We all know about the hoards thrown out of work, and to some lesser extent of the growing minions who have exhausted their emergency 99-week limit, but are still not getting the time of day from the Scrooges in HR departments, and the growing general pain and suffering among the people.

Then we see such pitiful displays as what CONgress has been up to and, worse; see in the Scroogepublican debates that, in spite of the problems for which we need leadership that is part of the solution: Their main concern is, “Ohhhh… We gust goooootta find some who can beat Obaaaahhhmaaaa!”

It drew me to a thought that would have made Ivanova’s assignment so much simpler.

Say a savvy passer-by had come into the room and said to Ivanova ONE WORD that would have made her see the futility of what she was doing, and send her marching directly to Sheridan’s office with a short report pointing out the situation was un-resolvable and recommending that it instead be contained to a part of the station where collateral damage could be kept to a minimum.

JMS, you magnificent sneak: I’ve solved your riddle!

Green Drazi / Purple Drazi is…

POLITICS.

Exactly why I thought JMS should have said no at the start of the talks unless he has TOTAL artistic control.

I would have rather learned that JMS was rebooting Crusade or doing a different story, but still within the B5 Universe than knowing that he was going to do the reboot himself. Some fans call JMS ‘The Great Maker’, but I think that is going too far and he has done bad work in the past. I could understand if this was the only offer he had on his plate, but with all the other things he is involved with, he certainly doesn’t seem to need to do a re-hash of his best work.

Maybe it is just my sense of integrity that is being rubbed the wrong way by redoing B5 while Crusade is allowed to sit with no talk of rebooting/restarting it. If all WB wanted was a B5 re-boot, then I think JMS should have said no and pushed other B5 related stories.

I definitely think if this topic needs to be explored on this podcast.

There are links posted in the notes for Show #250, including a link to contact the person who makes them so you can custom order your own B5 Little Pony!

http://img821.imageshack.us/img821/7014/babylon5ambassadordelen.jpg

I also didn’t like blowing up the White Star. I understand its a raise the stakes move, but pissing off the Rangers. I don’t care how big you think you are, we have seen the Rangers do to gangs. In part, the same tactics, the Guild uses, the Rangers probably invented. It just felt wrong. I am sure it would be ok, but this feels like it should a down the road episode where we have something invested in Dureena like we did with Sheridan.

Sheridan, Sinclair, Gideon and I would say Ivanova (she’d still make a good wingman). Shame we didn’t get to know Martel longer.

Adama would have been interesting to add to the mix in place of Reynolds. Reynolds just doesn’t appear (in my view) to have the grand scope view of the other 3. Despite being a starship captain, his character seems more like a GroundPounder in many ways.

1. Yet, even as I decry Reynolds, this is the one area where I think he does shine. He strikes me as a battle line sargent, so I can see hiim doing well in a ground conflict.

2. Small scale, I think Kirk makes the most out of the least. If there is one ship, and he is on it, he will be coming out of it (even if it is on the opponent’s ship). Though Sheridan is an incredibly close 2nd – after all, he did take down the Minbari Flagship.

3. No contest, have to go for Kirk (classic Kirk at least). He’s a brawler

4. Tough call, but I’m thinking Gideon. By the end of the night, I’d picture our adversaries sitting at a poker table or doing shots with us, rather than coming to blows.

5. Sheridan. Whether by guile, charisma or sheer force of will, he’ll take those elements, make the best of them and win.

6. Likely Gideon. He seems like the best person to help prop you up and make you look better.

7. Kirk would have the largest volume of stories to tell – though I might get more depressed listening to how he slept with half the girls in the galaxy…

8. Have to say Sheridan again. He has the best mix of speaking skills, and the force of character to make the bosses feel confident that the situation won’t happen again.

Me, I just wonder why Tim picked Kirk over Adama for this thought exercise (new BSG). Anyone with Tigh as an XO has to be able to handle his booze

Great podcast and please keep it up – I can’t wait for the other episodes, though it pains me at the same time, at what could have been… I’ll say this, personally, I don’t care how much exposition they’d put in the middle of the fight – in fact, I don’t care if they’d stopped in the middle of it for tea and cookies – if I just could have the episode! It would all have been fine by me…

Did you try Jen’s or Laura’s websites, linked above?

As for when any of the next Crusade books are coming out, we’d have to rely on the knowledge lying deep in Jason’s head, and since we don’t have any freelance teeps around, nor I’d imagine enough 30-year-old single malt to do the trick, all we can do is JUST SIT AND WAIT.

Dammit

(there’s bottles of a 55-year-old Glenfiddich being auctioned off in December… don’t let Mike and Brian know)

(1) Dr. Kyle could not have seen an angel (or whatever his belief system’s equivalent was), because Kosh was unconscious at the time. The angel appearance is a psychic illusion that Vorlons have to consciously project–it was established after Kosh was seen in “The Fall of Night’ that projecting to all the people who could see him when he saved Sheridan, simultaneously, took a lot out of him. Dr. Kyle has to have seen Kosh’s true form, which we don’t get to see ourselves until [?? forgot the name] the episode where the remnant of Kosh in Sheridan has to help drive the second Kosh out.

