The View (no, not the show)

Just a few notes while I get back into the working thing. Am still grinding my way through the fiction, but there are other things to note. Such as:

1. Matt Smith has been sighted in his new Doctor Who garb. See it here:

2. The Torchwood: Children of Earth series arrives in the U.S. this week. It's quite a ride that is both the best thing the show has done, but also leaves us in a strange spot. I'll say nothing more until it comes out on DVD (next week, actually).

3. For literally decades, the Jayhawks were among the most consistent Minnesota bands. After a hiatus, there is some stirring from the camp, mainly in support of a new greatest hits/rarities collection, Music from the North Country. The first disc, made up of 20 of the band's finest tracks, is worth the admission, but the bonuses (rare tracks, DVD) only make the whole package more sweet.

4. The area theater community isn't so much quiet right now as preparing -- the Minnesota Fringe Festival starts next week. I'll be reporting on it for City Pages and MinnPost.com, but anything that doesn't fit those two spaces can be found here as well.

That is all, for now at least.