[EDITOR'S NOTE:  Any merchandise or sales information could be out of date,
                 and even if not, the standard "buyer beware" warning still
                 applies.  Any listing here does not imply endorsement.]


Date: Fri, 1 Mar 1996 18:15:28 -0800 From: "Kenneth J. Weatherwax" (kenw@sierra44cc.com) Subject: Re: Italian in Space >Just to say good luck to Umberto & Maurizio the two Italian Astronauts on >the Shuttle Columbia. And wave goodbye to the Italian Tether Experiment... looking very much like Alpha (post-explosion) as it sails off into the inky blackness of space... sigh. At least it wasn't a whole shuttle this time... -- -KW kenw@sierracc.com
Date: Tue, 5 Mar 1996 15:11:48 -0800 From: Sfcafeguy@aol4tag.com Subject: Alpha Technical Data Center Hi All: Does anybody know if this information is still pertinent? I got it out of an old post in the mail list archive. Alpha Technical Data Center c/o Keith Young 45800 Challenger Way, #217 Lancaster, CA 93535 Keith sells beautifully executed blueprints of Moonbase Alpha and its hardware, uniforms, spacecraft, and more. The quality is as good or better than that of the Alpha Technical Notebook put out by Starlog Magazine. In the U.S., send a SASE for price list. Abroad, send 2 IRCs for more info. If so, please let me know. Thanks, Robert
Date: Tue, 5 Mar 1996 17:28:30 -0800 From: jquimby@utmmg.med.uth.tmc4tag.edu (Jeanette Quimby) Subject: Re: Alpha Technical Data Center I know another gentleman who ordered blueprints quite a bit back and has yet to see them. He is also from Canada (yet no longer on the list). Concerning customs - If these were sent via regular mail (not UPS, Fed EX, DHL), they still shouldn't be held up in customs unless this gentleman drastically mislabeled your package. Considering the time frame, I would think he might try resending registered or via one of the other carriers as an act of good faith. I had no problem shipping items (boxes with books/videos) to Canada and overseas - other than my own procrastination in getting the item out. Also I've shipped via the office with regular mail from the States overseas (including biological research material) without too many problems.
Date: Tue, 5 Mar 1996 17:43:15 -0800 From: gwr@easy44net.co.uk (Gareth Randall) Subject: Re: Definition of "glister" >According to Webster's Third International Dictionary, "Glister" is a >variant of "glisten," meaning to shine brightly. Correct me if I'm wrong, >those of you on the Eastern side of the Atlantic, but I believe "glister" >is more common in the British form of English, as opposed to the American >form of English. As a British-type person of 24 years' standing, I can safely say that I've never heard the word "glister" used by *anyone*, unless they happened to be using the well-known cautionary phrase "all that glisters is not gold" (often misquoted as "all that *glitters*...") It's not a word you'll find outside classical literature. Gareth
Date: Tue, 5 Mar 1996 22:26:33 -0800 From: James Laursen (74344.475@compu44serve.com) Subject: Re: Production/Recommended viewing order Eric, >Also, does anyone know of a source for the U.S. Image/J2 laserdiscs that >are now out of print? The following are URL addresses of video disk dealers that may have SPACE:1999 disks: www.video.express.com www.funstuff.com www.thesphere.com James Laursen
Date: Thu, 7 Mar 1996 21:47:24 -0800 From: Sfcafeguy@aol4tag.com Subject: New Limited Edition Space: 1999 Transporter Eagle Models News Flash! Someone at Comet Miniatures told me they are releasing another limited edition Eagle model based on the Airfix original but to a higher standard of detail and with real metal frame work rather than molded into the body. It's going to be released sometime next month and cost about 55 pounds UK or US $88. I'm forwarned that it requires above-average model building skills, however. (Uggghhh!) I don't know about you guys but I'm buying one to build and a couple more just to put away. (FYI, the original Airfix sells for 10 to 12 times what it cost 20 years ago -- a handy return on one's investment.) Comet Miniatures is at: Comet Miniatures 48 Lavender Hill, London, SW11 5RH, England Phone: 011 44 171 228 3702 Fax: 011 44 181 200 6126 Note to Ande: The man at Comet told me it was SW11. I believe your recent post said SW8? Robert
Date: Fri, 8 Mar 1996 13:08:15 -0800 From: Sfcafeguy@aol4tag.com Subject: The Space: 1999 Moonbuggy Hi All: A public thanks to Gordon Moriguchi. I just received my still shrinkwrapped Fundimensions Eagle Model and the LJN Road Stars Moonbuggy. Thank you, Gordon. For those of you who haven't seen this, the LJN moonbuggy is an almost authentic but totally toyish die cast toy with wheels slightly too small to be in proportion as on the real moonbuggy. The seat is too far back (almost no storage area behind), and the paint is yellow with some minimal black detailing. There is also a blue plastic antenna and a black steering stick (single [Wasn't the original two steering sticks? The episode to check would be Space Warp when Allen and Helena chase Maya (as yet ANOTHER creature) on the moon's surface]). The real treat here is the cover art. You think ACCIDENTALLY open helmets are bad? The cover art for this shows Koenig and Russell striking regal poses on the moon's surface in space suits but sans helmets! Barbara is stretched out languidly in the moonbuggy, feet crossed, and has a beautific, serene expression on her face, almost vacuous (I guess to make up for space not being a vacuum in the photo). Martin is standing nearby striking a pose from that famous painting by Gainsborough (I think [and not sure how to spell Gainsborough]). He has his helmet at his side the same way the foppish figure in the painting holds his hat, and Martin's hand is cavalierly placed on his hip as he looks hautilly toward Barbara. Surreal. This is the strangest still from the series I have ever seen. There is no way the LJN moonbuggy is EVER coming out of the package. The art makes it. Now for another trivia question: Who was the manufacturer of the golf cart that the moonbuggy was based on. (You all did know it was a golf cart, didn't you? The same model also appeared in an episode of The New Adventures of Wonder Woman with Lynda Carter in 1977 or 1978.) I don't know the answer, but maybe some of you golfers out there do? Wish you were all here in San Francisco today. It's unseasonably warm and the bay is beautiful. Just the sort of day to put the top down on the Alfa Romeo and point it in any direction at all. Robert
Date: Fri, 8 Mar 1996 15:52:24 -0800 From: Sfcafeguy@aol4tag.com Subject: Re: Freddie Episodes -Reply In a message dated 96-03-08 17:43:05 EST, you write: >after all these years i still dont unnderstand why john says 'she'll be >crushed' gary Again, I write this off as a parallel universe episode. We all know OUR Maya doesn't need to resume her natural form in between shape shifts. Fred didn't understand or respect his audience and this Maya episode is always used as THE fact to use when trying to make a point on this. He should have limited Maya's powers from the very beginning. Superhumans who are invincible are also boring. Robert
