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TALON'S EDGE |
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April 2000 |
E-mail: uss.aquila@juno.com |
IN THIS ISSUE:
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EDITOR/SUBMISSIONS: Captain Glenna M. Juilfs DISTRIBUTION: Commander Rob Langenderfer DEADLINE FOR NEXT ISSUE: April 28, 2000 SUBSCRIPTIONS: one (1) 33c stamp = 1 issue |
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UN-CLASSIFIED ADS |
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BULLETIN BOARD | |
| Click on the blinking star for information
about Area Meetings |
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| For more information on Activities & Events click on the little boy |
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| April
1-Grace Lee Whitney; Denise Crosby 5-Jonathan Pence 13-Linda Widener 15-Michael Ansara 17-Jeremy (Pence) Vance 18-Avery Brooks 20-George Takei 26-Adam Widener; Jason Paugh | |
HOLIDAYS
  April 2- Daylight Savings Time Begins 3-7: Clinical Laboratory Week 16-Palm Sunday 20-Passover Begins 21-Good Friday 23-Easter Sunday 26-Secretaries' Day 30-Orthodox Easter | |
| BRIEFING ROOM |
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SHIP'S LOG0003.11 |
The 108th meeting of the USS Aquila was held on Saturday March 11, 2000 at Barnes & Noble bookstore on Mall Road in Florence, KY. The following members were present: Diane Baker, Nelson Charette, Sam Hearld, Glenna Juilfs, Rob Langenderfer, Chris Langsdale, Erin Pence, Greg Turner, Vanessa Turner, & Linda Widener.
Meeting Highlights:
REMINDER: Annual Membership Dues are due! 5 members have paid dues for 2000. |
 VIDEO VIEWPOINTS
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| A Look at Babylon 5: The Final Season, Part One
By Rob Langenderfer |
| Before I begin my review of the fifth season of this fine series, I'll
say a few words about the two TV movies that were filmed before the fifth season, "In the
Beginning" and "Thirdspace". "In the Beginning" traced the events that brought on the Earth-Minbari
War as well as the events that occurred during the war itself. Although Joe Straczynski was
very proud of this story and promoted it as the best thing since sliced bread, many people,
including myself, were disappointed in it. The seasoned Babylon 5 fan learned very little from
this story that you would not know prior to watching it. The war is important enough to the
mythos of the show that once you start watching this episode, you won't turn it off. The storyline
is interesting, and it is probably one that you will want to watch again to catch anything
that you missed the first time. However, it is not one of those episodes that will stand the test
of repeated re-watchings.
"Thirdspace", sadly, is not a story that even stands up as well as "In the Beginning". At least for this viewer, the storyline never really hooked me at all. It deals with no major issues and it leads to no major character development for anyone. In fact I would classify it as one of the worst Babylon 5 stories ever done. In The Babylon File: Volume Two, Andy Lane comments that a scene between Zack and Lyta, which was added just because the movie was running short, will be the thing that fans most remember about this story. He's right! Now we move onto the fifth season. To refresh the reader with an important piece of background, Straczynski did not know that there would be a fifth season until very late in the game. In fact, the ending of "Rising Star" could have played directly into "Sleeping in Light" (minus the narration about Susan Ivanova leaving), the series finale, which was filmed along with the fourth season. That was Straczynski's original plan until he got the go-ahead for the fifth season. In fact, if he had received the go-ahead a while earlier, he would have ended the fourth season with "Intersections in Real Time", the episode in which Sheridan was tortured. We would have had the three big guns of "Between the Darkness and the Light", "Endgame" and "Rising Star" to begin the season, plus presumably other stories. Straczynski has denied adamantly that the ending of the fourth season was rushed, but it seems clear to me (and to many others) that it was somewhat hurried. Straczynski was forced to create a new character of Captain Lochley (played by Tracy