Atticus

I suppose it's entirely possible for both to be true.

Don't get me wrong - I have no love for the man. He is the head of an organization that has covered up countless child abuse scandals, blindly promotes abstinence as a means of fighting Aids while condeming the use of condoms, is anti-gay and restricts the role of women.

His only saving grace is that he - and the Catholic Church - doesn't do these things out of malice, but out of ignorance of the modern world and an archaic adherence to an outdated ancient text.

I just think there are plenty of genuine things to take him to task over, instead of his Hitler Youth membership (which was compulsory) and his forced conscription (is there any other kind) into an army in the closing stages of the war.

True.

It's a pity a few more didn't pay attention to his earlier precedent of not attending the legally-required meetings of the Hitler Youth, and after conscription deserting from the German infantry at 18 years old.

Given what you've said above I'd be honest and just elaborate on what you said here. Talk him up but tell the truth, have a clear conscience, and let the person making the decision have all the facts.

Watched a couple of good films recently.

Flight was very good. Denzel's performance as an alcoholic pilot in denial was excellently done. Much has been made about the fact that he saves just about everybody in a crashing plane with some unorthadox flying. While this does provide a gripping opening 20 minutes or so, it really only serves as a means to tell the story of him coming to grips with his addiction.

A couple of points maybe don't ring quite true - Kelly Reilly is cast as a herion addict whose dark rings around they eyes, track marks and sullen expression can't hide the fact that she's the most shapely, healthiest looking addict I've seen on film in a long time; and the immediate aftermath of Denzel's night in a hotel doesn't fit in with what we've seen of him throughout the film.

Still, a very good performance from all involved (some great John Goodman scenes - for $500 we now know how to recover after a serious night on the razz). I'd give it 8/10

Dreams Of A Life is a part dramatised documentary looking at the life of Joyce Vincent. Joyce was found dead in her flat in Wood Green, London in 2006. She had been dead for 3 years, and was found slumped in front of the TV, which was still on, with Christmas presents she had been wrapping still around her. She was 38 when she died. Her skeletal remains could not offer any clue as to what had killed her.

Neighbours hadn't noticed the smell coming from the flat, and no-one ever thought to enquire after her. Her power was never cut off, her rent never collected and she was only found when her door was forced open with an eviction notice.

The stories that ran in the press couldn't even run a picture of Joyce, as no-one could say who she was other than the barest of details. They caught the eye of writer/director Carol Morley, who then placed a number of adverts in the press and elsewhere asking for anyone who knew Joyce Vincent, born 1965 in London to contact her. Most of those who replied hadn't even read of her death, and couldn't believe the woman they once knew had died so alone.

Nothing can be known about the events leading up to her death, but the film is a series of talking heads with those that knew her throughout her life (except her estranged family, who refused to be interviewed), interspersed with dramatised moments, largely without dialogue, with Zawe Ashton playing Joyce.

What unfolds is a picture of an attractive, popular, talented, intelligent and secretive young woman who moved from place to place, eventually losing touch with everyone who cared about her. The film becomes a study of how loneliness can creep up on someone in one of the most crowded cities on earth.

It is heartbreaking to watch at times, and yet everyone seems to light up when they talk about Joyce. Her on/off boyfriend Martin giggles like a schoolboy when speaking about her, right up to the end of the film when his mask slips and he breaks down as he describes her as the love of his life.

As a film, it's maybe 20 or 30 minutes too long, but it still gets a solid 7/10.

Ah well, the best thing is to ask yourself if you think this guy really deserves another chance? Is he capable of changing his behaviour? Would he?

Then just write according to your conscience. If you think you're being unecessarily hard on him, think of how many other candidates there are for the job, and whether he deserves it more than them.

Not much help, really, as I'm sure you already figured that much out for yourself.

I watched Channel 4's Alien Investigation last night, in which it examined 4 of the most famous and bizarre recent alien sightings across the world.

There was the mysterious tiny baby alien from Metepec, Mexico, found alive in a rat trap, which it was claimed had DNA similar to humans; the 3 alien-like creatures washed up on a New York beach and dubbed "The Montauk Monsters"; a skeleton of a small body with an elongated head dug up by an anthropologist in the Andes; and the Panamanian Blue Hill Monster, filmed by 4 young boys on mobile phones.

The programme asked: are these really visitors from another planet?

The answer was, not surprisingly no they weren't.

They were a hoax by a taxidermist using a marmoset monkey; some decomposing racoons; the skeleton of a small teenager whose head had been ritually compressed; and a dead sloth made bloated and hairless from being submerged in water.

I do like programmes that debunk bullshit. A good watch if you want some ammunition to throw at conspiracy theorists and the like.

You could try tracking down some seemingly positive yet ambiguous things to say about him in the reference.

There must be a website somewhere (because I know I've read them) but the only line I can remember is "Any company would be lucky to have this person work for them"

Aha! quick google found this:

The Ultimate Ambiguous Reference Letter.

Open with these words.

1) I the undersigned, have worked with the applicant for two years which I know I will never forget.

*

Then put in statements the applicant will like.

2) In my opinion you would be very fortunate to get him to work for you.

3) If you have important assignments to do, no one is better.

4) After working with us for some months, happily he decided to move on.

5) I’m delighted to say I used to work closely with the candidate. In fact, all his co-workers are thrilled to say he is a former colleague.

6) The candidate is extremely consistent, producing the same results again and again.

7) All his job appraisal comments could be summed up in one word: Unbelievable.

*

Then put in some lines which will get the recipient thinking hard about your choice of words.

