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SLS |Stanford Lawyer
Stanford Lawyer/97
Miriam Rivera: Changing the Venture Capital Diversity Equation
Sharon Driscoll
Fall 2017 – Issue 97
MIRIAM RIVERA' S DESK AT ULU VENTURES IS LOCATED UP A NARROW, WINDING STAIRCASE, IN A QUAINT VICTORIAN HOUSE ON A SIDE STREET IN PALO ALTO. Shared with the rest of the small team, the office is used for meetings, making coffee, and getting things done. Ulu doesn't match the popular image of Silicon Valley venture capital firms. Like its co-founders Rivera and her husband, Clint Korver, the business is understated and welcoming. And successful.
Founded in 2009, Ulu's first fund is a 5x multiplier—industry shorthand for returning five times the initial investment. That's almost twice the industry standard for top- decile performance. Yet, counter to typical venture funding, the two best exits so far—Krux sold to Salesforce for $700 million and Blue River Technology sold to John Deere for over $300 million—were both founded by Latino entrepreneurs. "We're not sacrificing anything by investing in women and minorities," says Rivera, JD/MBA '95 (BA '86, MA '89). "Our ability to look at startups objectively and pick the ones with great potential makes us a top-performing fund."
The trick to their success is a formula combining the personal and business. Rivera has seen firsthand the challenges facing women and minorities, discrimination sometimes overt though often subtle. With the combination of their deep experience and their personal conviction to give everyone a fair shot, they set out to do things differently.
Korver explains that when he and Rivera were looking into co-founding Ulu, they were determined to get the best out of each other while not straining their marriage. So, they came up with a data-driven decision making process, with clear risk/return criteria, to standardize the way that they assess all potential investments. The aim is to mitigate bias, but the process also serves as a learning tool—with decisions documented so they can compare their expectations about the companies they fund with results.
"We're not sacrificing anything by investing in women and minorities. Our ability to look at startups objectively and pick the ones with great potential makes us a top-performing fund."
––Miriam Rivera, JD/MBA ' 95 (BA '86, MA '89)
"I think the vast majority of venture capital investments are the result of gut feel and pattern matching," says Korver (MS '90, PhD '94). "I'd be surprised if even 5 percent use a disciplined process for measuring risk or surfacing potential bias." The result: Minorities and women who might never get to a meeting with a VC are finding success with Ulu. And Ulu, in turn, doesn't miss an opportunity to invest in a good idea.
Today, Ulu has one of the most diverse portfolios of entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley, with 38 percent women, 29 percent minority, and 19 percent immigrant CEOs. (Fund I had 9 percent underrepresented minority CEOs, and Rivera expects to see similar numbers in Fund II.) And when co-founders are added to the equation, the diversity numbers are significantly higher in all categories, she adds.
"I fell into venture almost accidentally, but once I started I could see that it is a way to make a difference not just on returns but much more broadly," says Rivera.
Miriam Rivera, JD/MBA '95 (BA '86, MA '89), co-founder of Ulu Ventures (photo by: Edward Caldwell)
With diversity often more of a catch phrase than a reality in Silicon Valley, Ulu stands out. When minorities and women in the Stanford community have a startup idea, Rivera is at the top of their list of VCs to talk to. A former Google vice president and deputy general counsel with deep experience in the tech world, she has opened a number of doors for herself over the course of her career. Today, as a successful venture capitalist, she's opening doors for others.
AS A NEW LAWYER STARTING OUT, RIVERA LANDED ON a great team at Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison—an unusually diverse one, too. Rivera worked for "a great partner," Tom Kellerman, and learned many of the skills that would propel her to the top of the legal and business professions.
"Most lawyers go straight through from undergraduate to law school and have to learn a lot when they get here. Miriam wasn't like that. It was her first legal job, but she was highly professional from day one—knew how to deal with the partners, secretaries, and clients. And she could already write a good argument. Plus, she's a lovely person," says Kellerman, now a partner at Morgan Lewis.
It was during this time that Rivera also came face to face with the culture that can hold many women and minorities back—over lunch with a white male partner and associate.
"The partner was talking about his hobbies, golf and trap shooting, which neither of us did. By the end of lunch he had invited the white male associate to try trap shooting—in my presence, without including me— even though I was bold enough to say 'I'd love to try that too.' That was the first time I saw, very clearly, how the social exclusion of women and minorities can lock you out of developing relationships with people who may be influential to your career and your success at a firm," she says.
Since that time, Rivera has not only become an example for others, she has also become vocal about diversity in tech—speaking at events and weighing in with op-eds in popular media. A 2016 Huffington Post piece by Rivera focused on diversity in corporate leadership—and the need to break the logjam by improving early education and creating a pipeline to college and to careers. This is something she knows well.
"I had really gifted teachers, ones who demonstrated caring toward me and the other students. And those teachers were in the worst public school district of Chicago—probably the country," she says. One teacher spoke with Rivera's mother about applying for a scholarship to send her daughter to Phillips Exeter Academy. Rivera's mom, originally from Puerto Rico, was a migrant farm worker on the East Coast before moving to Chicago where she'd worked in factory jobs. Money was tight, but she understood the importance of encouraging Rivera's academic strengths and heeded the teacher's advice.
Rivera recalls feeling like the character in the movie The Brother from Another Planet when she arrived at the exclusive boarding school in New Hampshire. "I remember everyone was dressed in LL Bean and wore duck shoes. I was thinking 'what are those ugly shoes!' But there I was, looking like I had just stepped out of a disco, in a black three-piece polyester suit and big hair. I was very urban, very Saturday Night Fever," she recalls.
But she settled in, excelled academically and formed lifelong friendships at Exeter, at the Latin School of Chicago where she finished high school, and at Stanford where she went for her undergraduate studies in sociology and stayed for three advanced degrees. "I found my people in these high-achieving academic environments, people I really fit in with, who have been and still are meaningful parts of my life," she says.
Korver remembers the first time he met Rivera. He was working on his PhD in engineering at Stanford and was researching the value of information in negotiations for his dissertation. So he took a class on the subject at the GSB. Rivera was his classmate and they wound up paired for a practice negotiation—she was the police chief trying to get a good salary deal for the union and he was the mayor trying to hold the line.
"When we finished, I thought I had been a bit tough but had gotten the better deal. Well, the assessments came back and Miriam wound up the top-scoring negotiator of all the police chiefs in the class and I was the worst mayor. She cleaned my clock and made me think I had done well," says Korver. The experience made him want to get to know Rivera better and be on the same side in any negotiation.
"That was the first time I saw, very clearly, how the social exclusion of women and minorities can lock you out of developing relationships with people who may be influential to your career and your success at a firm."
For Rivera, creative negotiations and people skills became a hallmark of her career—particularly at Google.
After graduating, she and Korver married, just in time to catch some of the excitement of the tech boom of that time. Following a short stint in legal practice, Rivera and Korver cofounded a company called Outcome Software, though she stayed only two years because a funder balked at a husband and wife team. "I was fired!" she says, laughing. But in retrospect, her next job was good preparation for the opportunity at Google. Trying to make the right next step, she met with Gabriel Sandoval (BA '93), general counsel at Ariba, Inc., for an informational interview. People are important to Rivera and Sandoval impressed her—particularly as he was already the GC of a public company and still in his 30s. "I wanted inspiration and he was an inspiring person," she says. Sandoval was equally impressed with Rivera, and he offered her a job.
It was a busy time with the emerging enterprise software company growing fast when Rivera joined. But within a year, the tech bubble burst and Ariba began letting people go. With Korver working on a startup and a mortgage to pay, Rivera started to look for other options.
"We had to let a lot of people go, but Miriam was not one of them. But when she told me she had the opportunity to join a startup, I encouraged her to take the job. Being one of the first hires in the legal department would offer her more opportunity than I could," says Sandoval.
"I had seen so many software companies hit hard by the downturn and thought that the internet was the way the market might be headed," she says. "Starting at the ground floor of an opportunity has risks, but also benefits." That startup was Google.
RIVERA JOINED GOOGLE IN 2001 AS THE YOUNG COMPANY'S second lawyer. Over the course of her five years there, its growth was explosive. As Google grew, Rivera got creative with her job—rethinking how to execute contracts so that legal didn't "throw up unnecessary speed bumps," she says. "I wanted legal to be a partner with the deals organization."
To do that, she developed a contract simplification system she calls revenue velocity, cutting the time in which the vast majority of deals were signed to within three days— and within one day for half of them.
"I looked at how to balance legal and business risks, and we determined that we were willing to take some risks in order to accelerate revenue," she explains. During her time there, she was responsible for $14 billion of revenue for the company. She also helped to create the self-service advertising business model and the advertising syndication business model. "It was fascinating to be in a legal department where the work of the company changed the state of copyright."
Rivera left Google in 2006—despite the chance to take on the GC role. She was exhausted. Instead of jumping right into the next thing, she took time off to rest and reset—to spend time with her family and to think through her next move. Part of that time was spent in Hawaii, the tropical paradise close to Rivera's heart because of its similarities to Puerto Rico.
HAWAIIAN FOR "TO GROW AND INSPIRE," ULU is part name and part aspiration. It's also inspiring a flock of entrepreneurs, with 2,000 new ideas floated by the small VC company each year.
When asked whether she might consider a next step after the success of Ulu, perhaps running for political office, Rivera says no. While she is active in her community and has volunteered often, particularly at Stanford where she was recently a member of the board of trustees, she sees a big need to fill right where she is. And, she observes, there are already many more women and minorities in government and public service than in her area.
"We haven't really penetrated the private sector. Look at the boards and CEOs of the Fortune 500 companies and you quickly realize that we're not making much progress. So I'm excited to help open doors in those areas. It's amazing what a company can do—look at Google and how quickly it grew to be an international game changer in just a few years. The companies that I fund have an opportunity to do that. And we're doing it with a more diverse group of people than is typical in Silicon Valley. I want to keep making a difference in this sector." SL
© Stanford University, Stanford, California, 94305-8610 | https://law.stanford.edu/stanford-lawyer/articles/miriam-rivera-changing-the-venture-capital-diversity-equation/


