tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32203569.post3989913805595190903..comments2024-03-22T13:24:58.821-07:00Comments on Beaming Beeman: SEASON 3 BEGINS NOW!!!Greg Beemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01193087984175490915noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32203569.post-7372629020241846492013-08-07T18:47:46.240-07:002013-08-07T18:47:46.240-07:005. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems like ...5. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems like this show was originally planned as Military Science Fiction with elements of Family Drama. Sometimes it feels more like a Family Drama with elements of Military Science Fiction, to put it charitably.<br /><br />You could get higher ratings by moving the sliding scale all the way over to FD and keeping it there; lots of sappy types in the audience these days and not many of the RA Heinlein/PK Dick set still allowed in civilized company. But is ratings all you're looking for? The kind of people who will rewatch a TV series years after it first aired don't do so for the sappy drama. Do we still watch Star Trek for all the touching, dramatic interactions between Wesley Crusher, his mother, and his crewmates? No. We watch it for all the socialist indoctrination.<br /><br />(Actually, I don't know; my mother's the resident trekkie in the family.)<br /><br />6. Y'all have my approbation on those creepy crusty kids. First time I saw them, I was starting to wonder if y'all had plans for a Walking Dead crossover.<br /><br />Why is this the only time we see them? Seems like they'd make excellent foot soldiers, compared to the much less effective harnessed mob from the first season.<br /><br />7. Now that Alexis is a six-year old (wow, NEVER saw that one coming!), is someone going to ask her why she felt it advantageous to play mind games with mommy? Did she just think it was funny?<br /><br />(Okay, maybe she did. Babies are kind of evil at times.)<br /><br />Even if you are a spy, why would you want your mom to know it? Why not drive President Daddy crazy instead?Aldenatanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32203569.post-10035215251204352562013-08-07T18:45:12.963-07:002013-08-07T18:45:12.963-07:00@Collateral Damage:
1. Depleted your ammunition bu...@Collateral Damage:<br />1. Depleted your ammunition budget? Should have spent less money on your ski trips/film shoots on that glacier.<br /><br />I'm joking, of course; both Gulf Wars saw the US military come close to depleting their munitions stockpiles, so I can't hold it against you. We survivalist types have a saying that if you know how many bullets you have, you don't have enough.<br /><br />Realistically, you would see a large portion of Charleston's population involved in the munitions industry. Anyone not currently expending ammunition would spend the bulk of her time repacking ammunition (I say "her" because in the Civil War it was often the job of Confederate soldiers' wives, mothers, and children to serve their logistic needs, especially when the fighting came to their own back yards; I grew up not far from the ruins of a cannonball factory that was staffed almost entirely by local women).<br /><br />2. Wauconda? Waut?<br /><br />There is no nuclear station by that name in or anywhere near South Carolina. The instructions sounded like they would have put them near the Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Generating Station, but if the Espheni only have one plant up and running they would probably want it to be Oconee, it being the most powerful in the South.<br /><br />Incidentally, many if not most inland nuke plants are cooled by artificial lakes. If you want to shut one down, it probably wouldn't be a tall order to bomb the floodgates. Not sure what ecological effect that would have; expect to put a significant portion of your state underwater if nothing.<br /><br />3. Charleston has a nuclear reactor? Dr Kadar reenacted the Manhattan Project all on his own down there in that sub-basement?<br /><br />Lots of subterranean space down there. How did they keep it all from flooding without astronomical costs and energy expenditures? Charleston is a low-lying coastal city built on sand and clay with a history of major earthquakes and hurricanes. Not the best place for an underground shopping mall.<br /><br />4. The family drama seems a bit forced, and it gets worse in later episodes. In times like these, I think schooling would be less about "reading, writing, and arithmetic" and more about "windage, elevation and parallax", things that young boys seem to enjoy. If Matt still doesn't like it, then Tom should pass on the wisdom of Comrade Mao: an army without culture is a dull-witted army, and a dull-witted army cannot defeat the enemy.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/mao/works/1937/guerrilla-warfare/" rel="nofollow">More Americans should read Mao.</a> Sure the guy was worse than Hitler, but he was also a military genius—if Hitler taught us anything, it should have been to listen up when the enemy puts to pen his plans for destroying you.Aldenatanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32203569.post-23193675422619920842013-08-07T18:17:54.074-07:002013-08-07T18:17:54.074-07:006. What about those Volm-tech M-16's? How are ...6. What about those Volm-tech M-16's? How are those supposed to work? It looks like some kind of coilgun technology, but would it not be simpler to build such weapons from the ground up, rather than rebuild a pre-existing one?