So I thought I was going to take a break from Doctor Who for a little while after my Top Twelve Doctors list, but I received a request for some suggestions on where to get started with the show for newbies. I think that I will put together a listing of episodes for each Doctor (except the eighth, who only has one story to watch.) What I want to do first, though, is to give you some general episodes that will give you the best perspective on the franchise as a while. So without more ado, here are a few suggestions of Doctor Who stories.
Actually, I do want to mention one more thing before I start. You will not be able to watch every episode of Doctor Who in order. You won't even be able to watch every episode. Back in the 1960's someone at BCC decided to free up tape and erased a large chunk of the work done by the first and second Doctor. I wish that wasn't the case, but it is. Some of the DVDs you can buy will have audio portions of the episodes with still pics from the production, but even that won't give you everything.
Where should you start? If you haven't seen anything to do with Doctor Who, I recommend starting at the beginning of the new run. Christopher Eccleston does a great job of helping new viewers figure out who the Doctor is and the kind of characters and enemies he encounters on a regular basis. The writers do a great job of giving the Doctor dialogue to explain the Doctor. Here's a quote to give you and example of who Eccleston's Doctor was:
"Do you know like we were sayin'? About the Earth revolving? It's like when you're a kid. The first time they tell you that the world's turning and you just can't quite believe it 'cause everything looks like it's standin' still. I can feel it. The turn of the Earth. The ground beneath our feet is spinnin' at 1,000 miles an hour and the entire planet is hurtling around the sun at 67,000 miles an hour, and I can feel it. We're fallin' through space, you and me, clinging to the skin of this tiny little world, and if we let go... That's who I am.
So you want to learn about the other Doctors, but you really don't have the time to watch every episode you can get your hands on? Maybe you want to narrow down your choices before you begin. I have the perfect solution for you. Watch an anniversary special. During the original run of Doctor Who, it was tradition to have a special episode for anniversaries. There are two really great options. On one hand, you can watch the Three Doctors which celebrates the 10th anniversary of the show and bring the first three actors together in one adventure. Your other option is the Five Doctors which brings together Doctors 1-5.
Both of these are great stories and do a great job of getting you a feel for the different actors. You also get to meet some of the companions from the different eras. Hartnell, the original Doctor has a limited role in the Three Doctors due to failing health, and he is unable to appear in the Five Doctors having passed away shortly after the Three Doctors. Richard Hurdnell does a decent job as a replacement for Hartnell.
Those are some basic suggestions. I'll have more specific episodes for each Doctor down the road.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
This or That? a site worth checking out?
Recently I came across a new website about a week ago called "This or That?" It is a user-based site where users can create, vote, and comment on a variety of either-or questions. That's right there's no middle of the road. No chance to be wishy washy about the matter. You either pick a or b. Because the site is user based, anyone can create their own question with pictures to help people know what they are voting for.
The site is also expanding to include blog posts around the main topics that also include a voting option. The most recent blog was about a man who tried to play the old Frogger arcade game in real life with rush-hour traffic. It's a fun site with lots of potential. The three-person team that is currently working on the site started back in May of 2010 so they are still getting started. I look forward to lots of great things from "This or That?"
I should also mention that people who participate on the site are eligible for monthly prizes. There are also regular contests. In the last contest, ten people won an iPod touch and one person won a Macbook Pro.
Check out the page by following this link: http://thisorthat.com/. You can also sign in with your Facebook or Twitter account so joining the fun is easy to do.
The site is also expanding to include blog posts around the main topics that also include a voting option. The most recent blog was about a man who tried to play the old Frogger arcade game in real life with rush-hour traffic. It's a fun site with lots of potential. The three-person team that is currently working on the site started back in May of 2010 so they are still getting started. I look forward to lots of great things from "This or That?"
I should also mention that people who participate on the site are eligible for monthly prizes. There are also regular contests. In the last contest, ten people won an iPod touch and one person won a Macbook Pro.
Check out the page by following this link: http://thisorthat.com/. You can also sign in with your Facebook or Twitter account so joining the fun is easy to do.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Top Twelve Doctors in Doctor Who (Part V)
Here we are at the end of the list, just three more Doctors to go so there's no mystery about who they will be, but there is the question of which Doctor will get the top spot. Let's review numbers 4-12 before we begin. (You can also check out the full posts with these links: http://lockheed40.blogspot.com/2010/12/top-12-doctors-in-doctor-who-part-i.html, http://lockheed40.blogspot.com/2010/12/top-12-doctors-in-doctor-who-part-ii.html, http://lockheed40.blogspot.com/2010/12/top-12-doctors-in-doctor-who-part-iii.html, http://lockheed40.blogspot.com/2010/12/top-12-doctors-in-doctor-who-part-iv.html)
Number 11-Rowan Atkinson (Charity Special)
Number 10-Colin Baker (Doctor #6)
Number 9-Sylvester McCoy (Doctor #7)
Number 8-Peter Davison (Doctor #5)
Number 7-Matt Smith (Doctor #11)
Number 6-Christopher Eccleston (Doctor #9)
Number 5-Jon Pertwee (Doctor #3)
Number 4-Patrick Troughton (Doctor #2)
Number 3
 |
| William Hartnell is the original Doctor kicking off the series in 1963 with a serial called "The Unearthly Child." |
It's time to present the man that started it all, William Hartnell. In the 1960's, Doctor Who actually started as a show geared toward children. The idea was that the T.A.R.D.I.S. could travel to important historical events and discuss scientific concepts. BBC thought the show would last a few years at the most so they chose an older actor for the part and gave him a granddaughter to give the young audience a connection. No one expected what would happen next.
In the second story of this new show, the Doctor and company arrive on the strange planet Skaro. "What is so important about Skaro?" you ask. Skaro just happens to be the home planet of the Daleks. With the introduction of the Daleks, Doctor Who became a television phenomenon, but you don't care about the Doctor Who history lesson. You want to know about the original Doctor and what puts him within the top three Doctors.
While Hartnell is the oldest actor to play the Doctor, his portrayal is very much like that of a small child who is too smart for his own good. Part of this portrayal was because Hartnell was getting older and was having trouble with the lines so one of the directors suggested that the Doctor use it as a part of his character. Early on he kidnaps two teachers that barge into the T.A.R.D.I.S. and he also does some very devious things to get his way, but as time passes, he 'matures' and learns how to work with others.
Important events that occur during this Doctor's tenure include the first episode with both the Daleks and Cybermen. There is also an episode featuring the Meddling Monk who is one of the Doctor's people. (The term Time Lord doesn't get used until the end of the second Doctor's time.) There is also an important character called the Celestial Toymaker. As part of the educational approach to the show we get to see the Doctor interacting with cavemen, Marco Polo, Aztecs, and ancient Romans. (You even get to see Nero set Rome on fire.)
As I mentioned previously, Hartnell left as the Doctor because of his failing health and was replaced in the middle of "The Tenth Planet" by Patrick Troughton. He did make a last appearance as the Doctor in the 10th anniversary episode "The Three Doctors." Unfortunately, many of the episodes featuring Hartnell and Troughton were lost due to bad decision making by the BBC, but the adventures that are available are definitely worth checking out.
In the second story of this new show, the Doctor and company arrive on the strange planet Skaro. "What is so important about Skaro?" you ask. Skaro just happens to be the home planet of the Daleks. With the introduction of the Daleks, Doctor Who became a television phenomenon, but you don't care about the Doctor Who history lesson. You want to know about the original Doctor and what puts him within the top three Doctors.
While Hartnell is the oldest actor to play the Doctor, his portrayal is very much like that of a small child who is too smart for his own good. Part of this portrayal was because Hartnell was getting older and was having trouble with the lines so one of the directors suggested that the Doctor use it as a part of his character. Early on he kidnaps two teachers that barge into the T.A.R.D.I.S. and he also does some very devious things to get his way, but as time passes, he 'matures' and learns how to work with others.
Important events that occur during this Doctor's tenure include the first episode with both the Daleks and Cybermen. There is also an episode featuring the Meddling Monk who is one of the Doctor's people. (The term Time Lord doesn't get used until the end of the second Doctor's time.) There is also an important character called the Celestial Toymaker. As part of the educational approach to the show we get to see the Doctor interacting with cavemen, Marco Polo, Aztecs, and ancient Romans. (You even get to see Nero set Rome on fire.)
As I mentioned previously, Hartnell left as the Doctor because of his failing health and was replaced in the middle of "The Tenth Planet" by Patrick Troughton. He did make a last appearance as the Doctor in the 10th anniversary episode "The Three Doctors." Unfortunately, many of the episodes featuring Hartnell and Troughton were lost due to bad decision making by the BBC, but the adventures that are available are definitely worth checking out.
Number 2
 |
| David Tennant was the tenth actor to play the Doctor. He is the most recognizable Doctor from the new series. |
Taking over the role of the Doctor is not an easy task. First you have to convince the viewing audience that you are capable of taking the reins from the previous actor without making your Doctor too much like the other Doctor. Next you have to figure out who your particular Doctor is. (Jon Pertwee often said that he learned more about who he was in the 3 years he was the Doctor than in the rest of his life.) Finally when you have all of that figured out, you have to deal with the scripts and stories and the grueling production schedule.
David Tennant took on the challenge and excelled. His approach to the Doctor took a very different direction from Eccleston's dark and brooding Doctor. Tennant's Doctor enjoyed his adventures, especially while Rose was still his companion, to the point where he was even named as an enemy of England by Queen Victoria. He also got so wrapped up in the adventure that he often missed the interpersonal complications such as Martha's interest in him.
This Doctor sees the return of the Cybermen (much improved) as well as the Sontarans and the introduction of the Weeping Angels. More significant for fans of the original series is the return of the Master and through him a short-lived return of the Time Lords. The #2 Doctor also faced off against the devil. There's more to tell, but I still need to talk about the top Doctor, so I'll leave it at that for now. If you haven't seen David Tennant as the Doctor, we can't talk again until you do.
David Tennant took on the challenge and excelled. His approach to the Doctor took a very different direction from Eccleston's dark and brooding Doctor. Tennant's Doctor enjoyed his adventures, especially while Rose was still his companion, to the point where he was even named as an enemy of England by Queen Victoria. He also got so wrapped up in the adventure that he often missed the interpersonal complications such as Martha's interest in him.
This Doctor sees the return of the Cybermen (much improved) as well as the Sontarans and the introduction of the Weeping Angels. More significant for fans of the original series is the return of the Master and through him a short-lived return of the Time Lords. The #2 Doctor also faced off against the devil. There's more to tell, but I still need to talk about the top Doctor, so I'll leave it at that for now. If you haven't seen David Tennant as the Doctor, we can't talk again until you do.
Number 1
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| Tom Baker was the fourth Doctor and the actor who filled the role for the longest time. |
I've got a theory about Doctor Who. I think that it's like the James Bond movies. Think about how many actors have played Bond. It's just like the Doctor without an explanation about the differences. There's one other connection. My theory is that your first Doctor/Bond is likely to be your favorite. That doesn't mean that I don't have plenty of reasons to love Tom Baker as the Doctor. Let me share some of them with you.