(2) I thought Tim had avoided one of my pet peeves when he said “previous Shadow War”, but then he blew it a sentence or two later when he called it “the First Shadow War”. Wrong! The Shadow War 1000 years ago was so far from being the first one it’s not even funny; it was the second-to-last in a series of wars that have been going on for millions, perhaps over a billion years.

I believe there are 6-7 recorded shows that haven’t been posted yet, and for the most part, we’ve been talking about the unproduced Crusade scripts that can be found in the most recent Crusade scriptbooks.

I really am going to get one or two of those out this weekend. I’ve just been swamped with work, work, and working on some issues the FarPoint Media webserver decided it needed to have.

Tim says I should just ask, and delegate editing to him, but he doesn’t realize that I just may take him up on that offer

How many shows were recorded in the given timeframe (you already mentioned 10/5) and what were the subjects? I do like not having any comments anymore from Mike since I stopped listening to Slice of Sci-Fi due to him and his attitude about what is “good” and what isn’t. So the Babylon podcast is the only podcast I bother to listen to anymore and are afraid it is slowly dying.

I really like Summer’s and Tim’s style of podcasting and would hate to not hear them at least once a month for the next year or more. Maybe by the end of 2012, there will be a new project in the B5 universe. One can only hope.

Yes, I’m way behind on editing and posting a lot of shows, not just the ones here.

As for the Babylon 4 reference, as long as the new episodes don’t blink out and stay away we will be happy to see and hear them when they arrive: – )

I’ve also got to find a way to add in the audio from the beginning of either Show 248 or 249 to the video, because it’s missing from the video.

Just wanted to add my encouragement for you to continue the Babcast and to send a huge thank you for the sterling work and contribution you have already made to enhance our understanding of the Bab5 Universe. I’ve been listening for a year or two now. I’ve been back and worked my way through all of your episodes. Sometimes laughing so much that I cried, sometimes missing Bab5 so much it hurts, sometimes so angry about its untimely and short-sighted demise in another form (Crusade, LoftheR, etc) but so grateful for the rich, deeply meaningful and positive message it leaves us….just a shame that most of the rest of humanity cannot see what a masterpiece it actually is. Whilst many rely on a religious doctrine…..It could be stated that the overall experience and message of B5 is as relevant or more so than any theological statement so far conjured by the collective mind of humanity.

Ok, so there were bad episodes…but you’ve got to do the bad ones as well, gives it all a balance…if it was all good….would we just find it ‘normal’? Main thing is…..like so many things in sci-fi…..it’s an awful lot bigger than the sum of its parts

As for a reboot………………….no no no no no!! Well, not unless you have full funding for the whole shooting match…remake everything already made….without interruption from the bean counters….. and with support for an equally complete rework of Crusade. Never gonna happen is it?!!! Doesn’t mean we don’t want it…but lets just be realistic……not in our lifetime……but this is a most relevant point…..when we, the fans who watched and absorbed B5 when it was made and broadcast….have all moved on….what will be left? Answer….a rich legacy that will be much more relevant to the evolution of future generations than it is to our own.

I was considering the legacy JMS has created. The written word is one of the only permanent things that we can leave behind us when we ourselves move on to beyond the Rim. I’ve been writing for my own pleasure for many years. I consider my work to be no better than exceptionally average and cannot claim or aspire to the huge success enjoyed by others. However, whilst I will never be a wealthy man, I am very happy that I have created written work that will always be available for future generations. I think maybe, JMS might view things the same way. He is well aware the B5 is as good as it is. I would not be keen on anyone rewriting the work I have done over the years….it is a very personal thing…..I would only be happy for any reboot/reproduction if I could be assured that my own standards would be adhered to. If this is not the case….best not to do it at all….he (JMS) already has a legacy……why spoil or dilute it? He has made his contribution to our culture and society….now all we have to do…as you are doing…..is get the big picture to the world……Its a big responsible task……but we, the fans, are still here and just a keen as ever….In my opinion JMS doesn’t owe anything…..and will almost certainly leave sleeping Vorlons to lie for as long as it takes!

I know that we are now out of episodes to review. However, the TV movies remain, there are still cast interviews to ferret for, (Especially Michael O’Hare…if he can be found) the published books and the huge amount of fanfic that is readily available do give you plenty to be going on with……..I wish you all the luck and hope that you are able to continue for as long as it is feasible or possible!! If I can contribute in any useful way, please let me know.

When the Avalanche has passed….the pebbles can still vote…and they will

Malcolm T

I also have a request for future episodes: Would it be possible to get an interview with Mira Furlan or Bill Mumy? They seem to be some of the actors with major characters who haven’t been interviewed yet. What about another interview with Jason Carter?