From: blakes7-d-request@lysator.liu.se Subject: blakes7-d Digest V98 #67 X-Loop: blakes7-d@lysator.liu.se X-Mailing-List: archive/volume98/67 Precedence: list MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/digest; boundary="----------------------------" To: blakes7-d@lysator.liu.se Reply-To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se ------------------------------ Content-Type: text/plain blakes7-d Digest Volume 98 : Issue 67 Today's Topics: Re: [B7L] re: safety Re: [B7L] Re: Safety [B7L] Computer names (was re safety) [B7L] Avon and Blake Re: [B7L] Naming clans Re: [B7L] Avon and Blake Re: [B7L] Re: Safety Re: [B7L] OT: Jingo (was Re: Cally and Jenna) Re: [B7L] Re: Alphas Re: [B7L] If you give me your attention, Re: [B7L] OT: Jingo (was Re: Cally and Jenna) [B7L] Moon Base Three (was Space Island One) [B7L] Re: Safety Re: [B7L] OT: Jingo (was Re: Cally and Jenna) [B7L] Avon/Blackadder Re: [B7L] Avon/Blackadder Re: [B7L] OT: Jingo (was Re: Cally and Jenna) Re: [B7L] Naming clans [B7L] re: Orac [B7L] Safety in Orbit [B7L] Vila (was re: safety) [B7L] Re: Avon over Horizon [B7L] naming servers Re: [B7L] re: safety Re: [B7L] OT: Jingo (was Re: Cally and Jenna) Re: [B7L] Avon and Blake [B7L]Precious moments (Was Avon and Blake) Re: [B7L] Orbit Re: [B7L] re: safety [B7L] YKYBWFFTMB7W... Re: [B7L] OT: Jingo (was Re: Cally and Jenna) Re: [B7L] OT: Jingo (was Re: Cally and Jenna) Re: [B7L]Precious moments (Was Avon and Blake) Re: [B7L] Vila (was re: safety) [B7L] stories named after missing persons Re: [B7L]Precious moments (Was Avon and Blake) Re: [B7L] OT: Jingo (was Re: Cally and Jenna) Re: [B7L] Apology ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Feb 1998 01:26:09 -0000 From: "Tom Forsyth" To: "B7 Lysator" Subject: Re: [B7L] re: safety Message-Id: Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Reuben wrote: >Hmm, I suppose this would be a bad time to admit I named our primary >server Orac? The Nicola pointed out: > This might be one for the YKYBWTMB7W list. I named my computers Liberator and Scorpio. Liberator's hard drives are mounted on the network as Cally, Dayna and Ensor. Do I qualify? Mind you, other machines round our network are called Excession, Tuvok and Neelix, so I Am Not Alone. This is meant to be a serious, multi-million-pound business, for god's sake! Tom Forsyth. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Feb 1998 15:00:13 +1300 From: Nicola Collie To: B7-list Subject: Re: [B7L] Re: Safety Message-Id: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" >Helen K said: >> > Nicola (whose mind is a maze of twisty little passages, all alike) >> > >> Nicola, the BBC wants you. They want to do a CAT scan and save money on >> sets. (One thing, does your mind have woobly walls?) Tom: >Depends how much booze they give her, I suppose. Booze? No-one said owt about booze before! "Beloved, I'm off to London to be a sci-fi set. Dinner's at the supermarket" UnOb trivia - did you know that alcohol is a banned drug in Olympic fencing? Apparently it steadies the hand... ttfn, Nicola --- Nicola Collie Dunedin, New Zealand nicola.collie@stonebow.otago.ac.nz "It just occurred to me that, as the description of a highly sophisticated technological achievement, "Avon's gadget works" seems to lack a certain style." ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Feb 1998 14:56:42 +1300 From: Nicola Collie To: B7-list Subject: [B7L] Computer names (was re safety) Message-Id: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" >Reuben wrote: >>Hmm, I suppose this would be a bad time to admit I named our primary >>server Orac? > >The Nicola pointed out: >> This might be one for the YKYBWTMB7W list. Response 1. Oh, Tom, you make me feel so special! Response 2. No, just a Nicola, don't you know I come in 6-packs? ;) >I named my computers Liberator and Scorpio. Liberator's hard drives are >mounted on the network as Cally, Dayna and Ensor. Do I qualify? Demonstrably ;) >Mind you, other machines round our network are called Excession, Tuvok and >Neelix, so I Am Not Alone. This is meant to be a serious, >multi-million-pound business, for god's sake! Of course it is :). The observant among you may have noticed the stonebow in my email address. Our POP server is brandywine, we also have rivendell, galadriel, gandalf, bagend, a lot of dwarves, and several hobbits. Some Tolkien fans started it many years ago, and it seems to have kept its own momentum. My own computer is named Grommit (I'm Wallace!), my partner's desktop is Hobbes and the laptop is Calvin. Some serious thinking went into that, actually. If we ever had to name a baby it'd probably be Thingy for the first 6 months :}. ttfn, Nicola --- Nicola Collie Dunedin, New Zealand nicola.collie@stonebow.otago.ac.nz "It just occurred to me that, as the description of a highly sophisticated technological achievement, "Avon's gadget works" seems to lack a certain style." ------------------------------ Date: 26 Feb 1998 18:17:36 -0800 From: "Kinkade.Carol" To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se Subject: [B7L] Avon and Blake Message-ID: >>Shela Ma wrote: >>Gasp! You don't really expect harmony in a Blake's 7 universe, do you? >> >Sue Clerc wrote: >One of the things I really liked about B7 fandom was how long it >held out against the creeping tweeness, the encroaching preciousness, of >so many online fandoms. I swear reading some lists and fan fic is like >being smothered in cotton candy while "Muskrat Love" plays on infinite >loop in the background. The gushing, the ing back >and forth, the horrendous warm fuzzy cuteness that makes me picture >posters as the children-with-big-eyes paintings come to life. It's only a >matter of time before con art shows are overrun with Precious Moments >figurines of the characters. Oh, the humanity. ROFL!!!!! This is the funniest thing I've ever read on an elist. I very seldom sit at the computer and bust out laughing, but this did it!!! I've only been on one other elist, and it was exactly what you described. And sooooooo boring. >From your comments it appears I have seriously misinterpreted what I read. I'll have to go back and reread and see why I came to the conclusions I did. Thanks for a really good laugh. Carol K (AVON RULES!!!!!) ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 18:46:03 -0800 From: Helen Krummenacker To: NWOutsider CC: "Blake's 7 list" Subject: Re: [B7L] Naming clans Message-ID: <34F628EB.55FA@jps.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > Servalan's Elite Xterminators... Much more approriate than SUK; refined as well as suggestive. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 18:55:35 -0800 From: Helen Krummenacker To: NWOutsider CC: "Blake's 7 list" Subject: Re: [B7L] Avon and Blake Message-ID: <34F62A86.36A1@jps.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Sue, having read your latest comment, I have to say, you seem much more _like_ Avon than Blake... but then, I think Avon likes Blake way better than he'd like another Avon! ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 18:57:54 -0800 From: Helen Krummenacker To: J.Beavan@btinternet.com CC: blakes7@lysator.liu.se Subject: Re: [B7L] Re: Safety Message-ID: <34F62137.2D7D@jps.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > Re Carol K's comments about Sue - I certainly didn't see anything rude in > her posts. My favourite character is Blake but I love him in relation to > Avon. What I don't believe in is the idealised Avon who wouldn't have > spaced Vila, who wasn't responsible for killing Blake, who was good and > noble, a terrific leader, a fantastic success as a human being and who > really cared about other people's freedom and happiness.Boring! > > Arguing that, with evidence from canon, doesn't make me an Avon-hater, or > rude and aggressive. It just means my viewpoint is different from someone > else's. > > Jennifer > > Avon would have spaced Vila... never said otherwise. He was responsible for killing Blake, but I think it was an honest mistake, caused by circumstances and misleading evidence. He wasn't a success... his story is a tragedy. And he wanted other people to take responsibility for there own freedom and happiness, as he tried to. I do think he is honorable, in spite of all of this. Avon-haters say he has no morals, no ability to care for anyone, enjoys killing Blake and planning to space Vila. I _have_ known people promomting that viewpoint. That's what gets us bad-ASSes mad! ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 19:07:57 -0800 From: Helen Krummenacker To: Nicola Collie CC: B7-list Subject: Re: [B7L] OT: Jingo (was Re: Cally and Jenna) Message-ID: <34F629D2.7F58@jps.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > "I've only been a woman for tem minutes but I hate you male bastards > >already" - Corporal Nobbs > > *chuckle* I loved this aspect of Jingo's plot! and somehow it seems > appropriate for B7 discussion. Can't think why, though. > ttfn, Nicola Because the Blake's 7 universe depicts a pretty sexist future? The men in good jobs severely outnumber the women. The gals on the ships never seem to question that the men are the leaders. One thing I like about Servalan is she's managed to make it as a woman in a male-dominated culture. On the other hand, her uses of power ::shiver::. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 19:35:21 -0800 From: Helen Krummenacker To: Tom.Forsyth@btinternet.com CC: B7 Lysator Subject: Re: [B7L] Re: Alphas Message-ID: <34F63479.3178@jps.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Tom, you are correct, Blackadder did say "Wibble" BTW, anyone think that Avon may be from the Blackadder line? They seemed to grow more competent with each century, while staying selfish. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 19:37:55 -0800 From: Helen Krummenacker To: Tom.Forsyth@btinternet.com CC: B7 Lysator Subject: Re: [B7L] If you give me your attention, Message-ID: <34F63513.50C3@jps.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Tom Forsyth wrote: > > Helen K said: > > Are there other Dayna fans besides myslef? Can I set up > > D.ayna's A.dmiring M.ob of N.utters? > > Damn! Found out again. :-) > > Tom Forsyth. Hurrah! Two people, enough to make DAMN official. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Feb 1998 16:21:42 +1300 From: Nicola Collie To: B7-list Subject: Re: [B7L] OT: Jingo (was Re: Cally and Jenna) Message-Id: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Helen: >> "I've only been a woman for tem minutes but I hate you male bastards >> >already" - Corporal Nobbs >> >> *chuckle* I loved this aspect of Jingo's plot! and somehow it seems >> appropriate for B7 discussion. Can't think why, though. >> ttfn, Nicola Helen: >Because the Blake's 7 universe depicts a pretty sexist future? The men >in good jobs severely outnumber the women. The gals on the ships never >seem to question that the men are the leaders. And every time someone (male) referred to a (patently adult!) woman as a "girl", I cringe. Even Dayna's "the girl who killed Bayban" grates, and she's