Date: Sat, 9 Mar 1996 12:25:25 -0800 From: Ronald Dudley Subject: [Bloopers: A13 & S19] I have been reading the comments on bloopers in the Mar '95 archives. Here's one I thought of after seeing a documentary on Apollo 13. The Apollo astronauts conserved power by shutting off all their heaters. They had nothing to wear to keep warm. Their 2 EVA suits could not have been worn for warmth, because space suits are watertight as well as airtight. The astronauts would have become drenched in their own perspiration! They put up with the shivering cold rather than put on something akin to a scuba suit. The environmental control within the EVA suits was principally designed to keep them from frying in the sunlight, since they were going to land on the moon during the lunar day. Periods of darkness, such as the spacecraft passing into the Earth's or Moon's shadow, were always very short, much shorter than the several days that they spend shivering in their capsule on the trip back. Their space suits were designed against heat, not so much as the cold, and had only a day or so of battery power. And even when a human body feels cold, it still perspires, almost imperceptibly. So, would Paul, Alan, Helena and Sandra really have kept warm by wearing those orange spacesuits after they crashed in "The Last Sunset"? Would anybody on Alpha have kept comfortably warm and dry in those watertight suits when the Moon went through the "Black Sun" and all the power was turned off? I think not. Those orange spacesuit costumes look like cloth (1970's polyester?) and probably as comfortable as possible for the actors as could be. (You can even see the vertical air vents on the backs of their space helmets!) And why did the alphans have cold weather clothes for "Death's Other Dominion"? Did they have winter clothes on hand in Alpha in case of a lunar snowstorm? What, did every eagle have appropriate aparrell in case of crashing anywhere on Earth, including Antarctica? Why didn't they wear these for "Black Sun"? 1999 was visually dazzling, including the costumes, but was less concerned with technical content. The spacesuits' orange color was an intelligent choice, since orange is an easy to spot color in most earth terrains. Signal flares attract attention by putting out orange smoke. Thus downed pilots wearing orange suits are easier to rescue than ones wearing moonrock-gray. I don't know about those colored visors though. It looks new and different, but wouldn't it have limited their color perception? A lot of things in 1999 look technically smart, and are artistically great, but I think that the show needed more/better technical advisors. The Star Trek shows, Babylon5, etc. have 1999 at a disadvantage, because they are so far in the future that their advanced technologies preclude them from having to explain why they can do what they do. And their uniforms still suck, 300+ years after 1999. I expect that real space travellers will wear functional and comfortable (and thus ordinary looking) clothes, such as in "Alien" or "Space Above and Beyond", not the artistic fantasies of 1999 or Star Trek Jr. Ronald Dudley
Date: Sat, 9 Mar 1996 22:52:28 -0800 From: Sfcafeguy@aol4tag.com Subject: Commissioner Simmonds In a message dated 96-03-10 01:23:49 EST, you write: >The best first season episode I recall was the one that guest starred >Christopher Lee... I think it was called "Earthbound". It was pretty good. >If I remember correctly, it was the one that essentially killed off Roy >Dotrice's character... the commissioner with the beard. > >Would anyone mind reminding me what this annoying character's name was and >exactly what function he served aboard Alpha? I don't remember anyone >liking him at all. I remember he was like a protocol officer aboard Soviet >vessels... in case anyone is unfamiliar with the latter's function, a >protocol officer is basically a mole placed to ensure the crew's loyalty to >the state... and to make sure that no one puts their own agenda above the >Kremlin's. > >This commissioner was some sort of similar political officer. > >Logan Hi Logan: The character played by Roy Dotrice in "Earthbound" was Commissioner Simmonds. He was Koenig's superior officer with the International Lunar Finance Commission (I think that's the right name for it) and was sent to Alpha to ensure that the mysterious radiation problem didn't sidetrack the mission to the newly discovered planet Meta. When the moon left Earth orbit, Simmonds was trapped with the others and essentially had no more function. Though he seems to be tolerated in "Earthbound," perhaps as a reluctant courtesy by Koenig, he is no longer treated as Koenig's superior officer. Robert

Date: Wed, 13 Mar 1996 15:58:45 -0800 From: gwr@easy44net.co.uk (Gareth Randall) Subject: Easily-broken visors etc... Does anyone else agree that the bulkhead windows and space-suit visors on Alpha are rather too easily broken? Surely even now in 1996 we have transparent materials that are light enough to be used as a helmet visor, but which would survive a fall onto a moon-rock (as in the "Breakaway" hook sequence) without damage, especially given the much lower gravity. In the same episode, Collins (I think that's his name) goes berserk and starts smashing away at the window with his helmet, and manages to shatter it - it's a bulkhead window, yet it's only one sheet thick! I suppose it could be argued that the radiation sickness gave him superhuman strength, but still... in terms of throwing credibility out of the window (no pun intended) for the sake of the plot, it's as bad as the "easy-peel" warning notices on the airlock doors in "End of Eternity"! Gareth
Date: Sun, 17 Mar 1996 22:59:43 -0800 From: Sfcafeguy@aol4tag.com Subject: Production Order for 48 Episodes Hi All: A second source (that wonderful five or six page, TINY print article I hope to type for you sometime before 1999) seems to confirm the production order of the episodes in Starlog's Moonbase Alpha Technical Notebook Time Line section. The article places "The Troubled Spirit" as you see it here, but also reverses the order of "The Infernal Machine" and "Space Brain." I have left them here as they appear in the Starlog Notebook, but take your pick and reverse them if you would like. I don't really know which is correct. Also, Ronald Dudley pointed out the other day that the steps in front of the windows in Main Mission had been removed by episode 5 ("Earthbound") (almost certainly to facilitate filming). I checked this out and sure enough the steps are gone, but Kano's revolving desk doesn't appear until episode 7 ("Missing Link"). By the way, I'm thinking of my Moonbase Alpha position for George Lee's (Lucky Geo's) online profile. Has anybody taken "Moonbase Alpha Director of Research"? : ) Robert __________________________________ 1. Breakaway 2. Matter of Life and Death 3. The Black Sun 4. Ring Around the Moon 5. Earthbound 6. Another Time, Another Place 7. Missing Link 8. The Guardian of Piri 9. Force of Life 10. Alpha Child 11. The Last Sunset 12. Voyager's Return 13. Collision Course 14. Death's Other Dominion 15. The Full Circle 16. End of Eternity 17. War Games 18. The Last Enemy 19. The Troubled Spirit 20. The Infernal Machine* 21. Space Brain* 22. Mission of the Darians 23. Dragon's Domain 24. The Testament of Arkadia 25. The Metamorph 26. The Exiles 27. One Moment of Humanity 28. Journey to Where 29. The Catacombs of the Moon 30. Seed of Destruction 31. All that Glisters 32. The Taybor 33. Mark of Archanon 34. Rules of Luton 35. The Lambda Factor 36. New Adam, New Eve 37. Space Warp 38. Brian the Brain 39. A B Chrysalis 40. Beta Cloud 41. A Matter of Balance 42. Bringers of Wonder, Part 1 43. Bringers of Wonder, Part 2 44. Dorzak 45. Seance Spectre 46. Devil's Moon 47. The Immunity Syndrome 48. The Dorcons * The actual production order of episodes 20 ("The Infernal Machine") and 21 ("Space Brain") may need to be reversed.
