Replace old custom search with Google search

14 years ago · b42c081478
--- a/95.whatsnew.html
+++ b/95.whatsnew.html
@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ href="/cgi-bin/imagemap/titlebar"><img
 	<a href="/b5/America-Online/">America Online</a>
 	are now being archived (see the file "latest" for the current month's
 	messages.)  They are also searchable via the
 	<a href="/cgi-bin/lurkfind">Find</a>
 	<a href="/lurk/search.html">Find</a>
 	page.

 	<p>
@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ href="/cgi-bin/imagemap/titlebar"><img
 <dt>November 21, 1995
 <dd>
 	The onscreen credits are now searchable via the
 	<a href="/cgi-bin/lurkfind">Find</a>
 	<a href="/lurk/search.html">Find</a>
 	page.

 	<p>
@ -400,7 +400,7 @@ href="/cgi-bin/imagemap/titlebar"><img
 	The last several months' worth of
 	<a href="/b5/CompuServe/index.html">JMS CompuServe messages</a>
 	are now searchable via the
 	<a href="/cgi-bin/lurkfind">Find page.</a>
 	<a href="/lurk/search.html">Find page.</a>
 	Earlier messages won't be indexed for a while since they're stored
 	in the archive in a different format.

--- a/README.html
+++ b/README.html
@ -160,30 +160,6 @@ On the surface, just a symlink to /lurk/countries/us/eplist.html.  But
 the Web server is configured to alias /lurk/eplist.html to
 /cgi-bin/select-eplist, which does the per-country episode list selection.

 <p>
 <dt>
 <a name="find" href="/lurk/find/">find</a>
 <dd>
 Data files and scripts for searching the archive of JMS Usenet messages.
 I use the "swish" indexing system.  Since JMS's posting volume has slowed
 to a trickle, this doesn't get touched by hand much any more, but the
 theory is that once a month, I move the "latest" subdirectory in each
 archive source (America-Online, Usenet, etc.) to a name corresponding
 to that month and regenerate the master index file for that source.  Then,
 on a daily basis, a cron job populates the "latest" subdirectories and runs
 swish on them, merging the master index files with the smaller "latest"
 indices to avoid the overhead of re-indexing all the old files again.

 <p>
 Most likely this setup should be replaced with a more modern indexing
 system.

 <p>
 The files in the archive source subdirectories are derived from the
 archive files in the FTP directory, which will be discussed below.  The
 find/prep-files subdirectory contains the scripts used to split the
 archive files into individual messages.

 <p>
 <dt>
 footer
@ -489,8 +465,7 @@ and
 <a href="/b5/index.html">HTML</a>)
 for descriptions of the various files in the FTP archive.  The Lurker's
 Guide points to various files here -- including some server-side include
 references -- and the JMS message archives here are used by the scripts
 in /lurk/find.
 references.

 <h2><a name="cgi-bin">/cgi-bin</a></h2>

@ -519,12 +494,11 @@ Accepts input from the feedback form and sends me mail.

 <p>
 <dt>
 /cgi-bin/lurkfind
 /lurk/search.html
 <dd>
 Displays the search UI if called with no arguments, or performs a search
 if search parameters are passed in.  The site is indexed with the "swish"
 search engine, the config files and applications for which can be found
 in the /lurk/find directory.
 The entry point to the site search system. This is just a Google custom
 search box (there used to be a custom search system but Google is better
 and faster.)

 <p>
 <dt>
@ -579,15 +553,6 @@ update-current.sh
 Updates the symbolic link used by /cgi-bin/printcurrent.  Not currently
 in use.

 <p>
 <dt>
 /lurk/find/update-indexes.sh
 <dd>
 Once a day, re-extracts the latest messages from the various JMS message
 archive files and rebuilds the keyword index so they're searchable.  See
 <a href="#find">/lurk/find</a>
 above.

 </dl>


--- a/find/America-Online/aol95-12/1.html
+++ b/find/America-Online/aol95-12/1.html
@ -1,36 +0,0 @@
 From:  Jms at B5       
 <HTML>
 <HEAD>
 <TITLE> Cthulu in space (95-12-02 05:34:09)</TITLE>
 </HEAD>
 <BODY>
 [America Online postings by JMS]
 <A HREF="/cgi-bin/lurkfind">Search</A>
 - <A HREF="2.html">Next</A>
 <BR>
 <H2> Cthulu in space</H2>
 95-12-02 05:34:09
 <PRE>{comparing various B5 characters to Lord of the Rings characters}

     The characters and comparisons you made are basic archetypal characters
 that have long been used in all kinds of sagas...the voice of the wise
 master, the characters of action, the hero on a journey, the smaller wiser
 folk...they extend far beyond Tolkein.  We draw on the same archetypal pool,
 but there's no intended parallel between them.  What invariably gets lost in
 this is that the LoTR saga was a *quest* story, that is the heart of
 it...ain't no quest here.  The characters are part of the saga-structure that
 goes straight back to the Illiad and the Odyssey, Gawain and the Green
 Knight, Jason and the Argonauts and elsewhere.  The only common elements come
 from the fact that we have our roots in the same literary garden of
 archetypes and literary symbology.

     I didn't fight for five years to get this show off the ground just to do
 LoTR with the serial numbers filed off.


 jms


 </PRE>
 </BODY>
 </HTML>
--- a/find/America-Online/aol95-12/10.html
+++ b/find/America-Online/aol95-12/10.html
@ -1,25 +0,0 @@
 From:  Jms at B5       
 <HTML>
 <HEAD>
 <TITLE>To JMS (95-12-01 17:52:49)</TITLE>
 </HEAD>
 <BODY>
 [America Online postings by JMS]
 <A HREF="/cgi-bin/lurkfind">Search</A>
 - <A HREF="9.html">Previous</A> - <A HREF="11.html">Next</A>
 <BR>
 <H2>To JMS</H2>
 95-12-01 17:52:49
 <PRE>     Hogan: thanks.  And at this point, we're in no particular jeapordy of
 being canceled; the ratings keep improving, slowly, but it's there, and the
 folks at WB have openly discussed the notion of our fourth season long before
 those words would usually ever come out of their mouths, so we'll probably be
 okay.


 jms


 </PRE>
 </BODY>
 </HTML>
--- a/find/America-Online/aol95-12/11.html
+++ b/find/America-Online/aol95-12/11.html
@ -1,25 +0,0 @@
 From:  Jms at B5       
 <HTML>
 <HEAD>
 <TITLE>VIDEOS (95-12-02 01:49:28)</TITLE>
 </HEAD>
 <BODY>
 [America Online postings by JMS]
 <A HREF="/cgi-bin/lurkfind">Search</A>
 - <A HREF="10.html">Previous</A> - <A HREF="12.html">Next</A>
 <BR>
 <H2>VIDEOS</H2>
 95-12-02 01:49:28
 <PRE>{about video releases}

     The difference is that we want them to do it, and they don't think that
 there's a market.  You tell me how to resolve that difference, and I'll go
 for it.  


 jms


 </PRE>
 </BODY>
 </HTML>
--- a/find/America-Online/aol95-12/12.html
+++ b/find/America-Online/aol95-12/12.html
@ -1,24 +0,0 @@
 From:  Jms at B5       
 <HTML>
 <HEAD>
 <TITLE>Without Makeup (95-12-02 01:50:31)</TITLE>
 </HEAD>
 <BODY>
 [America Online postings by JMS]
 <A HREF="/cgi-bin/lurkfind">Search</A>
 - <A HREF="11.html">Previous</A> - <A HREF="13.html">Next</A>
 <BR>
 <H2>Without Makeup</H2>
 95-12-02 01:50:31
 <PRE>{will actors appear without makeup?}

      It's been discussed, but the actors, particularly Andreas, are dead
 against the idea, on the theory that it ruins the illusion.


 jms


 </PRE>
 </BODY>
 </HTML>
--- a/find/America-Online/aol95-12/13.html
+++ b/find/America-Online/aol95-12/13.html
@ -1,24 +0,0 @@
 From:  Jms at B5       
 <HTML>
 <HEAD>
 <TITLE>Schedules and Reruns (95-12-02 05:27:09)</TITLE>
 </HEAD>
 <BODY>
 [America Online postings by JMS]
 <A HREF="/cgi-bin/lurkfind">Search</A>
 - <A HREF="12.html">Previous</A> - <A HREF="14.html">Next</A>
 <BR>
 <H2>Schedules and Reruns</H2>
 95-12-02 05:27:09
 <PRE>      The rerun schedule is to accommodate the PTEN desire to have new eps
 for sweeps periods, and nothing else.  I'm sitting on a bunch of new episodes
 that're just gonna sit on the shelf until January.  (Hey, everybody come on
 over to my house, we'll have a viewing party....)


 jms


 </PRE>
 </BODY>
 </HTML>
--- a/find/America-Online/aol95-12/14.html
+++ b/find/America-Online/aol95-12/14.html
@ -1,26 +0,0 @@
 From:  Jms at B5       
 <HTML>
 <HEAD>
 <TITLE>Episode #4 (95-12-02 05:28:20)</TITLE>
 </HEAD>
 <BODY>
 [America Online postings by JMS]
 <A HREF="/cgi-bin/lurkfind">Search</A>
 - <A HREF="13.html">Previous</A> - <A HREF="15.html">Next</A>
 <BR>
 <H2>Episode #4</H2>
 95-12-02 05:28:20
 <PRE>{"Passing Through Gethsemane" -- the interrogation scene was disquieting.}

      Yes, that's definitely the sense I was going for.  That scene frankly
 unsettles and scares me a little, because it does show our characters
 skirting the line...yes, it's absolutely necessary, every moment is precious
 if they're going to try to save Edward's life...but it's still a bit creepy.


 jms


 </PRE>
 </BODY>
 </HTML>
--- a/find/America-Online/aol95-12/15.html
+++ b/find/America-Online/aol95-12/15.html
@ -1,58 +0,0 @@
 From:  Jms at B5       
 <HTML>
 <HEAD>
 <TITLE>Who Works For Whom (95-12-03 05:33:02)</TITLE>
 </HEAD>
 <BODY>
 [America Online postings by JMS]
 <A HREF="/cgi-bin/lurkfind">Search</A>
 - <A HREF="14.html">Previous</A> - <A HREF="16.html">Next</A>
 <BR>
 <H2>Who Works For Whom</H2>
 95-12-03 05:33:02
 <PRE>     I post this here only because this was forwarded to me in private mail,
 and if this utter and absolute lie is being circulated, best to quash it
 right here and now.

