ACK! THEY BLEW IT UP! YOU MANIACS!
Brack!
sniff. augh! b5 just ripping open like so much tin foil... arrrrgh.
they could have just sold it off as a collector's item y'know. To the
highest bidder. That'd be a cheap way to make some money back. ;)
Brack! [begin anti-spam block] My e-mail address is *not*: <root@[127.0.0.1]> <postm...@1.0.0.127.IN-ADDR.ARPA> <postmaster@[127.0.0.1]> <ab...@mci.net> <MAILER-DAEMON@[127.0.0.1]> <abuse@[127.0.0.1]> <tos...@aol.com> <.@[127.0.0.1]> <..@[127.0.0.1]> UNSUBSCRIBE[end]
Chad Millar
<reve...@interact.net.au> wrote:
>"Brack!" wrote:
>> Damn youuuuu! Damn you all to heeeeelll!
>> sniff. augh! b5 just ripping open like so much tin foil... arrrrgh.
>> they could have just sold it off as a collector's item y'know. To
>> the highest bidder. That'd be a cheap way to make some money back.
>> ;)
>
> Absolutely. To me this was one of the weakest bits of the whole
>thing. That Earthgov would blow up a historical site like Babylon 5
>because it's a "menace to navigation".
But don't you agree that tens of thousands of fragments of the station
floating around the sector is safer than having that big old thing
sitting there? :)
---
Chad Millar
c_mi...@bigpond.com
Revenant
> Damn youuuuu! Damn you all to heeeeelll!
> sniff. augh! b5 just ripping open like so much tin foil... arrrrgh.
> they could have just sold it off as a collector's item y'know. To
> the highest bidder. That'd be a cheap way to make some money back.
> ;)
Absolutely. To me this was one of the weakest bits of the whole
thing. That Earthgov would blow up a historical site like Babylon 5
because it's a "menace to navigation". Surely the only people it is
a threat to is people who come to Babylon 5 through the jumpgate -
it's not a danger to anyone in hyperspace, AFAIK - and even if B5
has 'hyperspace shadows' ala Star Wars (though there is no evidence
of this), B5 is a minimal threat in comparison to the planet it
orbits. Blowing it up just seemed a way to 'end on a bang' without
any justification beyond the emotional impact, which is a bit
disappointing...
-------------- Revenant [reve...@interact.net.au] -------------------
If I take a lamp and shine it towards the wall, a bright spot will
appear [...]. The lamp is our search for truth, for understanding.
Too often we assume that the light on the wall is God, But the light
is not the goal of the search, it is the result of the search. [...]
- G'kar, "Meditations on the Abyss" - Babylon 5.
Jms at B5
>thing. That Earthgov would blow up a historical site like Babylon 5
>because it's a "menace to navigation". Surely the only people it is
>a threat to is people who come to Babylon 5 through the jumpgate -
>it's not a danger to anyone in hyperspace, AFAIK -
But bear in mind that B5 also contains weapons systems that could be ripped out
by other people, computer systems that could be stolen and used to compromise
existing systems, classified data that might not be totally erased...you would
have to rip out thousands and thousands of miles of cable, material, computers,
all that stuff, and *still* have to deal with squatters.
Better to blow the thing up.
(just sightseeing here after worldcon)
jms
(jms...@aol.com)
B5 Official Fan Club at:
http://www.thestation.com
Chuen Chan
Jms at B5 wrote in message <19990909214627...@ng-fj1.aol.com>...
>>Absolutely. To me this was one of the weakest bits of the whole
>>thing. That Earthgov would blow up a historical site like Babylon 5
>>because it's a "menace to navigation". Surely the only people it is
>>a threat to is people who come to Babylon 5 through the jumpgate -
>>it's not a danger to anyone in hyperspace, AFAIK -
>
>But bear in mind that B5 also contains weapons systems that could be ripped
out
>by other people, computer systems that could be stolen and used to
compromise
>existing systems, classified data that might not be totally erased...you
would
>have to rip out thousands and thousands of miles of cable, material,
computers,
>all that stuff, and *still* have to deal with squatters.
I actually thought it was silly at first glance, but after further
consideration, it is probably the right thing to do. After all, we current
wreck buildings (by explosive or wrecking balls) and then cart away the
rubble. My guess of the chain of events for the decommissioning of B5 would
be:
Strip out all salvageable systems (computers, weapons, etc)
blow it up
collect all the little pieces to be melted down for the new fleet of White
Star destroyers
after all, it is a lot easier to bring little bits of it back to be melted
down rather than a 5 mile structure of mostly empty spaces.
Chuen Chan c.c...@uq.net.au
---------------------------------------------------------------------
'You can prove anything you want by coldly logical reason - if you pick
the proper postulates... Postulates are based on assumption and adhered
to by faith. Nothing in the Universe can shake them.' I. Asimov
Poss
wrote:
>>Absolutely. To me this was one of the weakest bits of the whole
>>thing. That Earthgov would blow up a historical site like Babylon 5
>>because it's a "menace to navigation". Surely the only people it is
>>a threat to is people who come to Babylon 5 through the jumpgate -
>>it's not a danger to anyone in hyperspace, AFAIK -
>
>But bear in mind that B5 also contains weapons systems that could be ripped out
>by other people, computer systems that could be stolen and used to compromise
>existing systems, classified data that might not be totally erased...you would
>have to rip out thousands and thousands of miles of cable, material, computers,
>all that stuff, and *still* have to deal with squatters.
