31 December, 2010

Jeffrey Scott’s – Best of his Blogs 2010

Most of my friends know I maintain two blogs. One dedicated to health and fitness and one for my creativity. I’m proud to say I’ve kept up with both this year. So for those of you only familiar with one of the two, I’ve decided for the first time ever to do a cross-over blog. And why not, I’m a creative person and both illustrate that in various ways.



January
Tegan - Will You Miss Me
An interesting poem I wrote. But can you tell what it’s really about?
Carrot Sticks – Biggest Loser (No Motivation)
I began to recognize my fitness was slipping. I wrote a few observations as to why.

February
Tegan – Haiku
In 2009 I wrote several Haiku’s. In 2010 I wrote one last one. Follow the links to view more.
Carrot Sticks – Biggest Loser – Top 5 Faults With the Show
I’ve always been a Biggest Loser fan, but at times it can irritate me. Here’s why.

March
Tegan – Travel Preparations for London
Two month from the actual trip, I began making lists.
Carrot Sticks – Feed Me Seymore
Random thoughts on how I can do better at what I eat and what my downfalls are.

April
Tegan – Loss & Love
For a month, I worked on a short story on Facebook. I reprinted it to my blog.

May
Tegan – I’m Nothing
Sometimes a poem hits me. Here is one I wrote this year.
Carrot Sticks – Procrastination vs. Motivation
You can either procrastinate or be motivated. Here are my thoughts.

June
Tegan - Fuse CD Review
I discovered a new CD and wrote a review. The artists read it and enjoyed it!
Carrot Sticks – Tracking Disaster
I tried to become more serious about my tracking, but I failed.

July
Tegan – Interview With An Admiral
I had a nice chat with Admiral Ackbar from Star Wars.

August
Tegan – Who is River Song?
I’ve got a firm belief, but this was one farcical theory.

September
Tegan – I Tweet Therefore I Am
Another poem, this time based on…. Twitter???
Carrot Sticks – A-Z Fitness (Atmosphere)
In hopes of making myself more accountable, I began a new fitness series.

October
Tegan – Doctor Who (The Early Years)
I give in to my nerdyness and begin writing a Doctor Who themed series.
Carrot Sticks – Jillian Michaels – GoDaddy Commercial
A funny commercial Jillian is now appearing in.

November
Tegan – Time Travel Museum
Can you find your favourite time machine in the time travel museum?
Carrot sticks – Top 9 Way To Tell If You’ve Been Watching Too Much Biggest Loser
With a lot of my posts centered on Biggest Loser, I wondered if I watched too much.

December
Tegan - Jelly Babies
I did a photo shoot with… candy???
Tegan – Saturn Girl Selling Telepathic Telecommunications
I guess I’m a true Legion of Super Hero nerd to come up with this.
Carrot Sticks – Tastes So Good
I wrote a song parody and why junk food tastes so good.

That’s not all I wrote in both logs, but it gives you pretty good idea. If you enjoy both, why not subscribe and follow both? You’re bound to find something you like sooner or later. ;)
Jeffrey Scott

29 December, 2010

Dr. Who (The Early Years) - Part 13 "The First Doctor In Review"

Notes: By 1966, William Hartnell was finding it increasingly difficult to continue the role of Dr.Who. He was forgetting lines and the work strain was becoming too much. At one point he was slated to leave the series during the 'Celestial Toymaker', but he continued. When he did leave, the show was doing well enough to continue instead of cancelling. So the producers devised a way to 'renew' his character. At this point in the series, it was not called a regeneration and his home planet of Gallifrey or him being a 'Time Lord' were yet unmentioned. William Hartnell later reprised his role as the Doctor in the 1973 episode, 'The Three Doctors'. In 1983, Richard Hurndall stood in for the character of the first Doctor in the story 'The Five Doctors'.
Name: The Doctor 1963-1966
Actor: William Hartnell
January 08th 1908 - April 23 1975
Occupation: Time Traveller
First Seen: Earth, 1963
First Episode: An Unearthly Child (Season 1)
Last Seen: Earth, 1986
Last Episode: Tenth Planet (Season 4)
Special Appearance: The Three Doctors (1972-1973)


