JMS on CompuServe (Oct 20, 1996) *POSSIBLE SPOILERS*
Brent Barrett
bbarrett at speedlink.com
Sun Oct 20 15:28:21 EDT 1996
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WARNING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The following posts may contain SPOILERS for
upcoming Babylon 5 episodes.
Continue at your own risk.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
S
P
O
I
L
E
R
P
R
O
T
E
C
T
I
O
N
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THE FOLLOWING MATERIAL IS THE COPYRIGHT OF THE
RESPECTIVE MESSAGE AUTHORS AND CANNOT BE
REPRODUCED IN ANY FORM WITHOUT THE EXPRESSED
PERMISSION OF THE AUTHOR.
Note that JMS has expressed his public permission
that all of his messages may be reproduced freely.
I give permission for my summaries to be reposted in
any form, however I reserve all rights to them and
the right to revoke this permission at any time.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Archives of this material may be found at:
ftp://ftp.speedlink.com/pub/bbarrett/cis/
- or -
http://www.speedlink.com/bbarrett/b5/
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[ Summary of subjects in this section: ]
Sb: #594967-URGENT! HELP! from jms
Sb: #595074-URGENT! HELP! from jms
Sb: #594993-URGENT! HELP! from jms
Sb: #595241-#URGENT! HELP! from jms
Sb: #595206-A Funny Thought
Sb: #595071-Trailer Congrats
Sb: #595199-WWE questions
Sb: #595139-HAMILTON B5 PLATES
Sb: #595291-TP's From Ship of Tears
Sb: #595356-URGENT! HELP! from jms
Sb: #594998-<Rock: Lord Refa?>
Sb: #595112->Z< - damned?? >spoiler<
[ Summary: Offers help to JMS with his Trojan Horse problem. ]
#: 595434 S5/Babylon 5: General
19-Oct-96 19:41:05
Sb: #594967-URGENT! HELP! from jms
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
At this point (note to all who've emailed...there were so many not
everyone could possibly get a response), the system itself is up and running
again, having transplanted the DOS directory from my work computer (an
identical system) to the one at home. I then used unerase to restore the
Windows and windows/system files.
Alas, the only way to unerase is to give the deleted files a new first
letter or number...and I didn't know what they might be offhand (there are
something like 200-350 of them altogether in the windows and windows/system
directories), so I kinda had to rename them randomly, just temporarily. Now I
have a list of the proper names of what the files *should* be, and now I'm
going through the long process of matching them up and renaming them all.
My virus scanners are all windows based, so once it's up again, I'll be
able to go looking around a bit more.
Thanks to all who've helped.
jms
#: 595074 S5/Babylon 5: General
18-Oct-96 23:00:21
Sb: #594384-#URGENT! HELP! from jms
Fm: CARL CANTARELLA
>> I have the most current version of Norton for win3.1, but I couldn't see
how to make it restore directories, only *sub*directories.<<
So the you *are* still using Win 3.1. Come on, Joe --you're a man of
the future for cryin' out loud! <g> Upgrade to Windows 95 already!!! <bg>
And in the event you are using Win95, don't mess with
Norton for Win 3.1, that's potentially very hazardous to both your machine and
your sanity! Trust me, you could actually cause hardware damage, not just
software damage.
#: 595435 S5/Babylon 5: General
19-Oct-96 19:41:08
Sb: #595074-URGENT! HELP! from jms
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Yeah, I'm still on 3.1...who has time for the win95 learning curve?
jms
[ Summary: More help for JMS' computer. ]
#: 595436 S5/Babylon 5: General
19-Oct-96 19:41:10
Sb: #594993-URGENT! HELP! from jms
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
So far, everything's checking out....I hope this can all end soon.
jms
[ Summary: Offers help on how to track down the guy who sent JMS the Trojan
Horse program. ]
#: 595437 S5/Babylon 5: General
19-Oct-96 19:41:12
Sb: #595241-#URGENT! HELP! from jms
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Unfortunately, I didn't write down the information, the poster said his
address was on the jpg, so I didn't bother...and when it activated, the whole
system went kablooey...it's my own stupidity, that's all.
jms
#: 595206 S5/Babylon 5: General
19-Oct-96 09:35:56
Sb: #594561-#A Funny Thought
Fm: ARLINE WILLIAMS
Then, this season, it finally hit me..."waitaminnit...we don't have CENSORS!
>>As long as it doesn't use the words you absolutely can't say on TeeVee, as
long as it doesn't directly involve nudity or blood and guts, I can take things
*CONCEPTUALLY* as far as I want."
Heh.