>
>Better to blow the thing up.
>
>(just sightseeing here after worldcon)
>
> jms
You're actually getting a chance to sightsee??
<Australian journalist mode>So, what do you think of Australia?</mode
off>
Rev. Possum Bits (aka Pseudocherus peregrinus occidantalis), U.L.C.
Peering into her letterbox at pam...@wantree.com.au
Tottering through her home page at http://www.wantree.com.au/~pamela
Picard: So you're saying he'd have more suck...
Riker: .. than William Shatner's acting? Yes Sir!
ST:TNG "The Search for the Lost Episode"
Brack!
>>Absolutely. To me this was one of the weakest bits of the whole
>>thing. That Earthgov would blow up a historical site like Babylon 5
>>because it's a "menace to navigation". Surely the only people it is
>>a threat to is people who come to Babylon 5 through the jumpgate -
>>it's not a danger to anyone in hyperspace, AFAIK -
>
>But bear in mind that B5 also contains weapons systems that could be ripped out
>by other people, computer systems that could be stolen and used to compromise
>existing systems, classified data that might not be totally erased...you would
>have to rip out thousands and thousands of miles of cable, material, computers,
>all that stuff, and *still* have to deal with squatters.
>
>Better to blow the thing up.
>
>(just sightseeing here after worldcon)
>
> jms
That's what I thought... I'm still not sure why the 'menace to
navigation' excuse was used though, even if its valid in the most
roundabout way. (...yadda yadda weapons could be used by pirates etc
etc to menace navigation blah blah...). Of course, the guy did look
extremely incompetent and was probably fumbling for excuses. =)
Ochran Industries
> >Absolutely. To me this was one of the weakest bits of the whole
> >thing. That Earthgov would blow up a historical site like Babylon 5
> >because it's a "menace to navigation". Surely the only people it is
> >a threat to is people who come to Babylon 5 through the jumpgate -
> >it's not a danger to anyone in hyperspace, AFAIK -
>
> But bear in mind that B5 also contains weapons systems that could be ripped out
> by other people, computer systems that could be stolen and used to compromise
> existing systems, classified data that might not be totally erased...you would
> have to rip out thousands and thousands of miles of cable, material, computers,
> all that stuff, and *still* have to deal with squatters.
>
> Better to blow the thing up.
>
> (just sightseeing here after worldcon)
>
> jms
>
> (jms...@aol.com)
> B5 Official Fan Club at:
> http://www.thestation.com
>
I'dve (:-)) snipped the .sig, but my ego wouldn't let me.
Weapons systems: They can demilitarise navy ships, mig jets, yet can't
rip off easily accessible weapons systems (there must be some way to
repair them, and the easy way would be to make them modular - the
american navy seems to be going this way, with 'cells' of missiles,
such as tomahawks).
Computer systems: You mean they aren't easily accessed for
maintainence? There must be some way to fix them, and since computers
are modular these days, i would expect the same for the future.
*comments on view from the galley ( the ep with the maintainence
techs)
-personnally, i hated it - seemed to be full on inconsistances
-the main problem i had with it was the massive failure point that c&c
was
-for one, it had a viewport out to space (this relates to all eps) -
this is also done in every
sci fi show i can think of (but an not sure about space:above and
beyond). You put c&c in the middle of your ship/station, so a
lucky/aimed shot does not turn your ship/station into a very expensive
scrap of metal. This is one of my major bones with star trek:V, TNG.
Where is the c&c on a ship of war? In the middle, with lots of armour
and nonessential stuff to stop the bad guy's stuff from destroying it.
I do realise however, that for b5 (and the other shows to work) this
critical piece of architecture must be able to see out - it looks so
cool!
-for a critical piece of weaponry to be taken down because !one!
console is down is also ludicrus - have they never heard of
alternative c&c's? Even normal mission critical computers today are
duplicated, with multiple cpu's, drives and memory, normally in
separate physical places, let alone a futristic 5 mile long station.
*comments end.
computer systems (2):They could be stolen and used to compromise
existing systems? How? You change passwords, and encryption keys
(which, for classified data, is done already).
The computer systems structure would already be known by those who
want to compromise other systems anyway. What are you going to do, use
it for a distributed.net type operation? The computers will be but a
small insignificant fraction of the computing power available to even
commercial entities, legally.
Classified data: Might not be totally erased - you mean to say that
the current practises are not up to scratch when handling classified
data? If that was true, then there is no need to blow up the station
- the 'enemy' already has it if classified data is handled like this.
You would have to remove thousands of miles of cable, material,
computers:
Cable - you mean to say that the cable retains a memory of the
classified data? - I want some of that, especially since it seems that
computers those days work using light. As to ripping it out to deny an
'enemy' use of the network, any enemy large enough to need a
significant fraction of b5 is going to have it's own resources, and
will be able to recable b5 (the cable ways are easily accessible for
repair and so on, aren't they? Robots can also be used for faster and
easier recabling).
Material - like what? The fusion reactor would be useful, but only as
a bomb. What else could there be? (am curious).
Computers - see my earlier comment.
Navigation Hazard: So, you're going to turn one large navigation
hazard into billions of tiny small ones. Which is better for us here
and now - one large, abandoned mir station floating around, or
billions of tiny pieces of rockets, satellites, paint scraps, wrenches
and so on that present a navigation hazard right now above our
atmosphere?
