comfort food TV – crime dramas where the heroes are heroes and the villains are vile and the heroes always get the villains by the end of the hour. I like to watch MAD MEN, where if you get up to go to the fridge in the middle, you’ll miss something important. (Complications Ensue)

This picks at one of my pet peeves – the artificial separation between high and low culture. I love Mad Men, but I couldn’t take a solid diet of it any more than I would deal with nothing but Law & Order re-runs. Just like my actual food diet, I need a balance between quality and comfort.

A handbook for companions to the Doctor, version 1.

• He’s not as sweet/clever/smart/dumb/annoying/perfect/impossible as you think he is.
• He does mean well. Remember this, it might come in handy.
• You’ll be running a lot. Bring sensible shoes.
• You’re not the first. You’re not the last. But you are special.
• Unless you happen to die (a possibility), you will not be doing this forever. Accept that life and situations change when you least expect it/them to.
• Explore the Tardis.
• Try not to get lost in the Tardis.
• Take notes.
• Sometimes it’s better to let the Doctor do the talking.
• Sometimes it really isn’t.
• This will be the ride of your life.
• This will not be the entirety of your life.
• He has issues. Big’uns. You cannot fix him. Being his friend is enough.
• He really does need friends.
• He probably does not need a girlfriend.
• Smack him upside the head sometimes – it does him a world of good.
• He can be really bad at expressing his feelings.
• Other times, he expresses everything. All at once. It’s messy and often involves explosions.
• He doesn’t do well by himself.
• He hates admitting when he’s wrong.
• Try to make friends everywhere you go.
• Bring a camera.
• Skip the “big historical moments/important personages”. They’re never all they’re cracked up to be.
• When possible, pick up tourist phrasebooks on worlds that have them. Being able to ask “where’s the bathroom?” is always handy.
• Same for “I/we surrender”.
• Seriously, take notes.
• Try to find out who/what you’re insulting before you actually…insult them. Then at least you’ll know who you’re running away from. He’ll probably know but might forget the tell you.
• Don’t be afraid to stand up to him.
• He can be both very wise and a complete prat at the same time.
• At some point you will consider killing him. Or yourself. It’ll pass
• Your family will probably not approve of any of it. You’ll have to decide if you can deal with that.
• Once you get home, you’ll probably get a visit from Torchwood.
• It’s nothing personal, Jack’s like that with everyone.
• The adventure doesn’t end when he leaves you behind.
• He’s making half of it up as he goes.
• You’ll never figure out which half.

My google-fu is failing me – I’m trying to find a picture of Grace Holloway in that fancy dress from the beginning of the Dr. Who TV Movie. Help?

For Greatwazoo42, in case he hasn’t seen it yet.

Mom allegedly uses daughter’s ID to be cheerleader

No body switching was involved – just identity theft, and one very messed up woman.