C2E2 Panel - Video

(Thanks to Beth for her excellent camerawork despite the less-than-ideal setting; also thanks to Cristal, Dawn, Daina & Michi for being excellent panellists) 

C2E2 Doctor Who Panel Update

Assorted Online Shenanigans - Brought to You by Coffee!

November went by really fast...because, let's face it, I needed to take a break

One of the great things about leaving Chicago TARDIS is that my Thanksgiving was a bit calm....but I was dealing with a lot. I talk about it here - as well as The Witchhunters - for the Who 37 Doctor Who Podcast.

As for the "taking-a-break"  part, well...earlier in November I suffered a serious case of caregiver burnout, but I recovered in time for Family Caregiver Month.

Huzzah! I have a sponsor on my Patreon page! Please come to join him!

Finally, here's video from my October Deep Dish reading at Volumes Cafe:

Various Online (and Offline) Shenanigans

You're probably already aware of my first public reading at Volumes Book Cafe this Thursday...but there are some other events coming up (and some other online mentions) that are worth promoting.

For example, I was part of a September Twitter chat on "unleashing your creative genius"...

...which was helpful when I proposed a new Airship 27 anthology of Professor Challenger stories.

I have also been blogging up a storm for Chicago Now's One Cause At a Time, and have even made some surprise appearances online.

And yes, I also made my spoken word debut in September, why do you ask?

By the way, come see me Wednesday and let's watch Jodie Whittaker's Doctor Who debut on the big screen! 

Chicago Doctor Who Meetup Has a New Website!

Now Chicago Doctor Who Meetup is much easier to find - just visit http://www.chicagodoctorwhomeetup.com!

(And it's a work in progress, but even still...it's worth checking out!)

Some C2E2/Windy City Pulp Panel Thoughts

From Left to Right: Phillip Salomon, Dawn Xiana Moon, Gordon Dymowski, Shira Raider, and Karlyn Meyer

(Note: some content originally appeared on personal Facebook posts...and it's kind of long).

Moderating panels is a challenge; organizing and moderating even more so. As many of you are aware, I've been busy organizing a C2E2 Doctor Who panel as well as moderating a Windy City Pulp and Paper panel..and my schedule continues to be full.

The Blog THIS, Pal! Spring Roadshow

I know, I've been delinquent in blogging - new freelance client and other writing has taken precedence...

But that doesn't mean that I'm going to be shy and antisocial. So in that spirit, here's a listing of the various outings where you can encounter me...

April 3rd, 6:30 pm - Doctor Who: Earthshock screening at LaCatrina Cafe

April 4th, 6:00 pm - Spark Chicago/Freelancer's Union Meeting on Negotiation, Serendipity Labs

April 6th, 11:15 - She's the Doctor Now Panel at C2E2, Room S403 

April 6th, 5:15 pm - Doctor Who Fan Meetup at C2E2, Room S502

April 8th - Windy City Pulp & Paper, "Sword & Sorcery in New Pulp" Panel, 12:00 pm

April 10th - Low Res Coworking Day (Part of Work at Home Coworking Meetup...yes, I also organize a coworking meetup, why do you ask?)

April 11th - Platform Coworking Meetup, Work at Home Coworking

April 14th - Doctor Who: The Girl In the Fireplace/Deep Breath screening, Omega Station

April 18th - Doctor Who: The Time Warrior screening at Third Coast Comics

April 21st - All Things BBC! Happy Hour, Red Lion Pub

April 28th - Two panels at A Celebration of Slashers at DePaul University

May 2nd - Spark Chicago Meeting, Serendipity Lab (Details TBD)

May 4th - Free Range Office Coworking Day (part of Work at Home Coworking Meetup)

May 5th, 11:00 am - The Timey Wimey Guide to Doctor Who panel at Oak Lawn Public Library 4th Annual Fan Fest: Worlds of Wonder

Check Out My Doctor Who Panel At C2E2

Yes, I know I've been away from the blog for awhile....but I'm really happy to announce that I will leading a Doctor Who-themed panel for C2E2!

