Lancer Kind

I’ve got this essay about the conflict between the military that runs the Galactica and the President who presumes to represent the civilians.  I’d love to just post it below but if I do that where just anyone on the Internet can see it, then I’ll have troubling selling it to a magazine.

But I can post it in such a way that subscribers can read it.  This gives the editors comfort that only people who care about what I think would read it, and that can’t possibly be a large enough number for them to worry about the “freshness” of the article.  So the below article will ask you to register to continue reading.  I know it’s a pain, but think of the act of registering as a commitment to pretending that you care what I think.  Don’t take registering as a commitment to actually caring–maybe you love the TV series and want to make sure I didn’t screw it up.  That’s OK too.  A list of subscribers who pretend to care will make me feel loved.

Democracy through Battlestar Galactica
by Lancer Kind

Battlestar Galactica 1978

The new Battlestar Galactica signaled from episode one how different it would be from the 1978 original series.  Its daring peaked in a scene with the sexy, tall Cylon named Six standing next to a human mother.  The mother allows Six to hold the baby.  Six cradles it in her arms and coos to it, making noises of admiration.  Then she puts her hand beneath its head and snaps its neck.  Soon after that, the Cylons nuke the cities on Caprica.  Contrast this scene with the opener of the original series where the largest emotional impact was seeing people dodge laser blasts and a boy’s dagget (dog) being killed off camera.  Times have changed.

New Battlestar Galactica

The new Battlestar Galactica (referred to as Galactica from here on) didn’t stop there. [HIDEPOST]THEY HAVE SUCCESSFULLY RE-IMAGINED ITS TIRED ORIGINS OF SAVING HUMANITY FROM SPACE ROBOTS INTO A PLATFORM OF THEMES THAT WE SEE IN THE NEWSPAPERS TODAY: TORTURE/RAPE, WAR ATROCITIES, ABORTION, THE MORALITY OF SUICIDE BOMBING, AND MANY MORE.  IT’S NOT UNUSUAL FOR A SCIENCE FICTION SHOW TO TOUCH UPON ONE OF THESE THEMES EVERY TEN OR SO EPISODES, BUT THIS BATTLESTAR JUMPS INTO THE MIDDLE AND SHOWCASES THEM ON CENTER STAGE.

THE PRODUCERS MADE DECISIONS TO GIVE THE FICTION A CONTEMPORARY FEEL.  THEY REPLACED THE BLASTERS AND LASERS FROM THE ORIGINAL SERIES WITH THE WEAPONS THAT WE SEE DEPLOYED AROUND THE WORLD TODAY.  THE AUDIENCE SEES MUSHROOM CLOUDS OVER CAPRICA, BULLETS TEARING INTO A VIPER, OR MISSILES SPEEDING AT SHIPS.  THE VIEWERS GET THE FEELING THAT WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THE SCREEN ISN’T FAR FROM REALITY.

IN EPISODE 307, “A MEASURE OF SALVATION”, GALACTICA DISCOVERS A CYLON BATTLE GROUP DRIFTING IN SPACE.  GALACTICA SENDS A BOARDING PARTY AND THEY DISCOVER THAT THESE CYLONS ARE DYING FROM AN EPIDEMIC.  THEY RETURN TO GALACTICA WITH THE SURVIVORS WHO ARE ON THE BRINK OF DEATH.  ADMIRAL ADAMA DISCUSSES WITH PRESIDENT ROSLIN THAT THEY COULD USE THESE INFECTED CYLONS AS BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS TO WIPE OUT THE CYLON RACE.

HELO, A GALACTICA OFFICER, OBJECTS, SAYING THAT GENOCIDE SHOULD NEVER BE AN OPTION SINCE NOT EVERY CYLON FEELS THE HUMAN RACE SHOULD BE EXTERMINATED.  HE USES HIS OWN LIFE AS AN EXAMPLE.  HE’S MARRIED TO ATHENA (A CYLON) AND HAS FATHERED A CHILD WITH HER.  HE ARGUES THAT IT IS WRONG TO WIPE OUT A RACE OF INDIVIDUALS JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE AT WAR WITH THE GROUP.  BUT PRESIDENT ROSLIN SAYS THAT THESE MORAL CONUNDRUMS DON’T MATTER IF THERE AREN’T ANY HUMANS ALIVE TO DISCUSS IT.