     The email comes originally from a certain individual on usenet who does
 not merit his name being mentioned, and this is, as stated an absolute and
 total and complete lie of the worst sort I have seen in a while.  It concerns
 my departure from rastb5, predicated in large part by actions taken by this
 individual who is running like mad to find some other reason to attribute
 this to.  The relevant quote follows:


 "And his retreat just happens to correspond to the introduction of the
 new Babylon 5 area on AOL.  And isn't it amazing how his "formal
 termination" of his presence on this group is 30 November.  Bet it
 corresponds to his new contract on AOL which starts on 1 December, and
 includes a clause regarding his participation on the Internet."

     1) I have no contract whatsoever with AOL concerning my presence here.
 2) I am not being paid one thin dime for my participation on AOL.  3) Not
 only do I not receive anything for being here, I pay for my subscription here
 just like everybody else on AOL, no freebie account, nothing.

     There is no contract, and no cause in that contract.  I'm happy to bring
 my AOL bill to the next convention to prove this.  (I think it was $80 last
 month.)  

     It's this kind of lying behavior by a certain few demented individuals
 that made my departure from rastb5 inevitable.  This particular lie is made
 more disgraceful by the fact that it is stated as cold fact, not speculation,
 not rumor, but cold fact...and is utterly, 100% untrue.

     If you folks have to pay to be here, then I'll pay to be here.  (Though,
 granted, I do have freebie accounts on GEnie and in one or two forums on
 CIS.)

     Sorry for the interruption; just felt this was necessary to nip in the
 bud.  As you were.


 jms


 </PRE>
 </BODY>
 </HTML>
--- a/find/America-Online/aol95-12/16.html
+++ b/find/America-Online/aol95-12/16.html
@ -1,24 +0,0 @@
 From:  Jms at B5       
 <HTML>
 <HEAD>
 <TITLE>Videos (95-12-03 05:34:14)</TITLE>
 </HEAD>
 <BODY>
 [America Online postings by JMS]
 <A HREF="/cgi-bin/lurkfind">Search</A>
 - <A HREF="15.html">Previous</A> - <A HREF="17.html">Next</A>
 <BR>
 <H2>Videos</H2>
 95-12-03 05:34:14
 <PRE>{who do we write about videos?}

      That info has been given out elsewhere, and it hasn't done any good, so
 we're looking into the possibility of releasing them ourselves.


 jms


 </PRE>
 </BODY>
 </HTML>
--- a/find/America-Online/aol95-12/17.html
+++ b/find/America-Online/aol95-12/17.html
@ -1,25 +0,0 @@
 From:  Jms at B5       
 <HTML>
 <HEAD>
 <TITLE>Rangers (95-12-03 05:35:06)</TITLE>
 </HEAD>
 <BODY>
 [America Online postings by JMS]
 <A HREF="/cgi-bin/lurkfind">Search</A>
 - <A HREF="16.html">Previous</A> - <A HREF="18.html">Next</A>
 <BR>
 <H2>Rangers</H2>
 95-12-03 05:35:06
 <PRE>{how long have the Rangers been around?}

      Yes, there'll be other Rangers in episodes here and there.  There was a
 kind of loose-knit Rangers notion back on Minbar but it didn't come into full
 bloom until Sinclair arrived and took charge of the operation.


 jms


 </PRE>
 </BODY>
 </HTML>
--- a/find/America-Online/aol95-12/18.html
+++ b/find/America-Online/aol95-12/18.html
@ -1,29 +0,0 @@
 From:  Jms at B5       
 <HTML>
 <HEAD>
 <TITLE>JMS:Writing (95-12-03 05:36:54)</TITLE>
 </HEAD>
 <BODY>
 [America Online postings by JMS]
 <A HREF="/cgi-bin/lurkfind">Search</A>
 - <A HREF="17.html">Previous</A> - <A HREF="19.html">Next</A>
 <BR>
 <H2>JMS:Writing</H2>
 95-12-03 05:36:54
 <PRE>{about writing plays}

     The play format varies a little here and there; I'm addressing this in a
 rewrite I'm finishing now of the writing book.

     Re: the number of episodes I write...basically, it's just the number I
 feel is right to communicate the sense of the show in that season.  One of
 the main reasons I *created* B5 in the first place was to make a show I'd
 like to watch, and to write for.  So now that it's here, I'm following up.


 jms


 </PRE>
 </BODY>
 </HTML>
--- a/find/America-Online/aol95-12/19.html
+++ b/find/America-Online/aol95-12/19.html
@ -1,25 +0,0 @@
 From:  Jms at B5       
 <HTML>
 <HEAD>
 <TITLE>Q about season schedule (95-12-03 05:38:09)</TITLE>
 </HEAD>
 <BODY>
 [America Online postings by JMS]
 <A HREF="/cgi-bin/lurkfind">Search</A>
 - <A HREF="18.html">Previous</A> - <A HREF="20.html">Next</A>
 <BR>
 <H2>Q about season schedule</H2>
 95-12-03 05:38:09
 <PRE>{reruns before "Severed Dreams"?}

      At this point, it looks like there may be a break before #10, though I
 haven't seen a final schedule on this.  It ain't what I would do...but it
 ain't my call, alas.


 jms


 </PRE>
 </BODY>
 </HTML>
--- a/find/America-Online/aol95-12/2.html
+++ b/find/America-Online/aol95-12/2.html
@ -1,22 +0,0 @@
 From:  Jms at B5       
 <HTML>
 <HEAD>
 <TITLE>Hope for Vir, the Furst (95-11-30 02:46:24)</TITLE>
 </HEAD>
 <BODY>
 [America Online postings by JMS]
 <A HREF="/cgi-bin/lurkfind">Search</A>
 - <A HREF="1.html">Previous</A> - <A HREF="3.html">Next</A>
 <BR>
 <H2>Hope for Vir, the Furst</H2>
 95-11-30 02:46:24
 <PRE>{about Stephen Furst's guest appearance on Chicago Hope}

       The Chicago Hope appearance is only a two-parter, nothing beyond that.


 jms

 </PRE>
 </BODY>
 </HTML>
--- a/find/America-Online/aol95-12/20.html
+++ b/find/America-Online/aol95-12/20.html
@ -1,23 +0,0 @@
 From:  Jms at B5       
 <HTML>
 <HEAD>
 <TITLE>Coming Changes: JMS (95-12-03 05:38:40)</TITLE>
 </HEAD>
 <BODY>
 [America Online postings by JMS]
 <A HREF="/cgi-bin/lurkfind">Search</A>
 - <A HREF="19.html">Previous</A> - <A HREF="21.html">Next</A>
 <BR>
 <H2>Coming Changes: JMS</H2>
 95-12-03 05:38:40
 <PRE>{changes in the EA uniforms?}

      Yeah, there might be some changes here and there....


 jms


 </PRE>
 </BODY>
 </HTML>
--- a/find/America-Online/aol95-12/21.html
+++ b/find/America-Online/aol95-12/21.html
@ -1,21 +0,0 @@
 From:  Jms at B5       
 <HTML>
 <HEAD>
 <TITLE>Who's Garibaldi's Second? (95-12-03 05:39:11)</TITLE>
 </HEAD>
 <BODY>
 [America Online postings by JMS]
 <A HREF="/cgi-bin/lurkfind">Search</A>
 - <A HREF="20.html">Previous</A> - <A HREF="22.html">Next</A>
 <BR>
 <H2>Who's Garibaldi's Second?</H2>
 95-12-03 05:39:11
 <PRE>      Zack.  


 jms


 </PRE>
 </BODY>
 </HTML>
--- a/find/America-Online/aol95-12/22.html
+++ b/find/America-Online/aol95-12/22.html
@ -1,28 +0,0 @@
 From:  Jms at B5       
 <HTML>
 <HEAD>
 <TITLE>Episode #4 (95-12-03 05:41:23)</TITLE>
 </HEAD>
 <BODY>
 [America Online postings by JMS]
 <A HREF="/cgi-bin/lurkfind">Search</A>
 - <A HREF="21.html">Previous</A> - <A HREF="23.html">Next</A>
 <BR>
 <H2>Episode #4</H2>
 95-12-03 05:41:23
 <PRE>      How Sheridan and Garibaldi got away with it?

      "Telepath?  What telepath?  Never happened.  Can you describe her?  No?
 I see.  Well, I don't remember seeing anyone in there, Mr. Garibaldi, do you?
 We'd check the logs to be absolutely sure, because we'd hate for this sort of
 thing to happen, but we had a small glitch in the software, and the recorders
 didn't work...still, we're working on it, and we hope to have it taken care
 of in the next few months.  Would you like some more tea, Ambassador?"


 jms


 </PRE>
 </BODY>
 </HTML>
--- a/find/America-Online/aol95-12/23.html
+++ b/find/America-Online/aol95-12/23.html
@ -1,46 +0,0 @@
 From:  Jms at B5       
 <HTML>
 <HEAD>
 <TITLE>Star trek still rules (95-12-03 06:05:13)</TITLE>
 </HEAD>
 <BODY>
 [America Online postings by JMS]
 <A HREF="/cgi-bin/lurkfind">Search</A>
 - <A HREF="22.html">Previous</A> - <A HREF="24.html">Next</A>
 <BR>
 <H2>Star trek still rules</H2>
 95-12-03 06:05:13
 <PRE>"'Without ST none of these other series would have been born."

      Sounds good.  Only thing wrong with it is that it ain't true.

      Prior to ST, there were the SF anthology shows such as the Outer Limits
 and Twilight Zone and One Step Beyond and Men Into Space and many others;
 just prior to ST there was Lost in Space.  (And by the way, most critics at
 the time panned ST because they said it was just a cheap attempt to cash in
 on LiS's popularity.)  So you could easily say that ST wouldn't be on the air
 except for LiS, if you're going to follow your logic to its ultimate
 conclusion.  And let's not forget Forbidden Planet, which is almost a
 template for ST.

     Finally, I'd note that if ST was responsible for other shows coming
 along in that same vein, why have there been no others in 25 years until B5
 (in terms of series set in our future, with us as a spacefaring civilization,
 with a fully worked out cosmology/universe)?  Do you know why it took 5 years
 to sell B5?  Because we were told, by execs at CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX, Showtime,
 HBO, and elsewhere that -- and this is a direct quote -- "There's no room for
 any other SF show of this kind other than ST.  The market won't sustain it."