Notes: The Doctor is actually the one who spearheads Susan's departure. Sensing she has fallen in love with David Campbell but unwilling to leave the Doctor's side, he locks her out of the Tardis. Susan and the Doctor meet once more when they are both drawn to the 'Death Zone' on Gallifrey as seen in the episode 'The Five Doctors'. The Doctor has recently stated all the Time-lords died as a result of the time war. Susan was not excluded so she's likely deceased. The actress herself moved on from the series when her character was not as she imagined. Initially she thought Susan would be a more sophisticated and intelligent individual, but the producers wanted her to relate to the children watching the show.
Name: Susan 1963-1964
Actress: Carol Ann Ford
June 08th 1940 -
Occupation: Doctor's Grand-Daughter
First Seen: Earth, 1963
First Episode: An Unearthly Child (Season 1)
Last Seen: Earth, 2164
Last Episode: Daleks Invasion of Earth (Season 2)
Special Appearance: The Five Doctors (1983) & Dimensions In Time (1993)


Notes: As a science teacher, Ian had a hard time believing the Tardis could actually travel in time. However, he became an invaluable asset to the crew. Often he'd take the lead in whatever physical needed to be done. He was also very protective of Barbara, Susan and Vicki. When he finally had the opportunity to return home he took it as he missed sitting in a pub having a pint or watching a cricket match. His friendship with Barbara was very evident though there is never any indication they became a couple within the series. William Russell has reprised his role as Ian several times for a few videos of missing episodes where he fills in the missing parts of the story.
Name: Ian Chesterton 1963-1965
Actor: William Russell
November 19th 1924 -
Occupation: Science Teacher
First Seen: Earth, 1963
First Episode: An Unearthly Child (Season 1)
Last Seen: Earth, 1965
Last Episode: The Chase (Season 2)


Notes: When Barbara became overly curious about one of her students, Susan, she enlisted the aid of fellow teacher and friend Ian to figure out what was so 'unearthly' about her. They followed her to her home - the Tardis. This was how Barbara became involved with the Doctor. Though Ian was initially skeptical, Barbara was quick to accept the Tardis as a time machine. As a history teacher she was quite possibly excited to travel with the Doctor even though her and Ian getting off on the wrong foot with the Doctor. As awkward as their relationship started, she was slightly reluctant to leave the Doctor as she came to grow fond of him as a friend. Still, she was happy to return to Earth with Ian where they continue to remain friends. According to rumours, they are currently professors at Cambridge.
Name: Barbara Wright 1963-1965
Actress: Jacqueline Hill
December 17th 1929 - February 18th 1993
Occupation: History Teacher
First Seen: Earth, 1963
First Episode: An Unearthly Child (Season 1)
Last Seen: Earth, 1965
Last Episode: The Chase (Season 2)


Notes: With Susan leaving the show, the producers wanted someone to fill the role of identifying with children. Initially, thoughts were to add the character Jenny (from Dalek Invasion of Earth), though Vicki was ultimately settled on. Vicki is one of the few companions who was actually rescued by the Doctor, she's certainly the first the Doctor actually invites to travel with him. During her tenure with the Doctor she travels to Earth's past frequently. 64A.D., 1066A.D., 1190A.D. and 1200B.C. where she eventually parted ways after falling in love with Troilus, a Trojan Man. Still, she did have a few adventures in future and contemporary times including spending time on a Dalek ship.
Name: Vicki - 1965
Actress: Maureen O'Brien
June 29th 1943 -
Occupation: Civilian
First Seen: Dido, 2493 (Native of Earth)
First Episode: The Rescue (Season 2)
Last Seen: Earth, circa 1200 B.C.
Last Episode: The Myth Makers (Season 3)


Notes: There seemed to be a basic formula the early Doctor Who episodes tried to maintain. A younger person to identify with children and a young male character to do all the action scenes. Steven filled in for Ian once he left. Vicki was the first to be invited aboard the Tardis but Steven was the first stowaway (and there were several). Interestingly, Steven worked with six of the Doctors companions; Ian, Barbara, Vicki, Katarina, Dodo and Sara (If you are counting her as a companion). He had two run ins with the Daleks and witnessed the death of two companions (Katarina and Sara). After leaving Doctor Who, Peter Purves went on to be a presenter for Blue Peter. Through Blue Peter, several lost clips of Doctor Who have been found including some of the first regeneration scene.
Name: Steven Taylor 1965-1966
Actor: Peter Purves
February 10th, 1939 -
Occupation: Military Astronaut
First Seen: Mechanus, year uncertain - 23rd century. (Native of Earth)
First Episode: The Chase (Season 2)
Last Seen: A distant planet in the distant future.
Last Episode: The Savages (Season 3)