Here are some elements that are a unique part of Tom Baker's Doctor: a 20 foot scarf, a robot dog (K-9), an entire season in an alternate reality, and traveling with another Time Lord. Baker's Doctor spent quite a bit of time interacting with the Time Lords even being sent on missions from time to time. He was the second Doctor to be put on trial by his people, and puts himself on the ballot for the Presidency of Gallifrey to put an end to the trial. (The fifth Doctor actually becomes President and runs away from the job.)
Tom Baker looks a little like Harpo Marks (at least in my opinion) and he has a similar approach in his Doctor. He works primarily with distraction either his own or to those he encounters. One of his tricks is to offer an unfriendly person a jelly baby from a bag extracted from his pocket. (Jelly babies are a candy developed after WWI, originally called Peace Babies, that are shaped like babies and similar to gummy bears.) He also has a tendency to get distracted during non-emergencies. On one occasion he spends the first episode trying to go fishing.
Baker also played the Doctor for longer than any other actor for seven years from 1974-1981. (I watched him on PBS late at night many years after the original showed on BBC. It was on just before Monty Python's Flying Circus.) This is another reason to put him on the top of the list. In polls conducted by Doctor Who Magazine, he has only lost the "Best Doctor" category three times, once to Sylvester McCoy and twice to David Tennant.
I've talked about this and all the Doctors long enough for the month of December. Go check out all of the Doctors. There's just under 50 years of catching up to do. (50th anniversary is in 2013.) For Tom Baker check out "The City of Death." It has the Doctor and fellow Time Lord Romana sharing an adventure in Paris.
That's my opinion on the Doctors of Doctor Who. In future posts, I'll be returning to Doctor Who, but for now it's time for a break. Feel free to leave a comment, or make a suggestion for other opinions below.
Here are some elements that are a unique part of Tom Baker's Doctor: a 20 foot scarf, a robot dog (K-9), an entire season in an alternate reality, and traveling with another Time Lord. Baker's Doctor spent quite a bit of time interacting with the Time Lords even being sent on missions from time to time. He was the second Doctor to be put on trial by his people, and puts himself on the ballot for the Presidency of Gallifrey to put an end to the trial. (The fifth Doctor actually becomes President and runs away from the job.)
Tom Baker looks a little like Harpo Marks (at least in my opinion) and he has a similar approach in his Doctor. He works primarily with distraction either his own or to those he encounters. One of his tricks is to offer an unfriendly person a jelly baby from a bag extracted from his pocket. (Jelly babies are a candy developed after WWI, originally called Peace Babies, that are shaped like babies and similar to gummy bears.) He also has a tendency to get distracted during non-emergencies. On one occasion he spends the first episode trying to go fishing.
Baker also played the Doctor for longer than any other actor for seven years from 1974-1981. (I watched him on PBS late at night many years after the original showed on BBC. It was on just before Monty Python's Flying Circus.) This is another reason to put him on the top of the list. In polls conducted by Doctor Who Magazine, he has only lost the "Best Doctor" category three times, once to Sylvester McCoy and twice to David Tennant.
I've talked about this and all the Doctors long enough for the month of December. Go check out all of the Doctors. There's just under 50 years of catching up to do. (50th anniversary is in 2013.) For Tom Baker check out "The City of Death." It has the Doctor and fellow Time Lord Romana sharing an adventure in Paris.
That's my opinion on the Doctors of Doctor Who. In future posts, I'll be returning to Doctor Who, but for now it's time for a break. Feel free to leave a comment, or make a suggestion for other opinions below.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Is a White Christmas worth it?
Once upon a time a man wrote a song that made Christmas what it is today. Well I guess there were plenty of other songs that added to the modern Christmas, but "White Christmas" is the song that set the standard for one important element of what we think Christmas should have-snow. Just think about any Christmas movie, especially those set in warm locations like California. What has to happen in order for the story to have a truly happy ending? That's right there has to be snow.
Now look at what is happening this year. The white Christmas that moved all the way down to Georgia is closing down a large part of the country. There have also been problems in Europe as well. Transportation problems existed on both sides of Christmas and there are plenty of people still waiting to see if the airlines can get the snow cleared up so they can get where they are going.
Don't get me wrong, I'm going to continue hoping for a white Christmas. That won't change, but I think it's time to stop making such a big deal about snow being a mandatory part of the Christmas season. That's my opinion on the matter. What do you think? Leave a comment below.
Now look at what is happening this year. The white Christmas that moved all the way down to Georgia is closing down a large part of the country. There have also been problems in Europe as well. Transportation problems existed on both sides of Christmas and there are plenty of people still waiting to see if the airlines can get the snow cleared up so they can get where they are going.
Don't get me wrong, I'm going to continue hoping for a white Christmas. That won't change, but I think it's time to stop making such a big deal about snow being a mandatory part of the Christmas season. That's my opinion on the matter. What do you think? Leave a comment below.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
The Top 12 Doctors in Doctor Who (Part IV)
Before we get through Doctors rated 6, 5, and 4, let's have a quick review of 7-12.
This list just gets harder and harder because when I start writing about each Doctor I wonder why I didn't put that Doctor higher on the list. Christopher Eccleston has to be the hardest placement. I was excited about the possibilities when I heard that Doctor Who was coming back to television, but after the Doctor Who movie, (see #12) I was very worried about what was going to happen.
Fortunately the first episode put my fears to rest. Eccleston brought a passion to the Doctor that made me want to watch more. This Doctor was critical, angry, and filled with pain, but he is also compassionate, forgiving, and filled with wonder. He invites Rose to travel with him just like the BBC is trying to invite the viewers to enjoy the ride.
Things to look for with the ninth Doctor include recurring concern about the impact of his decisions, the word "fantastic," and long-winded names such as "Raxacoricofallapatorian" the home planet of the Slitheen and an enemy referred to as "The Mighty Jagrafess of the Holy Hadrojassic Maxarodenfoe."
Unfortunately, Eccleston left after only one season, but his his time feels complete, and there was enough time to prepare so it doesn't seem forced. I think it's fair to say that Eccleston's Doctor was fantastic.
When Jon Pertwee took over as the third Doctor, there were many mysteries yet to be revealed. Time Lords had only just been named and revealed at the end of the previous series, regeneration was still an undefined excuse to change actors, and no one knew what to expect from this new Doctor. What they got was an action hero. This Doctor wore puffy shirts and capes. He drove a roadster that he tricked out with Time Lord technology. He is the only Doctor to literally fight his enemies, often with Venusian Kung-fu.
The Doctor was exiled by his people for the first part of Pertwee's tenure so there were lots of adventures involving UNIT, a group he had already worked with in his second incarnation, with the occasional special assignments from the Time Lords thrown in for variety. The Doctor did eventually get his exile lifted and got to show off his extraordinary skills as a diplomat as well.
Pertwee left Doctor Who when the primary production team was also leaving, but he continued to support the show until his death. This included participation in as many fan functions as he could manage.
There had to be a lot of confusion when Patrick Troughton took over the role of the Doctor. It's not like today where there was months of debate and wondering about who the new Doctor would be. At this time, it wasn't even a thought the audience would have considered. The Doctor was an old man then in the middle of an adventure he was injured and collapsed. The screen image of his face went completely white for a moment and when the image returned it was a different person. Not only did the Doctor look different, he was a completely different person.
Troughton's Doctor was often referred to as a clown. He played the fool to distract his enemies, but he always seemed to have a plan. (There is one exception to this that I'll talk about shortly.) In stressful moments, he would often either take out his recorder and play it or desperately search for it. This Doctor was most likely to manipulate others to save the day.
When Troughton decided to leave the role of the Doctor, the production team decided to go all out for his finale. They put together the longest serial ever done for the show, a ten-part story that jumped all over time and introduced something that had never been addressed-the Time Lords. The Doctor and his companions land in the middle of a World War I battlefield. They get to safety only to face a kangaroo-court court marshal. While trying to escape, they suddenly find themselves under attack by Roman soldiers. Next they cross over into the American Civil War. It turns out that they are actually in the middle of an experiment run by an alien race. There's plenty more to tell, but let me just talk about the main details that emerge. The Doctor is a renegade Time Lord who has broken their rule of non-interference. The Time Lords have some pretty amazing powers including barricading a planet from the rest of reality, and forcing the Doctor to become another person.
Anyway, that's 6-4. Be on the look out for the top three Doctors coming soon. Leave a comment if you have some feedback on the list.
Number 12-Paul McGann (Doctor #8)
Number 11-Rowan Atkinson (Charity Special)
Number 10-Colin Baker (Doctor #6)
Number 9-Sylvester McCoy (Doctor #7)
Number 8-Peter Davison (Doctor #5)
Number 7-Matt Smith (Doctor #11)
Number 6
 |
| Christopher Eccleston was the man to pick up the gauntlet and bring the Doctor back to television. He was the ninth person to fill the role. |
Fortunately the first episode put my fears to rest. Eccleston brought a passion to the Doctor that made me want to watch more. This Doctor was critical, angry, and filled with pain, but he is also compassionate, forgiving, and filled with wonder. He invites Rose to travel with him just like the BBC is trying to invite the viewers to enjoy the ride.
Things to look for with the ninth Doctor include recurring concern about the impact of his decisions, the word "fantastic," and long-winded names such as "Raxacoricofallapatorian" the home planet of the Slitheen and an enemy referred to as "The Mighty Jagrafess of the Holy Hadrojassic Maxarodenfoe."
Unfortunately, Eccleston left after only one season, but his his time feels complete, and there was enough time to prepare so it doesn't seem forced. I think it's fair to say that Eccleston's Doctor was fantastic.
Number 5
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| Jon Pertwee brought a sense of daring and action to the Doctor during his tenure that has not been matched. He was more likely to go on the offensive rather than the running that is a tactic used by other Doctors. |
The Doctor was exiled by his people for the first part of Pertwee's tenure so there were lots of adventures involving UNIT, a group he had already worked with in his second incarnation, with the occasional special assignments from the Time Lords thrown in for variety. The Doctor did eventually get his exile lifted and got to show off his extraordinary skills as a diplomat as well.
Pertwee left Doctor Who when the primary production team was also leaving, but he continued to support the show until his death. This included participation in as many fan functions as he could manage.
Number 4
 |
| Patrick Troughton played the second Doctor. His Doctor established much of the Doctor's mythology. |
Troughton's Doctor was often referred to as a clown. He played the fool to distract his enemies, but he always seemed to have a plan. (There is one exception to this that I'll talk about shortly.) In stressful moments, he would often either take out his recorder and play it or desperately search for it. This Doctor was most likely to manipulate others to save the day.
When Troughton decided to leave the role of the Doctor, the production team decided to go all out for his finale. They put together the longest serial ever done for the show, a ten-part story that jumped all over time and introduced something that had never been addressed-the Time Lords. The Doctor and his companions land in the middle of a World War I battlefield. They get to safety only to face a kangaroo-court court marshal. While trying to escape, they suddenly find themselves under attack by Roman soldiers. Next they cross over into the American Civil War. It turns out that they are actually in the middle of an experiment run by an alien race. There's plenty more to tell, but let me just talk about the main details that emerge. The Doctor is a renegade Time Lord who has broken their rule of non-interference. The Time Lords have some pretty amazing powers including barricading a planet from the rest of reality, and forcing the Doctor to become another person.