ADAMA TELLS ROSLIN THAT HE NEEDS HER PRESIDENTIAL APPROVAL FOR THE USE OF BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS.  SHE ACCUSES HIM OF PASSING THE BUCK.  HE AGREES WITH HER AND SAYS, “WE START DESTROYING ENTIRE RACES, EVEN MECHANICAL RACES, WE’RE LIABLE TO TEAR OFF A PIECE OF MAN’S SOUL.”

WHEN HELO TELLS HIS WIFE WHAT IS HAPPENING, SHE SAYS SHE WILL SUPPORT THE ORDER TO EXECUTE THE BIOLOGICAL WARFARE PLAN BECAUSE HER OATH WAS TO DEFEND GALACTICA AND SHE HOLDS THAT ABOVE ALL ELSE, EVEN HER RACE.  SHE CHALLENGES HER HUSBAND: “LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, HELO. MY PEOPLE MAY DIE. MY ENTIRE RACE MAY BE WIPED OUT…BUT THIS CYLON WILL KEEP HER WORD, EVEN IF IT MEANS SHE’S THE LAST CYLON LEFT IN THE UNIVERSE. CAN A HUMAN BEING DO THAT?”

HELO’S CONSCIOUS TELLS HIM THAT WIPING OUT A RACE IS WRONG.  THERE WILL BE COLLATERAL DAMAGE AND IT’S NOT HUMANE.  AS GALACTICA POSITIONS ITSELF TO EXECUTE THE PLAN, HELO REMOVES HIS DOG TAGS AND LEAVES HIS POST.  HE SABOTAGES THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL FOR THE CYLON’S CELL AND THEY ASPHYXIATE.  LATER THE CREW LEARNS THAT THE CYLONS HAVE BEEN KILLED.  WHEN ADAMA REPORTS THIS TO ROSLIN, SHE ASKS WHO WILL HEAD THE INVESTIGATION TO FIND OUT WHO WAS BEHIND THIS.  ADAMA SAYS “NO ONE.  I’M CLOSING THE BOOK ON THIS.”

HELO’S GOVERNMENT HAD GONE THROUGH THEIR CHECKS AND BALANCES AND HAD MADE ITS DECISION, YET HE TOOK ACTION ON HIS OWN AND BROKE HIS OATHS OF MILITARY SERVICE TO THWART THE PLAN.  IS HE A TRAITOR OR PATRIOT?  ADAMA FEARED THE CYLON THREAT BUT ALSO FEARED HIS PEOPLE COULD LOSE THEIR HUMANITY.  HE SUSPECTED HELO COMMITTED TREASON BUT HE CHOSE NOT TO INVESTIGATE.  IS HE A RESPONSIBLE LEADER?  ROSLIN PARED THE PHILOSOPHICAL DEBATE TO ITS BASIC ENDS–DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO ENSURE HUMANITY’S SURVIVAL.  DOES ROSLIN BELIEVE THAT SURVIVAL JUSTIFIES ANY MEANS?

THROUGH THESE CHARACTERS, WE SEE THE WRITERS AND MEMBERS OF THIS COUNTRY ARGUE AND FIGHT ABOUT THE MORALITY OF GENOCIDE.  EVEN AT THE END, IT’S NOT CLEAR WHAT THE RIGHT ANSWER IS BECAUSE GALACTICA ISN’T USED AS A PLATFORM FOR PROMOTING THE “RIGHT ANSWER”, IT IS A PLATFORM FOR PRESENTING THE QUESTIONS AND ALLOWING THE VIEWER TO SEARCH ON THEIR OWN.  ON A REGULAR BASIS, GALACTICA TAKES ON THE BIG QUESTIONS THAT THIS COUNTRY WRESTLES WITH AND PUTS THEM ON SCREEN.

SHOWS LIKE GALACTICA PERFORM AN IMPORTANT FUNCTION IN A DEMOCRACY BY CREATING DIALOG ABOUT CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES.  IT’S WONDERFUL TO HAVE THIS DIALOG WOVEN INTO OUR ENTERTAINMENT BECAUSE MORE ARE ATTRACTED TO THE GLITZ AND GLAMOR OF AN ENTERTAINING STORY THAN UNFILTERED NON-FICTION.