Besides, why would it become obselete? The alliance may have taken
over the race to race treaty needs, but what about trade - i can
hardly see the minbari allowing large numbers of people on minbar.
Look at washington DC. It may be the capitol of the united states, but
where is all the trade? - seattle, boston, new york.
Why not use the area as an alliance training ground, with b5 as a
military outpost?
Better yet, continue b5 as a trade centre, and create a scientific
component as well - i'm sure scientists from all races would love to
create the super-duper particle accelerator together - look at the
collabrative efforts now at cern. There are bound to be lots of
experiments requiring a large, stable base with a good power supply,
and the bonus is that you've got heaps of room.
The scientists can always talk with the machine down on the planet
when they've got nothing to do (and, now that the machine has done
it's part with regards to b4, what is it going to do - play freecell
for the next few millenia?
Worrying about squatters: Well, what about down below - aren't they
squatters? This problem has already been solved. As for squatters that
will take over the station if abandoned, why is it being abandoned in
the first place? Even if abandoned, i'm sure the alliance, as un, is
going to need somewhere to train it's boarding parties, assualt troops
(or the member races will). What better place than a nice big floating
tin can, 5 miles long, 1 previous owner, abandoned? They can clean out
the squatters every time an exercise is executed.
Don't think of this as criticism :-) Think of it as critical thinking,
nurtured by a tv show with a 5 year arc, with no reset button used
after every episode, with no technobabble, with real life characters,
in real life situations, confronted with real life problems,
requiring real life solutions.. :-)
--
westyX - n258...@sparrow.qut.edu.au
It's not that i am a cannibal, it's just that human flesh is so tasty.
I believe in preemptive righting of wrongs.
Babylon 5 - Death to all unbelievers
Mystical Pronouncer of the Arrrrgggggghhhhhhh - a.t.b
Lisa Reeve
> navigation' excuse was used though,
Could the 'menace to navigation' have been a good excuse to destroy
something that had become a symbol of the Alliance? We know from
Deconstruction of Falling Stars that Earth eventually turned its back on the
Alliance ... maybe this was the beginning of it.
Revenant
> >Absolutely. To me this was one of the weakest bits of the whole
> >thing. That Earthgov would blow up a historical site like Babylon 5
> >because it's a "menace to navigation". Surely the only people it is
> >a threat to is people who come to Babylon 5 through the jumpgate -
> >it's not a danger to anyone in hyperspace, AFAIK -
> But bear in mind that B5 also contains weapons systems that could
> be ripped out by other people, computer systems that could be
> stolen and used to compromise existing systems, classified data
> that might not be totally erased...you would have to rip out
> thousands and thousands of miles of cable, material, computers,
> all that stuff, and *still* have to deal with squatters.
> Better to blow the thing up.
> (just sightseeing here after worldcon)
> jms
Wahoo! JMS replied to *my* post. :)
Okay, that seems perfectly reasonable. I (and presumably numerous
others) would have been much happier if that had been said in the
show. Instead of "menace to navigation", "obsolete and being
destroyed to avoid looting". To prevent people from pillaging the
past to threaten the future. Hmm...
Richard Muirden
>Weapons systems: They can demilitarise navy ships, mig jets, yet can't
>rip off easily accessible weapons systems (there must be some way to
>repair them, and the easy way would be to make them modular - the
>american navy seems to be going this way, with 'cells' of missiles,
>such as tomahawks).
B5 is *5 miles* long, not a ship like the navy. come on let's get
real here.. besides it would be mostly out of date hardware, so it's
unlikely anyone would actually want it. easier to destroy it. Happens
lots these days. How many vic-20's have been thrown on the scrap heap
(or XT's or whatever)?
>Computer systems: You mean they aren't easily accessed for
>maintainence? There must be some way to fix them, and since computers
>are modular these days, i would expect the same for the future.
what and reactivate Harlan.. er I mean the alternate personality again? :)
Sparky!! :)
cheers,
-richard
--
Richard A. Muirden, UNIX Systems Administrator and aviation nut!
Cybersource Pty. Ltd. - Systems Administration and Windows/UNIX Integration
"Can we jump?" "No" "Then we have a problem" "No shit, Sherlock!"
- Sheridan & Lennier, Babylon 5 gag/blooper reel.
Ochran Industries
> Ochran Industries <n258...@sparrow.qut.edu.au> writes:
> >Weapons systems: They can demilitarise navy ships, mig jets, yet can't
> >rip off easily accessible weapons systems (there must be some way to
> >repair them, and the easy way would be to make them modular - the
> >american navy seems to be going this way, with 'cells' of missiles,
> >such as tomahawks).
>
> B5 is *5 miles* long, not a ship like the navy. come on let's get
> real here.. besides it would be mostly out of date hardware, so it's
> unlikely anyone would actually want it. easier to destroy it. Happens
> lots these days. How many vic-20's have been thrown on the scrap heap
> (or XT's or whatever)?
Yes, and things like repair bots are used. Either you demil it (remove
the nice big shiny guns (as above - i was addressing someone's post
saying you can't demilitarise things), or you turn it into a
scientific station, keeping the trade, keeping the security force,
keeping the command structure, and keeping the guns. easy!
>
>
> >Computer systems: You mean they aren't easily accessed for
> >maintainence? There must be some way to fix them, and since computers
> >are modular these days, i would expect the same for the future.