Please join me and friends Shira Raider and Phillip Salomon from Chicago Doctor Who Meetup; Dawn Xiana Moon from Raks Geek, and Karlyn Meyer from Chicago Nerd Social Club as we discuss female representation in Doctor Who.

Details are in the graphic, and don't forget - I can also be a presenter or panelist at your event!

Net Neutrality and Donna Noble - In the Same Week

Here are two - count them, two - opportunities to catch me live and in person. (Actually, one's in person - one is on terrestrial radio).

First, you've already read about this in Chicago Now's One Cause At A Time, but this Monday from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm I will be making an appearance on Radio Islam on WCEV (1450 AM). We'll be discussing Net Neutrality - obviously, that's a topic near and dear to my heart (if you're following me on Twitter and Facebook), and I'm always happy to advocate for a great cause. (Head to the WCEV site and you can listen via streaming audio) I must admit that I feel like I did back in my St.  Louis community organizer days....and that's not a bad thing. (At the very least, it reminds me of when I discussed Star Trek on WBEZ. Twice in the same year.) I'm dusting off my old media relations materials, taking time to remind myself of the issues, and preparing for a great conversation.

The second one is this Wednesday at Third Coast Comics, where I'll be holding the Christmas with Donna Noble screening for Chicago Doctor Who Meetup. It's good to stay in the fan organizing game...especially since I stepped down from Chicago TARDIS as auction director. (My reasons are a story for another time). Thankfully, although the holidays look bleak....I have some social outlets. (Especially since after the holiday, I'm running a social event before we see the Doctor Who Christmas special on the big screen).

So if you want to see or hear me....now, you have several opportunities.

Happy Thanksgiving and Doctor Who Day!

First, I wanted to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving...and while you're at it, watch Doctor Who.

Especially since this weekend, I'll be working the Chicago TARDIS Charity Auction. If you want to donate, head to http://bit.ly/ChiTARDISAuction (be sure to note "Chicago TARDIS 2017" in the comments section)

Donate An Item to the Chicago TARDIS Charity Auction

(Photo by Gordon Dymowski)

Yes, it's that time of year again...I'm running the Chicago TARDIS Charity Auction, and I'm looking for donations! Two of my friends have already made their intentions clear (and they know who they are), so I thought that as a public service I would highlight (via my personal blog) exactly what you need to do!

So in other words, here are the donor guidelines for the Chicago TARDIS charity auction:

2017 CHICAGO TARDIS CHARITY AUCTION DONATION GUIDELINES

DONATIONS 

Note: Chicago TARDIS will no longer collect canned or non-perishable food items during the convention. If you wish to make a monetary donation, please donate directly to Northern Illinois Food Bank via http://bit.ly/ChiTARDISAuction and send the receipt to auction@chicagotardis.com

• Chicago TARDIS must receive notification of donations by November 18th, 2017 at 11:59 pm. Walk-in donations without prior registration will not be accepted
• Arrangements for delivery of donated items must be made by November 23rd, 2017. Incomplete items will not be listed or displayed.
• Donations may be delivered to the convention site starting the evening of November 23rd at the Auction Director’s discretion.
• When registering donations online, please clearly list any restrictions, such as expiration and blackout dates as well as total retail value.
• Tax information will be mailed to all donors following Chicago TARDIS upon request. 
• Items that meet a minimum retail value under $200 will be included in the silent auction, and those over $200 will be included in the live auction. 
• Some items under $15 retail value may be categorized as “Buy Now” by Chicago TARDIS Auction staff. 
• All displays included with donations will be kept by Chicago TARDIS (and/or the high bidder) unless the donor notifies Chicago TARDIS in writing that they wish to have the display returned. If the donor wishes to have the display returned, they must pick up the display onsite after the close of the silent auction 

Photo by Gordon
Dymowski

DONATION ITEMS - GUIDELINES

To maximize your exposure and bidding, below are a few tips and types of donations that have been popular in the past: 