8) He left his stamp on our business. Now it is time he stamps on yours.

9) Wherever we sent him, people would comment: “They don’t make them like that anymore.”

10) There’s a thin line between brilliance and madness, and I can testify that this man is firmly on one side of that line.

11) We all learn from our mistakes, and we’ve learned that this man is on his way to being a genius.

*

It’s important to put in some personal comments to show that you really know the guy.

12) We can honestly say that this staff member is in a league of his own, leaving his colleagues shaking their heads in amazement.

13) When he announced he was leaving our employment, a wave of emotion swept through our premises.

14) On the day he resigned, his colleagues drowned their sorrows, needing more than six bottles of champagne to dull their pain.

15) The moment I heard he intended to leave us and work for you, I wept and prayed to God for the first time in years.

16) When he stepped out of our building for the last time, the entire staff came out to see him off with tearful cries of: “God be praised” and “Lock the doors.”

*

Finally, finish the letter with one or both of these two closing lines.

17) My hope is that you give this candidate what he deserves.

18) In closing, I recommend you waste no time making this candidate a job offer.

Admittedly, some of these are a bit over-the-top.

Not as far as I know, but then I have never watched anything pre-Doctor #8 as an adult (only #3, #4, & #5 as a kid) so I'd not remember any specific "rules".

That said, I'm sure there would be an almighty furore if such a typically British hero was Americanisationized.

I think it's safe to take it as one of those unwritten rules. Let the yanks have Inspector Spacetime.

Oh well done sir.

As any casual reader of the Daily Mail Online website will tell you, there are only 3 things that will compensate for t the sin of being Johnny Foreigner:

1) the ability to do a convincing British accent (Cate Blanchett, Gillian Anderson, Michael Fassbender)

2) being "all grown up" and/or "showing your ex what he's missing"

3) "pouring your curves" into a swimsuit or bikini

Unfortunately, Ms Booth doesn't qualify for any of those.

Saw urge Shadow Health Minister in the Commons banging on repeatedly about a "crisis"

When did a labelling issue turn into a crisis? I must've missed the memo.

Unless it's DC's latest crossover - Findus Crisis.

That's right enough - I forgot where I was for a moment: the internet.

Or, y'know, he could just be 85 with physical and mental health failing, and thought 'I'm not going to end up a drooling shambles on the balcony'.

Don't think there really HAS to be some secret ulterior motive, does there?

Can I just suggest Michelle Gomez again? .........even better as a real #12.

Oh, most definitely this.

So, Pope Benedict resigns?

Better dust off my CV and send it in. I'll whip those antediluvian sexist homophobes into shape when I'm boss.

Oh, and a big party for all you guys if I get the job. It'll be in that big house at the end of Via della Conciliazione, you can't miss it. Just go to the side door and tell them big Shug said it was ok. There's plenty of booze so just bring some crisps, nuts and weed.

Aye, I know I made the same joke last time round, but it was 8 years ago.

I did consider Jacqueline Pearce for either Doctor #4 or #5, but didn't think she fitted the character of those two as well as my final selections. June Whitfield as #6 is a good suggestion, Mark.

But come on people, let's try and keep them age appropriate, as in "who could've realistically been given the role AT THAT TIME".

It's more difficult, yes, but it's more fun than just banging out a list of contemporary actresses who weren't even around in the 60s and 70s

A...a....a foriegner as the Doctor???

Please excuse me, I have to go and lie down.......

It's all the fault of the Romanians, apparently. Until tomorrow, when the blame will shift somewhere else.

I am in heart with Nina Sosanya

Get in line, kiwi boy.

I have been in heart with Nina Sosanya (and Raquel Cassidy, for that matter) since series 1 of Teachers back in 2001

Three of those were on my short list

Which 3? Well, 2 really since Ms Hall was originally your suggestion.

Right, I think I've given it enough thought for the moment.

I'll caveat these by saying I don't have too much knowledge of Hartnell, Troughton, C. Baker or McCoy, so I've based these choices on what I believe their characters to be from recieved wisdom, and actresses who are a similar age (give or take a few years).

#1 - Irene Handl - outwardly grumpy matriarch, but warm and friendly inside

#2 - Glynis Johns - batty and whimsical

#3 - Fenella Fielding - looks like a female Jon Pertwee, but also looks like she could do the action stuff too

#4 - Wendy Craig (when thinking of an actress who could randomly offer out Jelly Babies, she's top of the list)

#5 - Juliet Stevenson as english as cricket and celery

#6 - Imelda Staunton

#7 - Brigit Forsyth

#8 - Gina McKee

#9 - Nina Sosanya - when I think of an actress that can match Ecclestone's intensity, she springs straight to mind.

#10 - Raquel Cassidy has a wonderfully expressive face for all the gurning and bouncing.

#11 - Rebecca Hall - someone who'd be able to be mentally old and wise, but physically young and pretty.

EDIT - I'm aware the #8 through to #11 are all, shall we say, rather attractive (IMO anyway) but I think that reflects the actors chosen for these roles IRL too. I don't think Sylvester McCoy would be in with a shout if he were to go for the role today.

I shall give this topic some thought and come back later.

But I will wholeheartedly endorse Ade's 11th Doctor choice - anything that gives the fabulous and gorgeous Rebecca Hall more time on my TV is fine by me.

Oh, very good sir.

I don't what's worse - the fact that players feel the need to commentate on their own match, or that Roy Race can hear one person's comment from the back of the terraces.

_{You think that's bad, you should see the conversations that go across whole sections of the crowd in Roy Of The Rovers}