Anyway, that's 6-4. Be on the look out for the top three Doctors coming soon. Leave a comment if you have some feedback on the list.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
"A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens (a book review)
Let's consider the life of Ebenezer Scrooge. Here we have a man who has dedicated his entire life to the system of capitalism, to the improvement of the British economy. You might even call him a captain of industry. Sure he has lots of issues keeping down his overhead by keeping heating costs down and reducing the size of his staff.
Poor Ebenezer also has issues with keeping up with the demands of the holidays. Everyone is looking for him to contribute to their charities in a time that charitable giving wasn't tax deductible. He also has family wanting more of his time than he has available. What's a poor rich man supposed to do?
That's probably the spin that would be put on a Christmas Carol if Charles Dickens had been writing his classic Christmas story today. Instead, we get Scrooge portrayed as a greedy selfish man who is only looking out for number one even at the expense of the poor Cratchet family.
Dickens uses a device that seems unoriginal to us, but was very intriguing to the Victorian-era people of England-a visit by a series of ghosts that spoke from the past, present, and future of Scrooge's life. There job is to teach Scrooge the true meaning of Christmas. You already know how the story goes, but it is worth checking out the way Dickens writes the tales. It is a quick read and depending on the copy you use, it will probably be less than 100 pages. Check this tale out as a part of your Christmas tradition.
Poor Ebenezer also has issues with keeping up with the demands of the holidays. Everyone is looking for him to contribute to their charities in a time that charitable giving wasn't tax deductible. He also has family wanting more of his time than he has available. What's a poor rich man supposed to do?
That's probably the spin that would be put on a Christmas Carol if Charles Dickens had been writing his classic Christmas story today. Instead, we get Scrooge portrayed as a greedy selfish man who is only looking out for number one even at the expense of the poor Cratchet family.
Dickens uses a device that seems unoriginal to us, but was very intriguing to the Victorian-era people of England-a visit by a series of ghosts that spoke from the past, present, and future of Scrooge's life. There job is to teach Scrooge the true meaning of Christmas. You already know how the story goes, but it is worth checking out the way Dickens writes the tales. It is a quick read and depending on the copy you use, it will probably be less than 100 pages. Check this tale out as a part of your Christmas tradition.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Christmas songs I'm already sick of hearing.
I'm not a scrooge, and I don't really hate Christmas or Christmas music, but there are just some songs that either get overplayed or I just don't want to listen to at Christmas or any time. Here's a listing of some of the songs I'll be glad not to hear after Christmas.
I haven't even heard this song yet this year, and I've heard it too many times. I think it's an interesting concept, but it get's old after about five seconds. Why do people want to listen to this song? If your dog starts barking, you don't try to teach it to bark with the song. You tell them to shut up and go back to what you were doing. Why do we have a song that teaches dogs to bark whenever they want to?
Jingle Bells by Barking Dogs
I haven't even heard this song yet this year, and I've heard it too many times. I think it's an interesting concept, but it get's old after about five seconds. Why do people want to listen to this song? If your dog starts barking, you don't try to teach it to bark with the song. You tell them to shut up and go back to what you were doing. Why do we have a song that teaches dogs to bark whenever they want to?
Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer by Elmo and Patsy Shropshire
I will admit that I loved this song the first couple of years that I knew what I was listening to around Christmas time. It's a funny take on Santa and paints him as the bad guy, but it gets old fast especially when it seems to be everywhere you go. Here's a bigger issue with the song-what's the real story here? Isn't it much more likely that Granddad just made up the story about Grandma getting run over by a reindeer? What really happened to Grandma? Maybe Granddad ran her over because he couldn't see where he was driving or something even worse. How's that for a reason not to like this song? Last Christmas I Gave You My Heart by Wham!
"Last Christmas I gave you my heart, but the very next day you gave it away. So this year to save me some tears, I'll give it to someone special." That's the song. End it already. Actually there are verses, but after I hear the chorus 5000 times (yes this is hyperbole but not by much) I can't remember ever hearing any of them. This song just doesn't want to end, or stop complaining about how horrible it was that their heart was broken on Christmas. I'm sure people can relate to the song, but it doesn't make it any easier to listen to.Blue Christmas by Elvis Presley
Don't take this the wrong way. Elvis is great. He is the King of Rock and Roll. I don't want to get into an argument about that, but I can't stand it when this song his the air. I think it has a lot to do with the death of my mother during 2009. It was hard to listen to Presley sing about having a blue Christmas just because some girl dumped him when I was facing that first Christmas without my mother. Elvis just didn't know enough about being blue when the song was done.Wish you the merriest-Frank Sinatra
A while back I wrote a relatively short post stating that Bing Crosby was the voice of Christmas. (Check it out here: http://lockheed40.blogspot.com/2010/12/bing-crosby-is-voice-of-christmas.html) There's a reason, and this song is it. I've got nothing against Sinatra, but where "Last Christmas" at least has a reason to exist, this song is just a long-winded "Merry Christmas." Instrumental versions of songs I want to hear someone sing
If you're going to play a Christmas song, then have the words in there. This complaint does not go for songs that don't have words. In that case, don't add words to songs that don't need them. It seems like a small problem, but I want the words to my favorite Christmas songs. If you want it to be instrumental, then play the "Carol of the Bells," or "Sleigh Ride." That will make everyone happy.
I could go on, but I think this will be enough for this year. Feel free to leave a comment on your opinion on the matter.
I could go on, but I think this will be enough for this year. Feel free to leave a comment on your opinion on the matter.
Will a national lottery save our economy?
One of the ideas to deal with the massive debt over our country that is floating around Washington these days is creating a national lottery. If it works at a state level, why can't it work on a national level? This could be just the thing to pull out country out of debt. Let's take a moment to look at state lotteries before we discuss a national lottery.
Gambling has been around for a long time. I'm not sure when it started. Maybe when Eve was pregnant Adam thought the kid would be a boy and he was so certain he made a wager with Eve about it. Regardless of how it started, gambling has been a part of our lives for most of our existence. It's easy to see the appeal of a wager on random events. There is a thrill in the uncertainty of it all. This is why Vegas and other casino cities exist and thrive. There is always someone willing to take a chance on the big money.
One day somebody had the brilliant idea of setting up a lottery for the state to raise funds. Why shouldn't the state get in on some of that gambling money? In order to sell the idea to the rest of the state the lottery was set up to help fund education. (I'm not sure how much money actually goes into education.) Lots of other states have gotten in on the idea since then.
Are there benefits that could come from a national lottery? Absolutely. Look at the amount of money that is spent on state lotteries. There is a lot of interest in the concept of the lottery. New York does a great job of selling lottery tickets with adds like "all you need is a dollar and a dream." A national lottery could take a chunk out of our national debt. It is also conceivable that over time we could even eliminate the national debt.
Would it be possible to set the lottery up? That is a different story. Any state that is already making pretty significant amounts of money on their own lotteries will not be interested in competition from a national lottery that will be capable of boasting much larger awards. Anyone who has a choice between the two will have many more incentives to buy a national ticket. If the concept ever gets moving, there will be lots of opposition.
Will there be disadvantages? There are lots of concerns about the lottery on any level. The first is that a lottery only takes money from poorer citizens. No one who has a million dollars in the bank is going to bother spending a dollar on a ticket for a chance at a million dollars. Anyone with that much money will find gambling options with better odds and bigger stakes. The people most likely to participate in a lottery are the people who can least afford to spend the money.
Also there is the expense of setting the system up. The estimates I have seen suggest that it would cost close to a billion dollars to set up a national lottery system. This would mean that every man woman and child in the US would have to buy four tickets just to cover the cost of starting the program (assuming that the government would be willing to sell a ticket for a dollar a pop.)
I don't see a national lottery as an effective method of removing our national debt. It will probably cause more problems than it solves. Here's to hoping someone comes up with a better idea before too long. Leave a thought below if you have any feed back.
Gambling has been around for a long time. I'm not sure when it started. Maybe when Eve was pregnant Adam thought the kid would be a boy and he was so certain he made a wager with Eve about it. Regardless of how it started, gambling has been a part of our lives for most of our existence. It's easy to see the appeal of a wager on random events. There is a thrill in the uncertainty of it all. This is why Vegas and other casino cities exist and thrive. There is always someone willing to take a chance on the big money.
One day somebody had the brilliant idea of setting up a lottery for the state to raise funds. Why shouldn't the state get in on some of that gambling money? In order to sell the idea to the rest of the state the lottery was set up to help fund education. (I'm not sure how much money actually goes into education.) Lots of other states have gotten in on the idea since then.
Are there benefits that could come from a national lottery? Absolutely. Look at the amount of money that is spent on state lotteries. There is a lot of interest in the concept of the lottery. New York does a great job of selling lottery tickets with adds like "all you need is a dollar and a dream." A national lottery could take a chunk out of our national debt. It is also conceivable that over time we could even eliminate the national debt.
Would it be possible to set the lottery up? That is a different story. Any state that is already making pretty significant amounts of money on their own lotteries will not be interested in competition from a national lottery that will be capable of boasting much larger awards. Anyone who has a choice between the two will have many more incentives to buy a national ticket. If the concept ever gets moving, there will be lots of opposition.
Will there be disadvantages? There are lots of concerns about the lottery on any level. The first is that a lottery only takes money from poorer citizens. No one who has a million dollars in the bank is going to bother spending a dollar on a ticket for a chance at a million dollars. Anyone with that much money will find gambling options with better odds and bigger stakes. The people most likely to participate in a lottery are the people who can least afford to spend the money.
Also there is the expense of setting the system up. The estimates I have seen suggest that it would cost close to a billion dollars to set up a national lottery system. This would mean that every man woman and child in the US would have to buy four tickets just to cover the cost of starting the program (assuming that the government would be willing to sell a ticket for a dollar a pop.)
I don't see a national lottery as an effective method of removing our national debt. It will probably cause more problems than it solves. Here's to hoping someone comes up with a better idea before too long. Leave a thought below if you have any feed back.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Top Twelve Christmas Movies (Part III)
Number 12-While You Were Sleeping
Number 11-Babes in Toyland
Number 10-The Santa Clause
Number 9-Die Hard
Number 8-Santa Conquers the Martians
Number 7-Home Alone
Number 6
So with Bill Murray's "Scrooged" I think I'd better do the same thing I did with "Babes in Toyland" on part II of the list. This kind of includes every version of "A Christmas Carol" which is probably the most popular topic for Christmas movies and specials. "A Christmas Carol" has been done by just about everyone, and Ebenezer Scrooge is probably the most acted character in all of Christmas tradition. (with the exception of Mary and Joseph)
I don't need to tell you the plot of "Scrooged." A guy who doesn't get the meaning of Christmas gets visited by four ghosts and learns the error of his ways. What you do need to know is that Bill Murray is hilarious as the Scrooge-type character, and the ghosts are brilliant. The spin that is put on this movie makes it a must-see for the holidays.