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What Do New Poisoning Charges In the Sandra Cantu Murder Case Mean?
By Javier Lavagnino, Esq. on May 22, 2009 4:35 PM
Could Melissa Huckaby Have Been Stopped Sooner?
California prosecutors brought new charges against Melissa Huckaby, the Sunday school teacher that got arrested in the highly publicized Sandra Cantu case. CNN reports that the additional charges involve the poisoning of another girl and a man. Considering that, if convicted on murder, rape and kidnapping charges, Melissa Huckaby would already face the death penalty, one might wonder why prosecutors would even bother bringing such charges, praticularly since they may result in a delay.
At this point, there can only be speculation, particularly since the results of toxicology and autopsy reports on Sandra Cantu were sealed and will not be made public (the judge explained there was a "great danger of public outrage"). However, just one possible reason may be that there is a tie-in between the methods and/or purposes behind the poisonings of the two individuals and whatever may have happened in the Sandra Cantu case. If so, it could serve to reinforce the evidence and other charges against Huckaby.
Even before today's charges, speculation already existed about the possibility that police had not properly followed up on the earlier report about Huckaby drugging a 7-year-old girl from Tracy, California (presumably the same victim as in today's charges). The ABC report quoted her unnamed 18-year-old sister saying, "If they would have did their job right and actually made a police report or whatever, everything with Sandra could have been prevented and she could have been here today".
At that time police rejected that accusation, stating, "There was a complete investigation done and documented...No probable cause was developed to make an arrest[.]" If that was the case, then perhaps information that developed in the Cantu case made a difference so as to warrant today's charges. However, with these new charges, there could very well be more questions raised about the earlier investigation, and whether Huckaby could have been put away at an earlier date.
CNN: Slaying suspect charged in 'Jane Doe' poisoning
San Jose Mercury News: Accused killer Melissa Huckaby faces new charges of poisoning Tracy girl, Hayward man
KRON4: Huckaby Arraignment Delayed Again While Lawyers Study New Charges
ABC: Did cops fumble an earlier Huckaby case? Could Sandra have been saved? (abcnews.com)
Criminal Law FAQ (provided by the McClenahen Law Firm LLC)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Any dinner or party for your country love can never begin early in the evening. From the farm, your farm lady may have other house duties awaiting her. You can then enjoy her company for the better part of the night. Having been raised on a farm where security matters a lot, the farm girl knows how to use her gun.
If you've got your eyes set on wooing a country girl, don't be fooled by stereotypes that suggest she'll pass for a lazy, hay-sucking cowboy.Be ready to have fun without any fear of getting dirty.You can always change into your best clothes at the end of the day. I wear it often, and would love for you to do the same. We're the best of both worlds, and sometimes the things that bother you the most, and are the hardest to make work, are the best things in the end. We expect for you to accept us for who we are, and make us better. I want you to say I'm beautiful, and smart, not "hot." I want a loving note here and there. Open the door, surprise me with flowers, cook me dinner – not just when we meet, but forever.Romantic country relationship calls for creativity. A cowboy who wants to win over a farm girl has to be innovative in planning dates.
The dates can take the following forms: Cuddling on a soft bed with her, at the back of a truck and listening to a soothing country music in the background.
To win her affection, you have to be open and friendly to her folks. She looks up to her daddy, therefore arrange for any outdoor activity that may bring her parents and you together. On the other hand, she admired you for who you were; be proud of yourself as her date. The country girl has survived the difficult farm life. Any man who wishes to date her must, therefore, be equally hard working.
When she is in love with you, it's impossible to hide from her friends. It's not easy to buy her love through precious gifts.
Once in awhile taking your girl out, for example for a picnic or fishing could be relieving. The simple "stupid" things like playing hide and seek matters a lot to her.
For example, lying on the back of the tractor and enjoying the sunset is the perfect country dating scene. Instead, relax and let her show you who she is and what she enjoys most in the beautiful country life.
A farm girl poses unique skills and abilities enough to scare a faint- hearted man.


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By Lakshmi Sridhar	on 19/05/2018 24/05/2018
Classical Carnatic vocals merging aesthetically with Electronica
It's not just the layering of sound but rather, the layering of the resultant nostalgia that produces a sublime, unalloyed effect on the mind. Good for your senses and indeed good for your sensibility, exposing you to a nuanced and intricate blending of sonance and its subsequent modulation. It has a very cerebral quality from start to finish which resonantly lingers long after. It's music that is not just made for the sake of expression but has the potential to evoke childlike devotion.
The song will certainly help you wear a smile on your face.
https://tunedfork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Tuned-Fork-33-Invocation-05-Swara.mp3
About the Singer:
Smt. Vijayalakshmi, A senior Vocalist, Composer and Artist now in her late 80 s rendered her voice for this Production. She specializes in the Carnatic Classical form of Singing which Originated in South India. Many of Tuned Fork's Productions feature her Mystical, Magical Voice, often sounding unique in character and Sound. She also Sings Devotional Songs, Folk Music and Bhajans in several south Indian languages…
About the Song:
This song belongs to the Album 'Invocation' combing Electronic and Devotional Music based upon the ideas from various Indian/Western beliefs in God and Spirituality… There are 9 songs entirely…
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It's been two months since law enforcement shot and killed LaVoy Finicum, a prominent member of the Bundy-led occupation of a federal wildlife refuge in Oregon. But threats to officials, including the governor and law enforcement, continue to flow in, the Seattle Times reports.
The threats have come through email, social media and phone calls and have been directed at Oregon Gov. Kate Brown and Harney County Sheriff David Ward, who were high profile officials vocally trying to bring the occupation by right-wing militia members to an end. Other threats were directed at state troopers and FBI agents.
Another threat, aimed at Ward, was posted to Facebook, according to Oregon Public Broadcasting.
OPB points out misogynistic terms were used regularly against Kate Brown as part of the threats against her.
"If she orders a hit on those ranchers and we're all about the rise up, she's going to come and get hers so deal with it [expletive]," the caller said.
"You killed an unarmed rancher, so now one of you must die," another caller to her office said, according to the Times.
Finicum was armed with a loaded weapon. He was shot by authorities when he reached for it. Finicum had crashed into a snowbank while he was trying to evade a roadblock set up by police and FBI agents.
Yet another man threatened to burn a Koran — the Muslim holy book — outside the home of a state trooper who was involved in the incident and at the site of the occupation.
Authorities haven't released the names of the officers involved, citing safety concerns, according to OPB.
A print-out of the threats was provided to OPB.
One message, with the subject line, "FYI," is directed at the governor.
Yet another message demands the release of militia members that were arrested and are being held on federal charges related to the January stand-off.
Authorities are investigating the threats, according to reports.


Are American Comics Institutionally Racist?
How important is race in comics? We're not even talking about skin color here, but American vs. Non-American. According to one comics editor, the answer is "very" - even if comics fans would rather it wasn't the case.
I don't know that it's any one thing, but if I had to hazard a guess, I would say that it's all part of the same phenomenon that makes it more difficult to sell series with female leads, or African-American leads, or leads of any other particular cultural bent. Because we're an American company whose primary distribution is centered around America, the great majority of our existing audience seems to be white American males. So while within that demographic you'll find people who are interested in a wide assortment of characters of diverse ethnicities and backgrounds, whenever your leads are white American males, you've got a better chance of reaching more people overall.
Tom's syntax following that is a little blunt...man, I wish it were wrong, but it's not. Every comics publisher ever, including BOOM!, can tell you maddening tales of retailers who, even now, in the 21st century, are hesitant to order books with non-white, non-American leads because their community won't support them. It's absurd, it's crazy-making, I don't know what it's going to take to change that other than time...but like it or not, it is an unfortunate truth of the time in which we live.
Of course, now that Marvel will have the backing of Disney, who have had success with non-American, non-white and non-male leads (as well as recent accusations of racism all of their own), that might be about to change... if the audience will let it.


Industrial chemicals have a variety of different applications around the world. PCBs, a well-known industrial chemical, bind strongly to soils. where they remain for years or even decades. PCBs have been shown to cause cancer in animals, as well as other negative effects on the immune, reproductive, nervous and endocrine system.
Industrial chemicals are chemicals that are developed for use in the industrial processing of chemicals. Some industrial chemicals are only used in industrial production processes while many others are used as ingredients in the commercial products that appear in consumer markets. The class of industrial chemicals is broad, including: solvents, reactants, lubricants, coatings, dyes, colorants, inks, mastics, stabilizers, plasticizers, fragrances, flame retardants, conductors and insulators. Significant exposures to many of these chemicals can result in harmful effects to people or the environment.
For information about these chemicals' original uses and production, characteristics, and listings in the Convention, see the Stockholm Convention website.


