Wednesday, December 31, 2008

My 2008 in Review

Heroes and Villains

The Doctor

This was a great year for Doctor Who, which had its 45th anniversary in 2008.  There were excellent seasons of Doctor Who, Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures, building on the show's legacy.  Doctor Who was #1 in the ratings for the week on British television for the first time with the series four finale, Journey's End, thanks to the fantastic David Tennant and Catherine Tate, Russell T. Davies and everyone who worked on it.  The show also won its third Hugo award for best science fiction show, and it was announced that there would be a new showrunner, Steven Moffat, and an Eleventh Doctor in 2010.  I also enjoyed the Doctor Who Magazines, action figures, books and comic books that were released and that I got in 2008.  

I started a blog, website and Flickr account this year, and met many great people through sharing photos and words on the net.  Thanks to all the visitors to my sites!   I also thank the creators of the blogs, television shows, books, games, music and movies that I've enjoyed.  I graduated from college and wrote a thesis paper about science fiction, robots, Doctor Who and Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick for English Literature.  Though a lot of the US national news was not so good, we elected a new president, Barack Obama, who will take the country in a new positive direction.  So that's a wrap on 2008, and I wish you all a Happy New Year 2009!

Monika

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Doctor Who: Mickey Smith Action Figure

Mickey Smith, played by Noel Clarke in Doctor Who, comes with a weapon for battling Cybermen with the Preacher team from the parallel universe.

(Reverse side picture is here).

Monday, December 29, 2008

Doctor Who, "The Next Doctor"


TARDIS in the snow, originally uploaded by monikalel42.

The Christmas special was very good, with a wonderful atmosphere of Victorian England. There was lots of mystery about who the title character, (played by David Morrissey) was and what the Cybermen were doing there. David Tennant and Velile Tshabalala are excellent as "The Next Doctor"'s companions battling Miss Hartigan (Dervla Kirwan) and the Cybermen. This episode begins a new era in the program after David Tennant's announced departure. In the 2010 specials, the Doctor will travel alone, perhaps in a new direction from the previous four seasons' emphasis on present day London since companions Rose, Martha and Donna have moved on from their travels with the Doctor.

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Dollhouse Christmas

Dollhouse Christmas
Dollhouse Christmas, originally uploaded by monikalel42.

With the Doctor (from Doctor Who) and dollhouse figures.

Thursday, December 25, 2008

A Merry Christmas to All!

A Merry Christmas to All!
The Doctor and Santa Claus wish you a Merry Christmas and hope you enjoy the Doctor Who Christmas Special "The Next Doctor"!  

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Marge and Homer Simpson

Marge and Homer Simpson
Marge and Homer Simpson, originally uploaded by monikalel42.

Christmas ornaments of The Simpsons.

Friday, December 19, 2008

Christmas Mystery

Christmas Mystery
Christmas Mystery, originally uploaded by monikalel42.

The Tenth Doctor and the next Doctor discuss the Cyberman mystery in a Victorian house.

Based on the concept for the upcoming Christmas Doctor Who episode "The Next Doctor." There isn't yet a David Morrissey action figure, so this Victorian man is playing the next Doctor for this picture. There is also a framed picture of Queen Victoria on the landing, and Christmas decorations for the dollhouse.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Doctor Who and The Power of Kroll

The Fourth Doctor and Tenth Doctor tell Sarah Jane about the time they met the giant squid.

Doctor Who, "The Power of Kroll," 1978-79

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Celebrate the holidays with a magical princess!

Princess Unicorn: The perfect gift for this holiday season!


"My horn can pierce the sky!"
-Princess Unicorn

(Only available from Dwight K. Schrute at Dunder Mifflin in the Scranton, PA area.)

Martha, Rose and Sarah Jane

Martha, Rose and Sarah Jane
Martha, Rose and Sarah Jane, originally uploaded by monikalel42.

Some of the Doctor's companions from "Doctor Who."

Secret origins of this picture that are now revealed:

The picture was based on Beyonce's music video "Single Ladies" with the three women dancing and singing about the men who wouldn't commit to a relationship with them. It reminded me of Rose, Martha and Sarah Jane traveling with the Doctor and then being left behind. 

The Doctor and companions

The Doctor and companions
The Doctor and companions, originally uploaded by monikalel42.

The Doctor discovers Martha, Rose and Sarah Jane's secret meeting.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Doctor Who: The Fourth Doctor Action Figure

The Fourth Doctor was played by Tom Baker from 1974-1981. This action figure of the Fourth Doctor as he appeared in the 1975 story "Revenge of the Cybermen," comes with two options for the Doctor's expression, a Sonic Screwdriver and a part of the K1 Robot which can be assembled from the other classic action figures in the series. The description of the episode Robot with spoilers from the back of the case is here. This site has pictures of all the Doctor Who action figures from this set and the Giant Robot: www.doctorwhotoys.net/classics.htm


Thursday, December 4, 2008

Dickens Christmas Fair Entrance

San Francisco

London


London, originally uploaded by monikalel42.