Heh-heh-heh....<<
Oh Dear... Oh dear..Oh dear.... Now where did I put my smelling salts and
heart medicine. <g>
BTW, when did you get this revelation? Before or After your computer was
attacked? The timing seems a little suspicious. <g>
Arline
Eagerly Anticipating Post-Censor Episodes
#: 595438 S5/Babylon 5: General
19-Oct-96 19:41:15
Sb: #595206-A Funny Thought
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
I figured it out before I started writing season 4. Look for some
interesting stuff....
jms
#: 595071 S5/Babylon 5: General
18-Oct-96 23:00:17
Sb: #593017-#Trailer Congrats
Fm: CARL CANTARELLA
>>The new CGI effects are stellar (as it were). I defy *anybody* who doesn't
know the difference just from knowing what's gone before to tell the older
shots from the new ones. (We've always reused some shots, usually establishers
and the like.) I sure can't tell them apart.<<
This is indeed good news, though I suppose it must, therefore, mean
that you've had to do away with the old establishing shots in favor of new ones
that will match the current FX environment. BTW,
I've noticed the way your FX team has progressively improved in the detail and
quality of their work going back to the very beginning, and boy have I been
impressed! You're a pro surrounded by pros, and if I were in your position I'd
sure feel blessed that I was lucky enough to get such people to work on my
show. ;-)
#: 595439 S5/Babylon 5: General
19-Oct-96 19:41:17
Sb: #595071-Trailer Congrats
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
There's no perceptible difference between the establishers from before
and after, except that the newer ones are somewhat more detailed. This
increase has always been there each season, but we've often used stock from
prior seasons in non-critical shots...it blends seamlessly.
And yes, I feel *very* fortunate to work with the people here.
jms
[ Summary: Asks why, if they knew Sinclair was Valen, the Minbari in "And
the Sky Full of Stars" told Delenn to kill Sinclair if he should
remember. ]
#: 595440 S5/Babylon 5: General
19-Oct-96 19:41:20
Sb: #595199-WWE questions
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
That person was Grey Council, and they were concerned that a) Sinclair
was not really who they thought, and b) if he went public with it, upon
remembering, it would be devastating to their culture.
jms
[ Summary: Asks how a "Brit" can purchase a Hamilton plate. ]
#: 595441 S5/Babylon 5: General
19-Oct-96 19:41:22
Sb: #595139-HAMILTON B5 PLATES
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Dunno...I know it can be done mail order...I'll try to post the info when
it becomes available.
jms
[ Summary: Asks if we'll find out what happened to the one hundred frozen
telepaths from "Ship of Tears." ]
#: 595442 S5/Babylon 5: General
19-Oct-96 19:41:24
Sb: #595291-TP's From Ship of Tears
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Yup. Basically, they're still in cryo as Franklin keeps working.
jms
#: 595356 S5/Babylon 5: General
19-Oct-96 14:04:39
Sb: #595270-#URGENT! HELP! from jms
Fm: JOHN L. CREIGH
>
>
> Hi Carl -
>
> >> Come on, Joe --you're a man of the future for cryin' out loud!
> <g> Upgrade to Windows 95 already!!! <bg> <<
>
> Hey, it's 1996. If he wants to be on the cutting edge, he needs
> OS/2 Warp 4 or Windows NT 4. :-)
>
>
If he wants to get work done, he'll stay with what he's got until it no longer
meets his needs. You can burn a awful lot of time upgrading, time that is
wasted unless there is a necessary reason to upgrade (e.g. need feature only
available in upgrade).
Regards, John Creigh
#: 595452 S5/Babylon 5: General
19-Oct-96 20:08:30
Sb: #595356-URGENT! HELP! from jms
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Exactly. I don't have time for a learning curve right now; I'm staying
with what I've got until what I've got no longer does what I want.
jms
#: 594998 S6/Babylon 5: Spoilers
18-Oct-96 18:56:31
Sb: #594870-#<Rock: Lord Refa?>
Fm: NEIL BLEVINS
> Well, I've never been totally convinced that Londo and G'Kar actually "hate"
each other.<
I am. They do genuinely hate each other, but so much, that if either were to
die, the surviving one would miss the dead one. Their hatred is so huge that
they need each other to survive (I know that's perverse). And it's iftting that
they do end up dying togeather.
- Neil
#: 595453 S6/Babylon 5: Spoilers
19-Oct-96 20:08:31
Sb: #594998-<Rock: Lord Refa?>
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Exactly. These two characters, Londo and G'Kar, are linked at the hips.
That is their beauty and their tragedy. And you will see some new colors to
this in the first part of season 4. This story is as much about them as anyone
else.
jms
#: 595112 S7/Babylon 5 in the UK
19-Oct-96 01:36:58
Sb: #>Z< - damned?? >spoiler<
Fm: COLIN HEAPS
Well hello, thought I'd raise a discussion <g>.
Having watched Z a few times now, I find myself thinking the unthinkable, has
JMS lost the plot???
I have read a few damning letters in Startburst et al. recently and I find
myself agreeing with some of the comments. For two seasons now the
cliff-hanger has involved Sheridan falling to his "death" with Kosh being
instrumental is some way.
