Comments on: The Doctor is In http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2005/07/26/the-doctor-is-in/ Random samplings from a universe of ideas. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:40:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: steve http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2005/07/26/the-doctor-is-in/comment-page-1/#comment-529 steve Sat, 30 Jul 2005 08:43:24 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2005/07/26/the-doctor-is-in/#comment-529 erc, In the new Dr Who the daleks can levitate! I always found the original Dr Who to have a very creepy atmosphere to it. What was always disturbing about all the alien beings encountered in the Dr Who universe , especially the daleks, was that they were all utterly devoid of any compassion, not that they have a sink plunger stuck on them. I believe TARDIS stands for Time And Relative Dimension In Space. Designed by the "temporal engineers" on Gallifrey (whom I am sure were applied string theorists:) erc,
In the new Dr Who the daleks can levitate! I always found the original Dr Who to have a very creepy atmosphere to it. What was always disturbing about all the alien beings encountered in the Dr Who universe , especially the daleks, was that they were all utterly devoid of any compassion, not that they have a sink plunger stuck on them.

I believe TARDIS stands for Time And Relative Dimension In Space. Designed by the “temporal engineers” on Gallifrey (whom I am sure were applied string theorists:)

]]> By: Clifford http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2005/07/26/the-doctor-is-in/comment-page-1/#comment-528 Clifford Sat, 30 Jul 2005 08:09:24 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2005/07/26/the-doctor-is-in/#comment-528 Hi erc, the answer can easily be found in my original question: <em>"was there any more of the psuedo-physics babble that warmed my young future string theorist's heart so much?"</em> Cheers, -cvj Hi erc, the answer can easily be found in my original question: “was there any more of the psuedo-physics babble that warmed my young future string theorist’s heart so much?”

Cheers,

-cvj

]]> By: erc http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2005/07/26/the-doctor-is-in/comment-page-1/#comment-527 erc Sat, 30 Jul 2005 06:09:30 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2005/07/26/the-doctor-is-in/#comment-527 What potentially embarrassing thing am I admitting to? A childhood interest in physics? *Busted!* Ok, you got me. I'll never be able to show my face in public again. How could I have been so rash? I should have seen that coming... My answer: you looked for it in a TV show! A TV show where the most terrifying beings consist of an upside-down dustbin with a sink plunger attached and no ability to deal with stairs! The show might have made you wonder about the possibility of time travel etc. but surely you didn't seriously think they were going to tell you anything about how one could do it?! What potentially embarrassing thing am I admitting to? A childhood interest in physics? *Busted!* Ok, you got me. I’ll never be able to show my face in public again. How could I have been so rash?

I should have seen that coming… My answer: you looked for it in a TV show! A TV show where the most terrifying beings consist of an upside-down dustbin with a sink plunger attached and no ability to deal with stairs! The show might have made you wonder about the possibility of time travel etc. but surely you didn’t seriously think they were going to tell you anything about how one could do it?!

]]> By: Jim http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2005/07/26/the-doctor-is-in/comment-page-1/#comment-526 Jim Sat, 30 Jul 2005 03:06:52 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2005/07/26/the-doctor-is-in/#comment-526 Peter Erwin, thanks for the info. I'll have to find a B5 eppie guide and look for the relevant episodes. Physics in the new series? Well, it's mostly of the "we can travel from one end of the universe to the other in 8 seconds" variety. Lots of pretty standard sci-fi stuff about time rifts, beings of energy trying to find corporeal bodies to carry on with and so forth. To be honest, it's a given that the average viewer will just take it on faith that The Doctor can travel through time and space; the particulars of *how* aren't really gone in to and, to be honest, I think the series is better for it. In fact, the main thrust of this season has been showing The Doctor facing up to the fact that, as one alien says to him (paraphrasing here) "You pop up in these places, bringing Death with you, and when it gets sticky, you just leave, while the people that are left behind have to deal with the consequences of YOUR actions". Oh, and the Dalek Emperor is really, seriously, cool. I love the electronic voice they use for him. Peter Erwin, thanks for the info. I’ll have to find a B5 eppie guide and look for the relevant episodes.

Physics in the new series? Well, it’s mostly of the “we can travel from one end of the universe to the other in 8 seconds” variety. Lots of pretty standard sci-fi stuff about time rifts, beings of energy trying to find corporeal bodies to carry on with and so forth. To be honest, it’s a given that the average viewer will just take it on faith that The Doctor can travel through time and space; the particulars of *how* aren’t really gone in to and, to be honest, I think the series is better for it.

In fact, the main thrust of this season has been showing The Doctor facing up to the fact that, as one alien says to him (paraphrasing here) “You pop up in these places, bringing Death with you, and when it gets sticky, you just leave, while the people that are left behind have to deal with the consequences of YOUR actions”.