      ST has been used as a rationale NOT to do space SF for *years*.  We had
 to fight like mad to overcome that notion.  So you'll understand why, having
 fought for years to overcome the roadblock that ST was in terms of selling
 B5, why I can only shake my head when someone tries to attribute the presence
 of this show to ST.  


 jms


 </PRE>
 </BODY>
 </HTML>
--- a/find/America-Online/aol95-12/24.html
+++ b/find/America-Online/aol95-12/24.html
@ -1,23 +0,0 @@
 From:  Jms at B5       
 <HTML>
 <HEAD>
 <TITLE>Vorlons as Angels (95-11-30 02:39:56)</TITLE>
 </HEAD>
 <BODY>
 [America Online postings by JMS]
 <A HREF="/cgi-bin/lurkfind">Search</A>
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 <BR>
 <H2>Vorlons as Angels</H2>
 95-11-30 02:39:56
 <PRE>       Also, it has not been stated anywhere that the Vorlons created the
 angel element; they could easily just have come in and tried to exploit
 it....


 jms


 </PRE>
 </BODY>
 </HTML>
--- a/find/America-Online/aol95-12/25.html
+++ b/find/America-Online/aol95-12/25.html
@ -1,61 +0,0 @@
 From:  Jms at B5       
 <HTML>
 <HEAD>
 <TITLE>Ratings (95-12-02 01:46:18)</TITLE>
 </HEAD>
 <BODY>
 [America Online postings by JMS]
 <A HREF="/cgi-bin/lurkfind">Search</A>
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 <BR>
 <H2>Ratings</H2>
 95-12-02 01:46:18
 <PRE>     Every so often, this flares up, and I have to kind of get into it.  Yes,
 Bruce would like the ratings to get better, because he feels that this show
 is at least as good as ST, if not better, and thus deserves the same ratings.
 This is not a reasonable expectation, I think; ST has almost 30 years of
 presence in the public consciousness.  You can't beat that.

     What *is* important is that we have continued to get the level of
 ratings required for renewal.  You don't have to be a top-10 show, or even a
 top-20 show; that's only the very tip...there are about 250 syndicated shows
 out there, and we are invariably in the top 35-40 out of 250, the ratings are
 either constant or growing in various markets, and the demographics (the kind
 of people watching the show) are exactly what the advertisers want.
 Consequently, the ads sell for very good prices to the sponsors...and WB is
 making money on the show.

     There's this recurrent wave of panic about the ratings that's really not
 merited.  The fact is that Space Rangers is off the air, Time Trax is gone,
 SeaQuest has sunk, Earth 2 has fallen out of orbit, Sliders is gone, VR5 is
 gone...of all the SF shows introduced the same time or after we were, only B5
 and DS9 are still here.  They're gone because they didn't get the ratings
 necessary for renewal.  We're here because we do.  It's really that simple.

     I've never intended this show to be a Huge Landslide Success, a
 *FRANCHISE* a la ST.  I want to tell this story, and it's the kind of story
 that kinda grows on you.  If you want to get the really big numbers, you have
 to dumb up the show, bring in kids, have lots of women in skimpy outfits, and
 make it into something other than what it is.  And once you *become* a
 franchise, you get Noticed by the studio types...when you get Noticed by the
 studio types, suddenly they want to protect you...protect the show...and any
 stories with teeth in them get knocked down, all the corners get filed
 off...and you've got something soft and inoffensive and essentially
 meaningless.

     If I for a *moment* genuinely thought that this show was in any measure
 of jeapordy, I'd be right here banging the drums and sounding the clarion
 call and urging everyone to go out there and move and start letter campaigns
 and make lots of calls.  You'll notice I'm not doing that.  Because it's not
 necessary.  The show is doing well enough to go on, and that means the story
 will be told, the way I feel it has to be told.  

     If that should *ever* change...believe me, you'll hear about it.


 jms


 </PRE>
 </BODY>
 </HTML>
--- a/find/America-Online/aol95-12/26.html
+++ b/find/America-Online/aol95-12/26.html
@ -1,26 +0,0 @@
 From:  Jms at B5       
 <HTML>
 <HEAD>
 <TITLE>ATTN JMS: Feeelthy Pirate (95-12-07 05:31:04)</TITLE>
 </HEAD>
 <BODY>
 [America Online postings by JMS]
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 <BR>
 <H2>ATTN JMS: Feeelthy Pirate</H2>
 95-12-07 05:31:04
 <PRE>{about pirated merchandise}

      All info on feelthy pirates gladly accepted so that we may go and whomp
 them.

     Thanks.


 jms


 </PRE>
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 From:  Jms at B5       
 <HTML>
 <HEAD>
 <TITLE>Epic Parallels (95-12-07 05:25:59)</TITLE>
 </HEAD>
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 <H2>Epic Parallels</H2>
 95-12-07 05:25:59
 <PRE>{Similarity to La Morte D'artur: Arthur's and Mordred's armies are poised
 for battle but make one last attempt to negotiate, but a soldier raises
 his sword to kill a snake and everyone attacks.  Compare this to the
 emperor's peace overture in "The Coming of Shadows."}

      There's another applicable metaphor for the sword story; you'll see it
 a little later this season.  Very good catch, btw.


 jms

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 From:  Jms at B5       
 <HTML>
 <HEAD>
 <TITLE>The "Core" (95-12-07 05:28:11)</TITLE>
 </HEAD>
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 <H2>The "Core"</H2>
 95-12-07 05:28:11
 <PRE>{God is the core of Christianity, not an emotion or a moment.}

      Filops: take it to the religion topic.  That's what it's there for.  If
 you wish to write long polemics on religion, that's fine, but do it in the
 appropriate place.  I really don't want bunches of topics to get filled up
 with rehashings of this stuff.  Thanks.


 jms


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 From:  Jms at B5       
 <HTML>
 <HEAD>
 <TITLE>Show me to my ghetto? (95-12-09 02:17:58)</TITLE>
 </HEAD>
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 <H2>Show me to my ghetto?</H2>
 95-12-09 02:17:58
 <PRE>      The issue at hand is courtesy.  I know that a lot of people here want
 to discuss other areas than religion; there is a religion topic that is where
 religion messages should go, just as notes on merchandising go in
 merchandising, and items on ratings go in ratings...it makes it easier to
 find the topics that interest you, and keeps the conversation from being
 monopolized across various folders.  

     As I told you in private mail, very often your messages on religion
 really have *nothing* whatsoever to do with B5, but rather with the issues
 that are of importance to you about religion, gays, whathaveyou...and you
 thus shoehorn them in...you do it here, you've done it over in the B5 folders
 in the SF-Television areas...and what happens is that the religion wars that
 erupt, due in some measure to some of the rather inflammatory tone you use,
 tend to keep other users away who just don't want to see it One More Time.

     But there are religious elements in the show that can be
 discussed...hence I made it a point to open such an area.  Use it.  That's
 what it's there for.  If someone were to put up a long note on ratings, I'd
 point them to the ratings folder, simple as that.  Yes, it is your right to
 say anything you so choose...and it is the right of myself and others to ask
 you to show courtesy to your fellow users by doing so in the appropriate
 forums.  Is not courtesy usually considered the christian thing to do?


 jms


 </PRE>
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 From:  Jms at B5       
 <HTML>
 <HEAD>
 <TITLE>Gethsemane  (95-12-03 06:07:11)</TITLE>
 </HEAD>
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 <H2>Gethsemane </H2>
 95-12-03 06:07:11
 <PRE>{why did Ivanova tolerate Lyta so readily?}

      Real simple.  Lyta has proven that she was telling the proof about the
 traitor; and she's on the run from the Psi Corps herself, putting her and
 Ivanova on the same side; and she helped when she was asked to try and find
 Edward.


 jms


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 From:  Jms at B5       
 <HTML>
 <HEAD>
 <TITLE>Show me to my ghetto? (95-12-09 02:22:17)</TITLE>
 </HEAD>
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 [America Online postings by JMS]
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 <H2>Show me to my ghetto?</H2>
 95-12-09 02:22:17
 <PRE>      Mythopile: okay, maybe you don't care about keeping topics to their
 intended use.  That's fine.  I have received mail from people who stress that
 they are on limited incomes, and when they come in here, they only go into
 specific forums because they can't afford to spend a lot of time on AOL.  And
 they like to be able to know that when the click into a topic on Clams In B5
 that they won't have to wade through a bunch of messages on other subjects to
 find what they're looking for.  

     I have never, at any time, "thrown some guy" out of a folder.  I have
 asked, simply, and only in a very few cases, that people try the folders
 where their comments will reach the widest audience, since someone interested
 in religion will go there first, and someone interested in ratings will go to
 tha topic first, as a courtesy to the other users here.  Nobody here is going
 to force you to be courteous.  I cannot do anything about it.  I can only
 suggest courtesy.


 jms


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@ -1,28 +0,0 @@
 From:  Jms at B5       
 <HTML>
 <HEAD>
 <TITLE>This folder's name again. (95-12-09 02:24:35)</TITLE>
 </HEAD>
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 <H2>This folder's name again.</H2>
 95-12-09 02:24:35
 <PRE>{this is the B5 themes topic; religion is a theme in B5.}

      Yes, religion is a theme in B5, Filops...unfortunately, you never
 *address* it...you only use this as a pretext to get into one of your long
 diatribes about what you consider acceptable behavior, acceptable social and
 sexual mores.  You use this only as a way to springboard into those
 discussions.  I've seen you do it repeatedly over on the SFTV forums, and it
 troubles me to see you doing it again here.


 jms


 </PRE>
 </BODY>
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 From:  Jms at B5       
 <HTML>
 <HEAD>
 <TITLE>JMS: TNT syndie question (95-12-05 03:31:37)</TITLE>
 </HEAD>
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 <H2>JMS: TNT syndie question</H2>
 95-12-05 03:31:37
 <PRE>{any cuts being made for second-run syndication?}

       I don't know; my guess is that we're pretty close to the right time as
 it is, so I can't see what would be accomplished by cuts.


 jms


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 From:  Jms at B5       
 <HTML>
 <HEAD>
 <TITLE>Post to rastb5 (re:Who Wo (95-12-05 03:36:02)</TITLE>
 </HEAD>
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 <H2>Post to rastb5 (re:Who Wo</H2>
 95-12-05 03:36:02
 <PRE>{about the bogus "JMS is being paid to be on AOL" message}

       Yeah, I suppose it can be reposted.  May stop some of this.  I hear
 people are saying, "Hey, it's okay if he makes money being on AOL," defending
 it, when it isn't true to *begin* with.  If I were doing so, if AOL thought a
 B5 presence were important enough to pay for it, heck, I'd be taking out ads
 in the Times.  But as far as AOL is concerned, I'm just one more subscriber,
 and I pay my way same as everybody else.