<br /><br />If not, if turning an M-16 into a coilgun is as easy as converting an AR-15 to full-auto, then it makes a lot more sense. I've mentioned before that 5.56mm is too anemic for an enemy with an exoskeleton like the Skitters (kudos on arming the Berserkers with M-14s in Season 2, by the way), and it's reasonable that the Volm try would to improve the ballistics of the 5.56mm cartridge first. Increasing muzzle velocity to a significant fraction of the speed of light would most certainly improve the ballistics.<br /><br />It would surely ruin the rifling of the barrel, but I ain't sure if that would matter. You'd probably be replacing the standard 5.56×45mm NATO chemical-propellant cartridge with a big magnetic slug (good way to save on gunpowder, by the way), so no more exhaust gasses. That means you either redesign the action or rechamber the weapon manually. Recoil would be an issue, but I don't know how much of one. It's really all beyond my level of book-learning (read: willingness to google it or ask some of the smart folks on Baen's Bar).<br /><br />Lourde's gun: no idea how that works. "Gaussing" an M-16 is a stretch, and I don't see it scaling all the way down to sidearms.<br /><br />7. The whole "New America" thing. Is it not a little… pretentious? This community spent most of it's life pretending to be morlocks and they've still yet to secure their own county. A legitimate successor state they are not.<br /><br />8. In any event, President Mason doesn't seem to preside very much. Only three American presidents (Washington, Madison, Lincoln… and possibly Jefferson Davis) have ever set foot on an active battlefield while in office; the old kings used to do it fairly often, but they also had fewer political obligations than most modern mayors (medieval autocracies were surprisingly autotomic; they would do just fine even if the ruler was dead or absent).<br /><br />Then again, it is shown that he never wanted the job and only serves as a charismatic figurehead whilst Maria and Manchester actually run things. In which event disregard this point.<br /><br />9. Goats… yes, goats can be a handful. <a href="http://www.artofmanliness.com/2013/03/26/how-to-raise-backyard-chickens/" rel="nofollow">Chickens</a> and <a href="http://www.motherearthnews.com/homesteading-and-livestock/raising-pigs-zmaz80mjzraw.aspx#axzz2bKqNxIIV" rel="nofollow">pigs</a> make for the most basic, idiot-proof farm critters, methinks. Historically, not many Southern households were without them even in the cities.<br /><br />10. Probably a moot point now, but why was Bressler not put in front of a firing squad? He ordered the murder of human allies as well as de-harnessed children, and the suspect list shouldn't have been too long. Given the severity of what happened (allies the 2nd Mass attacked by a group of trained humans armed with the MilSpec weapons found in Charleston), Anthony should have been looking into that long before the mole started causing trouble.<br /><br />11. Anthony's talk about motive seems a little asinine, seeing as the mole is almost certainly not acting on his or her own free will. If there is anyone in Charleston who has a vested interest in or openly expresses a desire to see the place destroyed, I'm pretty sure they'd be promptly stuffed into a straight-jacket... or did y'all not learn your lesson from renegade Ricky?Aldenatanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32203569.post-26583213741024817822013-08-07T17:45:34.701-07:002013-08-07T17:45:34.701-07:00@General Thoughts:
Been watching Falling Skies si...@General Thoughts:<br /><br />Been watching Falling Skies since the very beginning, and I find the central premise most compelling. If nothing else, it's one of the few shows out there that doesn't focus on cops, spies, pawn stores, or alligators.<br /><br />Always been a fan of post-apocalyptic fiction, and there's been an awful lot of it going out on the small screen lately: Jericho, Jeremiah, V09, Walking Dead, Revolution, Hard Core Pawn (That is post-apoc? Modern Detroit ain't really like that, right?)… then there's that Defiance thing over on the Syfylus Channel. I'm sure there's others.<br /><br />Unfortunately, most of them have been… terrible. I await the day they try to tackle A Canticle for Leibowitz with a mix of anticipation and soul-rending dread.<br /><br />Falling Skies? Well… I did like it enough to write a <a href="http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7819760/1/Atlanta-Burns-Again" rel="nofollow">fanfic</a> (Eh? What is that strange shuddering noise I hear?), but beyond that?<br /><br />Steven Spielburg pulled a Tom Clancy on you, didn't he? Came up with the basis of Falling Skies, drops in every now and then to give y'all some pointers but for the most part has little if any part in the actual execution. Suspected it some time around Prisoner of War and your mention of an annual meeting lends credence thereto.<br /><br />I don't mind the time-leaps between seasons. It causes problems sure, but it also gives the impression that humanity is fighting a protracted war against a superior force and not just a background event where the main characters can settle whatever problems arise in a 44 minute period (usually). I'd say the seasonal pacing is quite good, and wish the episodic pacing was too.