Scoggins) when Claudia Christian refused to sign on for a fifth season. He also had to flesh out whatever original story he had planned for season 5 to make it go for an entire full season. The fifth season has been the object of much criticism by fans. Robin Atkin-Downes's character of Byron has suffered much derision although he also has many admirers. My opinion is, however, that the series did not lose its way during the storyline with Byron. Problems arose to a much greater extent in the six episodes preceding the final five episodes, which serve as a very effective and compelling ending to the series. Even in what is effectively the weak third-fourth of the season, however, Babylon 5 still stands head and shoulders above nearly all SF out there. "No Compromises", written by Straczynski, begins the season, and it is not a spectacular episode by any means, but it is enjoyable, and it serves as a very effective introduction to Captain Lochley, Byron and the telepaths and the situation in which the characters find themselves during the season - attempting to forge and keep together a new alliance of alien races. The scene with Lochley and the mute telepath is especially touching, and the scene in which the mute telepath is murdered is truly horrific. "The Long Night of Londo Mollari", penned by JMS, is a very good story, one of the best of the season. Joe Straczynski responded on USENET to a poster who noted that to him, Babylon 5 was, at its heart, the story of Londo Mollari, with the quote, "In many ways, it is." Londo suffers a heart attack that has been triggered by the guilt that he feels for everything that he has done. This story sets the stage for the new relationship that Londo and G'Kar will form over the course of the season. During this episode Lennier also decides to join the Rangers, a choice that will have ever-important ramifications over the course of the season. This episode is very different, as much of it is set in Londo's subconscious as he attempts to get away from doing what he knows he must admit his mistakes to G'Kar. Although the season starts promisingly with these two stories and although it does keep up a fairly solid standard (with an occasional major lapse), the whole season has a feeling of denouement about it. Although Straczynski's storyline about the telepaths is interesting, it does not create the same compelling sense of urgency in the viewer as the storyline that was taking place during the early plotting of the Shadows, Clark's rise to power, the Narn-Centauri War, the Shadow War, and the rebellion against President Clark. Having seen the way the 4th season ended, the viewers had seen a complete version of the story as JMS was willing (admittedly because of circumstances) to tell it. Delenn's narration at the end of "Rising Star" would have aired the same way had "Sleeping in Light" (the series finale) followed it instead of "Deconstruction of Falling Stars". "Sleeping in Light", incidentally, when it did air, following season five, aired exactly the same way it would have aired if it had followed season four. Straczynski made no changes to it. I am happy with the way those episodes aired. I am not saying Straczynski should have done things differently. What I am saying is that one cannot escape the feeling that season five is very much of an add-on and unnecessary. However, that is not to say that it is undesirable. The plot threads that were set up in season five all have some interesting stories that can branch out from them that will be told in the Babylon 5 novels (Keyes's Psi Corp trilogy and Peter David's trilogy about Centauri Prime) as well as Joe Straczynski's own short stories that are being published in Amazing Stories magazine. Unfortunately, these plots took some time to develop and although sometimes they were developed in an interesting fashion, other times they fell victim to being within some of the weaker stories that plagued this season or were not developed in a compelling manner. However, with "The Long Night of Londo Mollari" completed, most of the main plots threads of the season (save a couple important ones) were in place, and this seems an appropriate time to end part one of this review. |
CADET CORNERCmdr, Erin Pence, CCC |
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| YOU KNOW YOU'RE FROM OHIO WHEN . . .
