jasonw1239 wrote:Does anybody remember one of the grandaddy stories about time travel called "Lest Darkness Fall" by L. Sprague de Camp?

I consider it, along with "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court", to be the archetypical stories that a lot of other time travel stories/movies/tv shows are based on right up to Crichton's "Timeline".

I thought Lest Darkness Fall wasn't bad.  But, apparently one guy can stop Rome from collapsing by stabbing people?  Not a bad novel.  Bad history.

I liked the signs in all of the inns and taverns banning religious discussions.  

I got pissed enough just now to write to the Sci Fi Channel execs about it.  Text of the email feedback I just sent to the Sci Fi Channel:

Dear Sci Fi Executives:

I am writing because I am a fan of Battlestar Galactica and I hate to see a good show get cancelled.

Battlestar Galactica was the first science fiction program I have ever seen that did not start with the assumption that the fans are morons. We are so used to being treated with complete disrespect that the new Battlestar Galactica was a major surprise.

Now, your producers seem to have decided that they are deep, deep intellectuals who have something really deep to say.

Get over yourselves before it's too late!

The general consensus among Battlestar Galactica fans is that the show has a few more episodes to try to re-capture our attention. If season three ends as badly as it has started...

Your Iraq storyline was not "timely" or "a new twist." You didn't "make us think." It was boring and depressing. Science fiction is about escapism, not your delusions about your artistic genius or the idea that you have something "timely" to say.

Also...the Apollo/Starbuck love triangle story is NOT sexy or interesting or dramatic. It's boring, illogical and rather pathetic. We don't give a damn about it. You're making us hate the two main characters. Watching Apollo fall in love with Starbuck has been as interesting as watching a toy poodle take dump. You could watch if you wanted...but why would you?

Your writers seem to be fascinated with cylon psychology. It may come as a surprise to you that your viewers are not. Either find God in space or stop blathering about him.

Here's a clue...think of your show as a book. Cut out all of the scenes that a reader might skip over to get to the good part.

Just once, could a good science fiction show survive its own writers?

I thought the new Galactica was based on the old version's episodes (I did have to stop and think when "Apollo/Starbuck triangle" came up here; if you wonder why, remember who the original series' Apollo and Starbuck were . . .     .), but it sounds like the new version may be "jumping the shark".

Did you see the massive amount of purchases on eBay from the San Diego Charger's players?

CLICK HERE

bombadil wrote:
Have you ever seen Tom Brady or Bill Bellichik appear to actually ENJOY a football game.

I swear to god, I'll forgo watching the superbowl if the Patriots make it again.  Unless, maybe, it's against the Saints.  

Damn, I was SO looking forward to Saints-Chargers...

If Bellichik actually gets another ring, I may give up football forever.

Here's hoping for a Colts/Saints superbowl, I'd rather see Peyton finally make it only to lose miserably  

Mike B.

sleepyCO wrote:I thought the new Galactica was based on the old version's episodes (I did have to stop and think when "Apollo/Starbuck triangle" came up here; if you wonder why, remember who the original series' Apollo and Starbuck were . . .     .), but it sounds like the new version may be "jumping the shark".

I wouldn't say that Battlestar Galactica had jumped the shark yet....

....but Space Fonzie is definitely strapping on his waterskis....particularly with a planned move of the show to Sunday night!  (Star Trek was moved to Sunday night back in 1968.....)

The show has been hampered by "bottle" episodes...where only interior shots or recycled exterior shots are used in order to save money.  One recent episode actually focused on a shipboard boxing match in which Apollo and Starbuck reviewed their retarded romance.  The boxing ring was the only new prop....so a very cheap episode.

Mark  

MShipley88 wrote:
I hope Indianapolis beats New England...because I am so tired of New England and if Manning wins a Super Bowl maybe we can eventually stop talking about him.  Hey...it worked with Bill Cowher and John Elway.

Mark  

Yeh, but think HOW MANY MORE COMMERCIALS "Whiney" Manning would work his way into with a SB win...geez...it would be like having a 24/7 Peyton Manning channel on Sundays, with him hawking everything from cold medicine, tires, aftershave and trojan condoms.....bleh.

Mike B.

MShipley88 wrote:The Seahawks gave up the game to Chicago by a culmination of dozens of small errors....and a defensive backfield purchased at a junk shop.

Chicago ain't that good...the depressing part is that they might smother New Orleans as well....like a dead walrus smothering a seal.

Mark  

GO BEARS!!!!!

Yeah, they pulled another one out of their collective butts.....

This is probably one of the dumbest things I have ever read come out of an athletes mouth: Adrian Peterson, Jr. running back for the Oklahoma Sooners has announced that he will forego his senior year to enter the NFL draft.  When asked why he wasnt returning for his senior year he said, "In the end, I think I just realized that this is a business decision and that it is time for me to take that next step," Peterson said in a statement released by the university Monday, the deadline for underclassmen to declare themselves eligible for the draft.  "It wasn't easy. I haven't been sleeping much. I just put it all in God's hands."

Stupid and greedy.     He says that it is a business decision.  Obviously he would rather make a few million dollars than come back for his senior year, get his degree, and try to win a national championship or win the Heisman trophy (which he could easily do if he stays healthy).  Then he says "I just put it all in God's hands."  Bullshit.  What the hell does God have to do with it?  Reading drivel like that just makes me want to puke.  Oh and Ted Ginn Jr., Antonio Pittman, and Anthony Gonzalez are also foregoing their senior year at Ohio St. to enter the draft.  At least their reasons arent just monetary.  They are probably so embarassed by getting their asses handed to them by Florida that they dont want to show their faces on campus.

After reading the article I thought about some things I would do if I was the owner of a professional sports franchise:

1) Mandatory testing of all athletes for performance enhancing or other illegal drugs.  These tests would occur before a season started, every week of the season (including playoffs), and every week during the off-season if the player was still under contract.  If they fail the test...they are fired...no second chances.

2) Mandatory intelligence testing before a contract is tendered.  If you cant pass a college exit exam then you dont deserve to play the game.

3) Mandatory classes on "How to speak to the Media without looking like a total dumbass".  Put a clause in their contract that for every stupid and dumbass thing said to a reporter, the player is fined a specific amount.

4) Limit rookies to the league minimum.  No signing bonuses or incentives.  They get paid what a rookie deserves to be paid regardless of how good they are.  If they do exceptionally well...give them a raise next year.

Then I thought...if a franchise owner ever did the four things that I mentioned, they either wouldnt be able to field a team due to lack of players or they would be so freaking bad that they might as well not even field a team.  Not to mention, they would get in serious trouble with the union and the governing body of whichever league they were in.  I guess maybe I will stick with my 9 to 5 job eh?