"A woman as #DoctorWho? SJWs and PCism is ruining the show. It should always be a flamboyantly-dressed man of uncertain sexuality." pic.twitter.com/dyfMaHlRHj
“A woman as #DoctorWho? SJWs and PCism is ruining the show. It should always be a flamboyantly-dressed man of uncertain sexuality.”
Sam Warburton has hit the nail on its head.
No reason why this uncertain sexuality shouldn’t bend towards a female generation. And do we know that the female is in herself of uncertain sexuality, and so is partly or largely male?
For companion we would like a male I think, because of the different responses of the two genders to events and others. And also to each other, remembering the possibility of uncertain sexuality of the new Dr Who. Lots of different scenarios, cross currents there. But Dr Who has never had a romance has he? Just close friendship? Could someone enlighten me.
Actually, the Doctor has a wife. We met her several times when David Tennant was in the role and I’m pretty sure she showed up during the time of the next Doctor, as well. I seem to recall she died in one of those episodes. She was from the future, so our version of the doc never quite knew their whole story – he hadn’t yet formed a relationship with her and married her.
I don’t think there’s ever been a romance with a companion.
River Song was the Doctors wife, probably married to the Matt Smith Doctor. She dies in her first appearance, which was with David Tennant, but River and the doctor are on opposing time lines; i.e. he first meets her when she meets him for the last time, and he progressively knows her more as she knows him less. Also we only met River once with David Tenant, she was more a Matt Smith time character (hence probably married to that doctor)
Also the David Tennant doctor was very clearly in love with Rose Tyler.
The Matt Smith doctor was also very much into Amy Pond, although he kept it seemly, especially since she was a married women. She, not so much.
The Peter Capaldi doctor also was probably mostly in love with Clara Oswald.
The latest season also suggests that the Doctor and The master/missy were quite into each other as well… more than friends….
Miss Marple – No can’t possibly take those unique characters like her, Poirot and screw them round. Now Dr Who is unique in his/her connection to an inner core of personality and drive continuing despite his appearance or events.
I always thought it was a shame that they didn’t make Rose turn into the Doctor after staring into the TARDIS.
Not so much for a gender switch, but the entire idea of the Doctor travelling in the TARDIS would have been flipped into the TARDIS travelling around in the Doctor, and the true time lord is the TARDIS or at least the symbiotic TARDIS/Doctor organism (DoctorDonna anyone?)…
Anyone who did not see this coming is blind. Ever since the reboot, they have tried to be very inclusive of all races and genders. They have had some very strong female companions. There have been a number of gay and bisexual characters. They gave a spin off show to Captian Jack Harkness a bisexual man. As a straight man who is comfortable with his own gender, I have no problems with Strong female, bisexual or gay characters. Doctor Who has been one of my favourite shows growing up and I also loved Xena Warrior Princess.
Why stop at Doctor Who what about Tarzan, whom all the while fighting head shrinking warriors and wrestling lions, gliding from tree to tree, at somestage in the movie why not reveal that Mighty Tarzan the king of the jungle is suffering from a gender identity crisis. that ‘ll pop your popcorn. [popcorn PC]
Ah well. I had a post rattling around in my head about why settees were invented and child hood safe zones and daleks and how they lost me when they started to levitate. And a whole lot of other stuff.
Anyway. Given that the last episodes had the original ‘bad sex doll’ cybermen and the first Doctor sidling round the corner. And seeing as how Davis is shutting down the Dr Who thang in Cardiff and big changes have been signaled… I’m picking Dr Who is going to be getting back to its roots.
It was originally intended to be a programme with an educational component. So, I’m picking we’re in for some more thought provoking sci-fi than what we’ve come to associate with Doctor Who since…well, whenever.
As long as Darth Vader stays in black “evil Dude” clothing and not in a “white virgin wedding dress” then the Dr Who bleatings are just first world problems.
Apparently the head bloke on the SS Enterprise was a woman about 20 years ago – who knew, who bleated?
Theres only one Captain Kirk (and he wasnt an All Black)
Dr Who is about the power of love, kindness and compassion to redeem, regenerate and transform. Bring it on.
Peter Capaldi has left behind some very big boots to fill, but I really wish Jodie Whittaker the very best. It will be fascinating to see what kind of new dimensions she brings to the narrative.
Must be people who have never watched Broadchurch. If they had, they would be so happy with this choice of doctor. Jodie Whittaker also has science fiction chops, her role on ‘BlackMirror’ was amazing. Plus the movie ‘Attack the Block’ is hilarious.
David Tennant appeared in party political broadcasts for Labour in 2005 & 2010
Peter Davison also appeared in a party election broadcast on behalf of Labour 2010. Quoted in The Guardian, Davison said:
“I’ll be voting Labour without a doubt. I tremble at the idea we might put a Tory government back into power. I think back to the last time a Conservative government was running the country and can’t believe we might do it”
Paul McGann publicly endorsed Labour & Jeremy Corbyn at this year’s Election & joined pro-Corbyn lobby-group Momentum
Possibly also Tom Baker (1998 expressed disdain for both the Tories & Blair’s Labour, saying: “When the Conservatives were in I cannot tell you how much I hated them. But I realise how shallow I am because I now hate the Labour Party as much.”)
Tragically Christopher Eccleston turns out to be a Manchester Utd supporter (arguably even worse than being Tory)
The anoraks will get over it or fume away creating more exposure so win win really as it may pull in a bigger audience. Worse case some angry geeky sifi bods….who cares.
