The Web of Fear

Going in, I didn't have high hopes for The Web of Fear. I didn't really think that the Yeti deserved another shot at the Doctor, especially so soon after their debut. Thankfully though, with just a slight update to their appearance and a change of location, the Yeti have justified their existence. These new Yeti, dubbed Mark II, have flatter faces with big light-up eyes. Given that they spend the majority of the serial chasing people around in abandoned subway tunnels, they reminded me a lot of C.H.U.D.s, which is never a bad thing in my book. This serial also sees the return of actor Nicholas Courtney, in his first performance as Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart (though, he's only a Colonel here). We first saw Courtney playing a different character in the First Doctor adventure The Daleks' Master Plan. He'll return once more during the Second Doctor era before becoming a regular fixture during the Third Doctor era. Most of The Web of Fear was recovered in Nigeria at the same time as The Enemy of the World, though one episode of The Web of Fear remains missing.

Rating: We keep on landing on your Earth%

Public Transportation

Riding a bus can be a lot like a trip to the VD clinic. You have to wait around with a bunch of people who are there for the same reason you are, none of whom are usually too happy to be there. You don't really want to touch anything or get involved with anyone else who happens to be there beyond eye contact or exchanging brief pleasantries. You hope that you never have to repeat the experience, but deep down you know you'll be back. Also, you can be pretty sure that everyone around you has crabs.

Rating: 12%

(Image from aiga.org)

The Wheel

Boy I bet some dumb caveman is kicking himself in Hell right now for not patenting this baby (the caveman is in Hell because "Know Jesus, Know Heaven; No Jesus, No Heaven" [bumper sticker]). The wheel is great because it makes the transportation of us and other items way easier largely due to calculus or something, who am I, Professor Brains-a-lot? The wheel is bad because when the wheels of time keep turning that means I die, you die, everybody dies, no stopping it, the end. Cheer up, at least there's also the Ferris Wheel, which I forgot to mention and is also awesome, and Wheel Of Fortune the tv show which is fun but sometimes the people on it are hella dumb.

RATING: 93%

Boston's Subway System

Now that I actually live in the city of Boston proper, I've spent a bunch of time on the subway (heretofore called "The T", because that's what people call it here), and I think it's a pretty good subway system. It's pretty clean, it runs pretty quickly (even though the train at my stop has TONS of little stops), and I haven't seen a whole lot of crazy people on it yet.

I'm not sure how expensive subway tickets are in other big cities, but any ride on the T here is about two dollars, slightly less with the aforementioned ubiquitous CharlieCard. That seems like a lot to me, but hey, it's better than giving the money to BIG OIL (which is so big it gets capitalized).

Also, the T isn't terribly complicated (New York, Tokyo...I'm looking at you) and consists of five lines, one of which is split into four more lines, and each of the five major lines is color-coded, which is good for both kindergardeners and myself.

RATING: 80%

(image courtesy of freefoto.com)