>
> what and reactivate Harlan.. er I mean the alternate personality again? :)
>
> Sparky!! :)
>
But i *liked* that program - what do you have against it. It was only
trying to be *helpful* <g>.
Seriously, things must have broken before, and been fixed. These type
of things would have been taken into account when building b5.~
Richard Muirden
>Yes, and things like repair bots are used. Either you demil it (remove
>the nice big shiny guns (as above - i was addressing someone's post
>saying you can't demilitarise things), or you turn it into a
>scientific station, keeping the trade, keeping the security force,
>keeping the command structure, and keeping the guns. easy!
with what budget? The Commander in SiL said that most of B5's duties
were taken over by the alliance. There';s no real science out there
(as people won't be allowed down to E3) and the cost is huge. B5
isn't getting visitors anymore.. Zack or someone said "noone comes here
anymore" and it costs too much.
Sadly, as with today, it's all a numbers game. It seems absurd, but I'm
not at all surprised.
Ochran Industries
> Ochran Industries <n258...@sparrow.qut.edu.au> writes:
> >Yes, and things like repair bots are used. Either you demil it (remove
> >the nice big shiny guns (as above - i was addressing someone's post
> >saying you can't demilitarise things), or you turn it into a
> >scientific station, keeping the trade, keeping the security force,
> >keeping the command structure, and keeping the guns. easy!
>
> with what budget? The Commander in SiL said that most of B5's duties
> were taken over by the alliance. There';s no real science out there
> (as people won't be allowed down to E3) and the cost is huge. B5
> isn't getting visitors anymore.. Zack or someone said "noone comes here
> anymore" and it costs too much.
>
> Sadly, as with today, it's all a numbers game. It seems absurd, but I'm
> not at all surprised.
>
It's always been a numbers game - what people will pay in order to get
a percieved benefit, and how much you actually have.
Yeah, as to 'taken over by the alliance' - it's canon, but i'm
argueing with that, so it's just a personal peeve.
I wouldv'e thought that trade would have made up a fair bit of income
- b5 was hacking it when earthdome cut ties with b5, and now that b5
is on good terms with earthdome, things would be easier. Add to that a
science budget - b5 is a stable base, with good power, low threat from
raiders, a percieved impartiallity, and i would have thought that
there would have been some science experiments on a grand scale that
member races of the alliance would have all pitched in to do - much
like the supercollider stuff at cern?, or the space stuff type of
experiments which nasa/european space office does.
Christian McNeill
news:rmuirden....@cyber.com.au...
> Ochran Industries <n258...@sparrow.qut.edu.au> writes:
> >Weapons systems: They can demilitarise navy ships, mig jets, yet can't
> >rip off easily accessible weapons systems (there must be some way to
> >repair them, and the easy way would be to make them modular - the
> >american navy seems to be going this way, with 'cells' of missiles,
> >such as tomahawks).
>
> real here.. besides it would be mostly out of date hardware, so it's
> unlikely anyone would actually want it. easier to destroy it. Happens
> lots these days. How many vic-20's have been thrown on the scrap heap
> (or XT's or whatever)?
Um raiders would want it! They could use the left over weapon systems. It
doesn't mater how old they are they still kill and destroy.
> >Computer systems: You mean they aren't easily accessed for
> >maintainence? There must be some way to fix them, and since computers
> >are modular these days, i would expect the same for the future.
>
> what and reactivate Harlan.. er I mean the alternate personality again? :)
Why not. What you do is put him into the Edgars Industries computer system.
That'd make Mr Garibaldi's day.
--
------------------------------------------------
CANCER
The position of Jupiter says that you should spent the rest of the week face
down in the mud.
Try not to shove a roll of duct tape up your nose while taking your driving
test.
Christian McNeill
One of the Med War First Ones
E-Mail: chri...@quicknet.com.au
WWW: home.quicknet.com.au/bigred
ICQ#: 818458
------------------------------------------------
Christian McNeill
news:19990909214627...@ng-fj1.aol.com...
> >Absolutely. To me this was one of the weakest bits of the whole
> >thing. That Earthgov would blow up a historical site like Babylon 5
> >because it's a "menace to navigation". Surely the only people it is
> >a threat to is people who come to Babylon 5 through the jumpgate -
> >it's not a danger to anyone in hyperspace, AFAIK -
>
> But bear in mind that B5 also contains weapons systems that could be
ripped out
> by other people, computer systems that could be stolen and used to
compromise
> existing systems, classified data that might not be totally erased...you
would
> have to rip out thousands and thousands of miles of cable, material,
computers,
> all that stuff, and *still* have to deal with squatters.
>
> Better to blow the thing up.
And Next thing you know B5 has become a bloody theme park. With rides like
the Sheridan's Leap, a free fall from the centre of B5 into the open arms of
a Vorlon (that forgot how to get to the rim). Or the Technomage's Quarters
of Horrors.
And the Zocalo has been turned into a sideshow alley where you have parlour
games like guess the blood alcohol level of the e Centauri, pin the head on
the pike and everyone's favourite the obscure reference hunt.
--
------------------------------------------------
CANCER
The position of Jupiter says that you should spent the rest of the week face
down in the mud.
Try not to shove a roll of duct tape up your nose while taking your driving
test.