talking about herself. Are all the Mutoids women? >One thing I like about Servalan is she's managed to make it as a woman >in a male-dominated culture. On the other hand, her uses of power >::shiver::. But to make it to the top, against all the usual obstacles _and_ being a woman, would take a particularly ruthless person. I was just telling the spinlist about our woman PM - she's regarded as being rather tough and unfeminine, perhaps due to the personality characteristics that got her to the top in the first place. I guess Thatcher may be regarded in the same way, yesno? Anyway, yes, Servalan's made it to a position of power, yes, she ruthlessly uses anything she can to maintain and advance her position. I think there may be a connection. :) ttfn, Nicola --- Nicola Collie Dunedin, New Zealand nicola.collie@stonebow.otago.ac.nz "It just occurred to me that, as the description of a highly sophisticated technological achievement, "Avon's gadget works" seems to lack a certain style." ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 22:40:24 -0500 From: Harriet Monkhouse <101637.2064@compuserve.com> To: "Blake's 7 (Lysator)" Subject: [B7L] Moon Base Three (was Space Island One) Message-ID: <199802262240_MC2-34D9-ECAE@compuserve.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Disposition: inline Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Gwynn (I think) wrote: >Sci fi channel in the US is playing an old(?) >BBC serial called Moon Base Three. Oh lord, I remember Moon Base Three. That was way back. Pre B7? Someone like Ralph Bates playing the Frenchman? People were always trying to rape the psychiatrist? Harriet ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 22:40:28 -0500 From: Harriet Monkhouse <101637.2064@compuserve.com> To: "Blake's 7 (Lysator)" Subject: [B7L] Re: Safety Message-ID: <199802262240_MC2-34D9-ECB0@compuserve.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Disposition: inline Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Alison said: > Vila says Orac is slower than him at operating >the teleporter doesn't he? I always assumed that this meant that Orac wasted several seconds complaining about having to perform a menial task. Harriet ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 20:15:02 -0800 From: Helen Krummenacker To: Nicola Collie CC: B7-list Subject: Re: [B7L] OT: Jingo (was Re: Cally and Jenna) Message-ID: <34F63DC6.4CC5@jps.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > >Because the Blake's 7 universe depicts a pretty sexist future? The men > >in good jobs severely outnumber the women. The gals on the ships never > >seem to question that the men are the leaders. > > And every time someone (male) referred to a (patently adult!) woman as a > "girl", I cringe. Even Dayna's "the girl who killed Bayban" grates, and > she's talking about herself. Are all the Mutoids women? Dayna wanted to say a different line than Cally, I think. And Dayna grew up with only a sister and father for company... in many ways, she may feel she still has so much to learn about other people, and so many ways to mature, she is still a "girl". But yes, most uses of "girl" and even frequently "woman" are patently offensive. Ick! Jarvik I wanted to see die at Dayna's hands, that's for sure. I think there was one male Mutoid in an episode. Anyone remember? But certainly at least 90% or so are female, and I don't think they are a volunteer force. "Sign up now to be a vampire." As far as Servalan goes, yes, she had to be ruthless to get there. But Avon is ruthless, too, and he doesn't commit genocide in order to reproduce (Children of Aruon). I mean to say, the lady has style-- as far as being unfeminine goes, she isn't-- but she is evil, without a doubt. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Feb 1998 16:52:17 +1300 From: Nicola Collie To: B7-list Subject: [B7L] Avon/Blackadder Message-Id: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Helen: >BTW, anyone think that Avon may be from the Blackadder line? They seemed >to grow more competent with each century, while staying selfish. > Hmm. - That nose, maybe - Those eyes, definitely not - Leather clothing - Blackie 1 definitely favoured black leather, especially, um, youknowwhere. And hessian underthings. Blackie 2 seemed to be rather leathery, too, if memory serves (at 4:30 on a Friday afternoon? Dream on!). Memory completely fails me for Blackies 3 and 4. The futuristic Blackie from the Christmas Carol remake wore an interesting black leather outfit, too. And he had a bitchqueen. And so did Blackie 2. - Witty repartee, definitely. - Competence and selfishness, agreed. All right, I'll suggest it (but we can blame Helen ;)). If the B7 characters were Blackadder characters, who would they be (from any series)? Blackadder=Avon Baldrick=Vila Nursie=Gan Queenie=Servalan (in one of her whimsical moods) Bob=Dayna Several ideas for Tarrant but I like my fingernails where they are, thank you. 8) P'raps if someone offers me a bolthole? ttfn, Nicola --- Nicola Collie Dunedin, New Zealand nicola.collie@stonebow.otago.ac.nz "It just occurred to me that, as the description of a highly sophisticated technological achievement, "Avon's gadget works" seems to lack a certain style." ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 20:27:26 -0800 From: Helen Krummenacker To: Nicola Collie CC: B7-list Subject: Re: [B7L] Avon/Blackadder Message-ID: <34F640AE.1196@jps.