      I just hope somebody's called the little twit on the fact that he went
 around calling others liars, then went out and posted his message about my
 alleged "contract with AOL" as though it were an absolute fact, even referred
 to a clause *within* that contract...and clearly, obviously, flatly lied
 about the existence of a document that isn't there.  It's a *deliberate*
 lie...it isn't a speculation, wasn't phrased in the form of a question, he
 deliberately went out and posted an out and out *verifiable lie* to the
 entire usenet, knowing it was a lie.

      Never ceases to amaze me....


 jms


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 From:  Jms at B5       
 <HTML>
 <HEAD>
 <TITLE>jms:X-files w/ B5 (95-12-07 05:05:41)</TITLE>
 </HEAD>
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 <H2>jms:X-files w/ B5</H2>
 95-12-07 05:05:41
 <PRE>{B5 reference in the X Files?}

       Don't know if the beacon reference was toward us or not; but it's
 still a great show, though it's getting a little convoluted even by their
 standards lately.  Still, I'll keep watching....

      Re: elevators...at risk of repeating stuff I've said elsewhere...every
 so often, I'll see a note from somebody saying that this show only gets by
 because of its effects, that without that part it ain't nothin'...and just to
 honk 'em off I'll sit down and write a killer scene with just one or two
 characters in a room, no EFX, sometimes not even any music...and I often go
 for the smallest room in the station...and that happens to be the transport
 tube.


 jms


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@ -1,23 +0,0 @@
 From:  Jms at B5       
 <HTML>
 <HEAD>
 <TITLE>Who Works For Whom (95-12-07 05:08:37)</TITLE>
 </HEAD>
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 <H2>Who Works For Whom</H2>
 95-12-07 05:08:37
 <PRE> "(still not sure which name to call you)"

     It's just Joe.  


 jms


 </PRE>
 </BODY>
 </HTML>
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@ -1,24 +0,0 @@
 From:  Jms at B5       
 <HTML>
 <HEAD>
 <TITLE>JMS:Matters of Honor  (95-12-07 05:09:28)</TITLE>
 </HEAD>
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 <H2>JMS:Matters of Honor </H2>
 95-12-07 05:09:28
 <PRE>{Shadows at the bar in "Matters of Honor?"}

      Yes, that was a little hint of the shadows around Morden for those
 sharp enough to catch it.


 jms


 </PRE>
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--- a/find/America-Online/aol95-12/37.html
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 From:  Jms at B5       
 <HTML>
 <HEAD>
 <TITLE>A very different question (95-12-07 05:12:24)</TITLE>
 </HEAD>
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 <H2>A very different question</H2>
 95-12-07 05:12:24
 <PRE>      I'm working on a Dell Dimension 90mhz Pentium, 2 1-gigabyte drives, 4x
 CDrom, 32 megs memory, 17" Nanao monitor, Soundblaster sound card, #9GXEpro
 64 bit video (identical system in office, I'm at home now, except office
 system has 128-bit Imagine video card)...and I'm using a US Robotics
 v.Everything Courier modem at 28.8 speed.


 jms


 </PRE>
 </BODY>
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 From:  Jms at B5       
 <HTML>
 <HEAD>
 <TITLE>Question about the actors (95-12-07 05:14:43)</TITLE>
 </HEAD>
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 <H2>Question about the actors</H2>
 95-12-07 05:14:43
 <PRE>{how often are actors paid?}

     In the case of the regular actors, and the producers, you are paid a
 certain fee per episode contracted for (22 episodes for regulars, 13 or 8 for
 recurring cast members, 22 for producers).  That amount is then broken up
 into about 50 weeks (I think maybe 40 or so weeks for actors, John Copeland
 can probably be more specific on this), and you thus get a weekly check based
 upon that.  


 jms


 </PRE>
 </BODY>
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--- a/find/America-Online/aol95-12/39.html
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@ -1,30 +0,0 @@
 From:  Jms at B5       
 <HTML>
 <HEAD>
 <TITLE>B5 and DS9 (95-12-07 05:16:48)</TITLE>
 </HEAD>
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 <H2>B5 and DS9</H2>
 95-12-07 05:16:48
 <PRE>{White Star related to DS9's Defiant?}

      The White Star was always in the plans for the series; it's an
 outgrowth of everything that has gone before.  We've seen big warships,
 dreadnoughts, smaller ships, and personal fighters.  This fits right in.  If
 you're going to have a war over a long distance, you kinda need something to
 get in and out with.

      I actually don't watch DS9 as a rule, so I really can't comment on its
 current storylines.


 jms


 </PRE>
 </BODY>
 </HTML>
--- a/find/America-Online/aol95-12/4.html
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@ -1,54 +0,0 @@
 From:  Jms at B5       
 <HTML>
 <HEAD>
 <TITLE>X Glen X (95-11-28 22:12:43)</TITLE>
 </HEAD>
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 <H2>X Glen X</H2>
 95-11-28 22:12:43
 <PRE>     Tell me, Blacnignt9, how does it feel to be a racist?  Because that's
 what you are.  Oh, yes, you can be a non-caucasian and be a racist.  And you
 definitely qualify.

 "I must assume that there is a conscious at work and I don't find that to be
 the case."  (I assume this is a misspelling of conscience.)  If I were to say
 this about any ethnic group as a class, such as african-americans, you would
 call me a racist.  And you would be right.  And it's just as racist as to
 make sweeping comments about other races such as this.

 "...you are living proof that if I turned my back on you that I would die."
 If I said this about a hispanic, it'd be racist.  Same here.

 "I have lived a long time and the one theng that has remain constant is the
 fact the when ever you have a chance you will hurt us, and hurt us badly."
 Here you are speaking of caucasions as a race again.  This kind of sweeping
 statement is racist.  It is also wrongheaded and offensive.

 What about the half million white folks who died in the Civil war to end the
 brutality and monstrous practice of slavery?  More were killed in the course
 of that war than in all of our losses in every war thereafter combined.  

 How about the Swedes, who never even *saw* an person of african descent for
 most of their country's history?

 And while we're at it, what about my caucasian friend Lisa, who volunteered
 as a rape counselor in a predominantly black lower-class neighborhood, and
 was murdered for her efforts?  Yes, sir, I can sure tell that she was out to
 hurt other people like yourself, wasn't she?

 The heart of racism is stupidity and intolerance and classifying every member
 of an ethnic group as being the same, usually in a negative fashion.  By that
 definition, you are a racist, and I suggest before you start correcting
 others on this area, you do a little housecleaning of your own first.


 jms


 </PRE>
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@ -1,35 +0,0 @@
 From:  Jms at B5       
 <HTML>
 <HEAD>
 <TITLE>To JMS (95-12-07 05:20:30)</TITLE>
 </HEAD>
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 [America Online postings by JMS]
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 <H2>To JMS</H2>
 95-12-07 05:20:30
 <PRE>{Don't let the Usenet folks annoy you.}

      Thanks.  If it were just me, I could try to ignore some of the
 nonsense; but the problem was that it soon involved vast numbers of other
 people, who were being flamed or driven off the system, and every thread was
 contaminated by it.  A number of folks came to hang out at rastb5 because I
 was there, as many of them have stated since; that wasn't/isn't the only
 draw, theres' lots of good conversation, but that was a component...so my
 being there put people in the position of being available to be attacked,
 derided, flamed, insulted and assaulted, and I can't allow that to happen.
 And it began to have an impact on my writing, and that I *definitely* can't
 afford.

      One way or another, that particular chapter in the experiment will find
 a way to continue, in the fullness of time.  I'm a patient man.


 jms


 </PRE>
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@ -1,25 +0,0 @@
 From:  Jms at B5       
 <HTML>
 <HEAD>
 <TITLE>JMS:- Throwaway Dialogue (95-12-07 05:21:18)</TITLE>
 </HEAD>
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 <H2>JMS:- Throwaway Dialogue</H2>
 95-12-07 05:21:18
 <PRE>{You mentioned awhile back that some very important throwaway dialogue
 was coming up. Was it Ivanova's "know all, see all" line, or Lennier's
 "Minbari, but not born..." line?}

       Ah, now I can't make it *too* easy, now can I...?


 jms


 </PRE>
 </BODY>
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@ -1,22 +0,0 @@
 From:  Jms at B5       
 <HTML>
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 <TITLE>JMS, I commend you... (95-12-09 01:09:27)</TITLE>
 </HEAD>
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 <H2>JMS, I commend you...</H2>
 95-12-09 01:09:27
 <PRE>       Thanks, though I'm not entirely sure I emerged from all this totally
 sane...if I had, I wouldn't be working in TV....


 jms


 </PRE>
 </BODY>
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--- a/find/America-Online/aol95-12/43.html
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@ -1,24 +0,0 @@
 From:  Jms at B5       
 <HTML>
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 <TITLE>Star trek still rules (95-12-07 04:59:35)</TITLE>
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 <H2>Star trek still rules</H2>
 95-12-07 04:59:35
 <PRE>      FWIW, I've seen most of the episodes of Space, and I quite like it.
 The last one was especially good, in that I couldn't figure how they were
 going to get out of this one, and I like being surprised.  Well done; the
 show has promise.


 jms


 </PRE>
 </BODY>
 </HTML>
--- a/find/America-Online/aol95-12/44.html
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@ -1,26 +0,0 @@
 From:  Jms at B5       
 <HTML>
 <HEAD>
 <TITLE>JMS Rocks (95-12-09 01:07:11)</TITLE>
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 <H2>JMS Rocks</H2>
 95-12-09 01:07:11
 <PRE>     In general, I've really had to stay away from anything even resembling a
 story idea on the nets, so I don't use them, and haven't.  As for other
 shows, my sense as a fan myself is that the more quality SF on the air, the
 better; we've actually given tours and provided information on how we make
 this show to other producers so that they can use the "Babylon 5 Model" in
 helping to bring more SF to television.  The more the merrier.


 jms


 </PRE>
 </BODY>
 </HTML>
--- a/find/America-Online/aol95-12/45.html
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@ -1,26 +0,0 @@
 From:  Jms at B5       
 <HTML>
 <HEAD>
 <TITLE>Ratings and Bruce (95-12-06 04:00:30)</TITLE>
 </HEAD>
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 <H2>Ratings and Bruce</H2>
 95-12-06 04:00:30
 <PRE>     Just a note to mention that due to the lengthy lead times required by
 national magazines, espeically those with an entertainment bent, that some
 pieces are considered evergreens, and can be published anytime.  You build up
 material until you're ready to go.  The piece in EW with Bruce came via an
 interview conducted toward the end of the long summer slump caused by reruns.
 Hence his comments.  They improved once the new episodes came back on again.