Christian McNeill One of the Med War First Ones
E-Mail: red...@ozemail.com.au
WWW: www.quicknet.com.au/~redmac
ICQ#: 818458
------------------------------------------------
Richard Muirden
finish the story and he has. Why nitpick about it? At least now we can't
wonder "what if" about the actual station that the story is about. We've
seen it built(well sort of), live, and die and that's that.
IMHO.
Jms at B5
>of things would have been taken into account when building b5.~
Let us also remember that B5 is *twenty five years old* at this point, and was
the cheapest of the stations...why invest billions to keep it slogging forward,
or millions to strip it? It's probably falling apart by now.
Remember, you have to think like a bureaucrat watching the bottom line, not a
fan with a love of the place. (Begin IQ diminishment program...now.)
As for the prior question...I loved Australia quite a bit, didn't get to see
much (back in the US now, had to get back for work purposes), but what I saw, I
liked a great deal.
Franke
Jms at B5 <jms...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:19990910220816...@ng-fr1.aol.com...
Revenant
> I think this whole "why destroy B5" thing is a bit silly. JMS
> wanted to finish the story and he has. Why nitpick about it?
Because this way we get to keep discussing Bab 5. Duh!
Revenant
> I liked the fact that it blew up....
Me too. Just didn't like the reason given.
Franke
Revenant <reve...@interact.net.au> wrote in message
news:37DA0A26...@interact.net.au...
Brack!
wrote:
>* Which sidearm is better: PPG, Minbari Fighting Pike(old one), Centauri
> Blaster or bare hands(Narn)
Silly boy, everyone knows the Narns like bats. Here comes the Narn Bat
Squad, ouchouchouch!
Richard Muirden
> Because this way we get to keep discussing Bab 5. Duh!
d'uh to me indeed. In that case I think the following all important points
need to be discussed: (:-) )
* What IS the deal with the EarthForce logo?
* How come green for security and red for medical - why not the other way
around
* How do Vorlons procreate? :)
* Does Talia end up betraying the psicorp after the little implanted
personality thing?
* What did Ivanova do to become General?
* Does anybody like grey sector?
* Did Zack really get that limp trying to come on to SuperLyta at some stage?
* Do Drakh have sexes or just keepers?
* Had Zack left B5 before JMS turned the lights out?
* If Centauri have six, period pain must be a BITCH!
* Why was Sheridan's ranger badge bright green whereas the others seemed
more blue-green? Am I colourblind (answers on postcards)
* Why does EarthForce mix Naval and Armuy ranks anyway?
* What do you get if you cross a Minbari and a Centauri? A spiritual Ferengi?
* What does Spoo really taste like?
* Do Starfuries come with airconditioning and cd players? What about
airbags?
* We've seen the black star and the white star.. do we get a purple polka
dot star?
* Does the Drakh plague hit Jakarta first?
* Can you get jelly babies at the Zocolo?
* Is Lorien really working for Micro$oft when he asks where are we
going?
* Rumour or fact: G'kar's 2nd book is subtitled "bigger, longer and uncut"?
* Did the room ever stop spinning?
* If the Shadows run WB/TNT and the Vorlons run Channel Nein, who runs 7?
* What is the exchange rate on Centauri Duckets today?
* Does G'Kar have a pleasure threshold (down, Poss!)
* Was Franklin really a 4 star General too? If so, can Ivanova still order
him around?
* Does NaToth ever have any pouchlings? If so where is a Narn's pouch?
* Did Valen ever end up learning all that poetry?
* Rumour or Fact: Lennier went on to meet up with Dr. Rosen and went in
search of fellow castaways?
* Does B5 coffee suck as bad as Nescafe?
* Best Mates: O'Brien(DS9) & Mack. True or false?
* Does AOL mean "Alliance OnLine" in the 23rd century?
* Does Mary Garibaldi-Edgars-Hampton(whatever) watch Duck Dodgers, or does she
think it's lame?
* Which sidearm is better: PPG, Minbari Fighting Pike(old one), Centauri
Blaster or bare hands(Narn)
* If the day of the dead comes every 200 years, and the next one is in
2262, who *really* set Lee Harvey Oswald to it?
* I am of clan Morden. should I shoot myself now?
* What happened to the 3 Elivises? Did they get a gig on ISN?
* Who really keeps to a food plan, anyway?
* Is there a cult of the sacred coffee stain set up on Narn? If not, WHY not?
* Who Are You?
* What Do You Want?
C.Scott
Lisa Reeve <jabb...@very.net> wrote in message
news:newscache$nf0uhf$fek$1...@lister.broadway.net.a
>
> Could the 'menace to navigation' have been a good excuse to destroy
> something that had become a symbol of the Alliance?
>
That's a very good idea - B5 would probably have to be scrapped eventually,
but an 8 km long space colony should be expected to deliver a lot more than
25 years worth of service.
We also see a hint of EarthGov turning it's back on the Alliance when
General Ivanova's aides expresses distrust of the Rangers.
C.Scott
C.Scott
Revenant
> Revenant <reve...@interact.net.au> writes:
> > Because this way we get to keep discussing Bab 5. Duh!
> d'uh to me indeed. In that case I think the following all
> important points need to be discussed: (:-) )
> * What IS the deal with the EarthForce logo?
Please explain?
> * How come green for security and red for medical - why not
> the other way around
Presumably on outgrowth of the Red Cross symbol.