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Answers delayed in Muni accident
Jun. 17, 2008 12:00 a.m.
Three days after a train rammed into another train near AT&T Park, Muni officials are still searching for an explanation about the collision that injured 16 people, including 12 who were sent to local hospitals.
Transit officials said they will release more information this week about what caused a one-car T-Third train to rear-end a two-car N-Judah train. At the time of the incident, the N-Judah was stopped at King Street, waiting for a signal to change. Both trains were headed in the direction of the Caltrain station.
A Muni investigation will determine if it was human or mechanical error that led to the accident.
Of the 12 passengers taken to hospitals, four have been released, Muni spokesman Judson True said. No one involved in the crash suffered life-threatening injuries.
True said both train operators were tested for drugs and alcohol and placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure.
Aaron Litwin, a freelance photographer, arrived on the scene approximately 30 minutes after the collision. He said people who witnessed the crash saw a few victims taken away on stretchers with blood on their foreheads.
wreisman@sfexaminer.com
Bay Area NewsLocalTransittransportation
Presidio Fire Department faces further service cuts
Threats of violence muted as gay nupitals begin


Many people are looking for way to download their iTunes Sales reports which are more convenient than going to the website. There are half a dozen apps both in open-source as well as commercial that scrape the site to allow for automatic downloading. At the same time Apple rejects apps that are doing this in a mobile way and cites 3.3.7 of the SDK agreement.
Providing a secure Web API would make all your developers very much happy because then they could create their own tools or could choose between competing mobile downloading tools.
Also waiting for the previous days report to arrive is an ideal case for push notifications.
In the very least I urge Apple to create a mobile report downloading app themselves if they absolutely won't let users access the data they desperately want to have.
By not taking the lead on report downloading Apple causes hundreds of thousands of unnecessary accesses to the report site when people or their scripts are checking if the report is now available.  Lots of unnecessary HTTPS/HTML traffic could be prevented if there whas an XML based secure API.
Also there is tons of scrapping sites doing the same and giving better results than itc mobile app.


If you missed it yesterday, Nokia Conversations reported on NFC enabled Angry Birds. Find another user (currently any C7) with the game and you can unlock levels. If that's too difficult an occurrence, there are other ways to unlock, via NFC tags. These maybe embedded in items/objects.
Five of the levels are as normal. But at that point you need to find a friend with an NFC-enabled phone, as the remaining levels are inter-spliced with ones that can only be unlocked when you touch phones with someone else. Finding one friend will unlock five more levels. A second friend will unlock another five, and a third the remaining five.


Dragon Mounds are ancient dragon burial sites that dot Skyrim's landscape. In appearance, they are simply large, flat, circular areas created out of two rings of paving stones. There are no map markers associated with the dragon mounds, and early in the game there is no indication that there is anything remarkable about these features.
They built the dragon mounds, entombing the remains of dragons that fell in the war. They believed that one day the dragons would rise again and reward the faithful.
The Atlas of Dragons notes the location of a few dragon mounds, but there are few other surviving records of them or their locations.
When the return of the dragons spurs a renewed interest in dragons, the only way to locate all the mounds is to retrieve an ancient Dragonstone from Bleak Falls Barrow. The back side of the stone shows a map of Skyrim, with stars representing the location of each dragon mound. Delphine transcribes this information onto a Map of Dragon Burials, although Delphine's map is less accurate than the original stone (for example, the mound near Dawnstar is missing from Delphine's map). For more detailed information on the location of all dragon mounds, see (map). For a list of these locations, see this page.
As the Main Quest progresses, you learn that the dragons buried in the mounds are not truly dead, and that they are now rising up again. During A Blade in the Dark, you witness this happening when Alduin raises Sahloknir from his mound, located east of Kynesgrove (map). From this point in the game onward, dragons will proceed to emerge from their mounds.
This page was last modified on 10 March 2014, at 14:30.


With hot-selling models like the Macan and Cayenne, Porsche produces more vehicles than most exotic automakers. But it still makes fewer than most mainstream manufacturers – and more than most luxury marques, too. And while most of the vehicles that Porsche has made throughout its history are still on the road – standing as rolling testimony to their reliability – it has been subject to the odd safety recall here and there. Like this latest campaign that involves the Panamera.
The German automaker has announced that it's recalling several hundred of its four-door sedans in the United States for a problem with their suspensions. According to the statement, the problem comes down to the rear-axle anti-roll bars, which "do not meet Porsche quality standards." A connecting link could detach from the anti-roll bar and potentially cause damage to other suspension components, which could be bad news.
The recall and accompanying stop-sale notice affect certain 2017 and 2018 models. The manufacturer didn't detail exactly which versions are involved, but it says there are 715 of them in the United States (and Puerto Rico) that are affected. Fortunately no accidents (much less injuries) are known to have resulted from this problem, and hopefully once it's dealt with, none will.
Last year, Porsche reported selling 6,731 Panameras in the US, and has so far sold another 3,838 of them this year. So as rare as the Panamera may seem in relative terms, the recall represents but a drop in the bucket of those out on the road and in dealer lots across America.
connecting link, connecting shmink, who needs em' anyway.
That should be really bad for them.
She's loose in the caboose.


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Q: How to combine several XSLT transformations? I have an HTML file:
<!DOCTYPE html>

<title>A title of the article</title>

The page is an article about an article.

This paragraph is not very good paragraph

This paragraph is very good paragraph

Page content

An itroduction

An inline piece of code select * from dual

Buttons OK and Cancel

      select * from dual

Usage

        Page ID
        Page name

        1234
        Page number 1234

        5678
        Page number 5678

        90AB
        Page number 90AB

I need to do the following:

*

*Replace tags code and kbd with span

*Add a class to each new span with previous tag name (i. e.  ...  should be transformed into  ... , etc.)

*Keep the content of tag body and remove the rest.

I found how to make this partially. This transformation makes steps 1 and 2:
<xsl:stylesheet version="1.0" xmlns:xsl="http://www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Transform">
    <xsl:template match="@*|node()">
        <xsl:copy>
            <xsl:apply-templates select="@*|node()" />
        </xsl:copy>
    </xsl:template>

    <xsl:template match="code">
        <xsl:apply-templates select="@*|node()" />
    </xsl:template>

    <xsl:template match="kbd">
        <xsl:apply-templates select="@*|node()" />
    </xsl:template>
</xsl:stylesheet>

This transformation makes step 3:
<xsl:stylesheet version="1.0" xmlns:xsl="http://www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Transform">
    <xsl:template match="/html/body">
        <xsl:copy-of select="node()"/>
    </xsl:template>

    <xsl:template match="text()" />
</xsl:stylesheet>

But each transformation does only its job. I can either replace tags, or cut the content of a body. I tried to combine this transformations, but failed.
Also, the second transformation doesn't add a class, if it already was there. For example, this

turns into this

while I would like to have the following (the sequence of class names doesn't matter):

And there is an annoying thing. When a source file contains the line
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8">
then I get an error "invalid XML". OK, I agree it's invalid, but after the second transformation my utility (I use a command-line utility xsltproc on Mac) inserts exactly the same line into the result file.

A: To combine the three steps you can write templates for html and body that just process the children, for html/head that does nothing and then you need to find some way to add your new class and keep the existing, here is one:
<xsl:stylesheet version="1.0" xmlns:xsl="http://www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Transform">
    <xsl:template match="@*|node()">
        <xsl:copy>
            <xsl:apply-templates select="@*|node()" />
        </xsl:copy>
    </xsl:template>

    <xsl:template match="html | html/body">
        <xsl:apply-templates/>
    </xsl:template>

    <xsl:template match="html/head"/>

    <xsl:template match="code">
        <xsl:apply-templates select="@*[not(local-name() = 'class')] | node()" />
    </xsl:template>

    <xsl:template match="kbd">
        <xsl:apply-templates select="@*[not(local-name() = 'class')] | node()" />
    </xsl:template>

</xsl:stylesheet>

https://xsltfiddle.liberty-development.net/bdxtqd

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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text:
Dos corazones y un cielo es una película de comedia musical mexicana de 1959 dirigida por Rafael Baledón y protagonizada por Demetrio González, Eulalio González y Rosa de Castilla. También cuenta con la última aparición de Carlos Orellana.

Argumento
La vida matrimonial de los cantantes Antonio Castillo (Demetrio González) e Isabel del Río (Rosa de Castilla) no es tan exitosa como sus carreras profesionales, eso se debe a sus mutuos celos y críticas. Como si las cosas no fueran ya demasiado drásticas, el primo de Isabel, Felipe Treviño (Eulalio González), llega de su ciudad natal tras una devastadora epidemia y decide mudarse con ellos. Después de un viaje a Santa María del Maíz, la ciudad natal de Antonio, Antonio e Isabel se encuentran a sí mismos como víctimas de una separación profesional involuntariamente orquestada por Felipe. Ambos cantantes deciden ir en solitario por caminos separados, Isabel aborda el teatro con el empresario español César Ordóñez (Carlos Agostí), mientras que Antonio prueba suerte como tenor bajo las instrucciones de la magnate italiana del chocolate Dina Castellammare (Rosa Elena Durgel). Sin embargo, Felipe planea formas ingeniosas para volver a unir a los cantantes en armonía matrimonial.

Reparto
 Demetrio González como Antonio Castillo.
 Eulalio González como Felipe Treviño (como Lalo Gonzalez Piporro).
 Rosa de Castilla como Isabel del Río.
 Rosa Elena Durgel como Dina Castellamare.
 Carlos Agostí como César Ordóñez.
 Armando Arriola como Director artístico (como Armando Arreola).
 Polo Ortín como Mesero (como Polo Ortin Jr.).
 Roy Fletcher como Conductor de cabaret.
 José Loza como Representante de auditorio.
 José Wilhelmy como Representante de teatro (como Willy Wilhelmy).
 Rubén Zepeda Novelo como Presentador de televisión.
 Carlos Orellana como Don Atanasio Turrubiates.
 Armando Acosta como Negociante (no acreditado).
 Florencio Castelló como Director teatral español (no acreditado).
 Jorge Lavat como Representante de auditorio (no acreditado).