Notes: The shortest 'lived' companion of the Doctor depending on how you look at it, being in only two adventures. She had slightly more than 100 minutes of actual screen time. She was introduced late in the 'Myth Makers' episode and died early on in the 'Daleks Master Plan'. She was not only the quickest to leave the series, she was also the first to leave via a death. Though the concept of her character is interesting, it was difficult to write for a character who understood little of what was going on. In fact, till her death she still believed the Doctor to be a god and the Tardis her journey to the after-life. In the end, she sacrificed herself to save the Doctor and Steven.
Name: Katarina 1965-1966
Actress: Adrienne Hill
July 22, 1937 - October 6th 1997
Occupation: Servant
First Seen: Earth, circa 1200 B.C.
First Episode: Myth Makers (Season 3)
Last Seen: Floating in space over Desperus 4000 A.D.
Last Episode: Daleks Master Plan (Season 3)


Notes: As a security agent for Earth, Sara took her job serious. So serious in fact, when she believe Bret Vyon was a traitor she killed him, though being her brother. Sara learns she has been tricked by the real traitor of the Universe - Mavic Chen and sides with the Doctor to defeat him and the Daleks. There is much debate whether Sara can actually be considered a companion of the Doctor. But what really is a companion of the Doctor other than someone who travels with him? True, Jean Marsh only appeared in the Dalek Master Plan, but within the story she travels with the Doctor in the Tardis from Kembal to England in the 1960's, a silent movie set in the 1920's, the planet Tigus, ancient Egypt and then finally back to Kembal. Quite a bit of travel with the Doctor for someone not a companion. Obviously, I consider her a companion.
Name: Sara Kingdom 1965-1966
Actress: Jean Marsh
July 1st, 1934 -
Occupation: Space Security Agent
First Seen: Earth, 4000 A.D.
First Episode: Daleks Master Plan (Season 3)
Last Seen: Kembel, 4000 A.D.
Last Episode: Daleks Master Plan (Season 3)


Notes: Though not involved in the adventure 'Massacre of St. Bartholomew's Eve', the Doctor and Steven meet a character with the same last name. Steven is initially upset the Doctor leaves the character Anne Chaplet die when they leave. The Doctor insists history must take it's course, but Steven has had enough and claims he's leaving at the next stop. However after Dodo stumbles into the Tardis and reveals her last name the pair wonder if she's a descendant of Anne. Of course that means Anne has a child out of wedlock in the year 1572 or keeps her maiden name. Dodo wanders into the Tardis thinking it's a real police box to report an accident but soon forgets the injured child as she's in wonder of the Tardis. Noticing two policeman approaching the Tardis, Steven urges the Doctor to take off. Dodo decides to travel with the crew, stating no one will miss her. Dodo has several adventures with the Doctor but the character doesn't do well and Jackie Lane's contract was not renewed. As a result, she never finished her final story and sent word to the Doctor (off-screen) she was staying in London to rest.
Name: Dorothea (Dodo) Chaplet - 1966
Actress: Jackie Lane
July 10th 1941
Occupation: Civilian
First Seen: Earth, 1966
First Episode: Massacre of St. Bartholomew's Eve (Season 3)
Last Seen: Earth, 1966
Last Episode: the War Machines (Season 3)


Notes: Another example of someone stumbling into the Tardis without realizing what it actually is. Along with Polly, Ben is returning the Tardis key Dodo gave them to return to the Doctor. With the producers not very happy with Dodo's character, Michael Craze is brought in as one replacement for her. Ben Jackson fits into the Ian/Steven roll perfectly and even fills in for the Doctor when he's incapacitated during the Cybermen adventure, 'The Tenth Planet'. This adventure is so stressful on the Doctor, he is forced to regenerate for the first time. Of the early adventures, Ben is one of only eight others to actually witness the Doctor regenerate.
Name: Ben Jackson 1966-1967
Actor: Michael Craze
November 29th 1942 - December 7th 1998
Occupation: Navy
First Seen: Earth, 1966
First Episode: War Machines (Season 3)
Last Seen: Continues to travel with the second Doctor