Date: Mon, 18 Mar 1996 15:59:22 -0800 From: Sylvain Lavoie (lavoies@nbnet4tag.nb.ca) Subject: Space 1999 in CANADA? Does anyone know if Space 1999 is on ANY channel in CANADA? Or where could I get every episode? I never thought that I would ever see that show again but when I bumpped on the Space 1999 archive the other day and on this mailling list, I was amazed to see so much action on a show that is almost 20 years old!! Sylvain
Date: Tue, 19 Mar 1996 00:49:04 -0800 From: "Allen R. Barnella" (barnella@cris4tag.com) Subject: Re: Did I Miss Something? Sfcafeguy@aol.com wrote: > I just got a photocopy of the Starlog #2 article from Mike Retodo (big thanks > to Mike). One of the photos is a picture of Koenig crashing face first > through a glass door as he exits the Weapons Section set. Did I miss > something? I don't remember this from any of the episodes, and I have uncut > laserdisc to VHS copies. (Unless it's from "The Bringers of Wonder" which I > don't have and haven't seen in 20 years.) Anybody have a clue as to what > this might be from? Robert, If my memory serves correctly it's a publicity still. I remember when I got that issue of Starlog way back when (76?) that I was going to watch for that scene, and it never showed up. That was back when the episodes were being shown uncut. You'll also notice, that it's not really a glass door, but a pane of candy glass, that is setting inside the room, up against the door frame. Also if memory serves correctly, Weapons Section had a solid door. Fly Like an Eagle, Allen barnella@concentric.net
Date: Tue, 19 Mar 1996 21:52:03 -0800 From: Claudia Coles (ccoles@dcez.dcez4tag.com) Subject: Re: Mission of the Dariens On Mon, 18 Mar 1996 PatriEmb@aol.com wrote: > Also, I was out shopping and saw in a store window 2 Space-1999 jigsaw > puzzle boxes. Unfortunately, the store was closed. You mean, you didn't just break the glass?... ;) yfA, Claudia
Date: Wed, 20 Mar 1996 19:15:35 -0800 From: Claudia Coles (ccoles@dcez.dcez4tag.com) Subject: A STRANGE THING IS HAPPENING TO THE LIST - *GUYS* BEWARE! Hi *Guys*, Actually, this is a post of utter concern here. Where are all my fellow female comrades on the list?!!! Where is Cecilia, Jeanette, Philippa, Daphne, etc?!!! For the past few days I haven't heard from any of them. Were they all sucked out into space or is there some alien abduction going on :) [ Hmmmm...do I feel an S:1999 story coming on here? ]. We need to find out the cause of this dilemma, guys, or who knows...[sinister, *Outer Limits* voice ]...you all might be next :). cordially submitted, your fellow (and lone, holdin'-down-the-fort-for-the-sisters) Alphan, Claudia Communications Officer - MBS Alpha
Date: Thu, 21 Mar 1996 09:05:16 -0800 From: Sfcafeguy@aol4tag.com Subject: Irony Hiya! Just got a full copy of the 20 year old Starlog #2 with Space: 1999 on the cover in today's mail (with Lindsay Wagner hugging Bigfoot on the backside of the front cover -- whooooeeey!), and I wanted to share this letter to the editor. SPACE: 1999 ...One of the things I noticed immediately [in Starlog #1] was your very optimistic approach to all the new movides you told us about. I thank you for the encouragment. But I am forced to tell you that I sincerely feel you handled the "Space: 1999" article all wrong. You were optimistic about everything -- except 1999. To be quite honest, I was very upset to read of the changes that were coming up. I hope Gerry and Sylvia Anderson do not end up ruining a very successful show. Doug Neal Kalamazoo, Michigan Now, I ask you, did our friend Doug Neal have a crystal ball back in 1976, or what? Starlog #2 also features a short piece on Nick Tate and a Space: 1999 article entitled "Recovering from the Mysterious Unknown Force." This is the one in which I reported Maya in the near-mini skirt and Koenig crashing through the candy glass previously (thanks to Mike Retodo sending me photocopies). I'll type up these two items from Starlog #2 and post them later today. Which leads me to... Okay, the memory must be the first thing to go. The Space: 1999 article I first saw with Catherine Schell and giving the upcoming Season 2 changes must have been Starlog #1. All these years I thought it was Starlog #2. Anybody have a photocopy of this they'd be willing to send me? If you do, I'll type it up and post it and give you credit for the source material. Thanks, Robert PS: There's a tiny little plug for an upcoming movie from 20th Century Fox in this issue. You may have heard of it -- "Star Wars."
Date: Thu, 21 Mar 1996 20:26:53 -0800 From: dbdlee@terra44port.net (Danny Lee) Subject: Wrestling and Space 1999... Did the Super Fly teach Aliens and Alphans to fight? Why is it that whenever Alphans decide to rumble, they always decide to rassle instead of punching or god forbid, use their stun guns. See the "Caveman" episode (Carter in the Tiger Pit with a caveman) and the "Maya goes insane with Space Flu" episode (Launch area brawl with three security guards) for some of the better examples. Also, as an electrical engineer, I was rather irked by Breakaway's ending (it seemed a good one when I was five and totaly ignorant of radio signals). It seems odd to me that we can receive signals from Pioneer and Voyager from Neptune and Pluto, but Moonbase Alpha can not receive a TV signal as soon as they pass Mars when the ITV news signal fades out. Radio and TV propagates better in a near vaccuum such as outer space. Communicating with Earth is rather easy although there would be a delay due to the immense distances involved. It would be simply a matter of calling Houston or London or wherever their ground control is and telling them their situation. A rescue mission probably could be organized, but the distances involved would make it a disaster. One can say the Electro Magnetic Pulse from Area 2 wiped out the transmitter. It is plausible since EMP is a known effect of a nuclear explosion. EMP for the ignorant can fry unprotected silicon based electronic equipment. However, this is ruined by them talking to Alan Carter in the Commisioner's eagle and the fact that Moonbase Alpha is fully operational. Getting them off would be a different story since all avaliable Eagles were committed in scattering the nuclear waste and it would probably take the survivors some time to reequip with passenger modules. My only suggestion from this techno babble is that the ending should have had them in communication with Earth and telling them good bye. It makes more sense technologically and realistically. Koenig was correct in saying No, besides the series would have been one episode. I have one suggestion instead of fly like an eagle, why not "Crash like an eagle"? It seems more appropriate considering the number of them crashed, blown up or left behind on dying planets.
Date: Fri, 22 Mar 1996 08:41:56 -0800 From: "Stephen M. Arenburg" (arenburg@phobos.astro.uwo4tag.ca) Subject: Re: Wrestling and Space 1999... [EDITOR'S NOTE: Relevant part of note.] > It seems odd to me that we can receive signals from Pioneer and Voyager from > Neptune and Pluto, but Moonbase Alpha can not receive a TV signal as soon as > they pass Mars when the ITV news signal fades out. One thing you may have overlooked is the simple passage of time. Having just watched breakaway I get the impression that they are well on their way out of the solar system and that they needed a signal boost from a mars sattelite just to get reception. From a blast on the far side, the moon base would be on the side of the moon that faces away from the Earth after it leaves the vicinity. > One can say the Electro Magnetic Pulse from Area 2 wiped out the > transmitter. It is plausible since EMP is a known effect of a nuclear > explosion. EMP for the ignorant can fry unprotected silicon based > electronic equipment. However, this is ruined by them talking to Alan > Carter in the Commisioner's eagle and the fact that Moonbase Alpha is fully > operational. Faraday cage. don't you hate the way physics gets in the way of a good show? However if the far side transmitters were simply vaporised in the blast...