> * How do Vorlons procreate? :)
What makes you think they do?
<SNYPPE>
> * Did Zack really get that limp trying to come on to SuperLyta
> at some stage?
LoL! I doubt it.
> * Do Drakh have sexes or just keepers?
Maybe the blurry one was a female? Or vice versa?
> * If Centauri have six, period pain must be a BITCH!
<shudder>
<SNYPPE>
> * Why does EarthForce mix Naval and Armuy ranks anyway?
Because it's probably an amalgamation of the old Army, Navy and
Air Force.
> * What do you get if you cross a Minbari and a Centauri? A
> spiritual Ferengi?
<shudder>
<SNYPPE>
> * We've seen the black star and the white star.. do we get a
> purple polka dot star?
Sure. It's a Drazi warship...
<SNYPPE>
> * If the Shadows run WB/TNT and the Vorlons run Channel Nein, who
> runs 7?
What makes you think *anyone* runs 7?
> * Was Franklin really a 4 star General too? If so, can Ivanova
> still order him around?
Hell yeh - she could kick his arse! Could probably order Sheridan
around too if she really wanted to...
> * Does Mary Garibaldi-Edgars-Hampton(whatever) watch Duck Dodgers,
> or does she think it's lame?
Yes.
Chad Millar
wrote:
Well the Earth Alliance has never really had any reason to particulary
like the ISA - considering its fleet destroyed, crippled or converted
the EA fleet, destroyed the Earth defense system, freed Mars, and flew
a fleet of White Stars over Earthdome in a show of power.
Then theres Crusade...
---
Chad Millar
c_mi...@bigpond.com
The Wraith
<reve...@interact.net.au> wrote:
>
> Absolutely. To me this was one of the weakest bits of the whole
>thing. That Earthgov would blow up a historical site like Babylon 5
>because it's a "menace to navigation". Surely the only people it is
>a threat to is people who come to Babylon 5 through the jumpgate -
I don't think it was ever said that B5 was the last base to be built
in the area of Eridani III. The Babylon stations were built at Epsilon
Eridani for a reason - it is fairly central in known space, accessible
to all the major races and the League worlds, and this is what made
Babylon 5 a centre of trade and diplomacy. These reasons remain, so I
would think that other stations would be built to replace Babylon 5.
Jumpgates aren't cheap, either, so the old jumpgate is probably still
used. All in all, I think there would be good reason for traffic
around Eridani III, not just in adjacent hyperspace.
I can also see why B5 could become a menace to navigation. We know
that it has maneuvering thrusters, to adjust and maintain its orbit.
They were used in the pilot, even if not later. Without those, B5's
orbit would become unstable and decay. (Otherwise, those thrusters
would not have been built in the first place.) With the station shut
down, those thrusters will no longer be operating. B5 could eventually
end up pretty much anywhere in orbit around Eridani III, including
drifting dangerously close to those other stations. It isn't just
navigation of ships that is a worry, it is navigation of stations, and
that's a bitch to adjust.
It could well be safer to use those maneuvering thrusters to put B5 in
a lower orbit which will rapidly decay (at the upper reaches of the
atmosphere, say), from which no little pieces are likely to escape,
and blow it up so that the pieces fall to Eridani III and burn up in
its atmosphere. You wouldn't want to just drop B5 onto Eridani III in
one piece - it would be too big to burn up completely, and Draal would
be pissed if it hit something important.
--
Now, by popular demand, a new .sig!
I still can't think of anything witty to say, though.
The Wraith
Richard Muirden
>> * What IS the deal with the EarthForce logo?
> Please explain?
Well, the "E" is clear, but what's the rest of the symbol represent?
>> * How come green for security and red for medical - why not
>> the other way around
> Presumably on outgrowth of the Red Cross symbol.
most normal (ie: current) use green for medical and red for security
types. Maybe JMS just wanted to distance himself from the red shirt
mentality of ST ;)
><SNYPPE>
>> * We've seen the black star and the white star.. do we get a
>> purple polka dot star?
> Sure. It's a Drazi warship...
good one *rofl*
Sanna Breytberg
Richard Muirden <rmui...@cyber.com.au> wrote in article
<rmuirden....@cyber.com.au>...
> Revenant <reve...@interact.net.au> writes:
> > Because this way we get to keep discussing Bab 5. Duh!
>
> d'uh to me indeed. In that case I think the following all important
points
> need to be discussed: (:-) )
>
> * How come green for security and red for medical - why not the other way
> around
Follow the blood trail
> * How do Vorlons procreate? :)
Insted of getting in the sack, they are getting into the Environment Suit?
> * Does anybody like grey sector?
Yes. Zarg. Did.
> * Did Zack really get that limp trying to come on to SuperLyta at some
stage?
Ranning from her more like it
> * Do Drakh have sexes or just keepers?
Does Drakhette sound plausible?
> * If Centauri have six, period pain must be a BITCH!
No, it's a ducted system. But protection must be a bit of a fuss.
> * What do you get if you cross a Minbari and a Centauri? A spiritual
Ferengi?
A hairy lobster?
> * What does Spoo really taste like?
According to B5 Cook-book, it's scallops
> * Do Starfuries come with airconditioning and cd players? What about
> airbags?
lol, cd players in the back too.
> * We've seen the black star and the white star.. do we get a purple polka
> dot star?
No. that would be asking.
> * Is Lorien really working for Micro$oft when he asks where are we
> going?