Notes: Polly met the Doctor while he's investigating Wotan, she was the personal assistant on duty. For the most part, she meets Ben while taking Dodo out to the local club 'the Inferno'. With Dodo hypnotized by Wotan, the Doctor enlists her and Ben's aid in fighting the super computer. Polly is also hypnotized by Wotan but travels with the Doctor instead of resting up. Like Ian and Barbara, Ben and Polly enter the Tardis crew together and leave the Tardis crew together. Besides the 'War Machines', Polly has two more adventures with the Doctor before he regenerates. As Barbara was quicker to accept the concept of time travel, Polly is quicker to accept the regenerated Doctor as who he claims to be. Polly and Ben continue to travel with the Doctor.
Name: Polly 1966-1967
Actress: Anneke Wills
October 20th 1941 -
Occupation: Personal Assistant
First Seen: Earth, 1966
First Episode: War Machines (Season 3)
Last Seen: Continues to travel with the second Doctor.

Next: The Power of Regeneration

20 December, 2010

Dr. Who (The Early Years) - Part 12 "The Tenth Planet"

This Body is Wearing a Bit Thin
One of the next episodes has the Tardis land at the South Pole. Ben and Polly are hopeful they can catch a ride back to London, but soon discover they are in 1986, not 1966. Despite the cold weather outside, the Doctor encourages them to dress warmly so they can go out and explore. Shortly they run into a raised periscope from a base hidden beneath them.


Considering it's a South Pole base, it's not surprising the Tardis crew are immediately questioned. Things turn worse when a space capsule the base has been monitoring begins to lose power. The Doctor realizes what is happening but no one takes him seriously. A rogue sister planet of Earth, 'Mondas' is discovered and draining the energy of the space capsule and Earth itself.


The station is soon visited by creatures from Mondas. They call themselves Cybermen and were once human but have replaced all organic parts of themselves (except the brain) with plastic and steel. They have also stripped themselves of all emotions, such as love and empathy but claim to be logical. (It seems they've also lost all knowledge of fashion sense).



As much as he loved playing the Doctor, the strain finally caught up with William Hartnell. In fact, he became so ill before the filming of the third episode of his final story they had to carry on without him. Ben continued speaking for the Doctor and stressed how they didn't need to fight the Cybermen; if they were patient Mondas would draw too much energy from Earth and burn itself out.


The Doctors prediction comes true and Mondas burns itself out. The Cybermen also wither away, as if the enormous draw of energy was too much for them as well. Suddenly the Doctor realizes the stress has finally gotten to him and quickly retreats to the Tardis. With William Hartnell leaving, how do the producers decide to carry on? The answer comes as the Doctor collapses to the floor, suddenly his features begin to change. Ben and Polly are clueless as to what is happening, as are the viewers.


WHO: The Cybermen
PLANET OF ORIGIN: Mondas
GOALS: Self preservation through exploitation of other races.
WEAKNESSES: Their own weapons and home planet being destroyed. (More weakness to be discovered).






IN TWO WEEKS: The Power of the Regeneration

NEXT: The First Doctor in Review

17 December, 2010

Saturn Girl selling Telepathic Telecommunications

With Legion financier R.J.Brande dead, the Legion of Super Heroes has fallen on hard times. Desperation has every Lad, Lass, Boy and Girl doing their part to keep the Legion afloat. You'll remember last month Super-Boy and Sensor Girl organized the 'Heroes For Hire'. I tried in vain to get a statement from Super-Boy about this questionable venture. After several attempts he finally replied, "Relax pops... I'll do it AFTER we count this beautiful cash!" And who can forget Matter-Eater Lad's Sklarian Pirate fiasco.

But not all Legion members have resorted to such inane measures. Brainiac 5 sells home-scale versions of 'COMPUTer Operation Systems' or COMPUTOS for short. Timber Wolf is currently working as Querl's complaint department. As yet, no complains have come in.

Probably most shocking of all are the commercial ads for Telepathic Telecommunication Earplugs featuring Imra Ardeen. She's dyed her hair and slightly altered her costume but it's clearly Saturn Girl. Times must really be tough for this Legion lass who once claimed she'd never 'sell out'.