 jms


 </PRE>
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 </HTML>
--- a/find/America-Online/aol95-12/46.html
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@ -1,27 +0,0 @@
 From:  Jms at B5       
 <HTML>
 <HEAD>
 <TITLE>Ratings (95-12-06 04:03:34)</TITLE>
 </HEAD>
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 <H2>Ratings</H2>
 95-12-06 04:03:34
 <PRE>{Don't call Star Trek a franchise.  They take big risks.}

     AcDec...all I can say is that you should talk sometime behind closed
 doors, as I have, with many of the writers and producers who have worked, and
 still work, on the various ST versions, who WANT to tell stories with teeth,
 that challenge, but who are prevented from doing so by the suits eager to
 preserve ST as an inoffensive franchise.  Sorry, but the logic still parses.


 jms


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 <H2>Why I watch</H2>
 95-12-09 01:03:00
 <PRE>     Lisala: Thanks.  We try to emphasize the voice of the storyteller as
 much as possible, that we are creating...well, I don't want to say creating
 new mythologies, because I don't think they are really created, they stretch
 back to the foundations of civilization, and show up repeatedly in works of
 literature...but reinterpreting and reinventing and clarifying the structure
 of myth for a new generation.  


 jms


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 <TITLE>B5 *is* shot widescreen (95-12-07 04:55:04)</TITLE>
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 <H2>B5 *is* shot widescreen</H2>
 95-12-07 04:55:04
 <PRE>     Two series, and insofar as I know, *only* two series are currently being
 shot widescreen: B5 and Lois and Clark.  Here's easy verification: fire up
 the first season tape of "The Parliament of Dreams."  Fast-forward to the
 Minbari ceremony that's also used in the main title sequence.  Now compare
 the two; you see more of the shot in the widescreen opening than in the
 regular shot.

      We generally compose for widescreen but protect for regular aspect
 ratio, which is how the show is broadcast currently in the US.  Sometimes it
 gets a little glitchy; in "Matters of Honor," when Marcus hands off the
 minbari fighting pike to Delenn, it's very visible in the widescreen shot,
 but you barely see it on the edge of the regular shot.

      BTW, Germany and France have signed on to follow us through the
 post-production process for (trying to remember now) either season 3 or
 season 4, re-telecineing the negative stock back to the original widescreen
 aspect ratio for broadcast in letterbox format in those countries.  The UK,
 via Channel 4, is still in negotiations over this.


 jms


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 <H2>Story Arc</H2>
 95-12-12 19:16:26
 <PRE>{Too many filler episodes.}

     I just posted a lengthy reply to this basic thread over in the Season 3
 topic (which is where I first encountered it).  That says pretty much
 everything I wanted to say on the issue.  

     This happens every season.  Some people like shoot-em'ups and don't want
 to see any other stories, deriding them as "filler" and let's get to the
 blow-stuff-up stuff.  They seem to think that anything else is "lead" which
 has to be gotten out.  Every season begins with standalone stories, from year
 one to now.  Year two has The Long Dark and A Distant Star and Soul Mates in
 the first batch up.  Then we hit the big arc stories, and everybody forgot
 about the "lead."

     In season one, we had six or seven strong arc stories.  In season two,
 there were about 9 really strong arc episodes.  In season 3, as of right now,
 there are 13-14 very strong arc episodes.  In year 4, there will be about 17,
 and in year 5 they're pretty much ALL arc episodes.

     The series is moving as fast as possible, and as fast as intended.  


 jms


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 <H2>YOU PEOPLE ARE SICK</H2>
 95-12-01 03:45:08
 <PRE>      The reason Laurel Takashima/Tamlyn Tomita is not currently on the show
 is because the actress didn't feel really comfortable in the role of a
 military commander, and felt she might do better in other kinds of roles,
 such as that which came along about the same time in a major motion picture;
 she is now a highly-sought-after film performer.  When she opted out, I went
 instantly after Julie Nickson, an asian actress to play Catherine Sakai,
 Sinclair's love interest, a recurring role in the show.

      And check my message uptopic...there's a racist here, all right, and
 it's you.


 jms


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 <TITLE>Harlan Ellison Signs (95-12-11 03:56:20)</TITLE>
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 <H2>Harlan Ellison Signs</H2>
 95-12-11 03:56:20
 <PRE>      To avoid duplication, check out the message in B5 Merchandising about
 Harlan signing stuff on the West Coast this coming week.


 jms


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 <TITLE>The Last, Worst Hope for  (95-12-13 01:48:45)</TITLE>
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 <H2>The Last, Worst Hope for </H2>
 95-12-13 01:48:45
 <PRE>     Yeah, but it's very hard to do a story about preparation in the sense
 you suggest.  "Well, let's go check out the White Star."  

     "Well...sure is a fast ship, all right...so, what're the Rangers doing?
 Keeping an eye on stuff?  Good..good...so, what's for dinner?"

     Each individual episode must be *about* something, must have a story
 that can stand on its own, separate from the arc, while adding to it.  For
 what it's worth, "Voices of Authority," which was originally slated to run in
 the first 4, *is* a preparation kind of story...it gets into how they should
 be gearing up for what's coming, the accumulation of allies and resources,
 all that.  Had it run as planned as #4, this would be answered.  But the
 sheer volume of CGI required, which was pretty hideous, put it into the #5
 slot, which we thought would still be in the first block of episodes.  Then
 we found that #4 was the cutoff point.  

     All I can tell you is that what you're asking for is *there*, plain as
 can be, right in the very next batch of episodes.  (Also, do bear in mind
 that the "shadow war" referenced in the show operates as more than just
 discussing the shadows themselves, but what's going on back home as well.)


 jms


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 <H2>The Last, Worst Hope for </H2>
 95-12-15 02:21:31
 <PRE>     Thanks.  No, you can't please everyone, I learned that lesson a long
 time ago.  What you have to look at are the percentages.  No matter *how*
 wonderful the work, there will always be a certain portion who won't like it
 because it isn't to their tastes.  That simple.  (I like bluegrass,
 classical, Japanese music, celtic music, hard rock, and others...can't abide
 straight-ahead country music or opera.  That's just how I'm hardwired.)  So
 basically, a work of superior quality will get about 40% who love it, 50% who
 think it's good, and 10% who hate it.  A middle of the road work gets
 30/30/30.  A flop gets the first breakdown but in reverse.  There's never
 been a novel, story, song or painting that everyone on the planet thought was
 nifty, without dissent.  So as long as the percentages favor the notion that
 we're doing right, I'm okay with it.

     As far as the assessment of this latter stuff being my best work...god,
 I hope so.  I've been writing and selling since I was 17; in TV for a tick
 over 10 years, and the absolute honest truth is that I think I'm just now
 *starting* to get halfway decent as a writer.  So many years you spend just
 pumping out the bad stuff, the cliche characters, the implausible plots,
 until you finally get to the good stuff.  I write 7 days a week, 10 hours a
 day, 52 weeks a year, except for my birthday, my spousal overunit's birthday,
 christmas and new year's.  I'm in constant battle with the English language,
 slamming together different combinations of verbs and nouns and adjectives,
 hoping to provoke an explosion whose flare can illustrate a notion, or incite
 a moment of reflection.  And half the time I feel like it's a losing battle;
 the language beats you every time.  But if script #152 is just 1% better than
 script #151, well, that's progress.

     And then I make the mistake of sitting down and watching something by
 Serling or Chayefsky or Rose or Corwin, and conclude instantly that I should
 get out of the profession before somebody discovers I'm a fake.  THOSE guys
 could WRITE.  Hell, they didn't just write, they thunder'd and lightning'd
 over the typwritten page, and the echoes have followed us down for decades.
 So maybe someday, if I work hard, and write to the best of my ability, and am
 sufficiently honest in what I write, I'll be good enough to carry their
 pencil cases....


 jms


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 <H2>The Last, Worst Hope for </H2>
 95-12-16 03:18:33
 <PRE>{how can people be interested in a show that's getting cancelled all over?}

     Kydreamer: what you have to remember is that the syndication marketplace
 is undergoing *huge* changes right now, and has been for the last year.  In
 most markets, you're lucky if you've got even one or two independent stations
 (non-CBS, NBC or ABC).  Between the growth of Fox, and UPN, those stations
 are now almost all locked down, and are required by contract to give
 preference to programming made by their affiliated networks.  Now you've got
 2 hours a day that are available for prime-time programs, 8-10, that's it
 (most indies usually show news from 10-11).  That's a grand total of 14 hours
 a week, and there are currently about 250 syndicated shows all competing for
 those 14 available hours.

     Usually, we rate between 30 and 50 overall, which is very good in that
 crowd of 250, so in most cases holding onto the station isn't hard.  But in
 some markets, where the squeeze is on, and there's only one station
 available, if UPN or FOX pushes hard enough...the show goes.  This has,
 however, happened in only about a handful of places out of something like 198
 total stations, so we're still pretty solid.  The problem comes when 15
 people in one area all post messages that their station has dropped B5, and
 what people tend to see is that there are 15 messages about this, so it must
 be a big problem.  (And in at least two, possibly three of those cases
 another station, sometimes a *better* station, has leapt in to pick up B5's
 contract.)

     We've had a number of preliminary conversations with the folks at WB to
 determine how best to adjust to this in the fourth season, which at this time
 is looking very encouraging.  Several notions have been suggested by them to
 help counter or work with the changing syndication marketplace.  Some of them
 are quite interesting, though it's too early to comment much more than that.



 jms


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 <TITLE>Other Theme Possibilities (95-12-12 18:42:08)</TITLE>
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 <H2>Other Theme Possibilities</H2>
 95-12-12 18:42:08
 <PRE>      Basically, any attempt to break down the B5 story into pure good vs.
 pure evil is going to fall apart sooner or later.  The thematic elements
 point to greyer areas: will you lead, or will you be led by others?  What is
 your responsibility to the world around you, and how far will you go before
 you do something drastically wrong?  The key themes in this show are choice,
 and responsibility.

     How different would this story be if Londo had simply chosen *not* to go
 the easy way and go to Mr. Morden?  We are here because he made certain
 choices, and now he has to live with them.  Actions have consequences.


 jms


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 <H2>Oedipus Rex and Shadows</H2>
 95-12-13 01:43:47
 <PRE>{CJ Cherryh deals with similar themes.  Will scripts be made available?}

      Actually haven't read much if any of CJ's work, though I really should
 have.  The notion of hard choices, and responsibility, of course goes way
 back through early literature and into myth.  
      Re: scripts...we do hope to make a limited number of them available
 through the fan club, once that gets going, but that's about it.


 jms


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 <H2>Other Theme Possibilities</H2>
 95-12-14 17:11:48
 <PRE>{The Shadows probably don't consider themselves evil}

     Good point.  The monster almost never sees a monster in the mirror.
 There can be all kinds of justifications for what one does....


 jms


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 <H2>Other Theme Possibilities</H2>
 95-12-14 17:15:29
 <PRE>      I think that in the larger scope, many things are going to happen
 regardless...World War One would've almost certainly happened even without
 the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand, but it might have happened later,
 might have taken on a different form....

