Here's a "must read" article from the Chronicle of Higher Education (available to non-subscribers for five days): "Professors from the Working Class Credit Their Rise to Rock — and Agent Scully." Synopsis: Music, television, and comic-book characters, and other elements of popular culture, inspired faculty members to strive when they were young.
In other news, I'm thoroughly enjoying the latest Doctor Who. Which leads me to a question for my friends...

"I'm the Doctor; I'm worse than everyone's aunt."
- Doctor Who, "The Eleventh Hour"
In other news, I'm thoroughly enjoying the latest Doctor Who. Which leads me to a question for my friends...

Who is your favorite Doctor?
1 - William Hartnell
0(0.0%)
2 - Patrick Troughton
0(0.0%)
3 - Jon Pertwee
2(2.9%)
4 - Tom Baker
6(8.7%)
5 - Peter Davison
2(2.9%)
6 - Colin Baker
1(1.4%)
7 - Sylvester McCoy
0(0.0%)
8 - Paul McGann
0(0.0%)
9 - Christopher Eccleston
4(5.8%)
10 - David Tennant
7(10.1%)
11 - Matt Smith
1(1.4%)
films - Peter Cushing
0(0.0%)
Doctor Who who?
2(2.9%)
TARDIS stands for Tickyboxes Are Really Delightful in Spring
3(4.3%)
"I'm the Doctor; I'm worse than everyone's aunt."
- Doctor Who, "The Eleventh Hour"
- Current Music:"The Scully Song," Eric D. Snider
Comments
Also, the second part of your post has given me the courage to admit that I am actually enjoying the new Doctor Who more than numbers 9 and 10!
I'm really loving Smith, too. I adored Eccleston's Doctor, but Smith is very compelling.
And no, it wasn't me who cited X-Files :) I don't even think Imentioned MFU.
I was wondering what happened to the study. Now, I think I'll email her for a copy of the results.
I'd be fascinated to know more of the results.
I dropped in a vote for Tom Baker's Four as well, because he was so entertaining. :-) Smith is doing a fine job, but he hasn't earned a ticky-box from me yet, I'm waiting to see what sort of Doctor he is over more episodes.
Edited at 2010-05-03 02:38 pm (UTC)
I think David Tennant is in a class by himself. Not necessarily better, but more tremendous. Somehow, it doesn't feel fair to pick him. He's very much his own Doctor.
And I agree about liking the new series. Matt Smith is delightful, in my opinion, and will probably join Three and Nine to make a proper trio when all is said and done. He fits well with those two.
Fun poll! And great article as well! Thank you for sharing, dear. :)
Now if I could just find a way to work Qui-Gon in there somewhere... ;) Because, all these years later, it's still all about Qui-Gon. Ha!
I'm so glad the article was of interest, too. I thought it was fascinating. *hugs*
I'm very much a New Who fan though since I wasn't exposed to Old Who at all, which is unfortunate. I wish I could have seen them. *sigh*
Tom Baker was my first Doctor, but my exposure to Old Who was spotty, so I know about some of them and I'm still ignorant of the others. Fortunately for us, they seem to be increasingly available for DVD rental. I need to catch up! Thus far, my favorite "retro" Doctors are Three (Pertwee) and Seven (McCoy).
I became a full-fledged fan with Eccleston, though, and he's still my favorite. :)
Edited at 2010-05-03 02:38 pm (UTC)
Side interesting notes: Jenny is actually the daughter of a Doctor... though Peter Davison rather than David Tennant :P And Professor Hobbs (Midnight) as well as some other characters from the Patrick Troughton and Jon Pertwee years is the son of Patrick Troughton.
Plus he had Venusian Akido :P
LOL! Seriously!
Eccleston, I think, is my absolute favorite thus far. Tennant was great to watch, and Smith is just as good (in a very different way), if not better (or, at least, different in a way I enjoy even more). I hope you like him, too!
I'd heard that about Jenny (I can see the resemblance), but I had no idea about Hobbs/Midnight. How fascinating! It's a small Who world, isn't it?
Happy Who-ing!
Edited at 2010-05-03 02:39 pm (UTC)
As for the new Who, I agree completely with what you said above.