W:D:Dt!..
Ahhh Pike… I knew I liked you … another Alice in Chains fan…
Alice in Chains, never heard of them before.
They metal?
from way back but they were okay, rooster was there hit, if remember it, kind of like a more metal version of pearl Jam mixed with iron maiden.
do not question “the plan”
In other words, you’re wingin’ it.
I think that their “official” classification is grunge. They did a song call “The Rooster”, which was about one of the band members father, who had the nickname The Rooster while he served in Vietnam.
I think that their most well know song is “Man in the Box”, and possibly “Down in a Hole”.
“Don’t eat me!!”
Ok, Alice in Chains were grunge-metal of the same vein of Pearl Jam (in that they were both from Seattle) and Middle Metallica (in that they made intelligible, fairly good rock music with meaning). Last time they were in the news to my knowledge was in 2002 when their lead singer was found dead of an overdose that occurred two weeks prior.
Back ON topic, I’m listening to the 'cast, and someone mentioned how difficult it must be to work under the variable circumstances of TV, where you don’t know if you get to finish THIS season, let alone have five solid years (B5 discussion). That is exactly the reason I like UK television because they have self-contained storylines. If series one does well, there will be a series two. If series two sucks or the creators want to wrap it up with that, there won’t be. They don’t have to try and pull material out of their arses in desperation to get more money. They’ve finished, they’ve been paid, and if they did a good job, they’ll be paid more.
just a random little diatribe on why everything in the UK > j00 
I’ve mentioned this before, but it seems appropriate to mention it again (/Hybrid voice.)
The interesting thing, to me, is that the Brit model of production (small writing staff) seems to score a lot of very short runs of shows. (Cracker, AbFab, Chef being personal faves.)
The American model (large writing staff) is very good at doing one season, then has a very hard time stretching it out. BUT if they hit a groove, it can be almost endless (Simpsons being the prime example.)
The problem on this side of the pond (and there are economic factors in play here) is that the promise of a Simpsons leads to bad decisions with other shows.
The Simpsons isn’t so good an example either, as much of the success of that show had to do with the fact that the studio left the production team largely to their own devices (this was back in the early years of the Fox Network). That seldom happens anymore. When it does, you get really good shows with miserable ratings (Arrested Development and BSG come to mind).
(In my view, it’s not so much a matter of the creative model being flawed–though I don’t think you’re saying it’s flawed–but, rather, the economic model is a little skewed. Art is not a comodity. Now, is TV Art?)
Hmmmmmmm.
Actually, the interesting thing lately is that there are a ton of shows that don’t meet the demographics (or whatever) and get canned, but are beloved in repeats/DVDs (which are repeats these days.)
I suspect that what’s happening is that people are looking at the old marketing tools (eg., Firefly isn’t gathering a huge crowd in demographic X, it’s not viable) without considering the new reality (those people will see a FF movie multiple times, and buy the DVDs for Xmas presents.)
They have some of my sympathy, since determining what is going to cross that threshold is increasingly difficult. But it’s increasingly obvious that the old standards just don’t apply.
Hey, guys: If you are willing to watch the second season of “Heroes” as a streaming video and for “free” (i.e., included in your membership plan), I think that all of the season’s epsiodes are available on Netflix. Just search for “Heroes” and you can watch them, one after the other, on-line.
I would very much be up for a “Heroes” rewatch, and for sure a DTA, maybe after we’ve re-watched both seasons. Thanks to the writers’ strike (grumble – motherfrakkin’ greedy studios!), there will be no new “Heroes” until fall 2008 – so there is plenty of time for everyone to catch up.
Keep up the good work! Thanks for all you do.
Hi guys! In reference to the email in the 'cast that said Razor wasn’t available in Walmart in a “southern” state - I wonder if it was in a different section? In my hometown in South Dakota (a “mid-state”?), Razor wasn’t in with the new releases. They stuffed it down and over an aisle in the “TV on DVD” section. Stupid Walmart. 
I finally finished listening to the podcast! This has been a long week. Very well received although I will echo the comments from here that while Tinman was good admittedly it was predictable. Callum Keith Rennie actually was even creepier in something other than the BSG role as Leoben Conoy, too.
As to a Las Vegas meet-up whether national, regional, or local in scope…this I gotta think about some more. LV is within driving distance from Los Angeles and Phoenix, after all.
Barb from San Diego, here
I loved what Chuck said about how Cain’s reign was doomed to failure. Well said- well spoke.
Cain chose to rule by fear, and absolutely did surround herself with yes-people, an echo chamber. When you close yourself off from any other viewpoint but your own, you will only see the path you want to see. Feel you’ve been given a ‘mandate’ to make the ill-informed decisions you want to make, regardless of the cost in lives.