Date: Fri, 22 Mar 1996 01:33:30 -0800 From: Sfcafeguy@aol4tag.com Subject: Mike Retodo's SFU Article and a BONUS Alphans: This is the article that so many of you had trouble decoding. Incidentally, I wasn't looking forward to decoding either, but I've found a FREE software program that's GREAT called WINCODE. To decode this article took a very no hassle 30 seconds start to finish, and again, the program is freeware, and it's for Windows 3.1 and above. Just do a gopher search and you'll find it, then download it, and all your MIME, etc. problems are over. It's that much better than anything else I've tried, including InterCode. If you want more info on WINCODE, look for it at: _Snappy_ Info: snappy@snappy.globalone.net Wincode Info: wincode@snappy.globalone.net And now Mike's article, compliments of Mike Retodo and WINCODE. Robert (not a WINCODE stockholder -- honest) ____________________________________________________________ The following is an article that appeared in Sci-Fi Universe #7 June '95. SPACE:1999-THE NEXT GENERATION? Gerry Anderson talks about putting his blue moon voyagers back in space. "I was wrong about Space:1999," asserts that show's executive producer and co-creator, Gerry Anderson. "My vision of the future had humanity moving toward something better. In reality, although technologically we have improved, human behavior hasn't changed much. It's sad." What's less sad for fans of the 1970s series -- which followed the adventures of Commander John Koenig (Martin Landau) and his 311 lunar colonists -- is the renewed promise of a return to Moonbase Alpha. Anderson's third live action series -- his last joint production with ex-wife Sylvia Anderson -- had its second season produced by Star Trek's Fred Freiberger and has since gone on to achieve cult status in the United States and abroad. For evidence of this, check out the heated debates that have taken place on SFU's letters page these last few months. The only one of Anderson's series that was even more popular here than in his native U.K., Space:1999 is a property that may be revived in the coming years. "Quite recently, Polygram bought ITC, the production company for Space:1999," "and recently had phone calls from them asking me, since they now have access to this library of my work, if I'd be sympathetic to their exploiting it. I said that nothing would please me more. "After sorting out what they wanted to do, they said they'd be moving forward and would be in touch," Anderson says. "ITC made announcements every few years about my properties, but they were mostly flying a kite. I think it'll happen now that Polygram is involved. Anderson already knows which of his series he'd like to see revived, and in what order. "First item on the slate would be Thunderbirds. Then there might be UFO, and of course, Space: 1999." But as long as he's involved in the production of Space Precint, these ideas are likely to remain on Anderson's back burner. Sadly, they're in the back of my mind. I have a tendency not to worry about things until somebody says, 'We have the money; let's go.'" -Kevin Stevens
Date: Fri, 22 Mar 1996 06:45:57 -0800 From: atomicpossum@usa.pipe44line.com (tammy_k.) Subject: voyager vs. Space:1999 >The difference between Space 1999 and any of the Star Trek shows, is that on ST >someone always pulls a rabbit out of their hat. Whether it's the captain, engineer >or whoever. On Space 1999, you don't know what kind of force will be let >loose on our unsuspecting Alphans. They react with fear and primal instinct, >not like some biological robots we might evolve into int he next 10,000 years. >Sure some of the SFX are cheesy, but so what. Remember that War Games, >though a variation of the The Cage, was done in an original and enjoyable way. > >Jon B. Isn't it amazing that Voyager is thrown across the galaxy, and STILL their technology is supreme??? There is no threat that they can't out-maneuver through technobabble, no race that can challenge their might, and no comfort do they lack. Give me Alpha--fairly primitive technology, an uncertain situation, something of a helplessness as to where the moon drifts, and plots that are resolved through a character action, not a technological solution.... ------ Imagine 'Voyager's Return--" 1999- Quellar/Linden redeems himself by sacrificing himself and Voyager to blow up the approaching ships... Voyager-- Voyager is stronger than the approaching ships, holds them off, and runs away, OR-- --at the last minute, the wonderful Transporter (Paramount Patent Pending) pulls him back...! Nice, easy escape, nobody gets hurt, and the universe is safe for Federation pomposity once again...! ----- Yeah, the 'unexplained force' got a bit tiresome after a while, but at least it wasn't an impersonal 'spatial anomaly' every week--this show had some conflict! (end of diatribe...) -- Jon "Mr. Wonderful" Stadter
Date: Fri, 22 Mar 1996 13:55:29 -0800 From: Gary Girouard Subject: off topic ** Top Secret ** ** High Priority ** ** Reply Requested When Convenient ** we just had an EARTHQUAKE 4.0 epicenter providence ri!!!!!!!!!
Date: Fri, 22 Mar 1996 18:43:16 -0800 From: Sfcafeguy@aol4tag.com Subject: Earthquake Gary: Hope everything's okay. Be happy for the tiny ones. They lessen the pressure so we don't have as many big ones. When you get up to 7.3 or 8.6 let's talk. Robert Ruiz Native Californian Survivor since 1989 of both of Califoronia's major quakes. Loma Prieta (San Francisco) and Northridge (Los Angeles)
Date: Sat, 23 Mar 1996 10:46:37 -0800 From: Allen Michael Retodo (ndver@well4tag.com) Subject: Re: Earthquake Yeah, It is fortunate that you had little one, but I wonder, are your buildings retro-fitted? If they are not you can expect to have damages that would happen in a 6.1 or 8.0 magnitude. Greetings from the shaky city! Mike
Date: Sat, 23 Mar 1996 00:59:24 -0800 From: "Allen R. Barnella" (barnella@cris4tag.com) Subject: Re: Mammoth Model Space 1999 Eagle Kit Sfcafeguy@aol.com wrote: [snip] > The "Mammoth Model Space 1999 Eagle Kit" info: > > I have one of these, still shrink wrapped, never opened....it's cheesy, but > an interesting piece to have in your collection...it's a cardboard and straws > kit (yes straws)...it was made in 1976 by Whiting (a Milton Bradley Company). > The box has no Space1999 graphics or photos from the series other than the > logo...the box is full color and depicts the finished model sitting on the > lunar surface (actually a sand box-undoubedtly)...a smaller picture shows a > boy holding the model so you can get an idea of size (over 3 feet > long)...here's the instructions on the side of the box: 1. Position, cut and > glue straw parts over pattern sheet. 2. Press out and assemble die-cut > printed cardboard pieces. 3. Combine straw structures and die cut assemblies > to complete spacecraft.... [snip] Robert, et al: I was closer that I thought on this. You know what's funny in my reply I said tubing or dowel rods, well I originally thought "straws", but I talked myself out of it. The ole memory is better than I thought. Fly Like and Eagle, Allen barnella@concentric.net