     But there's a great deal over which we *do* have free will.  Things
 *can* be changed; if they can't, then there's not much point to living.  The
 characters like to think they have no choice to comfort themselves with the
 decisions they've already made.


 jms


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 <TITLE>Beauty in the eye... (95-12-17 02:28:42)</TITLE>
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 <H2>Beauty in the eye...</H2>
 95-12-17 02:28:42
 <PRE>{The Vorlons aren't good, the Shadows aren't evil.}

     On the other hand, to say the Vorlons are not good may also be to miss
 the point, which comes closer to the issue of control, and the question of
 being led vs. leading.  


 jms


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 <TITLE>Franklin and Ivanova (95-12-11 21:16:39)</TITLE>
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 <H2>Franklin and Ivanova</H2>
 95-12-11 21:16:39
 <PRE>"...each of the alien groups have only one religion, one government, one
 appearance...."

      Actually, this is quite incorrect.  It's been established that the
 Narns have competing religions (G'Quan vs. G'Lan vs. other systems), the
 Centauri have a whole pantheon of different deities -- I seem to recall the
 number was in the 70s -- with each having their own household god, certainly
 the Minbari have three very distinct castes (with some differences in
 appearances, the warrior caste having more threateningly-spiked crests, vs.
 more rounded for religious caste), so there are definitely differences within
 our various alien races.  And, of course, we've go the green drazi vs. purple
 drazi situation to contend with, and accents vary as well...not every
 Centauri has the same accent as Londo (which is more of the Old School of the
 Centauri hierarchy), and not every Minbari speaks with Delenn's accent (which
 is more from the southern region of the planet).  


 jms


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 <TITLE>Blacnight9 (95-12-03 05:55:38)</TITLE>
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 <H2>Blacnight9</H2>
 95-12-03 05:55:38
 <PRE>       Blacnight: okay, you've been hurt.  Three words: deal with it, but
 frankly, if you use this as a motivation to become just as racist in your
 descriptions of caucasians then you have totally and utterly sacrificed the
 high ground in the discussion.

       Lemme explain something to you: I didn't come into the world with a
 silver spoon.  We were poor.  I'm not talking poor lower case letters, I'm
 talking POOR.  We lived in houses without roofs, without heat in the winter,
 always on the run from creditors.  You know where poor folks live, Blacnight?
 In the poor part of town, which was usually the ethnic part of town.  Most of
 my life I lived in areas that were mainly black, or hispanic, or puerto
 rican.  I lived in Newark just before the riots, as a kid, the only white kid
 on the whole BLOCK.  I've got class photos from schools as a kid, and you
 look for row after row, and in the lines of brown and black faces, you find
 one -- ONE -- white face.  Mine.  It ain't a case of "well, sure, some of my
 friends were black," ALL of them were.  Or Puerto Rican.  Or Hispanic.

      And at those schools, because I was always the new kid, I got the snot
 beaten out of me on a regular basis.  Usually by kids with skin color
 different from my own.  Because that's usually all there was in the
 neighborhood.   So I got hurt, I got beat up, constantly.  Now, do I turn
 around and say that all black/hispanic/puerto ricans are bad people?  No.
 Some were great, some were real jerks.  Some helped me.  Some hurt me.  I
 deal with it *without* coming up with sweeping generalizations about whole
 groups.

     For as long as you continue to make sweeping statements about caucasians
 -- and you have not responded to one of the responses I made to you before on
 this -- then you are every bit as racist and prejudiced as those you say you
 are against.  You come on, make one sweeping generalization, go away, then
 come back with another.  You don't listen, you just accuse and take the role
 of angry victim.  Well, fine, like I said, I've lost dear friends to people
 of other colors than my own...but I don't turn around and blame the whole
 group for the actions of a few.

     If you're concerned about the well being of other african americans, let
 me ask what you're doing positively about it?  Working with inner city kids?
 Neighborhood programs?  What?  Or are you content to just come on here and
 complain?  

     African-americans and hispanics have *got* to be brought into the
 mainstream of american political and economic life; we cannot long sustain a
 disenfranchised class determined by ethnic background.  That way lies madness
 and destruction for all parties.  On my show, I do as much as I can; on the
 side, I tithe a goodly percentage of my income to charitable causes, AIDS
 research, People For The American Way (which fights tyranny from the left and
 the right in censorhship issues), and other causes.  Because it ain't enough
 to complain; you've got to go in and DO something.  You talk the talk real
 good; how're you fixed for walking the walk?


 jms

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 <TITLE>THE REAL WORLD (95-12-12 18:37:18)</TITLE>
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 <H2>THE REAL WORLD</H2>
 95-12-12 18:37:18
 <PRE>     Blacnight...this is really becoming pointless.  For one thing, you're
 not listening to anyone else.  You come on here, and point to A...people
 answer you, and explain or respond to some of your concerns about A, but then
 you've moved on, you don't even deal with the question of A anymore, you've
 moved on to B...and people try to respond to B, and now you point over there
 to C.  You plainly have no interest in a conversation or a discussion, you
 haven't answered any of the objections to your prior messages, you just come
 in here to state and restate your position.  You're all over the place.
 First you bring up Baywatch, then you say you don't care about Baywatch, you
 flip all over the place.

     My bottom line, frankly, is that yes, of course there's racism in
 society, nobody's debating that.  If that's the point you're trying to
 communicate, then nobody here is going to dispute it.  But by speaking of all
 caucasian people the same way, accusing them of all having the same behavior,
 you are every bit as racist as those you complain about, and that's another
 issue you've danced away from.  If I came on here and said about african
 americans the kinds of things you've said about caucasians I'd be branded a
 racist, and they'd be right.  

     In an early episode of season one (at risk of actually mentioning B5 in
 this conversation), Sinclair makes the comment that "when you become obsessed
 with the enemy, you become the enemy."  You have become obsessed with the
 enemy.

     Anyway, this is the last response you'll get from me.  It's painfully
 apparent by now, having given you every opportunity to show otherwise, that
 you are not interested in a conversation, only in stating and restating your
 position.  So the exercise becomes pointless.


 jms


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 From:  Jms at B5       
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 <HEAD>
 <TITLE>Well done, Michael (95-12-10 21:22:00)</TITLE>
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 <H2>Well done, Michael</H2>
 95-12-10 21:22:00
 <PRE>{About the B5 presentation at Westercon in Phoenix, 1992}

     I remember that presentation, and it shares something special with
 LosCon right before that.  At the time of the convention, all I had was my
 word on the kind of show I wanted to do, my rep, and about 30 seconds of a
 clip showing a ship docking at a beta version of B5.  That's it.  And even
 though producers for TeeVee series are always coming in proclaiming that
 their new show is the best thing since sliced bread, even though time and
 time again we (speaking as a fan myself) it ends up being just another awful
 show with genius kids and cute robots...even with all that, and so little to
 show for what I had in mind...fans both in Phoenix and at LosCon sidled up to
 the video clip, considered it, and the few other elements I brought to the
 table...and said, basically, "Let's give the kid a chance."  It speaks
 volumes of the willingness of SF fans to extend themselves, despite getting
 repeatedly burned, when most needed.

     I've always been very moved by that, and whenever I've gone back (though
 I forgot this last time), I've always asked, "Did I keep the promises I made
 back then?"  The answer has always been yes.


 jms


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 <TITLE>Divided Loyalties (95-12-10 21:23:31)</TITLE>
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 <H2>Divided Loyalties</H2>
 95-12-10 21:23:31
 <PRE>{Was Garibaldi at Lyta's ship because the Rangers told him she was coming?}

     No, Garibaldi was there because the ship's ID# didn't check out, as he
 stated, and it could've been in the process of smuggling or who knows what.
 The "soldier/diplomat" comment came more from shaping where this season is
 going.


 jms


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 From:  Jms at B5       
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 <TITLE>Mira's Past (95-12-10 21:24:19)</TITLE>
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 <H2>Mira's Past</H2>
 95-12-10 21:24:19
 <PRE>{What name did Mira Furlan use in earlier work?}

     No, her credit there reads Furlan; that's her name.  Her husband's name
 is Goran Gajic.


 jms


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 <TITLE>JMS: Spousal Overunit's n (95-12-10 21:27:40)</TITLE>
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 <H2>JMS: Spousal Overunit's n</H2>
 95-12-10 21:27:40
 <PRE>{Who's your SO?  Has she written for B5?}

     Her name is Kathryn M. Drennan, and yes, she wrote "By Any Means
 Necessary" for B5.  She has written for other shows, mainly in the animation
 area, and has worked as a journalist or feature reporter for newspapers and
 magazines, including Twilight Zone Magazine, Women's World, and others.

     It was difficult at times with her doing a B5 script because I kept
 second-guessing myself too much on my reactions, and I ended up making her
 jump through a lot of hoops that nobody else had to go through because I have
 a real problem with even the *appearance* of nepotism, so she ended up
 working twice as hard as was probably necessary.  So far this season she
 hasn't come across a story she'd like to write, so it's a moot point.


 jms


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 <TITLE>To Jms (95-12-10 21:28:59)</TITLE>
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 <H2>To Jms</H2>
 95-12-10 21:28:59
 <PRE>     Only a very few stations have dropped B5, mainly because there isn't
 room any longer on their schedules due to an influx of UPN and FOX shows to
 which they have prior commitments.  These number less than about 5 or so out
 of something like 198 stations, and in several cases other stations have
 jumped in and happily picked up the contract.


 jms


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 From:  Jms at B5       
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 <TITLE>actors (95-12-11 21:05:49)</TITLE>
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 <H2>actors</H2>
 95-12-11 21:05:49
 <PRE>     Generally speaking, very few actors are online; Pat Tallman is over on
 Compuserve here and there, Stephen Furst and one or two others come online
 here from time to time...bits and pieces here and there.  Mainly, if there's
 a message of interest, cast members find out by its being posted on the News
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 jms


 From:  Jms at B5       
 <HTML>
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 <TITLE>To JMS re.the women (95-12-11 21:11:04)</TITLE>
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 <H2>To JMS re.the women</H2>
 95-12-11 21:11:04
 <PRE>{Will there be more female leads?  Will we see the Talia/Ivanova relationship
 mentioned again?}

     I do see Lyta's role growing in the show, in the hopes of her becoming a
 recurring character (main title) in time, and there are a couple of other
 female characters I'm thinking about, but I don't generally think in terms of
 quotas, 4 to 2 or 5 to 3 or whatever...you have to decide what works best for
 the show and the story.  

