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Post Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 3:58 pm 
 

It's a lot easier here, though.  I posted a comment on Democratic Underground a while ago about government suppression of climate change scientists in this country (speaking from experience in many meetings where I've seen attempts to parse language), and was immediately banned.  I asked why (via email), and never got a response.


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Post Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 4:11 pm 
 

Keith the Thief wrote:So it would seem that this new version of BSG is actually a good show (?)

I was so utterly appalled by the original series that I never even bothered with the new one.

Does the Sci-Fi Channel re-run episodes so that someone can start from the beginning and catch up on the storyline?


Get the miniseries/first season DVD.  You'll be hooked.

Part of the fun of the new series is that it stands a lot of cliches from the first series on it's head....for example, Starbuck being a woman, the Cylons looking like humans, Baltar still being a scumbag, but an entertaining scumbag, etc.

Mike B.


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Post Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 4:14 pm 
 

bombadil wrote:It's a lot easier here, though.  I posted a comment on Democratic Underground a while ago about government suppression of climate change scientists in this country (speaking from experience in many meetings where I've seen attempts to parse language), and was immediately banned.  I asked why (via email), and never got a response.


That's the craziest thing I ever heard....why on earth would they ban you for that? It's nothing that hasn't been said many times in public.

As for global warming, I am firmly in the camp of.....I don't know.  I say, let's wait 1000 years and let the statistics sort it all out.... :wink:

Mike B.


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Post Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 4:18 pm 
 

bombadil wrote:It's a lot easier here, though.  I posted a comment on Democratic Underground a while ago about government suppression of climate change scientists in this country (speaking from experience in many meetings where I've seen attempts to parse language), and was immediately banned.  I asked why (via email), and never got a response.


Here is my issue though. I really don't mind if people post their beliefs here, thats not what bothers me.  Its the attempts by some to categorize people in a certain disingenuous light and also the name calling that some people just can't help themselves doing when discussing politics.  Me and BadMike had actually a pretty intelligent and well thought out political discussion(although thruthfully by the same token, here really wasn't the place for it any more so) immediately after the VT shootings about gun control.  

It however never delved into to anything other than him stating his veiwpoint and me stating mine.  Mike never made references to "bedwetting" leftist crybaby liberals and I never made any references to hypocritical right wing "facists"(To 100% honest, I have never in my entire life even used the word fascist to describe the right).  Now, in hindsight, we really should not have had that discussion here, but it also did refrain from the immature name calling that goes along with people who realize they don't have any real issues to discuss, so they resort to the lowest common denomiator.  

Another real problem in discussing politics on this forum, is that its not just US folks who visit this forum and I am sure that those folks certainly do not want to see the politcial infighting that has become the US political landscape nowadays.   I am actually a lot more center than it may seem, but I also am also tired of the constant barrage of right wing rhetoric that has become more and more common place over the last 10 to 12 years.  If I can't come here and get away from it, where can I go?

Like I said, I don't have issue with some who stands up and says here is what I stand for:  "I think Bush is the greatest persident who ever lived,  eveyrone should be required to own both a Sherman tank and 5 AK-47's and that women shouldn't have the right to choose an abortion".  If thats how you feel, then great for you, you are entitled to that, but just don't try and force your views on to me and also refrain for the 1st grade name calling that seems to follow along with these things, because I am of a differing opinion than you.


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Post Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 4:28 pm 
 

Hurricane Katrina was the first time, after 17 years of doing what I do for a living, that it occurred to me this might finally be an issue that rises closer to the top of people's personal lists of concerns.  But, human memory, especially in the US, is short, and it's already beginning to fade.  

Of course, it's happened before, and was just as catastrophic in the deep past as it will be this time around.  The difference, of course, is that this time we have a certain culpability in the situation.  It'll make for some huge changes once it ramps up, of that I'm sure.  Just listen to the voices from our past shouting out at us from all of the flood "myths" from around the world, especially the ones from mountainous, previously glaciated regions.  Pretty damned spooky, compelling, and moving, if you ask me.

An example:  
Oden, Vili, and Ve fought and slew the great ice giant Ymir, and icy water from his wounds drowned most of the Rime Giants. The giant Bergelmir escaped, with his wife and children, on a boat made from a hollowed tree trunk. From them rose the race of frost ogres. Ymir's body became the world we live on. His blood became the oceans.


Or:  
Three times (every 1200 years), the gods were distressed by the disturbance from human overpopulation. The gods dealt with the problem first by plague, then by famine. Both times, the god Enki advised men to bribe the god causing the problem. The third time, Enlil advised the gods to destroy all humans with a flood, but Enki had Atrahasis build an ark and so escape. Also on the boat were cattle, wild animals and birds, and Atrahasis' family. When the storm came, Atrahasis sealed the door with bitumen and cut the boat's rope. The storm god Adad raged, turning the day black. After the seven-day flood, the gods regretted their action. Atrahasis made an offering to them, at which the gods gathered like flies, and Enki established barren women and stillbirth to avoid the problem in the future.


Or:
Tibet was almost totally inundated, until the god Gya took compassion on the survivors, drew off the waters through Bengal, and sent teachers to civilize the people, who until then had been little better than monkeys. Those people repopulated the land.


I think we're gonna be in for a rough ride...


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Post Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 5:10 pm 
 

*Post Deleted*

I apologize for using the term "bedwetting."