AS MANY HAVE SAID, SCIENCE FICTION ISN’T ABOUT THE FUTURE, IT’S ABOUT THE PRESENT.  IN FIGHTING THE CYLONS, GALACTICA EXPLORES WHAT IT MEANS TO BE HUMAN, AND THESE EXPLORATIONS ARE RIDDLED WITH CONFLICT JUST LIKE THE BATTLE THAT IS GOING ON IN THE WORLD TODAY.

AND IF THAT DOESN’T GET YOU EXCITED, REMEMBER THIS: THE SHOW IS LOADED WITH HOT WOMEN!  AND I’VE HEARD THAT THE MEN ARE PRETTY EASY ON THE EYES TOO.

[/HIDEPOST]

Every now and then life throws something at you and you have to stop what you’re doing and re-assess your priorities in life in order to figure out how to “do the right thing.” I was backing my car out of my garage when my neighbor, Luda, waved me down looking very upset. She told me a college friend of her’s who is a doctor has prostate cancer, and she was beside herself in trying to figure out how to help him. He flew from Ukraine to Seattle to see his daughter and prepare to die because he couldn’t afford the procedure he could only have performed in the U.S. His daughter found a non-profit hospital in Florida to help him but it would still cost $33,000. A doctor in Ukraine earns a monthly salary of $300.

When Luda had spoken to me, she and Dr. Shevchenko’s daughter had only raised $5,000 through phoning/emailing friends and family. Dr. Shevchenko’s visa would soon run out and he was preparing to go back to Ukraine to do his job until cancer killed him. So she asked my wife and me for help. We could only donate some money but that was only a step. Shelli and I talked and we realized that we needed to do some publicity work to raise enough money.

We put together http://docneedshelp.blogspot.com and mailed out press releases to Seattle area media outlets. So far the press release hasn’t generated any interest which is too bad. If we could get someone to interview Luda for newspaper or radio, her story of how she knew Dr. Shevchenko would compel the audience to help and enough money would be raised. It’s so important that people share this story, especially since cancer can cost a lot of money. Due to this cost, people will struggle and often will need to seek help. This is, unfortunately, the case for this family. Whilst their story hasn’t been shared just yet, they’re still hoping to find financial help from somewhere. It was suggested that they could also consider getting in touch with some local organizations that help cancer patients financially. That might be a good idea. A lot of cancer patients struggle financially, so it’s important to make use of these organizations that want to help patients.

If you know some way to get this story out, contact me (425 466 9766). This humanitarian who has helped save the lives of many of his patients now need help.

Dr. Anatoliy Shevchenko

If you can help by donating even a little, visit http://docneedshelp.blogspot.com.

A wonderful anime called Speed Grapher is about a Tokyo where money buys you anything you wish. The rich use it to enjoy all the forbidden pleasures in a secret club for elites (like the Horned Society, in Eyes Wide Shut although if you’re looking for that type of anime you’d be better off going to www.animehentaivideos.xxx). The protagonist, Tatsumi Saiga, is a former war photographer who found secret joy in capturing the perfect moment (it gave him an erection), often at the moment of his subject’s death (a perfect character flaw in a story about taboo pleasures).

Apparently, a large number of anime stories deal with sexual matters in an intriguing way. If you are fascinated by this more adult side of anime, then websites such as https://www.cartoonporno.xxx/ might be of interest to you. Ultimately, the Hentai industry is a growing and unpredictable scene, and adult anime content is enjoyed by large numbers of people all over the world. No surprise why there is an increase in adult-oriented merchandise as well, like see this anime body pillow, for instance, that can with its soft and curvy structure give warmth and comfort to anyone, no matter they are an anime fan or not. Such products seem to have become increasingly popular with the rise in the number of people with a love for anime.

However, the man behind the forbidden club is Choji Suitengu, a character who quietly illustrates his conspicuous consumption by smoking cigarettes wrapped with 10,000 yen bills. Later we find out that he is just another victim trying to change the system but in less moral ways.

What this anime does so well (to the point of some critics deciding the characters aren’t likable) is constantly focus on the horrors of a trickle-down economics society where having enough money allows you to create wars for even more profit. In trickle down economics, the guys in control of the faucet always win.

We see this when Saiga talks ells Kagura about the wars he has seen that didn’t make any sense to the people doing the fighting, but did make sense to those ordering the fighting or supplying the equipment. We see this when we find out Suitengu’s father was killed due to owing debts to a politician, who then pressed Suitengu into the military to cover his father’s debts. And we see this at the end, when Ginza is trying to out the corruption but everywhere she turns, she finds that the levels above her are beholden to the secret society in some way.