     As for Talia/Ivanova...there's some closure to that right around
 mid-season, which definitely clarifies their relationship.  Suffice to say I
 think you'll be pleased.


 jms


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 From:  Jms at B5       
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 <TITLE>ATTN: JMS   Morden? (95-12-12 18:30:25)</TITLE>
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 <H2>ATTN: JMS   Morden?</H2>
 95-12-12 18:30:25
 <PRE>     Well, to the question of where the shadows are, I think that just got
 answered...they're right here....


 jms


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 From:  Jms at B5       
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 <TITLE>JMS - thanks  (95-12-13 01:41:44)</TITLE>
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 <H2>JMS - thanks </H2>
 95-12-13 01:41:44
 <PRE>{Which episode will shed more light on the Talia/Ivanova relationship?}

     Stacey: thanks, and look for something very significant to that
 relationship in "Ceremonies of Light and Dark."  (Not as if it'll take much
 attention...it kinda jumps out at you....)


 jms


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 From:  Jms at B5       
 <HTML>
 <HEAD>
 <TITLE>B-5 newsgroup (95-11-30 02:49:24)</TITLE>
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 <H2>B-5 newsgroup</H2>
 95-11-30 02:49:24
 <PRE>{will you be leaving AOL too?}

       I have no plans for leaving here anytime soon, Angelica.  I hope to be
 here for the long haul.


 jms


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 From:  Jms at B5       
 <HTML>
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 <TITLE>JMS: Questions on Pilot A (95-12-14 17:10:29)</TITLE>
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 <H2>JMS: Questions on Pilot A</H2>
 95-12-14 17:10:29
 <PRE>{Re. "The Gathering," you said the person standing outside a door in one
 scene would turn out to be important.  How?}

      I'm not entirely sure what this refers to; the only possibility that
 comes to mind is that when the assassin finds Del Varner, he gets access via
 a panel outside the door, and we either hear or see "Laurel Takashima,
 Cleared To Enter."


 jms


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 From:  Jms at B5       
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 <TITLE>Jms RE: Ivanova  (95-12-13 21:26:13)</TITLE>
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 <H2>Jms RE: Ivanova </H2>
 95-12-13 21:26:13
 <PRE>{You should use Claudia Christian more.}

     You're absolutely correct, which is why in the very first episode up in
 the next batch, we send Ivanova off in the White Star as its commander, and
 we involve her and her charactder more strongly in subsequent episodes as
 well.


 jms


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 From:  Jms at B5       
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 <TITLE>JMS: Kudos and a Question (95-12-13 21:35:52)</TITLE>
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 <H2>JMS: Kudos and a Question</H2>
 95-12-13 21:35:52
 <PRE>     One of the hardest questions for any writer to answer is where did the
 story come from.  It's often a synthesis of lots of elements that sometimes
 bursts through all at one shot, other times trickles out a bit here and
 there.  

     With B5, I started from wanting to do a saga, wanting to produce an SF
 show in a fiscally responsible manner (thus encouraging more of it), and to
 do real SF.  The usual strategy used by other shows is the man or show on the
 run...going in search of new worlds, or escaping from something, or trying to
 get somewhere.  The Immortal, Battlestar Galactica, the various Treks, The
 Hulk...all these and others used that approach, 'cause it's the easiest kind
 of story to construct, and needs the least amount of work.  The downside,
 though, is that you end up creating a venue in which you are constantly
 distracting your story from your main characters by having to introduce the
 Alien Of The Week, or the Planet Of The Week, establish them, their culture,
 the problem they bring in...which leaves you very little room for real
 character development.  And I wanted also to get into some of what's
 happening on Earth, do a little extrapolative writing in politics, law,
 criminal justice, sociology, religion, and other areas.

     This led me to the notion -- used in shows like LA Law or St. Elsewhere
 -- of creating a place where the stories came to you, rather than vice versa.
 This led me to the notion of a space station, a freeport in space.  Onto
 this, I began to stitch the notion of a saga, a war, certain mythic and
 archetypal constructs...anyway I was playing with all this, when one day the
 whole story just sorta exploded in my head.  I saw the whole B5 sage, start
 to finish, in one big flash.  I then spent the next year, as I gathered my
 notes, and wrote the pilot screenplay, trying to write down and clarify what
 I saw in that one moment of absolute clarity.

     It's those notes, written in 1986/87, which formed the basis for the
 arc, and which I'm still using with some modifications today.  


 jms


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 From:  Jms at B5       
 <HTML>
 <HEAD>
 <TITLE>Previews (95-12-14 03:52:18)</TITLE>
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 <H2>Previews</H2>
 95-12-14 03:52:18
 <PRE>     Since the question of what's coming up in the next batch of episodes has
 arisen, I thought I'd go through and, while avoiding spoilers as much as
 possible, give some glimpses into what's yet to come.

     This list is for the new episodes beginning in late January through the
 end of February, in order.

     "Voices of Authority" - Earth begins tightening the screws on the folks
 at B5 to try and exert more control there.  Steps are taken to help prepare
 for the shadow conflict.  (Here, again, the "shadow war" means both the
 obvious, and the more subtle conflict brewing at home; it's description and
 metaphor.)  The White Star voyages to some territory not seen since the first
 episode, Ivanova helms the ship, a major dramatic turning point is reached,
 and there is the single funniest scene in probably the series to date.  A
 strong arc story.

     "Exogenesis" - The last non-arc episode for some time.  Puts Dr.
 Franklin and Marcus together investigating some odd happenings in DownBelow
 that may indicate some kind of alien influence.  Does, however, introduce a
 thread that will play out over time.

     "Dust To Dust" - Looks like a non-arc episode initially, but by the end
 it has a strong effect on the overall storyline, and makes some permanent
 changes in one of our characters.  Combines Bester, the telepathic-assault
 drug Dust, weapons dealers, and brings to a head a major part of the
 G'Kar/Londo thread.

     "Messages From Earth" - This begins the three-episode min-arc within the
 larger arc that, by its conclusion, totally changes the structure of the B5
 universe.  A mega-wham episode.  Because so much comes to a head so quickly,
 little can be said about it without spoiling stuff.  Our characters begin
 making the final and irrevocable steps that will put them on a collision
 course with everything they have believed in until now.  There are four or
 five episodes this season that push the limits of our effects and CGI to the
 absolute wall; this is one of the biggest.

     "Point of No Return" - The same, but moreso.  Internal strife threatens
 to tear apart the command structure of B5.  The Nightwatch thread comes to a
 crisis point.  And Majel Barrett Roddenberry guest-stars in a B-story
 involving Londo's destiny.


 jms


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 From:  Jms at B5       
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 <TITLE>To JMS re.the women (95-12-15 02:00:56)</TITLE>
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 <H2>To JMS re.the women</H2>
 95-12-15 02:00:56
 <PRE>{Where are the lesbians on B5?}

     Y'know, it kinda seems to me that if two women have a relationship, and
 one leaves, the other still remains, so that answers at least one of your
 questions....


 jms

 
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 From:  Jms at B5       
 <HTML>
 <HEAD>
 <TITLE>Q: Parliament of Dreams (95-12-15 18:50:07)</TITLE>
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 <H2>Q: Parliament of Dreams</H2>
 95-12-15 18:50:07
 <PRE>{How is "The Parliament of Dreams" an important arc story?}

      Well, certainly, the rebirth ceremony is a direct antecedent to
 Delenn's rebirth in "Chrysalis," and we'll hear about the ceremony again.
 Mainly, I think of it as a slight arc story in terms of the Delenn stuff.


 jms


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 From:  Jms at B5       
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 <TITLE>Pets (95-12-15 18:51:29)</TITLE>
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 <H2>Pets</H2>
 95-12-15 18:51:29
 <PRE>{Why no pets on B5?}

     Where would you put pets there?  Noplace would really be safe.  It's
 really more like a very large airport than a city...most people are just
 passing through.


 jms


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 From:  Jms at B5       
 <HTML>
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 <TITLE>World Series (95-12-15 18:53:43)</TITLE>
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 <H2>World Series</H2>
 95-12-15 18:53:43
 <PRE>{Who won the sixth game of the "59 series?}

     Mars won the sixth game, but it was a squeaker, 5-4.  That tied it up
 going into the seventh game, which Earth won on an RBI that Mars is still
 challenging on the belief that the guy was really out at home, but that the
 umpire was catering to pressure.


 jms

 
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 From:  Jms at B5       
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 <TITLE>To JMS re.the women   (95-12-15 18:56:02)</TITLE>
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 <H2>To JMS re.the women  </H2>
 95-12-15 18:56:02
 <PRE>{If Ivanova is with a man, she'll be perceived as straight instead of bi.}

      Which, of course, is exactly *why* one cannot write to the current
 political agendas on any side of the issue, because they're transitory,
 they'll change in two weeks.  If you start saying, "Well, this kind of person
 is *now* perceived THIS way this week, so I should change the story," you'll
 end up chasing your tail (also chasing your tale) and soon you lose all sense
 of direction.  So you do what's right for the story, and let the chips fall
 where they may.


 jms

 
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 From:  Jms at B5       
 <HTML>
 <HEAD>
 <TITLE>B5 Universe Questions (95-12-15 18:57:45)</TITLE>
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 <H2>B5 Universe Questions</H2>
 95-12-15 18:57:45
 <PRE>{There are no shock waves in space.}

      Okay, then 'splain me this: when the Pioneer space probe moved past the
 speed of sound while it was in space, the monitoring station at JPL recorded
 a *sonic boom* as the shock wave rolled over the probe as it broke the sound
 barrier.


 jms


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 From:  Jms at B5       
 <HTML>
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 <TITLE>B5 Universe Questions (95-12-01 03:53:56)</TITLE>
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 <H2>B5 Universe Questions</H2>
 95-12-01 03:53:56
 <PRE>Mass drivers use asteroids freely available in space, accelerated and fired
 into a planetary atmosphere.  EA non-rotational ships have zero g.  EA tech
 is generally much lower in weapons tech and other areas than the Minbari and
 Vorlons, among others.


 jms

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 From:  Jms at B5       
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 <TITLE>Garibaldi Left Handed!?! (95-12-16 03:08:18)</TITLE>
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 <H2>Garibaldi Left Handed!?!</H2>
 95-12-16 03:08:18
 <PRE>      I believe Jerry is left-handed, yes; doesn't really matter to me if
 Garibaldi is a southpaw or not, it wasn't a stipulation ahead of time.
 (Actually a number of our cast members are lefties; funny how that happens.)


 jms

 
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 From:  Jms at B5       
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 <TITLE>Quest/suggest (95-12-17 02:21:56)</TITLE>
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 <H2>Quest/suggest</H2>
 95-12-17 02:21:56
 <PRE>{Lots of questions about future episodes}

     Unfortunately, the answer to virtually all of your questions is no, with
 a few being "I can't tell you at this time."


 jms


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 From:  Jms at B5       
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 <TITLE>Experiencing Deja Vu... (95-12-17 02:22:27)</TITLE>
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 <H2>Experiencing Deja Vu...</H2>
 95-12-17 02:22:27
 <PRE>     The next batch of new eps begins airing around January 22nd.


 jms


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 <TITLE>Harlan Ellison (95-12-17 02:23:54)</TITLE>
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 <H2>Harlan Ellison</H2>
 95-12-17 02:23:54
 <PRE>{Is Ellison still working on his Dream Corridor books?  Did his story "Kadak"
 inspire Ivanova's Chanukah celebration?}

     Last I heard, the Dream Corridor books will be coming out in a different
 form, in larger trade editions, with new stuff.