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > All right, I'll suggest it (but we can blame Helen ;)). If the B7 > characters were Blackadder characters, who would they be (from any series)? > Blackadder=Avon > Baldrick=Vila > Nursie=Gan > Queenie=Servalan (in one of her whimsical moods) Servalan also could be Madame Guillotine. > Bob=Dayna > Several ideas for Tarrant but I like my fingernails where they are, thank > you. 8) P'raps if someone offers me a bolthole? Tarrant = Lord Flashheart, without a doubt! Ace pilot, animalistic sex drive, all courage. Blake= General Melchik ------------------------------ Date: 27 Feb 1998 09:30:41 +0100 From: Calle Dybedahl To: B7-list Subject: Re: [B7L] OT: Jingo (was Re: Cally and Jenna) Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Helen Krummenacker writes: > On the other hand, her uses of power Where's the fun in having power if you can't abuse it? Why isn't Servalan getting a fan club when everyone else gets one? -- Calle Dybedahl, UNIX Sysadmin qdtcall@esavionics.se http://www.lysator.liu.se/~calle/ ------------------------------ Date: 27 Feb 1998 09:32:12 +0100 From: Calle Dybedahl To: "Blake's 7 list" Subject: Re: [B7L] Naming clans Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII NWOutsider writes: > Servalan's Elite Xterminators... Good one! -- Calle Dybedahl, UNIX Sysadmin qdtcall@esavionics.se http://www.lysator.liu.se/~calle/ ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Feb 1998 10:48:35 GMT From: "Jane Elizabeth Macdonald" To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se Subject: [B7L] re: Orac Message-ID: <1AA824243BF@sdk1.derby.ac.uk> > >Jackie said (about Orac): - > >> how come he did`nt eject Vila himself? or Avon? OR! I assume he was > >> left on board the shuttle while Avon and Vila talked to Egrorian. So > >> how come he did not *see* (either with the ships inboard or external > >> sensors) what Pinder was actually loading onto the ship? > > > >If Orac can scan inside locked boxes (Head Hunter), why can't he scan > >the ship for anything unusual that might be causing the problems with > >lift-off? > Ian Replied: - > I think you'll find ORAC has to be in close proximity to the object to scan > it. Very much like the device used in "Voices from the Past" which was > controlling Blake. ORAC makes reference to being able to analyse the object > if he had access to it, and then tells Avon "Well go get it then". Avon > pulls out his gun and says " By force if necessary" I stand corrected, thanks Cylan ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Feb 1998 05:52:29 -0600 (CST) From: "Mary W O'Connor" To: Blakes7 List Subject: [B7L] Safety in Orbit Message-ID: Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII When I watch Avon take the gun and 'look' for Vila, I see a man who is wrestling with himself. One part of him has accepted Orac's suggestion that Vila's weight needs to be removed from the shuttle in order to reach escape velocity. (His NT part ) But I also see a man who isn't so removed from the situation that he can harm a friend. The expression on his face is not determination (to me), but indecision. When he calls Vila's name it is a whisper, as if he doesn't really want Vila to answer. When Avon checks out the cargo area (?) he is not looking very diligently, as if he doesn't really want to find Vila. This is the way I interpret the scene whenever I see it. But then I've never been very good at judging people and I suffer for it :) In a choice between Blake and Avon's crew I would prefer Avon's. I don't think he totally lost his humanity. But if safety were my *only* consideration then I would think the 2nd season when the ladies were just there to run the teleport and make tea would be the safest crew for me. I think if Avon really intended to chuck Vila, then he would have made a better effort at finding him. Then, when ruthless Avon trips over the plastic cube he would have exclaimed "Damn" and continued the search. Filing away the distraction for further study when he was safe and had the time for analysis. OTOH FWIW IMHO (BTW the last H is for humble IRL) I have always agreed with the suggestion that a studded leather outfit weighs a hell of a lot and Avon should have removed it to reduce weight. INTP - took the test, but not convinced. I will need to study the concept more. Perhaps I will try the other site and do the other test. If I don't have the time (reading all this mail keeps me busy) I'll just but the book. Mary O'Connor zvs225@freenet.mb.ca ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Feb 1998 08:01:34 -0500 From: Harriet Monkhouse <101637.2064@compuserve.com> To: "Blake's 7 (Lysator)" Subject: [B7L] Vila (was re: safety) Message-ID: <199802270802_MC2-34DE-8795@compuserve.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Disposition: inline Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Jackie wrote: >Vila does such a great impression of being a >coward, that you forget the times that he has >been a big brave macho man. Remind me >again - WHEN was that? Apart from the time >he was chasing Kerril`s legs. Oh, yes. He >helped Tarrant and Dayna badger Shrinker: >he helped Tarrant and Dayna badger Keiller. I love Vila in Gold. I can't get rid of the notion that it really takes place after Orbit, not before - his reluctance to join in, the way he delays the teleport and makes Avon sweat. But, trying to get to the point, he doesn't help T and D badger Keiller. He takes the lead. Keiller comes round to find himself staring into Vila's grim face... it's one of the moments when I know he's a grown-up and Tarrant and Dayna are still children. (cf facing down Tarrant in Moloch, taking charge on the Liberator in Terminal) Harriet ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Feb 1998 08:01:28 -0500 From: Harriet Monkhouse <101637.2064@compuserve.com> To: "Blake's 7 (Lysator)" Subject: [B7L] Re: Avon over Horizon Message-ID: <199802270802_MC2-34DE-878F@compuserve.