• Items related to Doctor Who, related media from cast and crew, spin-off media, and British science fiction (Blake’s 7, Red Dwarf). Memorabilia from other science fiction franchises like Star Trek may also be considered.
• Tangible items that a bidder can touch, feel or smell can market themselves and are good ideas to include with gift certificates.
• Handcrafted items: Paintings, sketch art, knit scarves, and other fan-created crafts. 
• Collectible Items such as action figures, books, audio dramas, DVD boxed sets, etc. However, we have found that some practices work best: 
• One-of-a-kind handcrafted items (like paintings, fan art, and knitted items) always bring in major donations; 
• We know that carrying items when traveling can be a challenge; if you are thinking of purchasing items specifically for the auction, it may be easier to simply make a cash donation; 
• Our ability to authenticate specific items is limited, so we ask that you keep this in mind when donating. (We can authenticate signed photographs, though)

 All proceeds benefit Northern Illinois Food Bank whose mission is to lead the northern Illinois community in solving hunger by providing nutritious meals to those in need through innovative programs and partnerships. Northern Illinois Food Bank is the source of nutritious food, innovative feeding programs, and hope for more than 71,000 people each week. If you have questions regarding the silent or live auction, please contact Gordon Dymowski at auction@chicagotardis.com or use this personal contact form

Lookin' Mighty Keen Online....

One of the disadvantages of taking a break from blogging is that...well, I tend to generate a lot of online content. A lot. So I end up with a huge backlog of links that I normally end up posting here monthly to help improve search...and to also show off what I've done.

(And it wasn't just blogging: I took a seven-day break from Facebook, and wrote about it for Chicago Now. I also took a break from Twitter, although not before participating in a SproutChat session on snark on Twitter).

One of the advantages, however, has been an increase in opportunities to write some great one-off pieces, like this list of the top 5 coolest Wonder Woman action figures for Complete Set. 

It's also flattering that my professional efforts are getting some attention....and that not only is my LinkedIn profile seeing more activity, but one of my past Chicago Now posts was being cited by another blogger. 

On the Doctor Who tip, I recently did a guest stint on the Who 37 podcast discussing a Series 10 episode. Or more accurately, "anything but that Series 10 episode)

Ironically, one of the benefits of taking a respite from this blog is that my work for Chicago Now skyrocketed. One of my posts (about a critical life decision) ended up being cited as one of Chicago Now's Best Posts of the Month. In addition, I've written not one, but two really cool posts and I'm feeling like I'm getting back into the blogging spirit.

And of course, that means more time here as well, hopefully.

Upcoming Personal/Podcast Appearance - Doctor Who Meetup @ Third Coast

Heads up - if you're in Chicago and want to hang out with me - and participate in the recording of a Doctor Who podcast - and watch a classic episode, I hope you have the time this Wednesday.

As part of the Chicago Doctor Who Meetup, I'll be hosting a screening of the classic series episode Survival. Afterward, I'll be recording an episode of the Who 37 podcast with pal JB, where we'll be discussing this episode in the context of The Eaters of Light, which was also written by the author of Survival, Rona Munro.

It's part of our usual series of screenings at Third Coast Comics, which happen every third Wednesday at 7:00 pm. It's a short walk from the Loyola Red Line station, and it's also a great way to meet fellow fans.

Plus, if you're one of the five readers of this blog who happen to live in Chicago....would definitely love to meet you. All I ask is that you please RSVP either via Meetup or Eventbrite....and hope to see you there!

(If you can't make it but want to help out, you can either chip in or become a monthly Patreon sponsor of the Chicago Doctor Who Meetup).

A Timely Doctor Who Quote

Taken from the Season 9 two-parter The Zygon Invasion/The Zygon Inversion:

Please feel free share on social media, or "the interwebz", or whatever the teenagers are calling it.....

On Peter Capaldi Leaving Doctor Who

In all honesty, I shouldn't be too surprised that Peter Capaldi is leaving Doctor Who at the end of this season....after all, Steven Moffatt is leaving and turning things over to Chris Chibnall.