Referencias

Enlaces externos

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
#399 School Shooting, Gerber Baby - February 23, 2018
The Origins of School Shooting With heavy hearts, we once again condemn a mass killing, this one in Florida. Once again, we observe that a culture which approves some forms of killing must contend with what a killing mindset does to cause unapproved killing. This point was elaborated eloquently in an article published by the Ron Paul Institute for Peace & Prosperity, a libertarian anti-war group, entitled "Merchants of Death: America's Toxic Cult of Violence Turns Deadly," by John W. Whitehead (not to be confused with our CLN President), President of The Rutherford Institute. After detailing militarism in US culture, he says:
"So when you talk about the Florida shooting, keep in mind that you're not dealing with a single shooter scenario. Rather, you're dealing with a sophisticated, far-reaching war machine that has woven itself into the very fabric of this nation. You want to stop the gun violence? Stop the worship of violence that permeates our culture."
March for Our Lives: March 24 Plans are forming for a Washington, D.C. march against gun violence on March 24, organized in part by the students who survived the Florida shooting. Local actions around the U.S. are expected on the same day. Plans are in the works for consistent-life contingents. If you'd like to participate in planning or let us know you'll join, please write us at weekly@consistent-life.org.
More Roe Anniversary Consistency Coverage The Arkansas Catholic has an article about Bishop Anthony B. Taylor in Arkansas. We covered why he said he wouldn't attend the Arkansas Roe anniversary pro-life rally – because the keynote speaker there, state attorney general Leslie Routledge, had pushed for an execution spree that killed four prisoners. The article reports on the Roe-mourning mass he held. The importance of the consistent life ethic was emphasized.
Gerber Baby Every year, the Gerber company selects a "spokesbaby" for the year, and this year they've selected 18-month-old Lucas Warren (pictured). Olivia Summers comments: "We live in a world where countries are bragging about leading the world in eradicating Down syndrome through selective abortions, bullies tell mothers of children with disabilities to kill their children . . . Much of the world seems to be feeding into the dangerous lie that unless a person can be 'perfect' they cannot be 'happy,' and it is compassionate to kill them . . . Lucas's nomination is a ray of hope."
Latest CLN Blog Post In "Sterilizing the 'Unfit'," John Cavanaugh-O'Keefe discusses the family of Carrie Buck, of the notorious Buck v. Bell US Supreme Court case that opened the floodgates for involuntary sterilization of those deemed unworthy, with Oliver Wendell Holmes' infamous line that "three generations of imbeciles are enough." John details how outrageous it is to characterize the three generations of this family that way, showing the bigotry involved.
Carrie Buck with her mother Emma Buck; her baby Vivian
Quotation of the Week Shelly Douglass A World Where Abortion Is Unthinkable, Plough Magazine
A peaceful world, where there are other ways of solving conflicts than killing each other, a world where rape is also unthinkable, and where economics do not force women into sexual activity. . . One of the guidelines for nonviolence is that if you want to go someplace, you have to "go by getting there." If you want the world to be one way, you have to live that way, and that helps the world become that way. Imagine a world where war and abortion are both unthinkable, and then start to live as if we already lived in that world – that moves us along the path.
Gerber baby
sterilizaiton


text:
Bulletin Board, Business Development, Community Affairs, Government, Health Fairs, Non-Profit Organizations
Senator Rivera Summer Community Events Calendar
July 31, 2015 1:00 PM·
During the month of August, Senator Gustavo Rivera will present a series of community events! For more information, call 718-933-2034.
NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer Hosts Shred Day!
Our office will partner with Comptroller Scott M. Stringer, AARP New York and other elected officials on August 1st to host a shredding event at the Morris Park Community Association. If you have documents that contain personal and/or sensitive information and you want to dispose of them in a secure manner, do not forget to stop by.
Saturday, August 1st 11am-3pm
Morris Park Community Association
1824 Bronxdale Ave
Senator Gustavo Rivera and Immigrant Justice Corps Hosts Immigration Legal Clinic
Senator Rivera's office and the Immigrant Justice Corps are partnering to offer two immigration clinics at no cost to residents in the 33rd senate district. You will have the chance to discuss your issue with Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) accredited representatives relating to Naturalization, DACA/DAPA, petitioning for family members, and more. To register for an appointment please call Maryam Mohammed at our office at718-933-2034.
***Appointment required***
Tuesday, August 4th 10am-12pm
Office of State Senator Gustavo Rivera
2432 Grand Concourse
Join Senator Gustavo, other Bronx Elected Officials, Community Leaders, and officers from your local police precinct for National Night Out. National Night Out is a collective effort to promote involvement in crime prevention activities, police-community partnerships, and neighborhood camaraderie. Join of for a day of fun and educational activities to reduce crime in our neighborhoods.
Tuesday, August 4th 2pm-9pm
Contact our office or your local police precinct for more information.
The Mayor's Community Affairs Unit presents West Bronx Town Hall for Small Businesses
Join Senator Gustavo Rivera and the Mayor's Office of Community Affairs to Learn about City programs and services to help small businesses start, operate, and grow. The event is also co-sponsored by Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Congressman Jose E. Serrano, Assembly Member Latoya Joyner, Assembly Member Victor Pichardo, and Council Member Vanessa Gibson.
Thursday, August 6th 7pm-9pm
Latino Pastoral Action Center
14 W 170th Street
Bronx LGBTQ City Agency Resource Fair
The Community Affairs Unit at the Mayor's office host a LGBTQ resource fair. You will have the opportunity to meet with NYC agency representatives and learn about city programs, services, and initiatives directly supporting the Bronx LGBTQ community.
Monday, August 10th 6PM-8PM
PS 9: 230 E 183rd Street,
Cuomo Kicks Off 'New Americans Day' At The State Fair, 8/28 100 Black and Hispanic Men Host Back-To-School Event VISIONS Bronx "Mix It Up" Celebrity Bartending Fundraiser FREE CONCERT 9/27: The Youth Orchestra of Caracas @ Crotona Park Amphitheater
Tags: community events, LGBT, National Night Out, Richie Torres, scott stringer, senator gustavo rivera, Shredfest, Town Hall
Author: Michael Benjamin Michael Benjamin is a public affairs consultant and an editorial board member at The New York Post. He is a former contributing columnist to the NY Post, City and State NY and other publications. He is a former Member of the New York State Assembly (2003-2010) and once led the Bronx Board of Elections. Since leaving office, he has appeared as a commentator on TWC NY1, Bronxnet OPEN, Good Day NY, and Al Jazeera America. His columns and blog focus on corruption, government, education, politics, redistricting, nuclear energy and race. He holds a B.A. in political science from Syracuse University.