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Disposition: inline Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Patti said: >Often, what he does and what he says >are so schizophrenically different NO, NO, NO, NO, this is not schizophrenia, it is split personality. Entirely different illness. Sorry. Harriet ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Feb 1998 08:36:44 -0500 (EST) From: sjk3@cornell.edu To: Reuben Herfindahl cc: blakes7@lysator.liu.se Subject: [B7L] naming servers Message-ID: Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII >>> Hmm, I suppose this would be a bad time to admit I named our primary >>> server Orac? >>> > Other names used (aside from the dreaded NT_EDI, etc...) Rasputin and > Pertwee. Tee-Hee > The great thing is that no one gets it (aside from Rasputin). > > Reuben But do they know that Tom Baker played Rasputin? (And having compared a picture of him in the part with the real Rasputin, the similarity in appearance was unnerving.) Sandra Kisner sjk3@cornell.edu ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Feb 1998 08:54:22 -0500 From: ay648@yfn.ysu.edu (Carol A. McCoy) To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se Subject: Re: [B7L] re: safety Message-ID: <199802271354.IAA02130@yfn.ysu.edu> Jackie wrote: >Vila does such a great impression of being a coward, that you forget the >times that he has been a big brave macho man. Remind me again - WHEN >was that? Apart from the time he was chasing Kerril`s legs. Oh, yes. >He helped Tarrant and Dayna badger Shrinker: he helped Tarrant and Dayna >badger Keiller. This is one of those questions where the answer is so obvious to me that I assume it must be tongue-in-cheek and doesn't require a response. But since Harriet took it seriously, I may as well throw in some examples to go with her mention of "Gold" and "Terminal." "Breakdown" - I'm early season deficient, but didn't Vila put an encouraging gun to Kayn? "Volcano" - Vila takes charge after Avon is shot and ably saves Liberator "Harvest" - Tarrant puts Vila in charge when he goes to check on Avon and Cally, and Vila doesn't let him down "Rescue" - Hauls Tarrant out and is willing to go back down for Cally "Games" - serves as Tarrant's one-man back-up team "Blake" - takes out Arlen though she is armed and he's not Some might argue several of these examples show competence rather than bravery, but competence in the face of danger is a form of courage in my book. Vila wasn't perfect--he had his off moments as well--but then all of them did. Carol McCoy ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Feb 1998 09:12:19 EST From: AChevron To: Blakes7@lysator.liu.se Subject: Re: [B7L] OT: Jingo (was Re: Cally and Jenna) Message-ID: <1d290665.34f6c9c5@aol.com> Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit In a message dated 98-02-26 21:51:19 EST, you write: << Because the Blake's 7 universe depicts a pretty sexist future? >> this is one of the more interesting ascpects of the series. On the one hand, the series under-utilizes the potentially powerful characters like Jenna,Cally, and Dayna. On the ohter hand, there are the likes of Servalan(a poster-child for natural selection), Avalon, Soolin, even Scorpio. This is a universe where the men think they are in charge, but where the women usually are the ones really on top. D. Rose ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Feb 1998 09:15:37 -0500 (EST) From: sjk3@cornell.edu To: NWOutsider cc: "Blake's 7 list" Subject: Re: [B7L] Avon and Blake Message-ID: Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII > One of the things I really liked about B7 fandom was how long it > held out against the creeping tweeness, the encroaching preciousness, of > so many online fandoms. I swear reading some lists and fan fic is like > being smothered in cotton candy while "Muskrat Love" plays on infinite > loop in the background. The gushing, the ing back > and forth, the horrendous warm fuzzy cuteness that makes me picture > posters as the children-with-big-eyes paintings come to life. It's only a > matter of time before con art shows are overrun with Precious Moments > figurines of the characters. Oh, the humanity. > > Sue Does anyone remember the time a while ago when we had a "contest" for worst first line/story premise (whatever) and some of the winners involved a misty-eyed Avon surveying his friends in a field of gamboling unicorns and bunnies, or Servalan with a box of puppies? :-) Sandra Kisner (IXTJ) sjk3@cornell.edu ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Feb 1998 08:29:11 -0600 (CST) From: Susan.Moore@uni.edu To: BLAKES7@lysator.liu.se Subject: [B7L]Precious moments (Was Avon and Blake) Message-id: <01IU2GCKU3EM8ZDTPM@uni.edu> Sue wrote: > One of the things I really liked about B7 fandom was how long it >held out against the creeping tweeness, the encroaching preciousness, of >so many online fandoms. I swear reading some lists and fan fic is like >being smothered in cotton candy while "Muskrat Love" plays on infinite >loop in the background. The gushing, the ing back >and forth, the horrendous warm fuzzy cuteness that makes me picture >posters as the children-with-big-eyes paintings come to life. It's only a >matter of time before con art shows are overrun with Precious Moments >figurines of the characters. Oh, the humanity. Don't worry. I'm sure if this comes to pass others and I will conteract with Tragic Moments figurines(tm).