Date: Sat, 23 Mar 1996 14:52:46 -0800 From: Ronald Dudley (dudleyrd@expert.cc.purdue4tag.edu) Subject: [Comet Hyakutake, OT] Hey everybody: Sorry, but I can't spell "Commlock". See a real space object: Comet Hyakutake! I've seen it and its great. It's much easier to spot than Comet Haley was 10 years ago. It's supposed to be the best comet since Comet West in 1976. If you live in an urban/suburban area, city lights greatly obscure your view. It is best seen out in the country, away from the light pollution. It won't be back for 9,000 years, so you had better see it this time. It's passing only 9.3 million miles from earth, which is close for a comet. Here's some stuff I cut & pasted from a nasa web site given beloe: Here's a quick guide for the coming week. On Friday night, March 22nd, the comet is well in the sky up by 9 or 10 p.m. Look east toward the bright star Arcturus. Using your outstretched arm as a guide, the comet will be one fist width to the star's lower left. (As night progresses the comet will wheel higher in the sky until it's almost directly overhead.) Over the next few nights Comet Hyakutake will head north, and by Tuesday, March 26th, you'll find it just a few degrees from Polaris, the North Star, about halfway up in the sky as you face north. In the days thereafter it moves west, and by Friday, the 29th, it's about halfway between Polaris and dazzling Venus high in the west. The comet is getting brighter in an absolute sense as it heads closer to the Sun, but by the end of the week it will be farther from Earth, with moonlight washing out faint details in its coma and tail. MARCH 24 -- SUNDAY * NAKED-EYE COMET HYAKUTAKE IS AT ITS BEST THIS WEEK! Don't miss this once-in-a-generation chance to see a relatively bright comet! Tonight the comet is closest to Earth, looking about as large as it will get. First, find a dark viewing site. To see the comet well -- or perhaps at all -- you'll need to get away from glary outdoor lights and give your eyes time to adapt to the dark. And unless the comet performs very well, you may also need to get out from under the milky glow of light pollution that fills the night sky over heavily populated areas. But the only way to tell will be to go out and look! After twilight has completely faded out, find the Big Dipper standing on its handle partway up the northeastern sky. Look for the comet less than a fist-width at arm's length to the left or lower left of the Big Dipper's bottom star (the star at the end of the Dipper's handle). The Dipper and comet rise higher into better visibility later in the evening. By midnight they're nearly overhead when you face northeast, with the comet appearing below the end segment of the Dipper's handle. The Moon sets around then too, darkening the sky. The best optical instrument for viewing the comet will be a pair of binoculars, recommends Sky & Telescope magazine. The bigger the binoculars' front lenses the better. A telescope provides a narrow-field view that will show only part of the comet at once. If you try a telescope, be sure to use its *lowest* magnification. MARCH 25 -- MONDAY * NAKED-EYE COMET HYAKUTAKE SHOULD BE BRIGHTEST TONIGHT AND TOMORROW! The comet is visible all night in the north. After dark, examine the sky about two fist-widths left of the Big Dipper's handle. (The comet is near the bowl of the much fainter Little Dipper.) The view will improve late in the evening as the Moon, nearly first quarter, gets low near setting. By midnight the Big Dipper is nearly overhead in the north, and the comet appears about two fist-widths directly below its center. MARCH 26 -- TUESDAY * NAKED-EYE COMET HYAKUTAKE IS NEAR POLARIS! Tonight the comet is near the rather dim North Star, Polaris, which is about halfway up the sky due north. To find Polaris in the evening, locate the Big Dipper very high in the northeast to north, almost overhead. Follow the line formed by the front two stars of the Big Dipper's bowl -- called the "Pointers" -- by about three fist-widths at arm's length toward the lower left. (If you're looking later at night, the Pointers point straight down.) Moonlight will interfere with the view to some extent until the first-quarter Moon sets around 1 or 2 a.m. local time. MARCH 27 -- WEDNESDAY * NAKED-EYE COMET HYAKUTAKE. From this date on, early evening is when Comet Hyakutake is highest -- but moonlight is an increasing problem from now until April 5th. Tonight, if you go out soon after tHE end of twilight, look about one fist-width at arm's length (or maybe slightly more) to the left of Polaris in the north. (Find Polaris from the Big Dipper as described for yesterday.) The Moon sets around 2 a.m. tonight, leaving a darker sky. If you look at that time or later, the comet is about 1 1/2 fist-widths below Polaris. MARCH 28 -- THURSDAY * NAKED-EYE COMET HYAKUTAKE. After twilight ends, look west for dazzlingly bright Venus, the "Evening Star." To Venus's upper right by about three fist-widths at arm's length, spot the bright star Capella. It's not nearly as bright as Venus but brighter than any other star in the area. Venus and Capella will be your landmarks for finding Comet Hyakutake for the next month. Get more info on how to find it at: http://newproducts.jpl.nasa.gov/comet/hyakutake/other.html or search with whatever web browser you prefer Ronald
Date: Sat, 23 Mar 1996 08:30:02 -0800 From: Ronald Dudley (dudleyrd@expert.cc.purdue4tag.edu) Subject: [1999/2001] >>>>And let's also remember that the show's role model was, to a >>>large degree 2001, a movie that I find difficult to watch for the same >>>reasons people criticize 1999. Even the whole scene with the "flight >>>attendant" bringing Koenig coffee in the Eagle on his way to his new post on >>>Alpha is straight out of 2001. For all we know the Andersons wanted Barbara >>>Bain to play Helena this (2001ish) way, and even instructed her to do so. >>> >>>Thoughts please, >>> >>>Robert >> >>More than just the flight attendant! How about these: >> >>Opening scenes of the Sun-Earth-Moon allignment. >>A construction on the lunar nightside lit by surrounding lamps. >>A bureaucrat/commissioner giving instructions over a screen. >>A monotone, lifeless computer voice. >> >>Ronald > > >Let's not forget: > >- Russian guy talking to American guy after arriving from Earth. > >Amardeep Oh! Gorski was russian! I would never have thought of that similarity! The nonexistance of a slavic accent in actor Philip Madoc's english would had me fooled forever! I would have wrongly guessed Gorski as American, Russian-American, Polish-American, Czech-American, Slovak-American, Ukranian-American, Belorussian-American, Serbian-American, Croat-American, Bulgarian-American, some other kind of Slavic-American, or even some kind of Slavic-Canadian, Slavid-Britain, or some other kind of hyphenated-person. You're sharp Amardeep! Ronald
Date: Tue, 26 Mar 1996 08:47:33 -0800 From: Tumbleweed Enterprises (labromm@unixg.ubc4tag.ca) Subject: Re: your mail In addition to the other similarities listed already, look at the design for Clavius moonbase! Also, the space suits and the moon shuttle. Also, the landing pads on the moonbase that lower the ship into the underground hangar. Also, also, also, ......
Subj: [Sleeve Colors, was] Re: Maya and the law of conservation of matter Date: 96-03-24 17:13:38 EST From: logan@pop.erols4tag.com To: space-1999@quack.kfu.com (The Space-1999 Mailing List) Does anyone know if the color on the uniforms corresponded to any particular functions a la Star Trek? BLUE- Koenig (I assume this was command, as he was the only one who wore it.) BEIGE- Russell and Bergman (beige on beige... it was very ugly) YELLOW- Carter RED- Paul Morrow PURPLE- various (This color has to correspond to security, as everyone I ever in this color was armed and had that sash over their shoulder... correct?)
Date: Sun, 24 Mar 1996 17:25:00 -0800 From: Sfcafeguy@aol4tag.com Subject: Color Correction - What's up YOUR sleeve? Color Corrections, Logan, per the Technical Notebook. Black - Command (Koenig, Gorski, and young Jackie Crawford) Beige/Khaki - Civillian (Victor Bergman and Commissioner Simmonds) White - Medical (Drs. Russell, Mathias, and all other medical personnel) Red - Main Mission/Command Center staff (Paul, Tanya, et al.) Yelow - Data and Eagle pilots (Sandra, Alan, et al.) Orange - Reconnaissance (Huh? It was yellow wasn't it? Where did they get orange?) Rust/Brown - Technical (Kano, et al.) Purple - Security (worn by anyone on Alpha who was incompetent and got shot a lot). In addition, Helenas' uniform in Season 2 had a collar and other sleeve that were similar to the rest of the beige uniform but didn't quite match. The fabric for the sleeve and collar was clingier and more form-fitting, and actually more attractive than the other women's costumes on the show. Barb was the star you know. Robert
Date: Sun, 24 Mar 1996 17:45:58 -0800 From: Daniel Glasner (dglasner@escape4tag.com) Subject: Re: Color Correction - What's up YOUR sleeve? > Beige/Khaki - Civillian (Victor Bergman and Commissioner Simmonds) Why would a civillian need a uniform? isn't that a contradction? -- Daniel Glasner dglasner@escape.com "The World Exists For Me!"
