Book Notes: EWU’s Kevin Decker lands at Auntie’s

So there’s a “Doctor Who” expert at Eastern Washington University.

Who knew?

Kevin Decker, an associate professor of philosophy at EWU, has a new book, “Who is Who?: The Philosophy of Doctor Who” (I.B. Tauris, $25), the publisher touts as “the first in-depth philosophical investigation of Doctor Who in popular culture.”

Decker, who also has co-written books on the philosophical significance of the “Star Wars,” “Star Trek” and “Terminator” movies, will give a visual presentation on his book and research next week at Auntie’s Bookstore. As Auntie’s puts it at auntiesbooks.com, “Decker examines the other Doctor’s complex ethical motivations, questions of persisting personal identity in the Time Lord processes of regeneration, the nature of time travel through ‘wibbley-wobbley, timey-wimey’ stuff, how quantum theory affects our understanding of time; and the nature of the mysterious and irrational in the Doctor’s universe.”

“Doctor Who” – for those of you not familiar with the TARDIS, Time Lords or Daleks – is a British science fiction television program that marked its 50th anniversary this year.

Decker’s talk will begin at 7 p.m. Thursday at Auntie’s, 402 W. Main Ave.

Mudgy and Santa

Coeur d’Alene’s lovable moose and squirrel – um, moose and MOUSE – will team up with St. Nick for a holiday sing-a-long on Dec. 21 at the Coeur d’Alene Library.

The second annual “Holiday Sing-Along with Mudgy and Santa” will feature Mudgy the moose and his friend, Millie the mouse, from the book “Mudgy and Millie” written by Coeur d’Alene’s Susan Nipp.

Nipp, who created the “Wee Sing” series of children’s books and music, will lead the sing-along, and Mudgy, Millie and Santa will be on hand for photos. Terry Lee, the sculptor who created the statues that dot the Mudgy Trail, also will be there.

The program begins at 1 p.m. in the Community Room of the Coeur d’Alene Library, on the lower level. The library is at 702 E. Front Ave. For information, call (208) 769-2380.