Oh, and the Dalek Emperor is really, seriously, cool. I love the electronic voice they use for him.

]]> By: Clifford http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2005/07/26/the-doctor-is-in/comment-page-1/#comment-525 Clifford Fri, 29 Jul 2005 18:30:00 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2005/07/26/the-doctor-is-in/#comment-525 Kris! Good to hear from you! Welcome! That sounds like a great episode, by the way. -cvj Kris! Good to hear from you! Welcome! That sounds like a great episode, by the way. -cvj

]]> By: Kris Kennaway http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2005/07/26/the-doctor-is-in/comment-page-1/#comment-524 Kris Kennaway Fri, 29 Jul 2005 17:45:50 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2005/07/26/the-doctor-is-in/#comment-524 The Dr Who episode that most fascinated me as a kid featured a planet of mathematicians whose calculations directly manipulated the structure of space-time, and who were incidentally responsible for stabilizing the collapse of the universe, which otherwise would have happened long ago. I wanted to learn how to do that! Kris P.S. Sorry I missed you while you were visiting PI, I was out of the country for a few weeks. The Dr Who episode that most fascinated me as a kid featured a planet of mathematicians whose calculations directly manipulated the structure of space-time, and who were incidentally responsible for stabilizing the collapse of the universe, which otherwise would have happened long ago. I wanted to learn how to do that!

Kris

P.S. Sorry I missed you while you were visiting PI, I was out of the country for a few weeks.

]]> By: Clifford http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2005/07/26/the-doctor-is-in/comment-page-1/#comment-523 Clifford Fri, 29 Jul 2005 16:24:08 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2005/07/26/the-doctor-is-in/#comment-523 Hi erc, I'm missing something here. What potentially embarrassing thing am I admitting to? A childhood interest in physics? *Busted!* Ok, you got me. I'll never be able to show my face in public again. How could I have been so rash? cheers, -cvj Hi erc, I’m missing something here. What potentially embarrassing thing am I admitting to? A childhood interest in physics? *Busted!* Ok, you got me. I’ll never be able to show my face in public again. How could I have been so rash?

cheers,

-cvj

]]> By: erc http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2005/07/26/the-doctor-is-in/comment-page-1/#comment-522 erc Fri, 29 Jul 2005 15:09:05 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2005/07/26/the-doctor-is-in/#comment-522 Clifford: "The only thing that really caught my attention was when they would focus occasionally on the workings of the TARDIS (the time machine, for those not familiar) and when he would mention having to compute (or whatever) how they would have to get to where/when they were going. " I know this is a physics-oriented space, but are you _sure_ you want to be admitting this to the world at large? However, I've never seen a single episode of Dr. Who, so perhaps I should stay out of the fray :-) Clifford:

“The only thing that really caught my attention was when they would focus occasionally on the workings of the TARDIS (the time machine, for those not familiar) and when he would mention having to compute (or whatever) how they would have to get to where/when they were going. ”

I know this is a physics-oriented space, but are you _sure_ you want to be admitting this to the world at large? However, I’ve never seen a single episode of Dr. Who, so perhaps I should stay out of the fray :-)

]]> By: Peter Erwin http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2005/07/26/the-doctor-is-in/comment-page-1/#comment-521 Peter Erwin Fri, 29 Jul 2005 14:07:36 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2005/07/26/the-doctor-is-in/#comment-521 Alien catwomen in a science fiction setting? Sounds like Space Pirate Alien Ninja Catgirls... (http://www.sjgames.com/spanc/). Not a game I've actually played, but a suitably goofy setup. Reply to Jim's comment: <i>Babylon 5</i>, at least, had same-sex attraction (and relationships, or the hint of them) in its future setting, and even gay marriages. The latter were presented as being normal enough that a pair of undercover male operatives could be booked into a hotel's honeymoon suite, their cover being that they were newlyweds. Alien catwomen in a science fiction setting? Sounds like Space Pirate Alien Ninja Catgirls… (http://www.sjgames.com/spanc/). Not a game I’ve actually played, but a suitably goofy setup.

Reply to Jim’s comment: Babylon 5, at least, had same-sex attraction (and relationships, or the hint of them) in its future setting, and even gay marriages. The latter were presented as being normal enough that a pair of undercover male operatives could be booked into a hotel’s honeymoon suite, their cover being that they were newlyweds.

]]> By: tmccort http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2005/07/26/the-doctor-is-in/comment-page-1/#comment-520 tmccort Thu, 28 Jul 2005 16:52:41 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2005/07/26/the-doctor-is-in/#comment-520 "but was there any more of the psuedo-physics babble that warmed my young future string theorist's heart so much?" No comment. “but was there any more of the psuedo-physics babble that warmed my young future string theorist’s heart so much?”