Number 5
"It's a Wonderful Life" was once the standard classic Christmas movie. I remember my mom getting so excited that it was finally going to be on the air for its one big showing. These days we don't have that same kind of expectation. One of the TV stations is showing the same movie twice in a row just for the sake of doing it.
This movie does a great job of helping you to think about the positive things in your life. At the time the concept was less well known than it is now. What would the world be like if you'd never been born? We see the story redone all the time. Disney even did a version with Kermit the Frog finding out what the world of the Muppets would have been like if he'd never left the swamp.
Even though it's been done before, it's never been done as well as Jimmy Stewart does it, so check this one out this Christmas.
Number 4
If you read part I of this list, then you already know that the movie "White Christmas" was not the first time this song appeared in a movie. (That would be Holiday Inn.) The popularity of the song led movie studios to make a movie based on the song. White Christmas is a war-time movie that opens on Christmas Eve on the war front. Bing Crosby plays a soldier who is a fairly popular performer in his civilian life and Danny Kaye plays his buddy. The two are putting on a show for the troops that is also a farewell to their Sergent. After the war Crosby and Kaye form a team and get pretty popular. Close to Christmas the two meet a pair of sisters that are sisters of an old army buddy. They are also performers and the four hit it off. By a strange twist of coincidence, the sisters are going to perform at an inn run by their old Sergent who is having financial troubles. The duo quickly decide to do something to help. I'll leave it at that in case you're a complete slacker and haven't seen this Christmas classic. (If you haven't, what are you waiting for? Go find this movie now!)
Number 3
Some Christmas movies like "White Christmas" take a fairly realistic approach to the story, some movies ask you to stretch your imagination a little. "Elf" asks you to take the plausible and throw it out the window. The only reason this movie works at all is Will Ferrell's ability to make the implausible feel like it could actually happen.The basic outline of the story is that Buddy is a baby and was accidentally picked up while Santa was delivering packages to the orphanage. Santa and the elves decide to adopt Buddy and they don't bother to tell him that he isn't really an elf even though he grows up to be 6' tall and doesn't have the basic elf skills to be a good elf. His father finally tells Buddy the truth, and Buddy decides to travel to New York City to find his real father, who is on the naughty list.
The story is done very well, and Ferrell manages to give Buddy the right amount of ridiculous without going overboard. When I saw "Elf" in the theater, I couldn't stop laughing the entire movie right from the moment that Bob Newhart shows up on the screen as Buddy's elf father.
Number 2
Remember how I was just talking about movies that pushed the boundaries of believability? This is where "Miracle on 34th Street" makes the scene. What if Santa Claus was real? What if he was playing Santa at random stores at different points and times? What if people found out that he was Santa, or at least thought that he was Santa?These are the questions that this movie tries to answer. The actor that plays Santa is very believable, and you get the best part of the movie when Santa Claus gets put on trial. If you haven't seen this movie, you must have been hiding under a rock for every Christmas of your life.
Get off your duff and find a copy of this movie or find it on TV. You won't regret it.
Number 1
This is the one, the biggest movie when Christmas comes around. The tale of Ralphie as he tries to fight off bullies and convince Santa to get him a Red Rider BB gun so he can get around his mother's declarations that "he'll shoot his eye out." This movie is filled with all sorts of memorable events and moments that make it a great movie in its own rights. "A Christmas Story" also has one major item that pushes it over the top. Remember how I talked about "It's a Wonderful Life" being an event rather than a movie? That's what has happened to "A Christmas Story."
This is the only movie with at 24-hour marathon showing. That's right, you can watch this movie 12 times in a row starting on Christmas Eve and all the way through to Christmas night. No other movie can boast such a epic presentation. (Well, I should throw in a note that "Groundhog's Day" also has a 24-hour marathon in Puxatauny, PA on Groundhog's Day.) Once again, this is a must see movie. The only way you could miss this movie is if you were living on another planet for your entire life.
Anyway, that's the top twelve Christmas movies. Feel free to leave me a comment. If there's time before the big day, I'll try to put together another top twelve list.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Top Twelve Christmas movies (part II)
We've already gotten the preliminaries out of the way in part I so if you haven't seen that yet, check it out. Here's the first half of our list.
"While You Were Sleeping" takes full advantage of the Christmas holiday to make Sandra Bullock's character's believable. A lonely single young woman saves the life of a man she's been interested in for years and is mistakenly thought to be his fiance through some miscommunication. Who can blame her for going through with the deception?
While the man she thinks she likes is in a coma, she gets to know his brother and things get really complicated from there. I'm not sure we can say that the movie does more than take advantage of the holiday to play with our emotions, but it isn't obvious about it. It's a fun movie, and if you haven't' seen it already, you should get your act together and check it out.
"Babes in Toyland" has had a long history. It started as a popular operetta in 1903 written by Victor Herbert. In 1934, it was made into a movie that started the comedy team of Laurel and Hardy. This was probably their best-known and best-loved movie. In 1961, the Walt Disney company remade the movie. This version starred one of Disney's favorite Mouseketeers, Annette Funicello. 1986 saw yet another release with Drew Barrymore and Keanu Reeves, but not in romantic roles since Drew was playing an 11-year-old at the time.
These are the main three versions, and there have been plenty of others that I have no interest in at all. I also never saw the 1986 version. I recommend that you find one of the older versions (or both) and spend a night checking them out. I think it will be a fine addition to your holidays.
"The Santa Clause" is the movie that kept Tim Allen from disappearing into obscurity after his television show, Home Improvement, went off the air. This movie has two sequels, and like most sequels they get a little more ridiculous as they progress, but it is a fun franchise to enjoy during the holidays.
The plot is pretty simple even if it is a little bizarre. Allen's character accidentally kills Santa on Christmas Eve. It turns out that there is a Santa Claus the makes whoever might kill Santa the new bit man of Christmas. Allen spends the next year slowly turning into Santa and fighting the change all the way. If you haven't seen this movie, get off your backside and watch it. Then you can decide what to do about the other movies.
"Die Hard" is the ultimate Christmas action movie. This is the movie that made Willis an action star and moved him from TV to the big screen. Follow Bruce Willis as he plays John McCain trying to stop terrorists from killing his wife. Wait, let me back up a little bit.
John McCain is a NYC cop who has flown out to LA to see his estranged wife and kids for Christmas. She is working for a large corporation on the West Coast which just happens to get their building taken hostage on Christmas Eve.
Look for Die Hard I and II to give you a healthy dose of Christmas action. There are plenty of explosions and Willis just dishes out the snappy banter throughout the entire movie.
What are the people of Mars to do when their children discover Earth television and learn about Santa Claus? Well of course the best solution is to kidnap Santa and force him to make toys for all the Martian children. That's the plot for "Santa Conquers the Martians," and the movie is just about as bad as you might expect.
This is one of those "so bad it's good" movies. The kind they use on Mystery Science Theater 3000. (In fact, the team did release their commentary on this,) Special effects are seriously old school and the aliens are definitely just people in cheap costumes and let's not talk about the quality of the acting.Do yourself a favor and check it out even if you only see it once in your life.
You know this kind of thing happens every Christmas. Some kid gets left behind in the chaos of trying to get the whole family to the airport. That's no big deal. Of course there has to be the burglars trying to get into the house while the family is away. Wait, when does that ever happen? That's right, it happens in the "Home Alone" movies.
A poor stranded boy stops two experienced thieves the only way he can-lots of goofy traps and pratfalls. Be on the lookout for the scene where Kevin orders a pizza and uses a movie to tell the delivery guy what to do
This franchise would get a much higher rating if the story hadn't been beaten to death. The first movie is truly a classic and deserves to be a part of your Christmas movie routine, and "keep the change, you filthy animal."
Be on the lookout for part III of the list coming out soon, and feel free to leave a comment below to tell me what you think.
Number 12
"While You Were Sleeping" takes full advantage of the Christmas holiday to make Sandra Bullock's character's believable. A lonely single young woman saves the life of a man she's been interested in for years and is mistakenly thought to be his fiance through some miscommunication. Who can blame her for going through with the deception?
While the man she thinks she likes is in a coma, she gets to know his brother and things get really complicated from there. I'm not sure we can say that the movie does more than take advantage of the holiday to play with our emotions, but it isn't obvious about it. It's a fun movie, and if you haven't' seen it already, you should get your act together and check it out.
Number 11
"Babes in Toyland" has had a long history. It started as a popular operetta in 1903 written by Victor Herbert. In 1934, it was made into a movie that started the comedy team of Laurel and Hardy. This was probably their best-known and best-loved movie. In 1961, the Walt Disney company remade the movie. This version starred one of Disney's favorite Mouseketeers, Annette Funicello. 1986 saw yet another release with Drew Barrymore and Keanu Reeves, but not in romantic roles since Drew was playing an 11-year-old at the time.
These are the main three versions, and there have been plenty of others that I have no interest in at all. I also never saw the 1986 version. I recommend that you find one of the older versions (or both) and spend a night checking them out. I think it will be a fine addition to your holidays.
Number 10
"The Santa Clause" is the movie that kept Tim Allen from disappearing into obscurity after his television show, Home Improvement, went off the air. This movie has two sequels, and like most sequels they get a little more ridiculous as they progress, but it is a fun franchise to enjoy during the holidays.
The plot is pretty simple even if it is a little bizarre. Allen's character accidentally kills Santa on Christmas Eve. It turns out that there is a Santa Claus the makes whoever might kill Santa the new bit man of Christmas. Allen spends the next year slowly turning into Santa and fighting the change all the way. If you haven't seen this movie, get off your backside and watch it. Then you can decide what to do about the other movies.
Number 9
"Die Hard" is the ultimate Christmas action movie. This is the movie that made Willis an action star and moved him from TV to the big screen. Follow Bruce Willis as he plays John McCain trying to stop terrorists from killing his wife. Wait, let me back up a little bit.
John McCain is a NYC cop who has flown out to LA to see his estranged wife and kids for Christmas. She is working for a large corporation on the West Coast which just happens to get their building taken hostage on Christmas Eve.
Look for Die Hard I and II to give you a healthy dose of Christmas action. There are plenty of explosions and Willis just dishes out the snappy banter throughout the entire movie.
Number 8
What are the people of Mars to do when their children discover Earth television and learn about Santa Claus? Well of course the best solution is to kidnap Santa and force him to make toys for all the Martian children. That's the plot for "Santa Conquers the Martians," and the movie is just about as bad as you might expect.
This is one of those "so bad it's good" movies. The kind they use on Mystery Science Theater 3000. (In fact, the team did release their commentary on this,) Special effects are seriously old school and the aliens are definitely just people in cheap costumes and let's not talk about the quality of the acting.Do yourself a favor and check it out even if you only see it once in your life.
Number 7
You know this kind of thing happens every Christmas. Some kid gets left behind in the chaos of trying to get the whole family to the airport. That's no big deal. Of course there has to be the burglars trying to get into the house while the family is away. Wait, when does that ever happen? That's right, it happens in the "Home Alone" movies.