I’ve been feeling a shaming degree of schadenfreude over all those weeping, snarling, teeth-gnashing fanbois flooding so much netspace with their manly tears over the casting of a female Doctor.
It has, however, provided many women with the opportunity to use the word “broflake”, which can only be beneficial for humanity.
Bring on the lady doctor – as one UK commenter said, it’s about timey-wimey.
After the Bechdel Test, there’s the Mori Test: does a person of colour have their own narrative? There’s also the Furiosa Test: does a (new) female character (in an established male-dominated franchise) make entitled basement-dwelling pimple farms apoplectic? If so, bonus points.
star wars has a female Jedi as well doctor who was our show when did women get intrested in cybermen and time travel anyway, how can a woman conceptualize concepts like the last great time war or the army of never weres led by the could have been king this is the thin end of the wedge the least they could do know is give us an alien companion like commander strax not some weak human
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Kaupapa Māori will underpin the Government’s new plan to deal with homelessness announced by the Prime Minister in Auckland this morning. “Māori are massively overrepresented among people experiencing homelessness, so, to achieve different outcomes for Māori, we have to do things very differently,” says the Minister of Māori Development ...
1000 new transitional housing places delivered by end of year to reduce demand for emergency motel accommodation. Introduce 25% of income payment, after 7 days, for those in emergency motel accommodation to bring in line with other forms of accommodation support. Over $70m extra to programmes that prevents those at ...
Clear requirements for ensuring customers are treated fairly by banks, insurers and other financial service providers are included in new financial conduct legislation that passed its first reading today. “The recent reviews, by the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) and Reserve Bank of New Zealand, into the conduct of banks and ...
Applications are now open for the fifth round of the Regional Culture and Heritage Fund Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Grant Robertson announced today. “I am delighted to open this year’s fund which has some $7 million available to support performing arts venues, galleries, museums and whare ...
The Minister of Māori Development, Hon Nanaia Mahuta today congratulated Associate Professor Amokura Kawharu on her appointment as the next President of the Law Commission. “Amokura Kawharu will be a standout in her new role, leading in an innovative and forward looking approach to the law reform process. She will ...
Auckland University legal academic Amokura Kawharu has been appointed as the next President of the Law Commission, Justice Minister Andrew Little announced today. Associate Professor Kawharu will take up her new appointment on 11 May 2020. “I would like to congratulate Associate Professor Kawharu on her appointment,” Andrew ...
A programme for employers to help them engage effectively with younger employees was launched today by Minister of Employment, Willie Jackson. The Youth Ready Employer Programme contains a range of on-line templates that employers can easily access to help with employing and retaining young people in their businesses. The programme ...
Budget 2020 will be delivered on Thursday 14 May, Finance Minister Grant Robertson announced today. “This year’s Budget will continue the Coalition Government’s focus on tackling the long-term challenges facing New Zealand while also preparing the economy for the future. “Those challenges and opportunities cannot be resolved in one budget, ...
I move, That this House place on record its appreciation and thanks for the devoted and distinguished service to New Zealand by the late Rt Hon Michael Kenneth Moore, member of the Order of New Zealand, a member of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, an Honorary Member of the ...
Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor has today classified the drought conditions in Northland as an adverse event for the primary sector, unlocking $80,000 in Government support. “This is recognition that the extreme and prolonged nature of this dry spell is taking its toll on our farmers and growers and additional support ...
The Minister of Police says an operation to smash a trans national drug smuggling ring today will make a significant impact on the methamphetamine trade fuelling harm in our communities. Police have announced 10 arrests and the seizure of up to five million dollars’ worth of illicit drugs after an ...
The Government’s books are in a strong position to withstand global headwinds, with the accounts in surplus and expenses close to forecast, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says. The Treasury today released the Crown accounts for the six months to December. The operating balance before gains and losses (OBEGAL) was above ...
Race courses can improve safety with this year’s second round of funding from the Racing Safety Development Fund. Minister for Racing Winston Peters has announced the second funding round of 2019/20 is open with $347,875 available for distribution. “The racing industry is integral to the economic and social fabric of ...
The Government is committing $300,000 to fund research to update behavioural information to make sure HIV and STI prevention services are targeted appropriately in New Zealand. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Finance Minister Grant Robertson made the announcement at today’s Big Gay Out in Auckland. “There is much talk about ...
The Minister of Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media has announced work will begin on a business case to assess the viability of forming a new public media entity. “The Government must ensure New Zealanders have a strong independent public media service for decades to come, which means ensuring public ...
Minister of Civil Defence Hon Peeni Henare announced today that the Government will contribute $100,000 to the Southland regional Mayoral Relief Fund, to support communities impacted by the recent flooding in Southland. Mr Henare says this week’s flooding has caused significant disruption to communities in the lower South Island. ...
Heritage buildings throughout New Zealand will benefit from the $1.1 million in Heritage EQUIP funding grants announced today. “These grants for seismic strengthening projects help private building owners get the advice they need to start building work or to get the work completed,” Grant Robertson says. “Timaru’s Grosvenor Hotel has ...
A new survey has found New Zealand’s game development sector has grown beyond expectations and is on track to becoming a billion dollar industry in 2025, Economic Development Minister Phil Twyford says. “New Zealand’s interactive media sector grew by 42 per cent in last financial year to $203.4 million, according ...
Te Tii, the lower marae at Waitangi, is among more than 70 marae now connected to broadband internet thanks to the Provincial Growth Fund’s marae connectivity scheme, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones said today. In February 2019, the Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) allocated $21 million to connect rural towns ...