No comment.

]]> By: Clifford http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2005/07/26/the-doctor-is-in/comment-page-1/#comment-519 Clifford Thu, 28 Jul 2005 12:04:05 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2005/07/26/the-doctor-is-in/#comment-519 I recall that as a youngster, way back when, I was extremely uninterested in the actual business of the Doctor saving the day, or battling with some evil bad special effect or other. The only thing that really caught my attention was when they would focus occasionally on the workings of the TARDIS (the time machine, for those not familiar) and when he would mention having to compute (or whatever) how they would have to get to where/when they were going. I was very frustrated by there not being much of that at all, since they would focus on the (mostly really awful I recall) plotlines and characters. So I'm pleased to hear that in the new material maybe things have improved on the plotting side of things, but was there any more of the psuedo-physics babble that warmed my young future string theorist's heart so much? -cvj I recall that as a youngster, way back when, I was extremely uninterested in the actual business of the Doctor saving the day, or battling with some evil bad special effect or other. The only thing that really caught my attention was when they would focus occasionally on the workings of the TARDIS (the time machine, for those not familiar) and when he would mention having to compute (or whatever) how they would have to get to where/when they were going. I was very frustrated by there not being much of that at all, since they would focus on the (mostly really awful I recall) plotlines and characters. So I’m pleased to hear that in the new material maybe things have improved on the plotting side of things, but was there any more of the psuedo-physics babble that warmed my young future string theorist’s heart so much?

-cvj

]]> By: Aaron http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2005/07/26/the-doctor-is-in/comment-page-1/#comment-518 Aaron Thu, 28 Jul 2005 04:54:20 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2005/07/26/the-doctor-is-in/#comment-518 Look at his hair! They cut off all his hair!!! *pout* "Were there ever any good races of Cat Women by the way?" If I recall correctly, Cat Woman from Batman was more ambiguously moral than straight-up evil... Look at his hair! They cut off all his hair!!! *pout*

“Were there ever any good races of Cat Women by the way?”

If I recall correctly, Cat Woman from Batman was more ambiguously moral than straight-up evil…

]]> By: Jim http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2005/07/26/the-doctor-is-in/comment-page-1/#comment-517 Jim Thu, 28 Jul 2005 03:31:45 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2005/07/26/the-doctor-is-in/#comment-517 I watched the entire season of the new Doctor via BitTorrent. I'd rather have watched the eppies on my TV and not my computer, but I didn't want to wait for the DVD's. I loved the new season. Rose is an excellent companion and Christopher Ecclestone was superb as the cheeky Northern lad Doctor. I watch the last two episodes of the season ("Bad Wolf" and "Parting of the Ways") all the time. I baffle my friends when I use a Dalek voice and say "Do not blaspheme! Do not blaspheme!" when they say something I don't like. Geek? Me? Yep. I love the Emperor of the Daleks ("I want to see you become like me. Hail the Doctor! The Great Exterminator!"); the last 10 minutes of POTW is amazing. All bow before The Bad Wolf! I want to be able to say something like this and mean it: "You are tiny! I can see the whole of time and space, every single atom of your existence and I divide them!" I also liked, as a gay man, that FINALLY, in my experience, a sci-fi series acknowledges that same-sex attraction survives the 21st century (I'm not up on current stuff; maybe it's a given now on other shows, but my gay sci-fi geek friends don't seem to think so); Captain Jack was a fine character and kicked some ass, but he matter-of-factly loves him some men (and women. and androids. and, well, anything living and attractive). I loved the Doctor's explanation when Jack kisses a guy and Rose looks shocked: "He's a 51st century guy. He has a more open idea of who he wants to dance with". I think David Tennant is going to be a brilliant Doctor. I was afraid that they were going to keep using Ecclestone's leather jacket/black pants outfit, but I'm glad they're not. "Where was I? Oh, that's right. Barcelona!". Excellent. I can't wait for the "Christmas Invasion". I watched the entire season of the new Doctor via BitTorrent. I’d rather have watched the eppies on my TV and not my computer, but I didn’t want to wait for the DVD’s.

I loved the new season. Rose is an excellent companion and Christopher Ecclestone was superb as the cheeky Northern lad Doctor. I watch the last two episodes of the season (“Bad Wolf” and “Parting of the Ways”) all the time. I baffle my friends when I use a Dalek voice and say “Do not blaspheme! Do not blaspheme!” when they say something I don’t like. Geek? Me? Yep. I love the Emperor of the Daleks (“I want to see you become like me. Hail the Doctor! The Great Exterminator!”); the last 10 minutes of POTW is amazing. All bow before The Bad Wolf! I want to be able to say something like this and mean it:

“You are tiny! I can see the whole of time and space, every single atom of your existence and I divide them!”