A poor stranded boy stops two experienced thieves the only way he can-lots of goofy traps and pratfalls. Be on the lookout for the scene where Kevin orders a pizza and uses a movie to tell the delivery guy what to do
This franchise would get a much higher rating if the story hadn't been beaten to death. The first movie is truly a classic and deserves to be a part of your Christmas movie routine, and "keep the change, you filthy animal."
Be on the lookout for part III of the list coming out soon, and feel free to leave a comment below to tell me what you think.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Top Twelve Christmas movies (Part I)
When it comes to holidays, Christmas is definitely the one that gets the most attention. Movies, music, and television specials abound during this holiday. I'm going to tackle them all, but let's start with movies. What better way to look at the Christmas season than to look at my Top Twelve Christmas movies.
Serendipity has almost nothing to do with Christmas, but it does start and end at Christmas time. Jonathan and Sara meet while shopping for a pair of gloves. They just happen to be looking for the exact same pair. He's looking to buy them for his girl friend for Christmas and she wants them for herself. They connect but they are both in relationships. When Jonathan pushes Sara for her number, she makes a deal with him. She writes her number in a copy of the book she's reading and he writes his on a five-dollar bill.
Several years later just before his wedding, Jonathan decides he needs to try to find Sara to convince himself that he didn't miss out on something important. Sara meanwhile has just gotten engaged to her musician boyfriend and looks for Jonathan for the same reason. I'll stop there. You should see this for yourself.
Holiday Inn starts with Jim (Crosby) deciding to get out of show business after his partners Ted (Astaire) and Lila are leaving the act to get married. Jim has the crazy idea of buying a farm and living the easy life. After trying the easy life he gets another crazy idea. He decides to that the farm house and turn it into a club that is only open for holidays. He figures he can make enough on the holidays to live the easy life.
While getting things around on Christmas Eve for the opening night on New Year's Eve, Jim meets Linda an aspiring dancer and singer who is hoping to work for at the Inn. There's an immediate connection and he teaches her "White Christmas" one of the songs for the following year.
Things get interesting when Lila leaves Ted for a millionaire and Ted decides Linda is the perfect choice for a new partner. This movie is great for every holiday of the year.
In "Going My Way," Crosby plays Father O'Malley a young priest who has been sent to help out at a struggling parish. While helping Father Fitzgibbon, the older priest, figure out what the parish needs, he also manages to help out a struggling singer, turns the local ruffians into a choir, and make life in the parish a better place all the way around.
I won't say much more about this movie and its connections to Christmas since that will ruin the ending, but it is a fun movie. Also if you look closely you can spot the boy who played Alfalfa in the "Little Rascals as one of the boys in the choir.
Honorable Mentions
Serendipity has almost nothing to do with Christmas, but it does start and end at Christmas time. Jonathan and Sara meet while shopping for a pair of gloves. They just happen to be looking for the exact same pair. He's looking to buy them for his girl friend for Christmas and she wants them for herself. They connect but they are both in relationships. When Jonathan pushes Sara for her number, she makes a deal with him. She writes her number in a copy of the book she's reading and he writes his on a five-dollar bill.
Several years later just before his wedding, Jonathan decides he needs to try to find Sara to convince himself that he didn't miss out on something important. Sara meanwhile has just gotten engaged to her musician boyfriend and looks for Jonathan for the same reason. I'll stop there. You should see this for yourself.
Holiday Inn starts with Jim (Crosby) deciding to get out of show business after his partners Ted (Astaire) and Lila are leaving the act to get married. Jim has the crazy idea of buying a farm and living the easy life. After trying the easy life he gets another crazy idea. He decides to that the farm house and turn it into a club that is only open for holidays. He figures he can make enough on the holidays to live the easy life.
While getting things around on Christmas Eve for the opening night on New Year's Eve, Jim meets Linda an aspiring dancer and singer who is hoping to work for at the Inn. There's an immediate connection and he teaches her "White Christmas" one of the songs for the following year.
Things get interesting when Lila leaves Ted for a millionaire and Ted decides Linda is the perfect choice for a new partner. This movie is great for every holiday of the year.
In "Going My Way," Crosby plays Father O'Malley a young priest who has been sent to help out at a struggling parish. While helping Father Fitzgibbon, the older priest, figure out what the parish needs, he also manages to help out a struggling singer, turns the local ruffians into a choir, and make life in the parish a better place all the way around.
I won't say much more about this movie and its connections to Christmas since that will ruin the ending, but it is a fun movie. Also if you look closely you can spot the boy who played Alfalfa in the "Little Rascals as one of the boys in the choir.
The Top 12 Doctors in Doctor Who (Part III)
Before we get through Doctors rated 9, 8, and 7, let's have a quick review of 10-12.
Before I start with the new list, let me say again that I love all of the Doctors. It took a lot of effort to figure out which Doctor got which place. Also, this is my opinion. I suggest you check out all of the Doctors and make up your own mind.
Sylvester McCoy's tenure was well known for two reasons. His was the era of excessive question marks and he was the last actor to play the Doctor. Fortunately one of those distinctions no longer exists since the Doctor has returned. McCoy was a great Doctor, but the threat of cancellation was always hanging over his head. There was also some confusion about who the Doctor really was. In the first season, he was sort of clownish, playing the fool while saving the world, but as time progressed, he became a darker, manipulative character. He was still saving the world, but sometimes the viewer had to wonder what was going on in his mind.
During Davison's tenure as the Doctor, the show made some significant changes. The tendency toward campy adventures and horror were replaced with a stronger scientific approach and a more serious Doctor. Another change was the Doctor's reliance on his companions. This Doctor was more like the leader of a team rather than an eccentric adventurer. This did lead to some troubles because this Doctor often seemed to have too many companions. If you think about the role of a companion, the character is really just a voice for the audience. "What are you doing?" is just the kind of question that the audience is asking. If you get too many companions there always seems to be someone standing around with nothing to do or say.
There are two major quirks that are associated with Davison's Doctor. First he was obsessed with Cricket. The second was he always had a piece of celery close at hand, usually pinned to his jacket. The celery was to warn him about the presence of a substance to which he had an allergy. If the celery changed colors it would indicate the substance. He would then eat it and it would help him recover.
How quirky was this cricket obsession? His outfit is based on a cricketer's uniform. The Doctor always carried a cricket ball in his jacket. This came in handy on more than one occasion. He even stopped in the middle of an emergency to join in a cricket game.
This Doctor also had the distinction of being the only Doctor to have a companion die during the action of a story. (You'll have to check out the shows to find out who it is for yourself.)
Davison would have ranked higher on the list, but some of the writing for his tenure are laughably horrible, and some of his companions are not all that likable. Davison is a great Doctor when everything comes together so check him out. (In a side note, Davison is also the father of Georgia Moffet. You may remember her as the Doctor's daughter during Tennant's time as the Doctor.)
Many people were worried about Doctor Who when David Tennant announced that he had decided to leave the show. This is a typical response to a change of Doctor, especially when the actor has connected so well with the audience like Tennant had done. There were lots of theories about who the next Doctor would be. Several voices were calling for more diversity in the role. Perhaps the doctor could be black or a woman. Many people worried that Doctor Who would not be worth watching after the change.
Not to worry though, Matt Smith has done a smashing job of taking over as the Doctor. More importantly, Smith's Doctor has taken on a new Doctor that has his own way of doing things. This is important to do in this show. If you can't tell the difference between the Doctors there isn't much point in changing them at all.
Smith's Doctor is fun to watch. He seems like a teacher trying to help the people he encounters become better people. Smith still has a lot of growing to do, and I look forward to seeing what he will do with the role in the coming years. In case you're wondering, he's lower on the list because he's only been in the role for a year. I think he will work his way up as time passes.
(Fun Fact: Did you know that John Smith has been a name the Doctor has used when he needed to give a name? This started in the late sixties with Patrick Troughton, the second Doctor. Matt Smith is the first Doctor for whom the names match so closely.)
Number 12-Paul McGann (Doctor #8)
Number 11-Rowan Atkinson (Charity Special)
Number 10-Colin Baker (Doctor # 7)
Before I start with the new list, let me say again that I love all of the Doctors. It took a lot of effort to figure out which Doctor got which place. Also, this is my opinion. I suggest you check out all of the Doctors and make up your own mind.
Number 9
 |
| Sylvester McCoy, the Seventh Doctor and the last of the original run of the series. |
Number 8
 |
| Peter Davison is the fifth Doctor. |
There are two major quirks that are associated with Davison's Doctor. First he was obsessed with Cricket. The second was he always had a piece of celery close at hand, usually pinned to his jacket. The celery was to warn him about the presence of a substance to which he had an allergy. If the celery changed colors it would indicate the substance. He would then eat it and it would help him recover.
How quirky was this cricket obsession? His outfit is based on a cricketer's uniform. The Doctor always carried a cricket ball in his jacket. This came in handy on more than one occasion. He even stopped in the middle of an emergency to join in a cricket game.
This Doctor also had the distinction of being the only Doctor to have a companion die during the action of a story. (You'll have to check out the shows to find out who it is for yourself.)
Davison would have ranked higher on the list, but some of the writing for his tenure are laughably horrible, and some of his companions are not all that likable. Davison is a great Doctor when everything comes together so check him out. (In a side note, Davison is also the father of Georgia Moffet. You may remember her as the Doctor's daughter during Tennant's time as the Doctor.)
Number 7
 |
| Matt Smith is the most recent Doctor and number eleven overall. |
Not to worry though, Matt Smith has done a smashing job of taking over as the Doctor. More importantly, Smith's Doctor has taken on a new Doctor that has his own way of doing things. This is important to do in this show. If you can't tell the difference between the Doctors there isn't much point in changing them at all.
Smith's Doctor is fun to watch. He seems like a teacher trying to help the people he encounters become better people. Smith still has a lot of growing to do, and I look forward to seeing what he will do with the role in the coming years. In case you're wondering, he's lower on the list because he's only been in the role for a year. I think he will work his way up as time passes.
(Fun Fact: Did you know that John Smith has been a name the Doctor has used when he needed to give a name? This started in the late sixties with Patrick Troughton, the second Doctor. Matt Smith is the first Doctor for whom the names match so closely.)
Michael Vick deserves a dog, right?
In the news today, it was reported that Michael Vick wants a dog again. Should he have a dog? NO! The man was convicted for raising and training dogs to fight so he could gamble on the outcome of those fights. Vick is lucky to have his freedom at all. He's fortunate to have a football team let him play on their team. Part of his court appointed sentence was that he could never own a dog again. Why is this even a question?
My opinion on this issue is short and sweet. No dogs for Vick. I'm going back to work on my Doctor Who and Christmas lists.
My opinion on this issue is short and sweet. No dogs for Vick. I'm going back to work on my Doctor Who and Christmas lists.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Why is my smart phone so dumb?
When it comes to mobile phones, all the advertisements are focused on smart phones. It basically boils down to a variation of the school yard argument. The only difference is that instead of "My dad's stronger than yours," it has become, "My phone's smarter than yours." I love technology, and while I'm definitely behind the curve when it comes to the latest and greatest, I thought I knew enough to find a phone that would be able to handle all my needs.