What's surprising is that, much like Colin Baker and Paul McGann, I feel like Capaldi's Doctor has been severely underserved by poor writing.

"But Gordon" I've heard many people say, usually at Chicago Doctor Who Meetup events, "Steven Moffatt is a great writer! I like Doctor Who!"

But Capaldi's Doctor often seemed underserved - I liked the idea of Series Eight being an exploration of "Is the Doctor a good man?" and Series Nine's exploration of "What happens when the Doctor faces the consequences of his actions?" And although I like several stories within each series, there's a general sense of creative fatigue, as if the writing staff were going through the motions rather than crafting effective scripts.

And although that fatigue doesn't take away from Capaldi's performance as the Doctor, there are very few moments when I really felt Capaldi was the Doctor (see Flatline, the speech in The Zygon Invasion/Inversion, and Heaven Sent). It's not that I didn't like Capaldi's turn as the Doctor, the material seemed to underserve his talents....I wanted to see more of him as the Doctor.

Being a Doctor Who fan can be tough, being caught between classic series fans who insist that they know the one true way, and new series fans who seem to believe that it's impossible to love something that is seriously flawed. One great thing about Capaldi as the Doctor was that his performance was ever flawed and always pitch perfect. However, I can say that Series 9, despite being relatively consistent, is the only new series of Doctor Who I don't own on DVD. Not because it's bad, but because...it's kind of mediocre, even with Capaldi's performance.

And now, as the new series comes to screens in April, perhaps I'll have a chance to enjoy Capaldi laying it all on the line, giving a great performance as the Doctor. And as people begin laying odds as to who will take over the lead role in Doctor Who, I'll be praying that Capaldi signs a contract for some Big Finish audios as quickly as possible.

Because I think his Doctor deserves that much. And like Colin Baker and Paul McGann, his Doctor will get a chance to shine.

DOCTOR WHO - The Return of Doctor Mysterio (Review)

This may sound like hyperbole, but this year's Doctor Who Christmas Special was just what I needed after a tough year - entertaining, funny, and willing to take some chances.

I always get a kick when Doctor Who stretches itself and attempts to integrate more modern tropes - when it works (like Season Eight's Time Heist), it works beautifully; when it doesn't (like Season Three's 42 or Season Nine's Sleep No More), it's either still watchable (like 42) or a complete abomination (Sleep No More).

The Return of Doctor Mysterio is more like Time Heist in how it encompasses the tropes of comics, but in terms of story (thanks, Steven Moffatt, for a not so plotty-wotty plot) and direction (for which you can thank Ed Bazalgette, who you probably know better as the lead guitarist for the Vapors - see the video below for details)


Anyway, back to Doctor Who:The Return of Doctor Mysterio....yes, there is a very tangential Christmas theme, as it begins with the Doctor encountering a young boy in New York....and serves as an origin story, of sorts, for a superhero who shouldn't exist, but does. And yes, Moffatt does go through all of the comic-based tropes (and thanks to Bazalgette's direction, several moments are presented in split-screen, like comic panels), and the tone is appropriate light, clever, and humorous - enough to make this one of Moffatt's better Christmas specials.

And yes, it does follow on from The Husbands of River Song. And there's the appropriate sense of melancholy as well.

The only real bum note is Matt Lucas....Yes, he tries hard, but I still scratch my head and wonder why he was brought back. Much of it is a personal bias after watching Little Britain and finding it very mean-spirited and smug (much like South Park after its fourth season). I'm hoping that he only makes occasional appearances in Series 10, and is not a full-on regular....because quite honestly, I find him annoying.

But that's a minor quibble amongst a total gem of a program. Yes, there will be those who complain about Moffatt's writing, but this is one where it feels like Moffatt actually had fun writing a Doctor Who script.

It's showing theatrically in theaters around the country, and I managed to catch it last night. Seeing the Doctor Who Christmas special on the big screen is going to become my new holiday tradition.