* Yes, who wouldn't thrill to own they're very own version of the classic figurine "Togetherness" which depicts that final, touching moment in the episode "Blake". Or "Hide and Seek" showing what it's like to play this age-old game with Avon in a crashing shuttle. (Tragic Moments figurines are a registered trademark of Deep 13, Gismonics Institute. No infringement is meant.) Susan M. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Feb 1998 08:47:00 -0600 From: "Reuben Herfindahl" To: Subject: Re: [B7L] Orbit Message-ID: <002201bd438e$92464e20$660114ac@misnt> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Sorry to be so late on a follow up to this thread, but I just re-watched the episode last night. I started wondering that with the assumption that Orac's assessment that they must lose 70 Kilos would be obsolete rather quickly how much the cube actually weighed. Avon obviously had an enormous difficulty moving the cube by pushing it along a perfectly flat surface. When one also takes into account all that they had thrown off the ship already, it must of weighed a heck of a lot. Any guesses on it's weight, remembering that Avon could only push X Kilos. Just wondering. Reuben reuben@reuben.net http://www.reuben.net ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Feb 1998 14:21:32 -0000 From: Ian Lay To: ay648@yfn.ysu.edu, blakes7@lysator.liu.se Subject: Re: [B7L] re: safety Message-ID: <01bd438b$00d33a00$407a0439@Ian_Lay.es.lon.sita.int> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Carol wrote: > >This is one of those questions where the answer is so obvious to me >that I assume it must be tongue-in-cheek and doesn't require a >response. But since Harriet took it seriously, I may as well throw >in some examples to go with her mention of "Gold" and "Terminal." > >"Breakdown" - I'm early season deficient, but didn't Vila put an >encouraging gun to Kayn? He deed indeed. Blake didn't know about it. Vila had done it off his won back. A few seconds later Avon comes in and gives moral support. > >"Volcano" - Vila takes charge after Avon is shot and ably saves >Liberator erm.... that's stretching it a little. Zen keeps firing because of earlier orders from Avon. When the "Lady President" :-) calls to find out from her troops why Liberator is still firing, Vila midly threatens her by quoting the grid reference of her ship and suggests that she should get running/moving. Then he goes to see how badly Avon is hurt. > >"Rescue" - Hauls Tarrant out and is willing to go back down for >Cally Now this is probably Vila at his bravest. > >"Games" - serves as Tarrant's one-man back-up team > >"Blake" - takes out Arlen though she is armed and he's not > Those are both good examples. >Some might argue several of these examples show competence >rather than bravery, but competence in the face of danger is >a form of courage in my book. Vila wasn't perfect--he had his >off moments as well--but then all of them did. Absolutely. There are times to be brave and times to be a coward. Ian "I don't suffer from insanity. I enjoy every minute of it" Lay //// :-) \\\\ Watford Internet Football Club Ian@pacific-cc.demon.co.uk or wifc@wfc.net ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 28 Feb 1998 02:14:59 +1100 From: Fran Myers To: B7 Subject: [B7L] YKYBWFFTMB7W... Message-ID: <34F6D873.63A2@ozemail.com.au> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit You start posing significantly after every movement. You prefer computers to people. You spin around and shoot if someone speaks behind you. You use unnatural pauses in your sentences to show off your beautiful voice. You start to hate handsome, toothy, curlytops who are young. Guess who I identify with? Fran ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Feb 1998 14:39:58 -0000 From: Ian Lay To: AChevron , Blakes7@lysator.liu.se Subject: Re: [B7L] OT: Jingo (was Re: Cally and Jenna) Message-ID: <01bd438d$9394e3a0$407a0439@Ian_Lay.es.lon.sita.int> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit ACheveron wrote: > this is one of the more interesting ascpects of the series. On the one >hand, the series under-utilizes the potentially powerful characters like >Jenna,Cally, and Dayna. On the ohter hand, there are the likes of Servalan(a >poster-child for natural selection), Avalon, Soolin, even Scorpio. This is a >universe where the men think they are in charge, but where the women usually >are the ones really on top. Women on top. Most definately. Wouldn't have them any other way. S**t wrong mailing list !!! ;-) Ian "I thought this was alt.binaries.pictures.teens.....honest ;-)" Lay //// :-) \\\\ Watford Internet Football Club Ian@pacific-cc.demon.co.uk or wifc@wfc.net ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Feb 1998 07:19:16 -0800 From: Helen Krummenacker To: Calle Dybedahl CC: B7-list Subject: Re: [B7L] OT: Jingo (was Re: Cally and Jenna) Message-ID: <34F6D974.7716@jps.