‘Torchwood: Children of Earth,’ Day Three

Well, that was kind of intense. Shall we talk about it? Let’s. “As a gift.” Day Three is a pivot point. The 456 arrives. A pillar of flame sinks into the glass tank at the top of Thames House (without burning anything in its path, I’d like to note). Something prone to splattering green goo against the walls is inside. We never see all of it, just sense a large, lumbering presence, strange and eerie. Continue reading 

‘Torchwood: Children of Earth,’ Day Two

It’s a little funny that I was just discussing Torchwood’s “adult” content levels, given that Day Two gives us entirely naked Jack. (And to think I just read a quote from John Barrowman about eventually getting his kit off.) It’s not quite as hot as it might sound, though. Mostly, it’s rather unpleasant. But let me tuck this all behind a spoiler cut. (For an introduction to Torchwood and my thoughts on Day One, look here.) “I’m a PA. It’s what I do.” Continue reading 

What I Did On My One-Day Vacation

Last Thursday, I went to Portland because of Twitter. Ok, that’s not quite true. I went to Portland because of Amanda Palmer, the singer-songwriter-force-of-nature who some folks may know as half of the Dresden Dolls. Palmer’s solo album is one of my absolute favorite records of last year, and I’ve long been complaining that of course I only fell in love with it two days after she played Portland in December. Of course. Continue reading 

Internet Miscellany: Portland calling

When do we get those high-speed trains? ‘Cause I need a faster, easier way to get back and forth from PDX these days. Today, I’m missing a press screening of Harry Potter Laughs All the Way to the Bank Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (thanks, Shawn Levy, for inspiring that strikethrough). I’ll go see it Wednesday and review it on this here blog the same day. I PROMISE. My fingers aren’t even crossed or anything. EDIT: I take it back. Continue reading 

Zenon Watch! Update

Be patient just a little bit longer, Zenon fans. We learned — just a little too late to squeeze it into this week’s paper — that the new Café Zenon will open next Friday, May 22 (not May 15, as was previously their hope). Owner Ibrahim Hamide says he and his staff “would have been panting and sweating” if they opened May 15. “We didn’t want to present the first impression that way,” he says. Continue reading 

Internet Miscellany: This is Not An April Fool’s Post

Apparently, the easiest way to guarantee you can’t think of a damn thing to blog about is to tell yourself you’re going to participate in Blog Every Day April, which is exactly what it sounds like. It’s Wednesday, see, which means this week’s paper is done, which means my brain is fried. So it must be time for that old favorite, Internet Miscellany! Get your clickin’ fingers ready! Continue reading