The West Coast has had a funding injection of over $1.2 million from the Provincial Growth Fund, Under Secretary for Regional Economic Development Fletcher Tabuteau announced at Waitangi Day commemorations in Hokitika today. The PGF projects announced are: $800,000 to Development West Coast for a Grey District Regional Digital Hub ...
Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor has declared an adverse event for the Southland and Otago regions, unlocking Government support for farmers and growers. “Widespread flooding has resulted in severe disruption, with many people evacuated from their homes and many farms being affected by flood waters. It’s putting pressure on our farmers, ...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced a funeral service for former Labour Prime Minister the Rt Hon Mike Moore, ONZ, AO. A public service will be held on Friday 14 February at 2pm at Dilworth School senior campus, 2 Erin Street, Epsom, Auckland. “The service will be a celebration of ...
Today’s news of low unemployment, rising wages and record numbers of Maori in work shows the economy is in good shape and that the Government is delivering better outcomes across New Zealand. “The Coalition Government has overseen a strong economy. Our investments in infrastructure, our focus on lifting wages of ...
Opening of Waitangi Museum Te Rau Aroha 9.30am, 5 February 2020 [CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY] Good morning, Let us start with important acknowledgements. First, this special day, in remembrance of the 28th Maori Battalion, is also to honour all those men and women who have risked their lives in the service ...
The government has agreed to help crayfish exporters to minimise the impact of trade disruptions caused by the coronavirus outbreak in China. Between 150 and 180 tonnes of live rock lobster are currently held in New Zealand in pots and tanks, at sea and on land, after export orders were ...
Rural Communities Minister Damien O’Connor is travelling to Southland today. The region is in a state of local emergency following widespread flooding. “I’m heading down there to support response and recovery efforts and meet with the locals”, he said. “A lot of people have been evacuated from their homes, have suffered ...
Te Rau Aroha, a new museum at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, acknowledges the duty and sacrifice of Māori who served in New Zealand’s armed forces, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones says. The museum, whose construction was funded by the Government’s Provincial Growth Fund (PGF), was officially opened today at ...
The boundaries of free speech were at issue in two recent court cases, one in Britain, the other in New Zealand. In the British case, a judge ruled that the police response to an ex-officer’s tweets (allegedly transphobic) was a “disproportionate interference” with his right to freedom of expression. The ...
The Tauranga-based power company Trustpower has cut its earnings expectations by as much as 14 percent because of lower power prices and pressure on margins. ...
It’s not worth putting much credence in Simon Bridges’s complaints about the current Government’s piling on hikes in petrol taxes until he commits to reversing them, says the Taxpayers’ Union . Spokesman Louis Houlbrooke said, “It’s not ...
Researchers say councils need to be doing much more to ensure homes and buildings aren't wiped out when a mega-tsunami eventually strikes the east coast of the North Island. ...
Water utilities right across the country face major challenges to upgrade and maintain their underground three waters network. Water New Zealand’s Technical Manager, Noel Roberts says Wellington’s waste water woes are not unique to the capital city. ...
With more than a thousand locations in 250 cities worldwide, UK company Stasher is allowing travellers to store their luggage while offering local businesses a way to earn extra cash. Having recently launched in New Zealand, co-founder and CEO Jacob Wedderburn-Day explains how the business works. How did Stasher start and ...
National's deputy leader Paula Bennett says if Winston Peters had any involvement in covert photographs of journalists meeting a source, he is not fit to be deputy prime minister. ...
ALRANZ Abortion Rights Aotearoa is co-sponsoring a National Day of Action – Our Bodies, Our Choices, with Fem Force, Victoria University Feminists Organisation, NCW, and HELP. “Now is the time for people who care about women and pregnant people ...
Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage.New Zealand Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand.Today’s contentPolitical donations Danyl Mclauchlan (Spinoff): The donations mess reveals a vacuum in our political system. Who will fill it? ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Luke Robinson, Lecturer, Department of Occupational Therapy, Monash University When people think about Australian Rules Football injuries, they tend to think about head injuries and the long-term effects of concussion. Or they might think of the potentially lengthy recoveries after hamstring, shoulder ...
Simon Bridges reckons those on the average wage shouldn’t be hit by a 33-cents-in-the-dollar tax. And they’re not. Not even close. Alex Braae explains. It takes an incredible political talent to announce that you disagree with a policy setting, and have that critique be so powerful that it retroactively becomes government ...
Sam Brooks heads along to Meatstock 2020, and finds himself questioning the symbiotic relationship between meat-eating and machismo.As I entered Auckland’s ASB Showgrounds for the first day of Meatstock 2020, a girl was exiting. Trucker cap on, eyes hidden behind aviators, manicured fingers wrapped around a can, itself wrapped in ...
Today’s launch of the Ngati Porou treaty settlement documentary is significant for the iwi and for all New Zealanders as we further our understanding of the journey to Te Tiriti o Waitangi settlements, Bernadette Cavanagh CE Manatū Taonga Ministry ...
Why don’t Western democratic governments typically regulate the porn industry, internet service providers (ISPs) or other internet services who make pornographic content accessible to children? And how is a change in the idea of what it means ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is calling on the Ministry of Health to demand back the $319,000 of taxpayers spent on a flawed study suggesting a weekly lotto ticket is as harmful as an amputated leg and that occasional gambling is comparable to having a heart ...