Date: Sun, 24 Mar 1996 17:35:38 -0800 From: Sfcafeguy@aol4tag.com Subject: Babs' Best Moment - Season 1 Okay, so I rewatched "Alpha Child," and I've got to admit, Barbara does one scene EXCEPTIONALLY WELL. It's the scene where Jackie Crawford has just been born and Babs says to Anton Phillips (Dr. Mathias) that she'll take the first watch. Barbara is playful, pretty, a pleasure to watch. Just wish we'd seen more of this. I was also admiring Landau's acting in "Collision Course" when Carter is racing to get away from the asteroid (or was it a meteor?) they have to blow up, and Koenig is fighting back tears as he gives the order to denate, knowing that Carter will almost certainly be killed. Finally, I was also admiring Yasuko Nagazumi's acting in that scene where -- okay, just kidding. Hey, did you know that the Tech Manual gives Yasko's full name as Yasko Nugami? Big stretch from the actress's real name, huh? Yeah, that creativity was REALLY RUNNING RAMPANT during Freddie's tenure. Robert
Date: Sun, 24 Mar 1996 18:49:44 -0800 From: logan@erols4tag.com Subject: Nichelle Nichols on FF Just thought you Freiberger bashers out there might find this interesting. This is an excerpt from Nichelle (Star Trek) Nichol's autobiography "BEYOND UHURA" : "In the third season new producer Fred Freiberger did everything he could to shore up [Star Trek]. I know that some fans hold him responsible for the show's decline, but that is not fair. Star Trek was in a disintegrating orbit before Fred came aboard. That we were able to do even what we did is a miracle and a credit to him. One day Fred and I had an exchange and he snapped at me. Even then though, I knew he wasn't angry with me but his unenviable situation. He was a producer who had nothing to produce with." It would seem that the fates have elected this poor guy to play some sort of eternal scapegoat for sci-fi shows that have already had their fates sealed. Why not give the old bastard a break? Let's face it... nothing could have saved either of those shows at the point they were in their respective lives. Logan
Date: Sun, 24 Mar 1996 19:28:07 -0800 From: Sfcafeguy@aol4tag.com Subject: Freddie Krueger -- I mean, Freiberger How come nobody ever criticizes Abe Mandell or the other executives at ITC? The more I read on the subject it seems that ITC had unrealistic expectations about what they wanted to get out of Space: 1999. They were, at the time, a relatively smallish production company producing the most expensive television show in the history of the medium. Everybody at ITC was UNREALISTICALLY hoping for huge returns on their investment, and at the same time they were nervous and sticking their noses into things they knew nothing about such as writing decisions, etc. They also weren't giving the show time to find itself and to build. The problem seems to be that they were laying out HUGE sums of cash and not seeing the expected return on their investment that they had hoped for, so they got nervous and made drastic changes for Season 2, alienating a large portion of their viewership in the process and earning themselves even LESS return on their investment as ratings and orders for a planned Season 3 dwindled. While I don't respect Fred Freiberger's abilities at all, he was ITC's solution to their perceived problem, they forced him on Gerry Anderson, and Freiberger gave ITC what they thought they wanted. ITC wasn't even going to pay for a second season until Freiberger came up with the idea (gimmick) of Maya. In addition, Martin and Barbara themselves didn't help the situation by demanding a certain percentage of air time per episode. This is why we see things like Helena, the chief of the Medical Center for God's sake, commanding (!) the entire moonbase when John and Tony go away on a mission, or why we saw her entering logs in Alpha's log recorder. Someone once mentioned they thought these were just her own logs and not anything official and yet the machine she talks into says right on it "Alpha Log Recorder." This is also the same reason we see Koenig failing to delegate. The base is in crisis? Koenig's the first to leave it to go out on the surface and shoot at the aliens or to fly to a planet to explore further what's going on. Not a very good commanding officer, really. So while I would be the last person to defend Freiberger's abilities, understanding, and intelligence when it comes to producing sci-fi for television, I think he gets blamed for everything and to a large degree the fault lay with ITC's unrealistic expectations. Robert
Date: Mon, 25 Mar 1996 08:50:20 -0800 From: Sfcafeguy@aol4tag.com Subject: The Accent of Archanon Ronald Dudley writes: >Regarding voices: Does anyone besides myself think that the voice of the boy >Etrec in "Mark of Archanon" was dubbed? Somehow, the movements of his mouth >and the words of the voice just don't seem in synch. Was the boy actor going >through puberty, and his voice changing, or what? Was the voice dubbed >possibly female, a la Bart Simpson as done by female Nancy Cartwright? I have read that his voice WAS dubbed. The reason is that British actors' union rules were difficult to get around as far as using American guest stars and yet still it was seeming strange to them (and to me on the initial airings) that all those aliens had lovely British accents. This also bugs me with Star Trek -- EVERYBODY in the Star Trek universe speaks with perfect California accents. In the three minutes of Babylon 5 I've ever watched in my life, at least their aliens look like aliens and seem to have alien accents. Robert
Date: Tue, 26 Mar 1996 05:04:28 -0800 From: baldas@mbox.vol4tag.it (Roberto Baldassari) Subject: September 13, 1999 Hi Jeff, >So where is the party? Big convention, etc. on this momentous occasion - only >three years away now. Yesterday I received a letter from Terry Bowers the fellow who's running the 'MARTIN LANDAU AFICIONADOS & BARBARA BAIN INTERNATIONAL': ANNUNCING SPACE:1999 -- BREAKAWAY: THE CONVENTION Friday, Steptember 10 - Monday, September 13, 1999 -- a four day gathering to observe and celebrate the event which launched the Alphans' adventures. Los Angeles, California (Exact location to be announced at a later date). Our goal is to bring together as many of the cast and crew members as possible for this weekend. There will be a number of events during the four days, including guest lectures, photo and autograph sessions, art show and competition, art auction, charity auction, fan club meetings, film room, dealer's room and much, much more. Plan now to attend, as September 13, 1999 will *never* happen again! Spread the word to all your SPACE:1999 friends. Don't let them miss this event either! For more information, please send SASE (inside U.S.) or SAE and IRC's (everywhere else) to: Breakaway: The Convention c/o Ms. terry S. Bowers 603 N. Clark st. River Falls, WI. 54022-1404 USA SEE YOU AT BREAKAWAY! Roberto Baldassari Mantova - Italy - Europe Earth - Sol System Alpha Quadrant - Milky Way baldas@mbox.vol.it
Date: Tue, 26 Mar 1996 08:58:38 -0800 From: Sfcafeguy@aol4tag.com Subject: Save Your Money Hi Everyone: Thank you for all the information on the 1999 convention, Roberto. For my part, I hope everyone will save their pennies (or equivalent) over the next three years so we can all finally meet each other in L.A. at the convention. I was just writing to Allen Barnella what a TRIP I think this is going to be to be able to contrast our impressions of people from the list with their actual in-person selves. For instance, because of my Spanish last name I imagine that I am seen as a hispanic looking guy with black hair and brown eyes, when in reality I'm dirty blond with green eyes and I tan easily (German, French, English, Spanish, and American Indian background), and mostly I look German (or at least like the German side of my family). I have found it really amusing to imagine from the list, for instance, Claudia Coles. Nice lady. In my mind she appears as either a former white coworker named "Claudia," or as a black woman, because there's an actress whose work I admire named Olivia Cole. Either one's fine, but I just think it's going to be a TRIP to find all of our expectations wrong -- as they almost surely will be. So save your money, let's all go out to breakfast or dinner together, let's stay up in our pajamas and play the drinking game, and let's have fun! And finally, is anybody dressing up as an Alphan for the convention? Bell bottoms and platform shoes are coming back I hear. Robert (Not dressing up as an Alphan for ANYone.)