The Activist SF Test

One of the tests that I use in determining if something is Activist SF, is if it portrays to the audience actionable steps that an audience member actually do. IE, getting a battle mech isn’t an actionable solution. Getting a tank or an attack isn’t likely in the cards either, but exposing the problem to society, or to the authorities despite adversity, or organizing a resistance are actionable.

Exposing the problem: Throughout Speed Grapher, it exposes how government officials, police chiefs, media outlets, and corporations can support each other as oppressive forces, which I don’t think is big news. But tying together how corrupt elements use war for profiteering isn’t well understood so Speed Grapher does bring this to our attention.

Portraying activism: Speed Grapher shows how to take action through the organization of the White Knights. This episode focuses on Joe the non-fic writer who isn’t sure he has the courage to out the elite’s connections to the secret club. Saiga works with his newspaper, or finds experts to help figure out what is happening.

Check out Speed Grapher. As an American, you won’t feel emotional ownership of the corrupt officials, but through out, you’ll enjoy the humanist story about Saiga’s work as a photographer, and how a simple photo can make a difference.

Don’t be scared, there really isn’t a bigfoot staring at you from the monitor, it’s just a picture.

You can learn more about the troubles this podiatricly complicated fellow has to go through this Saturday at 7PM, Jan 31st.  I will do a reading at Tullys in the Bella Bottega shopping center at 8862 161st Ave NE, Redmond.  The reading is part of Redmond Association of SPokenword (RASP). Richard Gold is the featured artist.

What does my reading have to do with bigfoot?  I’ll be reading a story of mine, “Get the Girl?”  It’s about a young married couple, Dustin and Amber, whose car breaks down in the middle of a forest.  Amber and Dustin haven’t been getting along in a while and she picks on him until he decides to take a hike.  As he walks, he re-evaluates his life and has a run-in with a bigfoot.

I’m also bringing a small stock of my books to sell which will save you on shipping.

The 1961 film Fahrenheit 451 was recently on the TV and I was struck by how modern it felt.

In fact, it featured a monorail that was superior to the one constructed for the 1962 World’s Fair held in Seattle.

One of the biggest controversies about building mass transit is where the stops should be. Naturally, there is a lot at stake for businesses and home owners who would benefit if there is easy access to catching a ride.

What was unique about the monorail in the Fahrenheit film, constructed at Saran France by SAFEGE in 1959, was that the car was suspended from the monorail so passengers could exit via a ramp reaching from the bottom. In reality, this feature was used as an emergency exit and can be seen in a variety of public commute facilities as well as commercial complexes that support high mobility today. They have all the necessary elements like floor plan, signage (more about these details here), equipment etc in place for fire and safety compliance. In the movie, however, the same feature was used as the means for boarding and disembarking.

Unfortunately, the track has been dismantled. It’s amazing to me that this system seems superior in that it supports the ability to stop at any point on the track where today, the Seattle monorail only has two stops, one at each end of the track. It’s odd how a 1961 film is like a documentary about what was better in the past. Like a comedian recently said, he enjoys telling youths that the SF films from the ’80s are documentaries about what life was like, that the flying cars were great for a while but were too much trouble in the end. 🙂

If disembarkation doesn’t require a platform, the system is like a bus that can stop anywhere, thus not requiring all the up-front planning and design that goes into a usual train system. If you find one location doesn’t work well as a stop, you just move the mono-rail sign elsewhere and stop there!

Potential negatives: no escalator but most people need the exercise anyway. If you really want them, you could still build some elevated stops (handicap access would be nice). I bet some slick Japanese engineer out there (hey, that’s where origami came from) could probably design moving stairs that can be raised and lowered.

It turns out there are operational “upside down” monorails in Japan. Here is the one in Chiba, which is near Tokyo:

And the Shonan monorail:

Apparently there are a slew of all kinds of monorails in Japan. There’s even a Monorail Society that documents monorails from around the world and they sell dvds. Maybe now that we have a U.S. president that can string together intelligent words, we can get some good national infrastructure built. It would be too bad to disappoint all those people from the ’60s by saying that the monorails were like the flying car’s, that we couldn’t make it happen.

It’s the least we could do after making those nice people watch years of Leave it to Beaver.