Across the prime minister’s Monday morning broadcast interviews, there was one overwhelming theme: the behaviour of NZ First and Winston Peters, who happens also to be the deputy prime minister.With turmoil engulfing government coalition partner NZ First and deputy PM Winston Peters, the logical next person to ask for a ...
By Michael Norris in Wellington After a week-long controversy, New Zealand’s public broadcaster Radio New Zealand (RNZ) has withdrawn a proposal to axe its classical music station RNZ Concert. But despite the sudden backtrack, RNZ Concert isn’t safe yet. Whatever the final outcome of RNZ’s rethink, it is clear ...
“The Government’s current dispute with councils regarding the Urban Development Bill is the result of Phil Twyford’s failure to cut red tape on a broader basis,” says New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union spokesman Louis Houlbrooke. “In Opposition, ...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says the New Zealand First Foundation - which faces investigation from the SFO - has nothing to do with her or Winston Peters' role in her Cabinet. ...
The Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has been speaking with her Australian counterpart about options to evacuate New Zealanders stuck on a cruise ship, quarantined in Japan. ...
Government seeks power to seize reins over electricity industry; and property investors to blame for NZ's high house prices, not lack of supply, researcher says. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bénédicte Cenki-Tok, Associate professor at Montpellier University, EU H2020 MSCA visiting researcher, University of Sydney As the world shifts away from fossil fuels, we will need to produce enormous numbers of wind turbines, solar panels, electric vehicles and batteries. Demand for the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chris Salisbury, Research Associate, School of Political Science & International Studies, The University of Queensland With cries of “Quexit!” still echoing faintly in our ears, Queenslanders head towards a state election in October. For many, interest lies in whether federal Labor’s poor ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Susanne Becken, Professor of Sustainable Tourism and Director, Griffith Institute for Tourism, Griffith University If you’re a traveller who cares about reducing your carbon footprint, are some airlines better to fly with than others? Several of the world’s major airlines have announced ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Pi-Shen Seet, Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Edith Cowan University Every year, the Australian Taxation Office releases a report that includes the highest earning occupations in Australia. These are mostly in the medical, legal and financial sectors. This information is commonly used ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hal Pawson, Professor of Housing Research and Policy, and Associate Director, City Futures Research Centre, UNSW Despite two years of housing market cooling in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia stayed near the top of the global unaffordability league in 2019. And with prices ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Diane Kraal, Senior Lecturer, Business Law and Taxation Dept, Monash Business School, Monash University So worried is the government about the meagre income it is getting from gas during the middle of Australia’s biggest gas export boom that it asked an independent ...
NZ's effective policy of tempting guest workers here with the chance of permanent residency and then quietly withdrawing that chance has become a damaging economic addiction that is mean and fraudulent, Bernard Hickey argues. ...
Good morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Bridges gives signal of tax cuts, police under pressure over family violence problem, and condemnation rains down over Peters scandal.Expect plenty of news today about National’s economic manifesto to take into the next election. From Simon Bridges’ appearance on Q+A yesterday (welcome back ...
A "surreptitious" conspiracy to introduce special NZ gold kiwifruit plants into China could cost a Chinese-born local grower $15m for breaches of intellectual property laws. ...
Maia Wilson is being tipped as the next Maria Folau in the Silver Ferns shooting circle, but she wants to stamp her own unique footprint on netball history. ...
Dental decay is NZ's most common chronic disease, yet it is not covered by the health system. Cat McLennan explains why we should introduce free dental care for adults. ...
Winston Peters was once the one who could plausibly rail against the self-interest of the establishment. Today that seems laughable, So where are the real critics offering reform, asks Danyl Mclauchlan. Politics is messy. It’s chaotic; most things happen for complex combinations of reasons and these are not always obvious, ...
The conversation around how we prepare for coronavirus here needs to be guided by a sense of our common humanity, write Ruth Cunningham, Charlotte Paul, Andrew Moore, Ayesha Verrall of the University of Otago’s Department of Public Health.Borders have been closed, arrivals from Wuhan are in quarantine, and New Zealanders ...
Pretty much everything has a breaking point. The only questions are where, when and how. Might it be coming soon with climate change policy? This week there was disarray in the Australian Liberal and National party coalition over the costs of climate change policy. This was one of the issues ...
Ex-tropical cyclone Uesi is due to reach the west of the South Island this afternoon, bringing further pain to flood-hit Southland. Here’s what you need to know.Ex-tropical, you say. What on earth does that mean? A tropical cyclone, which is a low-pressure system that forms over warm waters in the tropics, ...
The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand has confirmed anti-poverty campaigner Ricardo Menendez March as their candidate for Maungakiekie in this general election. Ricardo Menendez March has been working as the Coordinator for Auckland Action Against Poverty, ...
We review the entire country and culture of New Zealand, one thing at a time. Today, a bunch of us have a hoon on Burger King’s new chip butty.The United Kingdom’s contributions to world cuisine, like its contributions to the world in general (Morris dancing, Piers Morgan, colonialism etc), are ...
Emily Writes reviews the now infamous orgasm episode of the even more infamous Netflix show The Goop Lab.It was four days after the fourth person asked me to review the orgasm episode of Netflix’s The Goop Lab that I finally sat down to watch it.I don’t like Gwyneth Paltrow but ...
Beige and on-trend? Not for this poet. Paula Harris gives some real-life, applicable decor advice.Last night I was procrastinating and avoiding working on some poem revisions, because being a poet means that when you have other things to do, you write a poem, and when you have a poem to ...
