Going to see REO Speedwagon and Styx this weekend...in a couple hours in fact.

Last bash before my knee surgery tomorrow morning...

Battlestar Galactica TOS-Watched the complete series from "Saga of a Star World" to "Hand of God". And it caused me to reevaluate my opinion of the show yet again, especially after watching the supplementary material as well. Yes, the cheesy, family friendly elements are there still, but at the same time, there was a serious attempt with this show to do something yet unheard of in prime time science fiction. To create a fictional universe with underlying threads that hint at a much bigger tapestry going on. Yes, it was mostly episodic, but they dropped little things here and there that got carried through. And little drops of items that fleshed out the characters, both in the writings and in the way the actors portrayed them, as well as the universes themselves. To the point that I thought that some of the criticism leveled at the show after Ron Moore's show showed up was a little unfair.

1. The Disco Planet-Yes, very much an artifact of the 70s, the planet itself. But first, they didn't come to this planet with the intention of hitting a resort. One just happened to be there, and apparently had been there for awhile, to trap unwary humans (the humans there before the fleet arrived weren't even aware of the betrayal and annihilation of the Colonies). And that the Colonials would want to seek release and relief from their circumstances IS understandable.

2. Fleet politics and resource shortages. These ARE dealt with. Just not as heavily as in RDM's show, and give BSG TOS a break, as it only had one season. Now, the politics are somewhat weak, as they are of the "the military is right//civilians are clueless" variety at times. But sometimes, it was more interesting.

3. Simplistic, cartoonish characterization. Again, on the surface. The show could be saccharin and a bit too cheerful, considering. Which is why RDM did some of what he did with his version. But again, you could see where, at points, the writing and acting was reaching for more.

Bottom line, this show brimmed with promise. And if it had gotten a REAL second season (rumor has it that Isaac Asimov was coming on board as a writer), we would have seen something special. There is a reason why the show has refused to go away and die after all these years, like so many others have. There is a reason why it resurfaces. And with that promise, I do understand the disappointment of some TOS fans and why they feel ripped off, why RDMs show wasn't to their liking.

Now, I LOVE RDM's show. It is one of my favorite science fiction series of all time. It did get a chance to tell a version of this story to completion, and there is more to tell, with possibly more TV movies as well as Caprica. The Galactica-U is rich with potential and possibility and much could be done. TOS fans are looking to finally get their due as well, with Singer's coming film.

I'm a fan of both shows. And I've observed unbecoming behavior from the die hards of both camps. The TOS fans can be hostile (some almost violently so) and paranoid. The TNS fans can be a little condescending and lacking in empathy, and appreciatioin for the original show making RDM's show possible.

But Galactica endures and the old girl sails on, and there is much to come for both camps, it would seem.

I, as a fan of both, am glad.

Anyone planning on being at Garycon next year?  Gonna be GMing a game of Gamma World, old school.  For those who don't know, Gamma World is TSR's rpg of postapocalyptic adventure...

...but here's an update as to the haps...


I'm off Drill Sergeant status and have been moved to Main Post on Ft Benning.  I'm with the Public Affairs office and will be producing product for them after my surgery, which will take place Nov 3rd.  I'll have 30 days convalescent leave, with which I'm going home to Texarkana to spend Thanksgiving.  I'm going to miss the "Evening with Kevin Smith" in Dallas on Nov 7, but I will FINALLY get to attend "Boardgamegeek.CON".

'Bout time.

I'll be on Ft Benning for two years at the Public Affairs Office, I'm writing movie reviews for the post paper and I WILL be able to attend Airborne School once I'm healthy enough.

I should make Staff Sergeant this time next year.

Life is good and I am blessed.

Oh yeah, movies to recommend...go see Zombieland, Pandorum and Where The Wild Things Are.

I bought this book at a little book store in Mt Shasta, CA when visiting a friend.  Like Harry Potter, I was awhile in getting around to reading it, after the movie about it had been released, in fact.  Unlike the HP movies, the movie version of City of Ember kinda came and went.  But that's ok, because the book is worth checking out.

Not sure about the movie.  Based on my reading, the trailer totally sold the movie the wrong way.

But the book deals with a city.  It's a lone city in the dark, with a population isolated, no communication at all with anything outside their isolated world.  Lights powered by a mighty underground river light the city in the day, and at night, or during the occasional blackout, the city is plunged into inpenetrable darkness. 

The blackouts seem to be coming more and more often of late.

Plus, the city is starting to run out of supplies.  Yet the  Mayor of the city tries to reassure the citizens of Ember that everything is under control.  He's not succeeding too well.

Lina and Doon just completed school and began jobs in service of the city.  Lina is a runner, literally running messages from one point in the city to another, their only form of long distance communication.  Doon services the pipes under the city, whose dilapidated condition underlines the fact that Ember's days seem to be numbered.

The two fetch about to find a way to save the city, and end up finding a sign of Ember's origins as well as the larger world elsewhere...

This is a thoughtful science fiction novel, dystopian/post apocalyptic in setting, but exploration of society in particular.  The ending is cliffhangerian, but I found out there are three more books in the series.

The writer is Jeanne DuPrau and I like her thought exercises wrapped up in prose.  City of Ember is worth checking out. 

The themes of individualism vs conformity, questioning of authority/working towards the good of society and other themes are probed at in the opening work.

Well...I've now conducted my first two ceremonies as emcee. The first and the one all eyes were definitely on was the graduation of Delta Company, 3-47, the Company I was "turtling" with, ironically. Their 1SG still seems to hate me, but no one, NO ONE can deny the mad skills, as all the subsequent props that came my way attested.

For an encore, I narrated the "Change of Responsibility" for our outgoing Sergeant Major, the one who was the first advocate for me being the "voice of the Battalion". Again, kudos, even though I though the narration wasn't one of my best efforts on my part.

That and things going well around the office seemingly have turned the regard for me around, from literal and figurative "damaged goods" to "unique asset".

My movie review gig begins soon, I soon begin hunting for a part time radio gig AND Airborne still remains as a possibility.

Again, you hang on and pursue your passions, it's amazing how quickly things can start to turn around.

The Bayonet is the Ft Benning newspaper, and I've just heard back from one of their editors.

I may be their new movie reviewer.  They want a meeting, don'tcha know?

How cool is that?



Also, at the end of my long recovery, I may STILL get Airborne School?

Life is starting to once again look up...

...makes Purple Haze beer.

Yummy.