TV Review: Doctor Who, Season 1, epidosdes 1-3 (2005)

 Yes, this was my introduction to Doctor Who. I've been aware of the fandom, both on a global scale and a NOVA scale, for quite some time, but I had never actually sat down and watched the show before. So I decided to start at the beginning, or at least the beginning of the re-boot.

I watched three episodes: "Rose," "The End of the World," and "The Unquiet Dead."

"Rose" introduces us to our heroine, Rose Tyler, played by a very young Billie Piper. Rose is a normal London girl who works in a department store and lives with her mum. However, her life is upended when one night the mannequins in the department store come alive and ominously move to attack her. However, Rose is in luck because the Doctor appears to save the day. So begins the adventure. This episode's story is very cheeky, mixing humor with mild amounts of action and suspense. But it's all good fun, and Christopher Eccleston makes an excellent Doctor.

In "The End of the World," the Doctor and Rose travel 5 billion years into the future to witness the destruction of Planet Earth. This episode features a parade of bizarre aliens, in what I'm guessing is a nod to the somewhat campy sci-fi roots of the series. Once again the Doctor and Rose are in great peril, and this time the Doctor must evade some giant propeller blades to flip a switch to reset the system which will protect the ship from the exploding Earth. That's right, 5 billion years in the future manual switches are the only way to reset computer operating systems. Another fun episode.

In "The Unquiet Dead," the Doctor and Rose travel back in time to 1869 Belfast. This one is a ghost story, only the ghosts are aliens, and Charles Dickens is one of the key supporting characters. Fun period details, and this time Charles Dickens saves the day.

While these episodes were fun, they're still rather lightweight. My sense is that the most-loved episodes in the series are yet to come. I like the series so far, but...I don't know that I'll ever be a hard-core Whovian. I'm just not sure Doctor Who will be able to enter my pantheon of all-time great shows: The Wire, The Sopranos, Breaking Bad, Freaks and Geeks, Twin Peaks, et al. But we'll see--I'm enjoying the series so far.

¡Hay una fiesta en mi panza!

Happy Chadian Freedom and Democracy Day, everyone!

North Africa Quiz

Tassili n'Ajjer Mountains, Sahara Desert, Algeria

Countries: Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania, Mali, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Niger, Chad, Egypt, Sudan, South Sudan.

Practice Map Quiz: Africa North of the Sahara (includes review countries).

Blank map of Africa: d-maps.

Quiz Date:
November 21, 2014.

Baltimore Day 2

Baltimore Day 1

Africa Country Pitch

Choose an African country that you’re interested in learning about. Your job is to make a pitch to convince your classmates to visit this country. Your pitch is meant to be read out loud. Use convincing language. The more interesting and exciting you make your country and destinations sound, the more your classmates will want to visit them.

Red lechwe in Okavango Delta, Botswana (Photo: Michael Poliza)

Prior to composing your pitch you will need to take notes. Use notecards for your notes. You need at least one notecard per section. In addition, you need a separate notecard on which to keep track of sources. For each source, record the title of the website (you do not need to record the URL). You need to utilize at least 3 different websites.

Your pitch will include six sections, and thus must be at least six paragraphs in length. Include at least 4 photos and a map.

Your pitch must be entirely in your own words. You may gather information from the internet. However, the actual writing should be your writing. Plagiarizing from the internet will result in a zero for the project.

Introduction: Explain why visitors should want to visit your country. Provide an overview of what visitors can expect to see and do in the country. Explain why these sites are worth visiting.

City: Spotlight 3 landmarks within the city. Describe what each landmark is, why it is significant, and why visitors should want to visit it.

Adventure Activity: Choose an adventure activity visitors can do in your country. Explain where they would go to partake in this activity. Describe what the activity would entail. Describe the scenery surrounding this activity.

Site of Historical Importance: Choose a site of historical importance within your country (it may not be located in the city you have already spotlighted). Describe the site. Explain why the site is historically important.

Animal Spotlight: Choose an animal which can be found in your country. Describe the animal. Explain what makes this animal interesting or unique. Explain whether or not this animal is currently endangered.

Conclusion: Re-emphasize why a visitor would want to visit your country.

As you know, in real life it is dangerous to travel to some countries in Africa. For the sake of this project, assume it is safe to travel to any country in Africa.

Do not include any humor which would be in bad taste. Do not include any ebola references. You need to take this project seriously.

There are many websites which can aid you in your research. Here are some places to start:

LonelyPlanet

New YorkTimes Travel

Wikitravel

This assignment will be due on Friday, November 21.

Golden Compass Illustration and Final Question

Golden Compass Illustrations

Pantalaimon in ermine form (sketches by Emma Williams)

You will illustrate a scene from The Golden Compass. You will first need to create a rough sketch. The rough sketch should be in pencil and does not need to be perfect.

The Final Illustration should be created on the drawing paper provided. Illustrations should be oriented in landscape view (sideways or horizontal). Illustrations should be colored with colored pencil. The illustration should be zoomed in on the thing which is being depicted. Your illustration should not be  zoomed out so that figures and objects are tiny. You need to fill in the entire space of the paper with your drawing.

You need to print one or two sentences from the book at the bottom of your illustration. The sentences should refer to what is being illustrated. Please ink your sentences with Flair pen.

Print your name in the bottom right corner of you illustration.

Due Monday, November 24.

Golden Compass Final Question

Re-read Chapter 21: "Lord Asriel’s Welcome." Lord Asriel explains that he intends to travel beyond the aurora, to find the source of Dust and destroy it, thus destroying original sin and with it all the death, misery, and destructiveness in the world. Why does he want to do this? Do you think this is a good idea? What is the downside of living in a world with no sin?

Due Thursday, November 13.

East Africa Country Quiz

Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania

The following countries will be featured on the quiz: Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Burundi, Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Somalia.

Here are two excellent on-line practice quiz sites: Lizard Point and Seterra. Each site has many different practice quizzes. You can also use these sites for practicing for bonus quizzes. Note: The regional maps on these sites don't conform exactly to our map quizzes.

Here is a link to a printable blank map of Africa: D-Maps.

Mr. Gacek's Non-Winning Rhyme

There was a flea
Smaller than a pea
No, it was not me
As you can clearly see
Right, Kimberly?!?

You won the rhyme-off this time, Emma L., but I will be back with rhymes better than ever, they will be more than clever, 'cause I don't like to lose, never.

The Complete Basement Tapes Released!

For years and years and years Mr. Gacek has been waiting for the complete Basement Tapes to be released. And now, here they are! This is such a fantastic, incredible set. Essential in every way.

Trivia Night!

Come join us Thursday evening for Trivia Night. The event starts at 6:00 p.m. If you would like to participate on a trivia team, please be signed up by 6:30. The event ends at 8:00. Students, parents, and alumni are all invited. Hope to see you there!