Dickens Christmas Fair in San Francisco

http://dickensfair.com/

Friday, November 28, 2008

Lost K9


Lost K9, originally uploaded by monikalel42.

The Doctor: We haven't heard from K9 in a while, let's see what's become of him.
Ace: Do you think he's been captured?
The Doctor: Perhaps he's just taken a wrong turn.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Arrival


Arrival, originally uploaded by monikalel42.

Ace: Professor, this doesn't look like the Globe Theatre.

The Doctor: We're on Earth, at least. Let's have a look round, shall we? Since we've got a time machine, we can get back to Shakespeare later. Or earlier, as the case may be.
K9, go down the path to see if there's anyone around that house.

K9: Yes, Master.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Ace and the Doctor go Back to Work

Ace: That was wicked, Professor! Are those other guys really you?

K9: Affirmative, Mistress. The Doctor-Master has ten incarnations, of which three were represented at the gathering.

Ace: Then where are the rest?

The Doctor: Well, it can be difficult to get us all together, usually in a temporal anomaly or highly dangerous time scoop interference. I'm just glad my future is in such capable hands. Now, isn't there somewhere we should be?

Ace: Maybe we could race Shakespeare back to the Globe!

Happy 45th Anniversary, Doctor Who!

Happy 45th Anniversary, Doctor Who!
Happy 45th Anniversary, Doctor Who!, originally uploaded by monikalel42.  (click to zoom in)

The Doctor invites a few friends and companions to celebrate his anniversary of traveling through time.

Who is there:
Shakespeare, an Ood
Sarah Jane Smith, Donna Noble, The Fifth Doctor, The Tenth Doctor, The Other Tenth Doctor, Rose Tyler, Captain Jack Harkness
Ace, The Seventh Doctor, K9, The Fourth Doctor, Martha Jones

Doctor Who premiered on this day in 1963, November 23, with "An Unearthly Child."

Rose and the Dalek

Dalek

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Rose and the Doctor with Stormtroopers


Rose and the Doctor, originally uploaded by monikalel42.

Spacecraft located- report for further instructions
Spacecraft located- report for further instructions


The ship is dematerializing- unable to detain occupants!

Stormtroopers
Stormtroopers

Friday, November 21, 2008

Sarah Jane Smith and the Graske

The set is by Action Figure Theatre, and the action figures are by Character Options.

On the London Underground, Sarah Jane finds a clown poster and refers to her UNIT book on the incidence of clowns and mysterious disappearances. Meanwhile, a Graske sneaks up on her.

Star Trek Transporter Room


Star Trek Transporter Room, originally uploaded by monikalel42.

A Hallmark ornament based on the Star Trek original series with Scotty, Kirk and Spock. The ornament features lights and sounds of beaming down to a planet and back up to the Enterprise.

DCI Sam Tyler investigates a mystery in 2006

Before he was transported to 1973 in Life on Mars, Sam Tyler was an experienced detective in the present day.

(John Simm action figure is from the Doctor Who series)

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Doctor Who and the Cybermen at Christmas

The Doctor travels to Victorian England and chases the Cybermen to a house decorated for Christmas.

(This is a dollhouse my mom built from a kit, just the right size for the action figures!)

The Cybermen

The Cybermen
The Cybermen, originally uploaded by monikalel42.

The Fifth Doctor


The Fifth Doctor, originally uploaded by monikalel42.

The Doctor, Rose and K-9


The Doctor, Rose and K-9, originally uploaded by monikalel42.

The U.S.S. Enterprise

The U.S.S. Enterprise
The U.S.S. Enterprise, originally uploaded by monikalel42.

Hallmark ornament based on the original Star Trek series.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Doctor Who Archives Released by the BBC!

Starting today, the BBC has made available the original documents from the creation of Doctor Who in 1963, a fascinating look at how the show began.  The original concept by C.E. Webber, called "The Troubleshooters," was about a team of scientific experts looking into strange phenomena.  This is more like Torchwood, Fringe or The X-Files today.  Webber cites Sherlock Holmes as an inspiration, which is also similar to medical detective show House, M.D.  Eventually the show became Doctor Who, as described in the original Radio Times listing for November 23, 1963, the adventures of a "mysterious exile from another world and a distant future." Doctor Who has captivated viewers from all over the world for 45 years, and has a bright future ahead.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Captain Kirk meets the Doctor

A restaging of the scene in the Star Trek novel My Enemy, My Ally by Diane Duane in which Captain Kirk sees a holographic version of the Fourth Doctor (Tom Baker) materialize on the Enterprise with the TARDIS. This is a version of the holodeck seen in other Star Trek series. I had wanted to read this book because I heard about this scene taking place!