"When I'm out riding the Saturn Cycle, I like to keep in touch with family and friends. But fumbling with an archaic phone is out of the question."



"That's why I use Telepathic Telecommunication Earplugs. Hands-free and virtually invisible. See? Pick yours up where ever telecommunications are sold."

15 December, 2010

Dr. Who (The Early Years) - Part 11 "The War Machines"

Ben, Polly and the War Machines
After Steven has left the Tardis, the Doctor and Dodo land on Earth in the year 1966. He hears about a new super computer being built and immediately decides to investigate. The machine is called W.O.T.A.N. (Will Operating Thought ANalogue), and is designed to answer any question. Dodo tests it out and asks what 'Tardis' stands for. Surprisingly it knows the answer.

Unknown to everyone, Wotan reaches inside Dodo's head to receive the answer then 'hypnotizes' her. At first she simply seems distracted so the Doctor allows her to go with the office secretary, Polly. At the local club, "The Inferno", they meet Ben. Dodo complains about headaches and suddenly leaves, not telling new-found friend Polly where she is going.

There is certainly problems with Dodo, from a character point of view and a production point of view. The character of Dodo was not well received so Jackie Lane is quite suddenly let go by the BBC, not even allowed to finish the story she is in. In the story, the Doctor figures out she has been hypnotized and breaks her of it. He sends her off to rest, and we never see her again. She ultimately sends word to the Doctor she's done traveling and wants to remain in London.

With Dodo away, the Doctor enlists the aid of Ben and Polly when it is discovered Wotan has been hypnotizing people and building War Machines. Wotan has decided man is not fit to rule the planet so it builds the War Machines to destroy them. The machine is equipped with two guns (which seem more equipped to fight fires) and two large robot arms meant for smashing anything in their way.

The Doctor has devised a way to trap one of the war machines, but Ben is split between helping the Doctor and looking for his new friend Polly, who has also been hypnotized by Wotan. The Doctor convinces him to help destroy Wotan, then find Polly. The reprogrammed War Machine is sent to destroy Wotan and Ben follows it, where he finds Polly and brings her to safety. With the War Machines destroyed, Ben and Polly return to the Tardis to return Dodo's key back to him, but as they enter the Tardis, the Doctor has taken off with Ben and Polly inside.

WHO:Dorothea (Dodo) Chaplet
DEPARTURE LOCATION: Earth, 1966
REASON FOR LEAVING: Decided to stay on Earth and rest after being taken over by Wotan.







WHO: Ben Jackson
PLANET OF ORIGIN: Earth, 1966
REASON FOR JOINING: Wanders into the Tardis to return Dodo's key to the Doctor as he is taking off.








WHO: Polly
PLANET OF ORIGIN: Earth, 1966
REASON FOR JOINING: Wanders into the Tardis to return Dodo's key to the Doctor as he is taking off.








NEXT: This Body is Wearing a Bit Thin

12 December, 2010

Jelly Babies


Not just for snack time any more!



Jelly Babies are a complete part of this nutritious breakfast.



Approved by 4 out of 5 Doctors.



Remember, Jelly Babies are fully endorsed by Jeffrey Scott



Special thanks to the 'Sugar Shack' for sponsoring the Jelly Babies photo shoot.

10 December, 2010

Death Star to Open Daycare Center*

*An Onion Reprint
After months of speculation, it was confirmed yesterday that the Death Star, the Empire's vaunted, planet-destroying space station, has added a new, state-of-the-art day care centre to its already vast array of capabilities. The massive four-room day care centre, which, according to Grand Moff Tarkin, will "provide a safe and fun learning environment for tots between the ages of one and four," has already begun spring enrollment and is expected to be fully operational by July 1.

The new Sunshine Death Star Play and Learning Center provides battle station parents with a fun and safe environment for their children. The Imperial Emperor himself has overseen games of Duck Duck Goose encouraging the tots to "feel the hatred".

"Nothing can stop the Sunshine Death Star Play and Learning Centre," the Imperial Emperor said via holograph. "With its four classrooms, outdoor playground and experienced staff of licensed day care professionals, no other facility can match its awesome instructive power." Though still several weeks away from full strength, the Sunshine Death Star Centre is already up and running. Among the most popular activities there are finger-painting, storytime and Duck Duck Goose, which the Emperor often helps lead. "Feel your hatred flow through you," he told 3-year-old Jenny Bates, as she energetically chased fellow toddler and "goose" Michael Phillips around the outside of the circle. "Give in to your hatred!"

