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Starborn SocietySci-fi isn't just for nerds(Battlestar Galactica Ping)
NRO ^ | January 20, 2006 | Peter Suderman

Posted on 01/20/2006 8:29:57 AM PST by isaiah55version11_0

Science fiction has long been stereotyped as a hardware-obsessed, techno-jargon laden refuge for computer nerds and outcasts. Especially on television, which lacks the geek chic afforded by big-screen Hollywood budgets, the genre's reputation for hokey dialog and cardboard-and-wire effects have saturated it with a distinct odor of disrespectability. It is somewhat ironic, then, to see the Sci-Fi Channel, a network which often seems devoted to the pulpy and lowbrow, serve up Battlestar Galactica, a show about spaceships and killer robots that is also arguably the most potent, dramatically vibrant series on television. An unflinching examination of how the military, government, family, and religion interact in the fragile ecosystem of society, it as morally and intellectually serious as it is thrilling.

(Excerpt) Read more at nationalreview.com ...


TOPICS: TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: scifi
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To: DTogo
BSG, be it the original or new series, can't hold a candle to classic sci-fi originals: Star Trek, UFO, Space 1999. More often than not, there's better fare on the History Channel than Sci-Fi.

Hilarious! This should be a lock for the Joke of the Day.

141 posted on 01/20/2006 11:07:39 AM PST by Citizen of the Savage Nation
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To: warpcorebreach

Cain as compared to Patton would be a fun thread.

Seriously, you haven't given the show a chance. You're too biased and you're eyes are too covered with the "the liberals are trying to take over our brainwaves" tinfoil.


142 posted on 01/20/2006 11:08:32 AM PST by brothers4thID (Being lectured by Ted Kennedy on ethics is not unlike being lectured on dating protocol by Ted Bundy)
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To: warpcorebreach
In real life, they would have announced that she was in charge, and after the laughter had died down, they would have chosen Adama.

They were following the law, and she was next in line for succession. This was covered well in the pilot. Still, everybody knows it's Adama who's protecting the fleet.

143 posted on 01/20/2006 11:08:33 AM PST by antiRepublicrat
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To: GOP_Party_Animal
I don't understand this fear or dislike for women becoming more powerful. A woman powerful woman doesn't emasculate men. The problem is that I'm sure many think of the worst case scenarios (Hillary) when they think of powerful women. Hell, in war, I would rather have a 5'5", 100lb Ann Coulter watching my back than war heroes John McCain or Jack Murtha.
144 posted on 01/20/2006 11:11:09 AM PST by mnehring (Perry 06- It's better than a hippie in a cowboy hat or a commie with blue hair.)
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To: warpcorebreach

....

Misogynist


145 posted on 01/20/2006 11:11:18 AM PST by brothers4thID (Being lectured by Ted Kennedy on ethics is not unlike being lectured on dating protocol by Ted Bundy)
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To: warpcorebreach

"why participate in a thread about it? Because I miss the old days I guess. It's more than just complaining about a show, heck, America's military is starting to look like this. That means we're toast. Lower the requirements so that a 4 1/2 tall woman can become a Marine or a firefighter, or a cop. Come on. Remember that guy that was in court, and pushed the grandma securtity guard down, took her gun and ran? That's what I'm talking about. It's reflected in our tv/movies. "


Yeah, but complaining about a show to the fans of that show on an internet thread does exactly what to solve this problem? Try writing your Congressman or Bush instead. People here just want to talk about the show, which is nothing more than that.



"We're becoming a very effeminate culture, and weak. A nation of men, with male rulers could chew us up and spit us out. We'd be worrying about why they hated us, and send them a fruit basket or something. "


As long as the women can enter launch codes into a computer, we're OK.



"Imagine what would happen if Hillary were in charge, and RUssia and China attacked. We'd be doomed. Heck, if I were a runssian in that situation-- I'D attack!"


Imagine ANY Democrat with the powers of the Patriot Act at their disposal! So long, Freeper Rallies!!

Again, if either RU or the ChiComms attack, the pressing of some buttons into a mainframe computer will incinerate hundreds of millions of them.


146 posted on 01/20/2006 11:11:25 AM PST by Blzbba (Sub sole nihil novi est)
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To: Blzbba
"Imagine what would happen if Hillary were in charge, and RUssia and China attacked. We'd be doomed. Heck, if I were a runssian in that situation-- I'D attack!"

And imagine if Condi were in charge.. We would have two very large parking lots to practice touch and goes where Russia and China used to be. It isn't about gender, its about attitude.
147 posted on 01/20/2006 11:15:11 AM PST by mnehring (Perry 06- It's better than a hippie in a cowboy hat or a commie with blue hair.)
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To: isaiah55version11_0
Dune, the 1980's Art Deco version, with Jurgen Prochnow, is on HDNet movies starting at 5:45. I can't remember how long the movie is, but we may have to DVR "BG".