text:
Protecting Other People from wasting their leisure time since 2007
The Daily P.O.P.
Category Doctor Who- 7th Doctor
Doctor Who – Ghost Light
'Ghost Light'
Story 153
Written by Marc Platt
Directed by Alan Wareing
Transmitted 4 October – 18 October 1989
"Redvers had some stories… The pygmies led him blindfolded for three whole days through uncharted jungle. They took him to a swamp full of giant lizards like giant dinosaurs.
"Do you know young Conan Doyle just laughed at him?
"Well… that's doctors for you."
As part of an initiative test, the Doctor has taken Ace to an unknown location for a surprise; a seemingly normal Victorian house which is anything but. A diabolical alien known as Josiah Samuel Smith has taken over the house, bending it to their will with one goal, to assassinate the Queen and take over England. Deep in the bowels of the house, Smith has a pair of prisoners, one a bestial creature surviving off of scraps, the other revered as a God by a primate, impossibly serving as a man servant.
The Doctor plays the mad house as a master manipulator, a role that developed through McCoy's brief run in the part. Playing with Smith and the other tenants of the house, he appears to have the situation well in hand, but the truth of the matter is something other. In his attempt to teach Ace a lesson, he has exposed her to one of her darkest memories, a haunted house that she had firebombed as a teenager. By bringing her to the same house earlier in time, the true horror of the haunting is evident and it could potentially crush her psyche and her trust with the Doctor.
The final season of Doctor Who is, in many ways, it's most ambitious and adult in decades, certainly since 1970 when the program re-invented itself. The scripts were more far-reaching and diverse in their directions, from the straight forward and lighter Battlefield to the intense Curse of Fenric and Survival, a story which appears to be yet another Master adventure on the surface but is deeply embedded with meaning. In the case of Ghost Light, author Marc Platt adapted a tale that was intended to explore the Doctor's family into one that more fully developed the companion Ace while utilizing the amazing aptitude of the BBC to craft beautiful period dramas.
This is a story that has a lot of naysayers and for good reason; it is overly complicated and crammed into three parts when four would have been better, McCoy is not exactly up to the demands on him and it is very difficult to even talk about what happened. For me, it is a special story that I hold a lot of care for simply because of the mood, set design and guest cast. The script is rushed and awkward at times but also brimming with evocative imagery and moving emotional exchanges. Ghost Light functions as a horror story, a cerebral thriller, a science fiction tale and a domestic drama. It's marvelous.
The 'monsters' of the story, a pair of husks that 'Josiah' had discarded as he out-evolved his previous forms, are memorable creations. I quite like the image of creatures in tuxedos launching attacks from behind velvet curtains. Smith himself is a suitably insidious villain, oozing with charm and malevolence, he even tries to buy the Doctor's services! Additionally, Michael Cochrane as Redvers Fenn-Cooper is outstanding; a big game hunter wandering the halls of the house with an elephant gun, recounting his adventures in the jungle, his mind shattered.
When the facade is pulled back and the Doctor frees Josiah's prisoners, things get a bit… overloaded. Both 'Control' and 'Light' threaten Josiah's plans as they develop their own. Light is an alien that started a catalog of all life, took two samples, one free to evolve into other forms and another that would remain static. The first got ideas above his station and imprisoned his master and the control subject. Now free, Light is frustrated to see that his catalog is useless and vows to destroy all life on the planet. Meanwhile Control has become 'infected' by the same evolutionary bug that drove Josiah to dreams of empire, but in her case she simply desires to be a lady.
There is so much to love about this story… but a lot that hampers its enjoyment.
Sure, you have to watch this story very closely, paying clear attention to it (possibly twice) and even then you may scratch your head wondering who or what 'Light' is. That's a failing in the story as the dramatic potential is undercut by a plot interlaced with layers, characters and revelations that all play out in concurrence. The story does not always play to its strengths and can easily lose even the most devoted fan. Some of the performances, such as Ian Hogg as Smith, are extraordinary, and while McCoy has some outstanding moments he also gurns at the camera so badly I wince in pain *for* him.
Doctor Who in 1983 was, even at its best, formulaic. In 1989, it was trying something new, something that the new series could take some lessons from. Even at its worst, Ghost Light tells a complete story that develops the companion, uses the Doctor, has monsters and an amazing guest cast. A true gem of the classic program, this story deserves an other look.
Josiah's discarded husks
'Josiah Samuel Smith' and Gwendoline
A civilized supper
Redvers Fenn-Cooper confronts the Doctor
One of Josiah's surveillance devices
'Josiah Samuel Smith' an intergalactic cuckoo who has infiltrated a quiet family
The Doctor and Ace attempt to help the local police
Ace dons dinner attire
Doctor Who: Ghost Light DVD
Doctor Who: Ghost Light (novelisation)
Doctor Who In-Vision Magazine Issue #102 Ghost Light
June 7, 2013 by dailypop	Leave a comment
Doctor Who and The Curse of Fenric
The Curse of Fenric
By Ian Briggs
Transmitted 25 October to 15 November 1989
"We hope to return to the North Way, carrying home the oriental treasures from the Silk Lands in the east, but the dark curse follows our dragonship."
Arriving on the coast Northumbria, the Doctor and Ace saunter into a top secret naval base busily deciphering Nazi codes. At the same time, a small platoon of Russian soldiers flees their sinking vessel, landing on the coast to retrieve British Intelligence. Inside the base, the most intelligent incryption device ever developed, the Ultima machine, is being used to break enemy codes. Professor Judson and his superior Commander Millington have another motive, one that promises great power if they can solve the mystery of the Norse runes in the village church.
In the water off the coast, a timeless evil waits, sculpting metal trinkets with their bare hands and pulling sunken bodies to the depths, turning them into inhuman creatures.
The Doctor is putting the final moves on a game he started long ago. He has worn many faces, but the Doctor is now taking on a role of champion against the forces of darkness. In ancient Arabia, he played chess with an evil spirit using pieces carved from human bone. The Doctor tricked the evil entity into a trap, but Fenric had his own plans that stretched throughout time, leading to another confrontation with the Doctor.
I tend to indicate The Curse of Fenric as the last gasp of greatness for Classic Doctor Who. It has a period setting, alternate history, a clever plot, some outstanding guest actors and terrifying monsters. Following Battlefield, referred to as one for the lads with its soldiers and knights and Ghost Light, an intricate and moody situation drama with formal dress and bug-eyed monsters, Curse of Fenric is the culmination of work that Sylvester McCoy and Andrew Cartmell had started back in 1987. A sense of mystery was returned to the Doctor and a new direction added to the program that made it both modern and reverential to the source material. It also focused on the companion Ace, forming the final part of her character's arc that had begun back in her first story, Dragonfire.
Briggs' plot draws from many excellent sources as the Arabian Nights, Bram Stoker's Dracula, HP Lovecraft and even historical war records. While it does mention some continuity points such as the Doctor's granddaughter and the chess game briefly shown on screen in Silver Nemesis, it draws strength from developing new mythologies and monsters. It also has some startling visuals that proudly declared Doctor Who had plenty of life left in it. The Ancient One leading an army of aquatic vampires assaulting a church is one of the absolute best moments of 1980's Who.
There are of course flaws with Curse of Fenric including dubious special effects and performances as well as some terribly bizarre dialog. Just what does 'No one ever makes you come into the water, but everybody wants do' mean? Why is the confrontation between the evil vampire girls and Reverend Wainright filmed on such a lovely sunny afternoon? You can even hear birdsong! Additionally, there are so many plot threads strewn about that it gets dizzying and the program attempts to resolve them all in a slap dash manner, making the end result appear amateurish at times. When the DVD arrived, I giddily screened it to a friend as one of the best Doctor Who stories that few had seen and was crestfallen when he lost interest almost immediately due to the convoluted plot, poor audio and some dire performances.
I can point to a few sore points where Curse of Fenric falters in its greatness but the biggest problem in my opinion is that it attempts to accomplish far too much, especially for a Doctor Who story.
Russian soldiers land on the beach of a sleepy English village to steal a top secret English encryption machine. Millington and Judson are involved in a clandestine ploy to bomb the Kremlin with an experimental toxin, but are also pawns of Fenric, an ancient evil entity trapped in a bottle. Fenric brings the Haemovores to the 1940's to not only cause death and destruction but have his revenge on the Doctor by creating a temporal paradox resulting in a future apocalypse. The Doctor has brought Ace to her mother's birth to force her to accept that she can both love and hate someone and move past it… That's a lot for one four part story (and I skipped a few ideas).
To be fair, this is a case of Doctor Who straining outside of its bounds with nearly no resources and boundless ambition.
Even so, the performance by Nicholas Parsons as Reverend Wainright who struggles with his faith as his country's army slaughters thousands is stirring and very adult for its time. Likewise, the chemistry between Alfred Lynch as the slightly mad Commander Millington and Dinsdale Landen as Dr Judson is fascinating. Landen plays one of the finest and most evil of villains in Fenric, delighting as he watches Judson's nurse get assaulted by Haemovores yet chilling in his interactions with the Doctor.
The regulars McCoy and Aldred really shine in this story, making sense out of a plot and doubtless frenzied production schedule. A classically trained actor, McCoy reveals in this final series that he is an excellent choice as the Doctor just waiting for a decent adventure. An inexperienced actress, Aldred is especially impressive here as she takes on much more dramatic material than ever before. Ace was granted so much care and attention by the production staff, but it would have all been for naught if she flopped in the part.
Canceled shortly afterwards, this is a glimpse of what could be done if the BBC was courageous enough to let Doctor Who grow up. Much later, bits and pieces of Cartmell's Doctor Who masterplan would crop up in Russell T Davies revision. Much like the Big Finish audio dramas, Davies cherry-picked ideas from this period, but sadly very little of the brilliance remained.
In 1989, Doctor Who had the lowest ratings in decades. The BBC had lost its interest in Doctor Who and producer John Nathan-Turner, a man who struggled to keep the series afloat for years, wanted out. It was also a time of incredible innovation and re-invention. Doctor Who had gone from a day-glow children's program to sophisticated entertainment combining fantasy, horror and drama all at once.
Finally available on Netflix, The Curse of Fenric is an outstanding story that shows Doctor Who in a time of flux and evolution.