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Calle Dybedahl wrote: > > Helen Krummenacker writes: > > > On the other hand, her uses of power > > Where's the fun in having power if you can't abuse it? > > Why isn't Servalan getting a fan club when everyone else gets one? > -- > Calle Dybedahl, UNIX Sysadmin > qdtcall@esavionics.se http://www.lysator.liu.se/~calle/ Someone already suggested Servalan's Elite Xterminator's... I consider it a reality. :) ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Feb 1998 10:03:53 -0500 (EST) From: NWOutsider To: "Blake's 7 list" Subject: Re: [B7L]Precious moments (Was Avon and Blake) Message-ID: Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII On Fri, 27 Feb 1998 Susan.Moore@uni.edu wrote: > >posters as the children-with-big-eyes paintings come to life. It's only a > >matter of time before con art shows are overrun with Precious Moments > >figurines of the characters. Oh, the humanity. > > Don't worry. I'm sure if this comes to pass others and I will conteract with > Tragic Moments figurines(tm).* Yes, who wouldn't thrill to own they're very > own version of the classic figurine "Togetherness" which depicts that final, > touching moment in the episode "Blake". Or "Hide and Seek" showing what it's > like to play this age-old game with Avon in a crashing shuttle. Susan, you read my min. Tragic Moments was my favorite ever host segment on MST3K. "I'll Get It" still collapses me into giggles and snorts. And "Dad's Liquid Breakfast" was excellent as well. What was the one with the dog? > (Tragic Moments figurines are a registered trademark of Deep 13, Gismonics > Institute. No infringement is meant.) I still miss my Clayton, but the 8th season plot with Pearl, Bobo, and Brain Guy was pretty good. Sue sclerc@bgnet.bgsu.edu http://www.bgsu.edu/~sclerc/Blakes7.html "It's nt so much the Apocalypse, it's the humidity" ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Feb 1998 07:24:21 -0800 From: Helen Krummenacker To: Harriet Monkhouse <101637.2064@compuserve.com> CC: "Blake's 7 (Lysator)" Subject: Re: [B7L] Vila (was re: safety) Message-ID: <34F6DAA6.368C@jps.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > > I love Vila in Gold. I can't get rid of the notion that it really takes > place after Orbit, not before - his reluctance to join in, the way he > delays the teleport and makes Avon sweat. But, trying to get to the point, > he doesn't help T and D badger Keiller. He takes the lead. Keiller comes > round to find himself staring into Vila's grim face... it's one of the > moments when I know he's a grown-up and Tarrant and Dayna are still > children. (cf facing down Tarrant in Moloch, taking charge on the > Liberator in Terminal) > > Harriet True-- it's hard to get on Vila's bad side, but I'd hate to be there. Helen, proudly D.A.M.N.ed, bad-A.S.S., S.E.X.ed, and full of V.I.C.E. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 28 Feb 1998 02:26:16 +1100 From: Fran Myers To: B7 Subject: [B7L] stories named after missing persons Message-ID: <34F6DB18.2DE4@ozemail.com.au> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Ummm....doesn't EVERYBODY call their computer ORAC? "Blake's 7" has no Blake for half its length. "Taggett" no longer has a Taggett, more's the pity, as its intelligent blond isn't a strong enough character to carry on the legend. Then there's "Julius Caesar". Can anyone think of other stories where the main character goes missing half way through? Fran M ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Feb 1998 07:30:58 -0800 From: Helen Krummenacker To: Susan.Moore@uni.edu CC: BLAKES7@lysator.liu.se Subject: Re: [B7L]Precious moments (Was Avon and Blake) Message-ID: <34F6DC33.22F8@jps.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > Don't worry. I'm sure if this comes to pass others and I will conteract with > Tragic Moments figurines(tm).* Yes, who wouldn't thrill to own they're very > own version of the classic figurine "Togetherness" which depicts that final, > touching moment in the episode "Blake". Or "Hide and Seek" showing what it's > like to play this age-old game with Avon in a crashing shuttle. > > (Tragic Moments figurines are a registered trademark of Deep 13, Gismonics > Institute. No infringement is meant.) > Zen, half-disintegrated, talking to Vila "Last Farewell" Travis figurine from Star One called "Wishing Well" ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Feb 1998 10:19:08 -0500 (EST) From: NWOutsider To: "Blake's 7 list" Subject: Re: [B7L] OT: Jingo (was Re: Cally and Jenna) Message-ID: Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII On Fri, 27 Feb 1998, Nicola Collie wrote: > >Because the Blake's 7 universe depicts a pretty sexist future? The men > >in good jobs severely outnumber the women. The gals on the ships never > >seem to question that the men are the leaders. Well, it also _reflects_ a pretty sexist culture. 8-) In some ways, B7 is better than average for its time (and, regrettably for the 90s as well), but in other ways hopelessly stuck in unfortunate stereotypes. My impression of it is this: in the first two seasons, Jenna and Cally start off strong, then get wimped out, but there are frequently strong women in major roles elsewhere in the story (Fen, Kasabi, Avalon, and so on). In the third and fourth season, the crew women fare a little better (although Dayna declines quite a bit once she gets on Liberator) but there's a serious weakness of other women in the stories. Not only are there fewer of them, but the roles are more restricted and less complex (most are evil and shortly dead, most are sexualized). > And every time someone (male) referred to a (patently adult!) woman as a > "girl", I cringe. Even Dayna's "the girl who killed Bayban" grates, and > she's talking about herself. Are all the Mutoids women? There's at least one male one in "Project Avalon" but that's it. Well...one of them in "Hostage" is a bit