The Road To The Kentucky Derby -- Spoilers for the Wood

The one thing I really like to see is a race horse that holds the rest of we mere mortals in contempt.

It is a rare animal that truly believes that we should be honored to be in his presence. Secretariat had that look. Spectacular Bid. Affirmed. That's what gave Affirmed the edge over Alydar. Alydar was a marvelous animal, a Triple Crown Winner in any other year. Like the little remembered Sham, who ran second to Secretariat in every race. Had Secretariat been born in another year, Sham would have won the Triple Crown, too.

But the real look of eagles belongs to a gelding named John Henry. He raced until he was 13 years old, winning major stakes races. He truly believed that he could kill a bear or a lion, that he was born to rule. And seeing him in person, it was hard to say he was wrong about that. This year, I watched the prep races on YouTube until today...and so I had little opportunity to see the horses up close, off of the track. This means I couldn't judge their condition as objectively. It is hard to tell much from squinting at tiny saddled animals in the distance.

But today, I watched the Road to the Kentucky Derby.( Read more... )

Doctor Who - The Eleventh Hour

Alert the media! And hold on to your bow ties.

I approve of the new Doctor.

I'm far too tired to review it fully, so no spoilers ahead. Only wanted to say that Matt does work as the Doctor and his Eleven suits my take on the canon perfectly at this juncture. Said take being that the Doctor of old died at the metacrisis (not the regeneration). I believe he was torn in two. And his fledgling humanity separated from his alien self, leaving him mostly hollow for the Specials. But now both sides of him have been made whole, with the help of the TARDIS I'd wager. If Moffat doesn't waiver from this spirited start into sappy Doctor or worse...bombastic blowhard James Bond Doctor, I will go on watching for the fun and the adventure of it all.

However, I am not sure if frantic silliness will sell with those New Who fans who are used to the EMO of RTD and David. We will see how it plays out for the season. And Moffat did indeed repeat himself in a few places with this one. I'm still hoping Amy is a granddaughter. But, I'm okay with the Doctor just being her imaginary friend, too.