Commander Millington
Reverend Wainright
Professor Judson
A horde of Haemovores
An early design of the Haemovores
Ingiga, The Ancient One
Fenric possesses Doctor Judson
May 24, 2012 by dailypop	5 Comments
Doctor Who on the docket- Dragonfire and The Happiness Patrol
The Ace Adventures box set arrived in the post today and I have to admit that I'm a bit over-eager to dive in. There have been much better DVD releases (and worse) and many stories that I adore, but this is a bit of a personal fave for me as it marked the period where I rediscovered Doctor Who and connected with it in a unique way.
On this blog I have cited the importance of the Hartnell stories, the inventiveness of Troughton's era and the comic book-like insanity of Pertwee's turn at the wheel. No one can argue that Tom Baker's tenure as the Doctor was important as was his successor Peter Davison whose youthful exuberance attracted a new fanbase, especially in the US. But it was when Colin Baker scared away the remaining fans and Sylvester McCoy arrived that things got really interesting.
McCoy is a love him or hate him Doctor, I have to admit. A classically trained actor, he is also a former children's entertainer and his diminutive size and odd facial expressions make him appear comical and so strange that he might really be an alien. His arrival shook up the program and challenged the notion of what made Doctor Who what it was.
The stories of his first season in 1987 have been judged as the worst ever seen, but you have to give the BBC props for innovation. At the very least, Colin Baker could look at Delta and the Bannermen and admit that there is no way he could have been in that one!
Dragonfire was a game changer of sorts as it introduced Ace, a companion that would go on to become one of the most beloved characters of the 1980's Who. A street kid transported to another planet and yet living a boring life as a waitress, she has plenty of personality and loads of determination. In her first outing she contrasts Melanie's screaming female with a wide-eyed wonder of the unknown. She is daring, brash and reluctantly naive and inexperienced. An ideal companion as the Doctor embarked on two years' worth of stellar stories.
There are loads of problems in Dragonfire, an eerie hunt after a monster is made rather light-hearted due to intense lighting and the cuddly nature of the 'monster' who could barely move in any case. Edward Peel as Kane steals the show as the devilish and maniacal villain, so icy cold and cunning that he is a worthy adversary for the Doctor. The whimsical 'treasure hunt' plot is delightful and turns sour when the true nature of the planet is revealed and things get rather grim.
Ace, the Doctor, Sabalom Glitz and Mel go treasure hunting
The weird biomechanoid holds many mysteries
The Ace Adventures Box Set also contains Happiness Patrol, a story that divides the few remaining fans that actually hold an opinion on the McCoy era. A bizarre artistic statement on the state of the UK under Margaret Thatcher, it also showcases one of my personal favorite monsters, the Candyman. I know he gets a lot of stick, but its his resemblance to a children's program host that makes him work for me. He's just far too silly to be taken seriously, yet he is also a blood-thirsty maniac.
The Happiness Patrol was screen in omnibus format in the US along with Remembrance of the Daleks which I thought was perfect. Both stories were equally superb yet entirely unique. Each got heavy handed at times with their messages and Fifi was dreadful, but there's always some component that trips up Doctor Who, even at its best (killer clams, magma beasts, cute giant rats, giggling actors off-screen). Even so I admire what the team was attempting here and felt that it was a far stronger story than Remembrance which was rather straight forward.
The new era of Doctor Who appeared to be a pastel-colored kids show with a goofy lead actor and his androgynous assistant. Yet under that veneer, lurked the lotus eaters of Time and the Rani, the cannibals of Paradise Towers, the killer bees of Delta and the Bannermen and… the shocking conclusion to Dragonfire. In the case of Happiness Patrol, it was a candy floss affair mixed with pulp science fiction tidied up with a message about the dangers of tyranny and the dangers of denying sadness. Series 24 and 25 shocks and entertains while making the audience think about some pretty heavy ideas without reverting to gore or horror tactics (that would come later in the final season, which I also like a lot). There's a cleverness and ingenuity in this period that I don't think gets enough respect.
The Happiness Patrol also included a stirring moment when the Doctor literally philosophizes an assassin out of his job.
Great stuff and very iconic of the era.
The Doctor confronts the Candyman
Ace joins up with the Happiness Patrol?
This box set holds many elements that would later crop up in the BBC Wales revival of Doctor Who, but it is important to see how they were done here (and done right). Just the right amount of attention is given to Ace (she never threatens to take over the program) and the absurdity of the drama and action is incredibly over the top yet also taken very seriously.
Wish me luck as I take a trip back in time to 1987 and beyond…
Two additions to the Doctor Who 2012 DVD release schedule
The final relic from the Graham Williams era, Nightmare of Eden is hardly regarded as a high point for the program. Dodgy special effects and wobbly walls abound and it also features the silliest accent ever witnessed since The Underwater Menace.
Nevertheless, the program is light fare and the last story to be released from Tom Baker's middle period on the program when comedy and fantasy reigned (aside from the incomplete Shada).
Via TardisNewsroom:
Nightmare of Eden (DVD)
Two spacecraft fuse in a hyperspace collision, and with the dimensional instabilities threatening everyone aboard, it's fortunate the Doctor (Tom Baker), Romana (Lalla Ward) and K-9 arrive to help. But when a crewmember is found clawed by a ferocious creature, it seems there's something even more frightening stalking the corridors. But what can this have to do with a zoologist, Professor Tryst, his CET projection machine, and a planet called Eden?
• Commentary with actors Lalla Ward (Romana) and Peter Craze (Costa), writer Bob Baker, effects designer Colin Mapson and make-up designer Joan Stribling. Moderated by Toby Hadoke
• The Nightmare of Television Centre – A look back at a somewhat troubled production with three of the behind-the-scenes crew who worked on it
• Going Solo – Writer Bob Baker talks about The Nightmare of Eden
• The Doctor's Strange Love with comedian Josie Long and writers Joe Lidster and Simon Guerrier
• Ask Aspel – LallaWard's appearance on the popular BBC children's show
• Radio Times Listings (DVD-ROM)
• Programme Subtitles
• Production Information Subtitles
• Photo Gallery
• Coming Soon Trailer
• Digitally Remastered Picture And Sound Quality
Due for release on the 2nd April from Amazon UK.
Two key adventures from the Seventh Doctor's era are collected in this long awaited box set containing Dragonfire and The Happiness Patrol. Dragonfire bridges the light drama period of the program with the more sophisticated stories that were to come and also introduces new companion Ace (played by Sophie Aldred). A fan favorite character, Ace became one of the more popular companions of the classic series alongside Sarah Jane Smith, Leela and Joe Grant. The story itself is a bit of fun, a revenge story nested within a treasure hunt. It seems very innocent (the goofy monster helps) but you may be in for a shock in the conclusion, still one of the most memorable moments of the program. The model work of Ice World is also amazing.
In sharp contrast, The Happiness Patrol is a daring social commentary that is hindered by being studio bound and a very small budget. The hand puppet Fifi doesn't add anything to the dignity of this one, but it remains one of my all time favorites from the McCoy period. The Kandyman, an impressive animatronic suit, is a monster that you adore or despise, but it made the press by presenting children's sweets as evil (imagine!).
Ace Adventures Box Set (DVD)
In these two classic stories Ace joins the Seventh Doctor aboard the TARDIS where she's soon battling a biomechanoid and liberating a world where just feeling sad can get you shot!
Dragonfire
On the planet Svartos, the Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) and Mel unexpectedly encounter an old friend – Sabalom Glitz. Joined by Ace, a teenage waitress with a love for explosives, the group ventures off to find the fabled Dragonfire treasure.
• Commentary
• Deleted / extended scenes
• Trivia subtitles
• Video & audio restoration
• Radio Times Billings (PDF)
• Making-of documentary
• Danny Bang – documentary
• The Doctor's Strange Love – documentary
The Happiness Patrol
On the planet Terra Alpha, the population constantly displays happy smiles. Anyone feeling remotely glum disappears. Quickly. Having heard disturbing rumours, the Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) and Ace arrive to topple the entire regime.
• "Ace" wishes Blue Peter Happy Birthday (archive clip)
• Isolated score
• Politics In Doctor Who – documentary
Due for release on the 7th May from Amazon UK
February 2, 2012 by dailypop	5 Comments
Doctor No. 7 delivers the 'pandorica speech'
Via i09
The seventh incarnation of the Doctor may have lasted from 1987 to 1989, but actor Sylvester McCoy is still kicking his straw hat and question mark-topped umbrella about at conventions. Still very active in the Big Finish line of audio adventures, he lent his voice to the speech from the 'Pandorica Opens' episode of the BBC Wales Doctor Who. Addressing a sky full of foes from every adventure, the Doctor challenges the might of the largest army ever assembled with nothing more than his unpredictable nature. Pure McCoy, really.
A fan caught the entire scene on camera for everyone to enjoy.
Sylvester McCoy's adventures are available on DVD and CD.
Doctor Who: The Curse of Fenric
Doctor Who: Remembrance of the Daleks
Doctor Who: Survival
Doctor Who: Ghost Light
Dust Breeding (Dr Who Big Finish)
The Fires of Vulcan (Dr Who Big Finish)
September 4, 2011 by dailypop	Leave a comment
Doctor Who – 1987
Back in 1987, Doctor Who was in a state of decline on television. After 23 years, it was starting to look like maybe BBC Controller Michael Grade had indeed been right in taking it off the air. Viewing figures took a dive after the departure of Peter Davison and that behavior continued into the following two years with the 24th looking quite dire. Despite the doom-laden look of things, there's a lot to crow about in McCoy's first year as the Doctor.
The 24th year saw easily the most sophisticated opening sequence in the program's history, a revamped signature tune and logo along with the first computer generated imagery used in Doctor Who. Incoming actor Sylvester McCoy took over a pair of stories not written for him and Andrew Cartmell attempted to sooth the bruised ego of John Nathan-Turner, a producer forced to stay long after he had wished to. After answering the demands of the BBC to lessen the violence, Doctor Who was softened even more becoming a pastel-colored children's program.
Moving away from the established house style, Doctor Who in 1987 embarked on an experimental era that combined light comedy with biting satire and classic adventure. That being the case, McCoy was the ideal leading man for this revised incarnation of the program with his infectious energy and flair physical comedy. Paired with Bonnie Langford, the two led Doctor Who into an age that, right or wrong, was entirely new.
The following two years saw a vast improvement over the varied quality seen in series 24, but in 1987 fans were not happy as this vintage TV clip shows.
Did You See? Doctor Who 24th Anniversary Retrospective
It's interesting to view Classic Doctor Who in the context in which it was transmitted.