Have we reached peak smartphone? Henry Burrell reviews the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip, an engineering marvel which all but highlights how few ways there are to improve phones in 2020.In the age of smartphones, notifications and constant communication, you might wish for a simpler time when the old flip phone ...
By Hans Nicholas Jong in Jakarta Experts have warned that a slate of sweeping deregulation planned by the Indonesian government could prove disastrous for the environment and create even more conflicts over land and resources. The administration of President Joko Widodo is preparing to submit to Parliament two bills ...
Dr Bryce Edwards.Does money buy policy in New Zealand politics and government? Based on the ongoing political finance scandal involving New Zealand First, which comes hot on the heels of the Serious Fraud Office charging four people in relation to donations to the National Party, New Zealanders have every ...
It’s an unprecedented level of excitement in the US for a New Zealand novel. It’s also very sudden. The hype for The Absolute Book, published by Victoria University Press in September last year, took off with a hiss and a roar after Dan Kois’s ...
Taxpayers were called on to cough up $87,994 million in the 2019 Budget, accounting for much of the $120,984m which the Treasury estimated would be collected in government revenue this financial year. In his Budget speech, Finance Minister Grant Robertson said: So, today in this first Wellbeing Budget, we are ...
The State Housing Action Network (SHAN) is deeply disappointed that the Government’s recently announced Aotearoa Homelessness Action Plan fails to provide for increases in the state housing stock which are essential for addressing the homelessness crisis. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Norris, Associate Professor, Programme Director (Composition), Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington After a week-long controversy, New Zealand’s public broadcaster Radio New Zealand (RNZ) has withdrawn a proposal to axe its classical music station RNZ Concert. But despite the ...
Serena Bentley writes on an illuminating survey in Auckland and Christchurch of the work of a daring modernist artist deserving of wider attention.Cigarette in hand, Dame Louise Henderson stares straight down the barrel of the camera. Her gaze is magnetic. So begins this exhibition, a partnership between Christchurch and Auckland ...
A secretive group excavating a cave near Huntly believe it’s filled with a race of pre-Polynesian giants’ skeletons, but iwi and archaeologists have serious concerns, reports RNZ’s Susan Strongman.Archaeologists say a group of people tunnelling into the side of a country road in search of a race of pre-Polynesian giants’ ...
Friends, it’s a new dawn, it’s a new day, and season five of our beloved Outlander is finally here.Droughtlander is done for another year, and while we might be shrivelled husks of our former selves, the first episode of our favourite time-travelling drama quenched our thirst with a ginger tsunami of ...
The cancellation of this weekend’s Lantern Festival isn’t the only knock-on effect from the novel coronavirus outbreak to reach Auckland, with the city’s Chinese restaurants reporting a decline in custom.The ban on inbound travel from China combined with overly cautious local diners avoiding their establishments has hit Auckland Chinese restaurateurs ...
"The man I had liked became the man I knew I would detest for a long time": a short story from the new collection by a master of the form, Vincent O'Sullivan. ...
A special national event happened yesterday in Epsom, Auckland. A remarkable life of national and global success was recognised from all points on the political spectrum. Tim Murphy was there. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The secretary of the Prime Minister’s department, Phil Gaetjens, has criticised “significant shortcomings” in Bridget McKenzie’s decision-making in the sports rorts affair, while outlining his argument that her allocation of grants was not politically biased. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The secretary of the Prime Minister’s department, Phil Gaetjens, has criticised “significant shortcomings” in Bridget McKenzie’s decision-making in the sports rorts affair, while outlining his argument that her allocation of grants was not politically biased. ...
By Lian Buan in Manila A Philippines court has issued arrest warrants against former senator Antonio Trillanes IV and 10 other people for conspiracy to commit sedition, the court confirmed. The branch clerk of Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court (MeTC) Branch 138 confirmed today that the warrants had been ...
5 & 6 August 2020 (pre-conference workshop on 4 August) Grand Millennium Hotel, Auckland New Zealand has an exceptional reputation internationally for the food it produces, exporting premium quality produce to meet the growing demands of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Michelle Grattan talks with Deputy Vice Chancellor Geoff Crisp about the week in politics, including further developments in the “sports rorts” affair, the future of Michael McCormack’s leadership of the Nationals, and the extension of ...
To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before was the Netflix hit of 2018, but the sequel feels designed to replicate the success of the original without half as much heart, writes Sam Brooks.Despite the bevy of Oscar nominations for Netflix at the recent Academy Awards, there’s still a stigma around a ...