-Submitted by Renee Alper |
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CHAPLAIN'S CORNER  |
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| Life's Message, Our Society in a nutshell. | ||
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When minister Joe Wright was asked to open the new session of the Kansas Senate, everyone was expecting the usual generalities, but this is what they heard:
Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask Your forgiveness and to seek Your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, "Woe to those who call evil good" but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We confess that. We have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word and called it Pluralism. We have worshipped other gods and called it multiculturalism. We have endorsed perversion and called it alternative lifestyle. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem. We have abused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, Oh, God, and know our hearts today. Cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent to direct us to the center of Your will. We ask this in the name of Your Son, the living Savior, Jesus Christ. The response was immediate. A number of legislators walked out during the prayer in protest. In six short weeks, Central Christian Church, where Rev. Wright is pastor, logged more than 5,000 phone calls, with only 47 of those calls responding negatively. The church is now receiving international requests for copies of this prayer from India, Africa, and Korea. Commentator Paul Harvey aired this prayer on "The Rest of the Story" on the radio and received a larger response to this program than any other he has ever aired. With the Lord's help, may this prayer sweep over our nation and wholeheartedly become our desire so that we can again, truly be called: 'One nation, under God.' | ||
| Click Here to read more Chaplain's Corner | ||
  HELPING HANDS
Cmdr. Linda Widener, CMO |
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| Spring is here & so is Allergy Season
Advice for Severe Allergy Sufferers from CARE (Council for Allergic Rhinitis Education) |
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Severe allergies may cause more problems than the itching and sneezing commonly associated with allergies. In addition to blockage of the nasal passages, some individuals may experience pain, fever, and dizziness. Postnasal drip may cause a cough, which interferes with sleep.
Severe allergies can also cause decreased concentration and can be embarrassing (red, runny nose). During an allergy episode, you may not feel your best and nearly everything you do can be affected in one way or another. Severe allergies can also interfere with activities such as a family vacation. For example, the family may cancel a visit to an aunt's house because a child is allergic to her cat. Allergies can also cause missed work and school days. If you suffer from severe allergies, you don't have to feel miserable. By planning ahead and visiting a doctor for allergy treatment, you will ensure maximum benefit, reduce likely side effects, and decrease the likelihood of drug-to-drug interactions. By following the treatment plan recommended by your doctor, you stand an excellent chance of finding relief from your symptoms. Remember, allergies are a chronic condition and they require ongoing management to keep them from interfering with your life. It is also important to plan ahead and get your treatment plan in place before symptoms have worsened. Before the next allergy episode, make sure you have your prescription refilled, and make an appointment with your doctor if you have any questions about your treatment plan. In addition to getting the proper treatment plan in place for your allergies, it is important to avoid exposure to allergens in the first place. The following tips may help you avoid severe allergy problems from season to season. How to avoid severe allergy problems from season to season
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PROJECT GENESISCmdr. Tamara Borchardt, Chairperson |
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| KICK OFF! 30 DAYS UNTIL 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF EARTH DAY!
From: "Earth Day News-US" For Immediate Release 23 March 2000 |
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30 communities across the US kick off 30day countdown to Earth Day 2000
SEATTLE, WA, USA - Earth Day Network today kicked off the 30day countdown to the 30th anniversary of Earth Day. 500 million people around the world are expected to participate in Earth Day 2000 events during the month of April. In the US, most major cities and thousands of smaller communities will host Earth Day activities. "The 30th anniversary of Earth Day will be the biggest Earth Day yet," said Denis Hayes, National Coordinator of the first Earth Day and Chair of Earth Day Network. "Millions of people will come together in the US and around the world to rally for a switch to clean energy and take action for a cleaner, healthier environment." Building on the grassroots strength of Earth Day, today's national kick-off features 30 communities around the country where individuals are marking the occasion by taking action around the theme of 30 in honor of the 30th anniversary of Earth Day. Highlights include:
"Today communities across the country and around the world are kicking off a month of activities leading up to Earth Day 2000," said Hayes. "Earth Day has always been about everyday people taking action in their own communities for a cleaner, healthier environment. This year, with hundreds of millions of people around the world participating in the biggest Earth Day yet, we will take real steps toward a cleaner, healthier environment for our future." For more information on Earth Day Network and the 4500 organizations in 180 countries participating in the worldwide Earth Day 2000 campaign, please visit http://www.earthday.net. |
| FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT PROJECT GENESIS - CLICK HERE |
| GALACTIC GEMS |
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SciFi Weekly #152 Excerpts
Sleepy Hollow led this year's Saturn Award hopefuls with 11 nominations, while Stars Wars: Episode I and Galaxy Quest tied for second with 10 nods each. The awards are presented by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films and recognize excellence in genre films and television. In television, The WB's Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spinoff Angel and The SCI FI Channel's Farscape took the most nominations. Buffy stars Sarah Michelle Gellar, Nicholas Brendon and James Marsters and Angel stars David Boreanaz and Charisma Carpenter each received nominations. The academy is a non-profit organization founded in 1972 to honor genre film and television. Awards will be presented in June in Los Angeles. Best Science Fiction Film:
Best Fantasy Film:
Shatner Not Doing New Trek
Resurrect Capt. Kirk? Not happening. Despite rumors that Paramount would love to have William Shatner step back onto the bridge of the starship Enterprise, Shatner's manager, Larry Thompson, told SCI FI Wire that it's not true. "Would Bill Shatner be interested in doing another Star Trek? I'm sure he would," Thompson said. "But Paramount has not indicated that this would be in their plans," Thompson added. The rumor surfaced on the Deco Drive Online Web site. Shatner's character died in 1994's Star Trek: Generations. But the actor has been busy with other projects, including acting as pitchman for Priceline.com. On Friday, March 17, the Reuters news service reported that Shatner is selling 35,000 of his 125,000 shares in the Web company. X-Men Details Revealed
Few details about the plot of Fox's upcoming X-Men movie are being reported in this week's edition of Newsweek magazine. The film is designed to be realistic, despite its origins as a Marvel Comics series of the same name. The film is set a year or two in the future and centers on the character of Wolverine as he encounters the X-Men for the first time. Led by Prof. Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart), the X-Men fight for the future of humankind while a rabid right-wing U.S. senator played by Bruce Davison pushes discriminatory legislation against mutants, the magazine reported. The movie's villain is Magneto (Ian McKellen), who argues that mutants can never coexist with humans. "This movie is the first skirmish in the potential war between humans and mutants," director Bryan Singer told Newsweek. "It's not your average genre picture. I'm not saying it's a character-based drama, but it's not an action movie. It's a movie with action in it." Fans Are Hot About Roswell
Fans of The WB's freshman teen alien series Roswell are mounting a unique campaign to save the show from cancellation: mailing miniature bottles of Tabasco sauce to WB executives. The spicy condiment is featured prominently in the show, and Tabasco maker McIlhenny Co. has co-sponsored fan gatherings in the past. A WB spokeswoman said the network has received more than 100 of the tiny bottles, with more coming in daily. Fans also plan to purchase an ad in the trade paper Variety on April 6. (Fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer last year purchased a full-page ad in the paper to protest The WB's decision to delay the airing of two controversial episodes.) Roswellians have created a Web site to organize the "Roswell Is Hot" campaign to persuade The WB to pick up the show for a second season. Fans mounted the effort after The WB renewed Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, but not Roswell. Fans are also worried about the network's plans to move the show to a Monday 9 p.m. time slot on April 10 from its current Wednesday 9 p.m. slot. The effort has apparently caught the attention of the show's creators. Star Jason Behr has written fans saying, "Thank you for all of your e-mails, letters and (apparently) bottles of Tabasco sauce! To paraphrase Mark Twain--rumors of our demise have been greatly exaggerated! We all welcome the change from Wednesday to Monday night, and we look forward to your continued support in our new time slot." Briefly Noted
Star Trek: Voyager's Jeri Ryan (Seven of Nine) broke her foot Thursday, March 9, and is hobbling around on crutches, according to the E! Online Web site. The actress suffered a hairline fracture after tripping on a step. The injury reportedly won't affect Voyager's production schedule. Steven Spielberg received the Directors Guild of America's highest honor Sunday, March 12, in ceremonies in Los Angeles. Spielberg accepted the lifetime achievement award to a standing ovation that lasted several minutes. -Submitted by Betty Downing
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