I also liked, as a gay man, that FINALLY, in my experience, a sci-fi series acknowledges that same-sex attraction survives the 21st century (I’m not up on current stuff; maybe it’s a given now on other shows, but my gay sci-fi geek friends don’t seem to think so); Captain Jack was a fine character and kicked some ass, but he matter-of-factly loves him some men (and women. and androids. and, well, anything living and attractive). I loved the Doctor’s explanation when Jack kisses a guy and Rose looks shocked: “He’s a 51st century guy. He has a more open idea of who he wants to dance with”.

I think David Tennant is going to be a brilliant Doctor. I was afraid that they were going to keep using Ecclestone’s leather jacket/black pants outfit, but I’m glad they’re not. “Where was I? Oh, that’s right. Barcelona!”. Excellent.

I can’t wait for the “Christmas Invasion”.

]]> By: tmccort http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2005/07/26/the-doctor-is-in/comment-page-1/#comment-516 tmccort Thu, 28 Jul 2005 00:34:34 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2005/07/26/the-doctor-is-in/#comment-516 Clifford, did you notice the ratty running shoes? http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/gallery/tennant/1024/t4.jpg Clifford, did you notice the ratty running shoes?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/gallery/tennant/1024/t4.jpg

]]> By: Clifford http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2005/07/26/the-doctor-is-in/comment-page-1/#comment-515 Clifford Wed, 27 Jul 2005 23:35:29 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2005/07/26/the-doctor-is-in/#comment-515 Wow, they really went to town on those special effects (second link) didn't they? I do love the BBC! -cvj Wow, they really went to town on those special effects (second link) didn’t they? I do love the BBC! -cvj

]]> By: John Chunko http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2005/07/26/the-doctor-is-in/comment-page-1/#comment-514 John Chunko Wed, 27 Jul 2005 23:26:18 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2005/07/26/the-doctor-is-in/#comment-514 The very last episode of the Sylvester McCoy series had the Doctor winding up on a planet where those who stayed too long were turned into Cheetah People. http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/doctorwho/episodeguide/survival/index.shtml Be a nice kitty and don't play with that human femur... http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/doctorwho/gallery/monsters2/survival.shtml The very last episode of the Sylvester McCoy series had the Doctor winding up on a planet where those who stayed too long were turned into Cheetah People.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/doctorwho/episodeguide/survival/index.shtml

Be a nice kitty and don’t play with that human femur…

http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/doctorwho/gallery/monsters2/survival.shtml

]]> By: Clifford http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2005/07/26/the-doctor-is-in/comment-page-1/#comment-513 Clifford Wed, 27 Jul 2005 22:49:09 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2005/07/26/the-doctor-is-in/#comment-513 Oh really?...excellent. Joanna Lumley is an excellent choice too. Never saw it. -cvj Oh really?…excellent. Joanna Lumley is an excellent choice too. Never saw it. -cvj

]]> By: Redshift http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2005/07/26/the-doctor-is-in/comment-page-1/#comment-512 Redshift Wed, 27 Jul 2005 14:57:40 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2005/07/26/the-doctor-is-in/#comment-512 Have you seen "Doctor Who and the Curse of the Fatal Death"? It was done for Comic Relief, and features Joanna Lumley as The Doctor (among others; I thought Rowan Atkinson was the best.) Have you seen “Doctor Who and the Curse of the Fatal Death”? It was done for Comic Relief, and features Joanna Lumley as The Doctor (among others; I thought Rowan Atkinson was the best.)

]]> By: Clifford http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2005/07/26/the-doctor-is-in/comment-page-1/#comment-511 Clifford Wed, 27 Jul 2005 09:50:50 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2005/07/26/the-doctor-is-in/#comment-511 tmccort: Yes! Good point. But he solves them, like a good physicist should. Naresh, it was good? ok. I've never seen any of the modern stuff. Maybe it will show up on my screen sometime. Hah, yes, Netflix is a good idea, agm. -cvj tmccort: Yes! Good point. But he solves them, like a good physicist should. Naresh, it was good? ok. I’ve never seen any of the modern stuff. Maybe it will show up on my screen sometime. Hah, yes, Netflix is a good idea, agm.

-cvj

]]> By: agm http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2005/07/26/the-doctor-is-in/comment-page-1/#comment-510 agm Wed, 27 Jul 2005 09:09:15 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2005/07/26/the-doctor-is-in/#comment-510 Thank god for Netflix. Thank god for Netflix.

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