Weekend Diversion: You'd better call him "Doctor"...

"It's Doctor Evil. I didn't spend six years in Evil Medical School to be called 'mister,' thank you very much." -Dr. Evil

This weekend, I'd like to start by introducing you to the sounds of Galactic Funk, a group whose cosmically epic name is surpassed by their novel, entrancing sound, as highlighted by this week's song,

Doomed.But you yourself would never you'd be doomed simply because you failed to address someone with the proper honorific title. There are very few things that I find as pretentious as people with degrees of any sort who demand that they be addressed with a special title, especially in situations where their degree doesn't have any bearing.

Personally, I always introduce myself as "Ethan," and though sometimes people call me "Doctor" or "Professor," I wouldn't dream of demanding that anyone do so. But then again, I'm not this guy...

DOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Wright State University Professor of Computer Science, Travis E.W. Doom.

Or, as you'd better call him, DOCTOR DOOM!

You might wonder if someone with a Ph.D., whose last name is Doom, would try to avoid the association altogether. You might wonder if such a person would be sick of those shenanigans.

Quite to the contrary, the good doctor embraces the title with an enthusiasm that I cannot help but admire. Have a look for yourself; there are somehow only 238 people who've visited his personal webpage.

I have, unfortunately, never met Dr. Doom, but if he can be judged by his emails... well, better just let you have a look for yourself. (Reproduced from here, without permission, as always.)

Date: Tue, 5 Aug 2003 15:40:11 -0400

From: "Dr. Travis Doom"

To: Choya Davis

Subject: Re: Query

On Tue, Aug 05, 2003 at 11:59:07AM -0700, Choya Davis wrote:

> What's it like to go through life on a daily basis with the name

> "Dr. Doom"? I mean, do you feel pressured to live up to a name like

> that?

Absolutely. In fact, it is entirely possible that the _only_ reason that

I went on to graduate school and achieved a doctorate was due to a decision

that I made in high school. I knew then that it was a moral imperative to

become Dr. Doom. Anything less would be a disservice to the name to which

I was born.

> Have you ever actually done anything diabolical?

Absolutely. I am, after all, a university professor.

> Do you have an arch-enemy? If so, how do you deal with constant

> thwarting? Doesn't being thwarted get wearisome ?

Unfortunately, I have no rivals suited to arch-enemy status. I do have

a nemesis (www.wright.edy/~michael.raymer), but he has not yet proved

worthy to be promoted arch-nemesis, let alone arch-enemy. The only

thing that grows wearisome is the ease with which my plots succeed. I

long for a rival competent to clearly understand the perfection of my

schemes.

> Did you have to develop a melodramatic style of speech a la "They

> thought I was mad...but soon the world will be mine and all will kneel

> before the genius of Dr. DOOM!"

Not at all. Firstly, I do _not_ speak melodramaticaly. I speak in

declamations! It is simply a matter of clarity! To speak otherwise

would confuse my audience, for they cannot understand the fullness of

my genius!

> What kind of mind-bending technology do you have hidden in your vile

> sanctum of villainy? A time machine? Ready-to-launch Orbital

> Mind Control Lasers? A deutronic frombotzer?

Well, mostly I use MS power point. You might believe that a power-point

presentation is not unspeakably vile. I challenge to you attend one

of my lectures! With the advent of distance learning, soon I will be

able to touch the minds of millions from my office lair!

> And finally, do you have any toadying henchmen, that, through their

> ineptitude, constantly foil your nefarious plans for world-domination?

Of course. I have about dozen graduate and undergraduate students under

my constant guidance.

> Do you have any internships available? I dont have much henching

> experience, but you'll find me a quick study, and I just know I could

> grovel before the awesome might and power of Doom like none other.

Unfortunately, I don't accept just anyone. After you have proven yourself,

let me know. I'm always on the lookout for good talent.

> It

> would just be too cool to utter: "Yes evil master!", and after you

> conquer this undeserving mudball of a planet, could I have Australia?

Unfortunately, Australia is already promised to the Koalas. Oh come on,

you don't think that they are that cute on _accident_, do you?

> your loyal servant,

> choya davis

Regards,

--

Dr. Travis E. Doom email: doom@cs.wright.edu

Dept. of Computer Sci/Eng. http://www.wright.edu/~travis.doom

Wright State University Tel: (937) 775-5105

http://www.wright.edu/~travis.doom/Frames/drdoom.html

If you didn't die laughing when you read the MS Powerpoint reference, I don't think I know how to help you. For more, go read the other emails. Travis Doom, my hats off to you; I wouldn't dream of calling you anything other than "Doctor."

In any case, have a great rest-of-your-weekend, and for the Futurama fans out there who've been thinking it the whole time...