The Doctor Who helpline 
Prof Philippa Howden-Chapman Housing policy is building up to be the key election issue again. In this blog I reflect on the importance of the role of the New Zealand Government in improving access to affordable housing. I look at what the Government has been doing to increase quality public housing ...43 mins ago
Writing on The Spinoff, Danyl Mclauchlan argues that we have a vacuum in our political system, in that there is no longer an anti-establishment party anymore:I think there’s a vacuum in our political system. There are obvious problems with the status quo but no real critics offering reform. It’s a ...60 mins ago
I am among the most pro-free speech people I know. I don’t doubt there are others more strident than me, but I’m certainly up there. And my support for freedom of expression isn’t limited to opposition to government-imposed restrictions. It extends to a belief that employers should have limited powers ...12 hours ago
A chronological listing of news articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week, i.e., Sun, Feb 9, 2020 through Sat, Feb 15, 2020 Editor's Pick ANALYSIS-Climate change opens up 'frontier' farmland, but at what cost to the planet? Climate change could expand farmland globally by ...1 day ago
After cross-examination Jones knew he would lose the defamation case he took against film maker Renae Maihi. That’s why he threw in the towel. The weight of evidence was clearly against the old tycoon with the defense presenting fifty articles to confirm Jones’ racist views.Being unable to harass somebody into ...2 days ago
Sprung! Former NZ First president, Lester Gray, chats with RNZ's Guyon Espiner in the carpark of a Tauranga shopping centre. (Photo supplied anonymously to NZ First and The BFD.)IT’S CLEAR THAT an important aspect of Jacinda Ardern’s political success is her willingness to seek – and take – advice. This ...2 days ago
by Philip Ferguson Last month B’Tselem, the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, reported: “In 2019, Israeli security forces killed 133 Palestinians, including 28 minors. Of the casualties, 104 were killed in the Gaza Strip, 26 in the West Bank (including East Jerusalem) and three within ...5 days ago
...1 week ago
Jonathan Freedland of the Guardian has penned a column which chastises the left wing of the Labour party for daring to retain principles and ideals, qualities - it seems - that should be jettisoned in pursuit of power.Never mind that Freedland was an ardent Remainer, that is to say, one ...1 week ago
We are confronted with the spectre of Simon Bridges making clear he cannot, will not, trust Winston Peters – the oft-cited “King Maker” in New Zealand politics. Supporters are lauding it as a master stroke, naturally, because in their eyes, it prevents him being the tail that wags the dog. ...2 weeks ago
Inaccuracies are very common in scientific paper abstracts. Image credit: Science in the Abstract: Don’t Judge a Study by its Cover I have come to accept anti-fluoride campaigners will never stop cherry-picking research and findings ... 2 weeks ago
“The scene is set, the players met…”. And what players they are in this farce of an Election coming up in the United States this year. There is a multi-faceted anger in the broader situation the world finds itself in, in which the false promises of so-called “moderates” find themselves ...2 weeks ago
Unhappy with the demonisation of Iran in Western media, I was fortunate to have the Australian Institute of International Affairs invite me to write an alternative analysis for their on-line journal Australian Outlook. I did, and they serialised it into two parts. The essays are short, so I did not ...2 weeks ago
New Zealand was the first country to decriminalise prostitution and it was promoted as a progressive move. Yet survivors of the sex trade say that pimps and johns are emboldened operating within the law, and that the women are treated more like a piece of property to be used and ...2 weeks ago
Darroch Ball, Spokesperson for Law and Order New Zealand First welcomes the deployment of an Eagle Police helicopter in Christchurch in what is a step towards fulfilling its long-standing goal to increase the use of police helicopters for the front line, particularly in addressing the scourge of fleeing drivers. Christchurch leads ...3 hours ago
It may have been the first sitting week of 2020, but our Government is already in full-swing - managing a strong economy, investing in infrastructure, and working to break the cycle of homelessness. Read below for all that, and more... ...3 days ago
Southland residents hit by flooding caused by heavy rainfall can now access help finding temporary accommodation with the Government activating the Temporary Accommodation Service, Minister of Civil Defence Peeni Henare announced today. “The Temporary Accommodation Service (TAS) has been activated by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment to help ...2 hours ago
The boundaries of free speech were at issue in two recent court cases, one in Britain, the other in New Zealand. In the British case, a judge ruled that the police response to an ex-officer’s tweets (allegedly transphobic) was a “disproportionate interference” with his right to freedom of expression. The ...41 mins ago
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is holding a post-Cabinet press conference - watch it live here. ...44 mins ago
Airbnb is putting forward its own blueprint to regulate holiday rentals in New Zealand. ...1 hour ago
The Tauranga-based power company Trustpower has cut its earnings expectations by as much as 14 percent because of lower power prices and pressure on margins. ...1 hour ago
It’s not worth putting much credence in Simon Bridges’s complaints about the current Government’s piling on hikes in petrol taxes until he commits to reversing them, says the Taxpayers’ Union . Spokesman Louis Houlbrooke said, “It’s not ...2 hours ago
Researchers say councils need to be doing much more to ensure homes and buildings aren't wiped out when a mega-tsunami eventually strikes the east coast of the North Island. ...2 hours ago
With more than a thousand locations in 250 cities worldwide, UK company Stasher is allowing travellers to store their luggage while offering local businesses a way to earn extra cash. Having recently launched in New Zealand, co-founder and CEO Jacob Wedderburn-Day explains how the business works. How did Stasher start and ...2 hours ago
Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage.