ambiguous. sclerc@bgnet.bgsu.edu http://www.bgsu.edu/~sclerc/Blakes7.html "I have two words for Bret the Hitman Hart: Suck it!" S. Michaels ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Feb 1998 10:25:03 -0500 From: ay648@yfn.ysu.edu (Carol A. McCoy) To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se Subject: Re: [B7L] Apology Message-ID: <199802271525.KAA06148@yfn.ysu.edu> Tramila wrote: >Perhaps in 1999, I will get to come to MM and meet you then. That sounds like something for both of us to aim for. Mountain Media is a super con. >Sorry. This lady is in HIDING!!!! Have too. Life is too rough right now. > This group has been great for me. It's made me smile again. I'm so glad the list is offering pleasant diversions for you. >>Or do Tarrant fans have any friends? ;-) > >Of course Tarrant fans have friends. See above. Oh, I was only kidding. (Warning to Sue: have Tarrant Nostra issued barf bag handy; great big gobs of surgary sentiment are about to creep across your computer screen. ;-) I've made many, many wonderful friends in fandom. It's a great group of people. If we were any more wonderful, we probably WOULD see our B7ers depicted as Precious Moments figurines. (Ack...it's way too early in the morning to even kid about that.) >LOL. He's not abused but he sure does like to abuse Vila. grrrrrrrr. Now, now, just give me a minute or twelve and maybe we can lead you along the appreciation-of-Tarrant path that Michelle and Lorna (devout Vila fans) have already followed. I understand where you're coming from. It took me a long time to forgive Blake for his treatment of Tarrant in "Blake." No one likes to see his/her favorite abused (see, Tarrant was abused! ), but the big picture usually provides enough positive balances to come to terms with momentary unpleasantness. Vila obviously forgave Tarrant for his forcefulness in "City," so it can't have been that awful for him. One might even speculate that Vila was later secretly glad he'd been prodded down to Keezarn. He got to meet Kerril and have a...uh... good time with her. And while he might not have been as grateful for his moments with Bayban, I can't help but feel that Keezarn gave Vila an opportunity to feel pretty proud of his capabilities and skills. He ably stands up to Bayban. He's the only one who realizes that Norl is really controlling the show. He even comes up with the crystals they need. That would increase anyone's self- confidence and feelings of self worth. Something that Vila obviously needed, since he believed that everyone thought him so worthless that they would allow Tarrant to toss him off the ship. So while it's really no credit to Tarrant unless you count that he was confidant enough in Vila's abilities to know he could get the job done, Vila really did come out of the experience with many positives. And it's not as if Tarrant bullied him to Keezarn just to be nasty; he was trying to get a job done. Vila is intelligent enough to realize that. Moving right along to moments in the Vila-Tarrant relationship that show Vila held no grudges/had no hard feelings... It seemed to me that third season was a time when the two of them (as happened with all of the crew as they melded into a team) had a chance to take stock of each other and grow to like and respect each other. Their relationship in fourth season is much smoother. There are some wonderfully playful exchanges as well as several incidents where one saved the other's life. There were also some edgy moments, but then this isn't a Precious Moments (Sue, I think you've created a monster) universe. Even the happiest of families have some conflict. For instance, Vila seems to have made it a habit of saving Tarrant's life in fourth season. He gets Tarrant out of the underground base in "Rescue." He takes a tire iron to the android in "Headhunter," when it is attempting to squeeze the life out of Tarrant. And one that is often overlooked is in "Power." After Pella dashes into the Scorpio silo and the door is closing behind her, Tarrant races to the door (to maybe try to pry it open again?). Vila--lock expert that he is--apparently realizes that a charge is going to burst from the door. He dashes after Tarrant, grabs him, and holds him back, preventing a crisping. (I personally think Vila was partially motivated by an opportunity to get his arms around Tarrant's slim waist, but that's diverting into topics that are better saved for another day. ) And we have to note that Vila is the only one who asks Avon about Tarrant in "Blake." It's as if Vila has decided that Tarrant's welfare has become his personal reponsibility. There's a really neat story in Gambit 7 that speculates on the above incidents, and I highly recommend it: "His Brother's Keeper" by Leigh Moto'oka. It's an insightful exploration of the Vila- Tarrant relationship. "Headhunter" also provided Tarrant with an opportunity to save Vila's life. I love the scene where Tarrant is dragging himself across the deck so that he can get a helmet on Vila's head when Scorpio's life support failed. This is getting awfully long, so I'll just give my favorite playful moment in fourth season then shut up. It's in "Games" when Vila grabs hold of Tarrant's boot, lifts his leg up to where Tarrant almost topples over onto his pretty backside, and shakes dust off Tarrant's boot. That Vila felt comfortable taking such liberties with Tarrant's body suggests an amiable relationship to me. Carol McCoy -------------------------------- End of blakes7-d Digest V98 Issue #67 *************************************