Does Microsoft only have less then 20 years to go? Yipeee
> * Rumour or fact: G'kar's 2nd book is subtitled "bigger, longer and
uncut"?
bigger, longer, unstained
> * Did the room ever stop spinning?
No, it's for creating gravity
> * If the Shadows run WB/TNT and the Vorlons run Channel Nein, who runs 7?
BORG
> * What is the exchange rate on Centauri Duckets today?
2 Duckets=1 Duck
> * Does G'Kar have a pleasure threshold (down, Poss!)
Allow permission to join the testing team.
> * Which sidearm is better: PPG, Minbari Fighting Pike(old one), Centauri
> Blaster or bare hands(Narn)
Lyta's eyes when going red
> * I am of clan Morden. should I shoot myself now?
Shoot, shoot NOW
> * Who really keeps to a food plan, anyway?
I do, it's mostly chocolates
> * Who Are You?
umm, err, mmm...
> * What Do You Want?
Some of what you smokin, dude
>
> -richard
> --
Sanna
David Barnett
Richard Muirden <rmui...@cyber.com.au> wrote in message
news:rmuirden....@cyber.com.au...
<snip>
:
: * What IS the deal with the EarthForce logo?
: * How come green for security and red for medical - why not the other way
: around
: * How do Vorlons procreate? :)
: * Does Talia end up betraying the psicorp after the little implanted
: personality thing?
: * What did Ivanova do to become General?
: * Does anybody like grey sector?
: * Did Zack really get that limp trying to come on to SuperLyta at some
stage?
: * Do Drakh have sexes or just keepers?
: * Had Zack left B5 before JMS turned the lights out?
: * If Centauri have six, period pain must be a BITCH!
: * Why was Sheridan's ranger badge bright green whereas the others seemed
: more blue-green? Am I colourblind (answers on postcards)
: * Why does EarthForce mix Naval and Armuy ranks anyway?
: * What do you get if you cross a Minbari and a Centauri? A spiritual
Ferengi?
: * What does Spoo really taste like?
: * Do Starfuries come with airconditioning and cd players? What about
: airbags?
: * We've seen the black star and the white star.. do we get a purple polka
: dot star?
: * Does the Drakh plague hit Jakarta first?
: * Can you get jelly babies at the Zocolo?
: * Is Lorien really working for Micro$oft when he asks where are we
: going?
: * Rumour or fact: G'kar's 2nd book is subtitled "bigger, longer and
uncut"?
: * Did the room ever stop spinning?
: * If the Shadows run WB/TNT and the Vorlons run Channel Nein, who runs 7?
: * What is the exchange rate on Centauri Duckets today?
: * Does G'Kar have a pleasure threshold (down, Poss!)
: * Was Franklin really a 4 star General too? If so, can Ivanova still order
: him around?
: * Does NaToth ever have any pouchlings? If so where is a Narn's pouch?
: * Did Valen ever end up learning all that poetry?
: * Rumour or Fact: Lennier went on to meet up with Dr. Rosen and went in
: search of fellow castaways?
: * Does B5 coffee suck as bad as Nescafe?
: * Best Mates: O'Brien(DS9) & Mack. True or false?
: * Does AOL mean "Alliance OnLine" in the 23rd century?
: * Does Mary Garibaldi-Edgars-Hampton(whatever) watch Duck Dodgers, or does
she
: think it's lame?
: * Which sidearm is better: PPG, Minbari Fighting Pike(old one), Centauri
: Blaster or bare hands(Narn)
: * If the day of the dead comes every 200 years, and the next one is in
: 2262, who *really* set Lee Harvey Oswald to it?
: * I am of clan Morden. should I shoot myself now?
: * What happened to the 3 Elivises? Did they get a gig on ISN?
: * Who really keeps to a food plan, anyway?
: * Is there a cult of the sacred coffee stain set up on Narn? If not, WHY
not?
: * Who Are You?
: * What Do You Want?
Anyone with answers to any (preferably all) of these questions? (This is
"What I want"! :)).
I could add to the list, but someone else undoubtedly will.
--
David Barnett
AndrewR
<DavidB...@msn.com.au> wrote:
>: * What does Spoo really taste like?
>
>
-- ever had sweet rice pudding.
Robbie Matthews
>
>
> Well, the "E" is clear, but what's the rest of the symbol represent?
If you look, it's a stylized 'E' superimposed over a stylized 'A' -
Earth Alliance
--
+-------------------------------------------------------+
Robbie Matthews rob...@dynamite.com.au
"We are starstuff. We are the universe made manifest,
trying to figure itself out." - Delenn
+-------------------------------------------------------+
Ochran Industries
JMS has said that it was mainly the beaurocrats who had the station
shut down, after i whinged about the reasons he had given. I still
think that i made a good case for b5 to stay in working condition, but
i have stopped argueing because a)JMS said so, and b)i can see myself
getting real bitter over this, and saying things i shouldn't.
Now people can go on and on about wether or not JMS saying something
should be enough to stop arguement, but for me the cost/benefit ratio
isn't in my favour enough for me to continue. However, the fact that
we *are* argueing about the reasons for and against b5 being
decommissioned the way it was is evidence that b5 is pretty internally
consistent, which i believe is a good thing.