Compare the 1987 video to this earlier retrospective clip from 1982. Granted, the program was still in high regard and was about to enter its 20th anniversary, but still there seems to be an air of respect and adoration of a national treasure.
The average viewing figures are pretty vague, so in an attempt to add a point of reference here's a list of the stories that received the highest and lowest viewing figures in millions broken out by Doctor:
Highest William Hartnell:
The Rescue and The Web Planet- 12.5
Dalek Invasion of Earth- 11.9
Lowest:
The Savages- 4.91
The Smugglers- 4.48
Patrick Troughton's highest rated:
The Moonbase- 8.33
Macra Terror- 8.20
War Games- 4.94
Jon Pertwee's highest rated:
The Three Doctors- 10.3
Day of the Daleks, Invasion of the Dinosaurs, Death to the Daleks and Curse of Peladon all come in about 9.6/9.4
Inferno: 5.6
Highest rated Tom Baker:
City of Death: 14.5
Destiny of the Dakeks- 13.5
Robots of Death, Deadly Assassin, Android Invasion, Face of Evil and Ark in Space all have 12/11
Meglos- 4.65
Peter Davision's highest:
Black Orchid (yes, Black Orchid) – 10
The Visitation, Castrovalva, and Earthshock all come in the high 9′s
King's Demon's- 6.50
Colin Baker's highest
Attack of the Cybermen- 8.9
Trial of a Time Lord part 4- 3.7
(in comparison the A-Team got 11.8 average viewers around the same time)
Sylvester McCoy's highest:
1996 movie- 9.08 (the guide includes this as valid for some reason)
Silver Nemesis – 5.50
Battlefield- 3.65
August 21, 2011 by dailypop	12 Comments
Doctor Who – Paradise Towers
5-26 October, 1987
After establishing his new persona, the Doctor takes his companion Mel to a tower block in space on the verge of collapse. A killer is at large, dragging victims to the basement to eat them up whole yet no one is interested in doing anything to stop the deaths. Fighting against impossible odds, the Doctor must put Paradise Towers to rights or it will collapse upon itself.
Each period of Doctor Who is marked by change, be it a change in production team or in the lead actor. In 1986, replacing the leading actor of Doctor Who was not the only task set before John Nathan-Turner and incoming script editor Andrew Cartmell. Frustrated with the lack of communication and his relationship (or lack thereof) with JNT, script editor Eric Saward walked off the set of the second part of Trial Of a Time Lord, leaving everyone in a fine mess. The ratings that had fallen so sharply for the 22nd series rose slightly for the 23rd, but BBC controller Michael Grade felt that more change needed to be introduced starting with the Doctor himself.
Theatrical actor Sylvester McCoy was the favorite choice due to his diminutive stature (in sharp opposition to Colin Baker's sturdy frame) and his impish behavior mixed with an otherworldly kind of intensity. Paradise Towers was the first story to be written for McCoy but it was commissioned and written with no knowledge of the 7th incarnation. The script by Stephen Wyatt was heavily influenced by the novel High Rise by JG Ballard, a brutally violent fiction set in a scientific marvel of an apartment block where the inhabitants are trapped and devolve into primitive social castes. Both Cartmell and Wyatt were on the same page regarding their excitement to develop such a story through the strange lens of Doctor Who… and the results are mixed.
The Doctor and Mel are looking for a holiday spot, something that the time traveling nomad finds wasteful. In any case, the Doctor compromises by taking the TARDIS to a state of the art masterpiece Paradise Towers. They arrive to find the structure to be a trash-ridden haven for hoodlums, patrolled by bureaucratic slobs acting as caretakers. Something has happened that has reduced the population of Paradise Towers into craven cowards scavenging for existence while an unknown menace kills off any of the unlucky ones. The Doctor must not only discover the source of this threat but unite the people of Paradise Towers in the face of a common foe.
Mel and the Doctor meet the Red Kang leader Fire Escape
There are many influences on the modern BBC Wales version of Doctor Who that can be found in the 24th series. Specifically, the fairy tale look and style of the program is very strong in Paradise Towers, something that was most recently picked up by the last two series. The drama and acting are so strained and obvious that it all comes off as children's entertainment. The Kangs look like harmless escapees from an off-Broadway play and the camp Caretakers are a joke. The sets are inspired but the lighting keeps them from achieving any real sense of danger or dread. Many fans point to these things as drawbacks but personally I think that they are part of the success of Paradise Towers and series 24 as a whole.
After several years of space opera and action/adventure, Doctor Who morphed into a kind of experimental program that posed as one thing but was actually another. I challenge any viewer to find a more saccharine sweet and innocent looking era than the 24th and 25th years of Doctor Who yet they contained some of the most horrific concepts in the programs history nested inside of a colorful kid's show. The clearest example of this is when Mel is captured by the two Rezzies Tabby and Tilda who trap her in a crochet net and threaten to cook and eat her. Not only that, they reveal that they have been sustaining their rotund figures by luring and eating teenage girls!
Paradise Towers is a bit of a failure, to be sure, but it also achieved so many fantastic moments and attempted to transform what had been a safe and predictable program into something entirely new. The characters of Tilda and Tabby and admittedly the only real pieces of evidence for this, but the cliffhanger featuring Mel screaming as they advance on her is completely terrific in its terror.
A deadly cleaner patrols the alleys of Paradise Towers
At the insistence of JNT, a monster was called for and the result was 'the Cleaners,' by far the most useless robot threat ever seen in Doctor Who. Apparently Cartmel and Wyatt imagined an organic beast pulling people down the waste chutes via tentacles, but this was nixed.
Armed with a dull slowly rotating cardboard blade, drill and pincer claw it is not only unclear how they could harm anyone it's also a mystery to me how they could clean anything! Exactly how does a drill or saw blade remove graffiti? It's no wonder the towers are so dirty. These things make the War Machines look downright menacing.
The Doctor is arrested by the Caretakers only to meet a 'deadly' cleaning robot
Celebrity guest stars may seem like a new thing to Doctor Who, but they littered the 1980's and this story is no exception. Known for his comedic work, Richard Briers is actually quite good as the Chief Caretaker. A bizarre micro-managing Hitler, he never really appears all that dangerous but he is clearly mad and a direct opponent to the Doctor's mission to fix the problems of Paradise Towers. When he is transformed into a weird robot-zombie, he not only gains a silver sheen and a silly voice but somehow grows a full mustache! What was that all about?
The Doctor (McCoy) is threatened by the Chief Caretaker (Richard Briers)
I have to admit that when I first saw Paradise Towers I really liked it. I was a fan of the 70's and 80's material (I still had no knowledge of the 60's) but this was so different that I felt some kind of ownership to it. This would certainly not appeal to the average fan of Pyramids of Mars or even Caves of Androzani. The 24th series was so absurd that it made the final Graham Williams efforts such as Nightmare of Eden and Horns of Nimon look sensible. There was a kind of darkly twisted situation comedy element as actors portrayed character types that were very familiar to viewers then took them in a different direction.
Mel is fattened up by a pair of 'Rezzies'
Bonnie Langford gets a lot of stick for her portrayal of Melanie Bush and I can't say it is entirely undeserved. While her more recent audio dramas vindicate her entirely, on screen she was a perky sprite with a squeaky voice who stumbled into trouble every week. Given that this was a more innocent era of Doctor Who, I couldn't imagine a more perfect companion to include. Her exchanges of dialog with the Kangs are laughable as she insists that she is a good girl who would never want to be in a gang. Likewise when Pex attempts to impress her with feats of strength his advances bounce right off of her androgynous figure. In the right story, Mel works very well, but one has to remember that she is a simpler character than Leela or Sarah Jane Smith. She is simply a know-it-all who can't seem to stay out of trouble and is completely incapable of helping herself.
This of course allows for the Doctor to be a tactical genius.
Mel is threatened by a pool cleaning robot
The Seventh Doctor was still a work in progress for Paradise Towers, but you'd never know it to watch the story. McCoy makes the part his own almost immediately with his physical mannerisms and infectious enthusiasm. One can see the influence of Buster Keaton, Stan Laurel and other early film stars in his behavior but all of that melts away in key moments where he interrogates the Chief Caretaker or argues with the inhabitants of the towers to defend themselves. I imagine that the actor was given very little to work with and he certainly filled up the blanks wonderfully. Paradise Towers may not be your kind of thing, but it does feature a very strong performance from McCoy.
I do disagree with the Doctor's 'brilliant plan' of asking the monster to come out of his home and then blowing him up. Surely there would have been a better resolution to the situation. Given that the Chief Caretaker was possessed by a great evil and the Doctor had just united the residents, kangs and caretakers in a spirit of peaceful coexistence it seems odd to limit that philosophy and just kill the villain. The BBC Wales program starring David Tennant had a similar view on good and evil and it just never washed with me. If the Doctor is so smart and heroic why doesn't he at least attempt to save the day without violence instead of formulating a scheme that revolves around explosives?
Stephen Wyatt would thankfully return in the following year with the Greatest Show in the Galaxy, an adventure that is still praised by fans as one of the finest Seventh Doctor stories. Featuring quirky characters, an unusual setting and bizarre threats it builds on what was evident here and produces a much more polished end product. Still, I have a soft spot for Paradise Towers.
The DVD just released has plenty of extras including a documentary shedding light on the production and even the aborted music score by David Snell. I highly recommend the secondary music track in favor of the naff one by Keff McCulloch that was used on transmission. Neither is perfect, but at least Snell's is evocative of a mood and doesn't include synthesized clapping sounds (what was that all about?).
If you are a fan of the McCoy era, this DVD belongs in your collection. If you are a devotee of the Tom Baker or Pertwee stories, I'd recommend skipping this one. But if you are a brave soul, you may want to give this one a try and see what Doctor Who was like when it was wild and fearless.
August 17, 2011 by dailypop	9 Comments
Doctor Who Big Finish- Dust Breeding
Dust Breeding
Written by Mike Tucker
Deuchamp 331, a planet where swirling dust constantly whips throughout the landscape, the deafening howl of the wind broken only by a horrifying scream, is an unlikely location for an art gallery. Nevertheless the eccentric Madame Salvadori is engaging an exclusive art show where, according to the Doctor's diary, Edward Munch's the Scream went missing. Deep inside the TARDIS, the Doctor has the most deluxe gallery of 'lost' masterpieces, saved from the disasters of history. Seeking to 'rescue' another painting, the Doctor and Ace arrive to find that an old friend Bev Tarrent is already on Deuchamp 331 looking for a new outlet for her merchandise. Another old friend of the Doctor's is also on hand, but his intentions are both insidious and insane.