When her XO voiced an opinion that not only disagreed with her course of action, but questioned her absolute authority, she capped him. Only his long friendship kept him alive as long as it did. He might have been useful in peacetime, but not in war.
Cain kept a choke-hold on her command. Her attitude and the culture it created had to filter down to the rest of the ship. the Abu Graib-like treatment of Gina at the hands of her most brutal officer, as well as the treatment of Helo and the Chief by the Sunshine Boys. Savage (Reminded me of Lord of the Flies and how easily civilization can devolve into savagery).
Adama could have become something like her, if he didn’t have Lee and the President to face. He said so. He finally made the choice to work with Roslin and forgive Lee. He welcomed differing opinions to keep himself honest and honorable. Dee, Sharon, Lee, Starbuck, Roslin, etc. All had opinions he either sought out, or accepted. Sounds like another administration I read about.
Adama kept his fleet and mourned any losses. He treated his command like family- a military family. It backfired on him in large and small ways, too.
The boxing episode was about the importance of getting back into shape and moving forward. As a family with structure, honor and integrity. Yes, there were small setbacks, but nothing that went beyond saving due to the loyalty and kinship he chose to instill.
Adama dumped Starbuck on her ass like an errant child and gave her an ultimatum. Tighe, too. He could wield the iron glove when he had to, but seldom did he have to.
There is so much more to say, but I have to go.
I earnestly apologize to any this may offend by its political nature. But scifi is such a great tool for reflecting its current climate, the parallels are so clear to me.
The choices a leader makes aren’t his alone to live by. They are felt by all.
The first time watching “Exodus, Part 2”, I had just gone through a pretty traumatic event in my life. A very close friend of mine had taken his own life. While I was still in the grip of grief, I sat watching Tigh pass the cup to Ellen and could feel all the emotional pain well up in me. I unloaded. I could not take my eyes off the screen. On a very profound level I could relate to Tigh’s pain and anger. I screamed at the TV, overturned the coffee table, and threw the …uh… throw pillows. Ahem. I didn’t feel alone and it felt good to be able to get it out.
It has often been said to me, “How could you watch that sci-fi stuff? It’s so make believe. You’re living in the clouds.” It’s still amazing to me how wrong that is.
I think the GWCers are being a little to extreme with Cain. I don’t think Cain shooting her XO in the head would’ve happened in any situation EXCEPT the one they were in. They thought they were the only humans left alive in the universe… I think if it had been a “proper war” that Cain simply would’ve relieved her XO. But the ambush at Scorpion and the revealing of what Gina was pushed her out of her (remaining) humanity. I do agree that she always had it in her, but I don’t think it would’ve come out in a normal war.
I mentioned ths in another thread, but if I recall correctly, Cain shot her XO before Gina was revealed. So if Cain had any humanity to begin with, she lost it due to the destruction of the colonies.
Originally Posted by sircastor
I think the GWCers are being a little to extreme with Cain. I don’t think Cain shooting her XO in the head would’ve happened in any situation EXCEPT the one they were in
Originally Posted by sircastor
I do agree that she always had it in her, but I don’t think it would’ve come out in a normal war.
I do admire Cain in many ways, but there were major character flaws that led to her demise.
She was tough. She could make hard and fast decisions.
She would have been better as an XO. Like Tigh. Both flawed. Both tough and excellent at guerilla warfare. Both unfit for total command. Especially when tasked with ensuring the survival of the fleet which felt like an anchor around the neck of their battleships.
How many times has Tigh’s life been threatened by a member of the crew? How many guns held to his head?
Cain’s went off. End of Cain. End of her command.
Tigh is still broken by events (Ellen) and revelations (cylon). We’ll see (I dearly hope) the impact as season 4 plays out.
Cain’s crew will have the opportunity to heal, now that they are under Adama’s command. Hopefully, most will take that opportunity.
What is a normal war? WW2 is considered the last ‘good war’. The US only got involved after Pearl Harbor. I suspect those living there felt it was the end of universe. Just like the base at Scorpion. A desperate time.
I think a lot of the breaks in Cain’s character showed themselves due to that event as well, before she even knew about the total destruction of the colonies. And where others saw survivors of the colonies as hopeful, she chose to strip them of supplies and personnel. Leave them behind to die.
She would have absolutely been an excellent XO. But as a leader she was doomed to kill or be killed. She didn’t have the benefit of balance. Absolute power corrupts absolutely, and her command was its prime example. She kept no one around to keep her grounded and humane.