I hate to say it, but plot wise this is terribly weak, it seems as if JMS has
dug himself a hole (no pun intended) where he *had* to go down that route
<groan - damn puns>.
I have a fundemental problem with this, namely, that unless JMS pulls
something absolutely extrodinary out of the bag, we are going to end up with a
quick and dirty fix, not what I think B5 is known for. You see, there is this
huge hole, logic dictates that it must have an end, after all, gravity being
what it is, he'll fall quicker as he reaches the centre of the planets mass.
Also, above him, two bloody great nuclear bombs have just gone off, guaranteed
to give you one hell of a suntan at least !!
Another failing, the shadow ship with Mr G's ship in, historically speaking
we know hat the shadow ships take people in, they are "wired" into it, that
suggests a centre of operations. For a Starfury to fit inside a shadow ship,
it's gonna loose an awful lot of itself, I don't see it - sorry! - also, the
ship didn't take just Mr G. so he can't be wired in, effectively along for the
ride, from what we've seen, (okay I'll grant you it may not be everything), I
just don't buy it swallowing a craft, if it was that simple, it would be easy
to take the other smaller craft they had destroyed previously and subvert them
to the cause.
While I'm playing devil's advocate, what about Anna?? I thought shadow ships
only worked with telepaths, you telling me that Psi Cops didn't spot Anna was
telepathic - I don't think so!!
Maybe JMS should take 5 and step back from the problem a bit. As a programmer,
I know only too well the dangers of getting so close to a problem that you
can't see the answer, relying on a work mate to spot it for you.
Now I have one idea about how Sheridan may get out of this, I won't say it for
fear of stepping on the great man's toes, (yes - he *still* is the main man,
after all - we all make mistakes). Let's just say it involves Epsilon 3 - the
great machine & the Vorlons -beyond that...hey..buy the rights! <g>.
So there you are, Andrew, Ruth, Penny, Trev, Simon and all.... let's have the
backlash <ggg>
..Aww now.. come on ... who knows how long it'll be before C4 show next
season... we need *something* to talk about.
See Ya at the Zocalo 7pm Sundays.
#: 595454 S7/Babylon 5 in the UK
19-Oct-96 20:08:35
Sb: #595112->Z< - damned?? >spoiler<
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
It seems to me that the problems you cite are really ones you've put onto
it, frankly. They don't really have anything to do with what's being *done*,
only with what you're projecting *might* be done. And in some cases, your
information is simply incorrect.
"While I'm playing devil's advocate, what about Anna?? I thought shadow ships
only worked with telepaths, you telling me that Psi Cops didn't spot Anna was
telepathic - I don't think so!!"
Incorrect. Ivanova even says, "Delenn never said that was required." A
shadow vessel can use *any* body and brain of sufficiently evolved form as its
CPU...the whole purpose of picking up teeps was to start putting together ships
that could withstand telepathic jamming. That was the whole *point* of "Ship
of Tears."
"I have a fundemental problem with this, namely, that unless JMS pulls
something absolutely extrodinary out of the bag, we are going to end up with a
quick and dirty fix, not what I think B5 is known for."
Translation: you haven't figured out yet how I'm going to pull this off,
so you're making an assumption based on what you can't figure out. Why not
wait and actually *see* what happens before judging?
"Another failing, the shadow ship with Mr G's ship in, historically speaking we
know that the shadow ships take people in, they are "wired" into it, that
suggests a centre of operations. For a Starfury to fit inside a shadow ship,
it's gonna loose an awful lot of itself, I don't see it - sorry!"
Again, you're not paying sufficient attention, and citing it as a problem
in the show. Not everything it encounters is or has to be wired into it.
Remember "Shadow Dancing"? You see Anna's ship being released by a shadow
vessel and flying off. It wasn't in the *center* of operations, it was held in
the skin of the thing. Look at how *big* these things are. They're huge.
(Compare the size of the Narn attack ships and the shadow vessels in "Coming of
Shadows" for a good perspective.) They can function almost like an aircraft
carrier, holding ships within their skin as they fly through hyperspace, then
releasing them on at a time, or by separating a piece of that skin and firing
them as a group (as also seen in the show).
"Maybe JMS should take 5 and step back from the problem a bit."
And maybe you should wait to see what I do first, then decide. Because
what you're pointing to as problems have *nothing* to do with what I'm planning
to do with the show.
jms
-***
-*** B5JMS SUBSCRIBERS: Replies to messages in this list go to the list
-*** maintainer, <b5jms-owner at cs.columbia.edu>. If you want to reply
-*** elsewhere, adjust the "To" field. The best way to reach JMS is to post
-*** to rastb5m, which can be done by sending email to <rastb5 at solon.com>.
More information about the B5JMS
mailing list