Date: Tue, 26 Mar 1996 11:50:01 -0800 From: Nemo66@aol4tag.com Subject: 1999 Merchandise Notes I was looking through a copy of a book called Space Adventure Collectibles and I found the following items listed. THESE ARE NOT FOR SALE!!!!!! Published in the US in 1990. I have also included the authors assesment of their value in 1990. Some great photos of the items are in the book as well. Large Action Figures (MATTEL) Commander Koenig $10-25 Dr. Russell $10-25 Professor Bergman $10-25 Zython $15-35 Moon Base Alpha (Vinyl) $25-50 Lunch Box (King Seely Thermos) $12-30 Wrist watch/roll viewer w/2 rolls (L-Toys) $5-10 Eagle Transport model kit (MPC) $10-25 Alien and Car model kit (MPC) $10-20 Moon Base Alpha model kit (MPC) $25-50 Control Room (Mattel) $10-40 Stungun flashlight $10-20 Utility Belt $10-25 Colorforms set $8-20 Puzzle (HG Toys) $7-15 Notebook $2-8 Board game (Milton Bradley) $12-20 Eagle One Transporter w/3" action figures of Koenig, Russell, Bergman $40-125 Small Action Figures Koenig $5-15 Koenig in spacesuit $5-15 Russell $5-15 Russell in spacesuit $5-15 Bergman $5-15 Pilot $5-15 Crew set(Koenig, Russell,Bergman) $20-60 Trading Cards (Donruss) 66 $7-15 Individual Trading cards each .15-.25 Box $3-8 Wrappers $1-4 Unopened waxpacks $2-8 Eagle one transporter, diecast metal and plastic, red and white (Dinky) $20-40 Eagle Freighter same as above but with nuclear canisters, green and white (Dinky) $20-45 Parachutist (AHI) $20-40 Flying Eagle PRICE NOT LISTED SEE BELOW Eagle Transporter model kit (Airfix) $8-20 Hawk spaceship model kit (Airfix) $8-20 Record $3-9 ##not soundtrack Punch out adventure playset (Amsco) $20-40 Cut and Color book $7-18 Coloring book $5-10 Activity book $5-10 Comic Magazines (Charlton) #1 $1-2 #2-8 each .50-$2 Comic books (Charlton) #1 $1-2 #2-7 ezch .50-$1 Paperback Novels Breakaway .50-$1.50 Moon Odyssey .50-$1.50 Viewmaster packet $8-15 Talking Viewmaster packet $8-15 Chestpack/ am radio $10-30 Rocket gun $10-20 Superscope$10-20 Throw dart game $10-20 Astro popper $10-20 Color TV and stamp set $10-20 Galaxy time meter $10-20 Color TV movies $10-20 Stamp set $10-20 Moon Odyssey .50-$1.50 The flying eagle is a toy which is an eagle transporter connected to a control box via a wire. The eagle has a propeller on top (like a helicopter) to provide lift. You move the eagle around on the wire to pick up a moonbuggy, Zantors ship, and a gravity tower. Mike Prendergast nemo66@aol.com
Hi Mike: I have that same book (somewhere). It's great. I highly recommend it to everyone interested in collecting space memorabelia, especially for the great (black and white) photos. The following are some real world (1996) prices on select items you mentioned. These prices come from finding advertisements in various national collectibles magazines, sci-fi newsgroups on the Internet, and from my own experience at toy shows. Prices also vary by region, so I'm providing those generally found in national listings. Mattel figures of Koenig, Bergman, and Russell $25 not on card, $40-$50 on card. Lunch box with thermos $40-$60 (depending on condition) Eagle Transporter model kit (Airfix or MPC/Fundimensions) $55-$90 Alien and Car model kit (MPC) $40-$60 Airfix Hawk model generally $50-$70 (Mike Retodo's seen this for sale for as high as $250) Moon Base Alpha model kit (MPC/Fundimensions) $125 Moonbase Alpha Control Room (Mattel) $45-$60 (still boxed) Eagle One Transporter w/ 3" action figures of Koenig, Russell, Bergman $125 to $150 for mint in box (this is generally called "the big eagle," as it's three feet long) Trading Cards (Donruss) 66 $30 Dinky Eagle $100-$250 (mint in package) ($250 is the highest I've ever seen this [in New York last January], but $125 to $150 seems average). Paperback novels average about $5-8 each if in good condition. Viewmaster packet $40 (sealed) Palitoy figures of Koenig, Morrow, Carter (in spacesuit), Captain Zantor and Mysterious Alien (male alien from "War Games") $80-$200 and up (very rare in the U.S.) Happy hunting one and all, and if anybody's looking for anything in particular, let me know and I'll let you know if I come across it. I've got almost everything I want and I come across stuff I don't need all the time. Oh, and BIG public THANK YOU to Phill Wright. He just found me a photo in England of Maya and Mentor autographed by Catherine Schell and Brian Blessed for only about $24. Robert
Date: Tue, 26 Mar 1996 16:39:15 -0800 From: gwr@easy44net.co.uk (Gareth Randall) Subject: Re: 1999 Merchandise Notes >Palitoy figures of Koenig, Morrow, Carter (in spacesuit), Captain Zantor and >Mysterious Alien (male alien from "War Games") $80-$200 and up (very rare in >the U.S.) I'm sure I've still got the Koenig somewhere, although I bet if I ever find him he'll be missing his little orange comlock... and I remember seeing the Carter for sale in a shabby little corner shop not far from my house *years* ago. I really wanted it because the spacesuit looked really funky, but my Mum wouldn't buy it for me! Gareth
Date: Tue, 26 Mar 1996 05:12:00 -0800 From: Ronald Dudley (dudleyrd@expert.cc.purdue4tag.edu) Subject: Dynamite Photo >Captioned Photos: > >Commander John Koenig (Martin Landau), Dr. Helena Russell (Barbara Bain), and >other crew members of Moonbase Alpha watch in horror as the moon hurtles into >space! [NOTE: This is a TERRIBLE caption. The photo is a publicity still >of Koenig, Russell, Morrow, Carter, and Benes standing in the doorway to the >Eagle passenger module. Barbara and Martin are SMILING -- they must have >wanted that pesky old moon to hurtle into space!] Robert et al.: I also have this juvenile Dynamite article. Although the mentioned photo is a posed publicity still, it clearly was made when they were filming "Matter of Live and Death". I also have recovered from a library an article in another juvenile magazine, "Senior Scholastic". Anyone want the text? Ronald
Date: Wed, 27 Mar 1996 06:54:43 -0800 From: sivasailam thiagarajan (sthiagar@nickel.ucs.indiana4tag.edu) Subject: OFF-TOPIC: Comet Hyakutake My apologies for the off-topic nature of this post. I won't follow it up, and if you want to talk some more about it (even if only to flame me), please keep it to e-mail. But I suspect that this information will be of interest to others on this list, so I wanted to get it out while it's still relevant. If you are in the northern hemisphere, and you haven't done so yet, I urge you to check out Comet Hyakutake tonight. It's turning out to be one of the best comets in the last 20 years, and it should be particularly easy to find tonight (March 27) since it will be quite close to (and perhaps brighter than) Polaris, the north star. (I think I read somewhere that the comet may be visible in the Southern hemisphere in a few weeks, but I'm not sure.) Comet Hyakutake is a lot brighter and easier to see than Comet Halley was. You should be able to see it with your naked eye, unless it's drowned out by the local lighting. I know this for a fact because I saw it myself while taking out the trash last night (around 10:30 PM). "Gee, a comet!" Don't expect to see something like the typical flashy movie or TV comet (such as the one at the end of the Space: 1999 credits). What you *will* see is a brightish smudged star if you look at it straight on. If you look at it a little off to one side, you may be able to see the tail. That's because human eyesight is noticeably more sensitive to dim lighting when you look off to one side. For more information, check out http://encke.jpl.nasa.gov/comets_long/96B2.html (Note: This URL is case-sensitive!) Thanks for your attention, and sorry for the off-topic message. Back to lurking.... Raja Thiagarajan (sthiagar@nickel.ucs.indiana.edu)