I'm just jazzed to be able to see that movie in HD!! It has been almost universally panned among "Dune" readers, but since I never read the book, it doesn't matter to me. I just think it's a cool looking movie, especially with Max von Sydow as the Fremen geologist!

148 posted on 01/20/2006 11:15:32 AM PST by SuziQ
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To: warpcorebreach
Lower the requirements so that a 4 1/2 tall woman can become a Marine or a firefighter, or a cop.

No lowering the requirements in BSG. Starbuck was a ruthless flight instructor, and IIRC she was especially harsh on one potential female pilot who couldn't hack it. In the show, the reason for the exceptional ruthlessness and high standards came from her previously having passed Adama's other son, who was not up to flying a Viper, resulting in his death.

If anything, that whole sub-plot stressed the need to never lower your standards.

149 posted on 01/20/2006 11:16:19 AM PST by antiRepublicrat
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To: mnehrling
Hey! I love Ann Coulter! Give me Maggie Thatcher over Bill Clinton (maybe even over GWB). The problem isn't strong women per se, it's just that they're almost always written in to castigate men; to put them in their place. A female soldier or firefighter that can honestly perform as well as most men is possible but extraordinary. For the sake of egalitarianism, Hollywood tries to show it as an everyday thing.
150 posted on 01/20/2006 11:18:46 AM PST by GOP_Party_Animal
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To: warpcorebreach
And the new Superman Returns movie-- anybody get a look at Superman?

You mean how they're going to CGI-out his crotch bulge?

151 posted on 01/20/2006 11:19:04 AM PST by antiRepublicrat
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To: doc30

"She asked him why do humans deserve to live."


A. Your post#129 makes some excellent points. Just wanted to give you a nod for that.


B. But in regards to statement above made by Boomer, I'm starting to think the humans do NOT deserve it. Why? Because, after the destruction of their homeworld and the deaths of billions of Capricans, these fools STILL aren't on 24/7 Battle Alert and STILL allowed Cylon Blonde to escape last week. They still 'have issues' with obtaining data from captured Cylons thru torture. "Noone noticed any shuttles being launched", some lackey said last week at end of show after Cain was wasted.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!

(don't get me wrong - I'm a big BG fan!)


152 posted on 01/20/2006 11:19:33 AM PST by Blzbba (Sub sole nihil novi est)
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To: brothers4thID

Ha- no, not a misogynist. YOu're probably too young to remember what things used to be like, is all. We used to be on top, and we were strong. Our shows reflected this.


153 posted on 01/20/2006 11:20:18 AM PST by warpcorebreach
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To: discostu

The original was of course just a Mormon allegory.


154 posted on 01/20/2006 11:20:27 AM PST by Sir Gawain
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To: mnehrling

" It isn't about gender, its about attitude."


agreed, but I think our friend warpcorebreach is still living in 1952, where all women should be June Cleaver and sleep in separate beds from their husbands.


155 posted on 01/20/2006 11:21:11 AM PST by Blzbba (Sub sole nihil novi est)
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To: GOP_Party_Animal; warpcorebreach

I'm with you guys, new sci-fi just isn't like the good old days.


156 posted on 01/20/2006 11:23:10 AM PST by DTogo (I haven't left the GOP, the GOP left me.)
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To: mnehrling

"I would rather have a 5'5", 100lb Ann Coulter watching my back than war heroes John McCain or Jack Murtha."


A. There's no way in hell Ann Coulter weighs > 100 pounds.

B. I'd rather have Insane McCain than Purple Hearts Kerry!


157 posted on 01/20/2006 11:23:32 AM PST by Blzbba (Sub sole nihil novi est)
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To: discostu
discostu wrote: "There was a hot shot female pilot in the original too (the daughter of the commander of the Pegasus, Apollo's second love interest)."

Actually, I think that the pilot you are referring to was not Admiral Kane's (same name for original Pegasus commander, minus the sex change, but Adama was also an Admiral when they joined up to raid the cylons) daughter, but his former lover. There was tension over her choosing between Kane and Starbuck. When she met Starbuck, everyone thought Kane was dead.

And to echo everyone's comments, Sci-Fi Friday rocks. Stargate, Stargate Atlantis, BSG...if we could only add in new episodes of Firefly!
158 posted on 01/20/2006 11:24:13 AM PST by djmv
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To: GOP_Party_Animal

Okay, remember that "Red Sonjia" girl? She was believeable. And remember in on of the Conan movies-- when they had Grace Jones? She could kick ANY of our butts. But they pulled it off.


159 posted on 01/20/2006 11:24:29 AM PST by warpcorebreach
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To: djmv
if we could only add in new episodes of Firefly!

What is everyone's obsession with Firefly? It seemed pretty lame the 3 episodes I watched, and I couldn't even make it through Serenity.
160 posted on 01/20/2006 11:29:06 AM PST by mnehring (Perry 06- It's better than a hippie in a cowboy hat or a commie with blue hair.)
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