     No, "Kadak" had nothing to do with Ivanova celebrating Chanakuh on B5;
 the ceremony far predates Harlan's story....


 jms


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 <TITLE>B5 vs Star Trek (95-12-16 03:07:15)</TITLE>
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 <H2>B5 vs Star Trek</H2>
 95-12-16 03:07:15
 <PRE>       We've finally received the paperwork on the fan club, and one of the
 things we plan to do is sell replica communication Links manufactured by the
 same sub-contractor company that produces the actual props, so they're 100%
 authentic; same with the EA pins and patches and some other stuff.  So hang
 tight, you may get your wish.


 jms


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 <TITLE>Harlan Ellison in SF/LA (95-12-11 03:51:44)</TITLE>
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 <H2>Harlan Ellison in SF/LA</H2>
 95-12-11 03:51:44
 <PRE>      B5's own Conceptual Consultant will be signing copies of his new CDrom
 game, "I Have No Mouth, And I Must Scream," based on his award winning short
 story of the same name, at Tower Records/VIdeo this coming week: on
 Wednesday, December 13, in Los Angeles from 6-7:30 p.m. at 8801 Sunset
 Boulevard, and in San Francisco at 3205 20th Avenue on Thursday, December
 14th, from 6-8 p.m.


 jms


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 <TITLE>different=same? (95-12-11 03:49:20)</TITLE>
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 <H2>different=same?</H2>
 95-12-11 03:49:20
 <PRE>     "But what is truth?  Is truth unchanging law?  We both have truths.  Are
 mine the same as yours?"  Pontius Pilot to JC in "Jesus Christ, Superstar,"
 third act.

      For whatever reason, I know just about every line of that rock opera.


 jms


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 <TITLE>Goodbye Babylon 5 (95-12-13 01:38:40)</TITLE>
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 <H2>Goodbye Babylon 5</H2>
 95-12-13 01:38:40
 <PRE>{Too many filler episodes.}

       Thank you, Posti.  You have now posted your departing message in at
 least three different folders, probably more.  We kind of get the point.  

       And it's story *arc*, not story *arch*.

 Jms
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 <TITLE>Licensing &amp; Your Audience (95-12-01 03:59:02)</TITLE>
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 <H2>Licensing &amp; Your Audience</H2>
 95-12-01 03:59:02
 <PRE>{you're letting Creation do B5 merchandise?}

     We're aware of the rep that Creation has, and I've been very open in my
 criticism of them when they've done something dumb, both in my talks with
 them privately, and on the nets.  They know that if they do a Dumb of Bad
 Thing, I'm going to call them on it.  I'll also note when they do things
 right.  And thus far, for the most part, they've done okay by B5.  I've
 worked closely with them on the licensing aspects, and some of it is really
 quite cool, and the rest is fine.  (They have come out with two recent items,
 a B5 leather jacket (a bit over-priced, I think, but extremely cool
 nonetheless), and B5 mugs with the logo on one side, and the silhouette on
 the other in silver against black that's just *killer*.)

     I don't feel sufficiently comfortable at this time to do a B5 convention
 with them; but I have made an occasional personal appearance, and found that
 they are genuinely interested in trying to straighten out their rep.  A great
 deal of the problem stems from the fact that they often work with local folks
 in the area as hosts who often don't know what they're talking about.  So now
 they're cutting back a little, trying to do fewer, better, than a lot, less
 efficiently.  


 jms

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 <TITLE>M.B.Roddenberry Apperance (96-02-12 03:49:36)</TITLE>
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 <H2>M.B.Roddenberry Apperance</H2>
 96-02-12 03:49:36
 <PRE>She appears in the last episode airing this month, before the rerun break,
 "Point of No Return."

 jms



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 <TITLE>Instant Gratification (96-02-13 05:55:54)</TITLE>
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 <H2>Instant Gratification</H2>
 96-02-13 05:55:54
 <PRE>What's being lost here, though, is that this show operates on the level of
 metaphor as much as it operates out in the open.  The shadow war is also the
 war within ourselves as much as it is Out There.  So Nightwatch, the
 political situation back home, are shadow wars of their own.  

 That said, however, there's shooting aplenty in the course of this season.

 jms



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 <TITLE>JMS: White Star Symbols (96-02-28 04:31:56)</TITLE>
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 <H2>JMS: White Star Symbols</H2>
 96-02-28 04:31:56
 <PRE>They're Minbari letters; yes, each race does have its own symbol or logo;
 we've used them here and there.  Will see if I can post them sometime.

 jms



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 <TITLE>Katsulas honored? (96-02-28 04:32:57)</TITLE>
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 <H2>Katsulas honored?</H2>
 96-02-28 04:32:57
 <PRE>No, I don't believe he has won an emmy...and he's long overdue given his
 skills.

 jms



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 <TITLE>JMS: A few questions... (96-02-28 04:34:53)</TITLE>
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 <H2>JMS: A few questions...</H2>
 96-02-28 04:34:53
 <PRE>1) Who writes the blurbs each week in TV Guide?  Is it someone involved with
 the show, or someone at PTEN, or just some shadow somewhere?

 If by this you mean the actual listings themselves...they're written by TV
 Guide staffers, as I understand it.

 2) Is there a timeline that lists the approximate day/month/year that each
 episode takes place?  If so, could you post it?

 I don't have one available outside the show, since it's very detailed and
 has, well, EVERYthing in it, past and future...but there's one at the
 hyperion website (available here via the www jumpgate) that's pretty darned
 thorough.

 3) You say that after B5 ends, there is a possible "spin off" that _could_
 happen, but probably won't be made into a TV series.  Have you considered
 either a novel or a series of novels?

 Considered and considering...but for now, I have to focus on this.

 jms



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 <TITLE>JMS: Film Stock Question (96-02-28 04:35:48)</TITLE>
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 <H2>JMS: Film Stock Question</H2>
 96-02-28 04:35:48
 <PRE>No, we shoot in super 35 millimeter, which gives us a widescreen image which
 we crop for current domestic aspect ratio TVs.

 jms



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 <TITLE>The Shuttle Dyson (96-02-28 04:36:16)</TITLE>
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 <H2>The Shuttle Dyson</H2>
 96-02-28 04:36:16
 <PRE>Just a guy in the walla group who happens to sound kinda like Sean....

 jms



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 <TITLE>JMS: Tentacles again (96-02-28 04:36:52)</TITLE>
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 <H2>JMS: Tentacles again</H2>
 96-02-28 04:36:52
 <PRE>Well, Londo did use them once to cheat at cards...so they're fairly
 dexterous....

 jms



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 <TITLE>JMS thankyou (96-02-28 04:37:48)</TITLE>
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 <H2>JMS thankyou</H2>
 96-02-28 04:37:48
 <PRE>The thanks are entirely mine....

 jms



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 <TITLE>More inquiries (96-02-29 20:16:58)</TITLE>
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 <H2>More inquiries</H2>
 96-02-29 20:16:58
 <PRE>{Many, many questions}

 I think you just won the prize for most questions that I absolutely can't
 answer at one time....

 jms



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 <TITLE>Frankly, You Amaze Me (96-02-29 20:31:19)</TITLE>
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 <H2>Frankly, You Amaze Me</H2>
 96-02-29 20:31:19
 <PRE>Cristine: thanks.  You're right, in many ways it is personal to me.  I tend
 to get passionate about the job because I never taken on any job unless I
 feel passionately about it, if that makes any syntactical sense whatsoever.
 Life's too short.  B5 is a particular case in that this is something that
 everyone involved -- from the cast, through to the crew, directors, others --
 is absolutely dedicated to.  They believe that we're creating something
 rather extraordinary here, something that'll be talked about for a long time
 after we're gone.  

 It took me five years to sell this show, after everyone else told me to
 forget it, that it'd never happen, that it was too ambitious...said that I
 *could* sell it if I made it sexier, less aimed at the "smart" viewers and
 more accessible to folks who just want plain action and a smattering of sex.
 I could've sold a more mainstream series with far less hassle, to any of the
 networks.  But I have to tell *this* story.  

 So when you're obsessed with something, it's easier to spend 24.9 hours a day
 working on it.  (I cobble up the extra 9/10ths of an hour from a
 fourth-dimensional gate in my office.)  As for the online time...that ties
 into the obsession part, in some ways, but beyond that, it's a chance to keep
 working at my #1 bugaboo, demystifying TV, being responsive (and answerable)
 to fans when it works or doesn't work...actually, it works out for me because
 when I have to stop writing and think through a story point, I don't just get
 up and walk into the living room to watch TV, where you can lose a couple
 hours at a time.  I stay at the keyboard, do a quick pass through one of the
 nets, kill 15 minutes...by which time I've worked out the story point, and I
 get back to work.  It keeps me at the computer.

 But yeah...in every conceivable sense, the work comes first in my life. This
 is the single biggest thing I've ever attempted in my life, in terms of sheer
 scale and scope and hours.  It has a finite lifespan.  So during that time,
 it owns me.  I can give it nothing less.  When it's finally done, then I can
 rest.  Selling and running the show is like being yoked to a train; you pull
 real hard for a long time, for five years, until it finally moves.  Then it
 picks up speed.  And then you spend the next five years of your life running
 as fast as you can in front of it, because if you slow down, it'll run over
 you.

 jms



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