<br /><br />Short episodes: lots of folks complaining about that. I ain't. May not like it, but it's the trend these days, especially in shows that require lots of effort and high budgets like Military Sci-fi. V83 had few episodes for its day and I don't think more would have improved it.<br /><br />You know what happens when the screentime of a series outpaces the imagination of the writing staff? Star Trek: Voyager happens. By all means, do whatever it takes to keep Falling Skies from turning into Star Trek: Voyager. I ain't going to complain about that, not when there's so many other things to complain about:<br /><br />@On Thin Ice:<br />1. Remi wanted to do the filming on a glacier? For a film set in South Carolina?<br /><br />*googles Whistler Mountain*<br /><br />Snow? No.<br /><br />Here in Georgia, we get snow on the ground for about three days out of the year. Over there in South Carolina, they get snow on the ground for about three days out of the decade. Bad enough is the conspicuous lack of cotton or tobacco fields bounded by palmettos or loblollies, all covered with Spanish moss or kudzu… but a glacier? Do tell your friend Remi that the only significant ice formations he'll find down here are in the tea.<br /><br /><br />2. Mineshafts are more believable, though you still have to get pretty high into the Piedmont to find any.<br /><br />What were Skitters supposed to be doing there, anyway? Were they looking to resume mineral extraction, occupying it to deny minerals to us, using it for general shelter, something else? Knowing intent would go a long towards understanding their greater strategic plans.Aldenatanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32203569.post-2546530786760651862013-06-19T16:41:16.078-07:002013-06-19T16:41:16.078-07:00This show has become my new obsession! I'm a 5...This show has become my new obsession! I'm a 54-year-old mom, and my kids think I'm too old to run away and learn to be a producer, but just to be involved in some way, I'd be happy to be your blog's proofreader (I'm a writer and editor by trade)... just so I can see this stuff earlier than everyone else! I really enjoy all the behind-the-scenes tech stuff -- working my way through the entire blog and loving the detail you provide!Erinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12248995350448487593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32203569.post-88502634047784927332013-06-19T15:23:03.459-07:002013-06-19T15:23:03.459-07:00Two points:
1) you have continuity error in the o...Two points:<br /><br />1) you have continuity error in the opening sequence-- how does weaver and co. get into a moving truck that crashes through the fence if it doesn't stop first???<br /><br />2) Hal uses a twin M2HB 12.7x99mm rig... These are called .50cal meaning the bore is actually .500 inch in diameter (actual diameter is .510) not 50mm. A 50mm would be a full sized cannon and certainly would not used on Humvee. <br /><br />Other then that your go big or go home opening was well just not that impressive...Alan Turingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32203569.post-77528980756852317722013-06-11T08:49:42.709-07:002013-06-11T08:49:42.709-07:00So, I am delighted with the season beginning, it w...So, I am delighted with the season beginning, it was tremendous! ! ! To all characters paid attention and it pleases. I am glad to hear about the 4th season! ) To tell the truth, I hope you don't separate Hal and Maggie, after all after reading of some interviews we know that probably this season will end for them with a gap... These two deserve happiness, I hope you them further don't separate.The gap between the seasons big, I understand you can not do more than 10 episodes, but you can increase the duration of the series, such as 55 minutes What do you say?<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18424471517623437295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32203569.post-72628372780588363882013-06-10T20:28:48.979-07:002013-06-10T20:28:48.979-07:00I was so excited for the premiere, and shame on yo...I was so excited for the premiere, and shame on you and TNT for making us wait 10 months!! And thank you for explaining the name Cochise. Last night I was thinking "Are they saying Goat Cheese? Toe Cheese? What the heck??" :DAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32203569.post-60651077825257944262013-06-10T08:14:11.411-07:002013-06-10T08:14:11.411-07:00hate to correct you but it was MY idea to put tom ...hate to correct you but it was MY idea to put tom on a horse. Excerpted from your Q&A blog post:<br /><br />" The Regenerate Degenerate said...<br />Hey, just one question. Why aren't the fighters riding horses yet? Tell me it wouldn't be a logical and totally badass method of fighting aliens. Also it would create imagery that would play to the revolutionary war motif that's woven through the story. It's just a thought I've had since I started watching season one.<br /><br />Answer: Okay. Great idea! I’ll mention it to Remi! Maybe we'll see horses in Season 3 as gas and diesel get harder to find and/or make."<br /><br />Anyway... Great job on the premiere. Can't wait for the rest of the season.The Regenerate Degeneratehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10026966072161248617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32203569.post-60398638104779514592013-06-10T06:52:02.386-07:002013-06-10T06:52:02.386-07:00Still dont know why cochise ailens is here?Still dont know why cochise ailens is here?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com