I did forget one specific aspect of my personality though. I'm a very curious person. I like to explore what different devices are capable of doing. Once I have something new, I like to try out all of its features and components. Fortunately, I've gotten past the point of taking things apart to see how they work. That never turned out to be a good choice on my part.
When my contract with Verizon came to a close this summer, I started looking at the phones I could get for free with my new 2-year committment. I wasn't sure what I would be doing in the Fall. I'd just graduated and wasn't having any luck finding a job. I'm still making due as a substitute teacher. I didn't think I could afford to get a phone with too many bells and whistles, but I was curious about the newer phones.
The biggest problem was the data packages. The last thing I needed was a lot of extra expense for a data package I might not even use. After all, if you're around a wireless signal you probably won't even be using the data package. I eventually decided on the LG Chocolate Touch. This had a lot to do with the fact that I've been using the LG Chocolate phone in all of its incarnations.
I love most of the features on the phone. It works great for calling and texting, and the touch screen works fairly well. My favorite part is how easy it is to load music. In the past, I always had to take music from my iTunes and move it over to Windows Media Player before I could put it on the phone. I also had some issues with Media Player not wanting to stay open. Now it's just a simple matter of copying and pasting the files from one folder to another.
That's not what I'm here to talk about though. I think my smart phone is not as smart as some of the other phones. It can certainly handle all of the basic phone functions, but I have some serious issues trying to use the internet on the poor thing. I have to go through about eight steps to get to Facebook, and once I'm there I can't follow any links. The screen just goes white and pretends to load. I can't get anything from YouTube, and half the time I go to click on something the screen changes and I go to the wrong place.
I'm afraid my phone isn't smart enough to be classified with all the other smart phones. Maybe I can get a tutor for the poor thing or some other method to help it get a little smarter.
I did forget one specific aspect of my personality though. I'm a very curious person. I like to explore what different devices are capable of doing. Once I have something new, I like to try out all of its features and components. Fortunately, I've gotten past the point of taking things apart to see how they work. That never turned out to be a good choice on my part.
When my contract with Verizon came to a close this summer, I started looking at the phones I could get for free with my new 2-year committment. I wasn't sure what I would be doing in the Fall. I'd just graduated and wasn't having any luck finding a job. I'm still making due as a substitute teacher. I didn't think I could afford to get a phone with too many bells and whistles, but I was curious about the newer phones.
The biggest problem was the data packages. The last thing I needed was a lot of extra expense for a data package I might not even use. After all, if you're around a wireless signal you probably won't even be using the data package. I eventually decided on the LG Chocolate Touch. This had a lot to do with the fact that I've been using the LG Chocolate phone in all of its incarnations.
I love most of the features on the phone. It works great for calling and texting, and the touch screen works fairly well. My favorite part is how easy it is to load music. In the past, I always had to take music from my iTunes and move it over to Windows Media Player before I could put it on the phone. I also had some issues with Media Player not wanting to stay open. Now it's just a simple matter of copying and pasting the files from one folder to another.
That's not what I'm here to talk about though. I think my smart phone is not as smart as some of the other phones. It can certainly handle all of the basic phone functions, but I have some serious issues trying to use the internet on the poor thing. I have to go through about eight steps to get to Facebook, and once I'm there I can't follow any links. The screen just goes white and pretends to load. I can't get anything from YouTube, and half the time I go to click on something the screen changes and I go to the wrong place.
I'm afraid my phone isn't smart enough to be classified with all the other smart phones. Maybe I can get a tutor for the poor thing or some other method to help it get a little smarter.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
The Top 12 Doctors in Doctor Who (Part II)
Now it's time to start listing the real Doctors. There's a lot of ground to cover, so I think we'll break this into another four parts, three Doctors on each one. This listing may be confusing for some of you since the Doctor has been around for almost 50 years. I'll try to remember to include some pictures and links to help you out with the actors you may not know. Anyway, here are the bottom three Doctors on my list. Now before I begin, I'd like to make it known that while these guys are on the bottom of the list, that doesn't mean they aren't worth checking out. It's just that someone has to end up lower on the list.
Anyway, here we go with numbers 12-10 on the top twelve Doctors.
I first got acquainted with Doctor Who back in the days that the show was aired late on Friday nights on PBS along with Monty Python's Flying Circus. I didn't always understand what was going on. I certainly didn't realize that I was about seven years behind the original BBC viewers. The show was a lot of fun to watch even if I only got half an hour every weekend.
Eventually I learned that the show had been taken off the air. The US did not get to see the final adventures of Sylvester McCoy at that time, but let's just say that the ending wasn't a very great send off to the longest-running science fiction show in the history of television.
In 1996, I was excited because Fox had made arrangements to broadcast a made-for-TV movie of Doctor Who. I couldn't wait to see the Doctor again and share in his adventures.Unfortunately, someone at the BBC allowed a little too much freedom to the production team so you have the strangest regeneration sequence ever. You also get to watch as the violent shooting and death of the seventh Doctor (Sylvester McCoy.) There are lots of other issues with this movie that I won't get into since it will give away the ending if you decide to watch it.
McGann isn't to blame for this atrocity, and he's done a lot of work with Doctor Who audio dramas since his short tenure as the Doctor. Check it out just to see what's wrong with the movie, but keep your expectations low.
Here's a guy who shouldn't technically be on the list, but if you've ever seen "The Curse of the Fatal Death," you'll understand why Rowan Atkinson gets a place here. There's another reason that I include this story. Doctor Who has a long-standing tradition of helping charities. This was a four-part special created to benefit the Red Nose Day charity. The writing is brilliant and manages to find plenty of comedy in the concepts of time travel. In one scene, the Doctor and the Master talk about going back in time to convince an architect to put a trap door in the floor under the other person. It works out like that scene in Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure when they agree that after they get done, they will go back in time to steal Ted's Dad's keys and leave them for themselves right then.
Rowan Atkinson certainly isn't an official Doctor, but this adventure is embraced by fans everywhere so it earns the Number Eleven spot on the list. (Follow this link to check out the entire adventure: http://www.veoh.com/collection/DrWhoComedy/watch/v606442CTZzRPHG)
It's not Colin Baker's fault. If he'd had his way, Colin Baker would have been the longest-running Doctor in the history of Doctor Who. He would have fought all the traditional foes and struggled against every evil the writers could have come up with. Unfortunately he was fighting an unbeatable foe, the BBC.
I remember hearing a rumor when I first encountered the sixth Doctor that the writers were planning to make him abrasive and unstable so they could bring in another Doctor to turn the show around. This wasn't the case, but the difference between the fifth and sixth Doctors is extreme and did cause a lot of commotion.
Baker only got two series before he was removed as the Doctor. This included an 18-month hiatus that nearly ended the show. The final Baker story was a 14-part story called "The Trial of a Time Lord." This also doubled as the trial for Colin Baker and Doctor Who as a whole.
Since his abrupt departure as the Doctor, Colin Baker has continued to be involved in audio dramas and animated productions. He can also be seen on the special features section of most of the DVDs BBC has released from his era.
That's it for now. Be on the look out for Part 3 featuring picks seven through nine. Feel free to leave a comment below.
Anyway, here we go with numbers 12-10 on the top twelve Doctors.
Number 12
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| Paul McGann played the Eighth Doctor in a special TV movie/secret pilot in an attempt to revive Doctor Who. |
I first got acquainted with Doctor Who back in the days that the show was aired late on Friday nights on PBS along with Monty Python's Flying Circus. I didn't always understand what was going on. I certainly didn't realize that I was about seven years behind the original BBC viewers. The show was a lot of fun to watch even if I only got half an hour every weekend.
Eventually I learned that the show had been taken off the air. The US did not get to see the final adventures of Sylvester McCoy at that time, but let's just say that the ending wasn't a very great send off to the longest-running science fiction show in the history of television.
In 1996, I was excited because Fox had made arrangements to broadcast a made-for-TV movie of Doctor Who. I couldn't wait to see the Doctor again and share in his adventures.Unfortunately, someone at the BBC allowed a little too much freedom to the production team so you have the strangest regeneration sequence ever. You also get to watch as the violent shooting and death of the seventh Doctor (Sylvester McCoy.) There are lots of other issues with this movie that I won't get into since it will give away the ending if you decide to watch it.
McGann isn't to blame for this atrocity, and he's done a lot of work with Doctor Who audio dramas since his short tenure as the Doctor. Check it out just to see what's wrong with the movie, but keep your expectations low.
Number 11
 |
| Rowan Atkinson played the Doctor in a special spoof made to support the Red Nose Day charity telethon. |
Here's a guy who shouldn't technically be on the list, but if you've ever seen "The Curse of the Fatal Death," you'll understand why Rowan Atkinson gets a place here. There's another reason that I include this story. Doctor Who has a long-standing tradition of helping charities. This was a four-part special created to benefit the Red Nose Day charity. The writing is brilliant and manages to find plenty of comedy in the concepts of time travel. In one scene, the Doctor and the Master talk about going back in time to convince an architect to put a trap door in the floor under the other person. It works out like that scene in Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure when they agree that after they get done, they will go back in time to steal Ted's Dad's keys and leave them for themselves right then.
Rowan Atkinson certainly isn't an official Doctor, but this adventure is embraced by fans everywhere so it earns the Number Eleven spot on the list. (Follow this link to check out the entire adventure: http://www.veoh.com/collection/DrWhoComedy/watch/v606442CTZzRPHG)
Number 10
 |
| Colin Baker played the sixth Doctor in a very difficult time for the series. |
It's not Colin Baker's fault. If he'd had his way, Colin Baker would have been the longest-running Doctor in the history of Doctor Who. He would have fought all the traditional foes and struggled against every evil the writers could have come up with. Unfortunately he was fighting an unbeatable foe, the BBC.
I remember hearing a rumor when I first encountered the sixth Doctor that the writers were planning to make him abrasive and unstable so they could bring in another Doctor to turn the show around. This wasn't the case, but the difference between the fifth and sixth Doctors is extreme and did cause a lot of commotion.
Baker only got two series before he was removed as the Doctor. This included an 18-month hiatus that nearly ended the show. The final Baker story was a 14-part story called "The Trial of a Time Lord." This also doubled as the trial for Colin Baker and Doctor Who as a whole.
Since his abrupt departure as the Doctor, Colin Baker has continued to be involved in audio dramas and animated productions. He can also be seen on the special features section of most of the DVDs BBC has released from his era.
That's it for now. Be on the look out for Part 3 featuring picks seven through nine. Feel free to leave a comment below.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Should Farve retire now that his streak is broken?
I don't know about you, but I'm sick of the drama involved in Brett Farve playing football. At the end of every season, he's definitely retiring, then when the season is gearing up, he's changed his mind. I can understand him not wanting to quit. At 41, there really isn't much more for him to do. He might get a job as a commentator for one of the stations that shows games, but that's about all he can expect at this point in his life.