The National Party will campaign on a tax cut package, but the leader Simon Bridges is not yet revealing any of the details. ...4 hours ago
A new tenant has been found to occupy the top two floors of what will be New Zealand's tallest commercial building. ...7 hours ago
The Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has been speaking with her Australian counterpart about options to evacuate New Zealanders stuck on a cruise ship, quarantined in Japan. ...8 hours ago
National leader Simon Bridges will today outline the party's economic goals and who will benefit most from the party's proposed tax cuts. ...8 hours ago
Government seeks power to seize reins over electricity industry; and property investors to blame for NZ's high house prices, not lack of supply, researcher says. ...8 hours ago
NZ's effective policy of tempting guest workers here with the chance of permanent residency and then quietly withdrawing that chance has become a damaging economic addiction that is mean and fraudulent, Bernard Hickey argues. ...9 hours ago
A "surreptitious" conspiracy to introduce special NZ gold kiwifruit plants into China could cost a Chinese-born local grower $15m for breaches of intellectual property laws. ...10 hours ago
Mary Macpherson looks at the way photographer MItchell Bright has documented the post-earthquake rebuild of Selwyn in Canterbury. ...11 hours ago
A Conservation Department manager decided it wouldn’t submit on a water consent next to a scientific reserve ...11 hours ago
Maia Wilson is being tipped as the next Maria Folau in the Silver Ferns shooting circle, but she wants to stamp her own unique footprint on netball history. ...11 hours ago
Dental decay is NZ's most common chronic disease, yet it is not covered by the health system. Cat McLennan explains why we should introduce free dental care for adults. ...11 hours ago
Efforts by the Chinese government to contain the coronavirus have an unlikely casualty: our tourist visa processing systems ...12 hours ago
New Zealand has a massive e-waste problem, pushed along by rampant consumerism. ...12 hours ago
Pretty much everything has a breaking point. The only questions are where, when and how. Might it be coming soon with climate change policy? This week there was disarray in the Australian Liberal and National party coalition over the costs of climate change policy. This was one of the issues ...19 hours ago
It’s an unprecedented level of excitement in the US for a New Zealand novel. It’s also very sudden. The hype for The Absolute Book, published by Victoria University Press in September last year, took off with a hiss and a roar after Dan Kois’s ...2 days ago
Taxpayers were called on to cough up $87,994 million in the 2019 Budget, accounting for much of the $120,984m which the Treasury estimated would be collected in government revenue this financial year. In his Budget speech, Finance Minister Grant Robertson said: So, today in this first Wellbeing Budget, we are ...2 days ago
"The man I had liked became the man I knew I would detest for a long time": a short story from the new collection by a master of the form, Vincent O'Sullivan. ...2 days ago
A special national event happened yesterday in Epsom, Auckland. A remarkable life of national and global success was recognised from all points on the political spectrum. Tim Murphy was there. ...2 days ago
About bloody time!
Now let’s see what happens to the companion…
Tweet tweet
So the show has spent the last few seasons pointing out that the time lords are gender fluid and then people complain?
I think a female doctor is awesome… now who is the companion, and will we have Missy or the Master?
“A woman as #DoctorWho? SJWs and PCism is ruining the show. It should always be a flamboyantly-dressed man of uncertain sexuality.”
Sam Warburton has hit the nail on its head.
No reason why this uncertain sexuality shouldn’t bend towards a female generation. And do we know that the female is in herself of uncertain sexuality, and so is partly or largely male?
For companion we would like a male I think, because of the different responses of the two genders to events and others. And also to each other, remembering the possibility of uncertain sexuality of the new Dr Who. Lots of different scenarios, cross currents there. But Dr Who has never had a romance has he? Just close friendship? Could someone enlighten me.
Actually, the Doctor has a wife. We met her several times when David Tennant was in the role and I’m pretty sure she showed up during the time of the next Doctor, as well. I seem to recall she died in one of those episodes. She was from the future, so our version of the doc never quite knew their whole story – he hadn’t yet formed a relationship with her and married her.
I don’t think there’s ever been a romance with a companion.
Oh ta didn’t know that. I have lost touch and regained it several times during the years, and have missed vital points.
River Song was the Doctors wife, probably married to the Matt Smith Doctor. She dies in her first appearance, which was with David Tennant, but River and the doctor are on opposing time lines; i.e. he first meets her when she meets him for the last time, and he progressively knows her more as she knows him less. Also we only met River once with David Tenant, she was more a Matt Smith time character (hence probably married to that doctor)
Also the David Tennant doctor was very clearly in love with Rose Tyler.
The Matt Smith doctor was also very much into Amy Pond, although he kept it seemly, especially since she was a married women. She, not so much.
The Peter Capaldi doctor also was probably mostly in love with Clara Oswald.
The latest season also suggests that the Doctor and The master/missy were quite into each other as well… more than friends….
River Song was…..
Ooh Kaay, Now I definitely know why I couldn’t understand that stuff when it first aired.
Wow amazing how all the doctors look very similar – talk about typecasting. Are daleks gendered – they all look the same too. Sad.
Daleks are asexual.
Any variation is unacceptable…
they sound like dudes
Not always a clear indicator 😉
indeed – good point
referring to some questions from the bingo card:
What’s next, Jane Bond? What’s next, Mrs Holmes?
Both of those sound fucking awesome.
when can I expect a male Wonder Woman
Superman.
I look forward to Miss Marple being a man.
That would be Hercule Poirot… either the rotund British version or the diminutive Belgian.
I think the Bond one is more like Idris Alba Bond 😉 That’ll set a few people off too.
Yeah, it’d be John ‘black-stormtrooper’ Boyega all over again.
Miss Marple – No can’t possibly take those unique characters like her, Poirot and screw them round. Now Dr Who is unique in his/her connection to an inner core of personality and drive continuing despite his appearance or events.
I always thought it was a shame that they didn’t make Rose turn into the Doctor after staring into the TARDIS.
Not so much for a gender switch, but the entire idea of the Doctor travelling in the TARDIS would have been flipped into the TARDIS travelling around in the Doctor, and the true time lord is the TARDIS or at least the symbiotic TARDIS/Doctor organism (DoctorDonna anyone?)…
Oh McFlock you mind is going deep into areas never gone before. Wonderful juxtaposition about the Tardis.
Anyone who did not see this coming is blind. Ever since the reboot, they have tried to be very inclusive of all races and genders. They have had some very strong female companions. There have been a number of gay and bisexual characters. They gave a spin off show to Captian Jack Harkness a bisexual man. As a straight man who is comfortable with his own gender, I have no problems with Strong female, bisexual or gay characters. Doctor Who has been one of my favourite shows growing up and I also loved Xena Warrior Princess.