Highly recommended.

Chicago Doctor Who Meetup's Now on Patreon!

As many of you know, I run the Chicago Doctor Who Meetup, which runs screenings, social events, and basically works to reach to Doctor Who fans throughout the city of Chicago.

But running the Meetup can be challenging, especially when many costs are out-of-pocket. Currently, we have been able to pay our Meetup fees through member donations, but with an increased demand for more Doctor Who-related events, we need more resources.

So I'm happy to announce that today, we're launching the Chicago Doctor Who Meetup Patreon page, located at

https://www.patreon.com/ChicagoDrWhoMeetup

We're fortunate enough to have a healthy following on our Facebook page, but an enthusiastic Facebook following does not necessarily translate into equally enthusiastic attendance. 

I'm reaching out to our members - obviously, they're our first customers, but I'm asking for your help, dear reader.

Please feel free to forward this post (and/or the Patreon link) via social media. Yes, it may not make sense to reach non-Chicago residents, but the more we can get exposure...the more likely we are to get sponsored via Patreon. 

So if you can help, please do...because I love running the Chicago Doctor Who Meetup, and want to be sure it stays running. 

As The Blogaround Turns

Things have been a bit...interesting. Nothing major, but plenty to keep me busy. And in that spirit, here are some other appearances and writings online - mostly to provide tons of reading pleasure and provide a little search engine love.

So if you missed it, I made another appearance on WBEZ's Morning Shift to discuss Star Trek....and in fact, there's even a short little video as well.

Not only did the most recent Trek-themed Chicago Now post earn a mention in the Nonprofit Quarterly , but there's another Chicago Now post focusing on current events. And who says that social benefit issues are boring?)

News about the Chicago TARDIS Charity Auction is moving fast - in fact, this very blog post is getting a bit more traction via aggregator sites. And if you want to help, please visit the Chicago TARDIS Auction page for details.

(Also, if you're in town this Wednesday night, join me at the next Chicago Doctor Who Meetup event at Third Coast Comics).

In other news, check out this recent comic review for I Hear of Sherlock.

Finally, via Facebook, an episode of Zone 4 that's all about Suicide Squad.

Your CHICAGO TARDIS Charity Auction Motivational Post

Well, now that the web site's been updated, here's the post that everyone's been waiting for...

....the official let's-kick-off-the-Chicago-TARDIS-charity-auction blog post.

Every year, I organize a charity auction at the largest Doctor Who convention in the midwest to benefit Northern Illinois Food Bank. Although we do hold a food drive, the bulk of our efforts go towards raising funds for the Food Bank, which serves organizations in the western suburbs.

How can you support us? Here are a few ideas:

• If you're planning on attending Chicago TARDIS, consider signing up to bid on our silent and live auction. It's fast, easy, and you can do it online;
• Consider donating an item - we usually take a variety of items (see last year's post for ideas), and you can sign up to donate via this online form;
• Head to http://bit.ly/ChiTARDISAuction and make a donation - just indicate "2016 Chicago TARDIS Auction" in the comments and e-mail your receipt to auction@chicagotardis.com; and/or
• Forward this very post via social media. (Or, if you want something a little more "official", consider last year's Chicago Now post)

Every year, we've raised over $2,600....and we can do better. So please, Internet, let's make this a banner year!

UPDATE: DOCTOR WHO: Power of the Daleks Brouhaha

Remember, a few days ago, when I wrote on this very blog:

First, let me just say - I am hoping I'm wrong. If I'm proven wrong, and we do get a fully animated (or even recovered episodes plus animated reconstructions) of Doctor Who: Power of the Daleks, I will gladly eat crow. 
(I hear it's especially tasty on rye bread with mustard)

Well, I'm taking recipe suggestions for crow, based on both this press item from BBC America and this trailer:


Never have I been more pleased to be wrong in my entire life.

(Yes, I'll be planning a Meetup to watch the episode on November 12th...just wish I could get my hands on a DVD version)