So let's think about this streak that Farve has accomplished. 259 consecutive games (not including playoffs) is a lot of games for a football player. In a sport filled with injuries and players who just can't make the cut, Farve has been a stand out among his peers. In fact, he's the only player from his peers that is still playing the game. I'm not trying to downplay that accomplishment, but after seeing how the season has been going for Farve, I'm hoping that he will be willing to accept this as a sign that it's time to say goodbye to his career on the football field.
So let's think about this streak that Farve has accomplished. 259 consecutive games (not including playoffs) is a lot of games for a football player. In a sport filled with injuries and players who just can't make the cut, Farve has been a stand out among his peers. In fact, he's the only player from his peers that is still playing the game. I'm not trying to downplay that accomplishment, but after seeing how the season has been going for Farve, I'm hoping that he will be willing to accept this as a sign that it's time to say goodbye to his career on the football field.
Will Michelle Obama's plan keep our kids from getting fat?
Today on the radio, I heard that President Obama has signed a new law that was a major project of the First Lady. What could this ground breaking legislation be about, and how will it impact our country? Well, it is a bill that set a Federal mandate for schools to remove vending machine that sell carbonated beverages and candy, and replace them with machines that will sell healthy alternatives.
That's not such a bad idea, right? It makes sense to keep all that junk food away from kids during school. This will keep them from experiencing sugar rushes and help them to focus in class. It will also teach some students the importance of making healthy food choices. There are plenty of advantages to this plan. Unfortunately, the bill declares that the purpose of this change is to reduce childhood obesity. I'm not against such a goal, but I don't think that this is going to have much impact on the problem.
Let's say your kid goes to school for around six hours each day. You probably feed them breakfast or they eat it at school. They have their lunch there, and then they come home for dinner. During the time that they are in classes, they might be able to find time to get to the machine one time. Is that one snack choice really going to impact their weight that much?
Now consider what happens at home for the other eighteen hours. Let's say eight of those are spent sleeping, but what happens during the rest of that time? There's no governmental agency set up to make sure your child gets all they need from the Food Pyramid, and no one is going to be checking to make sure those kids aren't getting junk food when you aren't with them.
Here's one more concern I have with this legislation: because the changing of the vending machines is Federally mandated, the Federal government has to foot the bill for the changes. According to the story I heard on the radio, this is expected to cost around four billion dollars. While it's not much compared to our current National Debt, it is still a lot of money especially when we are making choices about cutting the budget in so many different ways.
I'm not against the plan, but I'm concerned that it won't provide the results that the First Lady is expecting. I won't complain if I'm wrong on this one. That's my opinion on the matter. Feel free to leave me some feedback below.
That's not such a bad idea, right? It makes sense to keep all that junk food away from kids during school. This will keep them from experiencing sugar rushes and help them to focus in class. It will also teach some students the importance of making healthy food choices. There are plenty of advantages to this plan. Unfortunately, the bill declares that the purpose of this change is to reduce childhood obesity. I'm not against such a goal, but I don't think that this is going to have much impact on the problem.
Let's say your kid goes to school for around six hours each day. You probably feed them breakfast or they eat it at school. They have their lunch there, and then they come home for dinner. During the time that they are in classes, they might be able to find time to get to the machine one time. Is that one snack choice really going to impact their weight that much?
Now consider what happens at home for the other eighteen hours. Let's say eight of those are spent sleeping, but what happens during the rest of that time? There's no governmental agency set up to make sure your child gets all they need from the Food Pyramid, and no one is going to be checking to make sure those kids aren't getting junk food when you aren't with them.
Here's one more concern I have with this legislation: because the changing of the vending machines is Federally mandated, the Federal government has to foot the bill for the changes. According to the story I heard on the radio, this is expected to cost around four billion dollars. While it's not much compared to our current National Debt, it is still a lot of money especially when we are making choices about cutting the budget in so many different ways.
I'm not against the plan, but I'm concerned that it won't provide the results that the First Lady is expecting. I won't complain if I'm wrong on this one. That's my opinion on the matter. Feel free to leave me some feedback below.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Is this seriously the top iTunes single of 2010?
I don't know about you, but I've found several songs this year that I really enjoy until I pay attention to the lyrics. I still can't decide which is worse, "Hey, Soul Sister" by Train, or "Cooler than Me" by Mike Posner. I love the music of the songs, and I usually find myself singing along until I realize what I'm actually saying. Think about the message behind "Cooler than Me." The song basically boils down to "You won't have anything to do with me because you think you're cooler than me." Here's the problem with this statement: the fact that you have to make such a big deal about her thinking that she's cooler than you means that she is cooler than you.
This brings me to my real topic: Train has the number 1 downloaded song on iTunes for 2010. Just typing that sentence makes me want to cringe. So what's so bad about "Hey, Soul Sister" that has me writing about it now?
Every time the song starts, I think that it's a different song that I actually enjoy. I think it's the strumming of the mandolin. I don't know what song I think it is, but after the singer starts in, I know I've been tricked again. The worst part is that the song is popping up everywhere. It's in commercials. It's on the radio all the time. It was even covered by some kid on the beach on an episode of "Hawaii Five-0." You just can't escape it.
But what about specific examples of what's wrong with this song?
Let's start with the use of soul sister. I'm sorry, but a goofy white man has no right singing the phrase soul sister, or pairing the term with a question about Mister, Mister just because it rhymes. Then there's bizarre word images like lipstick stains on my brain. Wouldn't it be easier to simply say "your kiss is on my mind?" I also have a huge problem with him describing himself as a gangster, not because I have a problem with gangster musicians, but look at the guy. There's no way he's a gangster. There are plenty of other snafus, but I think that's more than enough for now. Besides, if I keep ranting about the song I may never stop.
Let's just say that I find it hard to believe that it is a sad state of affairs that this is the most downloaded song, but that's my just my opinion. Leave a comment below to let me know how you feel about it.
This brings me to my real topic: Train has the number 1 downloaded song on iTunes for 2010. Just typing that sentence makes me want to cringe. So what's so bad about "Hey, Soul Sister" that has me writing about it now?
Every time the song starts, I think that it's a different song that I actually enjoy. I think it's the strumming of the mandolin. I don't know what song I think it is, but after the singer starts in, I know I've been tricked again. The worst part is that the song is popping up everywhere. It's in commercials. It's on the radio all the time. It was even covered by some kid on the beach on an episode of "Hawaii Five-0." You just can't escape it.
But what about specific examples of what's wrong with this song?
Let's start with the use of soul sister. I'm sorry, but a goofy white man has no right singing the phrase soul sister, or pairing the term with a question about Mister, Mister just because it rhymes. Then there's bizarre word images like lipstick stains on my brain. Wouldn't it be easier to simply say "your kiss is on my mind?" I also have a huge problem with him describing himself as a gangster, not because I have a problem with gangster musicians, but look at the guy. There's no way he's a gangster. There are plenty of other snafus, but I think that's more than enough for now. Besides, if I keep ranting about the song I may never stop.
Let's just say that I find it hard to believe that it is a sad state of affairs that this is the most downloaded song, but that's my just my opinion. Leave a comment below to let me know how you feel about it.
The Top 12 Doctors in Doctor Who (Part I)
Doctor Who was originally a children's show created for the BBC in 1963. The Doctor was a strange old man travelling in a Police Call Box that was bigger on the inside than the outside. He would travel in this T.A.R.D.I.S. (Time and Relative Dimension in Space) with his granddaughter, Susan, and her teachers who were just dragged along for the ride. I should also mention that the T.A.R.D.I.S is able to travel anywhere in time and space. Too bad the Doctor can't control where he's going.
When the original Doctor became unable to continue the role do to his age, someone came up with the brilliant idea to make it so the Doctor could just 'regenerate' into another person. The look, attitudes, and personality were all different, but he was still the Doctor. This allowed for Doctor Who to become the longest running science fiction show ever. Over almost 50 years, the Doctor has been portrayed by many men. I am going to list the Top Twelve of these actors. Why twelve? Because they all deserve recognition for what they did. (There are eleven official Doctors at this point as well as a few non cannon appearances but more about that later.)
When the original Doctor became unable to continue the role do to his age, someone came up with the brilliant idea to make it so the Doctor could just 'regenerate' into another person. The look, attitudes, and personality were all different, but he was still the Doctor. This allowed for Doctor Who to become the longest running science fiction show ever. Over almost 50 years, the Doctor has been portrayed by many men. I am going to list the Top Twelve of these actors. Why twelve? Because they all deserve recognition for what they did. (There are eleven official Doctors at this point as well as a few non cannon appearances but more about that later.)
Honorable Mentions
There are a few people who deserve a quick mention even though they may not be officially accepted actors playing the Doctor. Over the years, there have been many fans who have wanted to be a part of the action and put together some great work. Also, there's a Doctor who wasn't what he thought he was.
David Morrissey-In 2008, a special called "The Next Doctor" featured a man who may or may not be a regeneration of the Doctor. This character turns out to be a man who has had the Doctor's memories imprinted on his mind, but he does a great job of being a Time Lord with what he has available in Victorian England.
Tony Garner-In 1995, someone noticed that Tony Garner looked like a combination of the second and third Doctors and a group called Devious was formed to make a fan production featuring the Second-and-a-Halfth Doctor. The story takes place after the Time Lords force the second Doctor to regenerate. The premise is that the regeneration is incommplete, but that doesn't stop Garner's Doctor from facing off against the forces of evil. According to the website, the six-part production is near completion with special effects still in process. The trailer can be seen on the second disc of "The Wargames." It's worth checking out. Hopefully it will be ready some day soon.
Dishonorable Mention
Peter Cushing-You can't blame Peter Cushing for signing on for a couple of movies. After all, a job is a job, right? I blame the writers for the fact that these movies have almost nothing to do with the TV show. It's like somebody watched a few episodes of Doctor Who with the volume off and made up the story based on the images. The character is called Doctor Who rather than the Doctor and he's a human who invented this time machine. That makes sense so far, right? I'm sure all the scientist in the 60's were zipping around in them.
Anyway, that's just the start for my list, but you'll have to wait for part II to find out about the actual actors that played the Doctor. As always, feel free to leave a comment if you have one.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Hasselhoff can't even make it on reality TV.
Back in the 80's David Hasselhoff played his only significant part as an actor. He was the star of the show "Knight Rider," right next to a talking car named K.I.T.T. (Knight Industries Two Thousand) The show was centered on the idea that "one man can make a difference," and lots of viewers tuned in each week to see what troubles Micheal Knight and K.I.T.T. would face next.
After "Knight Rider" ended, Hasselhoff took the main role on "Baywatch" a show that got viewer primarily because of the female lifeguards. (including Pamela Anderson) As a lifeguard and instructor of lifeguards, I find the show to be a disgraceful presentation on the job. I always tell my guards that their job is to stay dry and keep the swimmers from getting into dangerous situations. As far as I can tell from my limited exposure to the show, the Baywatch guards were too busy running on the beach and saving people who were in trouble to keep people from getting into dangerous situations.
After that it was downhill for Hasselhoff's career. He's been relegated to bit parts and making fun of himself on TV and in the movies. He has had some success as a singer, but mostly in Germany. There isn't much more that can be said about him until his recent attempt at a reality TV show.
