CRRRRS 546 Happy 12th Anniversary and No Other Talk

By Roy Mathur, on 2024-07-04, at 00:01:00 to 00:47:57 BST, for Captain Roy's Rusty Rocket Radio Show

Can You Believe It Has Been Twelve Years?

Happy 12th Anniversary! Can you believe it has been twelve years? No, me neither? (Trivia: this would be a silk and pearl wedding anniversary for non-vegans).

I started podcasting, taping through an iPhone 4S and tipsy on a hot Summer night straddling midnight (I'm hazy) in Horley, a short interval in Mauritius, and then back here. As well as talking about media, I have reported on fan conventions and even historic events, like the last day of the India Club in 502, that has bugger to do with geekery, but everything to do with geek me. It has been a ride.

I had guests at one stage, until I decided how little I, or the podcast, gained from having them (no offence, past guests). Generally, however, though the format and name has changed a few times, the love of SFFH media has remained.

Hammer House of Horror Revisit

This is not the Hammer House of Horror revisit you were expecting. That was delayed due to health problems, but it is in the works.

Follow Up From 545 Doctor Who: Empire of Death

I said that RTD wrote all of season 14/1, except Rogue, but he also didn't write Boom; that was Steven Moffat.

I said that Sutekh was a bat, whereas I already described him in 345 Doctor Who: Pyramids of Mars: "What we see under Sutekh's mask resembles the composite of a horse and jackal with glowing eyes, bringing to mind the mysterious Tythonian animal of the god Set."

I Saw the TV Glow

2024 horror film by Jane Schoenbrun, in which Justice Smith is drawn into an obsession with low budget teen horror show by an older friend.

I read, subsequent to watching it, that the film was an allegory for transgender self-awareness. I have to admit, that was largely lost on me. However, I definitely did find it hugely affecting as a story about being trapped (and neurodiverse) and escaping one's banal and hostile environment through genre media. For me, that was science fiction, then horror, then fantasy.

Clearly influenced by any number of genre media, including The Terminator and Videodrome films and Christopher Pike books, I found it held my interest throughout. Good stuff.

American Fiction

2023 back comedy movie based on Percival Everett's Erasure (2001) in which literary fiction author writes a satirical black gangster book as a joke, only to find wild success.

As a dark-skinned author and podcaster, the film is not telling me anything I don't already know about the bullshit you have to go through to get a book to press that is acceptable to the largely white publishing industry. We all know.

The comedy, tragedy, and satire were awkwardly smooshed together, but Jeffrey Wright's deep grunts and rich voice held me like a vice. I was sad that the charismatic sister character played by Tracee Ellis Ross (Diana's daughter) was snuffed out in the first twenty minutes.

A Journey Through the Tabs

Buying a Dutch bicycle from a dealer in the UK is now almost impossible thanks to Brexit and a touring bike is also difficult to source since the Dawes Galaxy was discontinued (I was quoted GBP 500+ to upgrade my beach cruiser, hence my interest), most old DOS games work on FreeDOS 1.3 says YouTuber Phil's Computer Lab, old school couriers favoured the shaft-driven Honda CX500, Snark tuners are accurate, but fall apart, bounty hunter, Duane "the Dog" Chapman, never died, opting out of Facebook's AI data collection is a pain even in the UK, and Chevalier, the true and incredible story of mixed raced 18th century composer, lover, duelist, and soldier, Joseph Bologne, is on my watch list.

Motorcycling

I'm continuing to get better. On my last ride, I only stalled once and even emitted a "whoop" of delight during my second crossing over a lake. Huzzah!

A rack arrived via eBay that should alleviate the appalling lack of luggage options on my little Honda Monkey Z125. My first torque wrench also arrived from Amazon to help me fit it. And, because apart from my Bell MX-9 Adventure MIPS helmet (tip: use earplugs) I am almost totally without proper gear, AA jeans are arriving later.

I still need a lot of other stuff and a lot more practice, but I'm getting there.

Vote Against Them or Face a Dystopic Future Like V for Vendetta

Following another racist incident spoiling me and Mum's day out and my subsequent and inevitable response, ironically the day Rishi Sunak also bit back, I also expressed my displeasure at the revolting Reform UK party on a forum I frequent because it feels like there's a familiar stench polluting the air. It feels like those with nasty underlying prejudices are feeling empowered again and in my own small way I'm not willing to let that happen.

With equally disgusting parties like National Rally in France (didn't Macron learn anything from Cameron's Brexit fiasco?) and Trump's idiots in the USA, the far right are attempting yet another resurgence. Migrants and anyone who is a different have always been the targets of these neo-fascist anti-democratic creeps. So, specifically in the UK, it is important that we use our vote in the upcoming election to keep Reform UK out.

I'm fairly apolitical, politically naive even, but try staying that way when one is hammered one's entire life. I'm all for leaving politics alone, as long as it leaves me alone, but it never does. Besides, the trouble with leaving it alone is that it eventually makes the nasty buggers comfortable enough to think it's safe to crawl out from under the rocks.

Bringing it back to geek, Doctor Who, Blake's Seven, Star Trek, and Star Wars storylines, of course, abound with the fight against controlling evil; usually racism, fascism, and imperialism. When so much is against us, it's nice to see the things we love supporting us. So, in whatever part of the world you reside, vote against the far right or face a dystopic future like in V for Vendetta.

Here's to More Years

Here's to the last twelve years and let the ride continue. Let's ride!