In addition to enjoying many fun games and learning activities, children at the Sunshine Death Star Day Care Centre have already witnessed the destruction of several planets out the centre's giant bay window. Last Friday, in the middle of a coloring activity, the planet Alderan was blown up, delighting 23 of the 24 children who witnessed the devastating power of the battle station. The sole exception was Libby Phelps, 3, whose family was vacationing in Alderan at the time of its destruction. She was frightened by the loud explosion and began to cry upon realizing that her mother, father and younger sister were now dead. The emperor's elite squadron of imperial guards leapt to action, removing the girl from the room and giving her some ice cream treats to calm her.

According to Death Star officials, the idea for the center sprang up after a number of parents complained about the lack of quality, affordable child care options on the Death Star. "As a stormtrooper and father of three, I'm very excited about the new day care centre," Death Star citizen Ralph Sedgwick said. "It's a safe, nurturing environment, one in which my child will learn." Added Gail Lindon: "For years I took my daughter to work because I couldn't afford a nanny. Do you have any idea how hard it is to operate a tractor beam with a two-year-old pulling at your leg?"

As excited as most are about the new day care centre, a few extremists have expressed concern about its proximity to the Death Star's reactor core.

"There is an opening in the Death Star's main shaft that leads to the core," parent and dissenting voice Annette Voss said. "If a small rebel ship were to somehow break through the deflector shield and enter the shaft, it's possible it could hit the reactor core with a single, well-placed proton torpedo shot and destroy the entire space station." Experts, however, scoff at Voss's theory, dismissing such a shot as "a million to one."

-- Taken from ONION, INC., (www.theonion.com, Volume 29, issue 18) Copyright 1996. This article is no longer available on The ONION's archives.

06 December, 2010

Dr. Who (The Early Years) - Part 10 "The Savages"

Steven, the Elder Savage
It is the far distant future and the Tardis lands on a far distant planet. The Doctor claims he knows where they are and asks Steven and Dodo to stay behind while he makes sure they are where he believe they are. It's not long till he runs into the Elders, led by Jano. The Elders are an advanced civilization who has been tracking the Doctor and predicted his arrival.

While the Doctor is meeting the Elders, Steven and Dodo have a run in with the planets other life-form, the Savages. However they are found by the Elders and brought back to the city to join the Doctor. As they are given a tour, Dodo's curiosity gets the better of her and she stumbles upon a dark secret in the 'perfect' life of the Elders. They prey on the Savages and via sophisticated equipment, steal their life force.

The Elders explain to the Doctor they need the life force of the Savages to sustain themselves, but are shocked when he vows to defend the Savages, claiming the Elders are no better than the Daleks. Upset the Doctor does not see things his way, Jano orders the life force of the Doctor to be drained and given to himself. Meanwhile, the Savages plot to attack the Elders.

Jano's plan to steal the Doctor's life force and intelligence backfires when he also saps the Doctors morality as well. Now siding with the Tardis crew and the Savages, the uprising is over swiftly and the life-draining machines are destroyed. With both civilizations in chaos, a new leader is required to help build a new society. With the Doctors insistence, Steven realizes he is up for the challenge and decides to stay behind.

WHO: Steven
DEPARTURE LOCATION: A distant planet in the distant future.
REASON FOR LEAVING: To become the leader of the Elders and Savages to help build a new civilization.







NEXT: Ben, Polly and the War Machines

The Muppet Show - In Space

The Muppet Show in space? Here's an example of what that might look like.











03 December, 2010

The Daleks Take the Easy Route

It seems the Daleks have decided to exterminate humanity the lazy way. By introducing kids to the concept of smoking. Perhaps the decree of 'Ex-Ter-Min-Ate' should be replaced with 'Lung Can-Cer'. Seriously though, it makes sense. Why expend vast amounts of Dalekanium resources on building bombs, time machines or explosive androids when they can take the easy route. Expose children to these 'candy' cigarettes so they will become comfortable with the idea. This should make the jump to real cigarettes flow so much smoother. I smell the collaboration of Joe Camel and Davros.