Mark  8)


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Post Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 5:15 pm 
 

You guys should just sign up for Deimos's new chat room and just have at it!  :P
(and may the fastest typist win!)
Just give us some advance warning so I can get some popcorn ready  :twisted:


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Post Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 5:23 pm 
 

bombadil wrote:Just listen to the voices from our past shouting out at us from all of the flood "myths" from around the world, especially the ones from mountainous, previously glaciated regions.  Pretty damned spooky, compelling, and moving, if you ask me.

There was a very short piece on CNN last night from a Swiss base in western Greenland talking about glacial melting. There was also a very short live connection with a reporter on the east side of Greenland where enough of one glacier has melted that what they had previously thought had been a peninusula has now revealed itself as an island..  8O


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Post Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 5:26 pm 
 

jasonw1239 wrote:You guys should just sign up for Deimos's new chat room and just have at it!  :P
(and may the fastest typist win!)
Just give us some advance warning so I can get some popcorn ready  :twisted:


And here I was thinking the non US citizens were going to be the ones not interested in discussing our politics.  :wink:  

Seriously, I'd much rather have a politically debate free forum here if at all possible.  Everyone has an opinion on the subect(s), usually a very strong opinion, and strong opinions on opposite sides of the spectrum always mix like gasoline and lit matches. :wink:


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Post Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 5:31 pm 
 

bclarkie,
Just my attempt to try to lighten things up and to point out the absurdity of further pursuit of a stalemate situation...  :)

Edit: Besides, as your next door neighbor Canada has a very serious interest in what the US does. Almost everything you do has an impact on us in some form or another.


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Post Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 7:42 pm 
 

Badmike wrote:
Get the miniseries/first season DVD.  You'll be hooked.

Part of the fun of the new series is that it stands a lot of cliches from the first series on it's head....for example, Starbuck being a woman, the Cylons looking like humans, Baltar still being a scumbag, but an entertaining scumbag, etc.

Mike B.


Mike

Thanks for responding.   I've been so consistently disappointed by the sci-fi channel's offerings that I just didn't think it would even be worth it (that and my aforementioned hatred for the original).  But if the similarities are only superficial, then I may have found something to indulge in over the summer.

Keith


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Post Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 8:25 pm 
 

Xaxaxe wrote:Remember, there was a lot of speculation that there was no way a new BSG could ever succeed ... and it's the miniseries that puts those doubts to rest.


Was the miniseries a pilot film, in essence?

Thanks for the info.

Keith


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Post Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 8:53 pm 
 

Keith the Thief wrote:Was the miniseries a pilot film, in essence?


In essence, yes the miniseries was a long pilot movie.  It parallels the original series somewhat and explains what happened to put them where they are.

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Post Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 9:17 pm 
 

Keith the Thief wrote:
Mike

Thanks for responding.   I've been so consistently disappointed by the sci-fi channel's offerings that I just didn't think it would even be worth it (that and my aforementioned hatred for the original).  But if the similarities are only superficial, then I may have found something to indulge in over the summer.

Keith


I was expecting very little, and wowed beyond my highest expectations. For the first season, at least, the plot and writing are above average. In general the actors are top notch (particularly Edward James Olmos as Adama and Mary McDonnell as the President), the special effects are spectacular, and the plot twists are somewhat unexpected.  Still looking for a chance to watch Season Two one of these days and sort of catch up (in the middle of Babylon 5 Season Two right now so I don't know when that will be....)

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Post Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 9:43 pm 
 

jasonw1239 wrote:There was a very short piece on CNN last night from a Swiss base in western Greenland talking about glacial melting.


Konrad Steffen, by any chance?   :D

Great guy.


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Post Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 10:01 pm 
 

bombadil wrote:
Konrad Steffen, by any chance?   :D

Great guy.


They did not interview anybody at the Swiss camp. I think that they are doing some coverage of the research going on which they may present in a special later on. The reporter on the west side was Jeff Corwin from the Discovery channel and on the eastern side was Anderson Cooper working on a story about Warming Island. If Konrad Steffen is interviewed it will probably be for Discovery.


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Post Posted: Sat May 26, 2007 12:19 am 
 

jasonw1239 wrote:You guys should just sign up for Deimos's new chat room and just have at it!  :P
(and may the fastest typist win!)
Just give us some advance warning so I can get some popcorn ready  :twisted:

I'm sure you're jesting, but for the record, this is a very bad idea. ;)

I'm trying to create a friendly, welcoming atmosphere for everyone in the chat.  Arguments over "live" media would spiral out of control much more quickly than on a forum, and so its members must be kept to a higher standard of mature discourse to ensure that doesn't happen.  Likewise, any disruptions (flame wars) must be dealt with harshly.  I strongly suggest turning the other cheek if someone offends you.

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Post Posted: Sat May 26, 2007 9:25 am 
 

bombadil wrote:
Konrad Steffen, by any chance?   :D

Great guy.


CNN had more coverage last night (Friday) and yes indeed, it was from Konrad Steffen's camp.
Anderson Cooper spoke to somebody bundled up in a parka whom they did not identify (even in the online transcript).
From the picture on the University of Colorado website it may have been Steffen.
This coverage seems to be more for promoting Anderson Coopers new book.
Is that one of the camps you will be spending time at this summer?
That whole landscape they showed gave me a Lovecraft "Mountains of Madness" impression...
Glaciers sweeping through deep valleys bordered by stark promontories of sheer black rock walls... :)


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