Why stop at Doctor Who what about Tarzan, whom all the while fighting head shrinking warriors and wrestling lions, gliding from tree to tree, at somestage in the movie why not reveal that Mighty Tarzan the king of the jungle is suffering from a gender identity crisis. that ‘ll pop your popcorn. [popcorn PC]
I don’t think the Doctor is having a gender identity crisis, but sure, why not have a transgender Tarzan who goes through a process of transition.
Ah well. I had a post rattling around in my head about why settees were invented and child hood safe zones and daleks and how they lost me when they started to levitate. And a whole lot of other stuff.
Anyway. Given that the last episodes had the original ‘bad sex doll’ cybermen and the first Doctor sidling round the corner. And seeing as how Davis is shutting down the Dr Who thang in Cardiff and big changes have been signaled… I’m picking Dr Who is going to be getting back to its roots.
It was originally intended to be a programme with an educational component. So, I’m picking we’re in for some more thought provoking sci-fi than what we’ve come to associate with Doctor Who since…well, whenever.
I’m picking Dr Who is going to be getting back to its roots.
Cool.
The Second Dr rulz (and three to eight all Caspar milquetoasts).
Been all downhill since Numero Dos.
As long as Darth Vader stays in black “evil Dude” clothing and not in a “white virgin wedding dress” then the Dr Who bleatings are just first world problems.
Apparently the head bloke on the SS Enterprise was a woman about 20 years ago – who knew, who bleated?
Theres only one Captain Kirk (and he wasnt an All Black)
I still remember the first time I saw the new Star Trek that started with “… to boldly go where no-one has gone before”. They got it.
.Apparently the head bloke on the SS Enterprise was a woman about 20 years ago – who knew, who bleated?
lies
Janeway was in command of Voyager.
Dr Who is about the power of love, kindness and compassion to redeem, regenerate and transform. Bring it on.
Peter Capaldi has left behind some very big boots to fill, but I really wish Jodie Whittaker the very best. It will be fascinating to see what kind of new dimensions she brings to the narrative.
Must be people who have never watched Broadchurch. If they had, they would be so happy with this choice of doctor. Jodie Whittaker also has science fiction chops, her role on ‘BlackMirror’ was amazing. Plus the movie ‘Attack the Block’ is hilarious.
Think they picked the best actor for the role.
Meanwhile … Labour-supporting former Dr Whos
David Tennant appeared in party political broadcasts for Labour in 2005 & 2010
Peter Davison also appeared in a party election broadcast on behalf of Labour 2010. Quoted in The Guardian, Davison said:
“I’ll be voting Labour without a doubt. I tremble at the idea we might put a Tory government back into power. I think back to the last time a Conservative government was running the country and can’t believe we might do it”
Paul McGann publicly endorsed Labour & Jeremy Corbyn at this year’s Election & joined pro-Corbyn lobby-group Momentum
Possibly also Tom Baker (1998 expressed disdain for both the Tories & Blair’s Labour, saying: “When the Conservatives were in I cannot tell you how much I hated them. But I realise how shallow I am because I now hate the Labour Party as much.”)
Tragically Christopher Eccleston turns out to be a Manchester Utd supporter (arguably even worse than being Tory)
Thanks swordfish for those titbits and quotes from the archives.
Bring back John Pertwee. He was the best one. He can travel back through time.
He would probably need to. He has been dead for more than 20 years.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Pertwee
Tom baker imo was the best as he captured the eccentric nature and that voice is killer.
legend..
You lot (tc and Ad), are obviously too young to have watched Number Two. Sadly BBC destroyed almost all prints of the series.
He’s my favourite still. There’s not a lot of his stuff missing now that a bunch of animations have been done.
Good call after capaldi who was superb.
The anoraks will get over it or fume away creating more exposure so win win really as it may pull in a bigger audience. Worse case some angry geeky sifi bods….who cares.
I’ve been feeling a shaming degree of schadenfreude over all those weeping, snarling, teeth-gnashing fanbois flooding so much netspace with their manly tears over the casting of a female Doctor.
It has, however, provided many women with the opportunity to use the word “broflake”, which can only be beneficial for humanity.
Bring on the lady doctor – as one UK commenter said, it’s about timey-wimey.
broflake – love it 🙂
After the Bechdel Test, there’s the Mori Test: does a person of colour have their own narrative? There’s also the Furiosa Test: does a (new) female character (in an established male-dominated franchise) make entitled basement-dwelling pimple farms apoplectic? If so, bonus points.
All of 15 is very amusing. Not sarc/
star wars has a female Jedi as well doctor who was our show when did women get intrested in cybermen and time travel anyway, how can a woman conceptualize concepts like the last great time war or the army of never weres led by the could have been king this is the thin end of the wedge the least they could do know is give us an alien companion like commander strax not some weak human
Women invented time with their bodies when they stopped with estrus and started the menstrual cycle that tracked with the lunar month 🙂
Greg, put the devices away and get on with your homework.
He’s at a charter school, it is the homework.
Greg’s a dalek silly, just very evolved. You can tell by the lack of punctuation, he just goes on and on and on….
evolved? I don’t see much evidence of that. Devolved possibly.
But Wait! There’s More!
New Star Wars movie to feature first male Wookiee
ha ha.
Don’t get too cocky and assume a female will necessarily be playing a female.