The two characters also meet in the story "The Doctor and the Enterprise" by professional author Jean Airey, which can be found online here, at a website of the University of Malta. This is the original fanzine version, with all references to both series intact. A later version took out many references to the characters' names for publication. As Airey explains, the website version is her original text and not later versions! The authorized version on the website is very fun to read and find out what would happen if Star Trek and Doctor Who universes came together!

Lightsaber Battle

Lightsaber Battle
Lightsaber Battle, originally uploaded by monikalel42.

Darth Vader vs. Luke Skywalker.

Star Wars

Star Wars
Star Wars, originally uploaded by monikalel42.

C-3PO, Han Solo and Princess Leia wish Luke Skywalker good luck as he sets off in his X-Wing ship with R2-D2.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Heroes and Villains

Heroes and Villains
Heroes and Villains, originally uploaded by monikalel42.  (Click for a larger size)

Doctor Who Action Figures in the TARDIS
Back Row: Cyberman, Cassandra, Ood, Cyberman
Middle: The Master, Sarah Jane Smith, The Fifth Doctor, The Tenth Doctor, Donna Noble, The Tenth Doctor, Rose Tyler, Captain Jack Harkness, Martha Jones, The Tenth Doctor
Front: Eagle, Penguin (Frobisher), Dalek, K9, The Fourth Doctor, The Master, Dalek, Ace, The Seventh Doctor, Robot Spider, Graske, Dalek

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Orinda Theater


Orinda Theater, originally uploaded by monikalel42.

Orinda, California

Thursday, November 13, 2008

The Fourth Doctor and Romana Manga


The Fourth Doctor, originally uploaded by monikalel42.

A picture I made with Face Your Manga inspired by Tom Baker in the BBC's Doctor Who.


Romana I

The classy and glamorous Time Lady Romana I (Mary Tamm).


Romana II

The second regeneration of the Doctor's lovely Time Lady companion played by Lalla Ward.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Cybermen appear in the TARDIS

A restaging of a deleted scene from Doctor Who series four- a lead-in to the Christmas special in which the Doctor meets the Cybermen in a Victorian setting.

Monday, November 10, 2008

The Seventh Doctor and Ace in the TARDIS

Classic Series TARDIS set is from Action Figure Theatre! I assembled it from the printouts available at www.actionfiguretheatre.co.uk and added the action figures by Dapol.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Art at the Legion of Honor

The Legion of Honor
The Legion of Honor, originally uploaded by monikalel42.

Thinker Statue at the Legion of Honor

The Thinker statue by Rodin that sits in front of the Legion of Honor art museum in San Francisco, in the Richmond District on a foggy day yesterday. There is an exhibition there showing the art collection of James Simon, on loan from museums in Berlin, Germany. This includes ancient Egyptian statues, German folk art, paintings of actors from Japan in the past, and pictures of Simon and his collection. His most famous discovery is the Bust of Nefertiti, which is still in Berlin. The Legion of Honor is exhibiting a replica of Nefertiti and other statues made by the same artist in ancient Egypt. Simon financed the original excavation of the pyramids that brought the statues to Berlin. I attended the lecture on November 8 by art historian Professor Dietrich Wildung, who gave a fascinating account of Simon's efforts to preserve different cultures through collecting and donating art.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Barack Obama is the next President!


Electoral Map in Rockefeller Center

on the television November 5


Congratulations Barack Obama and Joe Biden for a well deserved win!  President Obama will lead America in a new positive direction.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Election Day November 4

Election Day
Election Day, originally uploaded by monikalel42.

Barack Obama for President!
No on 8 in California!

Monday, November 3, 2008

Vote Obama November 4!


Equality for all- No on 8 in CA

Sunday, November 2, 2008

The Doctor and Donna in an Exciting Adventure with a Cyberman

The TARDIS
The TARDIS materializes.

The Doctor and Donna with the TARDIS
The Doctor and Donna Noble begin to explore the area.

Cyberman finds the TARDIS
A Cyberman finds the TARDIS.

The Doctor and Donna
The Doctor and Donna notice the Cyberman and wonder what he is planning.


The Doctor confronts a Cyberman
The Doctor confronts the Cyberman with his Sonic Screwdriver


Dalek and Cyberman face-off
The Dalek and Cyberman face off, and the Dalek beams up to his ship with the Cyberman.


An Ood with the Doctor and Donna
An Ood comes by to thank the Doctor and Donna for their help back on the Planet of the Ood, just missing the Dalek and Cyberman. They are free to enjoy the rest of their vacation.