Dust Breeding is a clever and traditional-style adventure in the murder mystery turned mad scientist/monster style. I quite like the genre mix and have enjoyed the televised attempts at this kind of thing. Mike Tucker clearly understands the trapping of Classic Doctor Who as all the trappings are there; the strange setting of a screaming planet joined with the absurdly contemporary art snobs, the masked villain, the mysterious deaths, and of course a deadly ravenous monster.
The voice acting cast is superb and deliver an impressive job when faced with so many over the top characters I strained my eyes checking and re-checking that Caroline John (Liz Shaw from Doctor Who in 1970) as the cartoonish German accented Madame Salvadori. Of course the real star is Geoffrey Beavers as the mysterious masked man Mr. Seta.
Dust Breeding isn't a game-changing story or an over-ambitious adventure that challenges the restraints of what Doctor Who can do. In fact, it's actually a celebration of a typical Doctor Who story and is all the better for it. McCoy revels in his part once more as the charismatic traveler, long before he became the cosmic trickster. I appreciate the many facets of the 7th Doctor, one of the few (perhaps the only one, actually) of the classic Doctors to develop and change over his three-year period. But if given a choice, I prefer the more stripped down traveler/adventurer from McCoy's first two years on the program.
Mike Tucker's script is paced quite well and feels just like a traditional radio drama, utilizing the audio landscape well to tell a cohesive story without losing the audience. From time to time, the Big Finish audios can dissolve into screams and explosions, making it impossible for the listener to understand quite what is going on. Luckily, that's not the cae here. There are some dodgey moments as McCoy's stilted accent gets away from him and Aldred's voice cracks as she screams in shock and anger (something that sadly happened on screen from time to time). McCoy and Aldred are limited in their acting range, it has to be said, but that doesn't stop them from being vastly entertaining thanks to their genuine chemistry and personal quirks. The Seventh Doctor and Ace remain one of the best pairings in Doctor Who and they continue that relationship in the audio format.
Without giving too much away, Dust Breeding does challenge the canon of the established (if dubious) continuity with the 'surprise' return of a long departed foe. I'm unaware of the inconsistencies myself (I read the Virgin New Adventures when they first came out and stopped just short of New Frontier) and I'm just grateful for the return of a much loved character from the classic program. I hope that we get to see (hear?) him again.
Doctor Who – Dust Breeding can be purchased at local retailers such as Mike's Comics and online from Big Finish.
Read other Big Finish reviews at the Daily P.O.P. here.
Doctor Who Big Finish- The Genocide Machine (Dalek Empire I)
The Genocide Machine
"Daleks always bring out the worst in people… the worst in me."
Released May 2000
The Seventh incarnation of the Doctor and Ace arrive on the planet Kar-Charrat to return a book that the Doctor had forgotten he had taken out of the largest repository of knowledge in the galaxy. Unknown to them, a small group of thieves are attempting to steal a precious archeological item from the planet. Few have ever braved a visit to Kar-Charrat for fear of the fabled ghosts that occupy its tropical world. While it houses the largest amount of data ever assembled in one place, the library of Kar-Charrat is a mysterious institution that only time sensitives can even gain access to. When the Doctor arrives, the chief librarian Elgin is anxious to show off the state of the art wetworks facility that the library has installed to store all of their data, making all other forms of storage unnecessary. The Doctor is of course interested, but Ace throws a fit and is left out in the rain where she hears strange ethereal voices and meets the only survivor of the ambitious group of thieves, Bev Tarrant. The pair soon find that they are not the only visitors to the secluded planet and encounter a lone Dalek scouting the area for time sensitives.
The debut audio story for the Daleks in a Big Finish Production is also a tie-in to the excellent Dalek Empire series running concurrently at the time (click here for my review of part one, I promise to get to the remaining three installments in due time). Written by Mike Tucker (better to known for his award-winning special effects work on classic and new Doctor Who, Red Dwarf and other programs), the script is very intelligently written, bringing new menace to the Daleks that had not been seen in Doctor Who since the 60's.
When I first heard of the audio adventures featuring the Daleks I was skeptical. How can listening to a distorted screaming voice be entertaining? How wrong I was. On screen the Daleks had become lackeys to their creator Davros in the 1980's, losing the spotlight to the megalomaniacal scientist. I was surprised to find that in audio format, the Daleks flourished. In their own serial Dalek Empire, the monsters proved that they could be manipulative and ruthlessly driven in their quest for total galactic conquest. This characterization carries over in the Genocide Machine, an adventure that builds upon a key component of their plan explored in Dalek Empire. In fact, all four of the Dalek Empire cross-overs (The Genocide Machine, The Mutant Phase, The Apocalypse Element and Time of the Daleks) deal with specific items that the Daleks have acquired in their master plan to conquer the universe.
Genocide Machine artwork by Lee Sullivan from DWM Issue 290
After the cancellation of the TV program, the Seventh Doctor and Ace had continued to develop in print through a series of books published by Virgin. This continuation of the ideas explored on-screen resulted in emotionally-charged and dynamic epics that built an entirely new universe of stories, most of which could not have been produced for television for various reasons. The New Adventures series has its ups and downs and when Big Finish decided to take up the mantle of Doctor Who, it was unclear to me if they would pick up from the novels or the TV stories. In the end, BF tried both, but personally I find that the New Adventures material works best in print rather than audio.
The Genocide Machine is set sometime after the final TV adventure, 1989's Survival, when Ace is still a spunky young woman and not a jaded ex-soldier with issues about trusting the Doctor. The Doctor isn't exactly the cosmic trickster that the Virgin novels transformed him into and is more of an explorer traveling the universe fighting injustice. McCoy and Aldred revisit the characters from many years ago like they had never left them. One of my favorite pairings on-screen, they had a special chemistry rarely seen in Doctor Who (with the Fourth Doctor and Sarah Jane Smith being a prime example).
After getting kicked out of the library, the defiant and headstrong Ace soon finds herself neck-deep in trouble that is far too much for her to handle just as the Doctor discovers that he has arrived too late to stop the Daleks from visiting the library. Unfortunately, only the Doctor can seem to understand what it could mean should the library's knowledge fall into the Daleks' control.
The Genocide Machine is a well-paced adventure that never stops moving from start to finish. Much like Whispers of Terror and Land of the Dead, it also introduces stunning concepts that I will not mention here to avoid spoiling the surprise for first-time listeners.Veteran Dalek-phile and voice actor Nicholas Briggs once again brings his unique flair to Terry Nation's monsters, making them cunning and maniacal all at once. There are plenty of twists and turns in this four part story that further complicate matters and as I enjoy Doctor Who stories in which our hero appears to be out-gunned and out-classed, this earned top marks from me.
After seeing the Daleks on screen in countless stories, one would think that they would lose their appeal and power. In the case of the BBC Wales production, this is largely the case. However, in the unlikeliest of mediums, audio, the Daleks have discovered a new realm of fear.
Doctor Who – The Genocide Machine can be purchased at local retailers such as Mike's Comics and online from Big Finish.
April 24, 2011 by dailypop	11 Comments
Pre-order 'lost story' Doctor Who – Thin Ice at Big Finish
The McCoy era saw some dramatic changes in the character of the Doctor as the program entered a new age of greatness. Classic adventures such as Remembrance of the Daleks, Greatest Show in the Galaxy, Curse of Feric and more showed that the series thought tired and ready for the scrap heap had some life in it yet. What was intended to be McCoy's fourth and final series would have pushed the envelope even further, introducing a new companion as the ultimate destiny of Ace was revealed.
Yet, this was not to be. Doctor Who was retired in 1989 and would take a long time to return. However, the creators and cast of these 'lost stories' have convened at Big Finish to bring the adventures that we thought would never be seen to our ears.
Moscow 1967. The Doctor and Ace have arrived behind the Iron Curtain, and the Soviet Union is seeking a new weapon that will give it mastery in the Cold War.
What is the secret of the Martian relics? As the legendary War Lord Sezhyr returns to life, the Doctor is faced with some of his oldest and deadliest enemies.
The fate of Earth – and the future of Ace – are now intertwined…
The story takes the Doctor and Ace to Russia in the 1960s, where some alien artifacts have fallen into Soviet hands… and others are trying to obtain them.
Guest stars include Ricky Groves as Markus Greevy and John Albasiny as Felnikov – two characters who will be seen again this season…
Meanwhile Beth Chalmers – who will debut as the Doctor's new companion Raine next month – plays Lt Raina Kerenskaya/Sezhyr in Thin Ice.
Release date 30 April, 2011
Pre-order The Lost Stories: Season 27 at Big Finish!
Sylvester McCoy (The Doctor), Sophie Aldred (Ace) and Beth Chalmers (Raine)
Update from Big Finish:
DOCTOR WHO UPDATE
For anyone looking to subscribe or re-subscribe, we thought it might be a good idea to let you know which Doctors will be appearing in which of the upcoming main range, monthly releases.
As you will see from the production details on the site, Sylvester McCoy's latest batch of adventures take us up until September 2011. Following that, from October to December 2011, Paul McGann returns as the Eighth Doctor, with Julie Cox as new companion Mary Shelley. We were hoping to make this announcement exclusively in the pages of Doctor Who Magazine, but unfortunately, an over-enthusiastic cast member from one of these productions, included the news in his personal podcast!
'Once comedian Mitch Benn realized he'd leaked unwisely, he apologized and very kindly removed the section from his podcast,' explains Nick Briggs. 'But you know the internet, once the news is out there, it's out there! We'll be announcing the story titles and the rest of the cast details in DWM, but we thought we might as well announce the return of Julie Cox as Mary Shelley here!'
You may remember that the character of Mary Shelley originally featured in the Doctor Who story The Company of Friends. If you haven't heard that one yet, you might like to catch up with it now. And look out for this week's BF Podcast, in which Julie and Paul will be giving us a teaser of their new adventures.
Following on from the Eighth Doctor adventures, January 2012 sees the beginning of a new mini-season of Sixth Doctor adventures starring Colin Baker. They run from January to March.
'We're not revealing which companion Colin is travelling with yet,' says Nick. 'But brace yourselves for something new and exciting.'
April 17, 2011 by dailypop	Leave a comment
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