Date: Wed, 27 Mar 1996 06:30:47 -0800 From: Ronald Dudley (dudleyrd@expert.cc.purdue4tag.edu) Subject: Black Sun, those spacesuits, and 2001 Some people wonder from where the light that lights up the lunar surface comes. At the beginning of "Black Sun" I wondered why the meteor/asteriod didn't cast a shadow as it flew over alpha. Do Black Suns suck up shadows as well as light? What was lighting up the moon? Black Sunlight? (The same kind of light that comes from blacklight lamps? or the kind from burnt out bulbs?) Those spacesuits: I already said that you can see the air vents on the back of the helmets, that keep the actors from suffocating when they have their visors down. Did anyone notice that the spacesuits have zippers? Future zippers must be incredible compared to modern ones. Those 1999 zippers are actually airtight! They keep the alphan's air inside the suit from leaking out into space-vacuum! Did anyone notice what holds the accordion-like neck piece onto the shoulders? It looked to me like 2 little patches of black velcro! That's some velcro they have in the future! More 2001 cloning: Dave Bowman (Keir Dullea) had a glass of wine, and turned old at the end of 2001, when he met the alien obelisk. Koenig & Bergman had a glass of brandy, and turned old at the end of Black Sun, when they met the cosmic intelligence with the efeminate voice. Apparently, drinking adult beverages in space enhances your social life. You make new and interesting acquaintances, but at the expense of your youth. Ronald
Date: Wed, 27 Mar 1996 13:43:23 -0800 From: Tumbleweed Enterprises (labromm@unixg.ubc4tag.ca) Subject: Re: your mail Also, ever notice that sometimes during moon surface scrapping, the space suits' pantlegs with their metal cuffs pull up so high that we can see the top of the space boots and the pant legs beneath (jeans or alpha chinos or whatever they wore). I think that in general this would be a problem, not only because of lack of air-tightness (if that's a word) but also because of the detrimental effects of direct solar radiation (from whatever star they happened to be whizzing past that week) on the cloth - fading and premature weathering! "Ah. I see the faded ring around your pants-cuff. You've been fighting on the lunar surface again, haven't you?"
Date: Wed, 27 Mar 1996 17:20:12 -0800 From: Ronald Dudley (dudleyrd@expert.cc.purdue4tag.edu) Subject: those lost/destroyed eagles I noticed in Ande Tucker's lost-eagle list at: http://www.deltanet.com/users/a_tucker/FM08.html that there are 0 eagles lost for "Guardian of Piri". I would consider Irving's eagle as lost. (The one that hung in the air. Alan docked with it. Koenig looked up at when he was visiting.) If you count the eagles shown that fly to Piri in a group, when they left Koenig behind, the number is 10. Now add to that the one Koenig came down in alone. If you count the eagles shown that fly back to the moon at the end, the number is 11, being the 10 that carried the alphans down, plus the one Koenig came in. That means that Irving's eagle was left behind, probably still hanging in the air, its anti-gravity system left "on".
Date: Thu, 28 Mar 1996 06:05:25 -0800 From: jsullivan@internet.kronos4tag.com I thought that the Eagle was suspended in midair because the "Guardian of Piri" could stop time. Therefore, the Eagle would've been useable was the machine was destroyed. Food for thought. Jim Planetary Survey Team Leader #111
Date: Wed, 27 Mar 1996 09:17:49 -0800 From: Sfcafeguy@aol4tag.com Subject: Online Reading Matter [....] It also occurred to me the other day while reading some of Philippa's fan fiction off the screen of my ThinkPad that I'm FINALLY doing now in 1996 what they did on the second pilot for Star Treck 30 years ago -- reading fiction off a computer screen rather than the printed page. Can lay-on-the-table-and-go medical monitors and all the other wonders we've seen be far behind? Robert
Date: Mon, 1 Apr 1996 17:33:01 -0800 From: PatriEmb@aol4tag.com Subject: Re: Online reading matter As for lay on the table medical monitors like the one's they use on 1999, I don't see that coming anytime soon. In critical care areas (I'm an assistant nurse manager of a medical ICU), we need the room to get to the patient to assess heart and lung sounds, etc, to have a monitor seated directly over the patient. It would be nice if they could shorten the monitor units themselves for the bedside (they already do for patient transport) so that there won't be such a "spagetti" of wires and things going from the patient to the monitor. With the 1999 monitors, we would have to remove the monitor when a crisis occurs, which is a time we need the monitoring capability the most. Also, if your patient gets confused,or disoriented, as in some episodes, they get thrown on the floor, which tends to wreck sensitive electronic equipment! One thing that struck me, watching some of the shows that featured medical problems, was how small the beds were in the medical center. There doesn't seem to be enough room to turn a patient without having them fall out!! I know they wouldn't have the resources to keep a patient going on full life support for a while, but skin breakdown can begin over a matter of hours!
Date: Mon, 1 Apr 1996 18:01:04 -0800 From: Marcy Ann Kulic (mkulic@buff44net.net) Subject: Re: Online reading matter This has always bothered me! Forget turning the patient, how can someone even SLEEP in one of those things. You better not roll over, because you'll wind up on the floor! Also what about privacy?? In the 1999 Medical Center blueprints, there are 6 beds, 3 in the main portion and 3 in a side room. None of the beds are separated from the rest of the room, not even with a curtain. How can someone get any rest, especially in the main portion? Not only are the lights on all the time, but Helena and the assistant-du-jour are always wandering about. I couldn't feel comfortable knowing that anyone wandering into Medical Center could gawk at me, trying not to fall off my narrow bed. Marcy