"The Hasselhoffs" was an attempt by Hasselhoff and A&E to cash in on the name of David Hassellhoff and his attractive young daughters as they all tried to find show-business careers. It was a fair bet on the part of all the parties involved. After all, reality TV has a way of taking even the most worthless concepts and finding an audience for them. Look at how much success Hulk Hogan had with his show. The show should have managed for a little while, but just got canceled after two episodes. Now he is playing Captain Hook. Check out the picture above to see his new look. It's a little scary in my opinion.
After "Knight Rider" ended, Hasselhoff took the main role on "Baywatch" a show that got viewer primarily because of the female lifeguards. (including Pamela Anderson) As a lifeguard and instructor of lifeguards, I find the show to be a disgraceful presentation on the job. I always tell my guards that their job is to stay dry and keep the swimmers from getting into dangerous situations. As far as I can tell from my limited exposure to the show, the Baywatch guards were too busy running on the beach and saving people who were in trouble to keep people from getting into dangerous situations.
After that it was downhill for Hasselhoff's career. He's been relegated to bit parts and making fun of himself on TV and in the movies. He has had some success as a singer, but mostly in Germany. There isn't much more that can be said about him until his recent attempt at a reality TV show.
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| "Celebrity David Hasselhoff poses in his costume for his new role as Captain Hook in the Wimbledon Theater production of "Peter Pan." |
Friday, December 10, 2010
My Top Ten Football Movies (part II)
So let's start with a quick recap of 10-6 before we start in on the Top Five movies. Remember that you can also check the full review by clicking here: http://lockheed40.blogspot.com/2010/12/my-top-ten-football-movies-part-i.html. Please remember that my list is designed based on movies that I have actually seen. I'm sure there are plenty of movies that ought to be on this list, but if I haven't seen it, I can't give my opinion on it. (Well, I can, but in this case, I won't.)
I had to do put a lot of thought into the placement for this movie. "The Longest Yard has been made twice, once with Burt Reynolds in the lead role, and this version starring Adam Sandler. At first I had my doubts about Sandler in this role, but he definitely found a way to make the character work for him. It's also a nice touch to have Burt Reynolds in the movie as well.
I planned on putting both versions in the list, but it was hard to decide which one was a better movie. Both movies have some great characters, and take a different spin on the common story. Unfortunately the movie tries too hard to be funny. From the prison cheerleaders to the guy with the burgers, it's just too much nonsense. The movie would have been much better if they'd just let Sandler and Chris Rock make the jokes and try to take the rest of the movie seriously.
Once upon a time, Goldie Hawn was a silly girl who giggled and laughed every week on a show called "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In." I don't think that anyone watching that show in the 60s would have imagined her becoming the actress she is today. Some of her earlier roles played off of that persona she used on TV, but she grew as an actress.
Wildcats is in the middle of her development period. She plays a coach who wants to get out of coaching the typical girl's sports and get into coaching football like her father did. It's an uphill battle and she gets put into the worst school with a team of slackers. I won't say much more about the plot, but I will say it is worth checking out, especially if you are a fan of "Overboard."
Scott Bakula is everywhere. He was the time traveling Samuel Beckett. He was the captain of the first star ship Enterprise. He also played the nontraditional student/college quarterback for a team of misfits in this particular football movie.
Texas State University has been caught breaking NCAA rules and cannot offer scholarships and loses all but one player from the old team. They can only accept current students, and the dean decides to try and get rid of the team by making most of the students that try out ineligible. The coaches pull in a quarterback that decided not to go to college after his father's death, and a girl from the soccer team (Supermodel Kathy Ireland) to be the kicker. The rest of the team has to play iron man football (players play offense and defense) This movie also has Sinbad who isn't too overwhelming in the movie.
All in all this is a great movie. It's one of my personal favorite movies. Check it out.
Burt Reynolds plays a former professional football player turned prison inmate who is forced to organize a game between the prisoners and the guards. Sound familiar? It should. It's the same basic plot of the Adam Sandler version of the movie.
So what do I like about this movie that makes it two places above the newer version? First, this movie treats the idea seriously. It isn't just a way to make a movie. The plot is completely focused on the game and not on jokes.
The casting is great too. You probably won't recognize most of the actors in this version, but they are all quality actors.
I do enjoy both movies, but this one is definitely better in my opinion.
Enough about that, let's talk about "The Replacements." Football players are going on strike and the owner of the Washington Sentinels brings back his former coach, Jimmy Maginty, played by Gene Hackman. Maginty decides to build a team of people who have football experience, but haven't played much in the pros. This team includes a preacher, a grocery store clerk, a sumo wrestler, a deaf man, two body guards, a SWAT officer, and a former pro who is in jail. Now add Keanu Reeves to the mix as a down and out failed QB who is currently scraping stuff off other people's boats.
The movie is just a lot of fun to watch. It takes the games seriously, but it still manages to be a lot of fun. There is also the sub plot of hiring replacement cheerleaders (which doesn't make much sense) and they definitely add to the fun of the movie. Don't forget the standard squabbles between the team that's on strike and the replacements.
Definitely check out this movie, and maybe it will find a place on your top ten list too.
Top Ten (10-6)
10. The Best of Times.
9. Any Given Sunday.
8. The Little Giants.
7. The Waterboy.
6. The Last Boyscout.
Number 5
I had to do put a lot of thought into the placement for this movie. "The Longest Yard has been made twice, once with Burt Reynolds in the lead role, and this version starring Adam Sandler. At first I had my doubts about Sandler in this role, but he definitely found a way to make the character work for him. It's also a nice touch to have Burt Reynolds in the movie as well.
I planned on putting both versions in the list, but it was hard to decide which one was a better movie. Both movies have some great characters, and take a different spin on the common story. Unfortunately the movie tries too hard to be funny. From the prison cheerleaders to the guy with the burgers, it's just too much nonsense. The movie would have been much better if they'd just let Sandler and Chris Rock make the jokes and try to take the rest of the movie seriously.
Number 4
Once upon a time, Goldie Hawn was a silly girl who giggled and laughed every week on a show called "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In." I don't think that anyone watching that show in the 60s would have imagined her becoming the actress she is today. Some of her earlier roles played off of that persona she used on TV, but she grew as an actress.
Wildcats is in the middle of her development period. She plays a coach who wants to get out of coaching the typical girl's sports and get into coaching football like her father did. It's an uphill battle and she gets put into the worst school with a team of slackers. I won't say much more about the plot, but I will say it is worth checking out, especially if you are a fan of "Overboard."
Number 3
Scott Bakula is everywhere. He was the time traveling Samuel Beckett. He was the captain of the first star ship Enterprise. He also played the nontraditional student/college quarterback for a team of misfits in this particular football movie.
Texas State University has been caught breaking NCAA rules and cannot offer scholarships and loses all but one player from the old team. They can only accept current students, and the dean decides to try and get rid of the team by making most of the students that try out ineligible. The coaches pull in a quarterback that decided not to go to college after his father's death, and a girl from the soccer team (Supermodel Kathy Ireland) to be the kicker. The rest of the team has to play iron man football (players play offense and defense) This movie also has Sinbad who isn't too overwhelming in the movie.
All in all this is a great movie. It's one of my personal favorite movies. Check it out.
Number 2
Burt Reynolds plays a former professional football player turned prison inmate who is forced to organize a game between the prisoners and the guards. Sound familiar? It should. It's the same basic plot of the Adam Sandler version of the movie.
So what do I like about this movie that makes it two places above the newer version? First, this movie treats the idea seriously. It isn't just a way to make a movie. The plot is completely focused on the game and not on jokes.
The casting is great too. You probably won't recognize most of the actors in this version, but they are all quality actors.
I do enjoy both movies, but this one is definitely better in my opinion.
Number 1
So here's where the shouting starts. "Where is Friday Night Lights?" "How could you not put Remember the Titans on your list?" Let's make sure to add "Lucas" and "Rudy" to the list of neglected movies too. Unfortunately, I haven't seen any of these movies so it isn't fair for me to put them on the list.Enough about that, let's talk about "The Replacements." Football players are going on strike and the owner of the Washington Sentinels brings back his former coach, Jimmy Maginty, played by Gene Hackman. Maginty decides to build a team of people who have football experience, but haven't played much in the pros. This team includes a preacher, a grocery store clerk, a sumo wrestler, a deaf man, two body guards, a SWAT officer, and a former pro who is in jail. Now add Keanu Reeves to the mix as a down and out failed QB who is currently scraping stuff off other people's boats.
The movie is just a lot of fun to watch. It takes the games seriously, but it still manages to be a lot of fun. There is also the sub plot of hiring replacement cheerleaders (which doesn't make much sense) and they definitely add to the fun of the movie. Don't forget the standard squabbles between the team that's on strike and the replacements.
Definitely check out this movie, and maybe it will find a place on your top ten list too.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
If you liked Holes, will you like Small Steps?
In 1998, Louis Sachar published his popular novel, "Holes." In 2003, the misadventures of Stanley Yelnats IV hit the big screen in a Disney movie starring then rising Disney star, Shia LaBeouf. This made the book even more popular as kids hurried to learn more about the story behind the movie.
At the same time "Holes" was hitting the theaters, Sachar released "Stanley Yelnats' Survival Guide to Camp Green Lake." Then in 2006, Sachar's next Camp Green Lake related book, "Small Steps."
Rather than focusing on Stanley, this story follows the adventures of Theodore "Armpit" Johnson as he tries to get his life back on track. He has started taking some college classes while working at the job he is exceptionally qualified-digging holes. More accurately he is working for a landscaper. Armpit is living at home and has a good friendship with a 10-year-old girl named Ginny who lives next door to him. He also gets dragged into some crazy schemes by his old buddy X-ray.
I don't want to give away too much, but you should know that the title "Small Steps" refers to some advice Armpit received while getting counseling after his time at Camp Green Lake. The counselor tells him that when you walk upstream, you have to take small steps or you'll be swept away in the current.
"Small Steps" is a great book, and it's definitely worth checking out. I should also mention that Sachar has a new book out called "The Cardturner." I just spotted it on his website so I don't know much about it. I do plan to check this book out soon though.
At the same time "Holes" was hitting the theaters, Sachar released "Stanley Yelnats' Survival Guide to Camp Green Lake." Then in 2006, Sachar's next Camp Green Lake related book, "Small Steps."
Rather than focusing on Stanley, this story follows the adventures of Theodore "Armpit" Johnson as he tries to get his life back on track. He has started taking some college classes while working at the job he is exceptionally qualified-digging holes. More accurately he is working for a landscaper. Armpit is living at home and has a good friendship with a 10-year-old girl named Ginny who lives next door to him. He also gets dragged into some crazy schemes by his old buddy X-ray.
I don't want to give away too much, but you should know that the title "Small Steps" refers to some advice Armpit received while getting counseling after his time at Camp Green Lake. The counselor tells him that when you walk upstream, you have to take small steps or you'll be swept away in the current.
"Small Steps" is a great book, and it's definitely worth checking out. I should also mention that Sachar has a new book out called "The Cardturner." I just spotted it on his website so I don't know much about it. I do plan to check this book out soon though.
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