Getting onto *how* to decommission b5 is another topic <g>, and it's
a pretty good one at that. How exactly do you get rid of a station
that big? Blowing it up isn't what i would think of as an optimal
solution,
especially
if your intention is to remove a navigation hazard. Buring it up in
the atmosphere is another no-no - there were plenty of chunks that
would have made it down to the surface in big pieces, to think nothing
of the contamination of lots and lots of metal (with lots of really
hazardous stuff like radioactives making things interesting), the
effect on the climate (although the machine wouldn't notice, it's that
far down).
But how do you get rid of it? If, you can't blow it up, can't shove it
into the sun (and have the possibility that the stresses cause it to
break up midway), and melting it all down would take forever. Can
anyone think up a way to get rid of it that contains only plusses, and
no minuses?
Richard Muirden
>>: * What does Spoo really taste like?
>-- ever had sweet rice pudding.
Chicken! :-)
David Barnett
news:37dc48af...@news.uq.edu.au...
: On Sun, 12 Sep 1999 06:51:04 +1000, "David Barnett"
: <DavidB...@msn.com.au> wrote:
:
:
: >: * What does Spoo really taste like?
: >
: >
: -- ever had sweet rice pudding.
I didn't originate that question! I just said I'd like to know the answers
to whole list of questions Richard M. asked (sarcastically).
Glad to learn the answer though.
--
David Barnett (lurking a little lately, due to being stunned by end of show)
Russell Dovey
<n258...@sparrow.qut.edu.au> posted thusly:
>But how do you get rid of it? If, you can't blow it up, can't shove it
>into the sun (and have the possibility that the stresses cause it to
>break up midway), and melting it all down would take forever. Can
>anyone think up a way to get rid of it that contains only plusses, and
>no minuses?
Design a few million self-reproducing nanobots to convert the station
to either useful materials (fuel, carbon steel etc) or a gas that
would quickly dissipate, like oxygen or hydrogen. In 370 years, this
should be easy.
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Russell Dovey
>Revenant <reve...@interact.net.au> writes:
>> Because this way we get to keep discussing Bab 5. Duh!
>
>d'uh to me indeed. In that case I think the following all important points
>need to be discussed: (:-) )
>
>* What IS the deal with the EarthForce logo?
>* How come green for security and red for medical - why not the other way
> around
So the blood doesn't show on the medical personell, making them less
scary to patients, and so it DOES on the security personell, making
them more scary to criminals.
>* How do Vorlons procreate? :)
Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.
>* Do Starfuries come with airconditioning and cd players? What about
> airbags?
Don't forget fuzzy dice.
>* Which sidearm is better: PPG, Minbari Fighting Pike(old one), Centauri
> Blaster or bare hands(Narn)
The instant expando-staff wins for me every time. :)
Gene Awyzio
Jms at B5 wrote:
> Remember, you have to think like a bureaucrat watching the bottom line, not a
> fan with a love of the place. (Begin IQ diminishment program...now.)
It still made me feel sad! It also made all the other losses more poignant somehow.
This place which was more than just its physical structure had served it purpose,
acheived everything it could and now ... it was no longer required. 25 years seems
a short time for a building lifetime but to have the death of B5 coincide with the
death of its most famous (?) commander was fitting.
> As for the prior question...I loved Australia quite a bit, didn't get to see
> much (back in the US now, had to get back for work purposes), but what I saw, I
> liked a great deal.
Well come back soon. Maybe you could strike a deal with FOX studios and make
something here in Sydney :)
Brack!
wrote:
>> As for the prior question...I loved Australia quite a bit, didn't get to see
>> much (back in the US now, had to get back for work purposes), but what I saw, I
>> liked a great deal.
>
>Well come back soon. Maybe you could strike a deal with FOX studios and make
>something here in Sydney :)
>
>> jms
Ack! Dont listen to 'im. Come to Melbourne instead... they may have
the Olympics, but we've got good coffee. =)
Revenant
> On Mon, 13 Sep 1999 20:45:13 +1000, Ochran Industries
> <n258...@sparrow.qut.edu.au> posted thusly:
> >But how do you get rid of it?
> Design a few million self-reproducing nanobots to convert the
> station to either useful materials (fuel, carbon steel etc) or a
> gas that would quickly dissipate, like oxygen or hydrogen. In
> 370 years, this should be easy.
And we should all be driving hovercars and have colonised the moon
by now, remember? :) When it comes to anticipating yet-to-be created
technology, we are at best guessing.
270 years, btw, not 370.
Paul Andinach
> On Mon, 13 Sep 1999 20:45:13 +1000, Ochran Industries
> <n258...@sparrow.qut.edu.au> posted thusly:
>
> > But how do you get rid of it? If, you can't blow it up, can't
> > shove it into the sun (and have the possibility that the stresses
> > cause it to break up midway), and melting it all down would take
> > forever. Can anyone think up a way to get rid of it that contains
> > only plusses, and no minuses?
>
> Design a few million self-reproducing nanobots to convert the
> station to either useful materials (fuel, carbon steel etc) or a gas
> that would quickly dissipate, like oxygen or hydrogen.
And then release it in the vicinity of ships from every major race,
and hope it doesn't start attacking any of them...
Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight.
> In 370 years, this should be easy.
"We are not prophets. In fact, if we were any worse at [predicting the
future], we'd be economists."
(Stephen Dedman, sf writer)
Paul
--
The Pink Pedanther
"It needed to be said." "Why did it need to be said?"