for my geographic location - I would like a group of mixed men/women/ethnicity/religion (and lack thereof)/economic status - seems to me that this is the healthiest way for a child to be around adults... but I'm just learning the ropes and perhaps that perspective will change for me.
Take Care!
Ron

[ Posted by Ron_Schiding on Jan 17th, 2007 10:52 PM ]...

The clincher is in the question "You got something better to do?" - I have to prioritize pretty carefully to retain my sanity and not go spending hours on something that could replace sleep/rest/family time in brief stints.

I overextended recently - so I'm trying to plan carefully. I say this as I try to sooth myself over creating two art projects within the 4 days following my mural completion (a good sign for the Jan. 27 march on Washington - and art assistance on a Darwin Day card for a columnist friend who focuses on raising a family without religion).

I appreciate your reply - knowing how to frame the story (if there is to be one) is pretty hairy for me, and I don't want to be a whiner or piss people off either.

Surely Mantan did his share of tap dancing.
Even I did a little, earlier TODAY in fact, while playing Kermit the Frog's rendition of "Happy Feet" with my enthusiastic little dancing daughter.
Mantan missed out, otherwise.
By the way - I don't know who the hell he is. Don't make me wiki this.

Thanks, Mike!

Ron

[ Posted by Ron_Schiding on Jan 14th, 2007 1:54 AM ]...

I'm a bit behind in my reading, but I understand that Lance Parkin didn't really clear anything up about it in the final EDA installment. I've loved the books that Lawrence Miles has written about the great war, involving the faction paradox, but I don't think that's the war of the new tv series.
I'm sure they will clear it up eventually.
It will be good to find out the final fate of Doctor 8 - its become so convoluted - parallel histories and so forth, the audios running in a different reality than the novels etc. Its Doctor Who - this stuff is bound to happen :)
Do you read any of the newer books - the hard bound ones that feature Doctor 9&10?
I've heard mixed reviews - all I know for sure is that they cost 10 bucks a pop, and that seems a little steep... give me a paperback anytime.

R

[ Posted by Ron_Schiding on Jan 14th, 2007 12:59 AM ]...

Let me look into the best way for me to copy a VHS these days - I may have to take it somewhere.
I have a hard time choosing a favorite Doctor. I have seen nearly every episode that still exists and I like different things about different Doctors.
I really like Tom Baker - but my favorite Doctor is the 3rd, Jon Pertwee.
I like the 8th Doctor books, and I'm cautiously reveling in the series revival. I'm particularly glad that my wife likes the new series (she won't give the old stuff a chance).

I'm not sure if we Doctor Who fans ever thought we'd see him again outside of books and the audio plays!
I encourage you to check out all the older stuff when you get a chance. Its harder to do that since PBS stations don't carry them anymore after a BBC crackdown leading up to the new series. There is a goldmine there for you - TONS of material, don't be intimidated, think of it as a big puzzle.

I will look into getting my video copied for you - I'll need your mailing address sometime in the near future, feel free to private message this information and know that it won't be shared or abused.

Ron

[ Posted by Ron_Schiding on Jan 14th, 2007 12:04 AM ]...

I've got a VHS copy of the movie you mention - if you really can't find it any other way, let me know and I can see about getting a copy made for you. I'm sure its floating on the web.

The Eighth Doctor pilot was actually a success in relative terms, and similarly rated pilots of the time took off to be some of the most successful television properties in the last 10 years (Buffy the Vampire Slayer). It just wasn't picked up - probably for the best (or we wouldn't be getting the fantastic work from the current run).

Ultimately, the pilot is a shaky piece of work. It represented so much hope at the time, but it is hopelessly American - in which Doctor Who just doesn't thrive. There are motorcycle chases, and a (shark jumping) half-human subplot.
Don't get me wrong, though, I wouldn't want my collection to be without it - and the 8th Doctor has had a long and illustrious run despite the failure of the pilot to take. I'm a fan of both the EDAs and the Big Finish Audios.